Abstract: A system and method for affecting the crossbow in a metal sheet in continuous coating process. The system comprises strip distance sensors for determining distances to the metal sheet. A controller is configured to adjust the position of the correcting roll, based on the strip distances, to affect the crossbow in the sheet to help control the thickness of the coating on the sheet. The system may comprise a crossbow model to help determine the new correcting roll position. The distances determined by the strip distance sensors may be also be used to adjust the position of the air knives.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying imperfections in a reflective surface. The reflective surface may be a metal coating on a sheet such as in a galvanization process. The system comprises a laser detector. The laser detector may be part of a triangulation unit. The laser detector takes readings corresponding to the angles of travel of diffuse light of a laser off of different portions of the reflective surface. Imperfections in the surface are identified based on variance in the readings. The method comprises detecting diffuse light of a laser beam off of different portions of the reflective surface, and identifying imperfections based on variances in the angles of travel of the diffuse light detected.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus, for measuring the distance to a surface having fluctuating reflectivity, the measuring apparatus comprising, a measuring light source and sensor unit positioned at an angle to the perpendicular of the surface to allow the light to be reflected to a diffuse target surface in a known position; and a processor unit, wherein the processor unit is adapted to collect and analyze data from the a measuring light source and sensor unit and classify whether the reading of the measuring light source and sensor unit is a direct reading or a reflected reading.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus, for measuring the distance to a surface having fluctuating reflectivity, the measuring apparatus comprising, a measuring light source and sensor unit positioned at an angle to the perpendicular of the surface to allow the light to be reflected to a diffuse target surface in a known position; and a processor unit, wherein the processor unit is adapted to collect and analyse data from the a measuring light source and sensor unit and classify whether the reading of the measuring light source and sensor unit is a direct reading or a reflected reading.