Abstract: A roll-type straightening and feed mechanism includes opposing sets of straightening rolls adapted to straighten coil stock as it travels therebetween, opposing feed rolls adapted to grip the coil stock therebetween to advance the straightened coil stock to a using station, and operators connected to simultaneously separate the straightening rolls and the feed rolls and release the coil stock therebetween, and to simultaneously reset the straightening rolls and the feed roll and re-grip the coil stock for advancing straightened stock.

Abstract: A reel for coiled strip stock includes a coil support adapted to carry a coil of strip stock for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a pair of pivotally mounted stock guides that establish a variable-sized loop of stock substantially encircling the coil support between payoff from the coil and exiting to the using station.

Abstract: A reel for coiled strip stock includes a coil support adapted to carry a coil of strip stock for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a pair of pivotally mounted stock guides that establish a variable-sized loop of stock substantially encircling the coil support between payoff from the coil and exiting to the using station.

Abstract: A roll-type straightening and feed mechanism includes opposing sets of straightening rolls adapted to straighten coil stock as it travels therebetween, opposing feed rolls adapted to grip the coil stock therebetween to advance the straightened coil stock to a using station, and operators connected to simultaneously separate the straightening rolls and the feed rolls and release the coil stock therebetween, and to simultaneously reset the straightening rolls and the feed roll and re-grip the coil stock for advancing straightened stock.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having a lower feed roll rotatably supported on a frame and cross-shaft rotatably mounted on the frame parallel to the lower feed roll, and a motor for driving the lower feed roll and the cross-shaft in timed relation. First and second upper roll carriers are mounted for independent vertical pivotal movement on the cross-shaft, and first and second upper feed rolls are rotatably mounted on the upper roll carriers for movement therewith and are drivingly connected to the cross-shaft for rotation by the cross-shaft in timed relation with the lower feed roll. The first and second feed rolls are independently driven from the cross-shaft by first and second upper roll gears respectively non-rotatably connected to the first and second upper feed rolls and first and second upper roll drive gears non-rotatably mounted on the cross-shaft and respectively meshing with the first and second upper roll gears.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having one feed roll rotatably mounted on a stationary frame structure, and a second feed roll mounted on a movable roll carrier and yieldably urged into a stock engaging condition. An electro-responsive servomotor is drivingly connected to at least one of the feed rolls for driving the feed rolls through a preselected feed cycle. An elongated ram position sensor is slidably mounted on the stationary frame structure for lengthwise reciprocation along an upright path and is yieldably urged upwardly relative to the frame structure to a preset raised position on the frame structure. A cam on the ram position sensor member engages a cam follower on the movable roll carrier and is operative in response to movement of the sensor member downwardly from the preset raised position to move the roll carrier and the second stock feed roll to a stock release condition.

Abstract: A motor driven stock feed apparatus for feeding stock along a lengthwise path to maintain a slack loop in the stock. A loop size sensor includes four vertically spaced infrared beam emitters mounted at one side of an upright plane containing the lengthwise path of strip stock and four vertically spaced infrared beam sensors mounted at an opposite side of the upright plane. The infrared beam emitters are operated to emit a continuous train of pulses. A missing pulse detector associated with each infrared beam sensor senses missing pulses in the train of pulses received by the beam sensor and operates a motor speed control to increase and decrease the speed of the stock feed apparatus.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having first and second support shafts mounted on a frame with the axes of the first and second shafts in parallel relation and disposed in a plane transverse to the feed path, a first roll mounted on the first support shaft with the roll is axis coaxial with the first shaft axis, and a second roll is mounted on the second support shaft for limited longitudinal tilting movement relative to the second shaft axis. Roll drive mechanism is provided for driving the first and second rolls to advance stock along the feed path and includes a first toothed coupling member mounted on the second roll and having annularly arranged teeth coaxial with the second roll axis and a second toothed coupling member having annularly arranged teeth coaxial with the second shaft axis, the teeth on the first and second coupling members having working clearance therebetween sufficient to accommodate limited tilting movement of the second roll relative to the second roll axis.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus for a power press. The stock feed apparatus has a pneumatic system for actuating the feed rolls between stock feed and stock release positions. Pressurized air in a substantially constant pressure is applied to one side of a pneumatic actuator to press the feed rolls into feeding engagement with strip stock between the rolls, and pressurized air is selectively applied and exhausted from the other side of the actuator piston to respectively release and apply feeding pressure to the stock feed rolls. An adjustable stop is provided to limit movement of the actuator pistons in a stock release direction.

Abstract: A roll type stock feed apparatus having a servomotor drive and a programmable controller operable to drive the feed rolls to feed stock in preselected incremental lengths. A ram position sensor is arranged to be actuated when the ram moves in a downstroke and to be deactuated when the ram moves in an upstroke and the programmable controller is operated in response to the sensor to drive the feed rolls when the sensor is deactuated. The interval between successive actuations of the ram position sensor is timed to measure press speed. The interval between actuation and deactuation of the ram position sensor is also timed to control shifting of one feed roll into feeding engagement with the stock when the ram is at a preselected position intermediate the ram positions at which the sensor is actuated and deactuated.

Abstract: A stock feed apparatus for feeding strips of stock to or from a stock processing machine to maintain a loop in the stock. The feed means is arranged to feed stock to or from the loop at speed correlative with the amplitude of a control voltage applied to the motor control. The stock loop sensor produces a first digital signal when the loop exceeds a first limit and a second digital signal when the loop exceeds a second limit. A loop control circuit is operative in response to the first digital signal to apply a control voltage of a first preselected amplitude to the motor control to drive the feed apparatus at a first speed until the loop moves away from the first limit and responsive to the second digital signal to apply a control voltage of a second preselected amplitude to drive the feed apparatus at a second speed until the loop moves away from the second limit.

Abstract: A vertical axis coil stock feed apparatus having a turntable rotatable about an upright axis for rotatably supporting coil stock with the coil axis upright. An arm is mounted on a post alongside the turntable for vertical adjustment relative thereto and a coil cover is rotatably mounted on the arm above the turntable for engagement with the upper end of the coil. A stationary coil shroud is also mounted on the arm with coil retainers extending downwardly at spaced locations around the periphery of the coil cover to limit radial expansion of the coil windings. The arm, together with the coil cover and shroud supported thereby, is power operated between lower and raised positions, and a limit switch is operated when the coil cover engages the upper end of the coil stack to stop downward movement of the arm.

Abstract: A fluid operated stock feed apparatus for intermittently advancing stock along a feed path. The feed apparatus includes a stationary body having fluid operated stock holding clamps mounted thereon. A stock feed head is mounted for reciprocation relative to the body and has fluid operated stock feed clamps mounted thereon and a feed piston is mounted in the body for extending and retracting the stock feed head. A main control valve is provided in the body for controlling the application of fluid pressure to the fluid pressure operated stock holding and stock feed clamps and a pressure operated auxiliary valve is provided in the body and is responsive to the pressure from the main control valve for controlling the application of fluid pressure to the feed piston.

Abstract: A stock advancing apparatus for advancing stock to or from a stock processing machine. The stock advancing apparatus includes a drive motor for driving the stock advancing apparatus and a stock loop control arm mounted for swinging movement and adapted to engage a stock loop intermediate the stock advancing apparatus in the stock processing machine, and mechanism responsive to swinging movement of the control arm controls operation of the drive motor to maintain a loop in the stock between the stock advancing apparatus and the stock processing machine. A control arm cam is mounted for movement with the stock loop control arm and a cam follower is pressed into engagement with the control arm cam by a spring. The control arm cam and cam follower and spring are constructed and arranged to apply torque to the control arm in a direction to oppose upward movement of the control arm and which increases as the control arm moves upwardly and decreases as the control arm moves downardly.

Abstract: A fluid operated stock feed apparatus for intermittently advancing stock along a feed path. The feed apparatus includes a stationary body having fluid operated stock holding clamps mounted thereon. A stock feed head is mounted for reciprocation relative to the body and has fluid operated stock feed clamps mounted thereon and a feed piston is mounted in the body for extending and retracting the stock feed head. A main control valve is provided in the body for controlling the application of fluid pressure to the fluid pressure operated stock holding and stock feed clamps and a pressure operated auxiliary valve is provided in the body and is responsive to the pressure from the main control valve for controlling the application of fluid pressure to the feed piston. The main body is formed with a bore therethrough and the feed cylinder is provided in one portion of the bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening strip stock in which a series of lower leveler rollers are mounted in uniform fixed parallel relation on a lower rigid roller support and a series of upper leveler rollers are mounted in uniform fixed parallel relation on an upper rigid roller support. The roller supports are adjustable relative to each other in a direction parallel to the stock pass line and the roller supports are also adjustable relative to each other in a direction transverse to the stock pass line.

Abstract: A stock reel having a variable speed electric reel drive motor and a speed control potentiometer operated by a stock loop control arm for producing a variable control voltage correlative with the angular position of the control arm. The control voltage from the control potentiometer is compared with a reference voltage and an input voltage correlative in amplitude with the difference between the control voltage and the reference voltage is applied to a motor control unit to drive the motor when the control voltage exceeds the reference voltage. The reference voltage is selectively adjustable to vary the angular position at which the control voltage exceeds the reference voltage, to thereby adjust the operating angle of the control arm. The amplification of the input voltage applied to the motor control unit is adjustable to vary the range of control arm movement required to produce a preselected change in motor speed.

Abstract: A stock reel for winding and unwinding stock from a coil under the control of a swingably mounted dancer arm. The stock reel has a reversible electric DC drive motor and a dancer arm switch is operated from a cam that rotates with the dancer arm. The operating angle of the dancer arm is adjusted by adjusting the angular position of the dancer arm switch. Visual indicator means are provided to indicate the adjusted position of the dancer arm switch and hence the operating angle of the dancer arm.