A New or Improved Process for Opening or Separating Sheets or Plates, but more especially Metal Plates or Sheets which have together been Rolled or Pressed in a Folded or Piled Form, and Machinery for Carrying the same into Effect.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1896-Accented, 5th Dec., 1996
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for Opening or Separating Sheets or
Plates, but more especially Metal Plates or Sheets which have
together been Rolled or Pressed in a Folded or Piled Form, and
Machinery for Carrying the same into Effect.
We, JOSEPH WILLIAMS of Woodlands, Gowerton, Engineer, and GEORGE HENRY
WHITE of Lliw Forge Pontardulais, Engineer both in the County of Glamorgan do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a new or improved process for opening or separating sheets
or plates but more especially metal plates or sheets several thicknesses of which have
been rolled or pressed in a folded or piled form and machinery for carrying the same
into effect and which invention is more especially applicable to black plates intended
for the manufacture of tin and terne plates, enamelled plates or the like.
In the manufacture of black plates, bars of steel or iron are hot rolled until their
thickness is more or less reduced and they are then doubled or folded and after
reheating again rolled until a pile or block composed of several thicknesses of metal
of the required substance or thickness is obtained and this pile is then re-heated and
rolled until each thickness or layer thereof is reduced to the required substance.
The pile thus formed is next cut or sheared to the size required for the finished
plates after which the pile is ready for opening or separating.
According to the method heretofore adopted the sheets or plates of the pile which
have become adherent although not actually welded together in the process of rolling
are split up or opened and torn apart or separated by hand.
This method of separating the plates or sheets is obviously laborious and costly
and the object of the present invention is to substitute for hand labour a mechanical
process which by the aid of simple apparatus will effect the required separation of
the plates in a rapid and economical manner the machine merely requiring the
assistance of a single operative to feed the piles of rolled plates thereto.
In carrying the present invention into effect the pile or collection of plates
whilst in a cold or more or less heated condition is by any suitable means subjected
to a bending, corrugating or crimping operation of such a nature that it becomes
bent to and fro in the form of undulations corrugations or the like passing like
a wave over its entire area and this bending operation owing to the unequal move-
ment of the surfaces of the several sheets of metal breaks the thin films of oxide
which cause the several sheets to adhere to each other and thus more or less loosens
the sheets with relation to each other.
In order to complete the separation the bent. or corrugated pile or collection of
plates is next submitted to rolling or other suitable pressure until it is flattened
out into its original form when by reason of the reverse movement of the surfaces of
the plates or sheets the plates or sheets will readily separate or fall apart.
Various forms of apparatus may be employed for carrying out the process herein-
before described but one that has been found to answer well experimentally and which
is the preferred form is the following
Fixed upon shafts mounted with capability of revolution in suitable bearings
carried by a strong frame are arranged a pair of corrugated or fluted bending rolls
which intermesh or are coupled by gearing and receive rotary motion from any
suitable source of power.

page_text: In advance of these bending rolls is arranged a suitable guide into which the
pile or collection of plates to be operated upon is fed by the attendant until it is
gripped by the bending rolls by which it is carried forward and at the same time
bent to and fro into a waved or corrugated form.
The bent or corrugated pile or collection of plates upon issuing from the bending
rolls is received into a bell mouthed or conical guide by the aid of which the loose
ends of the plates are collected or brought under control and immediately beyond
this conical guide are arranged a pair of plain pressure rolls which carry forward
the collection or pile of plates and flatten them into their original form when the
plates will issue from these rolls in separate and distinct sheets.
The plain
or pressure rolls are driven at an increased rate of speed with relation to
the bending rolls so that the circumferential velocity thereof will be greater than is
required to receive the pile from the bending rolls and carry it forward.
By this arrangement a pull is exerted by the pressure rolls upon the pile of
corrugated plates which has the twofold effect of first assisting to loosen the sheets or
plates and secondly aiding the flattening operation.
Beyond the plain pressure rolls is arranged a rapidly oscillating frame actuated by
means of eccentrics or otherwise and this frame is provided with two bars arranged
parallel with the axes of the rolls but separated from each other by a space of
sufficient area to admit of the passage therethrough of the collection of plates.
By these means a rapid shaking motion is imparted to the plates or sheets which
has the effect of completing the separation of any plates or sheets that may have been
imperfectly acted upon in the previous operations.
It desired several successive pairs of plain or flattening rolls may be employed if
found necessary and more especially when operating upon thin plates.
Another form of the corrugating or bending apparatus that will more or less
answer the purpose consists of two pairs of plain pressure rolls between which is
arranged a guide for the pile of plates, whilst working in a slotted apertured boss
arranged transversely of the guide is a slotted plate, through the slot of which the
pile is carried by the rolls.
The slotted plate receives a rapid reciprocating motion by means of an eccentric or
otherwise from any suitable source of power and in the passage of the pile imparts an
undulated or corrugated form thereto, whilst the second pair of rolls flatten the pile
in the manner bereinbefore described.
Another form of the corrugating or bending apparatus consists in substituting for
the reciprocating plate lastly hereinbefore described a pair of revolving cranks or
eccentrically shapeil shafts.
Still another form of the corrugating or bending apparatus consists of a powerful
press furnished with a suitably shaped die and plunger, a pair of plain pressure rolls
or a plain die and plunger being employed to effect the subsequent flattening of the
pile.
It will be understood that the foregoing are merely examples of some forms that
may be given to the bending apparatus, and that various other devices inight be
employed for effecting the object in view.
Although the primary object of the invention is the separation of black plates
intended to subsequently pass through the well known tinning process, it is equally
applicable to the separation of other metal plates or sheets, or sheets or plates of other
material which have become more or less united in consequence of having been
worked in the form of a pile.
By the means herein before described the plates are separated in a rapid and
continuous manner, whilst at the same time a great saving is effected in the cost of
labour.
Dated this 29th day of January 1806
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.

page_text: A New or Improved Process for Opening or Separating Sheets or
Plates, but more especially Metal Plates or Sheets which have
together been Rolled or Pressed in a Folded or Piled Form, and
Machinery for Carrying the same into Effect.
We, JOSEPH WILLIAMS of Woodlands Gowerton, Engineer, and GEORGE HENRY
WHITE of Lliw Forge, Pontardulais, Engineer, both in the County of Glamorgan do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention relates to a new or improved process for opening or separating sheets
or plates, but more especially metal plates or sheets, several thicknesses of which have
together been rolled or pressed in a folded or piled form, and machinery for carrying
the same into effect, and which invention is more especially applicable to black plates
intended for the manufacture of tin and terne plates, enamelled plates or the like.
In the manufacture of black plates bars of steel or iron are hot rolled until their
thickness is more or less reduced and they are then doubled or folded and after
re-heating again rolled until a pile or block composed of several thicknesses of metal
of the required substance or thickness is obtained and this pile is then re-heated and
rolled until each thickness or layer thereof is reduced to the required substance.
The pile thus formed is next cut or sheared to the size required for the finished
plates, after which the pile is ready for opening or separating.
According to the method heretofore adopted the sheets or plates of the pile which
have become adherent although not actually welded together in the process of rolling
are split up or opened and torn apart or separated by hand.
This method of separating the plates or sheets is obviously laborious, and costly,
and the object of the present invention is to substitute for hand labour a mechanical
process which by the aid of simple apparatus will effect the required separation of the
plates in a rapid and economical manner the machine merely requiring the assistance
of a single operative to feed the piles of rolled plates thereto.
In carrying the present invention into effect the pile or collection of plates whilst in
a cold, or more or less heated condition, is by any suitable means subjected to a
bending, corrugating, or crimping operation of such a nature that it becomes bent to
and fro in the form of undulations, corrugations, or the like passing like a wave over
its entire area, and this bending operation owing to the unequal movement of the
surfaces of the several sheets of metal breaks the thin films of oxide which causes the
several sheets to adhere to each other, and thus more or less loosens the sheets with
relation to each other.
In order to complete the separation the bent or corrugated pile or collection of
plates is next submitted to rolling or other suitable pressure, until it is flattened out
into its original form, when by reason of the reverse movement of the surfaces of the.
plates or sheets the plates or sheets will readily separate or fall apart.
Various forms of apparatus may be employed for carrying out the process
hereinbefore described, but one that has been found to answer well experimentally,
and which is the preferred form is the following:-
Fixed upon shafts mounted with capability of revolution in suitable bearings carried
by a strong frame are arranged a pair of corrugated or fluted bending rolls which
intermesh or are coupled by gearing and receive rotary motion from any suitable
Source of power.
In advance of these bending rolls is arranged a suitable guide into which the pile
or collection of plates to be operated upon is fed by the attendant, until it is gripped

page_text: by the bending rolls by which it is carried forward, and at the same time bent to and
fro into a waved or corrugated form.
The bent or corrugated pile or collection of plates upon issuing from the bending
rolls is received into a bell mouthed or conical guide by the aid of which the loose
ends of the plates are collected or brought under control, and immediately beyond this
conical guide are arranged a pair of plain pressure rolls which carry forward the
collection or pile of plates, and flatten them into their original form when the plates
will issue from these rolls in separate and distinct sheets.
The plain or pressure rolls are drivon at an increased rate of speed with relation to
the bending rolls, so that the circumferential velocity thereof will be greater than is
required to receive the pile from the bending rolls, and carry it forward.
By this arrangement a pull is exerted by the pressure rolls upon the pile of
corrugated plates which has the two-fold effect of first assisting to loosen the sheets or
plates and secondly aiding the flattening operation.
Beyond the plain pressure rolls is arranged a rapidly oscillating frame actuated by
means of eccentrics or otherwise, and this frame is provided with two bars arranged
parallel with the axes of the rolls, but separated from each other by a space of
sufficient area to admit of the passage therethrough of the collection of plates.
By these means a rapid shaking motion is imparted to the plates or sheets which
has the effect of completing the separation of any plates or sheets that may have been
imperfectly acted upon in the previous operations.
If desired several successive pairs of plain or flattening rolls may be employed if
found necessary, and more especially when operating upon thin plates.
Another form of the corrugating or bending apparatus that will more or less answer
the purpose consists of two pairs of plain pressure rolls between which is arranged a
guide for the pile of plates whilst working in a slotted apertured boss arranged
transversely of the guide is a slotted plate, through the slot of which the pile is carried
by the rolls.
The slotted plate receives a rapid reciprocating motion by means of an eccentric or
otherwise from any suitable source of power, and in the passage of the pile imparts an
undulated or corrugated form thereto, whilst the second pair of rolls flatten the pile in
the manner hereinbefore described.
It will be understood that the foregoing are merely examples of some forms that
may be given to the bending apparatus and that various other devices might be
employed for effecting the object in view.
Although the primary object of the invention is the separation of black plates
intended to subsequently pass through the well known tinning process it is equally
applicable to the separation of other metal plates or sheets, or sheets or plates of other
material which have become more or less united in consequence of having been
worked in the form of a pile.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
Figure 1 is a
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
plan or top view of a machine constructed according to the present
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof.
Figure 5 is a skeleton view of the roll, the guides, and the active part of the
shaker separately, showing a pile of plates entering, passing through, and leaving the
machine.
Figure is an edge view o a pile of plates showing the form in which they
enter the bending rolls.
Figure 7 is a similar view of the pile of plates showing the form in which they
issue from the corrugating or bending rolls.

page_text: issue from the first pair of pressure rolls.
Figure 9 is a similar view of the pile of plates showing the form in which they
issue from the second pair of pressure rolls and shaker.
Figure 10 is a plan or top view of a modified form of machine.
Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof, and
Figure 12 is a vertical transverse section of a portion of the machine showing the
slotted bending plate in elevation.
Figure 13 is a part horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a detail view of the slotted bending plate and guide drawn to the
actual size of the parts.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 9 a represents the frame of the machine, which is of
a substantial character and b represents a pair of corrugated or fluted bending
rolls which intermesh and are fixed upon shafts or axes mounted with capability
of revolution in bearings a' carried by the frame a, and upon the shaft of the
upper one of the pair of corrugated bending rolls is fixed a toothed wheel b³
through wbich rotary motion is imparted to such upper roll from any suitable
source of power in the manner hereinafter described.
In advance of the bending rolls, and carried by the frame a is arranged a
suitable guide into which the pile or collection of plates to be operated upon
is fed by the attendant (as shown more particularly at Figure 5) until it is
gripped by the bending rolls by which it is carried forward, and at the same
time bent to and fro into a waved or corrugated form as shown more particularly
at Figures 5 and 7.
The bent or corrugated pile or collection of plates upon issuing from the
bending rolls is received into a bell mouthed or conical guide, by the aid of
which the loose ends of the plates are collected or brought under control, and
immediately beyond this conical guide fare arranged a pair of plain pressure
rolls c fixed upon shafts or axes c mounted with capability of revolution in
hearings a carried by the frame a of the machine, and these pressure rolls carry
forward the collection or pile of plates .c, and at the same time more or less
flatten them into their original form as represented more particularly at Figures 5
and 8.
Beyond the pressure rolls is arranged another pair of pressure rolls d fixed
upon shafts similarly mounted in bearings a¹ and the more or less separated
plates issuing from the pressure rolls c are collected by a bell shaped guide
consisting of several pairs of fingers or plates carried by bars f* fixed with the
frame of the machine, and the plates are thereby conducted to the pressure rolls d,
from which they issue flattened into their original form as represented more
particularly at Figure 5.
At the delivery end of the machine is mounted in bearings a¹ formed with or
carried by the frame of the machine a shaft g' upon one end of which is fixed a
band wheel or pulley g which is driven by a band (not shown) from any suitable
motor as will be readily understood.
Upon the shaft and outside the frame of the machine is also fixed a toothed
pinion which gears with a toothed wheel fixed upon a shaft h mounted in
suitable bearings a¹ in the frame of the machine, and upon the shaft is also fixed
a pinion which gears with toothed wheels fixed upon the shafts c' d' of
the pressure rolls cd, and the toothed wheel in turn engages the toothed
wheel fixed upon the shaft or axis b' of the upper bending roll.
By this arrangement of gearing the plain or pressure rolls c d are driven at
an increased rate of speed with relation to the bending rolls so that the
circumferential velocity of such pressure rolls will be greater than is required to
receive a piler from the bending rolls band carry it forward, and a pull will
thus be exerted by the pressure rolls c d, upon the pile of corrugated plates

page_text: which has the two-fold effect of first assisting to loosen the sheets or plates, and
secondly aiding the flattening operation.
Beyond the plain pressure rolls c d is arranged a rapidly oscillating shaking
device consisting of two bars e arranged parallel with the axes of the pressure
rolls d, but separated from each other by a space of sufficient area to admit of the
passage therethrough of the collection of plates which are guided thereinto by a
bell shaped guide consisting of fingers or plates carried by bars in a similar
manner to that described with respect to the guide f
The bars e are carried by a frame e which at its lower end is pinjointed to
the ends of links es which at their opposite ends at e are pivotally connected
with the frame a, and this frame e carries eccentric straps e which embrace
eccentrics fixed upon a shaft i mounted with capability of revolution in bearings a
carried by the frame a which shaft receives a rapid rotary motion through a
band wheel or pulley fixed thereon, which is coupled by a hand with a wheel
or pulley of larger diameter fixed upon the main shaft g', and a rapid oscillating
motion is thus given to the shaking device e.
By these means a rapid shaking motion is imparted to the plates or sheets . which
has the effect of completing the separation of any plates or sheets that may have
been imperfectly acted upon in the previous operations, and the plates finally issue
from the machine in the form represented at Figure 9.
If desired, and more especially when operating upon thick plates, one pair of
pressure rolls may be dispensed with, but the other devices would be retained, and
in some cases by reason of the nature of the plates, or the treatment to which they
have been subjected, the shaking device will probably be unnecessary in which cases
it may be dispensed with.
In the example given at Figures 10 to 14 the bending rolls are dispensed with
and two pairs of plain or pressure rolls ed are employed between which is arranged
a bending device consisting of a guide for the pile of plates & formed with a boss
arranged transversely of the guide 63 and vertically slotted to receive a slotted plate b
through the slot of which the pile is carried by the rolls cd.
The slotted plate is fixed with a link by its lower end pinjointed thereto and
which link at its upper end is furnished with an eccentric strap which embraces an
eccentric fixed upon the main shaft g' of the machine and the slotted bending plate
thereby receives a more or less rapid reciprocating motion.
In the passage of the pile of plates the oscillating slotted bending plate b
imparts an undulated or corrugated form thereto, whilst the second pair of rolls
serve to flatten the pile in the manner hereinbefore described with respect to the
previous arrangement.
The traverse of the slotted bending plate b is so arranged that it does not
actually nip the moving pile of plates against the guide 3 as shown more particularly
at Figure 14 and the passage therethrough of the pile is thus uninterrupted.
In this example the main shaft g' instead of being mounted at the end of the
machine as herein before described with respect to the previous arrangement is
centrally mounted above the machine but the means for communicating motion
to the pressure rolls and the means for giving motion to the shaking device are
identical with those described with respect to the previous arrangement.
If desired two pairs of pressure rolls may be arranged to act upon the collection
of plates issuing from the slotted bending plate.
It will be obvious that the means for communicating motion from the main shaft
to the various devices may be modified according to circumstances.
It will be understood that the foregoing are merely examples of some forms that
may be given to the lending apparatus, and that various other devices might a
employed for effecting the same object.
Although the primary object of the invention is the separation of black plates
intended to be subsequently passed through the well known tinning process, it is
equally applicable to the separation of other metal plates or sheets or sheets or plates

page_text: of other material which have become more or less united in consequence of having
been worked in the form of a pile.
By the means hereinbefore described the plates are separated in a rapid an'
continuous manner whilst at the same time a great saving is effected in the cost
of labour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. A process for separating the plates or sheets of a pile consisting in first bending
the pile or collection into a corrugated, waved, or undulated shape and then flattening
the same substantially as herein described.
2. A process for separating the plates or sheets of a pile consisting in first bending
the pile or collection into a corrugated waved or undulated shape then flattening, and
finally violently shaking the same substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising means for
bending the pile or collection of plates into a corrugated waved or undulated shape,
and for subsequently flattening the same substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
4. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising means for
bending the pile or collection of plates into a corrugated, waved or undulated shape,
means for subsequently flatteuing the same, and a device for finally violently shaking
the collection of plates substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
5. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising a pair of
toothed corrugated or fluted driven rolls between which the pile or collection of
plates is passed, and means for subsequently flattening the same substantially as
herein shown and described.
6. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising a pair of
toothed, corrugated or fluted bending rolls between which the pile or collection of
plates is passed, plain pressure rolls for flattening the pile upon leaving the bending
rolls, and suitable guides for conducting the pile or collection of plates into the grip
of the bending rolls, and into the grip of the pressure rolls substantially as herein
shown and described.
7. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising a
pair of
toothed corrugated or fluted driven rolls between which the pile or collection of plates
is passed, plain pressure rolls for flattening the pile upon leaving the bending rolls
toothed gearing for transmitting motion to the rolls such gearing being so pro-
portioned that the plain or pressure rolls will have a greater surface speed than the
bending rolls substantially as herein shown and described.
8. A machine for separating the plates or sheets of a pile comprising a
pair of
toothed, corrugated or fluted driven rolls between which the pile or collection of
plates is passed, plain pressure rolls for flatte::ing the pile upon leaving the bending
rolls, a device for violently shaking the pile or collection of plates upon issuing from
the pressure rolls, consisting of two rapidly reciprocating bars between which the
plates are passed, and suitable guides for conducting the plates to the bending, pressing
and shaking devices substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1896.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.