Abstract:
A strip end welding machine having a base on which is slideably mounted a horizontally reciprocating, annular frame. The strips whose ends are to be welded pass axially through the frame transversely of its direction of reciprocation. The frame carries a shear for trimming the ends of the strips to be welded and welding and planishing rolls energizable for joining the overlap strip ends. The machine includes base-mounted clamps on either side of the frame for gripping the strip ends to be joined. The clamps are spaced from the welding zone and include a clamp bed of magnetic material and a magnet disposed opposite the clamp bed to clamp a strip therebetween. Each of the clamp bed and magnet are provided with a nose made of nonmagnetic material, which noses project away therefrom towards the welding zone. Each of the noses has a guiding surface thereon, each of said guiding surfaces being offset back from the adjacent clamping surface of the clamp bed and magnet a distance such that the distance between said guiding surface is greater than the thickness of the strip but close enough to prevent a buckling of the portion of the strip extending from the clamp bed and magnet to the welding zone.
Abstract:
A positioning mechanism for a clamp in a strip welding machine having a platform with slide means and means reciprocably supporting the slide means thereon. Means are provided for reciprocating the slide means and the slide means has at least one contact surface thereon arranged at an acute angle to the path of the slide means. A carriage is provided for supporting the clamp and guide means are provided on the platform for supporting the carriage for movement transversely of the slide means. At least one contact surface, fixed with respect to the carriage is provided and is slideably engaged with the contact surface on the slide means for causing the carriage to reciprocate along the guide means in response to reciprocation of the slide means.