Abstract: A method of manufacturing a roll coated with an absorbent, compressible material and used to support strip metal includes the steps of selecting a roll body having a rigid, cylindrical outer surface, attaching a leading end of a line to the outer surface, selecting a first elongate strip of compressible material, forming the strip into a V-shape, placing the line along the crotch of the V-shape, winding the line and the strip onto the outer surface such that the longitudinal edges of the strip extend in a substantially radial direction, and finally attaching the trailing end of the line to the roll body. In a preferred embodiment, the line is wound in a helical path from one end of the body to the other, and, simultaneously, the windings of the line and strip material are urged sidewardly in an axial direction to compress the strip to form a continuous surface.

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 method of tension leveling a continuous strip of nonhomogeneous metal sheet in which the yield strength of the strip edges is less than the yield strength of the center. The method includes the steps of unwinding the strip from a coil supported on an uncoiler, passing the strip through tension-generating bridle rolls and, while under tension is passed, in a serpentine path between upper and lower sets of nested work rolls and through tension relaxing bridle rolls, and rewinding the strip into a coil on a recoiler. The improvement consists of the additional step of, prior to passing the strip between the work rolls, heating the strip edges to a temperature above that of the center of the sheet to create thermal expansion in the edges sufficient to produce a thermal strain such that, when added to an elastic strain at yield in the edges, total strain is equal to an elastic strain at yield in the center of the sheet.

Abstract: A leveling apparatus having a movable frame which supports a plurality of back-up roller assemblies, each of which is individually positionable to vary the penetration of a portion of the work rolls it contacts such that the penetration of the entry work rolls can be varied independently of the penetration of the exit work roll. Each back-up roller assembly includes an elongate back-up block having a longitudinal slot and a rearwardly-positioned concave surface, an elongate support member positioned within the slot and including a rearwardly-positioned convex surface positioned to matingly engage the concave surface, and a plurality of back-up rollers positioned along the support member. The support member is urged against the back-up block by a resilient connection, and the assembly includes an adjusting screw mechanism mounted on the adjustable frame for pivoting the support member relative to the back-up block.

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 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.