Method for cutting scrap metal having staggered rows of substantially circular openings

Claim 1

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular sections have been removed to form corresponding substantially circular openings with the openings in each row being offset from the openings in the adjacent row or rows, said method comprising advancing the elongated strip or sheet longitudinally and cutting the same transversely along successive longitudinally spaced lines which are substantially parallel to a line passing through the centers of two adjacent openings in two adjacent rows of said openings.

Claim 2

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular sections have been removed to form corresponding substantially circular openings with the openings in each row being offset from the openings in the adjacent row or rows, said method comprising advancing the elongated strip or sheet longitudinally and cutting the same transversely along successive longitudinally spaced lines which are substantially parallel to a line passing through the centers of two adjacent openings in two adjacent rows of said openings.

Claim 11

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular sections have been removed to form corresponding substantially circular openings which are slightly spaced from each other with the centers of the openings in alternate rows being longitudinally positioned midway between the centers of the openings in intervening rows, said method comprising advancing the elongated strip or sheet longitudinally and cutting the same transversely along substantially parallel lines which are equally spaced from one another with alternate lines passing through the centers of adjacent openings in said alternate and intervening rows.

Claim 12

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular sections have been removed to form corresponding substantially circular openings which are slightly spaced from each other with the centers of the openings in alternate rows being longitudinally positioned midway between the centers of the openings in intervening rows, said method comprising advancing the elongated strip or sheet longitudinally and cutting the same transversely along substantially parallel lines which are equally spaced from one another with alternate lines passing through the centers of adjacent openings in said alternate and intervening rows.

Claim 14

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular sections have been removed to form corresponding rows of substantially circular openings with adjacent rows of said openings being staggered relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of providing a cutting unit having a pair of shear blades extending transversely across the elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal, positioning said cutting unit relative to said metal strip or sheet so that the cutting line of one of said blades passes substantially through the centers of two adjacent openings in two adjacent rows of said openings and the cutting line of the other of said blades intersects the longitudinal centerlines of said rows of openings substantially in the areas between adjacent openings in each of said rows, successively advancing the metal strip or sheet relative to said cutting unit by increments corresponding approximately to the distance between the centers of two adjacent openings in one of said rows, and cutting the strip or sheet with said shear blades after each incremental advancement thereof so that the strip or sheet is repetitively cut along said cutting lines. passes through the centers of adjacent openings 20a and 21a (FIG. 6), and cutting line 45 passes through the centers of adjacent openings 20b and 21b. The other cutting line in each pair, e.g., lines 44 and 46 followed by blade 26, intersects the longitudinal center lines 17 and 18 of the two rows of openings in the areas between the adjacent openings in each row. For example, cutting line 44 intersects the center line 17 of the openings 20 in the area of minimum thickness between adjacent openings 21a and 21b. As mentioned previously, the area of minimum thickness between any given pair of adjacent openings can be defined as the area between the points where a line connecting the centers of the two openings intersects the edges of such openings. Another significant advantage of the cutting pattern provided by this invention is that the major portion of each blade passes through the openings rather than through the metal, so that the total effective load is minimized, thereby reducing wear on the drive mechanism. Furthermore, each cutting cyCle is effected by only two shear blades, which can be readily synchronized with the punch press because the longitudinal width severed in each cutting cycle is the same as the width of metal advanced during each cycle of the blanking operation effected by the press. Finally, the cutting pattern can be achieved with the use of conventional shear cutting equipment, provided it is mounted at the correct angle relative to the scrap skeleton to follow the cutting lines illustrated in FIG. 6. 52 to permit limited longitudinal movement of the cutting unit. To adjust the longitudinal position of the cutting unit 23, the operator turns a manual adjustment wheel 53 which is connected via shaft 54 to a worm gear assembly 55 which converts rotational movement of the shaft 54 into longitudinal movement of a shaft 56 connected to the cutting unit 23. Consequently, by simply turning the manual adjustment wheel 43, the operator can precisely position the cutting unit 23 relative to the scrap skeleton so that the cutting line of one of the blades passes substantially through the centers of two adjacent openings in the two rows of openings, and the cutting line of the other blade intersects the longitudinal center lines 17 and 18 in the areas between adjacent openings in each row. As described previously, the feed rollers 22 then successively advance the scrap skeleton relative to the cutting unit 23 by increments corresponding approximately to the distance between the centers of two adjacent openings in the same row, and the shear blades 25 and 26 are automatically driven downwardly after each incremental advancement so that the skeleton is repetitively cut along successive pairs of cutting lines represented by lines 43, 44 and 45, 46. With the particular cutting pattern provided by this invention, it has been found that the diameter of the blanks removed from the metal strip in the punch press can be varied by as much as 5 percent to 25 percent with a given pair of shear blades. Provided the blades are positioned to the scrap skeletons so that the shear blades follow the cutting lines illustrated in FIG. 6 for one of the blank diameters. Subsequent variations in the blank diameters can be made while still realizing the basic advantages provided by the invention. As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, this invention provides an improved method and apparatus which on the scrap cutting equipment. I claim:

Claim 15

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular section have been removed to form corresponding rows of substantially circular openings with adjacent rows of said openings being staggered relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of providing a cutting unit having a pair of shear blades extending transversely across the elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal, positioning said cutting unit relative to said metal strip or sheet so that the cutting line of one of said blades passes substantially through the centers of two adjacent openings in two adjacent rows of said openings and the cutting line of the other of said blades intersects the longitudinal center lines of said rows of openings substantially in the areas between adjacent openings in each of said rows, successively advancing the metal strip or sheet relative to said cutting unit by increments corresponding approximately to the distance between the centers of two adjacent openings in one of said rows, and cutting the strip or sheet with said shear blades after each incremental advancement thereof so that the strip or sheet is repetitively cut along said cutting lines.

Claim 16

A method of cutting an elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal or the like from which two or more longitudinal rows of substantially circular section have been removed to form corresponding rows of substantially circular openings with adjacent rows of said openings being staggered relative to one another, said method comprising the steps of providing a cutting unit having a pair of shear blades extending transversely across the elongated strip or sheet of scrap metal, positioning said cutting unit relative to said metal strip or sheet so that the cutting line of one of said blades passes substantially through the centers of two adjacent openings in two adjacent rows of said openings and the cutting line of the other of said blades intersects the longitudinal center lines of said rows of openings substantially in the areas between adjacent openings in each of said rows, successively advancing the metal strip or sheet relative to said cutting unit by increments corresponding approximately to the distance between the centers of two adjacent openings in one of said rows, and cutting the strip or sheet with said shear blades after each incremental advancement thereof so that the strip or sheet is repetitively cut along said cutting lines.