Abstract: Disclosed is a system for automating and optimizing coil formation in a wire rod cooling conveyor comprising: (a) a speed measuring device (e.g., a laser velocometer) measuring a speed of a material entering a laying head; (b) a processor that: (1) receives, as input, the speed measured in (a), (2) computes an optimal speed of the laying head based on the received speed of the material entering the laying head; and wherein the processor dynamically computes the optimal speed of the laying head as the speed of the material changes. Also disclosed is a camera that monitors actual ring formation on the wire rod cooling conveyor at an exit point of the laying head, wherein the processor receives such monitored information from the camera and outputs a control signal to override the speed measuring device and to adjust a speed of the wire rod cooling conveyor.

Abstract: An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system identifying the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area. Moreover, an automated trimming system is provided that includes a coil having a plurality of rings. One or more trimming mechanisms select a number of rings from the coil and proceed to form a sample of desired length, by cutting a portion of the rings. A receiver unit receives the sample from the one or more trimming mechanisms to evaluate the quality of the sample.

Abstract: A system for cooling rolling mill material is provided that includes a conveyor system that receives rolling mill material and passes the rolling mill material through one or more cooling regions. A cooling structure that operates uniformly across the central and edge regions of the conveyor system. The cooling structure uses a first jet of air for cooling the central portion of the rolling mill material. A nozzle deck is positioned on the edge regions of the conveyor system produces a second of jet of air for cooling the edge portions of the rolling mill. The nozzle deck includes one or more adjustable nozzle structures for controlling the air flow produced by the second jet of air by varying the size of their air passage regions.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described for use as part of a fleet of such vehicles used in coil handling. The autonomous vehicle has an on-board processor communicating with an external processor (e.g., an Artificial Intelligence (AI) processor) to receive and execute one or more instructions for automated operation of the autonomous vehicle, a robotic drive to move the autonomous vehicle based on the instructions received from the external processor; and a set of gripping mechanisms receiving the instructions and operating in one of two coil storage modes: a vertical mode and a horizontal mode. The instructions instructing the autonomous vehicle to handle one or more of the following coil handling tasks to move a coil: moving the coil after a reform stage, moving the coil after a trimming/inspection stage, moving the coil after a compacting stage, and moving coil to a storage location.

Abstract: A system for cooling rolling mill material is provided that includes a conveyor system that receives rolling mill material and passes the rolling mill material through one or more cooling regions. A cooling structure that operates uniformly across the central and edge regions of the conveyor system. The cooling structure uses a first jet of air for cooling the central portion of the rolling mill material. A nozzle deck is positioned on the edge regions of the conveyor system produces a second of jet of air for cooling the edge portions of the rolling mill. The nozzle deck includes one or more adjustable nozzle structures for controlling the air flow produced by the second jet of air by varying the size of their air passage regions.

Abstract: A system for cooling rolling mill material is provided that includes a conveyor system that receives rolling mill material and passes the rolling mill material through one or more cooling regions. A cooling structure that operates uniformly across the central and edge regions of the conveyor system. The cooling structure uses a first jet of air for cooling the central portion of the rolling mill material. A nozzle deck is positioned on the edge regions of the conveyor system produces a second of jet of air for cooling the edge portions of the rolling mill. The nozzle deck includes one or more adjustable nozzle structures for controlling the air flow produced by the second jet of air by varying the size of their air passage regions.

Abstract: An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system identifying the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area. Moreover, an automated trimming system is provided that includes a coil having a plurality of rings. One or more trimming mechanisms select a number of rings from the coil and proceed to form a sample of desired length, by cutting a portion of the rings. A receiver unit receives the sample from the one or more trimming mechanisms to evaluate the quality of the sample.

Abstract: An automated trimming system is provided that includes a vision system that identifies the number of rings positioned within a coil and sheared positions where the rings need to be cut. One or more trimming mechanisms receive the sheared positions and proceed to cut the rings at the sheared positions. A hook arrangement interfaces with the coil for transferring the coil to a trimming area, once the coil is positioned in the trimming area the ends of the coil are separated to expose the rings positioned within using a plurality of screw rolls or the one or more trimming mechanisms.

Abstract: A system for cooling rolling mill material is provided that includes a conveyor system that receives rolling mill material and passes the rolling mill material through one or more cooling regions. A cooling structure that operates uniformly across the central and edge regions of the conveyor system. The cooling structure uses a first jet of air for cooling the central portion of the rolling mill material. A nozzle deck is positioned on the edge regions of the conveyor system produces a second of jet of air for cooling the edge portions of the rolling mill. The nozzle deck includes one or more adjustable nozzle structures for controlling the air flow produced by the second jet of air by varying the size of their air passage regions.