Method of and apparatus for connecting metal strips

Claim 1

In a metal strip connecting method including the steps of: clamping the tail end portion of a preceding metal strip; clamping the forward end portion of a succeeding metal strip; cutting said tail and forward end portion to required sizes; butting said end portion of said succeeding strip against said end portion of said preceding strip; welding the butted portions of said two strips; removing beads produced by the welding; and unclamping each of said strips, thus allowing the connector strips to travel subsequently, the improvement characterized by comprising: carrying out said cutting step by cutting means which are respectively mounted on frames secured to tables provided with clampers for clamping said strips and which are movable along a passage extending in the lateral direction of said strips; carrying out said welding step selectively by flash welding or laser-beam welding in accordance with the material of such strips; effecting said flash welding by supplying a flash current between said clampers; effecting said laser beam welding by means of a laser beam machining head which is mounted on the frames secured to either one of said tables and which is movable along said passage; carrying out said bead removing step by a pair of upper and lower bead removing means which are mounted on the frame secured to either one of said tables and which are movable along said passasge; moving, after said cutting step, said end portion of said succeeding strip toward said end portion of said preceding strip to an intermediate position; and correctively machining the respective end faces of said preceding and succeeding strips simultaneously by end face correctively machining means which is mounted on the frame secured to either one of said tables and which is movable along said passage.