Patent GB-958894-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for punching articles from metal foil strips
IPC: B65H23/18
Filed: 1961-02-15
Abstract: 958,894. Metal strip feeds. U.D. ENGINEERING CO. Ltd., and R. S. P. ARBER. Oct. 3, 1961 [Feb. 15, 1961], No. 5651/61. Heading B3W. An apparatus for forming bottle caps from metal strip and having a storage reel and means for feeding the strip step by step to a punching press is characterized in that between the storage reel and the step by step feed means are other step by step feed means, which while the strip is stationary opposite the punching tool, draw the strip from the storage reel and create slack which is taken up by the first said step by step feed means. A metal strip 10 passes from one of two storage reels 11 over a roller 13 under a spring- loaded jockey roller 14 and between two pairs of feed rollers 19, 20 and 21, 22. The rollers 19, 21 each have a flat 23, 24 on them, are geared together and are. chain driven from a continuously rotating shaft 31. The rollers 20, 22 are each spring loaded on to their co-operating roller and can be retracted by a lever cam. A crank arm 36 mounted on the spindle 8 is pivotally connected to a rod 38, the other end of which has secured to it a pin 39 which is adjustable along a radial slot 40 in a part 41 fixed to a disc 42 which can oscillate on a spindle 43. Pawls 44 mounted on the disc engage a ratchet-wheel 45, which drives a feed roller 48 through gearing. Another roller 50 is geared to the roller 48 and spring-pressed towards it. A chain 52 drives a second pair of rollers 54 and 57, of which the roller 54 is mounted in fixed bearings and the roller 57 is spring-pressed towards the roller 54. Between the two latter pairs of rollers the strip passes through the punching press at a locality 61. Scrap stock is wound up on a drum 62, if the strip breaks, it winds round the roller 48 and operates a switch 141 which stops the main drive motor. Prior to reaching the feed roller 48 the strip passes between friction blocks 58, 59 and a channel section guide 60. The rollers 19, 20 are of different diameter to the rollers 21, 22 to vary the primary strip feed and the pin 39 can be adjusted radially in the disc 42 to govern the feed of strip through the press. Before the pawls commence transmitting a drive to the ratchet-wheel and the rollers 48, 50, 54 and 57, the circular portion of one of the continuously rotating rollers 19 or 21 is in engagement with one of the rollers 20, 22, so as to form a loop 63 in the strip, and these rollers continue to feed the strip during the feed motion of the rollers 48 and 50. As the strip is pulled off the storage reel by the first rollers the jockey roller 14 moves against its springs and slack remaining in the loop 63 after the completion of the feed movement of the roller 48 is taken up by the return movement of the jockey roller. Each storage reel is mounted on a spindle assembly which comprises a spindle 79 encircled by a sleeve 82 on which are alternate metal and rubber rings 83 and 84. A cap 85 screws on to the sleeve and compresses the rubber rings axially so that they expand radially and grip the bore of the storage reel. The reel is prevented from over-running by a band brake 89. The driving shaft 31 imparts reciprocal movement to a press tool through an eccentric 34 and also drives an air pump through an eccentric 35. Specification 958,895 is referred to.