ROLL STATE MONITOR DEVICE

Abstract

A roll state monitor device includes: rolling force detector configured to detect rolling force of a monitored roll selected from an upper roll set and a lower roll set; force variation value extracting means configured to extract a rolling force variation value based on the rolling force for each rotation position of the monitored roll; and identification part configured to identify a roll eccentricity amount of the monitored roll by acquiring a plurality of accumulated values by accumulating separately for each rotation position of the monitored roll a value which is one of the rolling force variation value and a roll gap equivalent value calculated based on the rolling force variation value, and by dividing each of the plurality of accumulated values by a correction coefficient corresponding to a roll rotation amount.

Claims

1. A roll state monitor device comprising: a rolling force detector configured to detect rolling force of a monitored roll selected from an upper roll set and a lower roll set when a rolled material is rolled between the upper roll set and the lower roll set, the upper roll set having at least one roll and the lower roll set having at least one roll; a force variation value extractor configured to extract a rolling force variation value based on the rolling force for each rotation position of the monitored roll; and an identification part configured to identify a roll eccentricity amount of the monitored roll by acquiring a plurality of accumulated values by accumulating separately for each rotation position of the monitored roll a value which is one of the rolling force variation value and a roll gap equivalent value calculated based on the rolling force variation value, and by dividing each of the plurality of accumulated values by a correction coefficient corresponding to a roll rotation amount which is number of times the monitored roll is rotated in an accumulation period in which the plurality of accumulated values are acquired.

2. The roll state monitor device according to claim 1, wherein the identification part is configured to convert the rolling force variation value into the roll gap equivalent value by using a force roll gap conversion equation including a plastic coefficient of the rolled material.

3. The roll state monitor device according to claim 1, wherein the monitored roll has a first side end portion and a second side end portion opposite to the first side end portion, wherein the rolling force detecting detector is configured to detect first side rolling force of the first side end portion while detecting second side rolling force of the second side end portion, wherein the force variation value extractor is configured to extract each of a first side rolling force variation value and a second side rolling force variation value, the first side rolling force variation value is a value of the first side rolling force for each rotation position of the monitored roll, and the second side rolling force variation value is a value of the second side rolling force for each rotation position of the monitored roll, and wherein the identification part is configured to acquire the plurality of accumulated values corresponding to the plurality of rotation positions based on the first side rolling force variation value and the second side rolling force variation value with respect to each of the first side end portion and the second side end portion separately, and to identify each roll eccentricity amount of the first side end portion and the second side end portion.

4. The roll state monitor device according to claim 1, further comprising a roll state determining part to determine a state of the monitored roll by collating the roll eccentricity amount calculated by the identification part to a determination criterion.

5. A roll state monitor device comprising: a rolling force detector configured to detect rolling force of a monitored roll selected from an upper roll set and a lower roll set when a rolled material is rolled between the upper roll set and the lower roll set, the upper roll set having at least one roll and the lower roll set having at least one roll; a force variation value extractor configured to extract a rolling force variation value which is a value of each rolling force for each rotation position of the monitored roll; n identification part configured to identify a roll eccentricity amount based on the rolling force variation value; a recorder recording a plurality of roll eccentricity amounts calculated from the identification part in accordance with a plurality of rotation positions of the monitored roll in a first rolling period which is determined in advance; and a roll state determining part determining a state of the monitored roll in a second rolling period which is after the first rolling period, based on a normal roll eccentricity amount representative value which is a first representative value calculated from the plurality of the roll eccentricity amounts calculated by the identification-part in the first rolling period, and based on the roll eccentricity amount calculated by the identification part in the second rolling period.

6. The roll state monitor device according to claim 5, wherein the roll state determining part is configured to determine the state of the monitored roll by comparing a second representative value of the roll eccentricity amount acquired in the second rolling period with a multiplied value acquired by multiplying the normal roll eccentricity amount representative value by a predetermined coefficient, and wherein the second representative value is the same type of numerical value as the first representative value calculated from the plurality of the roll eccentricity amounts calculated by the identification part in the second rolling period.

7. The roll state monitor device according to claim 5, wherein the roll state determining part is configured to determine the state of the monitored roll based on a test result of a statistical test method for a plurality of the roll eccentricity amounts.

8. A roll state monitor device comprising: a rolling force detector configured to detect a rolling force signal of a monitored roll selected from an upper roll set and a lower roll set when a rolled material is rolled between the upper roll set and the lower roll set, the upper roll set having at least one roll and the lower roll set having at least one roll; a signal extractor configured to extract from the rolling force signal a rolling force high frequency signal having a frequency equal to or larger than a predetermined frequency which is set in advance; and a roll state determining part configured to determine a state of the monitored roll based on a test result of a statistical test method for a plurality of rolling force values included in the rolling force high frequency signal.

9. The roll state monitor device according to claim 8, wherein the roll state determining part is configured to calculate a rolling force value probability density distribution based on the plurality of rolling force values, and wherein the roll state determining part is configured to determine the state of the monitored roll based on comparison between the rolling force value probability density distribution and a reference distribution which is set in advance.

10. The roll state monitor device according to claim 9, wherein the roll state determining part includes a normal distribution roll state determining part, and wherein the normal distribution roll state determining part is configured to calculate a probability density distribution of the plurality of rolling force values as the rolling force value probability density distribution, and use a normal distribution as the reference distribution.

11. The roll state monitor device according to claim 9, wherein the roll state determining means includes a Rayleigh distribution roll state determining part, and wherein the Rayleigh distribution roll state determining part is configured to calculate, as the rolling force value probability density distribution, a maximal-minimal probability density distribution which includes each probability density distribution of a plurality of rolling force maximal values and a plurality of rolling force minimal values included in the rolling force high frequency signal, and use a Rayleigh distribution as the reference distribution.

12. The roll state monitor device according to claim 8, wherein the monitored roll has a first side end portion and a second side end portion opposite to the first side end portion, wherein the rolling force detecting detector is configured to detect a first side rolling force signal from a first rolling force sensor provided on the first side end portion and to detect a second side rolling force signal from a second rolling force sensor provided on the second side end portion, wherein the signal extractor is configured to extract each rolling force high frequency signal having a frequency equal to or larger than the predetermined frequency from the first side rolling force signal and the second side rolling force signal, and wherein the roll state determining part is configured to determine each state of the first side end portion and the second side end portion of the monitored roll based on the test result of the statistical test method for each rolling force high frequency signal extracted by the signal extractor.

13. The roll state monitor device according to claim 8, wherein the upper roll set includes a plurality of upper roll sets which constitutes a plurality of rolling stands, wherein the lower roll set includes a plurality of lower roll sets which constitutes the plurality of rolling stands together with each of the plurality of upper roll sets, wherein the rolling force detector is configured to acquire a plurality of rolling force signals from each rolling force sensor provided with each of the plurality of rolling stands, wherein the signal extractor is configured to extract from each of the plurality of rolling force signals a plurality of rolling force high frequency signals each having a frequency equal to or larger than the predetermined frequency, and wherein the roll state determining part is configured to acquire each test result for each rolling stand corresponding to the plurality of rolling stands as the test result of the statistical test method for the plurality of rolling force values included in each of the plurality of rolling force high frequency signals, and determine the state of the monitored roll based on each test result for each rolling stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a rolling mill which a roll state monitor device according to a first embodiment is applied to;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining configuration of the roll state monitor device and an upper roll set and a lower roll set according to the first embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining relationship between a work roll and a division manner of a backup roll according to the first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of variation of rolling force according to the first embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining an extraction method of the rolling force variation and an identification method of a roll eccentricity amount according to the first embodiment, and device configuration thereof;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a first roll state determination technique according to the first embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a second roll state determination technique according to a modification of the first embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the second roll state determination technique according to a modification of the first embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating transition of an actual roll eccentricity amount according to the first embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a roll state monitor device according to a second modification of the first embodiment;

[0045] FIG. 11 is a diagram for specifically explaining a method of extracting rolling force variation and of identifying a roll eccentricity amount according to a fifth modification of the first embodiment, and a device configuration thereof;

[0046] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rolling mill to which a roll state monitor device according to the second embodiment is applied;

[0047] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the roll state monitor device according to the second embodiment and configuration of an upper roll set and a lower roll set;

[0048] FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a roll state determination technique according to the second embodiment;

[0049] FIG. 15 is a graph for explaining a probability density distribution according to the second embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating a probability density distribution according to the second embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a probability density distribution according to a first modification of the second embodiment;

[0052] FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating a minimal value and a maximal value according to the first modification of the second embodiment;

[0053] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining Kullback-Leibler Divergence according to the second embodiment; and

[0054] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of hardware configuration of the roll state monitor device according to the first and second embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

[0055] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rolling mill 50 which a roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment is applied to. The rolling mill 50 in FIG. 1 includes a heating furnace 52 for heating a slab 51, a roughing mill 53, a bar heater 54 for heating a bar 55, a finishing rolling mill 57, an entry pyrometer 56 disposed on an entry side of the finishing rolling mill 57, a strip thickness/width meter 58 for measuring a strip thickness and a strip width, a delivery pyrometer 59 disposed on a delivery side of the finishing rolling mill 57, a run-out table 63, a pyrometer 60, a coiler 61, and the roll state monitor device 20.

[0056] The pyrometer 60 is disposed on an entry side of the coiler 61. The coiler 61 forms a product coil 62. FIG. 1 illustrates a rolling direction RD, an operator side OS, and a drive side DS. The roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment is provided as one function included in a control device to control the rolling mill 50 for rolling a rolled material 1.

[0057] In the embodiment, the rolling mill 50 in hot sheet rolling process will be described as a specific example. Although the first embodiment exemplarily illustrates the rolling mill 50 including the roughing mill 53 having two stands and the finishing mill 57 having seven stands, this is an example.

[0058] In general, rolling mills can facilitate production of automobiles and electrical products by rolling and thinning ingots of steel materials or non-ferrous materials such as aluminum and copper. There are various types of rolling mills. Various types of rolling mills include hot sheet rolling mills for rolling plate materials, cold rolling mills, rolling mills for rolling bar wires, rolling mills such as H-shaped steel, 12-Hi rolling mills and 20-Hi rolling mills for rolling hard materials such as stainless steel, and the like. There are various types of rolls for each rolling configuration. These various types of rolling mills may use the roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment. This is because various types of rolling mills in practical use are often similar in configuration to each other although details thereof are different.

[0059] The rolling mill 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with the roughing mill 53 having two stands and the finishing rolling mill 57 having seven stands. Furthermore, although not shown, a large capacity electric motor is provided for driving the rolls on upper side and lower side. Although not shown, shafts or the like to connect the rolls and the motor are also provided.

[0060] The roughing mill 53 in FIG. 1 may have a total of four rolls of work rolls 3a, 3b and backup rolls 4a, 4b having larger diameter than the work rolls 3a, 3b, or a total of two rolls of work roll 3a, 3b. On the other hand, the finishing rolling mill 57 in FIG. 1 includes a first rolling stand #1 to a seventh rolling stand #7.

[0061] Each rolling stand of the finishing rolling mill 57 is a set of four rolls including upper rolls and lower rolls. In other words, the work rolls 3a, 3b and the backup rolls 4a, 4b are included. One or more intermediate rolls may be provided between each work roll 3a, 3b and each backup roll 4a, 4b, and in this case one rolling stand may have six or more rolls from the upper side to the lower side.

[0062] The roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment monitors a roll state in the finishing rolling mill 57. However, as a modification, the roll state monitor device 20 may monitor a roll state of the roughing mill 53, or the roll state monitor device 20 may monitor roll states of both the roughing mill 53 and the finishing rolling mill 57.

[0063] The roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment is configured to monitor the state of the rolls, to detect an abnormality of the rolls so as to inform the abnormality in advance. The roll state monitor device 20 can accurately identify a roll eccentricity amount, and the identified roll eccentricity amount is compared with a roll eccentricity amount in a normal state to determine abnormality. The roll state monitor device 20 may include various types of notification means, such as a display device or an alarm signal, for presenting determination results of a roll state to an operator or the like.

[0064] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of the roll state monitor device 20 and the upper roll set and the lower roll set according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates one rolling stand in the finishing rolling mill 57 according to the first embodiment, and the roll state monitor device 20 connected thereto.

[0065] The configuration in FIG. 2 is included in each of the first rolling stand #1 to seventh rolling stand #7 of the finishing rolling mill 57 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, each rolling stand includes a housing 2, work rolls 3a, 3b, back-up rolls 4a, 4b, screw down means 5, rolling force detecting means 6, a roll rotation amount detector 7, a roll reference position detector 8, and a roll gap detector 9.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2, the work rolls 3a, 3b are an upper work roll 3a and a lower work roll 3b. The backup rolls 4a, 4b are an upper backup roll 4a and a lower backup roll 4b. Oil bearings may be used as bearings for rotating the backup rolls 4a, 4b. The screw down means 5 is a screw down device for acting the rolling force on the rolled material 1. The rolling force detecting means 6 is an apparatus for detecting the rolling force.

[0067] The roll rotation amount detector 7 detects a roll rotation amount. The roll rotation amount here corresponds to number of times a roll is rotated. The roll rotation amount detector 7 may be a counter in which 1 is added each time the roll is rotated once. Incidentally, if the roll rotation amount detector 7 is a sensor for measuring roll rotation speed (i.e. a roll rotation amount per unit time), the number of times the roll is rotated at a constant time may be calculated by multiplying time length to the roll rotation speed.

[0068] The roll reference position detector 8 detects a predetermined reference position each time the backup rolls 4a, 4b are rotated once. The roll gap detector 9 detects a gap between the work rolls 3a, 3b, i.e. a roll gap.

[0069] The upper roll set consists of the upper work roll 3a and the upper backup roll 4a. On the other hand, the lower roll set consists of the lower work roll 3b and the lower backup roll 4b.

[0070] In the first embodiment, as an example, the case of a 4 Hi mill will now be described. The 4 Hi mill consists of four rolls of two upper/lower work rolls 3a, 3b and two upper/lower backup rolls 4a, 4b. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and another mill called 2 Hi mill may be used. The 2 Hi mill consists of only two rolls of top/bottom work rolls. Alternatively, another mill called 6 Hi mill may be used. The 6 Hi mill consists of six rolls: two upper/lower work rolls, two upper/lower intermediate rolls, and two upper/lower backup rolls. Alternatively, another mill having more rolls may be used.

[0071] The rolled material 1 is rolled by the work rolls 3a, 3b whose roll gaps and speeds are appropriately adjusted so as to have a desired strip thickness at the delivery side. The upper work roll 3a is supported from above by the upper backup roll 4a. The lower work roll 3b is supported from below by the lower backup roll 4b. Thus, the deflection in the roll width direction is reduced. The backup rolls 4a, 4b are rotatably supported with respect to the rolling mill housing 2. Each backup roll 4a, 4b has a structure capable of sufficiently withstanding the rolling force which acts on the rolled material 1.

[0072] The screw down means 5 adjusts the gap between the work rolls 3a, 3b, i.e. the roll gap. The screw down means 5 may be an electric screw down device for electric motor control or a hydraulic pressure screw down device for hydraulic control. Since the hydraulic pressure screw down has an advantage of easily acquiring a high-speed response, the screw down means 5 may be the hydraulic pressure screw down device.

[0073] In order to execute control in response to a wave component in a short period such as disturbance due to roll eccentricity, it is generally preferable to use the hydraulic pressure screw down capable of high-speed response. However, as a modification, the screw down means 5 may be the electric pressure screw down device. Since the high speed response in the screw down means is not relevant to roll state monitoring, the roll state monitor device 20 may be applied to a rolling stand which does not have the hydraulic screw down.

[0074] The rolling force detecting means 6 detects the rolling force, for example. One exemplary method of detecting rolling force may be a method of directly measuring the rolling force by a load cell embedded between the rolling mill housing 2 and the screw down means 5. Another example of a detection method of rolling force may be a method of calculating the rolling force from pressure detected by the hydraulic screw down means. The rolling force detecting means 6 may be, for example, a load sensor or a pressure sensor, specifically, a strain gauge or a load cell or a hydraulic sensor.

[0075] The roll rotation amount detector 7 detects a rotation amount of each work roll 3a, 3b or the like. The roll rotation amount detector 7 may be provided with the work rolls 3a, 3b. The roll rotation amount detector 7 may be provided on a shaft (not shown) of an electric motor for driving the work rolls 3a, 3b.

[0076] The roll rotation amount detector 7 may include, for example, pulse output means for outputting a pulse corresponding to a rotation angle of each work roll 3a, 3b, and angle calculating means for calculating the rotation angle of each work roll 3a, 3b by detecting the pulse outputted from the pulse output means. The roll rotation amount detector 7 may be configured to be able to finely detect the roll rotation amount and the rotation angle of each work roll 3a, 3b by using the pulse output means and the angle calculating means.

[0077] Incidentally, when a ratio of each diameter of the work rolls 3a, 3b and each diameter of the backup roll 4a, 4b is known, the rotational amounts and the rotational angles of the backup rolls 4a, 4b may be calculated. Specifically, the rotation amounts and the rotation angles of the backup rolls 4a, 4b may be calculated based on the rotation amounts and the rotation angles of the work rolls 3a, 3b detected by the roll rotation amount detector 7 in the case where there is no slip between the work rolls 3a, 3b and the backup rolls 4a, 4b.

[0078] The roll reference position detector 8 detects a reference position in such a manner that a sensor such as a proximity switch detects an object provided on each backup roll 4a, 4b each time each backup roll 4a, 4b is rotated, for example. The roll reference position detector 8 may detect the reference position by using a pulse generator in such a manner that a pulse depending on the rotation angle of each backup roll 4a, 4b is taken out to detect the rotation angle of each backup roll 4a, 4b, for example.

[0079] Incidentally, FIG. 2 illustrates a case where only the roll reference position detector 8 is provided on the upper back-up roll 4a. However, as a modification, the roll reference position detector 8 may be provided on each backup roll 4a, 4b, and each reference position of the backup rolls 4a, 4b may be detected individually.

[0080] The roll gap detector 9 is provided between the backup roll 4a and the screw down means 5, as an example. The roll gap detector 9 indirectly detects the roll gap formed between the work rolls 3a, 3b.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 2, the roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment includes a rolling force vertical distribution part 10, a rolling force variation extracting part 11, a roll eccentricity amount identify part 12, a roll eccentricity amount recording part 13, and a roll state determination part 14. The roll state monitor device 20 determines the state of the monitored roll. In the first embodiment, as an example, each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is the monitored roll.

[0082] The rolling force detecting means 6 detects the rolling force for a plurality of rotation positions of the work rolls 3a, 3b and the backup rolls 4a, 4b as described later in FIGS. 3 and 4. The rolling force vertical distribution part 10 distributes the rolling force detected by the rolling force detecting means 6 to an upper side and a lower side based on a ratio of upper rolling force and lower rolling force. A distribution ratio is preset. The upper rolling force is rolling force which is given from the rolled material 1 to the upper roll set having the upper work roll 3a and the upper backup roll 4a. The lower rolling force is rolling force which is given from the rolled material 1 to the lower roll set having the lower work roll 3b and the lower backup roll 4b. Incidentally, the upper rolling force and the lower rolling force may be distributed in a ratio of 1:1, for example. However, in fact, the lower rolling force also includes weight of the upper work roll and the upper backup roll. As a result, as actual force, the lower rolling force is slightly larger than the upper rolling force. Total roll weight of the work roll and the backup roll is 30 to 40 tons, while the rolling force is several hundred to two thousand tons or three thousand tons. Therefore, the lower rolling force is slightly larger than the upper rolling force in a ratio therebetween, when considering the roll weight.

[0083] The rolling force variation extracting part 11 extracts an upper rolling force variation value P.sub.Tj and a lower rolling force variation value P.sub.Bj based on each rolling force of the upper roll set and the lower roll set which is distributed vertically by the rolling force vertical distribution part 10. The subscript j is j=0, 1, 2 . . . n1. The upper rolling force variation value P.sub.Tj and the lower rolling force variation value P.sub.Bj are variation values that occur in relation to rotation positions of the upper roll set and the lower roll set.

[0084] The roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 makes conversion into a roll gap equivalent value S from each of upper and lower variation components P of each rolling force separately extracted by the rolling force variation extracting part 11. The roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 adds the converted roll gap equivalent value S by a plurality of adders 121d to 122d which are described later in FIG. 5. The reason for performing conversion into the roll gap equivalent value S is to prevent undesirable variation in the rolling force variation value caused by the difference in characteristics of the rolled material (e.g., hardness of the rolled material). This is because, for example, rolling force fluctuation tends to increase in hard material.

[0085] In the rolling mill 50, the roll gap equivalent value S is used to actually adjust the roll gap, and thereby the strip thickness variation of the rolled material 1 can be reduced. However, the roll state monitor device 20 in the first embodiment is not provided with a function of adjusting the roll gap for reducing influence on the strip thickness variation due to roll eccentricity. This results in that, in the first embodiment, the adders 121d, 122d continuously add data throughout rolling process, and each data in the adders 121d, 122d continues to increase as the roll rotation amount increases. Therefore, in the first embodiment, each output value from the adders 121d, 122d is corrected by dividing the output values by a correction coefficient corresponding to the roll rotation amount in order to determine the roll eccentricity amount.

[0086] The roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 records a plurality of output values y.sub.Tj, y.sub.Bj outputted from the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12. The subscript j is j=0, 1, 2 . . . n1. Each of the output values y.sub.Tj, y.sub.Bj is an identified value of the roll eccentricity amount.

[0087] A roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is calculated from recorded data in the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13. The roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the roll eccentricity amounts identified by the roll eccentricity amount identification part 12.

[0088] The roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 records the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak identified by the roll eccentricity amount identification part 12 during a predetermined rolling period which is set in advance, as a normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak. The normal roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak is a determination value which represents the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak when the monitored roll is normal.

[0089] Incidentally, the predetermined rolling period described above may be a period from immediately after roll replacement to the elapse of a predetermined time which is set in advance, or may be a period required for rolling a predetermined number of the rolled material 1 immediately after the roll replacement. Every time rolling process of the rolled material 1 is completed, each roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak of each rolled material 1 is calculated. Each calculated roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is recorded as the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak at a time when rolling process of each rolled material 1 is completed.

[0090] The roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 may be modified so that the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is replaced with a roll eccentricity amount maximum value y.sub.max (i.e. a peak value of positive side) or a roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min (i.e. a peak value of negative side). In this modification, the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 may record each of the roll eccentricity amount maximum value y.sub.max or the roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min. In this case, the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 records the roll eccentricity amount maximum value y.sub.max or the roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min identified by the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 during a predetermined rolling period which is set in advance, as the roll eccentricity amount maximum value y.sub.max or the roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min when the monitored roll is normal. The roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max in a normal state of the roll is also referred to as a normal roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.nor_max. The roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.min in a normal state of the roll is also referred to as a normal roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.nor_min.

[0091] It should be noted that the time period described above is a time period from immediately after the roll replacement to the elapse of a certain time, or a time period from immediately after the roll replacement to the completion of rolling process of a certain number of rolled materials, and each time period is set as a time period necessary for rolling the predetermined number of rolled materials. The predetermined number is preferably set to a somewhat large number such as 5 or 10. The values of 5 or 10 will now be described. The work roll is periodically replaced when about one hundred of the rolled materials 1 has been rolled. If the predetermined number described above is set to 40 to 50, a very few number of the rolled materials 1 are used to determine whether normal or abnormal, and this is not practical. Therefore, the predetermined number described above, for example, may be preferably set about 10 pieces which is within 10% of 100 pieces. In addition, a replacement cycle of the backup roll is several days to ten days. Thousands of the rolled materials 1 will be rolled during this period. Therefore, when the backup roll is set as the monitored roll, the predetermined number can be set more than 5 to 10. The work roll directly contacts the rolled material, and this causes near the center part in the width direction to be easily worn, resulting in that it is necessary to frequently replace and polish the roll. Therefore, the work roll is replaced in the above cycle. On the other hand, since the backup roll does not directly contact the rolled material, replacement cycle thereof may be set long. Further, there may be a premise that the roll is normal immediately after roll polishing. This is because an abnormality can be easily found when a person looks at the roll in the polishing process.

[0092] The roll state determination part 14 determines each state of the backup rolls 4a, 4b which are monitored rolls by using the recorded data in the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13.

[0093] In the first embodiment, as an example, the roll state determining part 14 may perform a comparison determination based on the data recorded in a predetermined time after roll replacement. This comparison determination is achieved in a routine of FIG. 6 described later. Further, the roll state determination part 14 according to another modification may determine normal/abnormal of the roll state based on a fixed value or a statistical value determined from the data acquired in the past, rather than based on the data recorded in the predetermined time after the roll replacement. This modification is achieved in a routine of FIG. 7 described later. Specific method of determination in the roll state determination part 14 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0094] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8, operation of the roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment will be specifically described.

[0095] First, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each configuration and operation of the rolling force vertical distribution part 10 and the rolling force variation extracting part 11 is specifically described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relation between the work rolls 3a, 3b and division of the backup rolls 4a, 4b according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates positional relationships between the work rolls 3a, 3b and the backup rolls 4a, 4b. It should be noted that the backup roll may be abbreviated as BUR, the work roll may be abbreviated as WR.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b has a position scale 15 for detecting the rotation position. Further, it is also illustrated that a reference position 4c is preset in part of each backup roll 4a, 4b and the reference position 4c rotates in conjunction with the rotation of each backup roll 4a, 4b. The position scale 15 is provided on each immediate outer side of the backup rolls 4a, 4b so as to surround each periphery of the backup rolls 4a, 4b, for example. The scale is provided to divide each entire circumference of the backup rolls 4a, 4b into 1st to nth portions equally. That is, the scale is provided for each predetermined angle (i.e. each 360/n degrees) around each rotational axis of the backup rolls 4a, 4b. Then, a reference position 15a (a fixed reference position) of the positional scale 15 is set to be 0, and other positions are numbered from 1.sup.st up to (n1).sup.th. Incidentally, the n is set to be a value of about n=30 to 90, for example. Here, the position scale 15 is provided for explaining the rolling force variation extracting part 11 or the like, and the scale itself may be omitted in actual equipment.

[0097] Here, .sub.WT0 is a rotational angle of the work roll 3 when each reference position 4c of the backup rolls 4a, 4b matches the fixed reference position 15a. The .sub.WT is a rotation angle of the work roll 3 after each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is rotated by .sub.BT. Here, represents an angle, a subscript W represents the work roll 3, a subscript B represents the backup roll 4, a subscript T represents the upper roll, and a subscript B represents the lower roll.

[0098] In the following, each rotation angle of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is assumed to represent an angle at which each reference position 4c of the backup rolls 4a, 4b moves in conjunction with each rotation of the backup rolls 4a, 4b from the fixed reference position 15a. For example, if each rotation angle of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is 90 degrees, each reference position 4c of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is at a position rotated 90 degrees from the fixed reference position 15a in each rotational direction of the backup rolls 4a, 4b. Further, it is assumed that, when each rotation angle of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is closest to a scale (e.g., a j.sup.th scale) of the position scale 15, j is each rotation angle number of the backup rolls 4a, 4b.

[0099] Incidentally, a sensor such as a proximity sensor and an object to be detected by the sensor may be embedded at each reference position 4c and each fixed reference position 15a of the backup rolls 4a, 4b, and thereby the roll reference position detector 8 is configured of the sensor and the object. In such a case, for example, the proximity sensor provided at each reference position 4c of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is rotated with the backup roll 4 and reaches the fixed reference position 15a, and thereby the proximity sensor detects the object which is embedded in the reference position 15a. That is, it is recognized that each reference position 4c of the backup rolls 4a, 4b has passed through the fixed reference position 15a. Incidentally, the roll reference position detector 8 is not essential to the first embodiment.

[0100] Each division position from the fixed reference position 0.sup.th to the position n1.sup.th is individually associated with each division of rolling force recording areas (P.sub.0P.sub.n1 in FIG. 5) in FIG. 5 to be described later, and each rolling force at these division positions is stored in each recording area. Typically, a value n=30 to 90 or near can be used. To set the value n as a large value, a controller preferably has sufficiently high degree of arithmetic processing capability, and therefore it is preferable to pay attention to contradiction relationship between fineness and arithmetic ability of control.

[0101] Hereinafter, a backup roll rotation angle is assumed to represent an angle at which a backup roll reference position moves in conjunction with each rotation of the backup rolls 4a, 4b from a fixed reference position. For example, if the backup roll rotation angle is 90 degrees, a backup roll reference position is at a position rotated 90 degrees from a fixed reference position in each rotational direction of the backup rolls 4a, 4b. Further, it is assumed that, when the backup roll rotation angle is closest to one scale (e.g., an i.sup.th scale) of the position scale, i is a backup roll rotation angle number.

[0102] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of variation of the rolling force according to the first embodiment. Description will now be made about a method to extract variation component in rolling force caused by roll eccentricity, with reference to FIG. 4.

[0103] FIG. 4 illustrates variation of the rolling force with change in the backup roll rotation angle. In FIG. 4, the rolling force corresponds to P.sub.10 when the reference position 4c of the backup roll 4 is at the reference position 14a, i.e., when the rotation angle number of the backup roll 4 is 0. As the rotation angle number of the backup roll 4 advances 1, 2, 3 . . . , the rolling force changes as P.sub.11, P.sub.12, P.sub.13 . . . Then, the backup roll 4 is rotated one revolution, the rotation angle number becomes 0 again from (n1).

[0104] If a straight line 103 is drawn to connect points of the rolling force P.sub.10, P.sub.20 when rolling force P.sub.20 is taken, the straight line 103 may be regarded as rolling force in which the rolling force variation due to roll eccentricity is excluded. Therefore, the rolling force variation due to roll eccentricity may be determined from each difference between the straight line 103 and each rolling force P.sub.11, P.sub.12, P.sub.13 . . . P.sub.20 measured at each corresponding rotational angle number.

[0105] Incidentally, each value of rolling force P.sub.ij actually measured (i.e. an actual value) often includes noise components in addition to the rolling force variation due to the roll eccentricity and rolling force variation due to temperature variation, strip thickness variation, or tension variation, etc. Therefore, each actual value of the rolling force P.sub.ij is not distributed on a smooth curve as shown in FIG. 4, and therefore it may be difficult to identify the rolling force P.sub.i0 of a starting point and the rolling force P.sub.(i+1)0 of an end point for acquiring the above straight line drawn therebetween.

[0106] Therefore, the following calculation may also be performed based on an average value. First, it is assumed that difference between the rolling force P.sub.i0 and the rolling force P.sub.(i+1)0 is not large. Then, a difference amount P.sub.ij between each measured rolling force P.sub.i0, P.sub.i1, P.sub.i2, P.sub.i3 . . . P.sub.(i+1)0 and an average value P.sub.AVE_n may be regarded as the variation component of the rolling force caused by the roll eccentricity. The average value P.sub.AVE_n is an average value of n values of the rolling force P.sub.i0, P.sub.i1, P.sub.i2, P.sub.i3, . . . P.sub.i(n1).

[0107] This calculation method based on the average value is advantageous because collection of actual values of each rolling force can be finished at the (n1) division, and because it is also resistant to the variation of the rolling force due to noise, etc. It is noted that the actual value of the rolling force may be filtered to reduce noise components, which is an additional effective measure.

[0108] FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining an extraction method of the rolling force variation and an identification method of a roll eccentricity amount according to the first embodiment, and device configuration thereof. With reference to FIG. 5, specific configuration and operation of the rolling force variation extracting part 11 and the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the rolling force variation extracting part 11 includes an upper rolling force variation extracting part 111 and a lower rolling force variation extracting part 112.

[0109] The upper rolling force variation extracting part 111 extracts each upper rolling force variation value P.sub.T based on each rolling force P.sub.T distributed by the rolling force vertical distribution part 10. Each upper rolling force variation value P.sub.T is each value acquired by extracting each variation component in each rolling force P.sub.Tj caused by the roll eccentricity at each rotation position of the upper backup roll 4a. Each upper rolling force variation P.sub.T0, P.sub.T1 . . . P.sub.Tn1 is calculated for each rotation position of the upper backup roll 4a.

[0110] The lower rolling force variation extracting part 112 extracts each lower rolling force variation P.sub.B based on each rolling force P.sub.B distributed by the rolling force vertical distribution part 10. Each lower rolling force variation value P.sub.B is each value acquired by extracting each variation component of each rolling force P.sub.Bj caused by the roll eccentricity at each rotation position of the lower backup roll 4b. Each lower rolling force variation P.sub.B0, P.sub.B1 . . . P.sub.Bn1 is calculated for each rotation position of the lower backup roll 4b.

[0111] Further, the upper rolling force variation extracting part 111 includes a rolling force recording part 111a, average value calculating means 111b, and variation calculating means 111c. Similarly, the lower rolling force variation extracting part 112 also includes a rolling force recording part 112a, average value calculating means 112b, and variation calculating means 112c.

[0112] Each of the rolling force recording parts 111a, 112a has rolling force recording units provided corresponding to each rotation angle number of the backup rolls 4a, 4b, and the number of the rolling force recording units is n. Each of the rolling force recording parts 111a, 112a records for a predetermined period each rolling force P.sub.Tj, P.sub.Bj when each angle of the backup rolls 4a, 4b reaches corresponding rotation angle number.

[0113] The average value calculation part 111b calculates the average value P.sub.AVE_Tn based on each rolling force P.sub.Tj recorded in the rolling force recording part 111a. The average value P.sub.AVE_Bn is an average of n values of rolling force P.sub.Tj detected during the upper backup roll 4a is rotated once (j=0 to (n1)).

[0114] The average value calculation part 112b calculates the average value P.sub.AVE_Bn based on each rolling force P.sub.Bj recorded in the rolling force recording part 112a. The average value P.sub.AVE_Bn is an average of n values of rolling force P.sub.Bj detected during the lower backup roll 4b is rotated once (j=0 to (n1)).

[0115] Each variation calculating means 111c is provided so as to correspond to each rolling force recording part 111a in one-to-one manner. Each variation calculating means 111c calculates and outputs each variation value P.sub.Tj every time the backup roll 4a is rotated once. Each variation value P.sub.Tj is a deviation amount of each rolling force P.sub.Tj from the average value P.sub.AVE_Tn. Each rolling force P.sub.Tj is recorded in one corresponding unit of the rolling force recording part 111a. Each variation calculating means 112c in the lower rolling force variation extracting part 112 also outputs each variation value P.sub.Bj by performing the same operation process.

[0116] The roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 includes upper adding means 121 and lower adding means 122.

[0117] The upper adding means 121 includes conversion blocks 121a, a limiter 121b, switches 121c, adders 121d, and a rotational speed correction block 121e. The upper addition means 121 converts each variation component in each rolling force P.sub.Tj outputted from the upper rolling force variation extracting part 111 due to roll eccentricity into each roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Tj by each conversion block 121a. Each converted roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Tj goes through the limiter 121b and each switch 121c, and is independently accumulated in each of a plurality of the adders 121d for each rotational angle number.

[0118] The lower adding means 122 includes conversion blocks 122a, a limiter 122b, switches 122c, adders 122d, and a rotational speed correction block 122e. The lower adding means 122 converts each variation component in each rolling force P.sub.Bj outputted from the lower rolling force variation extracting part 112 due to roll eccentricity into each roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Bj. Each converted roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Bj goes through the limiter 122b and each switch 122c, and is independently accumulated in each of a plurality of the adders 122d for each rotation angle number.

[0119] In FIG. 5, for distinction, a roll gap equivalent value inputted to the limiter 121b is described as particularly S.sub.Tj.sup.LM, and a roll gap equivalent value outputted from the limiter 121b is described as S.sub.Tj. Similarly, a roll gap equivalent value inputted to the limiter 122b is described as particularly S.sub.Bj.sup.LM, and a roll gap equivalent value outputted from the limiter 122b is described as S.sub.Bj. However, the limiters 121b, 122b may be omitted in a modification of the first embodiment, and when these components are omitted, it is not necessary to distinguish the roll gap equivalent values before and after the limiter.

[0120] Incidentally, the upper adding means 121 and the lower adding means 122 have the same configuration. Therefore, the following description mainly refers to operation of the upper adding means 121, and the description of the lower adding means 122 is omitted or simplified as necessary.

[0121] In the upper adding means 121, first, the conversion block 121a corresponding to the j.sup.th rotation position converts the force variation value P.sub.Tj to the roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Tj. Calculation processing in the conversion block 121a can be achieved based on the following equation (3). Load variation P and roll gap equivalent S in the equation (3) are assumed to be P.sub.Tj and S.sub.Tj, respectively. In the equation (3), M is a mill constant, Q is a plastic coefficient of the rolled material. These parameters are generally calculated in setting calculation process before sheet passing of each rolled material.

[00001] $\begin{matrix} [Expression .Math. .Math. 1] .Math. \\ .Math. S = \frac{- (M + Q)}{M .Math. Q} .Math. .Math. P & (3) \end{matrix}$

[0122] Using the above equation (3), the reason for converting the rolling force variation value P to the roll gap equivalent value S will now be described below. Different steel grades may also cause different rolling force variation values. For example, P of hard steel grades is large, while P of soft steel grades is small. It is assumed that the normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak is calculated based on values measured upon rolling a soft steel grade material after roll replacement, and thereafter a large value of P is detected upon rolling a hard grade material. In this case, depending on setting of a threshold value, there is a possibility that the roll is determined to be abnormal when performing rolling of the hard grade material.

[0123] In this regard, since the roll gap equivalent value is used in the above equation (3), a substantially constant value is calculated regardless of a soft material or a hard material if a roll state is normal. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the roll state is normal. Incidentally, the conversion block 122a of the lower adding means 122 calculates the S.sub.B by performing operation processing according to the equation (3) similarly to the conversion block 121a.

[0124] The limiter 121b of the upper adding means 121 checks each of the upper and lower limits of a plurality of roll gap equivalent values S.sub.Tj (j=0, 1, . . . n1) inputted from the plurality of variation calculating means 111c. The limiter 122b of the lower adding means 122 checks the respective upper and lower limits of a plurality of roll gap equivalent values S.sub.Bj (j=0, 1, . . . n1) similarly to the limiter 121b. Each of the limiter 121b and the limiter 122b restricts each of the roll gap equivalent values S.sub.Tj and S.sub.Bj within a predetermined range. Incidentally, the limiters 121b, 122b are provided to detect the abnormality of the roll. When upper and lower limit values are set to have an excessive narrow width therebetween in each of the limiters 121b, 122b, abnormality may not be detected. The width between the upper and lower limit values in each limiter 121b, 122b is preferably not set too narrow. These limiters 121b, 122b are provided to avoid influence of steep and large noise. Here, the width between the upper and lower limit values in each limiter 121b, 122b also referred to as a limiter width, for convenience. Hereinafter, an example of a setting method of the limiter width will now be described. A coefficient m is used in determination process in step S1403 in a flowchart of FIG. 6 described later. The coefficient m is a coefficient for abnormal determination in step S1403 of FIG. 6. The limiter width may be determined in relation to the coefficient m. A comparison determination value for abnormal determination is acquired by multiplying the value of m by each value of the normal roll eccentricity amount, the maximum roll eccentricity amount or the minimum roll eccentricity amount. When m=2 is set as an example for abnormality determination, it becomes meaningless to set a value smaller than at least the twice in the limiter. Here, m=2 provides a value by multiplying by m times each of the normal roll eccentricity amount and the maximum/minimum roll eccentricity amount. Therefore, it is preferable that the normal roll eccentricity is measured or assumed in advance for the limiter, and a value equals to or larger than the (2 m) times value thereof may be set as the upper and lower limit values. This can suppress that a limiter width becomes too narrow.

[0125] There are n unit switches SW.sup.TI in the switches 121c, and each switch SW.sup.TI corresponds to each rotational angle number in the upper backup roll 4a. Every time the upper backup roll 4a is rotated once (i.e., each time the calculation of the average value in the average value calculating part 111b is completed), each of n unit switches in the switch 121c turns on in the order of the rotation angle numbers. Each switch 121c outputs each roll gap equivalent value S.sub.T0 . . . S.sub.Tn1 having passed through the limiter 121b to each adder 121d at the subsequent stage.

[0126] There are also n unit switches SW.sup.BI in the switches 122c of the lower adding means 122, and each unit switch SW.sup.BI corresponds to each rotation angle number of the lower backup roll 4b. Each switch 122c operates in the same manner as the switch 121c, the roll gap equivalent values S.sub.B0 . . . SB.sub.n1, are outputted to the adders 122d of the subsequent stage.

[0127] There are n unit adders .sub.T0, .sub.T1 . . . .sub.Tj . . . .sub.Tn1 in the adders 121d, and each unit adder .sub.T0, .sub.T1, . . . .sub.Tj . . . .sub.Tn1 is provided for each rotational angle number of the upper backup roll 4a. Each of the n unit adders .sub.T0, .sub.T1 . . . .sub.Tn1 adds each of the roll gap equivalent values S.sub.T0 . . . S.sub.Tn1 independently to calculate a plurality of accumulated values S.sub.ATj (j=0, 1 . . . n1).

[0128] When the upper backup roll 4a is rotated ten times as an example, the accumulated value S.sub.AT0 in the unit adder .sub.T0 is an accumulated value acquired by summing ten values of the roll gap equivalent value S.sub.T0, for example. Similarly thereto, in each adder 122d of the lower adding part 122, each of the n unit adders .sub.B0, .sub.B1 . . . .sub.Bj . . . .sub.Bn1 accumulates each of the roll gap equivalent values S.sub.B0 . . . S.sub.Bn1 individually, and thereby a plurality of accumulated values S.sub.Bj (j=0, 1 . . . n1) are calculated.

[0129] Incidentally, when rolling process of one rolled material is completed, each of the adders 121d, 122d may be zero-cleared.

[0130] The rotation amount correction block 121e has a correction function which prevents the roll eccentricity amount from keeping accumulated. Since the first embodiment does not have rolling force control operation based on the roll eccentricity amount or the like, the roll eccentricity of the actual machine is not suppressed. The rotation amount correction block 121e specifically divides each output value from each adder 121d by the roll rotation amount. The rotation amount correction block 121e outputs this calculation result for n pieces of the roll division number.

[0131] The rotational speed correction block 121e executes correction calculation of each output value from each adder 121d by a correction coefficient corresponding to the roll rotation amount. The correction coefficient is preferably a variable value which is set larger as the number of times the monitored roll is rotated becomes larger in an accumulation period during which a plurality of accumulated values S.sub.ABj (j=0, 1, . . . , n1) are accumulated. In the first embodiment, although the correction coefficient is the same value as the number of times the monitored roll is rotated, the correction coefficient may be set as a value other than this. As another example, the correction coefficient may be set less or more than the number of times the monitored roll is rotated. For example, the correction coefficient may be a value acquired by subtracting or adding a predetermined value with respect to the number of times the monitored roll is rotated. As further another example, the correction coefficient may be calculated as a variable value directly proportional to rotation amount of the monitored roll by multiplying a proportional coefficient being set in advance by the number of times the monitored roll is rotated.

[0132] Incidentally, the rotation amount correction block 122e of the lower adding means 122 also executes the same correction operation as the rotation amount correction block 121e. Each output value y.sub.T0 . . . y.sub.Tn1 from the rotation amount correction block 121e and each output value y.sub.B0 . . . y.sub.Bn1 from the rotation amount correction block 122e are the roll eccentricity amount acquired by the identification calculation in the roll eccentricity amount identification part 12.

[0133] With the above-described mechanism, the upper adding means 121 in FIG. 5 outputs each of the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.T0, . . . y.sub.Tn1 about the upper backup roll 4a which is the monitored roll in the upper roll set. The lower adding means 122 in FIG. 5 outputs each of the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.B0, . . . y.sub.Bn1 about the lower backup roll 4b which is the monitored roll in the lower roll set.

[0134] (Specifically Processing for Roll State Determination)

[0135] Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, operation of the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 and the roll state determination part 14 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 stores the roll eccentricity amount y.sub.Tj of the upper monitored roll (i.e., the upper backup roll 4a) and the roll eccentricity amount y.sub.Bj of the lower monitored roll (i.e., the lower backup roll 4b) transmitted from the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12. The roll state determination part 14 executes roll state determination based on data taken from the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13, according to one of routine of FIG. 6 and routines FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0136] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a first roll state determination technique according to the first embodiment. The routine of FIG. 6 is executed by the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 and the roll state determination part 14. FIG. 6 illustrates a method to determine the abnormality of the roll state by the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 and the roll state determination part 14 after the processing in FIG. 5 identifies the roll eccentricity amount of the rolled material.

[0137] The first embodiment provides a first determination method, a second determination method, and a third determination method, as the first roll state determination technique. The first determination method is a method for comparing the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak in each rolled material with the normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak. The second determination method is a method to compare the roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max in each rolled material with the normal roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.nor_max. The third determination method is a method to compare the roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.min in each rolled material with the normal roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.nor_min.

[0138] Either one of the first determination method, the second determination method, and the third determination method may be used. Alternatively, any two of those determination methods may be combined, or all three methods may be used. Three values of the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak, the roll eccentricity amount maximum value y.sub.max, and the roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min are representative values calculated based on the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.Tj, y.sub.Bj, and therefore these values may be regarded as having determination function equivalent to each other.

[0139] In the routine of FIG. 6, first, the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.Tj, y.sub.Bj are recorded (step S1301). Every time the rolling process of one rolled material 1 is completed, the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.T0, y.sub.T1, . . . y.sub.Tn1 and the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.B0, y.sub.B1, . . . y.sub.Bn1 identified by the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12 in FIG. 5 are recorded. The recorded data is stored in a recording medium in the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 (step S1302).

[0140] Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, or whether a predetermined number of the rolled material 1 is rolled (step S1303). The determination in step S1303 may have only one of a time elapse condition and a condition of predetermined number of rolling process. Alternatively, the determination result in step S1303 may be affirmative when at least one of the time elapse condition and the condition of the predetermined number of rolling process is satisfied. Alternatively, the determination in step S1303 may include both of the time elapse condition and the condition of the predetermined number of rolling process.

[0141] Processing in step S1303 is a determination processing for determining time elapse of a first rolling period. According to the first embodiment, the identification value of the roll eccentricity amount acquired in the first rolling period is used to evaluate validity of the roll eccentricity amount in a second rolling period after the first rolling period.

[0142] Next, recorded data for each rolled material is read out (step S1401). In this step, data type being read out is changed in accordance with contents of the following determination process.

[0143] Next, the following calculation processing of (a1) to (a3) is performed based on the data read in the above step S1401 (step S1402):

[0144] (a1) an average value of the roll eccentricity amount peak value y.sub.peak is calculated, and the calculated average value is set to be the normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak;

[0145] (a2) an average value of the roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max is calculated, and the calculated average value is set to be the normal roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.nor_max; and

[0146] (a3) an average value of the roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.min is calculated, and the calculated average value is set to be the normal roll eccentricity amount minimum value y.sub.nor_min.

[0147] Incidentally, each data processing of (a1) to (a3) described above may be preferably executed for each monitored roll when there are a plurality of monitored rolls. In the first embodiment, processing in step S1402 calculates each representative value y.sub.Tnor_peak, y.sub.Tnor_max, y.sub.Tnor_min for the roll eccentricity amount of the upper backup roll 4a based on the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.T0, y.sub.Tn1. On the other hand, the processing in step S1402 also calculates each representative value y.sub.Bnor_peak, y.sub.Bnor_max, y.sub.Bnor_min for the roll eccentricity amount of the lower backup roll 4a based on the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.B0, y.sub.B1, . . . y.sub.Bn1.

[0148] Next, abnormality of each backup roll 4a, 4b as the monitored roll is determined based on whether or not at least one condition of the following plurality of conditions (b1) to (b3) is satisfied (step S1403), wherein the coefficient m may be set to 2 as an example:

[0149] (b1) the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is greater than a value which is acquired by multiplying the normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.nor_peak by the coefficient m;

[0150] (b2) the roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max is greater than a value which is acquired by multiplying the normal roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.nor_max by the coefficient m; and

[0151] (b3) the roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.min is smaller than a value which is acquired by multiplying the normal roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.nor_min by the coefficient m.

[0152] Incidentally, roll state determination based on the above plural conditions (b1) to (b3) may be preferably executed for each monitored roll when there are a plurality of monitored rolls. In the first embodiment, a plurality of representative values y.sub.Tnor_peak, y.sub.Tnor_max, y.sub.Tnor_min calculated in step S1402 is used to determine the roll state of the upper backup roll 4a. On the other hand, a plurality of representative values y.sub.Bnor_peak, y.sub.Bnor_max, y.sub.Bnor_min calculated in step S1402 is used to determine the roll state of the lower backup roll 4b.

[0153] As a modification, when two or more of the plural conditions (b1) to (b3) are satisfied, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal. As a further modification, when all of the plural conditions (b1) to (b3) are satisfied, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal.

[0154] FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining a second roll state determination technique according to a modification of the first embodiment. The second roll state determination technique illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 provides a technique in which the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 and the roll state determination part 14 perform an abnormality determination of the roll state according to a method different from the first roll state determination technique in FIG. 6.

[0155] Roll state determination based on a statistical test method is the second roll state determination technique, which is a base of the routines of FIGS. 7 and 8. In the first embodiment, as an example of the second roll state determination technique, H (x) is calculated according to the following equation (1).

[00002] $\begin{matrix} [Expression .Math. .Math. 2] .Math. \\ H (x) = \frac{{(x - x_{N .Math. .Math._.Math. .Math. AVE})}^{2}}{_{N}^{2}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

[0156] Parameters included in the right side of the equation (1) will now be described. Here, as an example, the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is subjected to the statistical test method. Into a parameter x, the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak acquired in the present rolling process is substituted. An average value is acquired by averaging a plurality of the normal roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak values y.sub.nor_peak acquired in the past, and the average value is substituted into a parameter x.sub.N_AVE. Into a parameter .sub.N, a standard deviation of the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is substituted. These parameters x.sub.N_AVE and .sub.N are calculated from data acquired in rolling processes of the plurality of rolled material 1 in which the monitored roll is the same.

[0157] H(x) of equation (1) follows a chi-square distribution with a degree of freedom of 1.

[0158] This is called Hotelling theory. That is, probability of occurrence is determined by a value acquired when H(x) is substituted into an expression of the chi-squared distribution with one degree of freedom.

[0159] The value of the chi-squared distribution is generally provided in a form of a number table and thus the value may be taken from the number table, or the value may be calculated by the following equation (2).

[00003] $\begin{matrix} [Expression .Math. .Math. 3] .Math. \\ f (y; k) = \frac{1}{2^{\frac{k}{2}} .Math. G (\frac{k}{2})} .Math. y^{\frac{k}{2} - 1} .Math. \exp (- \frac{y}{2}) & (2) \end{matrix}$

[0160] Here, k=1, y=H(x). A gamma function G is G(1/2)=.

[0161] When a data set X={x1, x2 . . . xn} is given, a standard deviation of the data set X can be calculated as follows. Where XA.sub.VE is an average value of the data set X.

[00004] $\begin{matrix} [Expression .Math. .Math. 4] .Math. \\ = \sqrt{\frac{1}{n - 1} .Math. {.Math.}_{i = 1}^{n} .Math. {(x_{i} - X_{AVE})}^{2}} & (2 .Math. a) \end{matrix}$

[0162] In the above, for example, when H(x)=5.7 is acquired, a value of the chi-squared distribution with degree of freedom 1 is 0.0097. When H(x)=5.7, probability of acquiring x thereof is 0.97%, that is less than 1%. If H(x) becomes large, this is caused by a large difference in x as compared with its average value in the past. In such a case, since there has occurred an abnormal state in which occurrence probability is very low, the roll state can be regarded as abnormal.

[0163] In general, a 5% significance level or a 1% significance level is used. Thus, it is determined to be abnormal at the 5% significance level, or it is determined to be abnormal at the 1% significance level.

[0164] Next, contents of specific control in FIGS. 7 and 8 will now be described. The routine of FIGS. 7 and 8 is executed by the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 and the roll state determination part 14.

[0165] Incidentally, step S1414 of FIG. 7 and steps S1415, S1416 of FIG. 8 are intended to achieve the second roll state determination technique based on the above equation (1) and the like. However, on the other hand, a third roll state determination technique (step S1412, S1413) is also included in FIGS. 7 and 8. The third roll state determination technique determines whether or not the roll state is normal based on a comparison determination using a fixed value determined from data acquired in the past.

[0166] In the routine of FIG. 7, first, the roll eccentricity amount identified by the roll eccentricity amount identification part 12 is recorded by the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 (step S1311). In this step, the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 records each of the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.T0, y.sub.T1 . . . y.sub.Tn1 and the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.B0, y.sub.B1 . . . y.sub.Bn1 each time rolling process of the rolled materials 1 is completed. The recorded data is stored in the recording medium in the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 (step S1312).

[0167] Next, it is determined whether a predetermined fixed threshold value is used as a determination criterion (step S1411). Whether to use or not the fixed threshold value in step S1411 is determined based on a state of a determination method flag which is prepared in advance. If the determination method flag is 1, determination result in step S1411 is affirmative (YES). If the determination method flag is 0, determination result in step S1411 is negative (NO). The determination method flag is assumed to be preset and to be capable of being changed afterward.

[0168] If the determination result in the step S1411 is affirmative (YES), processing proceeds to step S1412 and step S1413 in FIG. 8, and the third roll state determination technique described above is performed.

[0169] First, in step S1412, three types of threshold values in the following (c1) to (c3) are read from the recording data in the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13. These threshold values are fixed values which are set in advance by using data acquired in the past rolling process or by using simulation data. These three types of threshold values may be set independently for each of the upper monitored roll and the lower monitored roll, or may be set to common values for both the upper and lower monitored rolls.

[0170] (c1) A first threshold value Y.sub.peak_th is defined for determining the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak.

[0171] (c2) A second threshold value Y.sub.max_th is defined for determining the roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max.

[0172] (c3) A third threshold value Y.sub.min_th is defined for determining the roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.min.

[0173] Next, in step S1413 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b of the monitored roll is abnormal based on whether or not at least one of the following plural conditions (d1) to (d3) is satisfied:

[0174] (d1) the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is larger than the first threshold value Y.sub.peak_th;

[0175] (d2) the roll eccentricity maximum value y.sub.max is larger than the second threshold value V.sub.max_th; and

[0176] (d3) the roll eccentricity minimum value y.sub.min is smaller than the third threshold value Y.sub.min_th.

[0177] Incidentally, roll state determination based on the above plural conditions (d1) to (d3) may be preferably executed for each monitored roll when there are a plurality of monitored rolls.

[0178] As a modification, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal when two of the above plural conditions (d1) to (d3) are satisfied. Further, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal when all of the plural conditions (d1) to (d3) are satisfied.

[0179] If determination result in the step S1411 is negative (NO), processing proceeds to step S1414 and steps S1415, S1416 in FIG. 8. Thereby, the second roll state determination technique described above is performed.

[0180] First, in step S1414, calculation of each various parameter described in the following (e1) to (e3) is performed:

[0181] (e1) the average value x.sub.N_AVE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak values y.sub.peak;

[0182] (e2) the average value x.sub.N_AVE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity maximum values y.sub.max; and (e3) the average value x.sub.N_AVE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity minimum values y.sub.min.

[0183] Next, in step S1415 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b of the monitored roll is abnormal based on whether or not at least one of the following plural conditions (f1) to (f3) is satisfied. It should be noted that a threshold value Hi is predetermined. For example, H1=5.7 may be set to test at the 1% significance level.

[0184] (f1) H(x=y.sub.peak) is larger than the threshold value Hi.

[0185] (f2) H(x=y.sub.max) is larger than the threshold value Hi.

[0186] (f3) H(x=y.sub.min) is larger than the threshold value Hi.

[0187] However, in the above conditions (f1) to (f3), H(x=y.sub.peak) is acquired by substituting into the equation (1) the average value x.sub.N_AVE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity peak-to-peak values y.sub.peak. H(x=y.sub.max) is acquired by substituting into the equation (1) the average value x.sub.N_AVE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity maximum values y.sub.max. H(x=y.sub.min) is acquired by substituting into the equation (1) the mean value x.sub.N_AvE and the standard deviation .sub.N for the roll eccentricity minimum values y.sub.min.

[0188] Incidentally, it is preferable that each monitored roll is subjected to calculation processing of the above parameters (e1) to (e3) and roll state determination processing based on the plural conditions (f1) to (f3), when there are a plurality of monitored rolls. In the first embodiment, these processings are performed independently about each of the upper backup roll 4a and the lower backup roll 4b.

[0189] That is, in the first embodiment, the roll state of the upper backup roll 4a is determined in step S1415 by using the plurality of parameters calculated in step S1414 based on the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.T0, y.sub.T1, . . . y.sub.Tn1. On the other hand, the roll state of the lower backup roll 4b is determined in step S1415 by using the plurality of parameters calculated in step S1414 based on the roll eccentricity amounts y.sub.B0, y.sub.B1, . . . y.sub.Bn1.

[0190] As a modification, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal when two or more of the plural conditions (f1) to (f3) are satisfied. Further, the monitored roll may be determined to be abnormal when all of the plural conditions (f1) to (f3) are satisfied.

[0191] In step S1416, the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13 stores calculation data in step S1414 with a normal or abnormal identifier in the recording medium thereof in accordance with the roll state determination result of normal or abnormal. Data storing processing with the identifier in step S1416 may be preferably executed for each monitored roll independently, when there are a plurality of monitored rolls. In the first embodiment, the plural parameters (e1) to (e3) are calculated in step S1414 for each of the upper backup roll 4a and the lower backup roll 4b independently, and the parameters (e1) to (e3) are stored with the identifier indicating one of normal and abnormal.

[0192] Incidentally, when the Hotelling theory is carried out in the above routine of FIG. 6, determination is executed based on a little number of data because the number of data in the normal state is about 5 to 10. On the other hand, in the case of the routines in FIGS. 7 and 8, a large number of past data are accumulated by the roll eccentricity amount recording part 13, and this makes it possible to sufficiently acquire a large amount of data to be compared. Hence, there are advantages that the Hotelling theory can be easily applied to the abnormality determination of the routines in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0193] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining transition of an actual roll eccentricity amount according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as an example, the roll state determination part 14 is provided with displaying function to display the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak. As an example, the roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak values y.sub.peak for a plurality of the rolled materials 1 are acquired by going back in the past from the rolled material 1 that has been most recently rolled, and these acquired values are being displayed in FIG. 9. The roll eccentricity amount peak-to-peak value y.sub.peak is the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the roll eccentricity amounts outputted from the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12.

[0194] A horizontal axis of FIG. 9 represents the number of the rolled material. The roll state is normal in the first coil and the second coil in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, it is presumed that roll breakage may start around the third or fourth coils. In the example of FIG. 9, an operator finds an abnormality at the tenth coil, and then stops the rolling mill 50. When the roll has been extracted and checked, a damaged part of the upper backup roll has been found at the drive side (DS). Occurrence of this damaged part in the roll is consistent with increased eccentricity in the upper backup roll 4a in FIG. 9.

First Modification of the First Embodiment

[0195] A first modification of the embodiment will now be described. Although the backup rolls 4a, 4b are monitored rolls in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment is not limited thereto. Each of the work rolls 3a, 3b may be a monitored roll. The monitored roll can be arbitrarily selected from among a plurality of rolls included in the upper roll set and the lower roll set.

[0196] Incidentally, both the backup rolls 4a, 4b and the work rolls 3a, 3b may be independently monitored. In this case, two roll state monitor devices 20 in FIG. 5 are provided. This is because independent roll state determination by each roll state monitor device 20 are preferably performed since rotation speed of the backup rolls 4a, 4b is different from that of the work rolls 3a, 3b.

Second Modification of the First Embodiment

[0197] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a roll state monitor device 20 according to a modification of the first embodiment. In FIG. 10, for convenience, a block 10, a block 11, a block 12, a block 111, a block 112, a block 121, and a block 122 in FIG. 5 are simplified.

[0198] The roll state monitor device 20 according to the first embodiment uses one rolling force value per one rolling stand when monitoring the backup rolls 4a, 4b, as in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. However, in the rolling mill 50, each rolling force at two end positions in the roll width direction may be measured individually for each rolling stand #1 to #7.

[0199] The two ends in the roll width direction are a drive side (DS: Drive Side) and an operator side (OS: Operator Side). This is also illustrated in FIG. 1. In the second modification, as shown in FIG. 10, drive-side rolling force detecting means 6ds and operator-side rolling force detecting means 6os are respectively provided at two end portions of the roll width direction.

[0200] In the second modification, two roll state monitor devices 20 are assigned for DS rolling force detection and OS rolling force detection, respectively. The roll state monitor device 20 for DS rolling force mainly monitors a roll state of the drive side based on output signals from the drive-side rolling force detecting means 6ds. The roll state monitor device 20 for OS rolling force mainly monitors a roll state of the operator side based on output signals from the operator side rolling force detecting means 6os.

[0201] Incidentally, abnormality occurring in a central portion in the roll width direction is detected in both the drive side and the operator side in common. Therefore, there may occur each of a first case in which an abnormality is detected only on the drive side, a second case in which an abnormality is detected only on the operator side, and a third case in which an abnormality is detected on both of the drive side and the operator side. The second modification may roughly determine a position at which abnormality has occurred in the roll width direction among the drive side, the operator side, and the central portion by distinguishing the first case, the second case, and the third case. Calculation capability will be preferably recognized since processing amount in FIG. 9 is about twice larger than that in FIG. 5.

Third Modification of the First Embodiment

[0202] Although the roll state monitor device 20 according to the second modification monitors the backup rolls 4a, 4b, a third modification thereof monitors the work rolls 3a, 3b. Incidentally, when each backup roll 4a, 4b and each work roll 3a, 3b are independently monitored, there may be provided four of the roll state monitor devices 20 in FIG. 10 in total.

Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment

[0203] A fourth modification is a modification including the second modification and the third modification of the roll state monitor device 2. In other words, each of the backup rolls 4a, 4b and the work rolls 3a, 3b is set as the monitored roll, and each roll state monitor function for the DS and the OS is independently provided. It is sufficient to provide a total of four roll state monitor devices 20, since a pair of the two devices in the right and left side in FIG. 10 is further required for the work roll. This results in that processing amount in the computer is about four times larger than that in the configuration of the first embodiment. As described above, it may be sufficient to increase the number of roll state monitor devices 20 in accordance with increasing the number of monitored rolls.

Fifth Modification of the First Embodiment

[0204] FIG. 11 is a diagram for specifically explaining a method of extracting rolling force variation and of identifying a roll eccentricity amount according to a fifth modification of the first embodiment, and a device configuration thereof. In the modification of FIG. 11, the conversion blocks 121a, 122a are omitted from the configuration in FIG. 5. In this case, conversion into the roll gap equivalent values S.sub.Tj, S.sub.Bj is not performed, and the rolling force variation values P.sub.Tj, P.sub.Bj are transmitted to the limiters 121b, 122b. Each adder 121d, 122d also accumulates each rolling force variation value P corresponding to the plurality of roll rotation position.

[0205] As described above, each conversion block 121a, 122b executes conversion into each roll gap equivalent value S.sub.Tj, S.sub.Bj, and this makes it possible to suppress variation in calculation results caused by the difference in characteristics (e.g. hardness of rolled material) of the rolled material 1 rolled by the rolling mill 50. However, such preferred features are not forced to be implemented, and therefore the conversion blocks 121a, 122b may be omitted. This makes it possible to reduce a calculation load in the roll eccentricity amount identify part 12.

Second Embodiment

[0206] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rolling mill 250 to which a roll state monitor device 220 according to the second embodiment is applied. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the roll state monitor device 220 according to the second embodiment and configuration of the upper roll set and the lower roll set

[0207] The second embodiment and the first embodiment are different with each other in that the roll state monitor device 20 is replaced with the roll state monitor device 220. As shown in FIG. 13, the roll state monitor device 220 includes a rolling force signal processing part 210, a rolling force data processing part 211 and a roll state determination part 212. Hereinafter, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, the following description will be given with focus on the differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

[0208] FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a roll state determination technique according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the rolling force detecting means 6 detects the rolling force which the rolling mill 250 receives from the rolled material 1, similarly to the first embodiment. A load detection signal detected by the rolling force detecting means 6 is also referred to as an original signal.

[0209] In the second embodiment, signal processing and determination processing in the following FIGS. 14 to 20 are performed based on the load detection signal detected by the rolling force detecting means 6. The monitored roll in the second embodiment is a roll subjected to rolling force corresponding to the load detection signal to which these signal processing and determination processing are applied.

[0210] The monitored roll in the second embodiment can be arbitrarily selected in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Although the rolling force vertical distribution part 10 of the first embodiment is omitted in FIG. 13, when a value of the rolling force is distributed by the rolling force vertical distribution part 10 to the upper and lower rolls, at least one of the upper and lower rolls may be selected as the monitored roll. The rolling force detecting means 6 may be configured to detect the rolling force in DS and OS separately as in the fourth modification of the first embodiment described above.

[0211] In an upper part of FIG. 14, a low-frequency component and a high-frequency component contained in the original signal are schematically illustrated. Here, the original signal is assumed to be a signal representing an absolute value of rolling force. The detected original signal generally includes the low frequency component (i.e. dashed line in the upper part of FIG. 14) exhibiting slow vibration and the high frequency component (i.e. thin solid line in the upper part of FIG. 14) such as a noise.

[0212] The rolling force signal processing part 210 applies HPF (high-pass filter) to the original signal. This extracts the high-frequency component by removing the low-frequency component in the rolling force signal by a high-pass filter or the like, and the high-frequency component in the rolling force can be set as a rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF. A lower part of FIG. 14 schematically illustrates an example of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF extracted by HPF. The diagram in the lower part of FIG. 14 is merely a schematic diagram, and an actual waveform of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF may be different therefrom.

[0213] The rolling force data processing part 211 calculates a standard deviation of the rolling force high-frequency signaling S.sub.HF. The rolling force data processing part 211 calculates the difference d between a probability density distribution of k and a normal distribution. A value of k is 2 to 5, for example.

[0214] The rolling force data processing part 211 is provided with a vertical axis range D which is sufficiently larger than amplitude of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF. As shown in FIG. 14, the vertical axis range D is divided into n sections D.sub.n which is set in advance. The rolling force data processing part 211 regards the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF as a set of data, and thereby counts the number of data contained in each section D.sub.n of the vertical axis range D.

[0215] The rolling force data processing part 211 divides the number of the data belonging to each section by the total number of the data, and calculates probability in each section. Such calculation is applied to all of the plurality of sections D.sub.1, D.sub.2, D.sub.3 . . . Dn, and this makes it possible to acquire a probability density distribution in a lower right part of FIG. 14.

[0216] The longitudinal axis range D may be set to be about 4 which is four times the standard deviation in order to have sufficiently larger range than the amplitude of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF. Thus, the almost every datum can be included in the vertical axis range. Data ranges covered by the vertical axis range D according to are specifically defined such that 2=95.4%, 3=99.7%, and 4=99.994%, etc.

[0217] FIG. 15 is a graph for explaining a probability density distribution according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is an example of an actual probability density distribution. FIG. 15 illustrates the probability density distribution of the actual data with a solid line, and the actual data is the same data as the data used in the graph of FIG. 9. The solid line data in FIG. 15 is data based on the rolling force detected on the drive side of a damaged rolling stand. The solid line data in FIG. 15 is drawn to show a probability density distribution acquired by the following manner: data is detected in a first rolling process in FIG. 9; the detected data is subjected to a high-pass filter to acquire the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF; and the probability density distribution is acquired from the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF.

[0218] FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating a probability density distribution according to the second embodiment. Unlike FIG. 15, the solid line data in FIG. 16 illustrates a probability density distribution of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF extracted from the rolling force signal in the tenth rolling process in FIG. 9. Each horizontal axis in FIGS. 15 and 16 is defined so as to have 4 of the tenth signal in FIG. 5 and to have a common scale.

[0219] In FIGS. 15 and 16, a normal distribution for comparison is illustrated with broken-line data. In FIG. 15, a dashed line graph showing a normal distribution overlaps with a solid line graph showing actual data. When the monitored roll is in a normal state, the probability density distribution acquired from the rolling force high-frequency signaling S.sub.HF is consistent with the normal distribution as shown in FIG. 15. In contrast, when the monitored roll becomes an abnormal state, the probability density distribution is clearly different from the normal distribution as shown in FIG. 16. Distinguishing the above difference makes it possible to determine whether or not the monitored roll is in an abnormal state.

[0220] The roll state determination part 212 may output the graph in FIG. 16 through a device such as a display or the like so that an operator can directly see the graph. This may cause a person to visually and clearly recognize abnormality. However, difference between distribution shapes may be represented by a numerical value, and the roll state determination part 212 may automatically output an abnormality determination signal based on the numerical value. This may provide an objective and automatic notification of occurrence of abnormality.

[0221] Each numerical index in the following equations (4) to (6) may be used, as an example, in order to calculate the value d representing difference between the probability density distribution and the normal distribution. The equation (4) is an equation for determining a value D.sub.KL of Kullback-Leibler Divergence. The equation (5) is an equation for acquiring a value D.sub.SQ based on the error sum of squares. The equation 6 is an equation for acquiring a value D.sub.ABS based on the error absolute value sum.

[0222] The roll state determination part 212 may calculate the difference d between the probability density distribution and the normal distribution based on at least one equation in the three example equations (4) to (6). In other words, the difference d may be any one of the values D.sub.KL, D.sub.SQ, D.sub.ABS. If the difference d is equal to or larger than a predetermined determination value which is set in advance, the roll state may be determined to be abnormal.

[00005] $\begin{matrix} [Expression .Math. .Math. 5] .Math. \\ D_{KL} (P_{N} || P_{A}) = \underset{x}{.Math.} .Math. P_{N} (x) .Math. \log .Math. .Math. \frac{P_{N} (x)}{P_{A} (x)} & (4) \\ [Expression .Math. .Math. 6] .Math. \\ D_{SQ} = \underset{x}{.Math.} .Math. {(P_{N} (x) - P_{A} (x))}^{2} & (5) \\ [Expression .Math. .Math. 7] .Math. \\ D_{AB .Math. .Math. S} = \underset{x}{.Math.} .Math. .Math. P_{N} (x) - P_{A} (x) .Math. & (6) \end{matrix}$

[0223] In the above equations, P.sub.A(x) is an actual probability density taken by a datum x. In the second embodiment, the datum x is a value of the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF. P.sub.N(X) is a normal distribution. In general, a high frequency signal can be nearly considered as noise. The noise is white noise and can be regarded to be normally distributed. However, when the rolling force signal contains some noise signal caused by abnormality, a probability density distribution of the rolling force high frequency signal S.sub.HF becomes clearly different from the normal distribution. Therefore, it is possible to determine the abnormality in the roll state based on comparison between the probability density distribution and the normal distribution.

[0224] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining Kullback-Leibler Divergence in the second embodiment. FIG. 19 represents results acquired from the data acquired in the tenth rolling process in FIG. 9. The probability density distribution is acquired for each rolling force high-frequency signaling S.sub.HF on each side of the drive side and the operator side in the plurality of rolling stands, and then the Kullback-Leibler Divergence D.sub.KL is plotted, which is an example of the difference d between the probability density distribution and the normal distribution.

[0225] The greater the value D.sub.KL of the Kullback-Leibler divergence is, the greater the difference between two compared distributions is. Therefore, for example, the roll state may be determined to be abnormal if the value D.sub.KL is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value D.sub.KL th which is set in advance. Similarly, the roll state may be determined to be abnormal if the value D.sub.SQ or D.sub.ABS is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value D.sub.SQ_th or D.sub.ABS_th which is set in advance.

[0226] The above values D.sub.KL_th, D.sub.SQ_th, D.sub.ABS_th are also referred to as predetermined determination values d.sub.th. The predetermined determination value d.sub.th is a comparison determination value for evaluating the difference d. The predetermined determination value d.sub.th may be a fixed value determined in advance, or may be a variable value to be sequentially updated. For example, the predetermined determination value d.sub.th may be set to a fixed value, or may be sequentially updated set, based on the value of the difference d calculated in at least one of previous rolling processes in which the roll state has been normal. For example, it is assumed that the n-number of differences d.sub.p1, d.sub.p2, d.sub.p3 . . . d.sub.pn are calculated from the previous n rolling processes (p1, p2, p3 . . . pn) in which the roll state has been normal. For example, the predetermined determination value d.sub.th may be set based on an average value d.sub.p_ave of the values d.sub.p1 to d.sub.pn. For example, the predetermined determination value d.sub.th may be a value (k.sub.dd.sub.p_ave) calculated by multiplying the average value d.sub.p_ave by a predetermined coefficient k.sub.d which is set in advance.

[0227] In FIG. 19, a result in the item number 1st is based on the rolling force high frequency signal S.sub.HF on the drive-side of the first stand #1. A result in the item number 2nd is based on the rolling force high frequency signal S.sub.HF on the operator side of the first stand #1. A result in the item number 3rd is based on the rolling force high frequency signal S.sub.HF on the drive-side of the second stand #2. Item numbers are assigned up to tenth in this manner.

[0228] A result in item number tenth is based on the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF on the drive-side of the upper backup roll 4a in which crushing has been found. The tenth result corresponds to the graph in FIG. 16 which has abnormality. The tenth result indicates that the probability density distribution thereof is far from the normal distribution because the value D.sub.KL of the Kullback-Leibler Divergence is significantly larger than that of other item numbers.

First Modification of the Second Embodiment

[0229] FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a probability density distribution according to a first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 17 illustrates an example in which maximal values and minimal values in the rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF in the second embodiment are plotted graphically into two probability density distributions separately.

[0230] FIG. 17 illustrates a probability density distribution of the maximal values, a probability density distribution of the minimal values, and a Rayleigh distribution. When each of the probability density distribution of the maximal values and the probability density distribution of the minimal values is calculated from the signals in which the roll state is normal, the each probability density distribution approaches the Rayleigh distribution. On the other hand, when each of the probability density distribution of the maximal values and the probability density distribution of the minimal values is obtained when the roll state is abnormal, each probability density distribution deviates from the Rayleigh distribution.

[0231] FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating the minimal value and the maximal value according to the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 18 visually represents that the rolling force high frequency signal S.sub.HF includes a plurality of minimal values and a plurality of maximal values since each of the minimal value and the maximal value occurs one by one each time a change from one of decreasing and increasing to the other occurs in the high frequency signal waveform.

Second Modification of the Second Embodiment

[0232] As a second modification of the second embodiment, roll state determination may be performed based on comparison between each test result for each rolling stand. The each test result for each rolling stand may be each difference d calculated in each rolling stand #1 to #7. Specifically, in this second modification, each difference d may be calculated for each of the plurality of rolling stands #1 to #7 in the finishing mill 57, and these plurality of differences d may be compared to each other. The difference d in this second modification may be a difference from the normal distribution described in FIGS. 15 and 16 as above, or may be a difference from the Rayleigh distribution described in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0233] That is, as shown in FIG. 13, each of the plurality of rolling stands #1 to #7 includes the rolling force detecting means 6, and therefore the rolling force signal processor 210 can extract each rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF for each of the plurality of rolling stands #1 to #7 individually. In the second modification, the rolling force data processor 211 may individually calculate each difference d1 to d7 for each rolling stand #1 to #7 based on each rolling force high-frequency signal S.sub.HF acquired from each rolling stand #1 to #7. Each difference d is each test result for each rolling stand acquired by the following manner: each rolling force detecting means 6 in each stand outputs each rolling force signal; and then each rolling force signal is subjected to the statistical test method described in FIGS. 14 to 19.

[0234] In the second modification, when a value of i is an arbitrary integer, the roll state determining part 212 may compare a difference d.sub.i in an i.sup.th stand with a difference d.sub.j in a j.sup.th stand (although ji). However, any number different from i will be substituted into j, and the j.sup.th stand generally represents each stand other than the i.sup.th stand. As an example, the roll state determining part 212 may determine the monitored roll in the i.sup.th stand to be abnormal if the value of d.sub.i is larger or smaller than a value of multiplying a representative value of the plural values d.sub.j by a predetermined coefficient. The predetermined coefficient may be a value such as 3, for example. The representative value of the plural values d.sub.j may be an average value of the plural values d.sub.j. For example, since j=2 to 7 when i=1, the representative value of the plural values d.sub.j may be an average value of d.sub.2, d.sub.3, . . . d.sub.7.

[0235] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the roll state monitor devices 20 and 220 according to the first and second embodiments. Various control operations, calculation processing and determination processing described in the first and second embodiments may be implemented in the hardware configuration described below.

[0236] The function in the roll state monitor devices 20 and 220 is implemented by processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be a dedicated hardware 350. Alternatively, the processing circuitry may include a processor 351 and a memory 352. The processing circuitry may be partially formed of the dedicated hardware 350 and may further includes the processor 351 and the memory 352. FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which the processing circuitry is partially formed of the dedicated hardware 350 and includes the processor 351 and the memory 352.

[0237] If at least a portion of the processing circuitry is at least one dedicated hardware 350, the processing circuitry may include, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or combinations thereof.

[0238] If the processing circuitry includes at least one processor 351 and at least one memory 352, each function in the roll state monitor devices 20, 220 is implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and the firmware are formed as programs and stored in the memory 352. The processor 351 achieves the function of each part by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 352. The processor 351 is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 352 includes, for example, nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memories, EPROMs, EEPROMs, and the like.

[0239] In this manner, the processing circuitry can achieve the function in the roll state monitor devices 20, 220 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0240] 1 Rolled material [0241] 2 Rolling mill housing [0242] 3a Work roll (upper work roll) [0243] 3b Work roll (lower work roll) [0244] 4a Backup roll (upper backup roll) [0245] 4b Work roll (lower backup roll) [0246] 4c Reference position [0247] 5 Screw down means [0248] 6 Rolling force detecting means [0249] 6ds drive-side rolling force detecting means [0250] 6os operator-side rolling force detecting means [0251] 7 Roll rotation amount detector [0252] 8 Roll reference position detector [0253] 9 Roll gap detector [0254] 10 Rolling force vertical distribution part [0255] 11 Rolling force variation extraction part [0256] 12 Roll eccentricity amount identify part [0257] 13 Roll eccentricity amount recording part [0258] 14 Roll state determination part [0259] 14a reference position [0260] 15 Position scale [0261] 15a reference position [0262] 20,220 Roll state monitor device [0263] 50,250 Rolling mill [0264] 51 Slab [0265] 52 Heating furnace [0266] 53 Roughing mill [0267] 54 Bar heater [0268] 55 Bar [0269] 56 Entry pyrometer [0270] 57 Finishing rolling mill [0271] 58 Strip thickness/width gauge [0272] 59 Delivery pyrometer [0273] 60 Pyrometer [0274] 61 Coiler [0275] 62 Product coil [0276] 63 Run-out table [0277] 111 Upper rolling force variation extracting part [0278] 112 Lower rolling force variation extracting part [0279] 111a, 112a rolling force recording unit [0280] 111b, 112b average value calculating means [0281] 111c, 112c variation calculating means [0282] 121 Upper adding means [0283] 122 Lower adding means [0284] 121a, 122a Conversion block [0285] 121b, 122b Limiter [0286] 121c, 122c Switch [0287] 121d, 122d Adder [0288] 121e, 122e Rotation amount correction block [0289] 210 Rolling force signal processing part [0290] 211 Rolling force data processing part [0291] 212 Roll state determination part [0292] 350 Dedicated hardware [0293] 351 Processor [0294] 352 Memory [0295] OS operator side [0296] DS drive side [0297] RD Rolling direction [0298] n Number of roll divisions [0299] P Rolling force [0300] y.sub.Tj, y.sub.T0, y.sub.T1, y.sub.Tn1, y.sub.Bj, y.sub.B0, y.sub.B1, y.sub.Bn1 Roll eccentricity amount [0301] P Rolling force variation value [0302] S, S.sub.Tj, S.sub.Bj Roll gap equivalent value [0303] y.sub.peak Roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value [0304] y.sub.nor_peak Normal roll eccentricity peak-to-peak value [0305] S.sub.HF Rolling force high-frequency signal [0306] D Vertical axis range [0307] D.sub.n Section

ROLL STATE MONITOR DEVICE

Assignee

Inventors

Cpc classification

Classification Explorer

B21B13/14

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B2267/08

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B38/08

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B2267/24

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B37/66

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B1/22

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B2265/12

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B38/00

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

International classification

Classification Explorer

B21B1/22

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Classification Explorer

B21B13/14

PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

Abstract

Claims

Description