Method and apparatus for scrap coil transfer in continuous strip processing lines

Claim 2

In a continuous strip processing line, apparatus for the rapid removal of tail-end coil scrap from a cantilevered horizontal pay-off mandrel including stripper means, the apparatus comprising: an arm member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis spaced a given distance from the pay-off mandrel axis and parallel therewith, a transfer mandrel mounted on the arm member for rotation about an axis parallel to said fixed horizontal axis and spaced said given distance from said fixed horizontal axis, the arm member being swingable between a first position in which said transfer mandrel is coaxial with and in proximity to said pay-off mandrel and a second position in which the transfer mandrel is remote from said pay-off mandrel, power means for selectively swinging the arm member between said first and second positions, brake means for resisting the rotation of the transfer mandrel with respect to the arm member, and scrap coiler means including a scrap coiler mandrel parallel and in juxtaposed relation to the transfer mandrel when the arm member is in said second position.

Claim 3

The invention claimed in claim 1, which further comprises sleeve stripping means located in a fixed position so as to be in operating relation with the transfer mandrel when the arm member is in said second position, such that a sleeve on the transfer mandrel in said second position can be stripped therefrom after the coil scrap has been removed from the sleeve onto the scrap coiler means.

Claim 4

The invention claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a roll-out conveyor aligned with the transfer mandrel when said arm member is in said second position, such that sleeves stripped from said transfer mandrel can be removed.

Claim 5

The invention claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a car for the removal of coiled scrap from the scrap coiler means, and the scrap stripping means cooperating with said scrap coiler means to strip the coiled scrap from the scrap coiler means onto said car.

Claim 6

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the transfer mandrel has a plurality of friction bars recessed longitudinally into its outer surface and resiliently biased outwardly, thereby permitting a frictional grip of the coil scrap.

Claim 7

In a continuous strip processing line which includes a pay-off reel having a cantilevered horizontal pay-off mandrel including stripper means, a method of changing coils of strip each of which has a front-end and a tail-end portion of an off-gauge thickness, said method comprising the steps: providing an arm member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis spaced a given distance from the pay-off mandrel axis and parallel therewith, a transfer mandrel mounted on said arm member for rotation about an axis parallel to said fixed horizontal axis and spaced said given distance from said fixed horizontal axis, the arm member being swingable between a first position in which said transfer mandrel is coaxial with and in proximity to said pay-off mandrel and a second position in which the transfer mandrel is remote from said pay-off mandrel, swinging said arm member away from said first position, placing a first coil in position on said pay-off mandrel, winding the front-end portion of the first coil onto a scrap coiler in the processing line, halting the movement of the strip, severing the strip where its thickness is on-gauge, running the strip through the processing line until the tail-end portion of off-gauge thickness begins to feed from the coil, halting the movement of the strip, severing the strip where its thickness is on-gauge, stripping the coiled tail-end portion from the pay-off mandrel onto the transfer mandrel with the arm member in said first position, swinging the arm member to said second position, and removing said tail-end portion from the transfer mandrel while simultaneously placing a second coil in position on said pay-off mandrel.

Claim 8

In a continuous strip processing line which includes a pay-off reel having a cantilevered horizontal pay-off mandrel including stripper means, a method of changing coils of strip each of which has a front-end and a tail-end portion of an off-gauge thickness, said method comprising the steps: providing an arm member mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis spaced a given distance from the pay-off mandrel axis and parallel therewith, a transfer mandrel mounted on said arm member for rotation about an axis parallel to said fixed horizontal axis and spaced said given distance from said fixed horizontal axis, the arm member being swingable between a first position in which said transfer mandrel is coaxial with and in proximity to said pay-off mandrel and a second position in which the transfer mandrel is remote from said pay-off mandrel, swinging said arm member away from said first position, placing a first coil in position on said pay-off mandrel, winding the front-end portion of the first coil onto a scrap coiler in the processing line, halting the movement of the strip, severing the strip where its thickness is on-gauge, running the strip through the processing line until the tail-end portion of off-gauge thickness begins to feed from the coil, halting the movement of the strip, severing the strip where its thickness is on-gauge, stripping the coiled tail-end portion from the pay-off mandrel onto the transfer mandrel with the arm member in said first position, swinging the arm member to said second position, and removing said tail-end portion from the transfer mandrel while simultaneously placing a second coil in position on said pay-off mandrel.

Claim 9

The method claimed in claim 6, in which the step of removing said tail-end portion from the transfer mandrel is accomplished by winding the tail-end portion onto a scrap coiler having a scrap coiler mandrel in juxtaposed relation to the transfer mandrel.

Claim 10

The method claimed in claim 6, in which all coils of strip are wound on re-usable sleeves, and in which the step of removing said tail-end portion from the transfer mandrel is followed by the step of stripping the remaining sleeve from said transfer mandrel while the arm member is in said second position.