Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a continuous strip of material positioned between an entry and an exit of an apparatus. A sensor is positioned downstream from the exit of the apparatus. The sensor measures a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a predetermined reference. The sensor measures a second distance between the upper surface of the strip material and the predetermined reference. The first and second distances is measured at at least one of two different locations or two different instances in time as the strip material exits the apparatus. A controller compares the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature or longbow in the strip material.

Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a continuous strip of material positioned between an entry and an exit of an apparatus. A sensor is positioned downstream from the exit of the apparatus. The sensor measures a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a predetermined reference. The sensor measures a second distance between the upper surface of the strip material and the predetermined reference. The first and second distances is measured at at least one of two different locations or two different instances in time as the strip material exits the apparatus. A controller compares the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature or longbow in the strip material.

Apparatus for straightening metal products comprising:

at least one rotation shaft on which at least one straightening roll is installed in a selectively removable manner;
a first structure provided with at least a first support member configured to hold and support a first end of the rotation shaft;
a second structure provided with at least a second support member configured to selectively support and hold a second end, opposite the first end, of the rotation shaft;
a movement member configured to move the second structure toward/away from the first structure and to allow the installation or removal of the straightening roll from the rotation shaft.

A roll feeder is usable to intermittently feed a coiled material. The roll feeder includes a paired first roll and second roll, a meandering detector, a pressing component, and a controller. The paired first roll and second roll are disposed so as to clamp the coiled material. The paired first roll and second roll are configured to feed the coiled material in a conveyance direction. The meandering detector is configured to detect meandering of the coiled material from a specific conveyance position in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the coiled material. The pressing component is configured to press the first roll against the coiled material being conveyed. The controller is configured to control the pressing component so as to correct the meandering based on detection by the meandering detector.

A roll feeder is usable to intermittently feed a coiled material. The roll feeder includes a paired first roll and second roll, a meandering detector, a pressing component, and a controller. The paired first roll and second roll are disposed so as to clamp the coiled material. The paired first roll and second roll are configured to feed the coiled material in a conveyance direction. The meandering detector is configured to detect meandering of the coiled material from a specific conveyance position in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the coiled material. The pressing component is configured to press the first roll against the coiled material being conveyed. The controller is configured to control the pressing component so as to correct the meandering based on detection by the meandering detector.

A cut-to-length steel coil processing line has an un-coiling reel, a temper mill, a stretcher leveler, a shearer, and a stacking apparatus arranged to sequentially process a continuous length of sheet metal. The line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the temper mill to the stacking apparatus without processing through the stretcher leveler when a determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is at or below a selected measurement criteria. In the alternative, the line may be configured such that the continuous length of the sheet metal is directed from the uncoiling reel through the stretcher leveler to the stacking apparatus without processing through the temper mill when the determined thickness of the continuous length of sheet metal is greater than the selected measurement criteria.

A plant for producing a structured cross-channel packing element. The structured cross-channel packing element comprises at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising periodic deformations. The plant comprises a stretching machine configured to cut and stretch a metal sheet to form one of a plurality of first expanded metal sheets, a calibration machine configured to roll the first expanded metal sheets to a desired thickness, a sheet storage unit configured to directly receive each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine, a forming machine configured to form each of the first expanded metal sheets to form the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations, and a stacking machine configured to stack the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations to form the structured cross-channel packing element. The sheet storage unit is configured to release the first expanded metal sheets directly to the forming machine.

A plant for producing a structured cross-channel packing element. The structured cross-channel packing element comprises at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising periodic deformations. The plant comprises a stretching machine configured to cut and stretch a metal sheet to form one of a plurality of first expanded metal sheets, a calibration machine configured to roll the first expanded metal sheets to a desired thickness, a sheet storage unit configured to directly receive each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine, a forming machine configured to form each of the first expanded metal sheets to form the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations, and a stacking machine configured to stack the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations to form the structured cross-channel packing element. The sheet storage unit is configured to release the first expanded metal sheets directly to the forming machine.

A tensioning pulley set for a straightening machine for straightening a strip or for a re-rolling stand for re-rolling a strip, comprising a first tensioning pulley with a first pulley axis and at least one second tensioning pulley with a second pulley axis, the first tension pulley being a flatness measuring pulley having a force sensor for measuring a radial force applied to the circumferential surface of the flatness measuring pulley, and a drive for the second tensioning pulley with which a torque can be applied thereto on the second pulley axis, either the first tensioning pulley configured without a drive, or an auxiliary drive provided for the first tensioning pulley with which a torque can be applied to the first tensioning pulley on the first pulley axis, the auxiliary drive for the first tensioning pulley being significantly weaker than the drive for the second tensioning pulley.

The invention may relate, among other things, to a device for straightening a metal strip having two strip drives which are suitable together to apply tension on the metal strip to straighten the metal strip, wherein at least one of the strip drives is a linear drive, characterized in that the at least one linear drive has a positioning device such that the linear drive can be moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the device.