Flatness Or Crown Control Patents (Class 700/154)
  • Patent number: 11364526
    Abstract: A metal strip is rolled in a roll stand and a control device for the roll stand determines, by means of a working cycle, a number of manipulated variables for flatness actuators of the roll stand and actuates them accordingly. The control device implements an optimizer, which provisionally sets the current correction values, and determines a totality of flatness values. Then, the optimizer minimizes the relationship by varying the current correction variables. When determining the current correction variables (s), the optimizer considers linear ancillary conditions, based at least in part on a vector having the ancillary conditions upheld by the current correction values and a vector having the ancillary conditions upheld by the difference of the current correction values relative to the correction values of the preceding working cycle. The control device determines the manipulated variables for the flatness actuators in consideration of the determined current correction variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Primetals Technologies Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Dressler, Andreas Maierhofer, Andreas Müller, Alexander Thekale, Slobodan Veljovic
  • Patent number: 9789521
    Abstract: A rolling stand is provided for producing a rolled strip having working rolls which are supported on supporting rolls or intermediate rolls and supporting rolls, wherein the working rolls and/or intermediate rolls and/or supporting rolls are arranged in the rolling stand so as to be displaceable axially relative to one another, and each roll of at least one roll pair formed from a supporting roll and a working roll or from a supporting roll and an intermediate roll has a curved contour which runs over the entire effective barrel length, wherein the contour of the supporting roll is predefined by a contour function which is formed from a superposition of a first contour function, which runs in a manner complementary to the adjacent working roll in a non-displaced state, with a superposition function which is concave or convex in relation to the supporting roll axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Minichmayr, Alois Seilinger
  • Patent number: 8965554
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a press-forming device, press-forming method, computer program/software arrangement and storage medium can be provided. The exemplary press-forming device can include a material characteristic input configured to input material characteristics. A state variable detector can be configured to measure a state variable comprising a metal mold distortion amount. A processing condition computer arrangement can be configured to determine from a first moment to a second moment at least one particular processing condition. Further, a processing condition controller can be configured to control the at least one processing condition from processing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Coporation, Arcelormittal France
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Akihiro Uenishi, Yukihisa Kuriyama, Toshiyuki Niwa, Takuya Kuwayama, Mitsuharu Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8805569
    Abstract: A controller restraining overcorrections which occur upon manual intervention in operation of an equipment controller. The controller includes a driving device which drives equipment to perform mechanical work, a computation element which computes a target value related to an action of the equipment, an automatic controller which outputs an automatic control signal for the driving device based on the target value so that the equipment becomes stable. The controller also includes a manual intervention control unit which outputs a manual correction signal for the driving device in response to a manual intervention. A manual correction unit makes a determination as to whether there is an overcorrection based on the automatic control signal and the manual correction signal, and outputs to the driving device a product obtained by multiplying the manual correction signal output from the manual intervention unit by a prescribed gain regulation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Tachibana
  • Patent number: 8676371
    Abstract: A rolling train for rolling a strip has a number of rolling stands and a coiler. The rolling stands have work and backing rolls. Data of the strip are fed to a control device of the rolling train which determines individual pass reductions for the rolling stands based on the data. It controls the main rolling stands and the coiler such that the strip is rolled in the main rolling stands according to the individual pass reductions and then coiled up. It determines the individual pass reductions such that they are zero and controls the rolling stand arranged directly upstream of the coiler such that—with respect to this main rolling stand—the tension in the strip on the outlet side is less than on the inlet side, but the strip runs through this rolling stand without undergoing any forming, at least on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Berthold Botta
  • Patent number: 8634953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for controlling flatness of a stainless steel strip in connection with cooling after annealing in a finishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Outokumpu OYJ
    Inventor: Stephan Söderlund
  • Patent number: 8539804
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Lars Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8374715
    Abstract: A method for vibration damping and shape control of a suspended metal strip during continuous transport in a processing facility in a steel rolling line or surface treating line in a steel mill, where the method comprises the steps: measuring distance to the strip by a plurality of non-contact sensors; and generating a strip profile from distance measurements; decomposing the strip profile to a combination of mode shapes; determining coefficients for the contribution from each mode shape to the total strip profile; and controlling the strip profile by a plurality of non-contact actuators based on a combination of mode shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Lofgren, Mats Molander
  • Patent number: 8365562
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness parameters. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Britanik, Tino Domanti, Terry L. Gerber, Jason A. Mueller, Glen Wallace, Harold Bradley Rees
  • Publication number: 20120253502
    Abstract: A method of providing flatness control for rolling a strip in a mill including a plurality of rolls controllable by actuators. The method includes the steps of: receiving flatness measurement data pertaining to a flatness of the strip; determining a flatness error as a difference between a reference flatness of the strip and the flatness measurement data; determining an adjusted flatness error based on the flatness error and weights for actuator position combinations which provide a flatness effect below a threshold value; and utilizing the adjusted flatness error for the control units to control the actuators to thereby control the flatness of the strip. A computer program product and a control system for carrying out the above method are also presented herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Markus Holm, Per-Erik Moden
  • Patent number: 8205474
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness parameters. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Britanik, Tino Domanti, Terry L. Gerber, Jason A. Mueller, Glen Wallace, Harold Bradley Rees
  • Patent number: 8195868
    Abstract: Enhanced functionality is provided in memory devices by enhancing the control logic to recognize predetermined data sequences. Standard (legacy) device operations are used to communicate the predetermined data sequences, thereby allowing existing device drivers to be used with the enhanced devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Sami Nassar
  • Patent number: 8176762
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Wright State University
    Inventors: Arif S. Malik, Ramana V. Grandhi
  • Patent number: 8136215
    Abstract: An uncoiling device having an uncoiler for uncoiling a strip is described. The uncoiler is arranged downstream from a thickness measuring device which measures the thickness of the strip. The thickness measuring device is arranged downstream from a straightening device which straightens the strip. The straightening device is arranged downstream from a machining device which further machines the strip. The thickness of the strip is transmitted to a control device which controls the straightening machine and/or the machining device in accordance with the measured thickness of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bertram Schulze
  • Patent number: 8050792
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Pontus Bergsten
  • Publication number: 20100249973
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Pontus Bergsten
  • Patent number: 7748247
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens VAI Metals Tecnhnologies SAS
    Inventors: Sebastien Martin, Franck Serval, Laurent Dorel, Yves Leclercq, Rodolphe Le Riche, Xavier Bay
  • Publication number: 20100101291
    Abstract: A method and a lubricant application device for regulating the flatness and/or roughness of a metal strip in the outlet of a cold rolling stand by suitable metering of the amount of at least one lubricant per unit time applied to the metal strip in the inlet of the cold rolling stand. The applied amount of lubricant is metered in the form of a quantitative distribution over the width of the metal strip per unit time according to a detected control deviation between an actual and a desired flatness distribution over the width of the metal strip in the outlet of the cold rolling stand or a control deviation between an actual and a desired roughness distribution over the width of the metal strip in the outlet of the cold rolling stand or a combination of the two control deviations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Richter, Hartmut Pawelski
  • Patent number: 7676298
    Abstract: A method of precision surface re-profiling of a composite polymeric component comprising a region capable of being re-profiled, comprising the steps of locating the polymeric composite component with a formable surface relative to a supporting fixture, the thickness of component comprising the formable surface being greater than the desired final thickness in a region to be re-profiled, moving a forming head into position into contact with the formable surface of the composite component with the aid of precision location or measurement sensors, causing the formable surface of the component to flow under the tool and creating a precisely defined local thickness or profile of component under the forming tool, and moving the forming head along the region of the component to be re-profiled, while maintaining the forming tool at a predetermined height profile or while leaving the re-profiled component with a predetermined thickness profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: CRC for Advanced Composite Structures Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Beehag
  • Patent number: 7623940
    Abstract: A method for forming a duct interconnect generally includes providing a digital model of a first duct structure and a second duct structure, the first duct structure including a first duct section having a passage for conveying a substance and an interconnect component moveably and captively coupled to the duct section. The second duct structure includes a second duct structure and a second interconnect component. The process includes forming, via a direct manufacturing procedure (e.g., stereolithography), a physical model of the first duct and second structures in accordance with the digital models, wherein the interconnect component has a locked and unlocked state, and wherein the unlocked state corresponds to a predetermined compressive force between the first duct structure and a second duct structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chris Huskamp, Tracy L. Bagwill
  • Patent number: 7577489
    Abstract: A method for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material. A mapping is accomplished by associating to relevant flatness fault types a reference strip model and an actuator space conversion matrix. A device for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: George Fodor, Christine Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 7515987
    Abstract: A media library assembly (10) includes a host controller (12), a first data transfer assembly (18A) and a second data transfer assembly (18B), which can be remotely positioned from the first data transfer assembly (18A). The host controller (12) sends a first command signal to the first data transfer assembly (18A) to request a transfer of a first block of data relative to a target storage media (22). The first data transfer assembly (18A) receives the first command signal, determines the location of the target storage media (22), and initiates a second command signal to the second data transfer assembly (18B) to request the transfer of the first block of data relative to the target storage media (22). The second data transfer assembly (18B) transfers the first block of data relative to the target storage media (22) in response to the second command signal. The first data transfer assembly (18A) then returns a status to the host controller (12) regarding the transfer of the first block of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Saliba
  • Publication number: 20070288117
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing easily not only the overall taste of a sample but also what kind of components, synergetic effects and diminishing effects contribute to the taste. A sample to be analyzed is injected into a mobile phase by a liquid sending pump, and the sample is sent to a taste detector by way of a blending means and valves. Then, detection signals are obtained by taste sensors on the taste detector. The sample sent through the taste detector is introduced into a column by way of a 6-port-2-position valve, temporally separated into components and eluted from the column. After each component is detected by a UV detector, the eluted liquid is sent to the taste detector once more, and detection signals which reflect the tastes of each sample component. When analyzing how the taste changes by an additive, send the additive to the blending means and blend it with the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicants: Shimadzu Corporation, TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Iwata, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6948347
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: ISG Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Russo, Peter F.W. Schrof, Bruce B. Grube, Donald James Ronemus, Stanley Petrilla
  • Patent number: 6857301
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Machine Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Guil C. Bergman, Anthony D. Enneking
  • Patent number: 6779373
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Achenbach Buschhütten GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Barten, Werner Stahl
  • Publication number: 20040059458
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting a flattener under traction and a corresponding device, for providing a metal strip (5) in particular a cold-rolled steel plate, comprising a cage (1), cage posts (8), two stacked cassettes (2, 3) supporting each a plurality of rollers (4) between which the metal strip (5) is fed. The invention is characterised in that it consists in measuring a physical quantity representing the angular position of said cassettes (2, 3) relative to the feeding direction of the said trip (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Fabrice Tondo, Jacques Yves Bourgon, Pierre Vienot, Christian Aussourd
  • Patent number: 6697699
    Abstract: Method for influencing relevant quality parameters of a rolling strip, particularly the profile or flatness of the rolling strip, in a roll stand with rolls, by adjusting the crownings of the rolls, i.e., the surface geometry of the rolls in the longitudinal direction of the rolls, wherein the crowning of the rolls is adjusted by an adjustable cooling of the rolls or of their surfaces in longitudinal direction of the rolls. The cooling of the rolls is adjusted by a controller (1) as a function of the actual value (pactual) of the crowning and a predetermined setpoint value (psetpoint) of the crowning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Otto Gramckow, Birger Schmidt, Markus Schubert
  • Patent number: 6513358
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Lars Jonsson, Klaus Meyer
  • Patent number: 6298277
    Abstract: The system including a device (2) for applying an adapter (11) to a blank (1) for transferring it into and mounting it in a trimming device (3) controlled in accordance with trimming information. The system includes a device for acquiring the characteristics of a lens to be made, a device (10) for supporting the blank (1) in the device (2) for applying the adapter, devices (14, 15) for emitting/receiving radiation for analyzing the blank a device (4, 16) for acquiring the characteristics of the blank by analyzing a signal delivered by the emitting/receiving devices (14, 15) and a device (4) for determining blank trimming information for controlling the trimming device (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Briot International
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques Bernard Joseph Videcoq
  • Patent number: 6112394
    Abstract: A method of continuously casting and finish-rolling a cast slab within a predetermined finished width tolerance, wherein for the cast slab and any subsequent slab an adjustment of the mold position is carried out particularly in accordance with different rolling conditions for achieving the predetermined finished width within a tolerance strip, initially a preadjustment of the mold position is carried out, inter alia, while considering the extreme strip dimensions of the planned production program, a computation for the optimum use for the mold adjusting units and the adjusting units of the finishing train is carried out for each cast slab and any subsequent slab, and, with an existing entering width of the cast slab into the finishing train, a reoptimization of the finished width by means of the adjusting units of the finishing train is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Seidel, Karl-Ernst Hensger