Uncoiler Apparatus and Method for Uncoiling Wound Sheet Metal Webs

Abstract

An uncoiler apparatus is provided for the facilitated handling and paying out of successive ones of a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web. The uncoiler apparatus includes a vertically and laterally movable spindle, which has an expandable mandrel for gripping and supporting the mult coil being unwound. The uncoiler further includes a deck for supporting the mult coils that are awaiting uncoiling and an apparatus for laterally displacing the mult coils in successive fashion to a position where they are successively gripped and supported by the spindle. A method for uncoiling a mult coil is also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. The Technical Field

The present invention relates to apparatus for the handling, paying out, coiling and/or uncoiling of wound sheet metal webs and methods for uncoiling wound sheet metal webs using such apparatus.

2. The Prior Art

In order to facilitate the handling and transportation of flat strip sheet metal material, continuous sheet metal webs are typically wound into coils, after having been cast in a continuous casting process. Typically, the metal web has a width which is several multiples of the widths of the sheet metal strips that are used in the ultimate fabrication processes to which the sheet metal strips are subjected. The individual strips, into which a whole- or half-width coil is cut, are often called “mults” in the art, in particular when the several mults are still arranged side-by-side as a unit.

When the wound metal webs are delivered to a fabricator, the metal web must be unwound before any further fabrication processes can be applied to it.

Apparatus for the uncoiling of wound sheet metal webs are known in the prior art. Examples of such uncoiling apparatus include: Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,318; Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,985; and Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,371.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,318 discloses a breakaway uncoiler for unwinding a wound sheet metal web. The uncoiler has arcuate expander sections and a motor driven piston, which cooperate to break the frangible connection between adjacent individual coils. The entire whole unbroken coil must be supported on a cylindrical spindle, and as each successive “mult” is separated, uncoiled and exhausted, the remaining partial coil is indexed over by a pusher unit, until the next “mult” is aligned with the separator and strip receiving components of the apparatus. In order for a new whole- (or half-) width coil to be mounted onto the apparatus, the last mult of the prior coil must be exhausted.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,985 discloses a strip separator and payout device which has a frame telescopically receiving the coil, and a mounted rotatable spinner which separates individual coil strips (mults) from adjacent coil portions. This construction is similar to, but a somewhat simplified version of, the device in Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,318.

Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,371 discloses another apparatus for the removal of a sheet metal strip from a wound sheet metal web. The apparatus uses the fracture of spaced tabs across parting lines between adjacent coil strips (mults) on the wound sheet metal web.

Each of these devices is configured for separating adjacent mults, when there are scores, perforations or the like separating otherwise substantially still connected adjacent coils in a wound sheet metal web.

It is not uncommon for such multiple-width wound metal webs to be fully separated into their constituent mults, at the time of delivery to a fabricator, or at least prior to the ultimate uncoiling procedure. However, it is inefficient to have an uncoiler apparatus that is configured to hold just one mult at a time, when the bulk and weight of the coils are taken into consideration.

Apparatus for holding and uncoiling a plurality of already separated “mults” or “mult coils” that were previously part of a whole-width or half-width coil are known in the art. One such prior art device that is believed to have been used is essentially a heavy-duty turnstile-type uncoiler, having two, or perhaps more spindles mounted on a rotatable hub. In this application, a plurality of mult coils would be placed on each spindle. The entire turnstile, in turn, would be mounted on a base that is capable of laterally traversing a distance that would be at least as far as the width of a single mult coil, up to potentially a distance equal to the total number of mult coils that a single one of the spindles could carry. Apparatus for peeling off a strip from one of the mult coils would then be placed in a fixed position, to receive the strip off of whichever mult coil was aligned with it at the time. As a mult coil would be completely uncoiled, the turnstile would then be indexed laterally, to bring the next mult coil to be uncoiled into alignment with the strip-peeling and receiving apparatus. When an entire row, or horizontal stack, of mult coils were completely uncoiled off of the particular spindle, then the turnstile would rotatably index either 180 degrees (if there were only two diametrically opposed spindles), or whichever number of degrees would then bring the next spindle's worth of mult coils to be uncoiled into alignment with the ship-peeling and receiving apparatus. The spindle that had just been emptied could then be reloaded with another horizontal “stack” of mult coils, toward keeping the apparatus as fully occupied as possible, toward, in turn, keeping the production run as uninterrupted as possible.

Such a prior art device has certain characteristics that might be deemed inappropriate for certain applications, however. For example, in order to bear the weight of a plurality of mult coils, on two or more spindles, requires the uncoiler to be very heavily built, which in turn, usually translates into substantially increased cost, not only in terms of the uncoiler apparatus itself, but also associated costs, such as that associated with the construction of the base or floor structure that must support the aggregated weight of the uncoiler, in a fully loaded condition. Further, because the turnstile uncoiler would also be required to traverse laterally, the overall “footprint” that must be dedicated to the uncoiler can be substantial, and can substantially increase the amount of floor space that the entire fabricating facility requires. Furthermore, any given spindle on such a device can only be reloaded, once that spindle has been exhausted, and rotatably indexed to a suitable reloading position. This can lead to undesirable “gaps” in the production run, in terms of overall downtime of the machinery downstream of the uncoiler, while it is being reloaded, and also in terms of idling of manpower, at those downstream positions in the production line.

It would be desirable to provide an uncoiler apparatus which is capable of handling and successively uncoiling a plurality of adjacently disposed, already fully separated mult coils.

It would further be desirable to provide an uncoiler apparatus which is capable of handling fully separated, adjacently arranged mult coils, while optimizing the amount of floor space that is required for the apparatus.

It would still further be desirable to provide such an uncoiler apparatus, which is configured to be able to be loaded, even while a mult coil is being uncoiled, in such a way as to reduce or effectively eliminate production “gaps”.

These and other desirable characteristics of the invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material. A static support structure receives and supports a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material. A spindle structure is laterally displaced from the static support structure. The spindle structure is operably configured to receive and grippingly, and rotatably support a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material. A pusher is operably interposed between the static support structure and the spindle structure, and further operably configured to push one or more mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, from the static support structure, toward the spindle structure.

The static support structure preferably comprises a V-deck structure. The V-deck structure preferably comprises two elongated planar surfaces disposed in a V-configuration with respect to one another. Each of the elongated planar surfaces preferably further includes an elongated insert fabricated from a material having a reduced coefficient of friction, relative to surrounding portions of the elongated planar surfaces.

The spindle structure preferably includes a spindle having a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction toward the static support structure. The spindle is preferably configured to be moved longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The spindle is also preferably configured to be rotated about the longitudinal axis. The spindle is also preferably configured to be moved vertically, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The spindle preferably includes a spindle mandrel which is operably configured to grippingly engage inside surfaces of an opening in a mult coil of wound sheet metal material.

The uncoiler apparatus further preferably comprises an apparatus for engaging and lifting a leading edge, and then subsequent portions of, a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, away from remaining, still wound portions of the mult coil, toward redirecting the web material along a desired path.

The present invention also comprises in part a method for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, using an apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mults of wound sheet metal web material, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least-one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material on a static support structure, operably configured for receiving and supporting a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material;

providing a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the static support structure, which spindle structure is operably configured to receive and grippingly, and rotatably, support a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material;

aligning the spindle structure with an aids of rotation of the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material;

pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, with a pusher, operably interposed between the static support structure and the spindle structure, until the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material has been pushed onto the spindle structure;

gripping the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material with the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, so as to elevate the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material above the static support structure;

rotating the spindle structure, so as to enable the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material to be unwound;

unwinding the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material.

The step of placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material on a static support structure, preferably comprises placing simultaneously a plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web material on the static support structure.

The step of pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, with a pusher, preferably comprises simultaneously pushing the plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web material toward the spindle, until a first one of the mult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure.

The method preferably further comprises the steps of:

lowering the spindle structure, after a mult coil has been unwound and exhausted, so as to align the spindle structure with a subsequent mult coil positioned on the static support structure nearest to the spindle structure;

pushing the remaining mult coils on the static support structure toward the spindle structure until the subsequent mult coil positioned on the static support structure nearest to the spindle structure has been pushed onto the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, and unwinding the subsequent mult coil.

The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:

successively unwinding each one of the plurality of mult coils that have been loaded onto the static support structure, until a last one of the mult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure and raised;

moving the pusher to a position distal to the spindle structure;

reloading the apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, by placing at least one mult coil onto the static support structure, while a last one of a previous load of mult coils is being unwound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the uncoiler apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the uncoiler apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the uncoiler apparatus taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the coil supporting spindle.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the cradle and coil feed portion of the uncoiler apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the cradle and coil feed portion of the uncoiler apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of an enlarged view of the vertical adjustment mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of an enlarged view of the vertical adjustment mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment so illustrated.

To the extent that any measurements or other numerical values are described herein or illustrated in the Figures, they are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

In the terminology of the art of coil slitting, a wound strip metal material construct, which has a width which is several multiples of the width of a strip such as are conventionally used in metal forming or metalworking operations, is referred to as a coil. The individual widths of material into which a coil is slit, which widths may subsequently be rewound, are known as “mults” or, for the purposes of this application, “mult coils”, to distinguish them from whole- or half-width coils. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the wound strip metal material constructs being handled by the apparatus and via the method of the present invention may sometimes be referred to hereinafter as “mults” when they are still arranged side-by-side as a unit, in the same configuration as when they were a single contiguous coil, and as “mult coils” when separated into individual units. The present invention, strictly speaking, is intended for the successive receipt, handling and unwinding (“uncoiling”) of mult coils which have been derived from a whole- or other fractional-width coil; however, it is to be understood that the concept can be applied to wound masses of strip metal material which may have not been obtained originally from the same initial wide coil of material, but which may have come from different sources, but are still being handled in a successive manner by the apparatus.

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Uncoiler apparatus 5 includes a spindle assembly 10 and a cradle and pusher assembly 12. In one embodiment of the invention, these two assemblies may be connected on a common contiguous frame; in an alternative embodiment of the invention, they may be supported by separate discrete frames, but maintained in fixed relation to one another by way of both being permanently fixed in place to the floor of the workshop or factory in which they are being used.

Uncoiler apparatus 5, while presently contemplated as being suited for use in roll-forming fabrication lines, is also believed to be adaptable for use in other applications, such as cut-to-length stamping operations, etc., by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Spindle assembly 10 includes framework 14, and spindle 16. Spindle 16, in turn, includes hydraulic cylinder 18, piston 28, rotation motor 22 (connected via a suitable drive chain, such as a sprocket and chain, or gearing, to rotate spindle 16 about a longitudinal axis extending concentrically along piston 28), spindle traverse motor 24 (for moving the spindle back and forth along the aforementioned longitudinal axis). Spindle mandrel 26 is configured to be expandable from a radially inwardly disposed release position and a radially outwardly disposed gripping and support position. Hydraulic cylinder 18 drives piston 28, on the end of which is mounted linkage head 30 to which the radially inwardly positioned ends of four links 32 are pivotably mounted. The radially outwardly positioned ends of links 32 are in turn connected to four chucks 34 which are slidably mounted in spindle flange 36. Accordingly, when cylinder 18 is actuated to move piston 28 to the right (as seen in FIG. 3), then links 32 drive chucks 34 radially outwardly, and if spindle mandrel 26 has been brought up against the side of a mult coil 38 (FIG. 1), then upon expansion, chucks 34 will bear against the inside circumferential surface of the mult coil and grip it.

Such spindle constructions (configured to radially grip the inside diameter of a coil or of a mult coil) are known, per se, in the prior art. Accordingly, the specific details of the mechanisms of spindle assembly 10 would be readily apprehended by one of ordinary skill in the art having the present disclosure before them, and so illustrations of such particular mechanisms have been omitted as being unnecessary for a complete understanding of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the cradle and pusher assembly 12. Cradle portion 40 includes V-deck 42 which in turn includes two sliding surfaces 44, arranged in a V-formation, preferably at an included angle of 120°±10°. Each sliding surface 44 includes a longitudinally extending chrome inserts 46 to reduce the sliding friction between sliding surfaces 44 and the outer surfaces of several mult coils (which mult coils may cumulatively weigh as much as 60,000 pounds—one standard coils' worth of mult coils).

Pentagon-shaped pusher plate 48 is connected, e.g., by lead screw (or similarly-functioning) mechanism 51, to pusher motor 52. It has been estimated that for 60 k lbs. of steel mult coils, a lateral force on the order of 12 k lbs. will be required in order to slide the mult coils along V-deck 42 until they are successively presented to spindle mandrel 26. Preferably, pusher motor 52 will be a hydraulic motor, with 10 hp being believed to be sufficient to requirements in such an installation.

Pusher plate 48 is mounted on a suitably configured track for movement above and between the sliding surfaces 44 of V-deck 42. For example, V-deck preferably will including inwardly laterally projecting flanges 41, which project from stationary rails 47 that may be welded between V-deck plate sliding surfaces 44. Pusher plate 48, in turn, will have affixed to it two downwardly projecting flanges 42, from which cam-rollers 45 extend laterally outwardly. Since, as can be seen in FIG. 6, lead screw 51 is positioned off-center, relative to the centers of gravity of the mult coils that would be carried by V-deck 42, cam-rollers 45 are provided to bear the moment load thus created, when the lead screw is turning.

It may be desirable to enable the spindle to adjust vertically, to facilitate insertion of the spindle mandrel into the core openings in the mult coils, depending upon the diameter of the mult coil being unwound. Accordingly, spindle 16 will be mounted at the top of another lead screw assembly 54, driven (typically via a sprocket and chain assembly 57) by vertical lift motor 56 (also preferably a hydraulic motor). FIGS. 7 and 8 provide enlarged views of the vertical adjustment mechanism. Motor 56, connected preferably by a chain and sprocket, drives assembly 54, which, in turn, is connected to supporting frame 58, which supports spindle 16.

Uncoiler 5 also includes a mechanism for facilitating the actual unwinding of the mult coil. Magnetic belt mechanism 60 (FIG. 1) includes a pivotably-mounted magnetic thread-up belt 62, which when placed in contact with the outside surface of the steel mult coil, serves to hold down the leading end of the mult coil, until the leading end has been gripped and controlled by whatever downstream apparatus are in place to handle and work on the strip, and lifts the leading edge of the strip away from the mult coil, so that as the mult coil unwinds, the mult coil is guided to an orientation that is at an angle away from the mult coil.

Belt 62 simply rests on the outside diameter of the coil, until the leading edge has been gripped by downstream processing machinery (not shown). Belt 62 is placed in position O, when a mult coil is being laterally shoved into position on the spindle.

Belt 62 may be power-driven, and even synchronized to the speed of the strip as it peels off from the mult coil, though this may increase the cost of construction of uncoiler 5, because of the additional motors, sensors and control apparatus necessary to provide propulsion of belt 62 and/or synchronization of the belt speed with the surface speed of the mult coil. In alternatively preferred embodiments of the invention, however, belt 62 will be unpowered, but permitted to “freewheel” along with the surface of the unpeeling mult coil strip, being pulled along by the magnetic attraction and friction between the belt and the uncoiling strip.

Magnetic thread-up belt 62 will usually be sufficient for lifting off the leading edge of the mult coil, when light to medium gauge (typically about 32 gauge or about 0.010 inches, for bare steel or 0.013 inches for galvanized, to about 10 gauge or about 0.130 inches thickness) mult coil is being uncoiled.

However, when heavier gauge metal is been uncoiled, a downstream peeler table (not shown) may be used in addition to or alternatively to, the magnetic belt. Such peeler tables are well known in the prior art and typically include a table which is pivotable from a lowered position, to a raised position, to “meet” the leading edge of the mult coil as it is lifted off. The table may also be configured to be extendable in length. The peeler table may also include two vertically spaced “pinch” rollers, configured to “grip” the leading edge of the mult coil.

Usually, once the leading edge has been gripped by the downstream forming equipment, belt 62 is usually raised back up to position O, to enable the next mult coil to be gripped by the spindle. In some circumstances, however, it may be desirable to maintain belt 62 in contact with the outer surface of the mult coil continuously, such as when heavier gauge metal strips are being uncoiled, which can sometimes break free and whip around dangerously. Another reason it may be desirable to keep the belt in place on the mult coil, would be to provide back tension on the mult strip as it is being paid out. The belt apparatus 60 could be provided with braking structures (as are well known in the art), to exert a slowing frictional force on the strip. An alternative method for creating back tension would be to put a friction brake in the drive structure of the spindle itself (not shown).

When a non-magnetic metal strip, e.g., made of stainless steel or aluminum, is being uncoiled, magnetic belt 62 may be replaced by an alternative lift-off device, such as a vacuum-applying device (not shown).

All of the devices disclosed herein are, in preferred embodiments of the invention, contemplated as being “manually” operated using control devices and/or control techniques, which are generally known by those of ordinary skill in the art, and so the control devices have been omitted from the illustrations as being unnecessary for a complete understanding of the invention by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, it is believed that the apparatus and method of the present invention may be adapted for automatic control and operation, depending upon the nature of the production line and processes being applied to the strip material downstream of the uncoiler. Such automatic controls might incorporate devices such as optical or other sensors to determine when a mult coil is about to be exhausted, and limited switches for determining the position of the V-deck along its path of movement.

A preferred mode of operation of the uncoiler of the present invention (making reference to FIGS. 1-8) is as follows:

1. Several separated, horizontally stacked mult coils 38 are placed on V-deck 42. At this stage, pusher plate 48 is preferably at its greatest distance from spindle 16.

2. Spindle 16 is lowered or raised, as appropriate, so that mandrel 30 is approximately centered with respect to the center of the mult coil, and chucks 34 are moved radially inwardly, if not already in their radially inwardmost positions. Often, the mult coils are coded, or otherwise associated with information that indicates the physical parameters of the mult coil. This information can be fed into the controls for the uncoiler, so that the uncoiler will then be able to determine the approximate position of the central axis of the mult coil, towards appropriately vertically positioning the spindle. Alternatively, once the mult coil is in place on the V-dec, a device, such as the arm of the magnetic belt, may be pivoted down, and by noting the position of the arm, the outside diameter, and, in turn, the approximate position of the axis of the mult coil, can be calculated by the control apparatus.

3. The magnetic belt (62, 62′) is swung upwardly a sufficient amount of clearance (position O) over the upper surface of the mult coil is attained.

4. Pusher motor 56 is actuated, and the entire “stack” of mult coils is moved toward the left (from the viewpoint of FIG. 1), until the leftmost mult coil is pushed adjacent to, and then over mandrel 30.

5. Mandrel cylinder 20 is actuated and moves to the right, causing chucks 34 to move outwardly until they bear against the inside surface of the mult coil.

6. Spindle 16 is raised, as appropriate, so that mandrel 30 and in turn, the mult coil borne thereon, is lifted dear of V-deck 42.

7. The magnetic belt 62, 62′ is lowered until it is in contact with the upper surface of the mult coil.

8. Rotation motor 22 is actuated, and mult coil 38 is rotated counterclockwise (from the point of view of FIGS. 2 or 9).

9. The leading edge of the strip is lifted away from the mult coil by the magnetic belt, and guided, e.g., via peeler table station 70, into the desired pass line orientation, toward the successive workstations (not shown) where the strip is actually worked.

10. When the mult coil 38 that is being unwound has been exhausted, spindle 16 is lowered and re-aligned with the approximate center of axis of the next mult coil in line. Typically, since all the mult coils in a given production run will be approximately, if not nearly exactly the same diameter, the spindle will usually be lowered to the same vertical position it had for the last mult coil it picked up. Pusher motor 52 will be activated, and the horizontal stack of mult coils will be further indexed one mult coil over to the left, toward spindle 16, and the process will be repeated.

11. As the last mult coil in the particular group is being unwound, pusher motor 52 reverses itself, to move pusher plate 48 back to its most distal position relative to spindle 16, to permit a new set of mult coils to be loaded onto V-deck 42.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize, the relative sequencing of some of the foregoing steps may be varied slightly while still accomplishing the goals of the invention, without departing from the scope thereof. For example, some steps may occur sequentially or simultaneously, such as steps 2-4 may be performed more or less simultaneously, as can steps 7 and 8.

The present invention is believed to provide for an uncoiler apparatus that is configured to provide for the efficient, and potentially substantially uninterrupted supply of uncoiled strip metal, for supply to downstream metal working or forming machinery. By being able to provide for a substantially continuous supply of material, with the only gaps being the time required to move a mult coil from the V-deck to the spindle, and then begin the initial uncoiling and threading of the leading edge into the downstream strip handling and working equipment, substantial gains in speed and output are believed to be attained.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not so limited as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, comprising:

a static support structure for receiving and supporting a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material;

a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the static support structure, the spindle structure being operably configured to receive and grippingly, and rotatably support a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material; and

a pusher operably interposed between the static support structure and the spindle structure, and further operably configured to push one ore more mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, from the static support structure, toward the spindle structure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the static support structure comprises a V-deck structure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the V-deck structure comprises two elongated planar surfaces disposed in a V-configuration with respect to one another.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the elongated planar surfaces further includes an elongated insert fabricated from a material having a reduced coefficient of friction, relative to surrounding portions of the elongated planar surfaces.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spindle structure includes a spindle having a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction toward the static support structure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spindle is configured to be moved longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spindle is configured to be rotated about the longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spindle is configured to be moved vertically, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spindle includes a spindle mandrel which is operably configured to grippingly engage inside surfaces of an opening in a mult coil of wound sheet metal material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for engaging and lifting a leading edge, and then subsequent portions of, a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, away from remaining, still wound portions of the mult coil, toward redirecting the web material along a desired path.

11. A method for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, using an apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mults of wound sheet metal web material, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material on a static support structure, operably configured for receiving and supporting a plurality of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material;

providing a spindle structure, laterally displaced from the static support structure, which spindle structure is operably configured to receive and grippingly, and rotatably, support a mult coil of wound sheet metal web material;

aligning the spindle structure with an axis of rotation of the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material;

pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, with a pusher, operably interposed between the static support structure and the spindle structure, until the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material has been pushed onto the spindle structure;

gripping the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material with the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, so as to elevate the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material above the static support structure;

rotating the spindle structure, so as to enable the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material to be unwound;

unwinding the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of placing at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material on a static support structure, comprises placing simultaneously a plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web material on the static support structure.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of pushing the at least one mult coil of wound sheet metal web material, with a pusher, comprises simultaneously pushing the plurality of mult coils of wound sheet metal web material toward the spindle, until a first one of the mult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

lowering the spindle structure, after a mult coil has been unwound and exhausted, so as to align the spindle structure with a subsequent mult coil positioned on the static support structure nearest to the spindle structure;

pushing the remaining mult coils on the static support structure toward the spindle structure until the subsequent mult coil positioned on the static support structure nearest to the spindle structure has been pushed onto the spindle structure;

raising the spindle structure, and unwinding the subsequent mult coil.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

successively unwinding each one of the plurality of mult coils that have been loaded onto the static support structure, until a last one of the mult coils has been pushed onto the spindle structure and raised;

moving the pusher to a position distal to the spindle structure; reloading the apparatus for supporting, handling and uncoiling a succession of horizontally stacked mult coils of wound sheet metal web material, by placing at least one mult coil onto the static support structure, while a last one of a previous load of mult coils is being unwound.