Treating strip metal

Claim 3

Apparatus for treating strip metal to ensure throughout the length of the strip substantial longitudinal uniformity of the distance between the longitudinal edges of the strip across the width thereof, said apparatus comprising means to move the strip lengthwise under tension, at least three freely rotatable work rolls including a first engaged work roll, a last engaged work roll and at least one intermediate work roll having strip-engaging surfaces; at least four back-up rolls between which the work rolls are rotatable, said back-up rolls having substantially equal diameters which are large as compared with the diameter of the work rolls; frame members supporting the back-up rolls for free rotation, and means engageable with opposite ends of the work rolls to constrain the work rolls against axial movement, two opposed ones of the back-up rolls co-operating with the work rolls to subject the strip to multiple bowing in directions substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip, and the diameters of the work rolls being so selected that the diameter of the first engaged work roll is less than that of the last engaged work roll and the diameter of each intermediate work roll is less than that of the first and last engaged work rolls.

Claim 4

Apparatus for treating strip metal to ensure throughout the length of the strip substantial longitudinal uniformity of the distance between the longitudinal edges of the strip across the width thereof, said apparatus comprising means to move the strip lengthwise under tension, at least three freely rotatable work rolls including a first engaged work roll, a last engaged work roll and at least one intermediate work roll having strip-engaging surfaces; at least four back-up rolls between which the work rolls are rotatable, said back-up rolls having substantially equal diameters which are large as compared with the diameter of the work rolls; frame members supporting the back-up rolls for free rotation, and means engageable with opposite ends of the work rolls to constrain the work rolls against axial movement, two opposed ones of the back-up rolls co-operating with the work rolls to subject the strip to multiple bowing in directions substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip, and the diameters of the work rolls being so selected that the diameter of the first engaged work roll is less than that of the last engaged work roll and the diameter of each intermediate work roll is less than that of the first and last engaged work rolls.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein two adjacent ones of said back-up rolls are supported by the frame members to be rotatable about fixed axes, and the other two back-up rolls are supported by the frame members for movement towards and away from the work rolls and have associated therewith adjusting devices operable to effect said movement.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means engaging ends of the work rolls comprises a flat plate hinged to a frame member and locking means operable to retain the plate in an adjusted roll end-engaging position thereof.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means engaging ends of the work roll comprises a flat plate hinged ta frame member and locking means operable to retain the plate in an adjusted roll end-engaging position thereof.

Claim 8

Apparatus for treating stirp metal to ensure throughout the length of the strip substantial longitudinal uniformity of the distance between longitudinal edges of the strip across the width thereof, said apparatus comprising means to move the strip lengthwise under tension, at least three freely rotatable work rolls and at least four back-up rolls between which the work rolls are rotatable, said back-up rolls having substantially equal diameters which are large as compared with the diameters of the work rolls, means supporting the back-up rolls for free rotation, two opposed ones of the back-up rolls cooperating with the work rolls to subject a strip to multiple bowing in direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of a strip being treated, and the diameters of the work rolls being so selected that the diameter of the first engaged work roll is less than that of the last engaged work roll and the diameter of each intermediate work roll is less than that of the first and last engaged work rolls, and the path of a strip relative to the work rolls being in contact with each of the work rolls less than 180*.

Claim 9

Apparatus for treating stirp metal to ensure throughout the length of the strip substantial longitudinal uniformity of the distance between longitudinal edges of the strip across the width thereof, said apparatus comprising means to move the strip lengthwise under tension, at least three freely rotatable work rolls and at least four back-up rolls between which the work rolls are rotatable, said back-up rolls having substantially equal diameters which are large as compared with the diameters of the work rolls, means supporting the back-up rolls for free rotation, two opposed ones of the back-up rolls cooperating with the work rolls to subject a strip to multiple bowing in direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of a strip being treated, and the diameters of the work rolls being so selected that the diameter of the first engaged work roll is less than that of the last engaged work roll and the diameter of each intermediate work roll is less than that of the first and last engaged work rolls, and the path of a strip relative to the work rolls being in contact with each of the work rolls less than 180*.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein one of said two opposed back-up rolls cooperates with said first engaged work roll and the other of said two opposed back-up rolls cooperates with said last engaged work roll.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein two other opposed ones of said back-up rolls engage said work rolls remote from the path of a strip between the work rolls.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein two other opposed ones of said back-up rolls engage said work rolls remote from the path of a strip between the work rolls, one of said two other opposed back-up rolls engaging both said first engaged work roll and said second engaged work roll, and the other of said two other opposed back-up rolls engaging at least said intermediate work roll and urging said intermediate work roll generally between said first and last engaged work rolls.