A Roller Guide and a Method for Guiding Stock

Abstract

A roller guide ( 1 ) for guiding stock in a longitudinal feeding direction (A) toward a pair of rolls for shaping the stock. The roller guide comprises a frame arrangement ( 2 ), a pair of guide rollers ( 3, 4 ) configured to, in a closed position, engage opposite surface portions of the stock,and positioning means for adjusting a lateral distance between the guide rollers. The roller guide further comprises detection means ( 13 ) configured to detect a longitudinal position of a piece of stock ( 20 ) with respect to the guide rollers. The positioning means is configured to adjust the lateral distance between the guide rollers in response to said detection.

1 . A roller guide ( 1 ) for guiding stock in a longitudinal feeding direction (A) toward a pair of rolls for shaping the stock, the roller guide ( 1 ) comprising:
 a frame arrangement ( 2 ),   a pair of guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) mounted on the frame arrangement ( 2 ), which guide rollers are configured to, in a closed position, engage opposite surface portions of the stock, the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) being rotatable about parallel axes of rotation (C 3 , C 4 ) perpendicular to the longitudinal feeding direction (A), and   positioning means for adjusting a lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), wherein   the roller guide further comprises detection means ( 13 ) configured to detect a longitudinal position of a piece of stock ( 20 ) with respect to the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), and that the positioning means is configured to adjust the lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) in response to said detection.   
     
     
         2 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) between the closed position and an open position, in which the lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) is arranged to allow free passage of the stock between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) to the open position when no stock is detected between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         4 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) to the closed position when it is detected that a first end of the piece of stock ( 20 ) has passed between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller guide ( 1 ) further comprises primary guiding means ( 9 ) configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         6 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , further comprising adjustment means for adjusting the primary guiding means ( 9 ) between a guiding position, in which the primary guiding means ( 9 ) is configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), and a non-guiding position, in which the primary guiding means ( 9 ) is configured to allow free passage of the stock through the primary guiding means ( 9 ). 
     
     
         7 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the adjustment means is configured to adjust the primary guiding means ( 9 ) to the non-guiding position when a piece of stock ( 20 ) is detected between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means is in the form of a mechanic, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic positioning means. 
     
     
         9 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller guide ( 1 ) further comprises sensing means for sensing a force applied by the stock on the roller guide ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) in response to a force sensed by the sensing means. 
     
     
         11 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising dimension measurement means for determining a dimension of the stock. 
     
     
         12 . A method for guiding stock in a longitudinal feeding direction (A) toward a pair of rolls for shaping the stock, wherein a roller guide ( 1 ) is used, the roller guide ( 1 ) comprising:
 a frame arrangement ( 2 ),   a pair of guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) mounted on the frame arrangement ( 2 ), which guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) are configured to, in a closed position, engage opposite surface portions of the stock, the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) being rotatable about parallel axes of rotation (C 3 , C 4 ) perpendicular to the longitudinal feeding direction (A), wherein the method comprises the steps:   detecting a longitudinal position of a piece of stock ( 20 ) with respect to the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), and   in response to said detection, adjusting a lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein, when a piece of stock ( 20 ) is detected between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), the lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) is reduced such that the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) engage said opposite surface portions of the stock. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein, when no piece of stock ( 20 ) is detected between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), the lateral distance between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) is increased such that free passage of a first end ( 20   a ) of a piece of stock ( 20 ) between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) is allowed. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the roller guide further comprises primary guiding means ( 9 ) configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), the method further comprising the step:
 in response to the detection of the longitudinal position of a piece of stock ( 20 ), adjusting the primary guiding means ( 9 ) between a guiding position, in which the primary guiding means ( 9 ) is configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ), and a non-guiding position, in which the primary guiding means ( 9 ) is configured to allow free passage of the stock through the primary guiding means ( 9 ).   
     
     
         16 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) to the closed position when it is detected that a first end of the piece of stock ( 20 ) has passed between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         17 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the positioning means is configured to move the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ) to the closed position when it is detected that a first end of the piece of stock ( 20 ) has passed between the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         18 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 17 , wherein the roller guide ( 1 ) further comprises primary guiding means ( 9 ) configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         19 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the roller guide ( 1 ) further comprises primary guiding means ( 9 ) configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         20 . The roller guide ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the roller guide ( 1 ) further comprises primary guiding means ( 9 ) configured to guide the stock toward the guide rollers ( 3 ,  4 ).