Abstract: A system is provided for measuring at least a thickness of a strip of material extending between two oppositely facing surfaces comprising a frame having an opening for receiving the material and a transport device coupled to the frame and movable transverse to the material. First and second distance-measuring sensors are coupled to the device for synchronous movement across the frame transverse to the material, each positioned proximate one of the surfaces of the material when it is within the frame opening. The system further includes a gauge block having two oppositely facing surfaces and a known thickness therebetween. The gauge block is coupled to the device for movement with the sensors across the frame and is movable between a measuring position wherein the gauge block is positioned between the sensors and a stowed position wherein the gauge block is positioned out from between the sensors.

Abstract: An expandable annular core is provided for mounting on a conventional expandable mandrel of a coil slitting machine to achieve a greater inner diameter for the coil wound thereon. The inner diameter of the annular core is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the expandable mandrel, and the outer diameter of the core is equal to the desired inner diameter of the coils. A plurality of cores are placed in series on the mandrel, each core being adapted to receive a strand of slit metal on it's outer surface. The cores are capable of expanding and contracting with the mandrel to facilitate removal of the coils from the recoiler. To effect this expansion and contraction, the annular core has a radial slot or joint, preferably with opposing ends of at tongue and groove-shaped configuration.

Abstract: There is provided a system for collecting fluids, such as lubricating oil, in a facility for storing parts, such as lubricated metal coils, wherein fluid is directed away from the stored parts to a location where the fluid may be easily collected without interruption of facility operations, and thus rendering frequent or regular cleanup of the floor of the storage area unnecessary. To this end, the storage facility is equipped with a trough on at least one side of a bay adapted for holding the parts. The bay is further equipped with a plurality of channels for collecting fluid leaking from the parts. The channels are sloped toward at least one trough such that the fluid collected in the channels flows into the troughs. A reservoir is optionally located at one or both ends of each trough for collecting the liquid, and the reservoirs may be periodically emptied to discard the collected fluid.

Abstract: A scroll-type slitting machine of the type having upper and lower arbors, each having a plurality of mating rotary cutting members, a movable housing rotatably supporting ends of the upper and lower arbors, a fixed housing rotatably supporting opposite ends of the upper and lower arbors, and a mechanism for vertically adjusting at least one of the arbors relative to the other, includes the improvement which consists of a pinion stand mounted outboard of and adjacent one of the housings, upper and lower intermeshing, synchronizing gears rotatably mounted within the pinion stand, and upper and lower torque-transmitting couplings extending between and operatively joining the upper and lower synchronizing gears to the upper and lower arbors, respectively, while permitting relative movement between the arbors.