Patent GB-641484-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to locating gear
IPC: B21C47/24
Filed: 1947-08-19
Abstract: 641,484. Unwinding coiled strip; lathe details. DAVY & UNITED ENGINEERING CO., Ltd., and RUSSELL, R. G. Aug. 19, 1947, No. 23011. [Classes 83 (iii) and 83 (iv)] [Also in Group XVI] Automatic locating gear, more particularly for locating a drum on a strip uncoiler, comprises a movable cradle to receive a load, gauging mechanism for the load movable relatively to the cradle and operating means for the cradle controlled. bv the gauging mechanism so that the cradle is raised and then maintained in a predetermined position relatively to a given axis. A coil 11 is raised to the required position between cones 10 by means of a cradle 15 carrying two pairs of rollers 14 on which the coil rests. Mounted for horizontal movement in the cradle is a piston-operated member carrying a gauge bar 24, while the cradle itself may be raised vertically by means of a piston 22 in a cylinder 21. The supply of pressure fluid to operate both cylinders is under the control of a valve 34 which may be operated manually and also through a lever carrying a roller 46 adapted to be moved by the surface 31 of a cam plate 30 secured to a part of the gauge bar. In operation, a coil is placed on the rollers 14 and the valve 34 operated to admit pressure fluid to raise the cradle and move the gauge bar inwardly towards the coil. Owing to the greater resistance to movement of the cradle, the gauge bar first moves inwardly until it engages the coil, this movement serving to position the cam plate 30. The cradle then begins to move upwards until the supply of pressure fluid to beneath the piston 22 is cut off by the operation of the valve 34 as the roller 46 is lifted by the cam surface 31. The coil is then at the correct height between the cones, each of which is rotatably mounted on a sliding head 47, Fig. 4A, operated by a piston 50 so that the heads move together until nose-pieces 65 on the heads engage adjustable stop valves 59, 60, the actuation of which cuts off the supply of pressure fluid to the cylinders 52. The cylinders of the cradle and gauge bar are then connected to exhaust so that the parts of the lifting apparatus return to their original positions. In a modification, Fig. 5, intended more particularly for a coil 73 wound on a bobbin 74, a frame 77 carries the cradle 75 with the usual coilsupporting rollers 14 and also carries a vertical gauging rod 81 operated by a piston 84. In this form, the gauge bar is raised by fluid pressure until it contacts the bobbin 74 and then gauge bar and cradle are raised together until a preset contact bolt carried by the gauge bar operates the plunger 91 of a valve 93 serving to cut off the supply of pressure fluid. In an electrically-operated form, Fig. 6B, the cradle is raised by a screw 125 in threaded engagement with a sleeve 126 driven by a worm-wheel 127 and worm 128 operated by a motor 130 with an electro-magnetic brake 131. As the cradle is raised, the gauge bar 24 is moved towards the coil by a counterweight 121 to position the cam 30 which actuates a limit switch 132 to stop the motor. The heads carrying the cones are similarly traversed by lead-screws driven by motors under the control of limit switches actuated by the heads. Centring work.-In another application of the invention, the automatic locating gear is installed between the stocks of a lathe to raise and centre heavy work-pieces.