Spiral coil strip accumulator and method

Abstract

A strip accumulator and method characterized by a plurality of circumferentially arranged strip guide basket assemblies which positively define a spiral path for the strip material with adjacent turns thereof being maintained in spaced relation, and means for uniformly moving the strip guide basket assemblies radially to expand and contract the helical path for the strip material so that a reserve capacity of strip material may be stored in the accumulator and withdrawn as needed to provide for continuous feed of the strip material to a continuous processing line and the like despite interruptions in the in-feed to the accumulator as when the end of the coil is reached and a new coil is required to be welded thereon. The strip accumulator consists of a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced roll support columns or frames for the strip guide basket assemblies that are mounted for radial movement on rails and provided with one or more guide roll assemblies at various elevations and angles which contain, support and guide the strip material along such spiral path or, more accurately, a helical path. Uniform radial movement of the frames may be obtained by a common drive and drag brake assembly connected to each frame by a bi-directional cable and capstan arrangement, such being operative to drive the frames radially outwardly during filling of the accumulator, and place a drag on the frames as they are drawn radially inwardly during emptying of the accumulator. Also provided are entry and exit roll guides which are mounted on rails and coupled to respective vertical frames at the entry and exit to the helical strip path for common radial movement with such frames.