Patent ID: 6010441
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B23D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A device for handling and storing cutters and spacers for a slitter mill, which slitter mill cuts strips from coils of material such as steel, aluminum or plastic, said handling and storing device comprising:at least one storage unit, said at least one storage unit having an elongated dimension;said at least one storage unit having a longitudinal axis along the elongated dimension;said at least one storage unit comprising at least one projection structure;each of said at least one projection structure comprising a projection for storage of cutters and spacers;said at least one projection having an elongated dimension and having a longitudinal axis along the elongated dimension;the longitudinal axis of said at least one projection being disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said at least one storage unit;the longitudinal axis of said at least one storage unit being substantially vertical;each of said at least one projection structure comprising a pusher to displace cutters and spacers stored on the corresponding projection;a robot to move cutters and spacers, said robot comprising:a robot head having an elongated dimension;said robot head having a longitudinal axis along the elongated dimension;said robot head being rotatable in the plane of its longitudinal axis;the longitudinal axis of said robot head being disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said at least one storage unit;a first carriage;said robot head being connected to said first carriage;said first carriage being disposed and configured to allow movement of said robot head in a first direction;a second carriage;said robot head being connected to said second carriage;said second carriage being disposed and configured to allow movement of said robot head in a second direction, the second direction being substantially transverse to the first direction; andapparatus to move said robot head substantially transverse to said first direction and said second direction;said robot head being connected to said moving apparatus;said moving apparatus being configured and disposed to allow movement of said robot head in a third direction, the third direction being substantially transverse to both the first direction and the second direction;said robot head comprising a casing;said casing having an elongated dimension and having a longitudinal axis along said elongated dimension;the longitudinal axis of said casing being disposed along the longitudinal axis of said robot head;said casing having a diameter, the diameter being substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said robot head;said robot head comprising apparatus to adjust the diameter of said casing between a first diameter and a second diameter;said robot head being configured and disposed to permit engagement of said robot head with said at least one projection;said apparatus to adjust the diameter of said casing being disposed and configured to adjust the diameter of said casing to the first diameter upon said casing not being engaged with said at least one projection, the first diameter being substantially equal to the inside diameter of stored cutters and spacers to hold cutters and spacers on said casing; andsaid apparatus to adjust the diameter of said casing being disposed and configured to adjust the diameter of said casing to the second diameter upon said casing being engaged with said at least one projection, the second diameter being substantially less than the inside diameter of stored cutters and spacers to allow cutters and spacers to move along said casing.