Patent GB-1128888-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for levelling a sheet of material
IPC: B21D1/02
Filed: 1967-05-09
Abstract: 1,128,888. Straightening. LEE WILSON ENG. CO. 9 May, 1967 [2 June, 1966], No. 21564/67. Heading B3E. A sheet straightening apparatus comprises a first and a second plurality of spaced work-rolls, journalled for rotation about horizontal axes in first and second support members respectively, means for rotatably driving both sets of rolls to drive a metal sheet therebetween in a direction at right-angles to the axes of the rolls, the first and second plurality of rolls defining an entrance end portion and an exit end portion, a tiltable frame connected to one of the support members and having a bearing surface vertically in line with one of the entrance and exit end portions, a saddle member having a mating support bearing surface complementary to the bearing surface on the tiltable frame, thereby permitting angular movement between the frame and the saddle member and means operably connected to the end of the frame opposite to the bearing surface and vertically in line with the other of the entrance and end portions, to cause the movable frame to move angularly about the mating support bearing surface. An upper set of rollers 27 are journalled in plates 28 supported by a frame 23, 24, 25 and a lower set of rollers 30 are journalled in plates 31. Backup rollers 40 for the upper rollers 27 are journalled in a block 42 having a tapered upper surface 43 which engages a similarly tapered surface 45 of a wedge 44. Roll crown adjustment is effected by manual operation of a wheel 47 which moves the wedge 44 by means of a screw. The plates 31, which carry the lower rollers 30, are mounted on a movable frame 58, which also carries a set of back-up rollers 64. The frame 58 has an arcuate surface 76 which is supported by a similar surface 79 on a saddle member 77. The centre of curvature of the arcuate surfaces is at the entrance to the roll pass. At the other end of the frame 58 is an inclined surface 67 which rests on the plane surface 74 of a semicircular insert 73 carried by a wedge 70, the position of which is adjustable by a screw 86 operated by a hand wheel 85, to vary the tilt angle of the rollers. The lower set of rollers are also movable vertically bodily by a wedge 90 which is slidable between the machine frame and the underside of a wedge member 81 which supports the tiltable frame 58. The wedge 90 is one of two which are positioned at opposite sides of the machine, the wedges being independently driven by respective screws, both of which are driven by a crossshaft rotated by a hand wheel 96. A clutch in the shaft may be disengaged so that only one wedge is driven, for adjustment of the cant angle of the rollers. In a modification, Fig. 6, the upper rollers 112 are mounted on a frame which is suspended from the top of the machine frame by rods 109. Back-up rollers 131 are adjusted to vary the crown of the work rollers 112, by a plurality of wedges 134, each independently drivable by a motor 135. At one end of the suspended frame is an arcuate bearing surface 138, similar to the bearing surface 76. At the other end of the suspended frame is a shaft 143, which has left and right hand threads at opposite ends which actuate wedges (147), Fig. 7 (not shown) to vary the tilt angle. Vertical positioning of the suspended frame is achieved by wedges 150, 151 which have sloping surfaces 153 which co-operate with similar surfaces 154 on the suspended frame. The wedges 150, 151 at opposite sides of the machine are independently adjustable to vary the cant angle.