Vertical sheet metal decoiling system

Abstract

A device for decoiling a coil of sheet material includes a support frame, a rotatable spindle supported by the support frame, and multiple conical support rollers supported by the support frame. The rotatable spindle has an axis of rotation directed in a vertical direction and is configured to be positioned in a hollow core of a coil of sheet material. The multiple conical support rollers are configured to support a base of the coil of sheet material, each conical support roller having a conical shape with a wide end and narrow end. Each conical support roller has an axis of rotation and is arranged such that its respective axis of rotation is directed toward the axis of rotation of the rotatable spindle. Each conical support roller is arranged such that a narrow end of the conical support roller is positioned toward the rotatable spindle.

1 . A device for decoiling a coil of sheet material, comprising:
 a support frame;   a rotatable spindle supported by the support frame, the rotatable spindle configured to be positioned in a hollow core of a coil of sheet material, the rotatable spindle having an axis of rotation directed in a substantially vertical direction; and   multiple conical support rollers supported by the support frame, the multiple conical support rollers configured to support a base of the coil of sheet material, each conical support roller having a conical shape with a wide end and narrow end, each conical support roller having an axis of rotation, each conical support roller being arranged such that its respective axis of rotation is directed toward the axis of rotation of the rotatable spindle, each conical support roller being arranged such that its narrow end is positioned toward the rotatable spindle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the axes of rotation of the conical support rollers are oriented at an angle θ relative to a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable spindle. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable spindle comprises an adjustable mechanism comprising plural members for contacting an inner surface of the hollow core of the coil of sheet material, the rotatable spindle configured such that positions of the plural members can be moved radially relative to the axis of rotation of the rotatable spindle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a set of guide rollers supported by the support frame to guide a portion of the sheet material as it is unwound from the coil, the guide rollers having axes of rotation oriented along the axis of rotation of the rotatable spindle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a drive mechanism for driving a rotation of at least one of the multiple support rollers. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising an adjustable frame assembly supporting said support frame, the adjustable frame assembly configured to controllably change an orientation of said support frame. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a retaining roller supported by the support frame, a position of the retaining roller being adjustable in a radial direction, the retaining roller having an axis of rotation oriented along the vertical direction and being configured to be pressed against an outer surface of the coil of sheet material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a tension mechanism for opposing a rotation of the rotatable spindle so as to permit tensioning of the sheet materials as it is fed from the coil. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the tension mechanism comprises a rotating disk that rotates with the rotatable spindle and a shoe configured to be pressed against the disk to provide a frictional force.