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.

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  10  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.