Abstract: The invention relates to a cross-rolling mill, having a plurality of roll shafts (1), each applying a radially directed rolling force to a workpiece, wherein orientation of a roll axis (w) of at least one of the roll shafts (1) adjustably changes about a first adjustment axis (S1) and a second adjustment axis (S2), wherein an intermediate member (9, 10) is arranged between a rotary baring (4, 5) and a control element (11, 12), and wherein the intermediate member (9, 10) includes a rolling force-transmitting rocker pin (14, 15) having a spherical surface (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) that provides for pivotal movement in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A method and a device that performs the method for measuring the flatness of a metal product traveling on a path, the method includes measuring a first longitudinal tension measurement value (T1) with a measuring roller, determining a model of stress over the thickness of the metal product as a function of plastic or elastoplastic deformation of the product, calculating a correction factor for the longitudinal deformation according to the stress model, calculating a corrective value (T1?, T2?) for the first longitudinal tension measurement value (T1) at at least one evaluation point (M1, M2) as a function of the longitudinal deformation correction factor (Z1), and calculating a corrected flatness measurement value (PC) at at least one of the evaluation points.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for temperature measurement of a material comprises a roller device with a sheathing configured such that the material can be rolled upon the sheathing. The sheathing comprises a first circumferential portion and a second portion, wherein a thickness of the sheathing in the first circumferential portion is greater than a thickness of the sheathing in the second portion. A temperature sensor arranged in a cavity inside the sheathing in proximity of the second portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material.

Abstract: Controlling a flatness of a first surface of a sheet material can include: (a) determining a first surface contour of the first surface of the sheet; (b) applying compressive stresses to one or more portions of the first surface of the sheet after the determination of the first surface contour of the sheet; (c) annealing compressive stresses in one or more portions of the first surface of the sheet after the determination of the first surface contour of the sheet; (d) determining a second surface contour of the first surface of the sheet after the compressive stresses have been applied to, and annealed from, the sheet; (e) comparing the second surface contour to a threshold flatness; and (f) performing (b)-(e) one or more times until the determined second surface contour is less than the threshold flatness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a roll gap when rolling a strip (1) in a rolling mill including at least two rolls (3a-b,4a-b), and at least two roll gap actuators (6,7) that independently control the size of the roll gap. The device is adapted to receive information on the amount of wedge shape (POSactOS,POSactDS) in the strip thickness profile across the strip width, and to control said actuators, based on said information on the amount of wedge shape in the strip thickness profile, such that the relative reduction of the strip on both sides of the rolling mill become essentially the same.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a plurality of sensors positioned across a width of a strip material, each of the plurality of sensors corresponding to a different one of a plurality of longitudinal zones along the width of the strip material. The example apparatus also includes a material condition monitor to determine a plurality of wave heights of the strip material based on information received from the plurality of sensors. Each of the wave heights corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of longitudinal zones. The material condition monitor is also to determine whether a measured portion of the strip material is substantially flat based on a comparison of each of the wave heights to a threshold value.

Abstract: An elongated workpiece is treated, e.g. rolled, in a production system where treatment devices move the workpiece longitudinally in a horizontal travel direction and at a generally constant travel speed along a horizontal longitudinal path and a control computer is connected to the treatment devices. Straightness of the workpiece is measured by gripping the workpiece at a pair of longitudinally spaced supports, applying tension to a longitudinally extending horizontal portion of the workpiece between the supports, and continuously moving the workpiece in the travel direction at the travel speed with a lower surface of the portion substantially unsupported. At least periodically a vertical spacing is measured between the portion and a straight longitudinal reference line extending in the direction between the supports parallel to the workpiece at the supports. The vertical-spacing measurement are fed to the computer for use controlling the devices.

Abstract: A device and method for prediction and/or control of the profile and/or shape of rolled metal strip. The device and method are compatible with both cluster-type and non cluster-type mills. The device and method employ a customized deflection model of the rolling mill, thereby combining the advantages of well-known finite element method with other relevant methods to allow real-time operation of the rolling mill without the computational complexities of such methods. In one form, the customized deflection model helps to obtain a compact, linear, and flexible analytical model with non-iterative solution, multiple continuous elastic foundations, third-order displacement fields, simple stress-field determination, and capability to compute dynamic deflection characteristics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rolling mill apparatus and a method of shape control of a rolled strip which enables satisfactory shape control even in extremely thin rolling. A rolling mill apparatus of this invention has a rolling mill, which rolls a rolled strip P between upper and lower work rolls; a shape detecting portion, which detects the degree of flatness of the rolled strip in the width direction of rolled strip which has been rolled by the rolling mill; a spray portion, having a plurality of spray nozzles arranged along the length direction of the upper and lower work rolls, which sprays the upper and lower work rolls with coolant C; and, a shape control portion, which adjusts the spray amount and/or temperature of the coolant C sprayed from the spray portion based on detected information from the shape detecting portion, to control the shape of the rolled strip P.

Abstract: A method and a device for optimization of flatness control in the rolling of a strip using any number of mill stands and actuators. A mill model is used represented by a mill matrix that includes information of the flatness effect of each actuator. Each actuator's flatness effect is translated into a coordinate system having a dimension less than or equal to the number of actuators used. The actual flatness values are monitoring/sampling across the strip. A vector of the flatness error/deviation is computed as the difference between the monitored/sampled strip flatness and a reference flatness vector. The flatness error is converted into a smaller parameterized flatness error vector. A dynamic controller is used to calculate optimized actuator set-points in order to minimize the parameterized flatness error, thereby achieving the desired strip flatness. Also a system for optimization of flatness control in rolling a strip.

Abstract: Processes for continuous production of a thin metal strip, in particular a steel hot strip, directly from a metal melt and with a strip cast thickness of <10 mm by the roll-casting process. The cast metal strip is fed for in-line thickness reduction, and then to a storage device. To achieve a high-quality, hot-rolled metal strip with flatness tolerances comparable to those which can currently be achieved in the production of hot-rolled metal strip from continuous-cast thin slabs or slabs, at cast thicknesses of between 40 and 300 mm, in a continuous production process starting directly from metal melt. With the low strip cast thickness, a flatness measurement is performed on the moving metal strip, and the measurement results of this flatness measurement are used to influence the flatness of the metal strip in a targeted way.

Abstract: A method regulating flatness of a metal strip at a roll housing output including at least one dynamic flatness actuator. A rolling process characterizes flatness of the strip by measuring a quantity D in n points distributed across the strip width, from n measurements of the quantity D. Then, using an action model of flatness regulation and an optimizing method, an overall setpoint including at least one elementary setpoint is determined for the dynamic actuator, such that a calculated flatness residual defect criterion is minimal, and executing the overall setpoint. The action model on the flatness used for determining the overall setpoint includes, for the dynamic actuator, as many submodels as there are points for measuring the quantity D characteristic of flatness, each submodel enabling the effect of the dynamic actuator on the quantity D to be calculated at the corresponding point when a setpoint is applied thereto.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a plurality of sensors positioned across a width of a strip material, each of the plurality of sensors corresponding to a different one of a plurality of longitudinal zones along the width of the strip material. The example apparatus also includes a material condition monitor to determine a plurality of wave heights of the strip material based on information received from the plurality of sensors. Each of the wave heights corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of longitudinal zones. The material condition monitor is also to determine whether a measured portion of the strip material is substantially flat based on a comparison of each of the wave heights to a threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a pattern on a surface for measuring, using a projector and a slide. The invention also relates to various advantageous embodiments of the measuring system.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus receive encoder signals and sensor data to monitor a condition of a strip material. The system obtains a plurality of sensor readings associated with the condition of the strip material, converts the readings into a dimensional profile, and outputs a visual display of the dimensional profile. If an undesired material condition is detected, a material conditioner is adjusted to achieve a desired material condition. Each time the strip material passes a sensor, data associated with the strip material is recorded. The dimensional profile is additionally shown to an operator to facilitate the input of commands by the operator used to urge the material toward a desired profile.

Abstract: In the case of a measuring roller for determining flatness deviations when handling material in strip form, for example when rolling metal strip, the stress distribution is measured over the width of the strip with the aid of piezoelectric sensors, which are arranged in longitudinal recesses of a solid roller at a distance from the casing surface and are wedged there

Abstract: The rolling mill comprises a pair of work rolls for rolling a plate material in the thickness direction, a guide for guiding the leading end of the plate material between the work rolls, and a rolling oil supply member for supplying rolling oil between the work rolls through a rolling oil passage formed within the guide. The rolling mill further comprises a temperature adjusted oil passage formed within the guide separately from the rolling oil passage, and a temperature adjusted oil supply member for applying temperature adjusted oil having a different temperature from the rolling oil to the work rolls through the temperature adjusted oil passage so as to control the crown rate of the work rolls, improving the controllability of the crown rate of the work roll.

Abstract: A wedge setup/control method for plate material rolling ensures that the work side and drive side are equal in the rolled plate thickness. The wedge setup/control method, which is used in reversible rolling of a plate material with a rough mill for hot rolling, includes preparing a wedge meter on the outlet side of the rough mill to measure the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width; performing calculations on a wedge measured by the wedge meter, using the influence coefficient of the wedge for roll gap leveling of the rough mill; determining amount of roll gap leveling control; and exercising feedback control to apply the amount of roll gap leveling control to the roll gap leveling of the rough mill.

Abstract: A method for measuring and displaying the flatness of a rolled steel sheet is disclosed that includes the steps of measuring tension in the sheet at a plurality of locations on the surface of the sheet and determining a plurality of tension ranges into which the sensed tension level can fall. A color is associated with each of the tension ranges, and a representation of the sheet is produced that is made up of a plurality of regions, each region having a color corresponding to tension range into which the tension sensed at the corresponding location on the surface of the sheet falls. A device for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus receive encoder signals and sensor data to monitor a condition of a strip material. If an undesired material condition is detected, a material conditioner is adjusted to achieve a desired material condition. Each time a sheet is cut, flatness data associated with that sheet is recorded. Each time a bundle is finished, certification data associated with that bundle is printed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for measuring and influencing the strip flatness in the coiler shaft of a hot-strip mill, whereby the coiler shaft has, between a driver and a coiler, moving and stationary strip guides as well as a flatness measuring roll (13). The hot strip (1) is supplied via the coiler shaft to a coiler, which is provided with a coiler mandrel (5), pressure rolls (6) and with deflecting shells (7), over a roller table (2) and the driving rolls (3, 4) of the driver. The flatness measuring roll (13) is displaced out of a working position, in which the hot strip is guided around the flatness measuring roll (13) while maintaining an approximately constant contact angle ?, and into a lowered position. In addition, a strip guide (14), which can swivel inward and protects the flatness measuring roll (13), is placed inside the coiler shaft.

Abstract: A method for real-time adjustment of a planisher for planishing metal strip. After a planished strip has been cut into a plate, the method includes measuring the plate at the output of the planisher outside a support zone, correcting the measurement so as to eliminate the influence due to self-weight of the plate, and correcting, as the case may be, the clamping of rollers located at the planer output so as to obtain a plate with a controlled curve.

Abstract: Input variables, which describe a metal strip prior to and after the passage of a rolling stand, are fed to a material flow model. The material flow model determines online a rolling force progression in the direction of the width of the strip and fees said progression to a roller deformation model. The latter determines roller deformations from said progression and feeds them to a desired value calculator, which calculates the desired values for the controlling elements of profile and surface evenness using the calculated roller deformations and a contour progression on the runout side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mill train (1) for milling a strip-type product to be milled (10). Said mill train comprises a number of roll stands (2) which are successively arranged in a milling direction (x) and which can be respectively pivoted about a rotational axis (18) which is essentially perpendicular to the milling direction (x). The aim of the invention is to maintain a belt run which favors a pre-determined milling result, in an especially simple and reliable manner. According to the invention, a control value (S) is pre-determined for the pivoting angle of a roll stand, or of each roll stand (2), according to the determined contour of the strip end (30) of a product (10) which has already been milled. According to the invention, additional control elements can also be used.

Abstract: A shape detecting apparatus for controlling the tension of a rolled plate, is composed of a pair of fixing members, a supporting frame and a plurality of shape detecting units. The shape detecting units are fixed detachably in a close proximity of the supporting frame in the lateral direction. The shape detecting units are each composed of cylindrical divided rolls in contact with the rolled plate, a fixed member fixed on the supporting frame, an arm member of which one end supports the divided roll rotatably, and of which the other end is fixed on the fixed member, and a load detector for detecting a moment of rotation acting on the arm member.

Abstract: A displacement-type shape sensor for detecting the flatness of a strip of material. A flatness detection system may be formed from a plurality of said sensors. The displacement-type shape sensor preferably employs a roller bearing coupled to an actuator. A linear displacement sensor is coupled to the actuator/roller bearing to measure linear displacement. Preferably, the displacement-type sensor(s) is located below the strip of material and placed in contact therewith by movement of the actuator. By measuring the amount that the roller bearing(s) is displaced, it is possible to detect the flatness of the strip. Through use of a plurality of such sensors, areas of varying tension and, thus, areas of differing flatness of the strip of material may be detected. The displacement-type shape sensor may be used in conjunction with a precision leveler to effectuate leveling of the strip of material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the rolling or winding of strip having an equal thickness over the strip width, in which the tension in a strip length portion limited by rolls, winders, or control, guide or deflecting rollers is measured by means of a measuring roller. In order, in this case, to obtain more accurate measurement values and keep disturbing stresses away from the measuring point, between the measuring roller and an assembly (roll, winder, or control, guide or deflecting roller) causing disturbing stresses in the strip, a partitioning device for absorbing the disturbing stresses is arranged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot rolling mill, with at least one flatness measuring roller, pertaining to at least one rolling bed, arranged before and/or after one of the stands, which influences the settings of at least one of the stands. The aim of the invention is to improve the arrangedment of the roller bed working rollers and the flatness measuring roller, such that the flatness measuring roller may be, optionally, either brought into operation, or be withdrawn into a protected position, whereby, in this case, the gap in the rolling bed thus formed can be closed. Said aim is achieved, whereby the flatness may be stored, away from its working position, behind a screen and that the rolling bed is complete with a least one retractable working roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot rolling mill, with at least one flatness measuring roller, pertaining to at least one rolling bed, arranged before and/or after one of the stands, which influences the settings of at least one of the stands. The aim of the invention is to improve the arrangement of the roller bed working rollers and the flatness measuring roller, such that the flatness measuring roller may be, optionally, either brought into operation, or be withdrawn into a protected position, whereby, in this case, the gap in the rolling bed thus formed can be closed. Said aim is achieved, whereby the flatness measuring roller may be stored, away from its working position, behind a screen and that the rolling bed is completed with at least one retractable working roller.

Abstract: A method for preadjusting and controlling strip planarity in flexible single-pass and reversing rolling of a strip-shaped material web using at least one work roll pair forming a roll gap and back-up rolls for the work rolls, and devices for roll adjustment, roll bending, roll displacement and roll balancing. The method includes, when rolling a thickness ramp for adjusting a desired strip profile shape over the strip width, determining corresponding adjustment parameters by accessing on-line a multidimensional data matrix produced off-line through a FEM model for all adjustment ranges of rolling force, roll displacement and bending control at all occurring strip widths.

Abstract: Method for determining an intermediary profile of a metal strip between an upstream and a downstream roll stand in a mill train having at least two roll stands is described intermediary profile (pout) and the final profile (pout) of the metal strip downstream from the downstream roll stand are determined using an analytical model with parameters. The final profile is determined using a final profile model. At least one parameter is modified so that the difference between the final profile, determined using an analytical model, and the final profile, determined using the final profile model, is reduced.

Abstract: A method for controlling flatness of a strip (1) of rolled material rolled to a first flatness target and coiled and that is subsequently uncoiled, and a system which employs the method. Measurements of the flatness of the strip (1) during rolling are compared to both the first flatness target and to a second flatness target, a Mill Flatness Target 2. A flatness target for each of one or more subsequent processes, a Post Rolling Flatness Target (PRFT) and a measured flatness error is used to adapt a control signal for a mill stand (5) to control and regulate the flatness of subsequent production of rolled material of the same specification. The adaption may be made using different statistical techniques including fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy logic control methods. In the preferred embodiment, flatness measurements after decoiling are also fed forward to at least one subsequent process 12 and used to adapt control signals to regulate flatness of the current strip in the subsequent process 12.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for measuring flatness of a hot rolled strip based on a contact load of the hot rolled strip to split rolls of a looper in the hot rolling process. The split rolls are assembled in a bracket such that each split roll can be separated from the bracket. A normal-movement control unit for moving the split rolls in the normal direction, and a tangent-movement control unit for moving the split rolls in the tangent direction are porvided at a side of the bracket bearing the split rolls. An impact absorption unit is mounted at a support that is movably connected to the tangent-movement control unit. A pre-pressure application unit is provided at the support to prevent a sensor cap and a load sensor from being released. A heat-shielding ring surrounds the load sensor to prevent the load sensor from being overheated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatic bow adjustment for a venetian blind assembly machine, said bow adjustment station comprising rollers (48; 104, 106) for guiding, bending and leveling a strip material (43; 112), and further comprising a forming section (36; 102) where mating concave and convex upper and lower form rollers (50; 108, 110) are arranged for creating a transverse curvature in the strip material, further comprises the steps of: providing leveling through means for offsetting (34; 100, 102) in order to straighten the bow of the strip material (43; 112) within a predetermined deviation on a predetermined length of strip material; measuring the deviation through optical means (146) providing a deviation signal; and adjusting the leveling by said means for offsetting (34; 100) through the deviation signal, if said measured deviation exceeds a predetermined deviation, in order to keep the deviation within said predetermined deviation.

Abstract: Rolling stand (10) for plane products and method to control the planarity of said plane products, said rolling stand comprising a pair of working rolls (11a, 11b), a corresponding pair of back-up rolls (13a, 13b) and at least an intermediate roll (15a) located between one of said working rolls (11a) and a corresponding back-up roll (13b), axial translation means (16) and bending means (17) being associated with at least one of said working rolls (11a) to translate it axially and respectively bend it, crossing means (19) being associated with said intermediate roll (15a) to arrange it with its longitudinal axis (25a) inclined, that is, rotated, with respect to the longitudinal axes (21a, 21b, 23a, 23b) of said working rolls (11a, 11b) and of said back-up rolls (13a, 13b).

Abstract: Method to control the planarity of flat products rolled with a rolling stand (10) having a pair of working rolls (11a, 11b), a corresponding pair of back-up rolls (13a, 13b) and at least an intermediate roll (15a) placed between one of said working rolls (11a) and a corresponding back-up roll (13b), axial translation means (16) and first bending means (17) associated with at least one of said working rolls (11a) to translate it axially (WR shifting) and respectively bend it (WR bending), crossing means (19) associated with said intermediate roll (15a) to arrange it with its longitudinal axis (25a) inclined (IR crossing), that is, rotated on a horizontal plane, with respect to the longitudinal axes (21a, 21b, 23a, 23b) of said working rolls (11a, 11b) and of said back-up rolls (13a, 13b), and second bending means (20) associated with said intermediate roll (15a) to bend it with respect to the horizontal plane (IR bending), said method providing a first static setting step, operating selectively at least on WR

Abstract: A method for the flexible rolling of a metallic strip in which, during the rolling procedure, the metallic strip is lead through a roll gap which is formed between two working rolls, and during the rolling operation, the roll gap is deliberately changed in order to obtain different strip thicknesses over the length of the metallic strip. A good planeness of the metallic strip can be obtained, and particularly, also for relatively wide strips, in that, during each setting of the roll gap or directly afterward, the deflection curve bending line of the working roll is controlled depending on the setting of the roll gap for the achievement of planeness of the metallic strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flatness measurement and control system for metal strip, which makes it possible to obtain improved strip or coil quality by a simple and effective measurement of departures from flatness and to control the finishing parameters through the evaluation of a line pattern on the strip surface or on the end face of a coil as it is coiled.

Abstract: A shape detection device is incorporated as part of a hot strip reversing mill. The shape detection device is a shape detector roll adapted to contact the metal strip. The shape detector roll is used to provide data to an automated shape control and steering system. Preferably, the hot strip reversing mill includes a pair of hot reversing stands and a pair of coiler furnaces positioned on opposite sides of the pair of mill stands.

Abstract: During rolling with a rolling mill, which includes a sheet shape altering device capable of altering a mechanical sheet crown, while the sheet shape altering device is operated correspondingly with a target mechanical sheet crown set value during the dimensional alteration in rolling, the invention enables a stable sheet shape to be achieved, even when the mechanical sheet crown is altered to a large extent during rolling. Specifically, the target mechanical sheet crown set value, during the dimensional alteration in rolling, is previously set based on target mechanical sheet crown set values, before and after the dimensional alteration, prior to start of the dimensional alteration in rolling. The sheet shape altering device is then operated so that an actual mechanical sheet crown, during the dimensional alteration in rolling, is equal to the target mechanical sheet crown set value during the dimensional alteration in rolling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rolling a strip by a rolling mill wherein one back-up roll of the pair of back-up rolls is a variable crown roll having a single oil chamber and the other back-up roll is a variable crown roll having a plurality of oil chambers. The strip shape is detected by a shape meter and approximated by a power function which includes terms of the first, second, fourth, and sixth powers of a distance measured from the center in the width direction and then precisely controlled by a calculation and control unit based on the obtained power function.

Abstract: A flatness control apparatus for controlling the flatness of a strip in a hot rolling mill, wherein a strip width meter measures center line error values of the strip. The center line error values are the offsets of the center of the strip from the center of the hot rolling mill line and are positive if the center of the strip is offset toward a drive side of the mill. A flatness meter, installed on the delivery side of the mill, measures flatness of the strip at positions specified by the flatness control apparatus. Based on the center line error values and the flatness measurements, the flatness control apparatus calculates adjustments to be made to a work roll bending apparatus on a final stand in the mill in order to control strip flatness.