Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. In a coil storage and handling device, the combination of coil supporting means for supporing a coil of sheet material at an operating station, gripping means operatively connected to the supporting meaiis for gripping the leading edge of sheet material and holding same at a predetermined attitude, means for engaging the leading edge of sheet material and unwindin.a sheet material from the coil, actuating meaias for moving the enga.-ing means toward and away from the coil at the operatin@ station, and means for opening and closing the engaging means toselectively engage the leading ed,-e of sheet material, link means operatively engaging the gripping means for releasing said leading edge of sheet material when the engaginmeans bave en-aged same to perriait unwinding of sheet material froin the coil, and means for rewinding the coil after an operation on the end thereof so as to position the leading edge for a subsequent operation. 2. A device as in claim I wherein the en,@aging means comprises pinch means for engaging the end of the sheet material. 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said pinch means comprises a pair of pinch rollers having the axes thereof disposed parallel to one another, said pinch ro]Jers being supported on a frame for movement toward and away from one another so as to engage with and release the leading ed,-e of the sheet material, and means for driving the pinch rollers to unwind material h7om the coff when the pinch rollers are in operative engagement with the leading edge of sheet material. neans 4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the actuating i comprises a fluid-powered cyhnder and ram. 5. A device as in claim 1 including endless conveyor means supporting a plurality of coil-bearing supporting means and drive means for moving the endless conveyor to position a selected supporting means and coil carried thereon at the operating station. 6. A device as in claim 5 including frame means, track means on the frame means for supportin.- the coil-bearing supporting means, the track means including a pivoted section that is adapted to be pivoted as a coil-bearing supporting means passes thereover, link means operatively connected between the pivoted section and weight-indicatin means, whereby as a coilbearing supporting means @ 9 passes over the pivoted section of the trark means, the section will be moved and the link means connected thereto will be moved so as to actuate the weight-indicatinig means 10 to indicate the wei.-ht of the coil thoreon. 7. A device as in claim I wherein the supporting means comprises a reel supporting the coil, said reel having a pair of end plates, one of said end plates being provided with notches on the periphery thereof, said link means 1,5 including dog means for selectively engaging with a notch in said one end plate to prevent rotation of said reel and coil carried thereon, said link means being operative to release the dog means from the notch and at the same time to release the gripping means from the en@agement 20 with theleading edge of sheet material to permit unwinding of sheet material. 8. A device as in claim I wherein said rewinding means comprises a power driven roller member operatively engaged with thesupporting means for selectively rewinding 25 material onto the coil. 9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the roher is supported on a frame for movement between a position in engagement with the supporting means and a position away from the supporting ineans, said frame being moved 30 responsive to movement of the link means to move the roller into engagement with the supporting means when the gripping means release said leading edge. 10. A device as in claim I including frame means, said actuating means including a rotatable shaft member dis35 posed -eneraRy transversely of the operating station, power cylinder means including a rod operatively connected to said shaft member for rotating same, first connecting means operatively connecting said link means to said shaft member, said Enk means including lock means 40 cooperating with said supporting means to prevent rotation of said supporting means and second connecting means operatively connecting said shaft member to said engaging means, operation of the cylinder means in one mode causin.- rotation of the shaft member in one direc45 tion (1) to move the enga.-ing means toward the operating station to engage the leading edge of sheet @material, (2) to move the link means to (a) release the gripping means from engagenient with the leading edge of sheet material and (b) to release the Jock means, whereby the 50 engaging means may be operated to unwind sheet inaterial from the coil. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 55 1,608,193 11/1926 Stevens -------------- 242-64 2,585,859 2/1952 Showalter ----------- 24Z-64 3,081,959 3/1963 Goodwin ------------ 242-64 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. (10 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Examiner. N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner.

Uni'ted States Patent Office 3y334,833 3,334,833 COIL STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE Lloyd E. Einbury, Maple, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Embury Coil Line Limited, Downsview, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Cainada 5 Filed Apr. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 545,895 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 30, 1965, 18,221/65 10 Claims. (Cl. 242-64) 10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coil storage and handling device for sheet material including a coil support and grippers for holding the leading edge of the coiled material in a projecting at- 15 titude where it can readily be received by a straightening and cutter mechanism. The operation of the grippers and the straightening and cutter mechanism is syncbronized to facilitate uncoiling and cutting of only a desired length of material without undesirable unwinding of the coil 20 from its support. The coil supports are carried on an endless conveyor driven so as to position a selected coil at the straightening and cutter mechanism operatin.@ station at one end of the device. 25 The present invention relates to a coil storage and h andling device for storing a plurality of coils or rolls o f sheet material, particularly sheet metal, in such mann er that a particular coil may be automatically moved 3 0 f rom a stored position to an operating station by a conti nuous conveyor arran.-ement and at which operating st ation the leading edge of sheet material may be gripped a nd a len.-th of sheet material may be uncoiled frorn the c oil for straightening and cutting, and after such opera3 5 ti ons the sheet material may be rewound onto the coil. Heretofore, equipment for handling coiled sheet mat erial to be cut to length has required manual effort to p osition the leading edge of the material on the coil with r espect to the pinch rollers, straightening rollers and the 4 0 c utter. Each time a length of material of different gauge o r different width were required, it was necessary to re@lace the coil in operating position with a different coil. Undesi ' rable handling waS Tequired to move a new coil 4 5 i nto operating position and to position the leading edge o f such new coil in the pinch rollers and straightening r ollers associated therewith. An object of this invention is to provide a coil storage a nd handling machine with means for supporting a coil r )o o f sheet material at an operatin.@ station, gripping means o n the supporting means for holding the leading ed,-e of t he sheet material at a predetermined attitude, means for u nwinding sheet material from the coil upon release of t he gripping means, and means for rewindi-ng sheet ma5 5 t erial onto the coil after cuttii3g a length from the end o f the sheet material and upon release of the sheet mat erial by the unwindina means. A.nother object Of this invention is to provide a coil st orage and handling device including endless conveyor 6 0 means supporting a plurality of coils, drive means for s electively positioning a coil at an operating station, each c oil having the leading edge thereof supported by gripp ing means for supporting the leading edge at a predetermined attitude, and means for - uncoiling sheet material 6 5 f or straigbtening and cutting operations and rewinding ,s heet material onto the coil after straightening and cutting o perations have been performed. Yet another object of this invention, is to provide a c oil storage and handena device including an endless 70 c onveyor for supporting a plurality of coils of sbeet material with a weigbing subassembly upon which a coil may Patented Aug. 8, 1967 2 be weighed at any time without Temoval from the endless conveyor. Still another object of this invention is to provide a Coil storage and handling device including an endless conveyor for supporting a plurality of coils of sheet material with indicating means adjacent the operating station whereby the location of each coil will be known and the passage of a selected coil within the endless conveyor from stored position to the operating station may be readily watched. Other ' objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent hereafter. The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present iiavention in which: FIG. I is a schematic view of a cut-to-length line for sheet material which includes the coil storage and handling device of the present inventi.on, conventional straightening rollers, and conventional cutting means for cutting a length of straightened material from the leading end of the sheet material; FIG. 2 is a side view of the coil storage and handling device of the present invention, illustrating the drive means for the endless conveyor; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the means for holding and releasing the leading edge of each coil of sheet material at the operating station; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic perspective showing of the drive arrangement for rewinding the leading edge of the sheet material after straightening and cutting operations have been performed thereon; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the operating station of the coil storage and handeng device of this invention, illustrating the linkage for actuating the pinch rollers to'ward and away from the leading edge of the sheet material, and the means for holding and releasing the lead- ge of each coil at the operating station; ing ed FIG. 6 is a detail side view of the coil stora-,e and handling device at the operating station; FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the means for gripping and releasing the leadin- edge of sheet material; FIG. 8 is a perspective view . of the coil storage and handling device, illustrating the means for rewinding the coil after straightening and cutting operations have been perforrned on the end thereof; FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective representation of theessentials of the coil weighing arrangement; FIG. 10 is a detail of the indicating means on the control panel by which the position of the coils in the endless conveyor are made known to the operator; FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view of an adjustable hub mechanism for supporting a coil of sheet metal material; FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front view of the coil storage and handling device illustrating a coil supportin.- structure and the means for adjusting one end plate with respect to the other to accommodate coils of different widths; FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the link means for zrnoving the pinch rollers between a first gripping position and a second released position; and FIG. 14 is a detail cross-sectional view (from the back of FIG. 13) of the means for actuating the pinch rollers toward and away from one another. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated schematically a cut-tolen,-th line incorporating the coil storage and handlin.- device of the present invention. The coil storage and handling device 10 includes an endless conveyor 12 supported in the frame of the coil storage and handling device and mounting a plurality of reels 13 carrying coils of sheet material, as for example, sheet aluminum. Associated with the coil storage and handling device 10 are frame means 14 carrying pinch rollers 15 for -ripping the leadin.- edge of each coil and unwinding

3 material from a selected coil at the operating station at the end of the coil storage and handling device 10 adjacent to the pinch roller frame means 14. The leading edge of sheet material passes through straightening rollers 16 and then a predetermined length of the end may be cut by the cutter means 18 which are ofconventional construction. In FIG. 2, there is better shown the endless conveyor of the coil stora.-e and handlin.- means 10. The coil stora,-e and handlin.- device 10 includes a framework 20 comprised of channel members or 'the like structural members. The endless conveyor 12 comprises a plurality of links 22 secured to one another by means of trunnions 26. The links form an endl@ess chain at each side of the conveyor. Journaled on the linkage connections are rollers which carry the reels 13 for the coils of sheet material on the upper and lower tracks 28 and 30, respectively, of the framework 20. The tracks 28 and 30 supporting the upper and lower flights of the endless conveyor are supported on the horizontally disposed frame members 32 and 34, respectively. The tracks may be formed integrally with the frame members or may be separately made and then suitably secured to the frame members. Referring to FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, it ir, seen that the links 22 are secured to one another by means of the trunnions 26 and disposed between the ends of the links and secured by the trunnions to the links are rollers 27. The rollers are adapted to be guided in the upwardly-opening, channelshaped recesses defined in the tracks 30. It will be understood that the track 28 is similarly constructed for retaining the upper tier of the endless conveyor. At the front and at the rear, the links 22 at each side of the endless conveyor pass over two pairs of large rotatin.- and generally circular end plates 36 and 38. The end plates 36 and 38 are provided with large peripheral notches or recesses 39 and 40 to accommodate the rollers or roller bearings 27 at the connecting points of the adjacent links 22. As seen in FIG. 2, each end plate may be provided with four notches. One end plate 36 is operatively connected to a pulley member 42 which is secured to a drive motor 44 by means of a belt or link connection 46. Action of the motor 44 in one direction will cause the pulley 42 to rotate clockwise and thereby move the lower tier of reels forwardly, whereas reverse rotation of the motor 44 will cause the upper tier of reels to move forwardly. Thus, upon actuation of the motor 44, the endless system of reels 13 can be caused to travel in either direction so as to position a selected coil at the operating station 46, at the front end of the device 10. As may be -seen in FIG. 2, -ripping means 48 are associated with each of the reels 13 for holding the leading end of each coil at a predetermined attitude. When a selected reel 13 is rotated to the operating station 46, the leadin- edge of the coil carried on the reel is at an attitude where it can be received by the pinch rollers 15 which are carried on frame 14 that is adapted to be moved toward and away from the gripping and supportin- means 48 of the coil positioned at the operating station 46. It will be understood that the pinch rollers may be opened and closed -so as to facilitate grippin.- operation with the leading ed.-e of the sheet material on the coil at the operating station. Rails 50 extend from the rear of the device 10 and are adapted to carry thereon support means 52 carryin_a a replacement coil 49 of sheet material 13. To load a new coil onto the conveyor, reference is made to the right end of FIG. 2. From the schematic representation, it is sufficient to explain that 52 is a supportin@ frame projectinupwardly from trolley 52'. Reels are removed frorn the machine via the trolley by first rem6ving the center shaft. A new coil is set in the reels externally. The coil now in the reels is deposited in the supporting frame and rolled with the trolley into position for reentering the center shaft. 31334)833 4 Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown somewhat schematically the means for unwinding the leading edge of material from the -coil 53 supported on the reel 13 at the operatin@@ station and for rewinding the coil after a len,-th is cut from the leading end. The leading end 54 of coil 53 is secured by the gripper means indica . ted generally at 48 projectin.- from the end plate of each reel. The gripping means 48 comprise a pair of arms 56 io welded at each side as indicated at 58 to the links 22 of the endless conveyor. The distal end of one arm 56 has welded thereto the angulated arm 60, Nvhich carries at the free end thereof a gripper as will be more fully explained hereafter. Arms 62 and 64 are pivoted together 15 about the pivot 66 and flinction as a beR crank to operate the -@ripper for securing an end of the leading ed@-e of sheet material. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the channel type gripping element 68 is secured adjacent the free end of the 20 arm 60. Carried with the bell crank defined by the arms 62 and 64 is a bolt meraber 70 which has a head portion extending through an opening in element 68 so as to enter the channel 68' therein and to selectively engage and grip the leading edge of sheet material to retain same 25 and for releasing the leading edge of sheet material during automatic operation of the device. The bolt member 70 as best shown in FIG. 7 is threaded through nut member 69 secured to the bell crank so as to adjust the position of the head 72 thereof with respect to the material 3o to be gripped to accommodate different thickn6sses of material. A lock nut 71 is provided to retain the bolt member 70 in selected adjusted position. It is noted that the arm 62 is biased toward arm 74 by means of a sprin,a 76. Thus, when the arm 64 is moved 35 counterclockwise (FIG. 3) about pivot 66 against theresistance of the spring 76, the arm 62 will move away from the arm 74 as the pin 64' of arm 64 moves a,-ainst the beveled end 80 of the arm 74. At the same tirne the dog or latch member 82 offset from but secured to the 40 arm 74 will move out of the engaged notch 84 in the end plate 86 of the reel 13. When the latch element is released from the engaged notch 84, the reel 13 is free to rotate. However, when the latch member 82 enga,-es a notch formed alon- the peripheral edge of end plate 86 45 of reel 13, the reel is obviously locked against rotation. Pivoting of the bell crank 62, 64 about pivot 66 will cause release of the latch 82 from the notch 84 to permit rotation of the reel and at the same time, will move the head 72 of the bolt 70 away from the leading edge of 50 sheet material .-ripped by means of it in the channel 68' to release the leading edge 54. Simultaneously with thesa actions, the pinch rohers 15 are moved toward the leading edge 54 so as to nip the leadin.- edge between the rollers so that no unwanted sprin.- unwinding of the coil will 55 occur. As will be more fully explained hereafter, the pinch rollers 88 and 89 may be rnoved toward and away from one another so as to facilitate gripping of the leading edge and release thereof. The rotation about the pivot 66 of the bell crank 6( formed by the arms 62 and 64 is accomplished by virtue. of the crank arm 90 pivoted to the f-rame member 91 as indicated at 92 engaging against the pin 64' which extends beyond the side of the arin 64 and beyond the arm 74. The crank arm 90 is actuated by the cam .94 carried on 65 a shaft 96 rotatably joumaled transversely of the framework 20. Secured transversely between the arms 56 on each side of the conveyor is a bar 93. Carried on the bar intermediate the ends may be one or more support arms 95 70 for giving support to a sheet intermediate the ends thereof., The opposite sheet edge holder is mounted so that it can be slid along bar 93 to accommodate coils of different widths. The opposite edge holder (not shown) thus assists in maintaining even unrolling and rewinding of a 75 sheet of material. The gripping function is performed only.

5 by the gripping element 68 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, for example, on one side of device 10. The edge holder not shown is similar to channel 68' but minus -rippinarTangements. It therefore simply acts as an opposite-sheet, ed,-e guide. 5 Referrin.- to FIG. 4, it is seen that when the power actuatin.- means 98, which may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, is actuated, th,- transverse shaft 96 will Totate, since it is connected to the piston arm 99 of the power cylinder 98 by means of the link 102, which is 10 affixed at an end to the transverse shaft 96 and - pivotally secured at its other end to the piston arm 99. Thus, upon rotation of the transverse shaft 96, the cam 94 carried therewith will actuate the crank arm 90. Counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 96 will draw the pinch roller 15 fran,.e 14 toward the front end of the coil stora.-e and handling device 10 through the traverse links 104 and 106 which are operatively connected to the frame 14 for the pinch roller means 15. Simultaneously, the pinch rollers 88 and 89 on the pinch roller frame 14 are 20 actuated by means of the arm 108 (as is more fully explained hereafter) to enga,-e the leadin.- edge 54 of the coil 53 of the operating station. At the same time, the connectin.a rod and link assembly 110, 112 and 114 causes rotation of the vertical shaft 116 so that the motor 118 25 which drives the small rubber tire 120 is moved into contact with the adjacent end plate 86 of the reel 13 at the operating station. To unwind a length of material, the rollers 88 and 89 are actuated and since they are in engagement with the 30 leadin.- ed.-e 54, a len,-th of material will be unwound from the coil. The end of the coil may be passed through the levelin.- rollers so as to level the sheet and then a predetermined len.-th may be cut at the cuttin.@ station 35 (FIG. 1). vvhen it is desired to rewind the leadin.- end of the coil after a length has been cut, motor 118 is caused to rota te tire 120 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4). Simultaneously, pinch rolls 88 and 89 are 40 driv en in the direction which causes uncoiled sheet to trav el leftwardly back onto the adjacent reel or core. This acti on is continued until only substantially the extre,me end of the sheet remains nipped between the pinch rolls. To ready the machine for rotation of the conveyor 12 40- for the purpose of selectin.- another coil for cuttin.-I pow er cylinder 98 (FIG. 4) initiates rotation of shaft 96 cloc kwise. This causes first the -ripping of sheet 54 (FIG. 3) by elements 68. Simultaneously therewith, reel 13 is lock ed by do.- 82. Following these actions, pinch rolls 88 50 and 89 are separated through the a.-ency of rod 108, and at the same time are @inoved bodily to the right, clear awa y from the locked end of sheet 54, by shafts 104 and 106 connected to the said pinch rollers via the mountin.- fra me 14 thereof. At the same time, tire 120 is moved out 55 of contact with plate 86 through members 110, 112, 114 and 116 due to outward thrust on the connecting rod 99 of cylinder 98 and consequent rotation of link 102. In concluding the immediately precedin.- descriptive seq uence, however, it should be stated that tire 120 is 60 only actin.- to transmit a rotary force in its direction of rota tion a.-ainst momber 86 during rewinding of the coil and during the process of returnin.- the unwound portion bac k from between the clamped pinch rolls. When the she et is bein.- fed into the pinch rolls towards the - level 65 of 16, by contrast, tire 120, though still in contact with me mber 86, is only utilizin.- such contact for Tetarding the tendency of the coil to unwind since at this time the mot or is de-energized although exerting sufficient &a.@ to maintain a taut condition in the stretch of u nsupported 70 mat erial between the pair of opposite elements 68 and the nip of the pinch rolls. To provide paper interleaving between each predetermin ed -len,-th of sheet material cut from the end, the lead in.- ed,-e 130 of the paper may be coextensive with the 75 4eading edge 54 of the sheet material. In such case, however, the roller 1129 should be free from contact with the perimeter of the adjacent reel-plate. This can readily be achieved by means obviously within the skill of the trade, as also would be the provision of suitable unrollin,--retardin.- means. Referring to FIG. 5, it is seen that the link means 104 is operatively connected between the rotatable transverse shaft 96 on the framework 20 and the transverse shaft member 140 on the frame means 14 which support the pinch rollers 88 and 89. Considering now the reel brake means and the reel rewindin,- means, attention is directed to FIGS. 5 and 8, wherein there is illustrated a presently preferred form of the present invention. The power actuatin.- means 98 may be, as illustrated, a cylinder op@--.ratively connected at one end to framework 20 and a piston rod 99 having a piston (not shown) movable within the cylinder. The cylinder is operatively connected through suitable conduits to a source of power fluid for actuating the piston within the cyender. Movement of piston rod 99 toward and away from the cylinder will cause rotation of transverse shaft 96, which is journaled at its ends in bearings 143 carried on framework 20. Lever 110 is ri-,idly connected at one end to shaft 96 and ismovable with the shaft. At its free end, le-ver 110 is pivotally secured to connecting rod 112 which includes a main rod portion and an,auxiliary rod portion 144 adjustably secured thereto, as for example, by a threaded connection. A lost motion connection is provided between the auxiliary rod portion of the connecting rod 112 and link 114. A coil spring 145 is disposed about the rod portion 144 between the headed end of the auxiliary rod portion and the -link 114. Link 114 is connected at one end to upright shaft or tube 116 which is rotatably supported on frame work 20. A channel member 146 is secured at one end adjacent the top of the shaft 116. Pivoted at 146' on channel member 146 is a channel bracket 148. The rubber tire 120 is rotatably journaled in a bracket 149 on the end of channel member 146. The motor 118 and reducer mechanism 150 operatively connected to the motor are secured to bracket 148. Friction roller 151 is driven by the reducer mechanism and is adapted to be moved into en,@agement with tire 120 for drivin.- same. Sprin.- 152 is co-iinected between bracket 149 and the reducer mechanism 150 4on bracket 149 to effect a sprin-, loading between the roller 151 on the reducer mechanism output shaft and the lar,@e rubber tire 120 carried on the channel,.rnember 146. In FIG. 9, there is illustrated a weighin@ arrapgement for determinin- the wei-ht of a selected coil as it passes alon- the lowe'r track 3'0. A bar 160 spans the machine fam'ework 20 and is journaled at either end thereof on framework 20. At spaced points upon the bar 160 and adjacent the ends thcreof are secured link members 162 and 164 which are link-ed at the distal ends thereof to han.-er members 166. The han,-er members 166 are pivoted at their lower ends to coplanar but separated portions of the lower tracks 30 upon which the rollers 27 are supported. To assist in understandin.- the operatio-.i of the scale arrangement, the spindle or shaft 167 of one of the reels 13 is shown. Projectin- in the opposite direction and secured to the bar 160 coaxial with the link 162 is a counterbalance arm 168 carryin- thereon an adjustable weight 170. Also secured substantially in the ve@rtical plane of the link 164 and depending downwardly therefrom is the link 172 to which is connected the dial indicating arm 174. The portions 30a of the tracks 30 are pivotally secured to @the remaining portions of the tracks at one end as indicated at 30b and are normally retained in planar relationship with the remainder of the tracks by means 6f the hanger members 166. When, however, it is desired to wei-h a coil, the conveyor is actuated and a selected ieel and

7 coil are positioned on the track portions 30a. The track portions 30a will rotate sli,-htly above the pivot connection 30b so as to cause pivotin- the bar member 160 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9 so as to draw the dial indicating arm to the left and indicate the wei.- ht on the scale 173, which may be on the control panel for the cofl stora-e and @handling device. Suitable arrangements may be made for immobilizin.a the scale arran.-ement when not required and for preventid.- any unwanted yieldin.- of the weighing tr k sections 30a. In addition, since the endless conveyor is relatively slowmovin,-, there can be build inlo the connections between the links 22 sufficient tolerance such that the accurate weighin.- of a coil of material need not be effected due to the fact that it is connected to the adjacent links 22. The @presi@nt scale arrangement has been foujid to wei.-h accurately within 5 to 10 percent of t-he weight of a full coil. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the dynamometer 173 could, if desired, be preloaded so as to compensate for -the weight of the reel. In FIG. 10, there is illustrated the indicatin@ means on the control panel for illustratin.- the position of each reel and coil within the coil storage and handling device 10. I,t will be understood that the device 10 may be modified so as to accommodate additional coils on the endless conveyor therewithin. Thus, t-he indicatin.- -means may also be adjusted len.-thwise so as to indicate the same number of coils as is carriect by the endless conveyor. The indicatin@ means 175 comprises a bel@t of chain link member 176 trained over a pair of end pulleys 177 and 178 opera,tively connected to the conveyor drive -means. Detachably secured to the belt or chain 176 are a plurality of disc members 180 which correspond in number to the number of coils carried by t@be endless conveyor. Marked upon each of the discs 180 may be suitable indicia indicating the type of material carried by the coil, as for exam@ ple, sheet aluminum, and also the - au-e of the material, as well as th.- weight of the coil. Thus, the operator can readily determine the location of the selected coil from which he wants to cut a predetermined length and can facilitate the rotation of the endless conveyor to position a selected co'l at the operating station. The panel may be marked as indicated at 182 and 184, for example, to indicate the positions of a coil at the operating station 182 and at the weighing station 184. In FIG. I 1, there is illustrated an a-djustable hub on one of the end plates 86 of the reel 13. Secured to t,ie end plate and extendin.- at right an,-Ies thereto is an annular support member or cylindrical tube 190. Slidably carried on the annular suppor-t member 190 is a sleeve 191. Pivotally secured to the sleeve 191 are arms 192 which are connected at their ends to flan,-es 193 that are in turn secured to segmental arcuate coilsupporting members 194. Secured to each flan,@e 193 is a -uide element 195 which is adapted to slide in a guideway 196 affixed to end @plate 86. The sleeve 191 is adapted to be adjusted with respect to the end plate 86 by means of the adjustment bolt 197. It will be understood that by movement of the sleeve 191 toward the end plate 86, the support members 194 will be moved radially outwardly from the annular support member 190. Upon movemept of the sleeve 191 away from the disc or end plate 86, the -uide elements 195 will move in the guideways 196 to move the coil support members 194 closer to one another. Thus, by adjustment of the adjustment bolt 197, the support members 194 may readily be adjusted radially toaccommodate coils having different internal diameters. In FIG. 12, it is seen that the end plates 86 of a reel 13 are adjustable with respect to one another so as to accommodate coils of different widths. The left-hand end plate 86, as seen in FIG. 12, may be fixed to shaft 1,67. The right-hand end plate is slidable axially on shaft 167 toward and away from the other end plate. Lock collar 156 may be connected to the shaft by means of a suitable 313345833 fastener, for example a lock screw 157, to fix the position of the ri,@ht-hand end plate with respect to the left-band end plate. In FIGS. 13 and 14, there is shown the means for actuatin.- the pinch rollers to move the tipper roller 88 toward and away from the lower roller 89 so as to permit the rollers to en.-age with and release the end of a coil of sheet material. The link 108 is operatively connected at one end to shaft 96 and at its other end to generally tri10 6ngular plate 200, which is pivotally affixed to frame 14, as indicated at 202. Spindle 204, which is journaled in fra-me 14 is connected to plate 200 through link 206 and lever 208. Lever 208 is ri,-idly secured to shaft or spindle 204 and link 206 is pivotally secured at one end to lever 15 208 and at the other end to plate 200. Secured to spindle 204 is a cam member 205. The cam member is adapted to bear against and actuate lever 210 which is pivoted in common with plate 200, at 202 (bearina in mind that FIGS. 13 and 14 are viewed from op20 posite sides). Lever 210 is in contact with the undersurface of plate 214 and is operatively connected to the end bearing 216 that journals roller 88. Rods 218, whicli connect plate 214 and end bearin.- 216, are guided for vertical movement in frame member 220 of frame 14. Sprin25 222 is disposed between plate 214 and adjusting nut 224 on the end of rod or stem 226. The rod or stem 226 is conneel,ed to frame member 220. The sprin.- normally biases the roller 83,toward roller 89 and the spring force can be adjusted by chan.@ing the position of nut 224 on 9@O stem 226 relative to plate 214. Br,.efly, .n operation, upward movement of link 108 will cause counterclockwise pivotin.- of plate 200 about pivot 202. Spindle 204 will rotate counterclockwise (FIG. 13). The cam memb@-r 205 will urge lever 210 upwardly, 35 raisin- plate 214 and carryin.@ roller 88 upwardly away from r'oller S9. Upon reverse movement of link 103, spindle 204 will be rotated in an opposite direction, and spring 222 will -bias plate 204- downwardly to ur.-e roller 88 toward roller 89 to en.-age sheet material therebetween. 4( Roller 89 is operatively condected to a power source, for example an electric motor -ear reduction drive. Thus, to unwind sheet material from a coil, the end of sheet material is en.-a.-ed between the rollers and power is supplied to rotate the roller 89 and cause unwindin.- of a sheet en45 -aged between the rollers 88 and 89. The @operation of the presently preferred form of the invention will now be summarized. The operator may actuate a suitable control to move the endless conveyor so as to position a selected coil at operating station 46. The 50 power cylinder 98 is actuated to rotate transverse shaft 96 to (1) actuate links 104, 106 to move the pinch roller frame 14 toward the leading ed.-e supported at a predetermined attitude by the gripping and enigaging means 48, (2) actuate link 108 to permit closure of the pinch 55 roller means 15 at the rearmost position of frame 14, that is, permit spring 222 to bias roller 88 toward power drive roller 89, (3) actuate crank arm 90 to release gripper means 48 at one side of the endless conveyor from engagement with the sheet material and release latch 82 60 from notch 84 in reel end plate 86 to permit subsequent rotation of reel. As the pinch roller frame 14 moves rearwardly, linkage 110, 112, 114 causes shaft or tube 116 to rotate to move tire 120 into operative engagement with the side of end plate 86. 65 To unwind sheet material, the drive motor to the power feed roller 89 on frame 14 is ener-ized. Tire 120, the reduction gear drive 150 and pulley' 151 associated therewith function as a friction brake to retard unwinding of sheet material. After the selected length or lengtbc, of ma70 terial have been straightened and cut, the o@erator can stop the pinch rollers 15. To rewind sheet material onto the coil at the operating station, the drive to the straightening rollers and to the pinch roller means 15 is reversed. The motor 118 is actu7r) ated to drive tire 120 to rotate reel 13 so as to rewind

9 32334)833 10 sbeet material. The reel will be rotated so as to wind up faster than the pinch roJJer means are moving material rearwardly. Inherent iia the operation of the rewindin.arrangement of this invention is the ability of the drive to accommodate different quantities of material on the reel being rewound. The motor 118 and drive for the pinch roller means are then stopped, when only a short end of paper is still held between the pinch rollers. The leadin.- edge of the coil on the reel at the operating station wiff be retained by the gripping and engaging means in readiness for subsequent operations. The operator can then actuaie the power cylinder 98 to back off the pinch roller frame and to first actuate the gripper to enga.-e and lock an edge of the coil on the reel at the operating station and to lock the reel against rotation. Wbile there has been shown and described a particular embodiinent of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the tr-ue spirit and scope of the invention. What I claim as new, and desire to secure by