Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light irradiator, a light receiver, and a processor. The light irradiator is able to apply light from multiple directions to a specific portion of a subject to be measured. The light receiver receives light reflected by the specific portion. The processor is configured to: cause the light irradiator to apply light to the specific portion sequentially from the multiple directions; and acquire information concerning a tilt of a surface of the specific portion, based on information on light received by the light receiver when light is applied to the specific portion from a first direction and information on light received by the light receiver when light is applied to the specific portion from a second direction. The multiple directions include the first and second directions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the energy consumption of a rolling-mill installation including a one-piece or multi-piece rolling train as well as further electrical installation components which are connected to the rolling train in terms of process technology, wherein the operation of the rolling train is stopped during an unplanned rolling pause on account of a failure, and at least one of the further installation components is automatically powered down into an energy-saving mode during the rolling pause, and wherein the type of fault is identified and the likely duration of the rolling pause is determined on the basis of the type of fault.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for suppressing the influence of roll eccentricities on the run-out thickness of a rolled stock, which runs through a rolling stand, roll eccentricities being identified by using a process model and taken into consideration in the determination of a correction signal for at least one final control element, preferably a final control element for the adjustment position, of the rolling stand, wherein the measured tensile force upstream of the rolling stand is fed to the process model to identify the roll eccentricities. According to the invention, variations in tensile force are fed back in a targeted manner to reduce the effects of periodic roll eccentricities on the rolled stock, whereas all other sources of variation are eliminated. A process model of the rolling nip and the rolls, preferably based on the observer principle, produces reliable data on the roll eccentricity.

Abstract: Mill control system and method for metal strip rolling controlled in response to a sequence of controller scans are provided. A sensor suite is coupled to sense a plurality of parameters regarding the strip rolling. A model responsive to the sensed parameters is configured to estimate per scan at least one matrix based on the sensed parameters and indicative of state conditions of the strip rolling. A controller includes an inner control loop configured to effect a control law to generate a control vector per scan. The inner control loop may be configured to have dynamic characteristics, which remain substantially the same for each scan of the controller. The dynamic characteristics of the inner control loop are effective to determine a pointwise online control solution based on the matrix indicative of the state conditions of the strip rolling, without having to compute a Riccati control solution per scan.

Abstract: A method of supplying lubricating oil in cold-rolling by emulsion lubrication, characterized by comprising: using a constant (supply efficiency) obtained under conditions of a specific rolling rate, emulsion supply, emulsion concentration, emulsion temperature, plateout length, rolled material width or roll barrel length, rolling load, grade of the rolled material, and type of lubricating oil and oil film thickness at the time of neat lubrication realized under the specific rolling lubrication conditions to estimate the oil film thickness realized by emulsion lubrication under the specific rolling lubrication conditions and controlling at least one of the emulsion supply, emulsion concentration, emulsion temperature, and plateout length so that the estimated oil film thickness matches with the target oil film thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cold roll forming profiles having variable cross-sections, with several roll stands arranged in a row, each containing a pair of rollers, between which a sheet-metal strip (2) is guided along its length (X), wherein the roll stands are moved translationally transversely to the length of the sheet-metal strip and rotationally about an axis of the roll stand during cold roll forming. According to the invention, a re-forming device (8, 10, 12) is arranged behind at least one of the roll stands and has at least one drive for generating a movement of the re-forming device in a plane transversely to the length (X) of the sheet-metal strip.

Abstract: A regulation device (7) for a rolling stand (2) has a force regulator (8) and a position regulator (9) mounted underneath the force regulator. During operation of the regulation device, a rolling force target value (F*) and a rolling force actual value (F) are supplied to the force regulator (8). A regulating distance correcting value (ds1*) is determined by the force regulator (8) from the rolling force target value (F*) and the rolling force actual value (F). The regulating distance correcting value (ds1*), an excentricity compensation value (ds2*), and a regulating distance actual value (s) of a regulating element (6) are supplied to the position regulator (9). A correcting quantity (dq) is determined by the position regulator (9) from the values (ds1*, ds2*, s) supplied thereto and is delivered to the regulating element (6). The regulating distance of the regulating element (6) is changed according to the correcting quantity (dq).

Abstract: A method of increasing control precision of a path of a product in a leveling machine including: a fixed support cage; two leveling assemblies with parallel rollers, which are placed above and below the strip respectively; devices necessary to adjust the interlocking of the rollers; a mechanism for measuring leveling forces at least of two sides of the machine; and a theoretical pre-setting model. The method directly measures at least one value for the spacing of the leveling rollers, which is compared to reference values, and uses the members for adjusting the position of the leveling rollers to maintain the measured values equal to the reference values. The method is particularly suitable for machines used to level flat metal products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the vibrations of a roll stand (1) equipped with a hydraulic jack (6) as a device for adjusting the rolling rolls (4, 5). The hydraulic jack comprises a sensor (64) for measuring the position of the mobile portion relative to the fixed portion, this sensor supplying a digital signal (POS). In the method of the invention, the vibrations are detected by direct observation of the position signal (POS) and a comparison thereof relative to a spatio-temporal window (F) whose dimensions are determined as a function of the frequency to be detected. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to define different observation windows (F) suitable for the detection of different vibratory phenomena.

Abstract: In a method for determining the rolling force in a roll stand for rolling metallic material which is to be rolled, the rolling force is determined by means of at least one neural network. According to the invention, the neural network is trained using, in particular measured, values for the rolling force under different operating conditions with a view to improving the determination of the rolling force. The neural network is advantageously trained using values for the rolling force and values for the different operating conditions for roll stands of different rolling trains.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for presetting process variables in at least one actuating element of a rolling train for rolling metal strips, in which guarantee values are predefined. The guarantee values specified, which cover the intended stipulations and the associated tolerance bands for the quality features of the metal strip, are, for example, strip flatness and/or strip contour and/or strip profile. The tolerance bands of the intended stipulations over a predefinable number of metal strips are taken into account in such a way that an optimum set point calculation of at least one process variable is carried out over the predefined number of metal strips.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for presetting process variables in at least one actuating element of a rolling train for rolling metal strips, in which guarantee values are predefined. The guarantee values specified, which cover the intended stipulations and the associated tolerance bands for the quality features of the metal strip, are, for example, strip flatness and/or strip contour and/or strip profile. The tolerance bands of the intended stipulations over a predefinable number of metal strips are taken into account in such a way that an optimum set point calculation of at least one process variable is carried out over the predefined number of metal strips.

Abstract: In a method for determining the rolling force in a roll stand for rolling metallic material which is to be rolled, the rolling force is determined by means of at least one neural network. According to the invention, the neural network is trained using, in particular measured, values for the rolling force under different operating conditions with a view to improving the determination of the rolling force. The neural network is advantageously trained using values for the rolling force and values for the different operating conditions for roll stands of different rolling trains.

Abstract: A continuous hot rolling method includes setting operating conditions (OC) for hot rolling facilities, regarding rolled material for which endless rolling was planned, in which a preceding piece of material and a subsequent piece of material are joined to each other, to batch rolling, in which rolling is performed without joining the preceding piece of material and subsequent piece of material to each other, or setting of changes from batch rolling to endless rolling. Changes can be speedily and accurately made, so that operating problems, or defective coils due to inaccurate changes in settings or delays in changing the settings can be prevented. Both the operating conditions (OCIe) for endless rolling and the operating conditions (OCIb) for batch rolling are predetermined, and the operating conditions (OCe,OCb) for the facilities at various positions on the hot rolling line are determined for both endless rolling and for batch rolling.