Abstract:
A scrap winder is provided as part of a slitting line that creates a ribbon of scrap. The scrap winder has a moveable mandrel that exposes a grabbing portion that rotates. The grabbing portion extends outward to reveal a puller cable reel. The puller cable reel contains a retrieving cable that attaches to the start of the scrap ribbon. As the grabbing portion rotates, the scrap is brought to the grabbing portion, where the scrap is attached directly to it. The mandrel is then moved into position and the scrap can be wound around the mandrel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This present disclosure relates to slitting of coil stock and the proper and safe collection of the scrap that is necessarily generated. When coil stock is slitted, the edge quality, width variation, or the total width of the individual slit coils necessarily generates edge trim scrap. This scrap is typically a thin continuous ribbon that is generated while the slitter is processing the coil stock. Scrap must be handled with care and properly captured. Scrap can be wound or chopped. A scrap chopper slices the scrap into individual lengths while it is being generated. Winders coil up the scrap into one continuous coil. Current winders in the art involve a few different styles. A first style is a fixed spool where the scrap is wound. The spool stores the scrap and is also used to transport it. A second style involves a spool with a collapsible spindle. The collapsible spindle design is open on one end while the coil is being wound. When the scrap winder spool is full, the spindle is collapsed enough to release the scrap coil bundle. Feeding the scrap winder is dangerous and difficult, especially when dealing with a large gauge metal or an unpredictable material. An improved scrap winder is necessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure describes a scrap winder that has a mandrel that rotates on a pivoting frame. The pivoting frame pivots upward to allow gravity to release the bundle of wound scrap from the mandrel. The mandrel is tapered to facilitate releasing the wound scrap. A yoke slides a sliding hub between an extended position to a refracted position. The extended position allows a cable to be unwound and mated to the beginning of a strip of scrap. When the scrap is pulled enough to be engaged with the hub, it is placed between protrusions or a grouping of posts that causes the scrap to coil when the hub is rotated, also known as a grab. The hub is then retracted and the mandrel is pivoted down to mate with the hub. As the scrap is wound, the mandrel begins to fill up. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the slitting line; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the scrap winder in the winding position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the scrap winder in the release position; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view taken about line  4 - 4  of the sliding hub in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view similar to that of  FIG. 4  showing the sliding hub in the extended position; 
         FIG. 6  is a section side view of the retrieving end of the cable; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the retrieving end of the cable; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the scrap winder. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A slitting line  10  has an uncoiler station  12  where a master coil  14  of sheet metal  16  is unwound. The sheet metal  16  then proceeds to a slitting station  18  where a series of rotating knives  20  separate the sheet metal  16  into strips  22  of a predetermined width. These strips  22  then proceed to a coiling station  24  where they are wound into slit strip  26 . At the slitting station  18 , a ribbon of edge trim  28  is generated. The edge trim  28  is generated because of the edge quality of the master coil  14  and/or the combined width of the strips  22  may not add up perfectly to the width of the sheet metal  16 . This edge trim  28  is generated as the sheet metal  16  is slit into strips  22  and must be handled properly. The edge trim  28  can have razor sharp edges in the cases of thin stock and be very dangerous for the user to handle. Other times, the stock may be thick material that is difficult to wrestle from the slitter station  18  to the scrap winder  30 . The scrap winder  30  is designed to safely wind and handle the edge trim  28 . The scrap winder  30  winds the edge trim  28  at the same speed as the slitting line  10  to maintain tension on it during winding. Depending on the arrangement of the portions of the slitting line  10 , an eyelet  32  can be inline between the scrap winder  30  and the slitting station  18 . The eyelet  32  is affixed to the floor or part of the slitting line  10  to guide the edge trim  28  from the slitting station  18  to the scrap winder  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the slitting line  10  has two scrap winders  30  that are mirror images of each other, but other configurations are possible. 
     The scrap winder  30  is designed to safely coil the edge trim  28  and then transfer a scrap bundle  34  of edge trim  28  into a hopper  36 . The scrap winder  30  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  has a tapered mandrel  38  with a flange plate  40 , a tapered portion  42  and a tip  44 . The tapered portion  42  is wider near the flange plate  40  and smallest near the tip  44 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mandrel  38  rotates on a shaft  46  about an axis  48  and is supported by bearings  50 . The mandrel is attached to a pivoting frame  52  that pivots about a pivot point  54 . A cylinder  56  as shown in  FIG. 3  is attached to the pivoting frame  52  at a pivoting attachment point  58  on one end and a frame attachment point  60  of the scrap winder  30  at the other end. The cylinder  56  moves the pivoting frame  52  and mandrel  38  between a winding position as shown in  FIG. 2  and a release position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The mandrel  38  is shown as free-wheeling on bearings  50  but can be driven separately by a motor or other means. 
     The scrap winder  30  has a frame  62  where various parts are attached, including the pivoting frame  52  and cylinder  56 . An inboard flange plate  64  has a mandrel facing side  63  and a yoke facing side  65 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inboard flange plate  64  has a center aperture  66  and a series of sliding pins  68  extending from the yoke facing side  65 . At terminal ends  70  of the sliding pins  68  is a backstop  72  affixed thereto. 
     Located in the center aperture  66  is a sliding hub  86  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). The sliding hub  86  slides between an extended position as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  and a retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In the refracted position, the sliding hub is near the backstop  72 . The sliding hub  86  is driven by a key affixed to the driving shaft  74  ( FIG. 3 ) that mates with a slot  85  ( FIG. 4 ) on the sliding hub  86 . The key is affixed to the driving shaft  74  using screws or other mechanical means. It is contemplated that the driving shaft  74  is rotationally coupled to the sliding hub through a spline interface or other means that allow axial movement between the two while transferring rotational torque. The driving shaft  74  is supported by bearings  76  and driven by a motor  78  that is coupled to the driving shaft  74  through pulleys  80 ,  82 , and a belt or chain  84 . The motor  78  could be hydraulic, electric, or driven by other torque generating device. The motor drives the driving shaft  74  at a controlled torque to regulate the tension in the edge trim  28  as it is wound on the tapered mandrel  38 . It is contemplated that the driving shaft  74  is driven directly by the motor  78  or other means. The sliding hub  86  slides on the sliding pins  68  and rotates with backstop  72  and inboard flange plate  64 . The sliding hub  86  further includes a series of protrusions  96  that extend from a front face  98  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  to form a grab. Behind the front face  98  is a puller cable reel  100  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The puller cable reel  100  is a sheave with a minor outside diameter  102  that is bordered on one end with the back of the front face  98  and a driving portion  104  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  on the other end. The driving portion  104  has a series of apertures  106  that are designed to receive the sliding pins  68 . The driving portion  104  further includes a radial channel  108  that allows a yoke  90  ( FIG. 3 ) to axially move the sliding hub  86  on the sliding pins  68 . When the sliding hub  86  is refracted, the front face  98  is nearly flush with the inboard flange plate  64 . When the sliding hub  86  is extended, the puller cable reel  100  is exposed to the mandrel facing surface  63 , allowing the user to retrieve a cable  110  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The cable  110  is affixed to the puller cable reel  100  on one end and has a clip  112  on the loose end. The clip  112  is designed to grab onto the start end  114  of the edge trim  28 . The clip  112  has an aperture  116  that the start end  114  is placed into. Tension in the cable  110  causes the aperture  116  and edge trim  28  to bind, thereby grabbing the edge trim  28 . For thin material, the edge trim  28  can be passed through and bent around the aperture  116  to form a more secure connection between the clip  112  and the edge trim  28 . Rotating the sliding hub  86  causes the cable  110  to wind around the minor outside diameter  102  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), pulling the start end  114  toward the scrap winder  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the pivoting frame  52  is in the winding position and the sliding hub is in the retracted position, the tip  44  of the mandrel  38  abuts terminal ends of the protrusions  96  on the sliding hub  86 . This creates a winding drum, an area for the edge trim  28  to be captured and wind around the tapered portion  42 . 
     A cylinder or actuator  88  moves the yoke  90  about a fulcrum  92  to slide the sliding hub  86  between the extended and retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The actuator is attached at point  94  on one end and a sliding hub mating portion  118  is located on the opposite end. The mating portion  118  is fixed to the axial position of the radial channel  108  ( FIG. 2 ) to facilitate the movement of the sliding hub  86 . The mating portion  118  allows the sliding hub  86  to rotate. It is contemplated that bushings or bearings are located in the radial channel  108  between the mating portion  118  and the radial channel  108 . 
     To assist a radially compact bundle  34  ( FIG. 1 ), an oscillating guide  122  is affixed to the frame  62 . The oscillating guide  122  has an aperture  124  ( FIG. 8 ) that the edge trim  28  passes through. The guide  122  moves parallel to the axis of the driving shaft  74 , driven by cylinder  126  to direct the edge trim  28  to wind around the mandrel  38  along the axis  48  instead of bunching up adjacent to the inboard flange plate  64 . By directing the edge trim  28 , the overall diameter of the bundle  34  can be better controlled. 
     When the slitting line  10  is started, the master coil  14  is unrolled and the sheet metal  16  is fed to the slitting station  18 . Here, the edge trim  28  is generated with the start end  114  leading the strip. At this point, the pivoting frame  52  is moved to the release position as shown in  FIG. 3  and the sliding hub  86  is in the extended position, revealing the puller cable reel  100 . The cable  110  is then extended by either releasing a portion of the puller cable reel  100  or rotating the sliding hub  86 . The clip  112  is then firmly attached to the start end  114  of the edge trim  28 . Next, the motor  78  and driving shaft  74  are engaged, rotating the sliding hub  86  to retract the cable  110 . As the start end  114  is pulled sufficiently and becomes adjacent to the front face  98 , the start end  114  is disengaged from the clip  112  of the cable  110 . The start end  114  is then placed between the protrusions  96 , also referred to as a gripper slot. The sliding hub  86  can then be retracted and the pivoting frame  52  can be moved to the winding position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The motor  78  and driving shaft  74  are then engaged again, causing the start end  114  that is trapped between protrusions  96  to begin to coil around the tapered portion  42  of the mandrel  38 . The mandrel  38  begins to fill and the guide  122  begins to move from being aligned with the inboard flange plate  64  towards the flange plate  40 , causing the individual wraps of the edge trim  28  to fill along the tapered portion  42  of the mandrel  38 . As the master coil  14  becomes depleted, the mandrel  38  fills, eventually holding edge trim  28  of the entire length of the sheet metal  16  as a bundle  34 . When the entire length of the edge trim  28  is held by the scrap winder  30 , the pivoting frame  52  can then be moved to the release position as shown in  FIG. 3 , where gravity causes the coiled edge trim to fall onto a ramped surface  120  and then into the hopper  36 . 
     It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.