Apparatus and method for processing coiled sheet-like material

Abstract

A coil processor is provided for performing processing operations on coiled sheet-like material, such as sheet metal, plastics or other materials. The coil processor uncoils and straightens the material before performing desired operations on the material and transferring it for packaging, shipping or further processing. Various features improve the overall efficiency of the coil processor, including its ability to move material forward and backward through the unit without slowing down the overall operation, as well as the versatility of its mobile tool carriers, which can perform multiple complex processing applications, including cutting, punching, stamping, bending or others. Additionally, processing efficiency may be further enhanced by the use of a computer, which determines the most efficient sequence for performing processing operations, and controls the coil processor's various features to process material in that sequence.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to coil processors and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for processing coils of sheet-like material that include conveyors for transporting the sheet-like material, tool carriages with tools for performing work operations on the sheet-like material, and control units for controlling movement of the conveyor, tool carriages and individual tools.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0002]In mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, and other fields, it is often advantageous to process sheet-like material, such as sheet metal or plastic sheet, that is stored in coils. Because the material is originally coiled, and not flat, greater amounts of the material can occupy smaller unit areas in factories or other locations where space is often at a premium, and the material may be transported to the processing site more easily and inexpensively than flat sheet-like materials.[0003]Methods and apparatus for processing coiled sheet-li...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Another advantage of the present invention is its capacity to accumulate slack in the material during processing operations. The accumulation of slack in a loop situated downstream of the uncoiler enables the material to continue uncoiling even while material is also moving in the backward direction through the processing unit. The accumulation of slack is thereafter reduced when material is advanced through the processing unit in the forward direction at a rate that exceeds the rate of uncoiling.

[0017]A further advantage of the currently preferred embodiments of the present invention is that the tool carrier(s) may perform multiple processing operations independently or simultaneously. The tool carrier(s) of the present invention feature multiple independent processing tools for performing punching, shearing, bending, slitting or other similar operations, along with a rotating tool die he

Problems solved by technology

One of the drawbacks of prior art methods and apparatus for processing coiled sheet-like materials is that the rate of production of the processed end product depends at least in part upon the rate of unrolling of the material from the coil.

As a result, any disruption to the unrolling process can reduce the efficiency of processing or production.

Additionally, the production rate can be limited by the size of the coil roll, which must be replaced when the material is entirely uncoiled.

If the desired processing operation is to occur along varying longitudinal axes in the uncoiled material, the production rate can be further limited by the capacity of the processing unit.

If the processing unit can move in the second transverse direction, the production rate still can be limited by the

Images