[1]rn-a,t,ented Feb. 12, 1946 29394t824 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE -APPARATUS FOR FEEDING METAL STRIEP TO - METAL WORKING PRESSES Russell T. Todd, Youn.-stown, Ohio, assignor. to McKay Machine Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 7,1941, Serlvl N, o. 397,060 17 Claims, (Cl. 153-54) This lnvp-ntion relates to aii improved apparatus by the "off 11 time of the pmss line due to changing for hanclhng, processing, and feeding metal strip tO Z raetPI WOrking press and also to an improved met.hc)d and apparatus for controuing the operatior., o.'L the hvndling and prgcessing equipment and for controlling the movement of the -strip relative to the outting or working dies of the pres . more specifically, the in-,tention re.1gtes to an improved@ inethod and apparatus for hp-.ndling, processLv2g, -)nci feedirkg metal strip to a continu- lo ously o-,oerating I)ress whereby the strlp may be automt,,tically handled, processed, and fed in synchronism wi@bla -t-,he operstion of the press in Pn entirely tu,6ornatic manner thereby substantwly i-nere."Ing the nroductive capaelty of the assembly ],,i wb-ile reducinr,, stoolc v,7aste to an obsolute rninimuna, lr_l 1.0 cbject oT the lnvexition is the -oroEYI a!--, aril.-.,Dz@ovecl Ametho,-l Q-nd Lippgrati-is @or '6he qbe-ie'vil-Ach is P-,per.,.tive to to the mets.1 wor7r,!,,ig press i.-Li ,a i-nc)re dvperlclp-,,I)le manner %nd i-,i @'Ll' coiditic)il whereby th@l,y vE hL- press Is ii-iciease(I is of a better ino,-)-e forr@a qua,'Aity. Zi2rb;.,,ey oi@ -@l m@ ore @,,4peci.x-lc objectt@T t!3.e i,,iventioz,,, is the of l@niprov@d !or ou@@, tho -,,aethod of @he lnve-?2tiori vihich apparg,tus -;,g aad d-Lirable in @,,,iid @,o P-riangeC, "uh-it 0,, rninimtim of factory'.rlcor space is requij@t'@-@l lof its i_nstp@llw@ion and o7peretion. Tlie invet)-tion P,,Iso contemplates the lncorlaoretloll 8u@ch , npparettis into compact self-contained urtits to be erq-,,-Ioy.-d indivldually with c-,;ach - press. 9,5 thpindi-vidu-@l unit may 'be set up for a pe,rticul a? press operation and whe@,q- this is aecomp2lshed, the unit will autometically process e,ncl suPPly strip at high speed direct from the colls lnvthich form the strip Is norrnally supplied 40 to the stamping or fabricating plant. Another Gbject of the lnventlon is the provision of an improved uncoiler for uncoiling metal strip and of an improved arrangement for driving and controlling tl-ie operation of the un- 45 coller. Also, the Invention seeks .'tlo provide gn improve d vssembly for cleaning, processing ineluding levelling, and measuring continuous metal strip and to provide an improved interlocking control system for the various - elements 50 of the line including the uncoiling mechanism. and the press. Yet another obect of the Invention is the provlsion of an Improved vssembly for uncoiling processi ng, and feeding continuous metal strip to 55 a metal working press which Is amenable to such control that the threading through of the stock and the setting up of the assembled mechanism including the adjustment of the measuring device are subst-antially simpufled and facilitated where- (;o coils is materlsffly shor-tened. 'Mose and otlier objects. and advrntages of the lnven-tion will become apparent from a consideration of the following detalle'd @rpeciflcstlon and the accompanyIng drawings wherei-n there @z disclbsed a preferred embcdiment of the Invention. In the drawings: I-ql,,,vure 1, paxts a 9,nd b, is a @@ide view of an apparatus constrlicted in accordancpwith the Drinciples og tli6 Invention, Figure 2, part -o a and b, is a plvn view of the, el.,paratus o2t Flgure 1; Ln-gure 3 Is an enlarged view of the strip se,-eubbipg assembly of the appa@etus 0.'t@ r@ligures I and 2; Mgtive @,@L is a fragmeiatary viel@l of the ippavtevi of the n@ etal str.,--G precess or utilec'. in ti-ic- Fl;crparatus of -L7-I.-ures 1 raq 2; Y@71.7ure 6 is a schemitic reproseiitation of the s@,@rip nieasur@me. devt@Dc, o2,- @he ap,,,a@irattis; -@FIgures 'I aiif,, 6 .ire for '-he :txTd-@aulto dr,-Ives the uncoiling F-,-Selnbly foz, the balp-nee oi-' '*hc- apparat-Lis, respectively; finei M-,ure 9 Is a i.,7lrLinL, divgram of @h@,- control for the app,;, rc@t,,@o of r-,Igure@, I n@rd 2. The apparatus of t'Ibc- Invention, In its pre.ferred and lllustr,-ztec@, embodiment, con-,ists priiielpally oL' a, strip uncoiling asse,,rnbly illustrated by Plgures la'ancl 2c,? and of a combiriation macbane Illustrated lr. Flgures lb and 2b, rimch machine consists In tur,-i of a strip scrubbing or cleaning n-ssembly, a, cold working del@ice or processor, .i roller leveller, and a strip measuring device. Said inachine is most advaiitageously constructed as a unitary compact assembly for purposes of economy in construetioii and operation, and would facilitate the control of the component parts of the machine. Interposed between the uncoller and said machine is a 2 short loop pit adapted to receive a length of the strip to Insure the availability of the supply of strip for said machine regardless 'of the existence of some control lag In the operation of the uncoiler. I The strip uncoiling apparatus. of Flgures la and 2a comprises a base 10 on which is mounted spaced upstanding frames I I and 12 in each of which Is slidably rhounted a gwde carrier 13. Carriers 13 are positioned along a common axis and a coil side guide 14 is rotatably mounted on the Inner end of each of the carriers. Each carrier Is provided. with a rack 15 which is adapted to be engaged by a plnion housed within the casing IS and adapted t6 be driven by one or the other of the motors m I or m2. This arrangement Is provided to enable the rotatfng raltls of I-Iigure Pigure 5 is a
[2]2 2,394,824 side giiides 14 to be moved toward and away from each other to accommoadte coils of strips of varied widths for the piirpose of preventing damage to the side edges of the coil or strlp gs explained In U. S. Patent No. 2,122,674 to Wardle. Also supported on the base 10 but below and to either side of the axis of the guides 14 are bearing blocks II arranged in two groups of three each for the purpose of supporting the two spaced parallel coil carrying shafts 18. The outer of the blocks 17 are conveniently positioned in windows 19 formed from the lower portions of the frames II and 1.2, -while the other of the blocks - are' positioned intermediate the ends of the shafts. . A plurality of removable bands or sleeves 20 are mounted on each of the shafts 18 and these bands or sleeves are covered with brake lining material to provide sumcient drivirig friction between the shafts and the coil, while avoiding marring or scratching of the surf ace of the strip of the coil. Shafts I 8 are arranged to be driven by a shaft 2 i through suitable worm gearing, not shown, and shaft 21 is in turn arranged to be driven by a variable bydraulto motor hm3. Motor. h?iz3 receives bydraulic fluid pressure from pump hp3 'which In turn is driven by an electric motor m3. Extending upwardly and outwardly from the rear edge of each of the frames I I and 12 Is a housing 22 in which Is journaled a fixed guide roll 2 3, a pair of pinch rolls 24, a plurality -of side guide rolls 25 to engage the side edges of the strip, and upper and lower guide rolls 26 to guide the strip as it leaves the uncoiler. The side g@ide rolls'25 are arranged to be moved Inwardly and outwardly tb accommodate strip of varied width by suitable and conventional mechanism, not, shown, op6rated by a hand wheel 27. Also, the pressure exerted I)y pinch,rolls 2't Is adapted to be varied by manlpulation of hand wheel 28 through well-known and conventional linkage, not shown. Pinch rolls 24 deliver the strip from the uncoile'r and for this purpose are driven from shaft 21 through gearing housed in casing 29, shaft 30, and suitable gearing hous ' ed In casing 31. The pinch rolls 24 also perform the function of bfeaking down the scale on the strip. A fixed guide 32 positioned above and outwardly of the first guide roll 23 completes the assembly of parts carried by the housings 22. It should be observed that the pass plane through the rolls carried by the housings 22 is gener@lly tangent to the natural curve taken by the strip 33 as the latter leaves the coil and extends in a downward dlrection for delivering the strip Into a loop pit to be hereinafter described. It should be apparent that since the coil of strip is rotated by engagement of the sleeves, 20 with the outei periphery of the coil, the linear speed of the strip as It leaves the coil ' may be correlated with the pass speed between the pinch rolls 24 elnd, consequently, the loop between the pinch rolls and the coil will be substantie.Ily constant regardless of the diameter of the cofl. The loop pit, above mentioned, consists principally of a downwardl@ curved framework 34 on whch is Journaled, by means of anti-friction bearings, a great number of flbte discs 3@ which are adapted to support-the strips at many spaced points. A limit switch LSI Is provided with an operati'ng arm, to be engaged by the strip 'when the latter fills the -pit. Referring now to Flgures lb, 2b and 3 through 6. the prin6ipal apparatus of the Invention conof spaced parallel housings 41 and 42 for the '?u of supporting the devices now to be dese@ibe@d. Supported immediately In the housings 41 and 42 is a processing leveller which consists r, of a roller leveller indicated generally by reference numeral 53 and 'a metal working roll 43 positioned ahead of the roller leveller and adapted to be moved up through, the plane of the pass of the strip through the machine,'as indicated lo In Fligure 5, to subject the strip to severe reverse bends for the purpose of @old working the strip thereby relieving inherent stresses therein, as i.s. well understood in the art. Roll 43 is guided !n vertical guides 44 secured to or forming part of 15 the housings 41 and 42 and is backed up by@ offset rolls 45 journaled in a slide 4.6 arranged to be moved vertically by a toggle 41 operated by an arm 48 which is driven by a crank. The crank is arranged to be rotated by a motor RM through 20 suitable speed reducing gearing 49. A pair of pinch roils 50 is positioned in front of the proeessing roll 43 and a double pair of backed-up pinch rolls 51 are positioned between the processing roll 43 and the rolls of the leveller 53. The 25 pinch rolls 51 are arranged to be adjusted to vary the pressure between them by manipiilation of the hand wheel 54 which is coupled by means of worm gearing with conventional hold down screws 55. IAkewise, pinch rolls 50 are 3( adapted to be'adjusted by manipulation of hand wheel 56 which is coupled to hold down screws 57 by means of shaft 58. Positioned to one sid6 of the processing leveller proper is a gear case 60 which is adapted to drive, ,i r, the rolls of the processing leveller, the levelling rolls being driven through flexible couplings 6 1, the pair of pinch rolls in front of the processing roll 43 bSr the flexible coupling spindles 62,. and the pinch rolls between the processing roll 43 4( and the roller leveller by the flexible spindles 63. Incorporated in the drive for pinch rolls 50 is an overrun,.ling clutch, hot sliown, which allows rolls 50 to rotate at a much higher rate of speed when the roll 43 is being elevated thereby drawing the 45 strip into its looped path and through the pass between the rolls 50 and this overrunning clutch would, of course, normally prevent the driving of the rolls in the reverse direction. This free wh6eling devicb is adapted to be bridged by a 50 magnetically operated clutch iildicated schematically at MCI, the operation of which will appear later. r)5 Gear assembly 60 is driven by a hydraulic motor hm6 which is supplied with oil under pressure by the varia e delivery pump hpG driven by electric motor mS. The operation and features of this drive will be explained In conne@-,tion with the hydraulic piping diikgram and fhe electrical control eircuit. co Supported on the front ends of the housings 41 and 42 are the sub-housings 65 and 66 airranged to support a scrubbing unit, shov@n more in detail in Figure 3 of the drawings. This scrubbing unit consists of lower brushing rolls 67 -65 journaled in the housings 65 and 66 and upper opposite scrubbing rolls 68 adjustably jou.,-naled in blocks 69 slidably mounted for vertical movement in windows 70 provided in the housings. In accordance with usual practice, the brush 70 rolls 67 and 68 are provided with kerosene sprays, not shown, to aid in removing scale from the strip and immediately- after each of the pairs of brush rolls is a pair of rubber squeegees 71 to engage the top and bottom surfaces of the strip sists of a base 40 on which is mounted a pair 75 tO wipe the strip clean of sqale, kerosene and
[3]2,304,824 3 other for6igri matter. The top rolls and squeegees, being caried by the blocks 69, are adapted to be raised and lowered as a unit to facilitate threading through of the strip by mechanism engaging the blocks. This may consist of bolts 72 having connection with the blocks 69 and extending up through bores in shanks 73 of members 74. It should be understood that one of the members 74 is provided bt each side of the machine. A nut 75 controls the vertical positioii of the bolt 72 relative to the shank 73. Extending through vertically elongated apertures In each of -the members 74 is a shaft 76 having a cam 77 keyed thereto within e.,@ch of the members TP,. Shaft 76 is journaled in member 70 fixed with respect to housings 65 and 66 and it should be opparent that upon rotation of the shaft 76 by the, hand wheel 80 that the members ?il and, coyisea .,uently, the blocks 60 will be raised in uni-son thereby separating t'-ae rolls and squeegees. Coil springs 81 apply resilient pressure between the br ush rolls and the squeegees and since the upper brush rolls and squeegees are i-iidependently mounted in the blocks 69, the latter may be adjusted from time to time to compensate for wear end when the blocks 69 are raised or low-, ered, such adjustment@is not disturbed. Brush rolls 67 and 68 are driven by motor m4 through speed reducer 82 and fleidble coupling 83. Attached to and extending forwardly of the housing 65 and 66 are the housings 85 and 86 v,rhich support at their outer ends upper and lower horizontal guide rolls 87 and vertically disposed guide rolls $8. The latter are journaled on blocks 89 positioned at either side of the machine on support 90 and, in accordance with usual practice, the blocks 89 may be moved toward and away from each other by rotation of adjusting screw 91 by the hand wheel 92. The latter ad,justment is provided to accommodate strip of varied widths. An important.part of the apparatus of the invention is the strip measuring device wliieh.is provided to control the operation of the apparatus in such a manner that strio pieces of predetermined length are intermittently but automatically supplied to the metal working press in synchronism with and in accordance with the demands of the press. This devie.e consists of a pair of gauging rous 94 arranged to be driven without slippage by the strip passing through the machine and connected through a mechanical reducer to a dial 95 adapted to be spring biased in one direction against a positive but adjustable stop 96. 14ote-Mgure 6. A magnetic clutch MC2 is interposed in the dial drive and when de-energized, the dial rotates against the stop 96. Upon being driven by measuring rolls 94, dial 95 will rotate in such direction that the stop engaging element 97 moves away from stop 96 and into sequential engagement witl@ the operators of switches SD and AU@.S. The ftinetion and operations of these various parts will 0 be explained bel W. Measuring rolls 94 are Jouriialed in frames 100 attached'to the rear end of the housings 41 and 42 and to the rear of the measuring rolls 94 is a pair of pinch rous I 0 1 arranged to be driven fro'm gear assembly 60 tiirough spindle 102. Referring now to Mgure 7, the variable speed ..hydraulic motor hm3 which driv.6s the cradle and pinch rolls of the uncoller is supplied with fluid pressure from pi@mp hp3 through conduit 104, valve 105 and conduit 106. Valve 105 is arranged to be actuated by a s'olenoid US and operates in such manner that when the solenoid is energized, conduit 106 is connected with conduit 104 and when de-energized, conduit 104 is connected with a return conduit 107 leading back to a fluid storage surnp I 08 housed in the base of the uncoiler. Return conduit 109 is provided for the motor hm3 and the speed of rotation of the output shaft of this motor may Oe varied by manipulation of the hand wheel I 10. Referring to Figure 9, motor m3 is energized from a suitable current source S I 10 through relay 3M, the coil of which is in series with 6ontrol current suppl@ line L3, conductor II 2 i contact UV' which is closed when the ridachine is set up for operation, a normally open starting switch, conductor i I 3, conductor If 4, and con15 trol current supply line Li. In parallel with the starting switch is a normally closed stop switch I in series with the holding contact 3MI which is adaoted to be closed upon energization of solenoid @'T-vl to provide a holcling circuit for the 20 latter upon release of the starting switch button, as is well understood in the art. Solenoid US 6ontrols the operatioii of valve IOC, and is in series with the limit s,,vitch LSI positioned in the bottom of the loop pit 34, 35 through con25 ductors I I 6, 9 II and I IO and the operation of the circuit is such that the normally cfosed switch LS I maintains solenoid US energized to continue the un'coiling rotation of the cradle and pinch rolls of the uncoiler until the stril:) reaches th e 30 bott6m of the loop pit alid, engages the operator for switch LSO thereby deenergi@ing the solenoid and stopping rotation of the coil. The electric motor and contlected pump remain in operation to maintain a constant supply of fluid pres35 sure for actuation of the fluid driving motor immediately upon the raising of the strip loop. Energization of motors ml and m2, which are of the reversing type, is adapted to be acc6mplished by suitable manually controllable cir40 cuits, not shown, and upon energization of these inotors, the rotary side guides 14 are adapted to be moved inwardly or outwardly, as the case may be, to accommodate coils of strip of different widths, 45 In Mgure 8, which is a schematic reliresentation of the drive employed for gear case 60 which in turn oi)erates the pinch rolls and leveller rolls of the processing leveller, as explained above, reference numeral 120 designates a four-way ro valve which is adapted to be operated in one direction by the solenoid C and in the other direction by solenoid B. The internal c6nstruetion of valve 120 is such that when both solenoids are de-energized, the valve core automatir,5 cally mbves to neutral position thereby interconnecting pump output conduit 121 with pump return conduit 122 to provide an unobstructed circuit for the circulation of fluid by pump hp6 which is normally in continuous operation. Pump Go hp6 is of the variable dispiacement type, the displacement being varied by actuation of - a servo-motor SM, the operation of which is in turn controlled by a solenoid A. Fluid pressure is supplied to motor SM through conduit 123 from 45 a supercharging pump hp5 which is continuously driven by a motor mS. The operation of the displacement shifting mechanism is such that whian the solenoid A is energized, the pump delivers the maxirnum volume for which it is adjusted and when the solenoid is de-energized, the pump delivers a much less but constant volume. A positive displacement piston type of fluid motor hm 6 is connected with valve 120 by means of coriduits 123 and 123 and is operable in either 75 direction.depending on the direction of fluid fl.ow
[4]4 9,304,82 .4 through the condults. The :flow and its direetion is controlled by valve 120 through energization of one or the other of the solenoids B or C. When both solenoids B and C are deenergized, the ports in va@lve 120 communicatin.with the conduits 123 and 124 are clo'sed and to provide for the drift of the rotating paits, of rtiotor - hm6 and its connected gears, shafts and rolls as well as to accurately control the extent of such drift a bypassing conduit 125 interconnects the conduits 123 and 124 and interposed in conduit 125 is a reversible brake valve assembling 126 provided with an adjustable impedin- valve 127 on conduit. 123 side of assembly 126 and with'a second adjustable impeding valve 128 adjacent.to conduit i24. Valves 127 and 128 are opeiable to impede or restrict th6 flow of fluid through the conduit i25 to thereby control the extent of drift of motor hm6l while providing safety means preventing damage to any of the parts by reason of the inertia of the rotating elements. Fluid is supplied to the system from a supply sump 130 conveniently located- in the base of the processing leveller by means of the continuously operating super'charging pump hp5 which is provided with an outlet conduit 131 connected to a central passage in view 126 and operates to expel any air which may be entrapped in conduits 123, 124, 125, valves 120 and 126, and motor hm6 and to maintain all the passages in these parts filled with fluid pressure. Likewise, another conduit 132 maintains pump hp6 and its connected conduits' and passages free of air and filled with fluid. Pump hp5 is of the bypassing tYPe and is provided with a return conduit 133 to return the fluid to the sump upon the attainment of pr&determined pressures in the conduits 123, 131 and 132. Leakage return lines 1$4 and 135 are provided for pump hp6 and motor hm6, respectively. Supported by the guide roll frame 85. 86 is a limit switch LS2 having an outwardly and downwardly extending operating arm 137 adapted to be engaged when the strip between the uncoiler and the processing leveller b,6comes taut and has as its principal function the stopping of, the processing and,feeding assembly if for any reason the uncoiler fails to deli I ver I a proper supply of strip. Referring to Mgure .9, the switch LS2, which is I closed , wheii arm 137 is not engaged, is in series across the control circuit supply line with conductor 138, a stop sm7itch, a resei switch, an emergency stop switbh, and the coil of relay UV. In,parallel with the reset switch in this circuit is a holding 'contact UVI and it should be apparent that upon a momentary closing of the reset switch, the coil UV will lock in and maintain closed the contact UVI, mentioned above, since the sto, b switches and switch LS2 are normally elbsed. Motor ?kt4 which drives the brushing rolls of the strip scrubber is supplied with energy from source S2 through r4elay 4M, the coil of which is in s ' eries with the control current line through conductors 139, 140, holding contact 4MI, stop switch, switch UVI and conductor 141. Switch UVI is ,,,Iosed upon energization of coil UV, as explained above.. Parallel with the last mentioned stop switch and holding contact 4MI is a starting swit,;h and it sh juld be apparent that upon the momenary closing of the starting switch, the motor m will be energized and remain in operaof the stop switch or by automatic operation of the safety limit switch LS2. Motor m5 whicli normaliy coxitinuously operates supercharging pump hp5 for the purposbs IS outlined above is energized from a suitable current source S3 through relay 5M, the coil of which is in series with the control curreht line Li, L3 through conductors 142, 143, holding contact SMI, stop switch, switch UVI and con10 ductor 14 1. In parallel with the stop switch and holding contact 5MI is a starting s and it should be apparent that upon a momen@ tary closing of the starting switch, motor m$ will be energized and remain in operation. In 15 parallel with the coil of relay 5M is the coil of a second relay TR, the operated contact TRI of which is in series with the coil of the re.lay controlling the supply of current to the main drive motor m6 to prevefit ODeration of the 20 latter until thle siipercharging pump is in operation. Motor 7n6 is supplied from a suitable current source S4 under. the control of the last rnentioned relay, (GM), the coil of which is in series with Li, L3 through conductor 144, con25 tacts Tftl, holding contact 6MI, stop switch, switch UVI and conductor 141. In parallel with the stop switch and the holding contact is' starting switch and it should.be apparent that if motor m5 is in oi@eration, the momentary 30 closing of the starting switch will lock in relay 6M thereby operating motor m6. To operate, the strip processing and feeding dssembly in forward direction and at high or normal speed, solenoids A and B are energized with 35 solenoid C r emaining de-energized. This is accomplished ' by momentarily closing the "run" switch which is in series with conductors Li, L3 through switch UV2 which Is closed upon energization of coil UV, limit switch MRS, conductor 40 145, conductor 146 and relay coil 4CR. In parallel with the, "run" switch are the holding contacts 4CRI and upon energization of coil 4CR, contacts 4CR2 In conductor 147 are closed which results in energization of relay coil 6CR which is 45 in series with. contacts 4CR2. Simultaneously, cbntacts 4CRi in coriduct'or 148 are closed and this, results in energization of relay -coil ICR which is in series with contacts 4CR3, it being apparent that coils ICR and 6CR derive their 50 energy from conductors Li, L3 through switch UV2. Upon energization of, coils I CR and 6CR, - contacts ICRI in conductor 150 are closed as are also the contacts SCRI in conductor 151. The closing of the former energizes solenoid A 55 and the closing of the latter energizes solenoid B. Assuming that the machine is operating at its, normal or high speed by reason of theenergization of solenoids A and B, and that strip is being fed therethrough, such operation will continue 60 until the first limit switch SD (normally closed) on the measuring device is opened by reason of a predetei-mined progression of the strip at -which time the coil ICR will be de-energized. By referring to the bottom of Fligure 9, it can be seen 65 that the switch SD is in series with the coil iCR. When the latter is de-energized, contacts ICRI are opened and circuit ISO broken therebyde-energizing solenoid A. This action reduces the displacement of the pump hp6 in the manner exT I ' d above and, therefo e, r duces tfie speed of 70 p aine r e rotation of the Qutput shaft of motor hm6 whieh is connected to the pump by sol I enoid B acti7ig through valve 120. The machine then continues to operate at this substantially reduced spe untion until interrupted either by manual operation 7i til the Becond Ilmit switch MRS, normally osed,
[5]2,394,824 of the measuring device (Figure 6) Is opened which action Interrupts eircilit 146 And de-energizes coll 4CR. At this tlme contacts 4CR2 in conductor 147 are operied and coil 6CR is accordingly de-energized. De-energization of 6CR openscontacts6CRiinconductori5ithereb de-, @y energizing solenoid B and allowing the valve i2C to shift to neu@ral position. Conduits 12 I' and 122 are now interconnected to provide a free circulating passage for the fluid handled by pump hp6 and at the same time the conduits 123 and 124 are closed off at the valve 120. Valve assembly 126 now acts as a brake causing the discharge from the motor hmG to pass over the relief valves 127 and 128 within the assembly, the pkessure setting of the relief valves determining the braking effect. This action provides a means of absorbing the Inertia 6nergy of the rnoving strip and rotatiiig parts of the machine to bring the same to a quick but controlled stop. It is possible to accurately gauge the extent of overrun and by setting the.switch MRS accordingly, a highly aecuraie control over the quantity or length of the strip fed may b6 exercised. To facilitate the setting up of the machine and the threading through of the stock, reiays ICR and SCR are provided with Inching switches, the operation of which -should be readily apparent from Mgure 9 of the drawings. The machine may be reversed under manual control by depressirig the reversing switch in line 152 to energize the co ' ii of relay 7CR. Contacts 7CRI are closed upon energization of coil 7CR and are in series with solenoid C across the line Li, L3 and when solenoid C Is energized, valve 120 Is actuated so as to, divert the output. from pump hpG to the opposite side of motor hmfi to cause the Iatter to rotate in the reverse direction. Referring to Flgure 9, near the top thereof, It will be observed that contacts 7CR2 are in series across the hne LI, L3 with the coil of the magnetic clutchMCI. Asexl)lalnedabove,theclutchMCI is provided for the purpose of bridging the free wheeling drive for pinch rolls 50 so that these rolls may be driven In the reverse direction in backing up the machine. To arrange the strip processing and feediiag assembly for operation in synchronism with an automatic stamping press and the like, a switch Pi is positioned on the press or other machine in such manner thai It Is momentarily closed if the previously worked piece has been removed from the press or machine and the latter is in condition to receive and work on a new i)iece of strip. Swftch Pi Is located in line 153 which is in parallel with the "run" switch. In series with switch Pi is a switch AM which is manually closed when the machine is set up for automatic operation.- To operate the magnetic clutch MC2, an operating solenoid therefor is in series With the line LI, L3 and switch contacts 5RCI, the latter of which are adapted to be closed by energization of relay 5CR which Is in series with L3, UV2, .conductor 154, normally closed switch P2, a manual clutch reset switch and normally closed switch 7CR3. This is shown In Figures 6 and 9. Switch P2 Is also mounted on the press (shown at 165 in Flgure 6 as a representation of any conventional l@ress) and is ' adapted to be momentarily opened as the press opens up Immediately upon completion of a working operation. The momentary opening of switch P2 momentarily de-energizes the magnetic clutch MC2 thereby allowing the spring 155 to move the dial 95 of the ineasuring device (Mgure 6) back to- its original startIng position In preparation for a new ineasuring cycle. In general, therefore, the operation of the machine is such that the switch SD of the measuring device slows the machtne down and the switch MRS thereof stops the operation of the machine with the strip advanced to its exact proper position in the press. Automatic means, not a part of the invention and therefore not shown, now 10 operates the press and immediately thereafter the switch P2 is opened to move the dial 95 to its original position and close switches SD and MRS. It should be remembered that the opening of MRS de-energized coil 4CR. and took out its It$ holding circuit which is in parallel with the manually engageable "run" switch. Coii,sequeiitly, upon the re-clo@ing of MRS, coil 9CR is not reenergized nor is the machine again started until the switch Pi is closed in the manner. aforesaid. 20 Upon the momentary closing of switch PI, coil 8CR is erergized and held in by its holding contacts 6CRi. In addition to the automatic contrqls outlined abovei means is provided to automatically raise 25 and lower the working roll 43 of the strip processing assembly which roll is operated by motor RM. As explained above, roll 43 is raised and lowered by a crank and it should be apparent that rotation of the crank in one direction through 30 1801 may move the roll from top to bottom position and coxitinued rotation through another 1801 may move the,roll back to top position. Therefore, motor RM may be @ni-directional. This motor is provided with a magnetic brake MB I to 35 insure its stoppage at the proper positioxis and Is energized from a suiiabie source SS under the control of relay OCR. The coil of relay SCR is in series with line Li, L3, conductor 160, a normally closed limit switch LTLI which is opened 40 when the working roll 43 reaches its upper position, and normally opened switch contacts 2CRI. Coil 2CR which operates contacts 2CRI is in series with L3, switch HR which is a thermal guard bn motor RM, normally closed switch AM 1,7, 45 conductor 161, a strip detecting switch 162, a conductor 163 and LI. Switch 162 is incorporated in the processing machine in such manner that as the leading end of the strip is engaged by both pairs of pinch rolls 5 1, the switch will be 50@ closed thereby energizing coil 2CR and operating motor RM. If the workiiig roll 43 is in its lower position rotation of RM continues untli limit switch UL Is opened indicating that the roll 43 has reached its upper position. It should be ob55 served that additional contacts 2C@R2 are provided on relay 2CR which additional contacts are closed when coil 2CR is energized and which are in series with the coil of relay 3CR and therefore upon de-energization 6f relay 2CR, relay 60 3CR is energized. Contaets 3C I which are closed byenergization of relay 3CR a@e in series with a limit switch DL representing the lower position of working roll 43, conductor 160 and relay 8CR. It should, therefore, be apparent that when 65 there is no strip in the machine as detected by switch 162, the roll 43 is autonlatically moved to lower position. Signal light L in series with limit switch DL Is provided to warn the operator that the working roll 43 is not in its lowermost posi70 tion, as some damage may result if the strip is fed into t]@e machine while the working roll 43 is not in its lowermost position. Switch AMI is closed for automa:tic operation and rnanually opened for manual control of the motor RM. 75 Motor RM niay'be then manue@lly controlled by
