Means and method of slotting strip metal

Claim 3

A method of forming longitudinal slots in strip material according to claim 1 wherein said driving of the strip is effected by engaging one end of the strip with a dog on a transport chain, and driving the transport chain with an electric motor.

Claim 4

A method of forming longitudinal slots in strip material according to claim 1 wherein said driving of the strip is effected by securing the strip to a table and driving the table with an electric motor.

Claim 5

A method of forming longitudinal slots in strip material according to claim 2 wherein the electric motor is a variable speed direct current motor, and comprising controlling the speed of said motor by means of a tacho-generator coupled for drive to the slotting rollers and electrically coupled to said electric motor through a circuit which includes direct current feedback control means.

Claim 6

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in a non-flexible strip material having a constant cross-sectional shape, the slotted strip material to be expanded by drawing edges thereof apart, comprising a frame, a series of co-axial slotting rollers rotatably supported by the frame, each of said slotting rollers having at least one radial projection extending around it for part but not all of its circumference and terminating at its ends in curved surfaces which extend in radial directions, back-up means spaced from the rollers but being adjacent thereto so as to define with the rollers a cutting zone, transport means carried by the frame, drive means coupled to the rollers for rotational driving thereof, and further drive means coupled To the transport means for the driving thereof at a speed which exceeds the pitch cutting speed of the rollers, so constructed and arranged that a said strip of material when supported on the back-up means is driven by the transport means through the cutting zone while simultaneously the slotting rollers are driven rotationally, and said projections shear slugs from the strip so as to form slots.

Claim 7

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in a non-flexible strip material having a constant cross-sectional shape, the slotted strip material to be expanded by drawing edges thereof apart, comprising a frame, a series of co-axial slotting rollers rotatably supported by the frame, each of said slotting rollers having at least one radial projection extending around it for part but not all of its circumference and terminating at its ends in curved surfaces which extend in radial directions, back-up means spaced from the rollers but being adjacent thereto so as to define with the rollers a cutting zone, transport means carried by the frame, drive means coupled to the rollers for rotational driving thereof, and further drive means coupled To the transport means for the driving thereof at a speed which exceeds the pitch cutting speed of the rollers, so constructed and arranged that a said strip of material when supported on the back-up means is driven by the transport means through the cutting zone while simultaneously the slotting rollers are driven rotationally, and said projections shear slugs from the strip so as to form slots.

Claim 8

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 wherein said frame includes two pairs of upstanding slides, respective said bearings being guided for vertical movement between the slides of said pairs, and threaded members interconnecting the bearings and frame and constituting adjustment means for effecting adjustment of height of the bearings.

Claim 9

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 wherein said back-up means comprise a back-up roller journalled in roller support bearings secured to the frame.

Claim 10

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 7 comprising further threaded members coupling the roller support bearings and the frame and constituting position adjustment means for the back-up roller for adjusting the position of the back-up roller in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the strip material.

Claim 11

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 7 wherein each of said back-up roller and said series of sliding rollers comprises a shaft, a shoulder at one end of the shaft, a series of annular spacers surrounding the shaft, clamping means clamping the annular spacers against the shoulder, and a tapered recess in each end of each respective said shaft.

Claim 12

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 further comprising an in-feed roll case carried by the frame and extending in one direction from the cutting zone, and an out-put roll case extending in the opposite direction therefrom.

Claim 13

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 10 further comprising height adjustment means between each said roll case and said frame.

Claim 14

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 10 further comprising a hold-down roller positioned above the out-feed roll case and adapted to bear against the upper surface of the workpiece at the out-feed side of said cutting zone.

Claim 15

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 wherein the slots of each said slotting roller radial projection decrease progressively in thickness radially inwardly from the periphery thereof to form a cutting clearance.

Claim 16

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 further comprising stripper plates between adjacent said slotting rollers, said stripper plates being positioned to bear against a surface of said strip material as said slots are formed therein.

Claim 17

Means for forming longitudinally extending slots in strip material according to claim 5 wherein said drive means comprise an hydraulic motor coupled to said roll shaft, a tacho-generator coupled to said roller shaft, a direct current electric motor coupled to said transport means, and an electrical circuit interconnecting the tacho-generator and the direct electric current motor.

Claim 18

Means according to claim 5 wherein said non-flexible material is metal.