Methods and Apparatus to increase the efficiency of roll-forming and leveling systems are described herein. An example strip material processing apparatus includes a first drive system to drive an exit workroll at an exit of the strip material processing apparatus, and a second drive system to drive an entry workroll at an entry of the strip material processing apparatus, where the strip material is to travel through the strip material processing apparatus from the entry to the exit. The example strip material processing apparatus also includes a controller to provide a first command reference to the first drive system to drive the exit workroll at the first command reference. The controller is to determine a first torque value of the first drive system when the first drive system operates at the first command reference, and the controller is to determine a second torque value based on a ratio of the first torque value to the second torque value such that the first torque value and the second torque value are different. The controller is to also drive the entry workroll via the second drive system to maintain the ratio.

Methods and Apparatus to increase the efficiency of roll-forming and leveling systems are described herein. An example strip material processing apparatus includes a first drive system to drive an exit workroll at an exit of the strip material processing apparatus, and a second drive system to drive an entry workroll at an entry of the strip material processing apparatus, where the strip material is to travel through the strip material processing apparatus from the entry to the exit. The example strip material processing apparatus also includes a controller to provide a first command reference to the first drive system to drive the exit workroll at the first command reference. The controller is to determine a first torque value of the first drive system when the first drive system operates at the first command reference, and the controller is to determine a second torque value based on a ratio of the first torque value to the second torque value such that the first torque value and the second torque value are different. The controller is to also drive the entry workroll via the second drive system to maintain the ratio.

A rolling mill for producing rolling mill product is provided. The rolling mill includes a rolling mill line that moves the rolling mill product. A plurality of rolling mill stands are coupled to the rolling mill line that receives the rolling mill product and rolls the rolling mill product. A plurality of speed measuring devices that are positioned in close proximity to each rolling mill stand, where each speed measuring device measures the speed of the rolling mill product as it passes the speed measuring devices. A control device receives information associated with the speed measuring devices and adjusts the speed of the rolling mill product for any speed differential that might exist between any of the rolling mill stands.

A rolling mill for producing rolling mill product is provided. The rolling mill includes a rolling mill line that moves the rolling mill product. A plurality of rolling mill stands are coupled to the rolling mill line that receives the rolling mill product and rolls the rolling mill product. A plurality of speed measuring devices that are positioned in close proximity to each rolling mill stand, where each speed measuring device measures the speed of the rolling mill product as it passes the speed measuring devices. A control device receives information associated with the speed measuring devices and adjusts the speed of the rolling mill product for any speed differential that might exist between any of the rolling mill stands.

A metal band (1) is first rolled in a front (upstream) and then in a rear (downstream) roll stand (2a, 2b) of a multi-stand rolling train. A looper (3) applied on the metal band (1) between the roll stands (2a, 2b) detects a band tension (Z) present in the metal band (1). The band tension (Z) is supplied to a first and a second tension controller (8, 9), which determine an application additional target value (s*, F*) and a speed additional target value (v*). The second tension controller (9) only determines a value less than or greater than 0, as the speed additional target value (v*), if the band tension (Z) is above or below an upper or lower band tension limit (Z1, Z2). Otherwise, same returns the speed additional target value (v*) to the value 0. The first tension controller (8) is also supplied with a target tension (Z*) that falls between the band tension limits (Z1, Z2). The first tension controller (8) determines the application additional target value (s*, F*) using a determining standard based on the deviation of the band tension (Z) from the target tension (Z*). The determining standard also permits a value different to 0 as the application additional target value (s*, F*) if the band tension (Z) falls between the band tension limits (Z1, Z2). The application additional target value (s*, F*) acts on the rear roll stand (2b). The speed additional target value (v*) acts on the front roll stand (2a) with a positive indicator, or on the rear roll stand (2b) with a negative indicator.

A metal band (1) is first rolled in a front (upstream) and then in a rear (downstream) roll stand (2a, 2b) of a multi-stand rolling train. A looper (3) applied on the metal band (1) between the roll stands (2a, 2b) detects a band tension (Z) present in the metal band (1). The band tension (Z) is supplied to a first and a second tension controller (8, 9), which determine an application additional target value (s*, F*) and a speed additional target value (v*). The second tension controller (9) only determines a value less than or greater than 0, as the speed additional target value (v*), if the band tension (Z) is above or below an upper or lower band tension limit (Z1, Z2). Otherwise, same returns the speed additional target value (v*) to the value 0. The first tension controller (8) is also supplied with a target tension (Z*) that falls between the band tension limits (Z1, Z2). The first tension controller (8) determines the application additional target value (s*, F*) using a determining standard based on the deviation of the band tension (Z) from the target tension (Z*). The determining standard also permits a value different to 0 as the application additional target value (s*, F*) if the band tension (Z) falls between the band tension limits (Z1, Z2). The application additional target value (s*, F*) acts on the rear roll stand (2b). The speed additional target value (v*) acts on the front roll stand (2a) with a positive indicator, or on the rear roll stand (2b) with a negative indicator.

A method for setting a roll gap of sinusoidal corrugated rolling for a metal composite plate includes steps of: determining entrance thicknesses, exit thicknesses, a width, and a rolling temperature of a difficult-to-deform metal slab and an easy-to-deform metal slab; detecting a roll speed and an entrance speed of a metal composite slab, obtaining a roll radius and friction factors; determining parameters of a sinusoidal corrugating roll and a quantity of complete sinusoidal corrugations on the sinusoidal corrugating roll; then calculating a time required for a complete corrugated rolling; calculating a rolling force at any time during the sinusoidal corrugated rolling of the metal composite plate; and calculating the roll gap S of the corrugated rolling at any time according to the rolling force F, and configuring a rolling mill to have the roll gap S according to an actual rolling schedule before normal production.

A method for setting a roll gap of sinusoidal corrugated rolling for a metal composite plate includes steps of: determining entrance thicknesses, exit thicknesses, a width, and a rolling temperature of a difficult-to-deform metal slab and an easy-to-deform metal slab; detecting a roll speed and an entrance speed of a metal composite slab, obtaining a roll radius and friction factors; determining parameters of a sinusoidal corrugating roll and a quantity of complete sinusoidal corrugations on the sinusoidal corrugating roll; then calculating a time required for a complete corrugated rolling; calculating a rolling force at any time during the sinusoidal corrugated rolling of the metal composite plate; and calculating the roll gap S of the corrugated rolling at any time according to the rolling force F, and configuring a rolling mill to have the roll gap S according to an actual rolling schedule before normal production.

Rolling station intended to couple with a respective rolling cartridge or stand provided with two rolling cylinders, wherein the rolling station has a supporting frame of the transmissions suitable for housing a pair of transmission devices of which a first transmission device is intended to couple with a first rolling cylinder and a second transmission device is intended to couple with a second rolling cylinder, the first rolling cylinder being put in rotation by a first motor via the first transmission device and the second rolling cylinder being put in rotation by a second motor via the second transmission device.

Rolling station intended to couple with a respective rolling cartridge or stand provided with two rolling cylinders, wherein the rolling station has a supporting frame of the transmissions suitable for housing a pair of transmission devices of which a first transmission device is intended to couple with a first rolling cylinder and a second transmission device is intended to couple with a second rolling cylinder, the first rolling cylinder being put in rotation by a first motor via the first transmission device and the second rolling cylinder being put in rotation by a second motor via the second transmission device.