Abstract: A processing line for packaging coils has a first conveyor, a sortation table, a pallet loader for placing a pallet on the sortation table, a coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from a discharge of the first conveyor to the sortation table, and a control. The control is configured to control: (i) the sortation table to move to an open position adjacent the pallet loader; (ii) the pallet loader to place a pallet at the open position of the sortation table; (iii) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is adjacent the discharge of the first conveyor; (iv) the coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from the discharge of the first conveyor on to the pallet; and (v) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is away from the discharge of the first conveyor. A similar method is provided.

Abstract: A processing line for packaging coils has a first conveyor, a sortation table, a pallet loader for placing a pallet on the sortation table, a coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from a discharge of the first conveyor to the sortation table, and a control. The control is configured to control: (i) the sortation table to move to an open position adjacent the pallet loader; (ii) the pallet loader to place a pallet at the open position of the sortation table; (iii) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is adjacent the discharge of the first conveyor; (iv) the coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from the discharge of the first conveyor on to the pallet; and (v) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is away from the discharge of the first conveyor. A similar method is provided.

Abstract: A machine for slitting metal sheet into strips includes a fixed upper beam and a lower beam that is displaceable vertically. Both beams support slitter heads that move along the beams. Each beam carries an arbor that rotates in it and extends through the slitter heads on it. Each beam also has a fixed threaded shaft and lock rods that extend through the slitter heads on it. Each slitter head carries a knife that rotates with the arbor for its beam. Each slitter head also has a motor-driven nut that engages the threaded shaft extending through the beam and, when rotated, moves the slitter head along its beam. The slitter heads have clamps, which clamp down on the lock rods to secure the slitter heads in fixed positions. The knives rotate about axes that are skewed slightly relative to the axes of the arbors that drive them.

Abstract: A machine for slitting metal sheet into strips includes a fixed upper beam and a lower beam that is displaceable vertically. Both beams support slitter heads that move along the beams. Each beam carries an arbor that rotates in it and extends through the slitter heads on it. Each beam also has a fixed threaded shaft and lock rods that extend through the slitter heads on it. Each slitter head carries a ring-like knife that rotates with the arbor for its beam. Each slitter head also has a motor-driven nut that engages the threaded shaft extending through the beam and, when rotated, moves the slitter head along its beam. The slitter heads have clamps, which clamp down on the lock rods to secure the slitter heads in fixed positions. The knives rotate about axes that are skewed slightly relative to the axes of the arbors that drive them.

Abstract: A stacking machine has a conveyor which supports skids onto which panels sheared from side-by-side strips of metal sheet fall, there to accumulate in stacks. As the stacks form, empty skids are organized on a skid positioning machine located to the side of the stacking machine, and there the spacing between the skids corresponds to the spacing between the skids already on the conveyor. When stacks are completed, the conveyor moves the skids on which they are formed away, and the skid positioning machine deposits the properly spaced empty skids on the conveyor which moves them into the positions where they receive the panels. To this end, the conveyor of the stacking machine may have powered rollers, while the skid positioning machine has a carriage provided with transfer beams configured to fit between the rollers.

Abstract: A machine for slitting metal sheet with rotating knives has roller assemblies which present rollers against the metal sheet immediately beyond the knives. The rollers bear against both faces of the slit metal sheet and straddle the slits, all to reduce distortion caused by the knives and to iron out burrs. The roller assemblies are fitted to tracks on the slitting machine and may be moved along those tracks to accommodate relocation of the knives.

Abstract: A clamping assembly for a machine that levels sheet metal by stretching the metal beyond its elastic limit includes two jaws which have generally planar gripping surfaces. When the jaws are forced together, the gripping surfaces on them bear against the sheet metal with enough frictional contact to enable a stretching force to be applied to the sheet metal. One of the jaws includes a bearing block and a gripping pad located along the bearing block, with the gripping surface for that jaw being on the pad. A shim that is narrower than the pad lies between the pad and the bearing block. When the pad is forced against the sheet metal, the shim behind that pad causes the pad to assume a slight contour that imparts convexity to its gripping surface. This concentrates the gripping force at the centers of the gripping surfaces on the two jaws, so that perceptible indentations do not develop in the strip at the side edges of the gripping surfaces.

Abstract: A sorting machine at the end of a sheet metal slitting and shearing line receives side-by-side stacks of sheet metal panels and separates and rearranges those stacks so that they are more easily wrapped, banded, or otherwise processed. The machine includes a roller conveyor which receives the side-by-side stacks and a platform located to one side of the conveyor. The platform has support beams which align with the rollers of the conveyor such that spaces exist between the succession of aligned rollers and support beams. Beneath the conveyor and platform a transfer carriage moves on tracks that extend transversely with respect to the conveyor. The carriage has transfer beams which occupy the spaces between successive aligned rollers and support beams.

Abstract: A clamping assembly for a machine that levels sheet metal by stretching the metal beyond its elastic limit includes two jaws which have generally planar gripping surfaces. When the jaws are forced together, the gripping surfaces on them bear against the sheet metal with enough frictional contact to enable a stretching force to be applied to the sheet metal. One of the jaws includes a bearing block and a gripping pad located along the bearing block, with the gripping surface for that jaw being on the pad. A shim that is narrower than the pad lies between the pad and the bearing block. When the pad is forced against the sheet metal, the shim behind that pad causes the pad to assume a slight contour that imparts convexity to its gripping surface. This concentrates the gripping force at the centers of the gripping surfaces on the two jaws, so that perceptible indentations do not develop in the strip at the side edges of the gripping surfaces.

Abstract: A machine for advancing a strip of sheet metal in measured increments includes a main frame and subframes supported on transverse ways on the main frame so that the subframes may be moved toward and away from each other to vary the spacing between them. The subframes lie along a path that accommodates the sheet metal strip, and at their forward ends have fixed gripping units which clamp down on the strip to prevent it from moving in the path. The subframes have tracks along which movable gripping units move to and fro. The movable gripping units also have the capacity to clamp down on the strip. Each subframe also carries an endless chain which is driven by a hydraulic motor on the subframe to move the movable gripping unit for the subframe along its track. Basically, the movable gripping units alternately grip the strip and advance it, so that while one gripping unit is propelling the strip forwardly, the other is returning to its initial position to thereafter grip the strip and propel it.

Abstract: A machine for slitting metal sheet has a bridge-type frame provided with upper and lower beams supported on posts. In the space between the two beams are upper and lower powered arbors and also upper and lower storage arbors which align respectively with the upper and lower powered arbors. Each powered arbor supports and turns several knives which are mounted on hubs along those arbors, and these knives when not needed may be moved, along with their hubs, onto the aligned storage arbors. Each knife is captured in a carriage which moves along one of the beams and contains back-up rollers which bear against the knife to prevent its arbor from deflecting under the spreading force exerted by the metal sheet as it is slit. The hubs have a wide stance, and accordingly the knives on them do not acquire a wobble when the hubs are secured on their respective arbors; yet notwithstanding the wide stance, the knives may be brought quite close together.

Abstract: A machine for leveling sheet metal strip without severing or marring the strip includes two stretcher frames, each having a set of jaws which clamp down on the strip, so that a segment of the strip is isolated between the jaws of the two frames. While the jaws grip the strip with enough compressive force to prevent the strip from slipping in the jaws, and yet not mark it, the frames are forced apart with enough force to stretch the isolated segment beyond its elastic limit for the entire width of the isolated segment, thus leveling the segment. Thereupon the parting force is released, and after the isolated segment has recovered its elastic deformation, the jaws release the strip, and the strip is advanced a distance not exceeding the length of the previously isolated segment. The procedure is then repeated until the entire strip has been leveled. The machine may be utilized in combination with a feeding machine which grips the leveled portion of the strip and advances it a preset distance.

Abstract: A solar heating system includes an array of solar collectors and a manifold through which the collectors are supplied with water, this water being derived from a storage tank located below the collectors. The water is circulated through the collectors by a pump, and within the collectors the water is heated, but when the pump is not operating, the water drains from the collectors into the tank so it will not freeze and damage the collectors. Each solar collector includes a housing, a collector panel in the housing and containing a cavity through which water is circulated, supply and drain pipes which extend the full height of the housing behind the panel and are connected through ports with opposite ends of the panel cavity, and a light transmitting material over the housing. The supply and drain pipes of some of the collectors are plugged into corresponding supply and drain fittings on the manifold at bushings which fit into aligned ends of the pipes and fittings.