Abstract: A two-axis roll forming apparatus for forming sheet metal includes a first carriage and a second carriage each reciprocally movable parallel to a longitudinal axis. The second carriage is spaced apart from the first carriage and separated therefrom by a gap. A first bending station is carried by the first carriage and reciprocal moveable parallel to a transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A second bending station is carried by the second carriage and reciprocal moveable parallel to the transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing a spark plug, approach driving conditions are calculated on the basis of a specified thrust feeding amount so that, while a temporal overlap occurs between a time period of feed-driving toward a rolling position P2 of a workpiece supporting portion (11) and an approach driving time period, in a circumferential direction of a workpiece W, a positional relationship between the starting position of the threaded portion which is rolling-formed, and the joining position of the ground electrode to the tip end face of the workpiece W is constant. The operation of an approach driving portion is controlled on the basis of the calculated approach driving conditions.

Abstract: A device for loading the guide surfaces of bearing chocks (LS) supported in the housing windows (SF) of rolling stands with pressure plates (DP) that can be placed on the guide surfaces and that can be loaded by a hydraulic piston (K) supported in the rolling stand housings (ST), wherein devices for measuring the pressure and devices (WM) for measuring the displacement of the piston are assigned to the hydraulic piston (K), and wherein the frictional force is eliminated by adjusting well-defined clearances between the bearing chocks (LS) and the guide surfaces.

Abstract: In a method and a strip treatment installation, in particular a strip rolling mill train or a strip rolling stand, to avoid strip stickers, as the material is being wound up the distribution of the radial pressure exerted by the strip on the coiler drum or a winding reel is measured over the strip width, then the measured values are used to produce a reproduction of the actual local stress distribution in the strip, and this reproduction is used as a template for a set curve for controlling the strip tensile stress distribution, on the basis of which actuators of the strip treatment installation are adjusted with a view to achieving a uniform compressive stress distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the final thickness of a rolled product (B) at the outlet of a rolling mill including at least two roll stands (1–5) operating in tandem and associated with a general speed control system of the different stands, and to a device for controlling the reduction in thickness and in tension of the product (B) in each space (10–50) between two successive stands. According to the invention, the control device performs, in real time, dynamic balance, between the different stands (1–5), of the torques applied, in each stand, on the working rolls (T, T?), without any noticeable disturbance of the final thickness h5 of the product (B) at the outlet of the plant. The invention enables, in particular, to optimise the productivity of a tandem rolling mill, without any engine overloading risks.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting production information from punch machines (11) at shop floors and for monitoring production performed by the punch machines. The system comprises information collectors (12), a monitoring computer (14) and a database (16). Each information collector is attached to a corresponding punch machine, and obtains real-time production information. The monitoring computer is located remotely from the shop floors, and is respectively connected with the information collectors and the database via first and second communication links (13, 18). The monitoring computer is used for obtaining the information obtained by the information collectors according to pre-installed information obtaining instructions, and for storing the obtained information in the database. The database also stores fundamental data set by users. Therefore, users can know and control real-time production status of all shop floors at personal computers (17) connected to the database via the second communication link.