US3577627A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for aligning strip in strip joining equipment
Assignee: Taylor Winfield Corp
•
Filing: 1968-03-26
•
Granted: 1971-05-04
•
Expires: 1988-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for joining metal strip in general end-toend relationship involving first aligning the strip lengths both transversely and angularly (to prevent dogleg) whereby the joint will be made so that the centerline of the strips will coincide with the longitudinal centerline of a machine. The control system includes, at each side of the joining means or welder, two sensors along one side of the strip which are interconnected by a sprocket and chain or equivalent means so that as one of the sensors follows the edge of the strip, the other will move correspondingly whereby both sensors will always be equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of the machine and one will control lateral movement of an auxiliary strip clamp to move the strip accordingly. A third sensor on the opposite side of the strip and of one of said sensor, and similarly linked thereto by a sprocket and chain or the like, is effective to control the main clamp to finally move the strip laterally so that its centerline will coincide with that of the machine. Similar controls are provided at the exit (tail end) and the entry (head end) of the machine. A fourth sensor control is optional to prevent the necessity of circuit switching.
Inventors
- 👤 Foster R Woodward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:05
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K37/00; B23K37/04; B23K37/0408; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49895
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for both longitudinally and laterally aligning the trailing end portion of a first strip length with the leading end portion of a second strip length preparatory to joining the two into one continuous strip length, comprising a pair of sensors along one side of said leading end portion, means for mechanically coupling said sensors so that they will move in unison equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said apparatus, one of said sensors sensing the position of a side edge of said leading end portion, an auxiliary clamp for clamping and laterally moving said leading end portion under the control of the other of said sensors to eliminate ''''dogleg,'''' and a third sensor on the opposite side of said leading end portion and mechanically coupled to said other sensor so as to move in synchronism therewith, and a main clamp controlled by said third sensor so as to move said leading end portion so that its longitudinal centerline will coincide with that of said apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for both longitudinally and laterally aligning the trailing end portion of a first strip length with the leading end portion of a second strip length preparatory to joining the two into one continuous strip length, comprising a pair of sensors along one side of said leading end portion, means for mechanically coupling said sensors so that they will move in unison equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said apparatus, one of said sensors sensing the position of a side edge of said leading end portion, an auxiliary clamp for clamping and laterally moving said leading end portion under the control of the other of said sensors to eliminate ''''dogleg,'''' and a third sensor on the opposite side of said leading end portion and mechanically coupled to said other sensor so as to move in synchronism therewith, and a main clamp controlled by said third sensor so as to move said leading end portion so that its longitudinal centerline will coincide with that of said apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first two mentioned sensors are mechanically coupled by chain and sprocket means and wherein said third sensor and the oppositely disposed sensor are mechanically coupled by chain and sprocket means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary clamp embodies a relatively small clamping area as compared to said main clamp so as to allow pivotal movement about its center of said leading end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with a pair of sensors along one side of said trailing end portion, means for mechanically coupling said last mentioned sensors so that they will move in unison equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said apparatus, one of said last mentioned sensors sensing the position of a side edge of said trailing end portion, an auxiliary clamp for clamping and laterally moving said trailiNg end portion under the control of the other of said last mentioned sensors to eliminate ''''dogleg,'''' and a third sensor on the opposite side of said trailing end portion and mechanically coupled to said other last mentioned sensor so as to move in synchronism therewith, and a main clamp controlled by said last mentioned third sensor so as to move said trailing end portion so that its longitudinal centerline will coincide with that of said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 together with a fourth sensor coupled to said first mentioned sensor operable in conjunction with said other sensor to allow said first mentioned sensor to work in conjunction with said third sensor to laterally slide said main clamp.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
200 words
The method of positioning a metal strip length in joining apparatus just prior to joining it with another strip length in a continuous strip processing line, which comprises following, with a first sensor, one edge portion of said metal strip length, moving a longitudinally spaced second sensor in exact accordance with said first sensor by coupling them together so that both sensors will always be equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said processing line, lightly clamping by an auxiliary clamp and thereby transversely moving the end portion of said metal strip length to be joined in response to movements of said second sensor until the centerline of said metal strip length is parallel to the centerline of said processing line so as to eliminate dogleg, sensing by a third sensor while always spacing it from said first sensor by the width of said metal strip length, transversely across said first sensor, the opposite longitudinal edge of said metal strip length, clamping by the main welding clamp, said metal strip end portion and moving said main welding clamp transversely in response to said third sensor until the centerline of said metal strip length coincides with the centerline of said processing line.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
200 words
The method of positioning a metal strip length in joining apparatus just prior to joining it with another strip length in a continuous strip processing line, which comprises following, with a first sensor, one edge portion of said metal strip length, moving a longitudinally spaced second sensor in exact accordance with said first sensor by coupling them together so that both sensors will always be equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said processing line, lightly clamping by an auxiliary clamp and thereby transversely moving the end portion of said metal strip length to be joined in response to movements of said second sensor until the centerline of said metal strip length is parallel to the centerline of said processing line so as to eliminate dogleg, sensing by a third sensor while always spacing it from said first sensor by the width of said metal strip length, transversely across said first sensor, the opposite longitudinal edge of said metal strip length, clamping by the main welding clamp, said metal strip end portion and moving said main welding clamp transversely in response to said third sensor until the centerline of said metal strip length coincides with the centerline of said processing line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method recited in claim 1 together with forming a strip loop for manipulation immediately after said main clamp is closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said entire method is also applied to said another strip length before joining by welding to said metal strip length, whereby both lengths are made free of dogleg and are made coincidental with the centerline of said processing line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 1 including mechanically coupling said third sensor to said first sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling is effected manually.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2219049A
Cited
US2827809A
Cited
US3190525A
Cited
US3198413A
Cited
US3370771A
Cited
US3355079A
Cited
US3338498A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |