A rolling mill control system and method includes use of sensors located between rolling mill stands to directly measure metal sheet or plate flatness, thickness profile, position, and the camber of the rolls in the mill. A feedback loop control system adjusts or adapts rolling mill control mechanisms to control the rolling process.

A straightening system is provided to perform straightening in conformity with a shape pattern of a the material. The straightening system includes a cooling device configured to spray a cooling fluid in a predetermined pattern with respect to a plurality of regions of the material, divided in a width direction, to cool the material that is heated in a heating furnace and then passes through a rolling mill. The straightening system also includes a straightening device configured to straighten the material passed through the cooling device. The straightening system further includes a flatness measuring system configured to measure flatness of the material passed through the cooling device and a controller configured to receive data of the flatness of the material from the flatness measuring system and to control the cooling device in response to the data to enhance the flatness of the material.

A flatness roller includes a body having at least one cavity opening onto an outer surface of the body through a plurality of slots, two successive slots defining a lamella between them, each lamella being connected to the body by two connection portions. The flatness roller also includes at least one optical fibre having at least one strain sensor having a measurement axis. Each strain sensor is housed in a cavity and attached at a connection portion of a lamella, the measurement axis forming an angle less than or equal to 20 with a plane orthogonal to the axis of revolution of the body. Each strain sensor is configured to send an optical response wave representative of a strain of the strain sensor according to the measurement axis thereof.

A flatness roller includes a body having at least one cavity opening onto an outer surface of the body through a plurality of slots, two successive slots defining a lamella between them, each lamella being connected to the body by two connection portions. The flatness roller also includes at least one optical fibre having at least one strain sensor having a measurement axis. Each strain sensor is housed in a cavity and attached at a connection portion of a lamella, the measurement axis forming an angle less than or equal to 20 with a plane orthogonal to the axis of revolution of the body. Each strain sensor is configured to send an optical response wave representative of a strain of the strain sensor according to the measurement axis thereof.

A profile straightening apparatus 5 for a profiling system which is used to produce a metal profile 4 by roll profiling along a longitudinal axis of the metal profile. The profile straightening apparatus is intended for correcting axial deviations of the metal profile from a prescribed profile geometry, and includes a frame 8 and having at least two interacting correction rollers 6, 7, which are mounted in the frame, receive the metal profile between them and, in relation to the longitudinal axis of the metal profile, are adjustable in two radial directions and also in at least one direction of rotation. The profile straightening apparatus is equipped with force measuring sensors for any forces F.sub.y, F.sub.z acting in the metal profile in one or both radial directions and for any torques M.sub.x acting in the metal profile in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis.

A profile straightening apparatus 5 for a profiling system which is used to produce a metal profile 4 by roll profiling along a longitudinal axis of the metal profile. The profile straightening apparatus is intended for correcting axial deviations of the metal profile from a prescribed profile geometry, and includes a frame 8 and having at least two interacting correction rollers 6, 7, which are mounted in the frame, receive the metal profile between them and, in relation to the longitudinal axis of the metal profile, are adjustable in two radial directions and also in at least one direction of rotation. The profile straightening apparatus is equipped with force measuring sensors for any forces F.sub.y, F.sub.z acting in the metal profile in one or both radial directions and for any torques M.sub.x acting in the metal profile in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis.

A rolling mill control system and method includes use of sensors located between rolling mill stands to directly measure metal sheet or plate flatness, thickness profile, position, and the camber of the rolls in the mill. A feedback loop control system adjusts or adapts rolling mill control mechanisms to control the rolling process.

A rolling mill control system and method includes use of sensors located between rolling mill stands to directly measure metal sheet or plate flatness, thickness profile, position, and the camber of the rolls in the mill. A feedback loop control system adjusts or adapts rolling mill control mechanisms to control the rolling process.

A control device (3b) for a roll stand (1). During rolling of a metal strip (2) in the roll stand (1), the device receives measurement data (M) for a lateral position (y) of the metal strip (2) on the inlet side and/or outlet side of the roll stand (1). Taking into account parameters (P) of the stand regulator (3a) on the basis of the deviation in the lateral position (y) from a target position (y*), a stand regulator (3a) of the control device (3b) determines a tilt value (s) for the roll stand (1) and controls the roll stand (1) accordingly. The control device (3b) determines at least one variable (V1, V2, Q1, Q2) from which it is derived, for both strip edges (7, 8) of the metal strip (2), whether the metal strip (2) forms an undulation (9) in the region of the particular strip edge (7, 8). As soon as the metal strip (2) forms an undulation (9) in the region of one of the strip edges (7, 8), the control device (3b) varies at least one of the parameters (P) of the stand regulator (3a), such that the stand regulator (3a) determines the tilt value (s), starting from the variation in the at least one parameter (P), and taking into account the changed parameter (P).

A control device (3b) for a roll stand (1). During rolling of a metal strip (2) in the roll stand (1), the device receives measurement data (M) for a lateral position (y) of the metal strip (2) on the inlet side and/or outlet side of the roll stand (1). Taking into account parameters (P) of the stand regulator (3a) on the basis of the deviation in the lateral position (y) from a target position (y*), a stand regulator (3a) of the control device (3b) determines a tilt value (s) for the roll stand (1) and controls the roll stand (1) accordingly. The control device (3b) determines at least one variable (V1, V2, Q1, Q2) from which it is derived, for both strip edges (7, 8) of the metal strip (2), whether the metal strip (2) forms an undulation (9) in the region of the particular strip edge (7, 8). As soon as the metal strip (2) forms an undulation (9) in the region of one of the strip edges (7, 8), the control device (3b) varies at least one of the parameters (P) of the stand regulator (3a), such that the stand regulator (3a) determines the tilt value (s), starting from the variation in the at least one parameter (P), and taking into account the changed parameter (P).