Abstract: A digital computer is connected to various sensors and devices on a strip line, including a gauge located downstream of a coating bath for measuring coating thickness on the strip. The computer examines the coating weight data obtained from the measuring gauge and determines: (1) the average coating weight on each side of the strip; (2) the total average coating weight on both sides of the strip; (3) the coating weight at the conventional ASTM weigh-strip-weigh test locations on the strip; and (4) the minimum spot total coating on both sides of the strip. The computer then compares these data with target (set point) data entered by the operator and makes the following corrective adjustments: (1) a pressure correction factor is adjusted if either the total coating or the minimum spot coating does not meet required specifications; and (2) air knife position is adjusted if necessary to balance the coating from edge to edge and from side to side.

Abstract: A tracking system provides a means for tracking two types of data, event data and processing data. Event data include information such as the location of welds and other strip discontinuties in a continuous strip processing line. Event data are tracked in a series of counters, such that the contents of each counter at any given time reflect the location of an event with respect to a specific reference point in the line. At various times during the tracking of event data, the tracking counters are calibrated with reference to a known strip length increment to correct for cumulative tracking errors. Processing data are tracked through various stations on the line; the processing data are stored in a bank of memory cells and moved from cell to cell as the strip moves from station to station so that the contents of each cell in the bank at any given time reflects past processing conditions for an incremental strip length located in the line at a point corresponding to the location of that data in the memory bank.