Metal coil stock feed system and method of operating the same

Abstract

A material handling system handles a metal coil and a thread extending from the metal coil. The material handling system includes a metal coil support portion, a thread support portion, and a downstream material receiver portion. The metal coil support portion supports the metal coil and a proximal end of the thread. The thread support portion is arranged downstream of the metal coil support portion. The thread pinching portion is arranged downstream of the thread support portion. The thread support portion and the thread pinching portion supports an intermediate portion of the thread that extends from the proximal end of the thread. The downstream material receiver portion is arranged downstream of the thread pinching portion. The downstream material receiver portion receives a distal end of the thread extending from the intermediate portion of the thread.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material handling system that handles a metal coil and a thread extending from the metal coil, the material handling system comprising:
 a metal coil support portion that supports the metal coil and a proximal end of the thread;   a thread support portion arranged downstream of the metal coil support portion that supports an intermediate portion of the thread extending from the proximal end of the thread; and   a thread pinching portion arranged downstream of the thread support portion that supports the intermediate portion of the thread; and   a downstream material receiver portion arranged downstream of the thread pinching portion that receives a distal end of the thread extending from the intermediate portion of the thread.   
     
     
         2 . The material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the metal coil support portion includes a metal coil tray that supports the metal coil. 
     
     
         3 . The material handling system of  claim 2 , wherein the metal coil tray includes a plurality of metal coil contacting rollers that rotatably support the metal coil, wherein the metal coil tray includes a motor that imparts rotation to the metal coil contacting rollers. 
     
     
         4 . The material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the metal coil support portion includes a suspended compression arm having a metal coil contacting roller that is configured to engage the proximal end of the thread that extends away from the metal coil. 
     
     
         5 . The material handling system of  claim 4 , wherein the metal coil support portion includes an actuator connected to the suspended compression arm that is configured to pivot the suspended compression arm for arrangement in one of a disengaged orientation and an engaged orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the thread support portion includes a thread table movably supported by one or more beams of a plurality of beams relative an upper thread guide. 
     
     
         7 . The material handling system of  claim 6 , wherein the thread table and the upper thread guide cooperate to form:
 an entrance opening of the thread support portion for receiving the intermediate portion of the thread from the metal coil support portion; and   an exit opening of the thread support portion for discharging the intermediate portion of the thread from the thread support portion.   
     
     
         8 . The material handling system of  claim 6 , wherein the thread support portion includes an actuator connected to the thread table that is configured to pivot the thread table relative to the upper thread guide. 
     
     
         9 . The material handling system of  claim 6 , wherein the thread table includes:
 a base portion; and   a telescoping portion that is configured for arrangement in:
 a first state retracted into the base portion; and 
 a second state extended away from the base portion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the thread pinching portion includes a thread pincher having:
 a lower base member that rotatably-supports a lower thread contacting roller; and   an upper base member that rotatably-supports an upper thread contacting roller, wherein the upper thread contacting roller is arranged opposite the lower thread contacting roller and is configured for arrangement in:
 a first state disengaging the intermediate portion of the thread when the upper thread contacting roller is arranged away from the lower thread contacting roller; and 
 a second state engaging the intermediate portion of the thread when the upper thread contacting roller is arranged proximate the lower thread contacting roller. 
   
     
     
         11 . The material handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the thread pincher includes:
 one or more actuators that connect the lower base member to the upper base member, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to impart movement of the upper base member relative the lower base member.   
     
     
         12 . The material handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the thread pinching portion includes:
 an entrance opening for receiving the intermediate portion of the thread from the thread support portion; and   an exit opening for discharging the intermediate portion of the thread from the thread pinching portion.   
     
     
         13 . The material handling system of  claim 12 , wherein the thread pinching portion includes:
 an upstream thread guide member arranged within or proximate the entrance opening; and   a downstream thread guide member arranged within or proximate the exit opening.   
     
     
         14 . The material handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the downstream material receiver portion includes:
 a comminution device.   
     
     
         15 . The material handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the comminution device includes:
 a sieve basket that receives the distal end of the thread.   
     
     
         16 . The material handling system of  claim 15 , wherein the comminution device includes:
 one or more shredding, crushing, or grinding rotatable tool shafts contained within the sieve basket.   
     
     
         17 . The material handling system of  claim 16 , wherein the comminution device includes:
 a belt conveyor connected to the sieve basket.   
     
     
         18 . A material handling system that handles a metal coil and a thread extending from the metal coil, the material handling system comprising:
 an upstream material feeder portion that supports the metal coil and the thread, wherein the thread includes a proximal end, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal end, and a distal end extending from the intermediate portion; and   a downstream material receiver portion including:
 a comminution device that receives the distal end of the thread from the upstream material feeder portion that supports the proximal end of the thread and the intermediate portion of the thread. 
   
     
     
         19 . The material handling system of  claim 18 , wherein the upstream material feeder portion includes:
 a metal coil support portion that supports the metal coil and the proximal end of the thread;   a thread support portion arranged downstream of the metal coil support portion that supports the intermediate portion of the thread extending from the proximal end of the thread; and   a thread pinching portion arranged downstream of the thread support portion that supports the intermediate portion of the thread.   
     
     
         20 . The material handling system of  claim 18 , wherein the comminution device includes:
 a sieve basket that receives the distal end of the thread;   one or more shredding, crushing, or grinding rotatable tool shafts contained within the sieve basket; and   a belt conveyor connected to the sieve basket.