AUTOMATED UNCOILING APPARATUS

摘要

A method and apparatus for simultaneously preparing and feeding coils of strip stock into a strip processing line. Two coil support mechanisms (14, 14') are provided, each rotatably supporting a coil for uncoiling. A takeoff mechanism (18) spaced apart from the strip processing line is adapted to peel a free leading end of the strip stock from a coil. The leading end is fed to a holding mechanism (22, 22') adapted to receive and hold the leading end in a predetermined position. A transfer mechanism (16) is provided for successively transferring each coil support mechanism and associated holding mechanism from the takeoff mechanism (18) to an aligning mechanism (20) adjacent the processing line and back to the takeoff mechanism (18). The strip stock is moved by pinch rollers (160) from the holding mechanism (22, 22'), through the aligning mechanism (20), and into the processing line. One coil may be prepared for feeding in the takeoff mechanism (18) while the other coil is being fed into the processing line.