Abstract: To a fulcrum roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding initial curvature radius is applied, and to a bending roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding design curvature radius is applied. To an intermediate unit portion in a workpiece, an intermediate curvature radius set so as to continuously change from the initial curvature radius to the design curvature radius is applied. At least one of the fulcrum roll and the bending roll is moved on the basis of an integrated value obtained by integrating the amount of change in bending position in each of the intermediate unit portion and the bending roll unit portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for forming a multi-layer web formed from at least two polymeric film tubes in intimate contact with each other but not bonded to each other. The apparatus includes the use of a blown film extrusion die that extrudes two separate blown film polymeric tubes via two separate annular die lips. A fluid cooling system applies cooling fluid across a plurality of surfaces of the two blown film tubes. One of the die lips may be at a different height from the other die lip. The frost line of one blown film tube may be at a different height from the other blown film tube.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a continuous strip material positioned between an entry and an exit of an apparatus. A sensor determines a measured distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a reference location, where the sensor is downstream from the exit of the apparatus. A controller determines a difference value between the measured distance and a predetermined distance to detect material curvature in the strip material.

Abstract: A machine for leveling a strip of material contains a lower stationary back plate from which extends vertical beams located on either side of a longitudinal axis. A lower stationary leveling chassis and an upper leveling chassis are provided. Each chassis contains spaced apart rollers. An upper stationary back plate is rigidly secured to the upper end of each beam, and a moving coupling device couples the upper leveling chassis to the upper back plate. A device allows a vertical translational movement of the upper leveling chassis in relation to the upper stationary back plate between a rest position where the rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved away from rollers of the lower leveling chassis and a leveling position where rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved towards rollers of the lower leveling chassis and the strip is forced to travel along an undulating path.

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 and a device is provided for controlling the overlapping of leveling rollers in a planishing machine comprising two leveling trains each bearing a series of rollers with parallel axes. The method and device are particularly applicable to sheets and strip products of great thickness and high hardness requiring little roller overlap. The method is characterized in that it consists in measuring at least the overall value of the torques transmitted to the planishing rollers by the motors, in determining the actual value of the torques used for planishing the product, in comparing the determined value with the reference value of the torque provided by the presetting model and in acting on the members regulating the roller overlap to maintain the value of the thus determined torque at the reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lubricating and cooling rollers (3,4,5,6) and metal strips (2) on rolling in particular, on cold rolling of metal strips (2), wherein, on the inlet side (7a) a minimal amount of pure lubricant (9) without a high water content is continuously supplied in an online controlled manner with a controlled viscosity and lubricity depending on a number of process data measurements (23) by means of a physical computer model (22) and the equivalent process data measurements (23) from the outlet side (8a) are also used online by the physical computer model (22).

Abstract: A method and system for making a window well having a station with a first well area and a second well area, a conveyor to transport a first blank to the first well area, and a transport conveyor that transports a second blank to the second well area based on a signal from a sensor.

Abstract: This invention matches the material quality of a product to target data, even when a materials quality model is insufficient in prediction accuracy. Heating a metallic material, rolling, forging, or leveling the metallic material, and cooling the metallic material are each conducted at least once. Prior to manufacture of a metallic product of a desired size and shape, qualitative data of the metallic material are measured at a position by a materials quality sensor in a manufacturing line, and modifications based on measured data are made to heating, processing, or cooling conditions in at least one of the steps, upstream of the materials measured data sensor so that the quality of the metallic material at the measuring position agrees with target data.

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: 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: A machine is process monitored and controlled for continuous bending of long products to a predetermined radius by using three parallel contact-free distance meters (laser transmitters) and by measuring the distances to the bent surface on the product, by calculating the actual bending radius based on the fixed distances between the meters and the measured distances, and controlling the adjustment of the machine in response to the relation between the calculated actual radius and the desired radius. The machine comprises a processor for performing said calculation and controlling the bending device.

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: A method for straightening an eccentric shaft (100, 501) by engaging fillets (201, 601) adjacent an element (101, 509) of the shaft with angled rollers (303, 703), rotating the shaft and selectively applying a compressive rolling force (301, 709) during only a portion of the rotation into the fillets (201, 601) of the shaft through the rollers (303, 703), which results in straightening the crankshaft (100).

Abstract: An apparatus for process control of a burnishing process comprising a body having a first end and a second end, at least one process control coupon, and structure for attaching the process control coupon to the body. At least one edge of the process control coupon is clamped along the entire length thereof during burnishing. A method of process control for burnishing of components comprising selecting at least one process control coupon, selecting an apparatus for holding the process control coupon(s), attaching the process control coupon(s) to the apparatus, selecting a region on the surface of the process control coupon(s) for burnishing, burnishing a patch on the selected region using a burnishing process, and, measuring at least one physical parameter at a selected location of the process control coupon(s) after burnishing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing the width of a plurality of longitudinal slots or other openings spaced circumferentially around a slotted tubular member. The invention includes a seaming roller positioned to contact the outer surface of the slotted tubular member for transverse movement across the plurality of slots, and adapted to apply a force onto the slotted tubular member so as to reduce the slot width. The width of the plurality of slots is detected and compared to a set value indicative of a desired end slot width and based on this comparison, an adjustor connected to the seaming roller, adjusts the force applied by the seaming roller to the plurality of slots. Each opening is adjusted by the seaming roller to have a profile with a width that throughout the length of the slot profile, varies no more than a given tolerance from the desired end slot width.

Abstract: A method to reduce the width of slots or openings in a pipe. The method involve determining the position of the slots relative to the surface of the pipe and determining the width of the slots. A signal is generated corresponding to the determined width and relative position of the slots and the signal is directed to a controller. The controller compares the determined width of the slots with a pre-determined value and identifies slots having widths greater than the pre-determined value. The exterior surface of the pipe adjacent to the slots having determined widths greater than the pre-determined value is treated through causing one or more compression tools to be moved to selectively contact the exterior surface of the pipe adjacent to the identified slots so as to selectively reduce the width of the slots.

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: The invention relates to a method for specifically adjusting the surface structure of rolling stock (3) during cold rolling in skin pass mills. The aim of the invention is to partially transfer the surface structure of the working roll (2) onto the rolling stock (3). To this end, the change of roughness of the rolling stock (3) in the rolling process of a single- or multiple-stand, preferably two-stand skin pass mill is calculated in an optimization calculation in which the rolling parameters are varied according to the mill capacity using a tribological model that mathematically describes the friction conditions in the roll gap (1). The results obtained are then used to readjust at least a part of the rolling parameters used for calculation.

Abstract: An automatically controlled multi-roll precision leveler for flattening a strip of material, such as a metal strip. A metal strip product may be fed into the leveler, typically from a coil. The leveler uses multiple work rolls to flatten the strip as it passes through a leveling section of the leveler. Upon exiting the leveling section of the leveler, the metal strip product passes over a shape sensor. The shape sensor may be divided into a plurality of individual measurement zones, each having one or more measurement segments. The shape sensor measures the shape error in the metal strip, which shape error is the result of stresses present in the strip. The shape error measurements are used by the shape control system of the leveler to automatically and continuously adjust the leveling parameters of the leveler. The control system attempts to operate the leveler, such that a shape error measurement of zero will be detected by the shape sensor—at which point the metal strip product will be flat.

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: A stretch leveling apparatus having at least two stretching zones and wherein the lengths of the first and second stretching zones are each at least 0.5 times the maximum strip width.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for regulating the compressing of metal tubing (20) having inner-lying beam wave guides (8) by means of a roll straightening passage (10a, 10b) comprising a feeding device (36, 36′) of the rollers (12-16) with regard to the angle of wrap (A1, A2). The metal tubing (20) is unwound by a feed roller (11) in front of the roll straightening passage delivery roller (11′) after said roll straightening passage (10a, 10b). According to the invention, a measuring device (34) for determining the velocity (v1, v2) of the metal tubing (20) is arranged in front of and behind each roll straightening passage (10a, 10b). The measuring device (30) can determine the difference in velocity in front of and behind the roll straightening passage and the feeding device (36, 36′) can be adjusted independently of the difference in velocity.