United States Patent (19) 11 4,298,633

Bradlee 45) Nov. 3, 1981

54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR Primary Examiner-Evan K. Lawrence
TENSIONING METALLIC STRIPS ON A Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Biebel, French & Nauman
SLITTING LINE
(57) ABSTRACT
(75) Inventor: Charles R. Bradlee, Sidney, Ohio A method of tensioning metallic strips on a slitting line
73) Assignee: The Monarch Machine Tool is combined with the steps of uncoiling a metallic web
Company, Sidney, Ohio having a non-uniform cross sectional thickness from an
uncoiler, slitting the web into a plurality of strips having
(21) Appl. No.: 161,86 varying thicknesses, and recoiling the strips into indi
22 Filed: Jun. 19, 1980 vidual strip coils on a recoiler, the tensioning method
being the additional step of depositing a strippable poly
(51) Int. Cl. ......................... B05C 9/10; B65H23/04 meric compound onto thinner strips so that the effective
52 U.S. C. ...................................... 427/172; 118/33; cross sectional thicknesses of the thinner strips is in
118/38; 427/178; 427/292; 427/156 creased to that of the thicker strips so that the strip coils
58) Field of Search ............................. 118/33, 38,39; formed from the strips are of similar diameter and recoil
427/178,292, 172; 242/56.2 the strips at the same rate, thereby preventing the for
(56) References Cited mation of slack strips. The apparatus includes a hot melt
unit for generating strippable plastic in liquid form, a
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS hot melt gun communicating with the apparatus, a sup
1,271,885 7/1918 Freydberg ............................ 18/38 port frame and movable arm on which the gun is
2,726,051 12/1955 Deuchert ..... ... 242/56.9 X mounted, and a motor driving a rack and pinion for
3,685,711 8/1972 Gay .......... ... 242/56.2 X positioning the hot melt gun over a selected strip coil.
3,771,738 11/1973 Abbey ...... ... 226/195X
4,093,140 6/1978 Matsunaga w we se - we so wea as a 242/56.2 16 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures
U.S. Patent Nov. 3, 1981 Sheet 1 of 5 4,298,633

FIG-1 PRIOR ART

U.S. Patent Nov. 3, 1981 Sheet 2 of 5 4,298,633
U.S. Patent Nov. 3, 1981 Sheet 3 of 5 4,298,633
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U.S. Patent Nov. 3, 1981 Sheet 5 of 5 4,298,633
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coils. However, this results in a slack strip condition
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING between the device and the slitter. As a result, it is
METALLIC STRIPS ON A SLTTING LINE. necessary to include a looping pit in combination with
these tensioning devices so that the slack strips may
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 drop down into the pit during the coiling operation.
1. Field of the Invention While the use of a looping pit and tensioning rolls is a
The present invention relates to methods and appara simple expedient, the cost of excavating a looping pit is
tus for recoiling metallic strips on a slitting line, and considerable and makes the relocation of the slitting line
more particularly to those methods and devices imple 10 extemely impractical.
menting steps or components for maintaining uniform A second solution to the problem is disclosed in U.S.
tension in the strips as they are being recoiled. Pat. Nos. 4,093, 140 and 2,726,051. These patents dis
2. Prior Art close slitting lines in which the strip coils are wound on
Sheet metal produced by strip mills is typically sold individual drums mounted on the mandrel of a recoiler.
in large, coiled rolls since the cost of producing sheet 15 The mandrel turns at a speed that exceeds that of any of
metal on a per pound basis varies inversely with the the individual drums which slip relative to the mandrel.
width of the sheet produced. Those purchasing these This permits a variation in the rotational speeds of the
large coils and desiring to manufacture various products drums and eliminates slack strips. An inherent disadvan
from the sheet metal find it necessary to have the sheet tage of such systems is the complexity and expense of
metal slit into narrow strips on a slitting line. The basic the specially designed recoiler and drums. In addition, if
components of a slitting line are an uncoiler, on which 20 strips of varying sizes are to be cut by the slitter, it is
is mounted the coiled sheet metal, a slitting machine necessary to change the width of the drums on the
having upper and lower rolls fitted with a plurality of recoiler mandrel making it necessary to maintain a stock
knife edges which interact to slit the web from the of drums of varying widths.
coiled sheet metal into a plurality of strips, and a re Another solution consists of inserting slips of paper
coiler having a mandrel on which the slitted strips are 25 into the nip of a strip coil formed from the thinner strips.
recoiled into individual strip coils. In addition, a typical The addition of paper between successive windings of
slitting line may contain a number of other components the selected strip coil increases the diameter of the strip
such as edge control devices to maintain the horizontal coil for a given number of windings so that it approxi
orientation of the web as it is being fed into the slitter, .
pinch rolls which facilitate the entry of the strip into the 30 mates that of a strip coil formed from the thicker center
cutter, and drag wipes for maintaining proper tension strips.
ing of the strips as they are taken up on the recoiler. There are many disadvantages inherent in this
A problem inherent in the operation of all slitting method. Paper has become exceedingly expensive for
lines is caused by the variation in thickness across the such a use and would increase the cost of the slitting
width of the sheet. Present sheet metal forming pro 35 operation. In addition, any moisture contained in the
cesses result in sheet metal that is thinner at its longitu paper would cause the strip it contacted to rust if the
dinal edges than at its center, resulting in a "crowned' material slit was capable of rusting. There is also a dan
contour or slight convexity across its width. As sheet ger of the paper combining with oil to stain the metal,
metal having such a crowned contour is slit and re which is undesirable when the metal is to be left un
coiled into separate strip coils on the recoiler, the strips 40 painted and visible to the eye when incorporated with
formed from the portion of the web adjacent its longitu the finished product. And, in applications which the
dinal edges are thinner than those formed from the paper strips are inserted by hand, there exists the danger
center of the web. that the person injecting the paper may become man
Strip coils formed from the thinner outer strips do not gled by the recoiler.
increase in diameter at the same rate as those strip coils 45 Accordingly, it is desirable to operate a slitting line in
formed from the thicker center strips. For a given num a fashion that eliminates the generation of slack strips
ber of mandrel revolutions, the diameter of a strip coil between the slitter and the recoiler and does not require
made up of successive windings of thin strips will be less expensive looping pits, recoilers with separate drums,
than one made up of successive windings of thick strips. or the use of paper strips which increase cost and mar
The result is that, for each revolution of the mandrel on 50 the product.
the recoiler, a shorter length of a thin strip is being SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
wound onto its respective strip coil than that wound
onto the thicker center coils. Since the metal web is fed The present invention provides an improved method
into the slitter at the same rate across its width, this and apparatus for tensioning metallic strips on a slitting
difference in recoiling rate results in a slackening of the 55 line in which the effective thickness of the thin outer
thin strips from the slitter to the recoiler while the strips is increased to that of the thick inner strips so that
thicker strips remain properly tensioned. If a large coil the strip coils formed from the strips are of similar diam
of sheet metal is being slit on a slitting line, a consider eter and recoil the strips at the same rate, thereby pre
able amount of slack strip is generated and results in venting the formation of slack strips between the slitter
fouling of the slitting line and danger to the personnel in 60 and the recoiler. The effective thickness of the thinner
the immediate area of the recoiler. Strips is increased by depositing on them a strippable
Many devices have been used in combination with a polymeric compound in liquid form prior to the recoil
slitting line in order to compensate for the formation of ing of the selected strip. As the thinner strip is recoiled
slack strips between the slitter and the recoiler. For with the strippable thermoplastic material, the material
example, U.S. Pat, Nos. 3,771,738 and 3,685,711 disclose 65 hardens and is held between successive windings of
a tensioner having a pair of rollers used for maintaining strips as they are coiled on the mandrel of the recoiler.
tension between the tensioner and the recoiler, thereby .
insuring proper tensioning of the strips on the strip toThethethickness of the polymeric compound is then added
thickness of the thin strips to form a strip coil that
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is comparable in diameter to that of the coils formed slitter so that the polymeric compound is deposited onto
from the thicker center strips. Since the strip coils have the top of the strip after it has been taken up on the strip
the same effective diameter during the recoiling opera coil but before it is overlapped.
tion, the length of metal strip recoiled into each strip The hot melt applicator and the valve in the hot melt
coil for every revolution of the recoiler mandrel is the gun are preferably pneumatically operated and both can
same. Therefore, the rate of take up of the slit strips is be operated from a single source of compressed air. The
uniform across the width of the web and the production motor is preferably hydraulically operated, and can be
of slack strips is eliminated. driven by a small hydraulic power unit positioned con
The method of the present invention is combined veniently on the support frame.
with a typical slitting method which includes the steps 10 The controls for the hydraulic motor and pneumatic
of uncoiling a metallic web having a non-uniform cross valve in the hot melt gun preferably are integrated onto
sectional thickness from an uncoiler, slitting the web by a master control panel from which the entire slitting line
a slitter into a plurality of strips having varying thick is operated. Thus, a single operator can activate the
nesses, and recoiling the strips into individual strip coils slitting line and then, as needed, activate the hot melt
on a recoiler, the tensioning method consisting of de 15 apparatus to prevent slack strips from being generated
positing a strippable polymeric compound onto the by the slitter. The hazards of the operation and of the
thinner strips after the slitting step so that the effective entire installation are decreased, and the manpower
cross sectional thickness of the thinner strips is in needs are minimized, since only one operator is required
creased, thereby preventing the formation of slack and he is positioned at a station removed from the im
strips during operation of the recoiler. The strippable mediate vicinity of the slitting line. W
polymeric compound is preferably a polymer selected Operation of a slitting line incorporating the inven
from the group consisting of ethylcellulose, cellulose tion is not complicated. After the metal web has been
acetate butyrate and polyethylene. To enhance strippa unwound from a coil mounted on the uncoiler and
bility, the selected polymer can be combined with a properly threaded through the slitter and the resultant
suitable quantity of light machine oil. The polymeric 25
strips have been attached to the individual strip coils of
compound can be deposited onto the thinner strips at an the recoiler, the operator will activate the slitting line
upper surface of the thinner strips just as they are being and the recoiling process will increase up to the full
rewound into the strip coils, injected into the nip of the operating speed. As the outer strips begin to slacken
selected strip coil, or deposited on the upper surface of between the slitter and the recoiler, the operator then
a selected strip after it has been wound onto the strip 30 activates the hydraulic motor which, through the rack
coil but before it has been overlapped by another wind and pinion, moves the arm to position the hot melt gun
ing of strip material.
The apparatus for performing the method of the in over a selected slack strip. The operator then activates
vention is combined with typical slitting line apparatus the pneumatic valve in the hot melt gun and a stream of
such as an uncoiler for uncoiling a roll of coiled sheet 35 strippable polymeric compound is deposited on the
steel having non-uniform cross sectional thickness, a strip. After the compound is deposited on the strip, it
slitter for slitting the sheet steel into a plurality of strips hardens and is recoiled into the individual strip coil; the
having varying thicknesses, and a recoiler for recoiling thickness of the compound adding to the thickness of
the strips into individual strip coils. The additional com the thinner strips to increase the effective thickness of
ponent consists of a hot melt applicator having a hot 40 the strip and maintain a diameter of the strip coil equiva
melt gun capable of being positioned adjacent a selected lent to that of the strip coils made up of the inner thicker
one of the thinner strips for depositing the polymeric strips. The slackness being removed from one selected
compound thereon and means for positioning the gun strip, the operator can then reposition the hot melt gun
adjacent a selected strip. by activating the hydraulic motor to deposit the strippa
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hot 45 ble compound on a second selected strip, usually one
melt applicator is mounted on a support frame having at formed from a portion of the web proximate its outer
least one pair of guides mounted thereon and includes longitudinal edge.
an arm which slidably engages the guides and carries A slitting line incorporating the invention can be used
the hot melt gun which is fed by the applicator by to slit coils of such materials as steel, aluminum, brass,
means of an insulated hose. The arm is moved relative 50 copper, and stainless steels. Galvanized metals, which
to the support frame by means of a rack and pinion may vary in thickness randomly across the width of the
arrangement; the rack is mounted on the upper surface web, could require plastic injection at any strip coil, so
of the arm and the pinion is attached to the drive shaft it is necessary that the arm be designed to travel the full
of a motor mounted on the support frame. The motor width of the recoiler.
and a valve operating the hot melt gun are preferably 55 The slitting line of the present invention possesses
remotely controlled from a single station so that a single several advantages over prior art slitting lines. The
operator can at once position the arm and thus the hot generation of slack strips between the slitter and the
melt gun and activate the hot melt gun. recoiler is prevented by the hot melt applicator appara
The support frame is preferably positioned adjacent tus and thereby eliminates the need for looping pits,
the portion of the recoiler at which the strip is first 60 thus greatly reducing the overall cost of the installation
taken up into the strip coils so that the hot melt gun can and the safety hazards attendant with the presence of a
be positioned to deposit the polymeric compound onto looping pit in the shop floor. In addition, the method
the upper surface of the strips before they are coiled on and apparatus of eliminating the slack strips does not
the recoiler. Alternately, the support frame can be low have the inherent safety hazards of other methods, such
ered and the hot melt gun adjusted so that it can be 65 as manually inserting paper strips into the nip of the
positioned to inject the compound into the nip of the strip coils. The entire operation can be orchestrated
selected strip coil. In a third position, the support frame from a single console in which the operator can both
is located adjacent the side of the recoiler opposite the adjust the speed and action of the slitting line and posi
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tion and activate the hot melt applicator and hot melt As a web 24 having a crowned contour is passed
gun. through and cut by a slitter of a typical prior art slitting
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro line and the individual strips 26 generated are rewound
vide a slitting line in which the generation of slack strips into individual strip coils 28 on the recoiler 14, the strip
by the slitter is compensated for in the recoiling opera coils composed of the strips from the side portions 34 of
tion; to provide a method and apparatus for preventing the web do not increase in diameter as rapidly as those
the generation of slack strips which is inherently safe strip coils composed of strips from the center portion 32
for an operator of the slitting line; and to provide a of the web since, for every revolution of the recoiler,
method and apparatus for eliminating the generation of the diameter of the strip coils made up of thinner strips
slack strips which is relatively inexpensive and can be 10 is increased by a lesser amount. Therefore, for each
retrofitted onto existing slitting lines. revolution of the recoiler, a shorter length of strip 26 is
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be recoiled onto those strip coils 28 consisting of the side
apparent from the following description, the accompa portions 34 of the web 24 than the length of strip re
nying drawings and the appended claims. coiled onto those strip coils consisting of the center
15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS portion 32 of the web. The result is that outer strips, as
at 36 and 37 become slack between the slitter 12 and the
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of a recoiler 14 and must be retained by means such as a
slitting line of the prior art, including a looping pit; looping pit 38. The inner strips as at 40 and 41, however,
FIG. 2 is a fragmented view of an end section of a 20
are not slack and can be recoiled tightly by the recoiler
metal web showing portions adjacent the longitudinal 14. Tensioning apparatus 18 is often used to maintain
edge of the metal web and a portion from the center of uniform tension of the strip coils 28. However, this
the metal web; tends to worsen the problem of slack outer strips 36, 37.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a slitting line embodying As shown in FIG. 3, the slitting line of the present
the invention; 25 invention basically includes an uncoiler 10, slitter 12,
FIG. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus of the inven and recoiler 14, but does not require means such as
tion taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3; looping pit 38 to compensate for the generation of slack
FIG. 5 is a section of the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken at strips. The slitting line of the present invention also
line 5-5; includes a hot melt depositing apparatus, generally des
FIG. 6 is a section of the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken at 30 ignated 42, which is positioned between the slitter 12
line 6-6; and the recoiler 14 adjacent the recoiler. The controls
FIG. 7 is an end view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4 44 for the hot melt depositing apparatus 42 can be inte
and showing the hot melt gun and a fragment of a strip grated into a common control panel 46 for the entire
coil treated in the method of the invention; line at a single operator station 48.
FIG. 8 is an alternate embodiment of the invention; 35 The depositing apparatus 42 is best shown in FIGS. 4,
FIG. 9 is a second alternate embodiment of the inven 5, 6, and 7. A hot melt unit 50 is mounted on a frame 52
tion; which can be bolted to the base 54 of the recoiler 14.
FIG. 10 is a third alternate embodiment of the inven The hot melt unit 50 communicates with a hot melt gun
tion; and 56 by means of a heated conduit 58. The hot melt unit 50
FIG. 11 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken is well-known in the art and is available in a variety of
at lines 11-11. designs and capacities. The hot melt unit 50 of the pre
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ferred embodiment must be capable of receiving a quan
tity of polymeric compound, heating the compound to a
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT liquid state, and conveying the compound to the gun 56
For the purposes of background, FIG. 1 shows some 45 by means of the insulated conduit 58. Similarly, the gun
what schematically a conventional slitting line which 56 and insulated conduit 58 are well-known in the art.
includes an uncoiler 10, slitter 12, and recoiler 4. The The hot melt gun 56 includes a pneumatic valve 60
prior art slitting line may include other components located between an air supply line 62 and the gun sup
such as pinch rolls 16 to facilitate entry of the strip into ply line 64. The air supply line 62 is connected to a
the cutter and tensioning apparatus 18 to maintain the 50 source of compressed air (not shown) and also may be
tension of the strips being recoiled. In accordance with used to charge the hot melt unit 50 through hot melt
accepted practice, a coil 20 of sheet metal or the like is supply line 66 to enable the hot melt material to be
placed upon an unwind mandrel 22 and a web 24 is propelled through the insulated conduit 58. The pneu
uncoiled from the coil and trained through the slitter 12. matic valve 60 is electrically powered and receives its
The web 24 is slit by the slitter 12 into a plurality of 55 power from a control panel 68 by means of an electrical
strips 26 which are recoiled into individual strip coils 28 conduit 70. Control panel 68 is activated by controls 44
mounted on a mandrel 30 and separated by discs 31, all and connected to control panel 46 by suitable means
forming part of the recoiler 14. (not shown). Thus, when valve 60 is activated and air
As shown in FIG. 2, an end section of web 24 devi from supply line 62 pressurizes gun supply line 64, a
ates from a perfect rectangular configuration. The cen 60 normally closed valve in gun 56 is opened, permitting a
ter portion 32 of the web 24 has a thickness greater than quantity of compound to flow from conduit 58 through
that of the side portions 34 adjacent the longitudinal the gun.
edges of the web 24. Typically, on a web 24 having a The support frame 52 has an upper cross member 72
center portion as thick as 0.060 inches the side portions which supports a mounting consisting of an angle mem
34 could be as thin as 0.058 inches. A web 24 having an 65 ber 73 having one leg attached to an arch-shaped mem
end configuration such as that depicted in FIG. 2 is said ber 74, with a motor 75 secured to the outer leg of
to have a "crowned' contour since the cross sectional member 73. Motor 75 is connected to a hydraulic power
profile of the web shows a slight convexity. unit 76 consisting of an electric motor driven pump 78
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4,298,633 8
and reservoir 80. Hydraulic lines 82 connect the hy For all four embodiments, the operation of the slitting
draulic motor 75 with the reservoir 80. line and hot melt unit 50 is essentially the same. After a
Upper cross member 72 also supports an arm 84 coil 20 of sheet metal has been mounted on the unwind
which slidably engages two pairs of guides 85, 86. mandrel 22 of uncoiler 10, a web 24 is unwound and fed
Guides 85 are attached to a first arch-shaped member 74 into slitter 12. After the slitter has been activated and
and guides 86 are attached to a second arch-shaped the web is slit into strips 26, the strips are fed into indi
member 87 enclosed by shroud 88. The second arch vidual strip coils 28 separated by discs 31 or other
shaped member 87 and shroud 88 are mounted to the known means and carried on rewind mandrel 30 of
upper cross member 72. A rack 89 is fastened to the top recoiler 14 (see FIG. 3).
of arm 84 and engages a pinion 90 mounted on the drive O Continued operation of the slitting line results in the
shaft of the hydraulic motor 75. Limit switches 92 are generation of slack outer strips 36 and taut inner strips
positioned on the upper cross member 72 adjacent the 40, resulting from variations in cross sectional thickness
hydraulic motor 75 and are an integral part of a control of web 24 as explained previously. An operator standing
circuit within control panel 46. Knobs 93 protrude from at operator station 48 then implements controls 44 first
arm 84 to activate switches 92 thereby shutting off 5 to activate motor 75 so that rotation of pinion 90 causes
motor 75 when the arm 84 has extended or retracted to rack 89 and arm 84 to extend outwardly from frame 52
a predetermined point. to position hot melt gun 56 above a selected outer strip
Hot melt gun 56 is attached to the end of arm 84 by 36 which is beginning to sag between slitter 10 and
a bracket 94 and, in the preferred embodiment, is di recoiler 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The operator can then
rected downwardly toward the upper surface 96 of an activate hot melt unit 50 and open pneumatic valve 60
outer strip 36 (see FIG. 7). The heated conduit 58 which to activate gun 56 to squirt the liquid polymeric com
feeds hot melt gun 56 from a reservoir within hot melt pound 100 onto the upper surface 96 of selected outer
unit 50 and the pneumatic gun supply line 64 which strip 36.
extends to the hot melt gun from pneumatic valve 60 are As shown in FIG. 7, continued deposition of poly
carried beneath arm 84 by U-bolts 98. Heated circuit 58 25 meric compound 100 onto selected outer strip 36 results
and gun supply line 64 form a loop beneath upper cross in a strip coil 28 made up of successive layers of outer
member 72 which extends away from strip coils 28 as strips 36 and beads 101 of polymeric compound 100.
arm 84 is retracted toward frame 52 to avoid fouling of Thus, the effective thickness of the selected outer strip
the recoiling operation by the conduit and supply line. 36 is increased and the resulting strip coil 28 has a diam
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 30 eter, for a given number of revolutions of rewind man
and 7, frame 52 is of sufficient height so that arm 84 drel 30, similar to that of a strip coil made up of inner
extends over the top of the strip coils 28 so that the strips 40 (see FIGS. 4 and 7). The aforementioned pro
polymeric compound 100 can be deposited as a bead 101 cess can be repeated for various strip coils 28 made up
on the upper surface 96 of strip 36 prior to the coiling of of outer strips 36, as needed.
the strip. However, as shown in FIG. 8, frame 52 can 35 Preferably, the hot melt compound is a strippable
be shortened so that arm 84 is positioned to extend or polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylcel
retract along the nips 102 of the strip coils 28. Hot melt lulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, and polyethylene.
gun 56' is pivoted on its bracket so that the liquid poly Such materials harden rapidly and are easily removed as
meric compound 100 is injected into the nip 102 of the the coils are uncoiled. Due to the inherent nature of the
selected strip coil 28. 40 polymer compounds, the flattened beads fall off of the
In another embodiment, shown in F.G. 9, the frame strips as they are uncoiled by the ultimate user. No
52' is mounted to base 54 of recoiler 4 on the outside damage or marring of the strips results. In some in
of the slitting line. Arm 84' is positioned on frame 52' stances, it is desirable to mix a quantity of machine oil
so that the hot melt gun 56' can deposit the polymeric with the hot melt material to increase the strippability
compound 100 onto the upper surface 96 of a selected 45 of the hardened hot melt material.
outer strip 36 after it has been coiled onto the respective The above description of the method and apparatus
strip coil 28 but before it has been overlapped by succes of the invention demonstrates the safety and economy
sive lengths of outer strips 36. of those slitting lines implementing the invention. All
In a third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a phases of the hot melt depositioning process can be
smaller hot melt unit 50' is mounted on the end of arm controlled from an operator station from which the
84' by mounting plate 104 above bracket 94' and hot other operations of the sitting line can be controlled.
melt gun 56' instead of on the frame. Hot melt gun 56' Thus, only a single operator is necessary during the
is fed by heated conduit 58" from the hot melt unit 50" slitting operation.
and the on/off valve within the gun is activated by In addition, the single operator is removed a safe
supply line 64". Hot melt unit 50' is activated by hot 55 distance from the operation of the slitting line thereby
melt supply line 66' in a manner similar to that shown reducing the danger of the operator being injured by
in FIG. 4 for hot melt supply line. Air flow through the operation of the various components of the sitting
supply line 64' is controlled by an electrical solenoid line.
valve on the frame, and both supply lines 64', and 66' While the forms of apparatus herein described consti
are fed by an air supply line, all in a manner similar to 60 tute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be
that of the comparable elements shown in FIG. 4. understood that the invention is not limited to these
In this fashion, hot melt unit 50'40 travels with the precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be
gun 56' on arm 84" and eliminates the need for heated made therein without departing from the scope of the
hose 58' to extend the length of the arm and thereby invention.
eliminates stress fatigue that might occur to the heated 65 What is claimed is:
hose caused by repeated extensions and retractions of i. In combination with a metal slitting operation in
the arm. Supply lines 64", 66' can be secured beneath cluding the steps of uncoiling a web having a non
arm 84' by suitable means such as U-bolts. uniform cross sectional thickness from a metal coil,
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slitting said web into a plurality of strips having varying 10. The slitting line of claim 9 wherein said position
thicknesses and recoiling said strips into individual strip ing means includes:
coils, the method of tensioning strips comprising the a support frame;
step of: at least one pair of guides mounted on said frame;
depositing a flowable material onto thinner strips 5 an arm having said hot melt gun mounted thereon and
after said slitting step and hardening said material slidably engaging said guides; and
during said recoiling step such that said material is means for moving said arm relative to said frame such
overlapped by successive windings of said thinner that said hot melt gun is positioned to deposit said
strips, the amount of flowable material deposited compound onto said selected thinner strip.
being such as to increase the effective cross sec 10 11. The slitting line of claim 10 wherein said means
tional thickness of said thinner strips so that all strip for moving said arm includes:
coils are of comparable diameter, thereby eliminat a rack mounted on said arm;
ing slackness in said strips. a pinion engaging said rack and a motor driving said
2. The method of tensioning strips of claim 1 wherein pinion;
said flowable material is a thermoplastic material. 15 a first control for activating said motor thereby caus
3. The method of tensioning strips of claim 1 wherein ing said pinion to move said rack and said arm
said thermoplastic material is a strippable polymeric relative to said frame to position said hot melt gun
compound. to deposit said compound onto said selected thin
4. The method of tensioning strips of claim 1 wherein ner strip; and
said material is deposited on an upper surface of said 20 a second control, integral with said first control, for
thinner strips. activating said hot melt applicator when said hot
5. The method of tensioning strips of claim 1 wherein melt gun is positioned proximate said selected thin
said material is deposited onto said thinner strips at the ner strip.
nip of their respective strip coils, 12. The slitting line of claim 10 wherein said support
6. The method of tensioning strips of claim 1 wherein 25 frame is positioned relative to said recoiler such that
the step of depositing said material includes the step of said arm extends from said frame above said strip coils
positioning a means for depositing said compound prox and said hot melt gun deposits said compound down
imate a selected one of said thinner strips, then deposit wardly therefrom onto the upper surface of a strip coil
ing the material on said selected thinner strip. corresponding to said selected thinner strip.
7. An improved slitting line of the type having an 30 13. The slitting line of claim 10 wherein said support
uncoiler for uncoiling a metal web from a roll of coiled frame is positioned relative to said recoiler such that
sheet metal having a non-uniform cross sectional thick said arm extends from said frame proximate the nips of
ness, a slitter for slitting said web into a plurality of
strips having varying thicknesses, and a recoiler for said strip coils and said hot melt gun deposits said com
pound into a nip of a strip coil corresponding to said
recoiling said strips into individual strip coils, the im 35 selected thinner strip.
provement comprising: 14. The slitting line of claim 13 wherein said hot melt
means for depositing a flowable compound onto thin applicator includes means for delivering a pressurized
ner strips so that the effective cross sectional thick stream of said compound from said hot melt gun.
ness of said thinner strips is increased so that all 15. The slitting line of claim 10 wherein said support
strip coils are of comparable diameter, thereby 40 frame is positioned relative to said recoiler such that
eliminating slackness in said thinner strips between said arm extends from said frame proximate an exterior
said slitter and said recoiler. side of said recoiler opposite the side facing said slitter
8. The slitting line of claim 7 wherein the improve and said hot melt gun deposits said compound on said
ment further comprises means for positioning said de exterior side of a strip coil corresponding to said se
positing means proximate a selected one of said thinner 45 lected strip.
strips. 16. The slitting line of claim 7 wherein said flowable
9. The slitting line of claim 8 wherein said depositing compound is a strippable polymeric compound selected
means includes a hot melt applicator having a hot melt from the group consisting of ethylcellulose, cellulose
gun communicating therewith and proximate said thin acetate butyrate, and polyethylene.
ner strips. 50 k

55

60

65