Device for conveying metal sheets for affixation to a windup drum for winding thereon

A device for conveying the leading edges of metal strips, belts and sheets to a fixation point on a reel drum for winding thereon includes a carriage which is movable from a pickup station in which clamping means on the carriage engages with the belt at a spaced location from its leading edge through an affixation point on the winding drum at which the leading edge is engaged so that it may be wound on the drum. The carriage carries the clamping means and in addition it carries first and second limitation members which are engageable with the metal sheet between the clamping location and the forward edge. The limitation members are mounted on the carriage so that they may be moved outwardly and inwardly in respect to the clamping means and upwardly and downwardly in respect to the associated sheet so that they may be selectively and independently positioned so as to locate the edge of the sheet exactly in respect to a fixation point on the windup drum. The arrangement of the limitation members is such that they may be accommodated to the spacing necessary in accordance with the various thicknesses of metal sheets which are to be wound and in respect to the height of the fixation slot defined on the windup drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to the construction of devices for 
positioning metal sheets into association with a windup drum for the 
winding of the sheets on the drum and in particular to a new and useful 
device for clamping the sheet and for positioning the outer edge of the 
sheet so that it may be precisely positioned into a fixation device such 
as a slot on the winding drum. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It is necessary when simultaneously coiling one or more belts or sheets or 
one belt split into several strips, to insert all of the belts or strips 
into the slot of a reel drum. Such an operation is particularly difficult 
when there is a large number of belts which must be simultaneously 
inserted into the receiving slot. The strips which are produced from the 
one belt by the cutting shears have portions which are arranged in 
different positions to one another due to the separation process and in 
addition they have cambers which vary from one belt to the other. In 
addition they are not easily accessible since they lie very close 
together. 
One known device comprises an arrangement in which the strips are oriented 
on a fixed guideway and run against a stop so that their leading edges are 
thereby frontally aligned. Clamping means with gripping jaws then grasp 
the aligned metal belt portions in such a manner that the frontally 
aligned free leading edge lies over the clamping means at a predetermined 
distance from the edge. The clamping means comprise sliding elements which 
can be conveyed in the direction of the reel so that the portion of the 
freely overlying leading edge of the belt can be inserted into the slot of 
the reel drum by the clamping means. It has been shown that such a device 
does not operate in all cases without malfunction. It may therefore arise 
that the freely overlying leading edge is curved upwardly or downwardly 
and this curve lies at an elevation which is beyond the height of the 
fixation slot of the reel drum. Malfunctions in respect to insertion are 
caused by this which not only cause accidents but also involves a loss of 
time and an increased expense. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention there is provided a device for conveying 
leading edges of metal belts so that they arrive at a fixation location of 
a windup drum in a correct orientation and position so that the edges may 
be easily inserted into a receiving slot of the fixation device. The 
invention includes a carriage or slide which is movable from a pickup 
point of the sheet or sheets which may for example be at the location 
immediately after the large sheet is fed into a cutting device for cutting 
it into individual longitudinally elongated strips. The carriage carries 
clamping means in the form of jaws which move together to clamp the metal 
sheet or sheets at a spaced location from the cutter. The carriage is 
movable from the pickup station to a position to present the leading edge 
of the picked up strips or sheet directly into the fixation device or slot 
of a winding drum which is thereafter rotated to wind up all of the strips 
on a common reel drum. In accordance with a feature of the invention 
limitation members are arranged above and below the sheet directly 
alongside or as part of the clamping means and they are not mounted in a 
manner such that they may individually move inwardly and outwardly in 
respect to the windup drum and upwardly and downwardly in respect to the 
sheet. In this manner the limitation members may be shifted to orient the 
leading edge or edges so that they may be aligned precisely in respect to 
the fixation slot and may be immediately brought into the slot during the 
movement of the carriage toward the windup drum. 
Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a device for 
transferring metal sheets or strips from a pickup station into association 
with a fixation device on a windup drum which includes a clamping means 
for clamping the sheet and limitation members associated with the clamping 
means on a carriage which may be moved to the windup drum and which may be 
shifted upwardly and downwardly and inwardly and outwardly so that they 
may contact and position the leading edge of the picked up sheet or sheets 
so that the sheets may be oriented precisely in alignment with the 
fixation device of the reel drum. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a device for conveying a 
metal sheet or sheets into association with a windup drum which is simple 
in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture. 
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are 
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part 
of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its 
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference 
should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive manner in which 
there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein 
comprises an apparatus for feeding metal belts or sheets or strips into 
association with a reel drum 6 having fixation means in the form of a slot 
7. 
In accordance with the invention, the metal belt or sheet 1 is fed into 
association with rotary cutting knives 8 which cut the sheet into 
individual elongated sheets 1'. Means are provided including roller 20 for 
feeding the sheets together after they are cut into association with 
clamping means including an upper movable jaw 2 and a lower jaw 2a which 
are moved together in order to clamp the sheet adjacent to but spaced from 
the outer edge 1e. The clamping jaws 2 and 2a extend over the complete 
width of all of the individual sheets 1' and they grasp the sheet from 
respective opposite sides. Preferably the leading edge of the sheets are 
aligned by means of a stop which can be swung out of the way and which is 
not shown. Clamping is effected inwardly from the edge 1e and by clamping 
means which are carried on a carriage 9. Carriage 9 includes wheels 9a to 
permit it to be rolled from the pickup position shown to the right hand of 
the drawing at the location of the cutters 8 to an intermediate position 
spaced in the direction toward the drum 6 and finally to a final position 
in which the carriage 9 is oriented directly adjacent the drum 6 as shown 
on the left hand side of FIG. 1. 
In accordance with a feature of the invention limitation elements 3 and 3a 
are mounted on respective opposite sides of the sheet 1 and they are 
associated with the clamping means on the carriage 9. The limitation 
members 3 and 3a comprise pistons which are slidable in cylinders 30 and 
30a so as to be movable toward and away from the reel drum 6. In addition 
the cylinders 30 and 30a are carried on block members which ride up and 
downwardly on pistons 22 and 22a so that each cylinder 30 and 30a with its 
associated limitation element 3 and 3a may be moved selectively either 
toward or away from the associated sheet or strips 1'. 
In accordance with a further feature of the invention the limitation 
elements are connected to a head portion 4 which extends completely across 
the path of the feed of the metal strips 1' and they are aligned adjacent 
the outer edge 1e and may be moved relatively thereto to deflect the free 
edge of the individual sheets 1' upwardly or downwardly. In addition when 
the carriage 9 arrives at the position in which the sheet ends engage into 
the fixation slot 7 upper member 3 is positioned outwardly to still engage 
the sheet which is positioned in the slot whereas the lower one is 
retracted so that it does not interfere with the closeup movement of the 
carriage 9 against the surface of the drum 6. 
In accordance with another feature of the invention the head portion 4 of 
each limitation member is provided with an inclined surface 5 which 
inclines in a direction toward the sheet 1 proceeding toward the drum 6. 
The position of the limitation members 3 and 3a are controlled by 
admitting fluid pressure to the cylinders 30 and 30a which may for example 
be regulated in accordance with the position of the carriage 9 or 
controlled by a manual setting. Similarly the elevation of the cylinders 
30 and 30a or the spacing thereof away from the associated sheet 1 may be 
controlled by regulating the fluid pressure in the support cylinders for 
these elements. The inclined surfaces 5 of the respective limitation 
elements 3 and 3a form a wedge-shaped forward running channel for the 
metal belt 1. 
The operation of the device is as follows: 
After the sheet 1 or the individual strips 1' are fed over the lower jaw 2a 
the upper jaw 2 is closed thereover to leave a marginal edge extending 
inwardly from the bitter end 1e through the clamping means. This position 
is shown in the intermediate position indicated in FIG. 1. In this 
position the limitation elements are moved to engage downwardly over the 
edge 1e or as close to the edge as possible. Upon the further movement of 
the carriage from the intermediate position shown to the end position 
adjacent the reel drum 6 it is desirable that the upper limitation element 
3 be moved further toward the drum than the lower one and in fact the 
lower one should be retracted somewhat. This final position then makes it 
easier to feed the bitter end 1e into the fixation slot 7 and it insures 
that the end 1e will not be misaligned with the slot so that it feeds over 
the surface of the reel drum rather than into the slot. The spacing of the 
edge 1e from the clamping means may for example be a few mm and the total 
length of the strips which are fed may for example be about 100 mm. In the 
intermediate position the bitter end 1e may be held in a correctly 
oriented position by the two limitation means 3 and 3a and these may also 
be manipulated so as to permit the easy complete insertion of this end 
into the fixation slot 7 of the reel drum 6. In the end position shown in 
FIG. 1 the lower head 4a is located substantially at the surface of the 
reel drum 6. After the end is positioned in the fixation slot 7 the 
sliding carriage 9 moves back into its starting position which is shown in 
FIG. 2 and at the right hand side of FIG. 1. The limitation elements 3 and 
3a can be adjusted in height to the plane of the metal belt independently 
of the clamping means so that it is possible to adjust the device each 
time to the thickness of the belt and the height of the slots 7 of the 
reel drum 6. A particular advantage of the device is that a plurality of 
strips can be inserted safely into the slot 7 of the reel drum 6 by a 
simple construction. 
The limitation elements 3 and 3a are movable with the clamping means and 
they have no transport function themselves but they are mobile relatively 
in the direction of the clamping means on reaching the slot of the reel so 
that even the leading edge with an irregular surface may be inserted 
safely into the slot 7 of the reel drum 6. The limitation elements 3 and 
3a do not themselves work as clamping means and they are conveyed into 
association with the reel drum 6 in such a way that they stop when 
striking against an obstruction such as the surface of the reel drum. The 
clamping means including the jaws 2 and 2a are moved further in the 
direction of the reel drum. This relative compliance of the limitation 
elements to the clamping means can be achieved by a spring or similar 
medium. The relative mobility of the limitation elements and conveying is 
preferably achieved by a cylinder piston mechanism. It is advantageous if 
an independent cylinder piston mechanism is provided for each limitation 
element. This cylinder piston mechanism has the advantage that the force 
to be overcome on striking against an obstruction can be easily adjusted 
to the desired value. 
The provision of a head on the front ends of the limitation elements 3 and 
3a with the inclined surfaces converging forward into engagement with the 
metal sheet provides a wedge-like interengagement with the sheet. Such a 
wedge-shaped channel has the advantage that the leading edge of the metal 
sheet may be inserted into the slot of the reel exactly in the center 
thereof and in addition the degree of friction is limited due to the 
inclined surface as the friction is substantially exerted only by the 
foremost part of the head 4 and 4a. 
The limitation elements 3 and 3a are spaced from one another at their 
narrowest point as a practical measure. This space between them 
constitutes at least double the thickness of the belt 1 and less than half 
the height of the slot 7 of the reel drum 6. A safer insertion into the 
slot is guaranteed taking into consideration the inaccuracies arising in 
operation and the degree of friction at the inclined surface is in 
contrast not too high. The individual limitation elements preferably 
extend on the respective side of the sheet over the width of the whole 
sheet or the individual strips. The limitation elements 3 and 3a are 
advantageously a part of the clamping means and move together in the 
direction of the freely overlying leading edge when the clamping means 
moves with the carriage 9. 
The inventive arrangement is particularly advantageous with strips having a 
width of less than 60 mm and or a thickness of less than 0.5 mm. It is 
with these narrow strips in particular that malfunctioning occurs in the 
prior art. It must be considered that the height of the slot of the reel 
amounts to from 10 to 20 mm depending on the position of the slot. The 
likelihood of malfunctioning may be relatively high with the plurality of 
strips. If it is considered further that the freely overlying leading edge 
of the belt may have a length of about 50 to 200 mm and that the bulk can 
have 20 to 50 strips 1' then it is evident that safer insertion is 
achieved by the simple means of the invention. The mobility or compliance 
of the limitation elements is particularly significant as this solution 
facilitates a safer insertion of the ends into the fixation slot and 
without damages being caused to any other parts of the device by impact. 
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described 
in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the 
invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied 
otherwise without departing from such principles.