Abstract: A straightening apparatus for straightening cables includes a first roller group having several rollers and a second roller group having several rollers opposite the first roller group. The cable alternates in a transport direction between the rollers of the first roller group and the rollers of the second roller group. The straightening apparatus further includes an infeed device with which the first roller group can be displaced in a closing direction against the second roller group. In order to secure the position of the first roller group displaced in the closing direction by the infeed device, the straightening apparatus includes a backstop which blocks a backward movement of the first roller group against the closing direction. The backstop has a clamping roller which is received in a wedge gap.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a plunge depth position of material conditioning machines are disclosed. An example method for setting a plunge depth of a leveler includes incrementally adjusting, via an actuator, a first work roll relative to a second work roll between a plurality of incremental plunge depth positions; measuring a pressure value in the actuator at the respective incremental plunge depth positions; associating the measured pressure values with the corresponding incremental plunge depth positions; detecting a smallest one of the measured pressure values; and identifying a first one of the incremental plunge depth positions corresponding to the smallest one of the measured pressure values.

Abstract: A roller leveler is provided having a substantially uniform pitch of leveling rolls arranged in a zigzag manner. The roller leveler has a first roll group with first leveling rolls at a pitch “P1”, a second roll group with second leveling rolls at the pitch “P1”, a first retract mechanism for retracting the middle first leveling rolls, and second retract mechanisms for retracting pairs of end second leveling rolls. The second roll group also has third leveling rolls at the pitch “P1” with respect to the outermost second leveling rolls.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material.

Abstract: A release mechanism for use in a leveling apparatus that performs a leveling process on a work object that has been wound in a coil configuration as a result of the work object being passed between a front side work roll in contact with the front side surface of the work object and a back side work roll that is in contact with the back side surface of the work, wherein the releasing mechanism switches between a work clamp state that allows performance of the leveling process and a release state that releases the work object from the clamp state by displacing a work roll support member that supports one of the work rolls relative to the another support member to change a distance between the work rolls by utilizing rotational movement of an electric motor.

Abstract: A machine for leveling a strip of material contains a lower stationary back plate from which extends vertical beams located on either side of a longitudinal axis. A lower stationary leveling chassis and an upper leveling chassis are provided. Each chassis contains spaced apart rollers. An upper stationary back plate is rigidly secured to the upper end of each beam, and a moving coupling device couples the upper leveling chassis to the upper back plate. A device allows a vertical translational movement of the upper leveling chassis in relation to the upper stationary back plate between a rest position where the rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved away from rollers of the lower leveling chassis and a leveling position where rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved towards rollers of the lower leveling chassis and the strip is forced to travel along an undulating path.

Abstract: A tensionless leveller for levelling a metal strip and having an entry and an exit includes n+1 motorized rolls each having a constant radius R. The leveller also includes a lower superposed cassette supporting at least n/2 of the rolls and an upper superposed cassette supporting at least n/2 of the rolls not supported by the lower superposed cassette. The rolls are offset with respect to one another and are placed alternately above and below a path of the strip. An axis of each of the rolls of the lower cassette is separated from an axis of an immediately successive roll of the upper cassette by a center-to-center spacing Ek, in which: for k from 2 to 4, R/Ek=R/E1; for k from n?3 to n, R/Ek=R/En and R/Ec<R/E1; and for k from 5 to n?1, R/En?R/Ek?R/E1, and R/Ek?R/Ek+1.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to drive material conditioning machines are described. An example apparatus includes a first plurality of work rolls to process a strip material and a second plurality of work rolls to process the strip material. The example apparatus also includes a motor to drive the second plurality of work rolls. The motor is to apply a first rolling torque to the second plurality of work rolls that is different than a second rolling torque applied to the first plurality of work rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a machine for temper rolling a metal band including at least two temper rolling units E, E? each carrying an active cylinder (2) and a set (7, 70) of back-up members mounted rotatably on a transversal chassis (1), and means for displacement vertical of each temper rolling unit (E) between a resting position and a temper rolling position for which the active cylinder is applied to the band while bearing, on the opposite side, on its back-up members (7) whereas each active cylinder (2, 2?) may be brought into rotation around its axis, in its position away from the band, at an angular speed corresponding to the running speed of the band.

Abstract: An automatically controlled multi-roll precision leveler for flattening a strip of material, such as a metal strip. A metal strip product may be fed into the leveler, typically from a coil. The leveler uses multiple work rolls to flatten the strip as it passes through a leveling section of the leveler. Upon exiting the leveling section of the leveler, the metal strip product passes over a shape sensor. The shape sensor may be divided into a plurality of individual measurement zones, each having one or more measurement segments. The shape sensor measures the shape error in the metal strip, which shape error is the result of stresses present in the strip. The shape error measurements are used by the shape control system of the leveler to automatically and continuously adjust the leveling parameters of the leveler. The control system attempts to operate the leveler, such that a shape error measurement of zero will be detected by the shape sensor—at which point the metal strip product will be flat.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for maximizing the strength and deformability of dimensionally-reduced in-situ-formed composites. According the invention, the temperature of the composite is maintained at less than its recrystallization temperature as it is dimensionally reduced, such as by drawing it through one or more dies in a wire-drawing apparatus. The drawing speed and other parameters may be adjusted, as required, to control composite temperature.

Abstract: A leveling machine with parallel cylinders comprising at least one pair of active leveling cylinders (2), placed on each side of the strip to be leveled and each free to rotate and supported on a crosspiece (5) through a series of spaced bearing members (3). Each bearing member (3) comprises a bearing part (31) mounted in an individual frame forming a casing, connected to crosspiece (5) with a possibility of a clearance transverse to the plane of motion P of strip (A). Each of the said casings bears individually on crosspiece (5) through a positioning member (6) of variable length, for individual adjustment at the level of the corresponding bearing part (31) with respect to the crosspiece (5). The invention is particularly applicable to leveling of thin metal strips.

Abstract: Installation for planishing a metal strip moving in a longitudinal feed direction, comprising a fixed supporting stand having two vertical members, lower and upper resistant bearing beams and lower and upper planishing roll systems each comprising a row of parallel live rolls that bears upon a support chassis via at least one row of bearing rolls. At least one of the planishing systems bears upon the corresponding bearing beam via a set of adjustable actuators interposed between the chassis of the system and the resistant bearing beam, the actuators being distributed across the entire surface covered by the system. The system is associated with a device for individually adjusting the position of the bearing end of each actuator in relation to the bearing beam in order to adjust and maintain the position of the chassis and live rolls in relation to the corresponding rolls of the other system for the adjustment of the imbrication of the rolls.

Abstract: A single stage two plane coiled reinforcing bar stock straightener adapted to straighten an infeed of coiled reinforcing bar in both the horizontal and vertical planes for providing the straightened delivery of coil fed reinforcing bar material to processing and converting machinery.

Abstract: The method and apparatus are utilized in the extrusion of profiles of material suitable for extrusion, such as metal or plastic. In the method of the invention, the temperature of the extruding product 10 is measured continuously and without contact immediately outside the extrusion outlet 7, and the data measured are used to adjust the said temperature to the effect that the temperature of the extruding product is maintained as constant as possible from one product to the next, whereby controlling devices 17, 18, 19 20, 21, 22 are provided to adjust the extrusion pressure on the basis of a calculation of the values measured and to check the quality of the profile and the geometric dimension for comparison with the predetermined values.

Abstract: A levelling machine, particularly for levelling sheet steel and strip steel, includes upper and lower levellerg rolls arranged offset relative to each other. The leveller rolls are supported by back-up rolls arranged in roll stands and supported in crossbeams. The back-up rolls support the leveller rolls over the length thereof. At least the upper crossbeam is adjustable by adjusting cylinders for positioning the leveller rolls. The upper roll stand and the upper crossbeam are mounted so as to be tiltable in travel direction of the material being levelled, so that compensating cylinders arranged between the roll stand and the crossbeam facilitate pivoted positions. The tilting points of the upper roll stand and of the upper crossbeam are arranged in several planes located one above the other.

Abstract: An improved plate leveller comprising a housing, a rigid top beam and a bottom beam mounted on the housing, a flexible beam disposed between the upper rigid beam and the bottom beam and connected at the ends thereof to secondary bending cylinders mounted on the rigid top beam, upper back-up roll assemblies mounted on the flexible beam, lower back-up roll assemblies mounted on the lower beam, upper and lower work rolls disposed between the back-up roll assemblies, and a primary bending cylinder mounted on the rigid top beam and bearing on an upper surface of the flexible beam and, with the secondary bending cylinders, bending the flexible beam to counteract deflection of the bottom beam under load, thereby to maintain the upper and lower work rolls in parallel relationship to each other and providing uniform dimensions of plate passed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of levelling metal plate in a leveller having at least three vertically opposed sets of driven and backed-up upper and lower work rolls mounted in at least three upper roll frames and a lower roll frame, each of the upper roll frames being adjustably movable with respect to the lower roll frame in a vertical direction and tiltable in a direction of a pass line of plate passed through the leveller to vary a gap between the upper and lower work rolls, said method comprising (a) measuring the temperature of the plate prior to its entry into the leveller and the time at which such temperature measurement is made; (b) measuring the actual thickness of the plate and the corresponding roll separating force; (c) inputting into a computer the plate physical data, the roll diameter, rolling speed, and the data of steps (a) and (b), and calculating the variance of such measured plate temperature from the furnace soak temperature and the variance of such actual plate thickness from an expected plate thickness; (

Abstract: A roller leveller for one-pass levelling of high strength metal plate comprises a main frame, top beams mounted on the main frame, three upper roll frames mounted on the top beams, a lower roll frame mounted on the main frame, three sets of upper and lower driven work rolls mounted, respectively, on the upper and lower roll frames, backup rolls backing up each work roll, four screwdown assemblies associated with each set of upper work rolls whereby they are movable as a set vertically and tiltable in the direction of a pass line of plate passed through the leveller; and control means separately to control the gap between the upper and lower work rolls in each set.

Abstract: An installation for stretch-levelling strip metal, comprising, inside a stand, at least two bending units offset longitudinally and placed respectively above and below the strip carrying at least one work cylinder mounted rotatably about a transverse axis. The frame of at least one upper bending unit is mounted rotatably on two aligned journals about which the entire bending unit can rotate between a working position in which the work cylinder points downwards, and an inverted position in which the work cylinder points upwards and can thus easily be maintained or replaced.

Abstract: A roller leveler comprises a raisable upper work roll group, and a lower work roll group, the upper and lower work roll groups being arranged in a zigzag form so that the axes of three work rolls adjacent to each other at upper and lower sides and three points of intersection with the plane crossing these axes may make three vertexes of an isosceles triangle, with alternate lower work rolls in the lower work roll group being raisable to act as upper work rolls when a relatively thick hoop is leveled.

Abstract: A leveling machine for slit steel which removes bends and bumps in the steel prior to recoiling. The leveler includes top and bottom sets of rollers of varying sizes to accommodate varying gauges of steel. The top of rollers is attached to a frame which pivots relative to the bottom frame to ensure proper roller orientation.

Abstract: An installation for levelling a metal strip (3) by advancing it along an undulating path in a levelling stand (10) associated with a plurality of rolls (2, 15, 16, 18) with narrowed ends which may be displaced axially in opposite directions. Narrowed sections (25) are provided at opposite ends of two active levelling rolls (23) (24), and the levelling unit (4) (5) formed by each active roll and associated carrying rollers is mounted on two horizontal beams sliding vertically and associated with jacks (39) (64) for adjusting the axial and vertical position of each levelling unit (4) (5).

Abstract: A leveling machine for steel sheet and strip includes changing cartridges between sets of leveler rolls including support rollers and adjustable crossheads. Each changing cartridge includes three cartridge portions which are connected to each other by means of two intermediate joints. The middle cartridge portion is supported on the corresponding crossheads by means of two spaced-apart rigid supports, so that only the outer cartridge portions can be limited in their pivoting positions by means of adjusting wedges or the like and, for compensating sagging of the crossheads, the leveler rolls must only be subjected to a prebending force in the regions away from the middle cartridge portion.

Abstract: A straightening machine includes an array of flexible straightening rollers and an array of complementary rollers which alternate with the straightening rollers in direction normal to the axes of such rollers, the complementary rollers being arranged at a major surface of a deformable sheet-shaped material that faces oppositely to another major surface at which the straightening rollers are situated. A plurality of support rollers supports the respective straightening rollers, the support rollers being distributed along the length of the straightening roller and being individually adjustable as to their position with respect to a support roller alignment plane. During the straightening operation, a predetermined number of the support rollers is selectively positionally adjusted, and the remaining rollers are automatically positionally adjusted until abutment of all support rollers at the straightening roller is achieved, by simulataneously calculating the expression V/=/A/.multidot.

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 roll leveller having a frame, a plurality of parallel lower rolls rotatably mounted on the frame and positioned side by side in the direction in which a material to be levelled is fed, a bracket having a plurality of parallel upper rolls rotatably mounted thereon in spaced opposed relationship to the rolls on the frame, an adjustable stop mounted thereon in spaced opposed relationship to the rolls on the frame, an adjustable stop mounted on one end of the frame for movement toward and away from the bracket and engaged by the corresponding end of the bracket, an adjustable connecting shaft pivotally connected to the other end of the bracket and mounted on the other end of the frame for movement toward and away from the bracket, a rod connected to the bracket adjacent the stop and extending away from the stop; and a pneumatic piston-cylinder device connected to the rod for moving the rod and the bracket away from the stop by pivoting movement around the pivotal connection of the other end of the bracket to th

Abstract: A straightening machine has upper and lower sets of straightening rollers, each backed up by back-up rollers. The back-up rollers are mounted on bearing supports. In one set of straightening rollers, the bearing supports extend parallel to the rollers and all the back-up rollers associated with one straightening roller are mounted on a common support. In the other set of straightening rollers, the bearing supports extend at right angles to the rollers, and each support mounts back-up rollers, each of which is associated with a different one of the straightening rollers. Each of the bearing supports can be moved towards or away from the gap between the upper and lower sets of straightening rollers.

Abstract: A forming leveller establishes one or more datum or reference planes in variable thickness stock to facilitate subsequent roll forming. The reference planes may be established on the same side or opposite sides of the stock with a lateral gap to facilitate transition forming. The leveller includes top and bottom closely spaced roll sets forming multiple passes mounted on bottom and top frames, respectively, with floating rolls being opposed to fixed rolls. Back-up rolls are provided for the floating rolls and pressure devices urge the floating rolls against the stock in turn against the fixed rolls to form the desired reference planes thus enabling complex shapes to be roll formed from the variable thickness stock.

Abstract: In the straightening machine of the invention, pivot plates are provided for mounting and pivotally supporting the upper movable rolls including the pinch rolls and the straightening rolls, whereby improved operation can be obtained. Expensive manufacturing costs can be reduced by employing pivot plates as disclosed by the present applicant. The task of maintenance is also reduced since fewer hours are needed for repairs whereas roll bearing capacity is materially increased. The pivot plates are pivotally supported by the side frames respectively having location adjacent the inside surface of the side frames and bearing units are mounted in the free ends of the pivot plates. It is possible to stagger the bearing units since the bearing units for the lower rolls are mounted for rotation in the side frames whereas the bearing units for the upper movable rolls are mounted in the pivot plates.

Abstract: A roller frame assembly for a material straightening machine is provided with upper and lower roller frames which are pivotable with respect to one another. Each roller frame has a drive transmission separate from that of the other frame for rotating its associated straightening rollers.

Abstract: A material straightening machine is provided with upper and lower roller frames and at least two piston assemblies interconnecting the frames and located respectively at the inlet and outlet sides of the roller frames. Each piston assembly includes a chamber housing a piston, the chamber being further divided by the piston into an upper annular chamber and a lower annular chamber. The upper annular chamber is connected directly to a pressure medium source while the lower annular chamber, which has a cross sectional area which differs from that of the upper annular chamber, is connected to the pressure medium source through a servo-controlled pressure reducing valve. Relative movement between the frames is effected by controlling the pressure reducing valve.

Abstract: A plurality of horizontal lower rolls are rotatably mounted in a machine frame. A plurality of nuts are carried by the machine frame and axially retained and rotatable on respective vertical axes, which are horizontally spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said lower rolls and in a direction which is transverse to said longitudinal direction. A plurality of screws are in threaded engagement with respective ones of said nuts. A plurality of upwardly and downwardly convex spherical bearings are carried by respective ones of said screws above said nuts. An upper yoke assembly comprises an upper yoke member, a plurality of upper rolls rotatably mounted in said upper yoke member and disposed above said upper rolls and defining nips therewith, and a plurality of concave spherical bearings, which are rigid with said upper yoke member and each of which has upwardly and downwardly concave bearing faces respectively disposed below and above one of said convex bearings and engagable therewith.

Abstract: A stationary set of upper rolls are carried by a stationary frame. A yoke is mounted in said frame for adjustment in height. A set of lower rolls are mounted in said yoke adjacent to said upper rolls and adjustable in height relative thereto in unison with said yoke. Adjusting shaft means are rotatably mounted in said frame. Connecting rod means are eccentrically mounted on said adjusting shaft means and pivoted to said yoke and arranged to adjust said yoke in height in response to a rotation of said adjusting shaft means.

Abstract: A plurality of lower rolls are rotatably mounted in a machine frame below a crosshead thereof, which carries a plurality of nuts that are mounted for rotation on spaced apart vertical axes. A plurality of thrust screws are in threaded engagement with and depend from respective ones of said nuts. A plurality of spherical bearing parts are carried by respective ones of said thrust screws below said nuts. An upper yoke assembly is disposed above said lower rolls and comprises a plurality of spherical bearing sockets in mating engagement with respective ones of said spherical bearing parts to support said yoke assembly on said thrust screws. A plurality of upper yokes are rotatably mounted in said upper yoke assembly and disposed above said lower rolls and define nips therewith. Means are provided for rotating at least one of said thrust screws relative to the nut associated therewith independently of another of said thrust screws.

Abstract: The invention relates to a train of gears housed within a gear box and designed for driving the lower straightening rolls of a feeding and straightening machine. The gears in the gear box are disposed in staggered relation in adjacent parallel planes and each drive gear is journalled by a drive shaft having a coupling connection to a straightening roll. The staggered arrangement of the drive gears is an important feature since the drive gears have pitch diameters greater than the center to center distance between adjacent straightening rolls. In addition to staggering the drive gears the invention provides idler gears which are interposed between adjacent drive gears, with one idler gear in one plane receiving the drive and the other idler gear in the adjacent parallel plane transmitting the drive.

Abstract: A roll straightener for wire is disclosed in which rolls on each side of the wire are mounted in fixed spatial relation in supports and the relative positioning of the supports is adjusted, depending on wire type and size, to produce straightened wire.

Abstract: A straightening attachment for a wire or strip processing machine, the attachment consisting of a fixed bottom block member of upwardly facing U-shaped cross section, a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripherally grooved bottom rollers journaled in the bottom block member, the bottom block member having upstanding apertured end post elements, a floating block member slidably engaged with the post members and having transverse rectangular notches slidably containing downwardly facing yoke members having transversely aligned notches in which are engaged shaft elements carrying upper peripherally grooved pressure rollers staggered relative to the bottom rollers and longitudinally aligned therewith, a pressure arm pivotally engaged with the top end of one of the post members and having depending rod elements threadedly engaged therewith and being connected to the respective yoke members, an upstanding arm on the end of the floating block member opposite the pivot connection of the pressure arm and extending t

Abstract: As heretofore manufactured, straightening machines have incorporated chain and sprocket drives and the straightening rolls have been geared together so as to rotate in unison. At high speeds the problems of lubrication on the plain roll bearings and as regards the chains and sprockets become increasingly more difficult. By using flexible belts and more particularly timing belts for driving the rolls of the straightening machine, the belt drive system of the invention eliminates the gears and also the speed reducing units as previously employed. Countershafts are driven from the drive motor by one or more flexible belts and other flexible belts are employed for driving the pinch rolls and the lower straightening rolls from the said countershafts.