A cut-to-length line for processing coiled sheet metal having a thickness of greater than 0.200 inches has an uncoiler, a descaler, and flattening machinery which may be a stretcher leveler or a temper mill. The line is operated in an advancement mode by (i) the advancing the sheet metal through the line; and (ii) descaling the sheet metal in the descaler. In one aspect, when a length of sheet metal to be stretch leveled is positioned in the stretcher leveler, the line may be operated in an idle mode by: (i) stopping the advancement of the sheet metal from the uncoiler through the descaler; (ii) stopping descaling of the sheet metal in the descaler; and (iii) stretch leveling the length of the sheet metal. When stretch leveling is complete, the line may be operated in the advancement mode.

An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system identifying the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area. Moreover, an automated trimming system is provided that includes a coil having a plurality of rings. One or more trimming mechanisms select a number of rings from the coil and proceed to form a sample of desired length, by cutting a portion of the rings. A receiver unit receives the sample from the one or more trimming mechanisms to evaluate the quality of the sample.

An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system that identifies the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area, once the coil is positioned in the trimming area the ends of the coil are separated to expose the rings positioned within using a plurality of screw rolls or the one or more trimming mechanisms.

An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system that identifies the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area, once the coil is positioned in the trimming area the ends of the coil are separated to expose the rings positioned within using a plurality of screw rolls or the one or more trimming mechanisms.

A system for isolating each end of a cylindrical coil wall from a tensioned binding medium employed to retain the coil wall in an axially compacted state. The system includes a magazine for containing a supply of pliable inserts. A feeding mechanism advances inserts from the magazine and along a guide for successive delivery to a clamp. The clamp is operative to releasably hold an insert received from the guide. The clamp is shiftable to position the insert in a gap between the end of the coil wall and a path along which a binding medium is directed prior to being tensioned. When the binding medium is tensioned, the insert is pulled from the clamp into a protective position tightly sandwiched between the tensioned binding medium and the coil end.

A system for isolating each end of a cylindrical coil wall from a tensioned binding medium employed to retain the coil wall in an axially compacted state. The system includes a magazine for containing a supply of pliable inserts. A feeding mechanism advances inserts from the magazine and along a guide for successive delivery to a clamp. The clamp is operative to releasably hold an insert received from the guide. The clamp is shiftable to position the insert in a gap between the end of the coil wall and a path along which a binding medium is directed prior to being tensioned. When the binding medium is tensioned, the insert is pulled from the clamp into a protective position tightly sandwiched between the tensioned binding medium and the coil end.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing steel parts of sheet metal by hot deep drawing characterized by bringing the semi-finished product into austenitic condition by heating, subsequently cooling its locations, which would undergo undesirable deformation, to a temperature below the austenite temperature, and then completing the forming process.

A method of joining strip-shaped sheets includes a support step of placing a support member in contact with a reverse feed direction end of a strip-shaped sheet fed to a pressing machine and a feed direction end of a new strip-shaped sheet, and a joining step of joining the new strip-shaped sheet to the strip-shaped sheet by attaching a tape on the reverse feed direction end of the strip-shaped sheet and the feed direction end of the new strip-shaped sheet, wherein in the joining step, the tape is attached from a side opposite the support member with the support member placed in contact with the reverse feed direction end of the strip-shaped sheet and the feed direction end of the new strip-shaped sheet. The problem of the variation in welding quality encountered when welding thin and wide strip-shaped sheets together is resolved and the strip-shaped sheet is fed smoothly.

A method of joining strip-shaped sheets includes a support step of placing a support member in contact with a reverse feed direction end of a strip-shaped sheet fed to a pressing machine and a feed direction end of a new strip-shaped sheet, and a joining step of joining the new strip-shaped sheet to the strip-shaped sheet by attaching a tape on the reverse feed direction end of the strip-shaped sheet and the feed direction end of the new strip-shaped sheet, wherein in the joining step, the tape is attached from a side opposite the support member with the support member placed in contact with the reverse feed direction end of the strip-shaped sheet and the feed direction end of the new strip-shaped sheet. The problem of the variation in welding quality encountered when welding thin and wide strip-shaped sheets together is resolved and the strip-shaped sheet is fed smoothly.

A device for applying coiling-tension to a slit band sheet includes: an upper structure that is disposed on the upper side of a band sheet which has been passed through a slitter line and slitted; and a lower structure that is disposed on the lower side of the band sheet and faces the upper structure vertically. In addition, an upper belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the upper structure. A lower belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the lower structure. The upper structure has a first reversing portion, an upper pressing portion, and a second reversing portion. The first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion are integrated with each other. A tension adjusting mechanism is installed on side surfaces of the first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion and a side surface of the second reversing portion.