Abstract: A tension leveler roll cleaning system which is incorporated in a tension leveler of a type having a work roll supported by backup rolls and includes a payout stand, a takeup stand, and a strip of fabric media which is guided about the backup rolls. The payout stand preferably is positioned upstream of the backup rolls and the takeup stand downstream of the backup rolls. The strip of fabric media extends between the payout stand and takeup stand, and is held against arcuate portions of the backup rolls by spacer plates which extend between the bearing plates supporting the work and backup rolls. The takeup stand includes a hydraulic motor which is actuated to recoil the strip material and draw it from the payout stand about the backup rolls. The strip material is mounted in coiled form on the payout stand and is recoiled into a coil for efficient disposal.

Abstract: A machine tool such as a lathe having an automatically changeable tool turret and a turret changer, carried on the bed of the machine, that dismounts a turret from a spindle of a turret index unit and mounts a replacement turret thereon. Transfer of a turret between the changer and the spindle is accomplished by axial and rotary movements produced by components that are associated with the index unit and that provide other functions during regular turret indexing and machining operations. The turret mounts on the spindle with a bayonet-type connection. The changer includes a pair of opposed arms that each carry a turret and that alternately swing into alignment with the spindle.

Abstract: High frequency vibrations of a boring bar cutting tip are minimized by use of a damping sandwich of plural layers of steel and plural alternate layers of viscoelastic solid material. This damping sandwich is placed at a joint in the machine tool between the cutting tip and a tool mounting area, and is shown as being provided between a mounting face of a tool mounting block and a mounting area. The damping sandwich permits greater depth of cut, with greater inches per revolution of chip removal without any chatter for improved metal removal.

Abstract: A machine tool turret, usable in a machine tool having a rotatable workpiece spindle, that includes first and second tool spindles journaled on the turret. The turret is mounted for compound movement in an x-c plane defined by an x axis perpendicular to the c axis of the work spindle. Each tool spindle may be locked against rotation or, alternatively, it may be rotated. In either case, the operative position of each tool spindle may be used in the machining of a workpiece which also may be rotating or non-rotating. The turret axis is perpendicular to the x-c plane so that as the turret is rotated the tool spindles remain in this x-c plane for a plurality of operative positions for machining. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: A spindle mechanism is capable of rotating for a rotative tool and is capable of being locked for mounting a nonrotative tool. First and second curvic couplings may be forced into engagement by a large hydraulic force which concurrently unloads a combined thrust and radial bearing at the outboard end of the support. This permits the spindle, when mounting a nonrotative tool, to be rigidly supported in a nonrotative condition. A smaller hydraulic force may be utilized to move the spindle axially inwardly which disengages the first and second curvic couplings and preloads the combined thrust and radial bearing providing a properly preloaded rotational mode of support when the spindle is mounting a rotative tool. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: A rotatable offset indexable fixture is rotatable by being mounted on a work spindle. A faceplate is journaled on the fixture for rotation about an indexing axis parallel to but spaced from the workpiece spindle axis. A workpiece may be secured to the faceplate. First and second cooperable toothed coupling members are concentric with the indexing axis and one is fixed to the rotatable workpiece spindle and the other fixed to the faceplate so that they rotate together about the spindle axis when coupled together. A fluid-actuated piston is provided to relatively move the coupling members along the indexing axis to couple and uncouple the members and for independent rotation of the second coupling member when uncoupled. A first aperture may be machined in the rotating workpiece concentric with the spindle axis and then the faceplate indexed to a second position and a second aperture machined concentric with the spindle axis at a location spaced from the first aperture.

Abstract: A method of measuring camber in a sheet of metallic material comprises the steps of displacing the sheet between fixed guides in a plane perpendicular to the width of the sheet such that a point on a center of the sheet travels a predetermined distance, measuring the length of the sheet adjacent a first longitudinal edge thereof which moves past a datum line when the sheet is displaced the predetermined distance and generating a signal having a value A proportional to the length, measuring a length of the sheet adjacent to a second, opposite longitudinal edge which moves past the datum line when the sheet is displaced the predetermined distance and generating a signal having a value B proportional to the second edge length, and calculating camber at the first edge, expressed as a radius of curvature R.sub.C of the sheet, by the equation: ##EQU1## where W equals the width of the sheet.

Abstract: A combined tool and work changer assembly is disclosed for a machine tool wherein a carrier moves in a first path on an elongated beam parallel to the length of the machine tool. Both the tool changer and workpiece are mounted on the carrier and the tool changer is movable in the space defined by X, Y, and Z mutually perpendicular axes, with the first path being parallel to the Z-axis. This first path has a length sufficient to move the tool changer between a tool storage magazine and the machine tool, and the work changer is mounted on the second portion of the carrier to be movable in this first path between a workpiece storage area and the machine tool. Numerical control is used to control movement of the tool changer and movement of the workpiece changer with common control of both changers along the first path by movement of the carrier. This simplifies the construction of the combined changers.

Abstract: A diameter gage is disclosed which measures a plurality of diameters on a workpiece after the workpiece has been machined. First and second U-shaped gage frames mount first and second gage blocks relative to a gage platform, and this gage platform is moved vertically upwardly to a position whereat the gage blocks of each set straddle different ones of the plurality of different diameters on the workpiece. Parallel leaf springs provide low friction mounting of the gage blocks, and also provide urging means to urge the gage blocks into contact with the opposite sides of the workpiece. An electrical output gage is moved in accordance with the relative movement between the two gage blocks of each set to provide an error signal which is passed to the numerical control to correct the machining diameter of the machine tool which machines successive workpieces.

Abstract: A leveling apparatus for leveling strips of metallic material comprising a support housing; a guide tube, rotatably attached to the support housing, having a hollow interior and a longitudinal slot; a cylindrical support roll, rotatably attached to the housing and positioned within the guide tube; a cylindrical work roll having a diameter substantially less than the support roll and positioned within the slot; and a feedback control for rotating the guide tube to position the work roll such that forces exerted upon the work roll by a metallic strip passing over it act to hold the work roll against the support roll, and tangential components of the force tending to urge the work roll against the guide tube are minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the control comprises a pair of opposing cylinders which are pressurized by a source of compressed fluid.

Abstract: A method of tensioning metallic strips on a slitting line is combined with the steps of uncoiling a metallic web having a non-uniform cross sectional thickness from an uncoiler, slitting the web into a plurality of strips having varying thicknesses, and recoiling the strips into individual strip coils on a recoiler, the tensioning method being the additional step of deforming the thinner portions of the web intermediate the uncoiling and recoiling steps so that a raised pattern is imparted to the thinner portions thereby increasing the effective cross sectional thicknesses of the thinner strips to that of the thicker strips so that the strip coils formed from the strips are of similar diameter and the strips can be recoiled at the same rate, thus preventing the formation of slack strips.

Abstract: A tool turret mechanism is for use with a machine tool having a rotatable workpiece spindle. The axis of the turret is at a small acute angle to the axis of the workpiece spindle for tool clearance and the turret has first and second surface portions mounting first and second pluralities of OD turning tools and ID turning tools, respectively. The two pluralities of tool mounting surfaces are generally in the same plane. The plurality of OD turning tool mounting surfaces is in a plane which intersects the ID tool mounting surfaces. The turret is asymmetric in that the spacing angles between the OD turning tool mounting surfaces are less than the spacing angles between the ID turning tool mounting surfaces, thereby permitting a greater number of tools to be mounted on a given size turret, and giving greater flexibility in permitting first given numbers of OD and ID tools or, alternatively, a greater number of OD turning tools and a lesser number of ID turning tools.

Abstract: A method of tensioning metallic strips on a slitting line is combined with the steps of uncoiling a metallic web having a non-uniform cross sectional thickness from an uncoiler, slitting the web into a plurality of strips having varying thicknesses, and recoiling the strips into individual strip coils on a recoiler, the tensioning method being the additional step of depositing a strippable polymeric compound onto thinner strips so that the effective cross sectional thicknesses of the thinner strips is increased to that of the thicker strips so that the strip coils formed from the strips are of similar diameter and recoil the strips at the same rate, thereby preventing the formation of slack strips. The apparatus includes a hot melt unit for generating strippable plastic in liquid form, a hot melt gun communicating with the apparatus, a support frame and movable arm on which the gun is mounted, and a motor driving a rack and pinion for positioning the hot melt gun over a selected strip coil.

Abstract: A tool storage mechanism is disclosed wherein a tool storage magazine is mounted by a pivotal connection to a vertically movable tool slide. The tool slide also carries a horizontally movable tool slide carrying a rotatable tool for operating on a workpiece which moves in the third mutually perpendicular direction. The carried tool slide retracts to a tool change position whereat a tool changer will interchange a tool in the tool spindle with one in a socket of the tool storage magazine. Accordingly, the tool storage magazine moves up and down vertically with the first tool slide but has its own second drive means separate from the first drive means of the first slide. This second drive means is close to the nominal center of mass of the tool storage magazine but this center of mass changes as the magazine moves to present selected tools to the tool changer.

Abstract: A plural slide machine is disclosed for machining a first and a second workpiece comprising a first and a second slide for respectively receiving the first and the second workpiece. The first and second slides are mounted on ways for movement in a substantially horizontal plane. A toolholder for holding a workpiece tool is mounted through a third and a fourth slide for enabling movement of the workpiece tool in a substantially vertical plane. Control means is connected to the slides for enabling machining of the first workpiece through movement of the first, third and fourth slide and for enabling machining of the second workpiece through movement of the second, third, and fourth slide. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Abstract: The handling of metal coils, such as coils of sheet steel, aluminum or other materials is facilitated through the use of a transfer bar which is inserted in the coils before they are removed from a rewind mandrel. In a typical operation the transfer bar is inserted between the inside diameter of the coil and the outside diameter of the rewind mandrel adjacent the coil tail after the mandrel has been collapsed. The transfer bar is then raised into engagement with the coils, contacting them adjacent their tails, and the coils are thereafter carried by the transfer bar as they are moved from the rewind mandrel to a turnstile horn and from the turnstile horn to a downlayer. As a result, removal of the coil tails from the mandrel gripper slot is facilitated, eliminating telescoping of the coils upon removal from the mandrel, and damage to the inside diameters of the coils is obviated because there is no sliding of the coils along the mandrel or turnstile horn after they are carried by the transfer bar.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly in which the mandrel segments are expanded and contracted by means of a draw rod extending through the mandrel and driven by the same motor that rotates the mandrel during winding or unwinding operations. The draw rod is fixed for rotation with the mandrel but is movable longitudinally thereof and is provided with power threads on one end which are in engagement with complementary power threads on a nut member carried by the motor shaft. A drive gear is keyed to the nut member so that it is rotatable with the nut member but capable of movement longitudinally thereof into and out of engagement with a driven gear secured to the mandrel. A nonrotatable gear segment is mounted for shifting movement with the drive gear and moves into engagement with the driven gear as the drive gear is disengaged from the driven gear to lock the mandrel against rotation.