Vacuum-coating system, and method for coating a strip-type material

Abstract

A method and a vacuum-coating system (10) for coating a strip-shaped material (11), in particular made of metal, are disclosed. Thereby, the strip-shaped material (11) is moved over a conveying section (12) in a transport direction (T) and vacuum-coated within a coating chamber (14) in which a vacuum is applied. When viewed in the transport direction (T) of the strip-shaped material (11), at least one trimming shear (38) is arranged upstream of the coating chamber (14), with which the strip-shaped material (11) is trimmed at at least one strip edge, preferably at both strip edges, in order to produce a constant width for the strip-shaped material (11) over its longitudinal extension.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A vacuum-coating system for coating a strip-shaped metal material, comprising: a conveying section with transport rollers, on which the strip-shaped metal material is movable in a transport direction, the transport rollers being configured to convey the strip-shaped metal material with a width of the strip being horizontally arranged; and a coating chamber in which a vacuum can be generated, the coating chamber having an inlet area and an outlet area through which the strip-shaped metal material passes in the transport direction, wherein a trimming shear is arranged upstream of the coating chamber, with which trimming shear the strip-shaped metal material is trimmed at at least one strip edge, wherein the trimming shear is configured to produce a constant width of the strip-shaped metal material over its longitudinal extension, and wherein a strip position control device is arranged upstream of the trimming shear, with which the strip-shaped metal material can be aligned with respect to a center of the conveying section.

8. The vacuum-coating system according to claim 7, further comprising a position sensor with which a position of the strip-shaped metal material on the conveying section can be determined in an area upstream of the coating chamber.

9. The vacuum-coating system according to claim 8, further comprising a control device, by which the trimming shear can be actuated as a function of signals of the position sensor.

10. The vacuum-coating system according to claim 7, wherein the trimming shear is configured to trim the strip-shaped metal material at both strip edges.

11. The vacuum-coating system according to claim 7, wherein a skin pass mill and/or a stretching/bending device is arranged upstream of the trimming shear, through which the strip-shaped metal material is passed in order to produce a desired flatness for the strip-shaped metal material.

12. A method for coating a strip-shaped metal material (11), comprising: moving the strip-shaped metal material with its width being horizontally arranged over a conveying section in a transport direction; vacuum-coating the strip-shaped metal material within a coating chamber in which a vacuum is applied; and trimming the strip-shaped metal material with a trimming shear upstream of the coating chamber at at least one strip edge; producing a constant width for the strip-shaped metal material over its longitudinal extension; and aligning the strip-shaped metal material with respect to a center of the conveying section by a strip position control device which is arranged upstream of the trimming shear.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: trimming the strip-shaped metal material with the trimming shear at both strip edges.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematically simplified side view of a system for coating a strip-shaped material, which can also be used to carry out a method for coating a strip-shaped material.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a strip-shaped material, which is trimmed at its strip edges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present disclosure provides for a vacuum-coating system 10, with which a strip-shaped material 11 can be provided with a coating at at least one side thereof, preferably on both sides (top side and bottom side). Accordingly, such a vacuum-coating system 10 can also be used to carry out a method in order to coat the strip-shaped material 11. Identical features in the two figures of the drawing are each provided with identical reference signs. At this point, it is pointed out that the drawing is only simplified and, in particular, is shown without scale.

[0025] The strip-shaped material 11 can be made of metal, in particular steel or stainless steel or corresponding alloys thereof. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the strip-shaped material 11, which is coated with the vacuum coating machine 10, can be hot-rolled or cold-rolled strip.

[0026] In the following, the vacuum-coating system 10, the individual components thereof and their mode of operation are explained in detail:

[0027] The vacuum-coating system 10 comprises a conveying section 12 with transport means (not shown), for example in the form of rollers, on which the strip-shaped material is moved in a transport direction T. Thereby, the strip-shaped material 11 is unwound at the inlet of the conveying section 12 by a first coiling device 46, wherein the strip-shaped material 11after the desired coating has been carried out or completedis rewound at the outlet of the conveying section 12 by a second coiling device 48. Directly after the first coiling device 46 and before the second coiling device 48, (strip) accumulators 44 can be provided, with or in which the strip-shaped material 11 can be stored. Within the conveying section 12, the strip-shaped material 11 is moved or transported in the direction of movement T, specifically from the first coiling device 46 in the direction of the second coiling device 48.

[0028] A coating chamber 14 is arranged along the conveying section 12, through which the strip-shaped material 11 is moved. For this purpose, the coating chamber 14 has an inlet area 16 and an outlet area 18, wherein an inlet airlock 20 is provided in the inlet area 16 and an outlet airlock 22 is provided in the outlet area 18. A vacuum is generated in the coating chamber 14. Thereby, the inlet airlock 20 and the outlet airlock 22 ensure a suitable sealing of such vacuum against the external environment, with simultaneous movement of the strip-shaped material 11 along the conveying section 12 or through such two airlocks 20, 22.

[0029] The coating chamber 14 has a multipart design and has a coating part 26 and a cleaning part 28. Both of such parts 26 and 28 areas explained aboveplaced under vacuum. In the coating part 26, the actual coating of the strip-shaped material 11 is performed, for example according to the principle of PVD (=physical vapor deposition), either on one side of the strip-shaped material or on both sides thereof.

[0030] At least one strip position control device 24 can be arranged within the coating chamber 14, for example within the coating part 26, as shown in FIG. 1. In addition or as an alternative, it is possible to install such a strip position control device 24 in the cleaning part 28.

[0031] The vacuum-coating system 10 comprises a control device (shown in FIG. 1 only simplified by a block symbol with the reference sign 34), which is in signal connection (wired, or wireless, for example, via a radio link or the like) with at least one position sensor 36. Such position sensor 36 can be arranged in the coating chamber 14 for the purpose of determining the position of the strip material 11 on the conveying section 12, in particular with respect to its center area.

[0032] By means of a strip position control device 24, it is possible to adjust or align a position of the strip shaped material 11 in relation to a center of the conveying section 12. This takes place by detecting a position of the strip-shaped material 11 on the conveying section 12 by the position sensor 36 within the coating chamber 14, wherein subsequentlyif necessaryactuators (not shown) of the strip position control device 24 are activated by the control device 34 in order to align the strip-shaped material 11 in relation to the center of the conveying section 12 and perpendicular to the transport direction T. The actuators of the strip position control device 24 can be contact rollers that are laterally adjusted to the edges of the strip material 11. In addition and/or alternatively, such actuators can be designed in the form of control rollers, over which the strip-shaped material 11 is moved along the transport direction T and with which the strip-shaped material 11 encloses a wrap angle. With such control rollers, the alignment of the strip-shaped material 11 with respect to the center of the conveying section 12 is then either performed by adjusting a control roller with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (proportionally acting control roller), or by rotating a control roller with its longitudinal axis relative to the conveying direction (integrally acting control roller). Correspondingly, the strip-shaped material 11 can always be optimally positioned within the vacuum-set coating chamber 14, such that, for example, a cornering or a contact of the strip-shaped material 11 with side walls of the coating chamber 14 or the coating part 26 during a movement of the strip-shaped material 11 along the conveying section 12 is prevented.

[0033] Furthermore, it can be provided that additional strip position control devices 24.3, 24.4 are arranged within the inlet airlock 20 and/or within the outlet airlock 22. It is also possible that an additional strip position control device 24.2when viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11is arranged upstream of the inlet airlock 20, and/or that an additional strip position control device 24.5when viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11is arranged downstream of the outlet airlock 22. In this respect, it may be pointed out that all of such strip position control devices can have actuators, as explained above, in order to align the strip material 11 with respect to the center of the conveying section 12 and perpendicular to the conveying direction T.

[0034] When viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11, an additional chemical cleaning device 42 can be arranged upstream of the inlet airlock 20, through which the strip-shaped material 11 passes before entering the coating chamber 14. Thereby, the surfaces of the strip material 11 are preliminarily cleaned or purified before it is subjected to fine cleaning in the cleaning section 28 (under vacuum).

[0035] The vacuum-coating system 10 comprises at least one trimming shear 38, whichwhen viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11is arranged upstream of the inlet airlock 20. Adjacent to this, at least one additional position sensor 36 is provided, with which a position of the strip-shaped material 11 on the conveying section 12 can be determined in an area upstream of the coating chamber 14, and thus also in the area of the trimming shear 38. Such position sensor 36 is also connected to the control device 34 by means of signal technology. Accordingly, the control device 34 allows the trimming shear 38 to be actuated or set in action as a function of the signals of the position sensor 36.

[0036] The signal connection between the control device 34, on the one hand, and the position sensors 36, the strip position control devices 24 and the trimming shear 38, on the other hand, is symbolized by a slash-dotted line in FIG. 1.

[0037] The trimming shear 38 is used to trim the strip-shaped material 11 at either one strip edge thereof, or optionally at both strip edges (that is, at the left and right side edges of the strip-shaped material 11), that is, to make it narrower there by means of cutting, thus reducing the width of the strip-shaped material 11 perpendicular to the transport direction T. The trimming shear 38 is actuated during the operation of the vacuum-coating system 10 and during a corresponding movement of the strip-shaped material 11 along the conveying section 12 if the position sensor 36 detects that a width of the strip-shaped material 11 deviates from a predetermined target value and is too large, for example due to a widening. Trimming ensures that the strip-shaped material 11 in the area upstream of the inlet airlock 20, and thus before entering the coating chamber 14, has a constant width over its length, wherein such width is also optimally adapted to the width of the inlet airlock 20.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the strip-shaped material 11, wherein the transport direction is also illustrated with T, but for purposes of simplification, the other components of the vacuum-coating system 10 are not shown. In the illustration of FIG. 2, the strip material 11 hasshown in exaggerated forma saber shape and does not have a constant width in its transport direction T.

[0039] In FIG. 2, dashed lines symbolize the cut edges at which the strip material 11 is trimmed, that is, cut, at its two strip edges K by means of the trimming shear 38. As a result, a constant width B over the longitudinal extension of the strip material 11 is achieved, with which the strip material 11 then enters the coating chamber 14 in the transport direction T, specifically, as explained, through the inlet airlock 20.

[0040] Further possible flatness defects of the strip-shaped material 11 can be balanced or compensated by a skin pass mill 40 and/or by a stretching/bending device (not shown), whichwhen viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11is/are arranged upstream of the trimming shear 38.

[0041] By passing the strip-shaped material 11 through the coating chamber 14, a coating is applied at least to one surface of the strip-shaped material 11, preferably to both surfaces thereof, for example a zinc layer. Such coating can be applied within the coating section 26 according to the PVD principle. After at least one surface of the strip-shaped material 11 has been provided with a coating, for example a zinc layer, the strip-shaped material 11 is then rewound, as explained, by the second coiling device 12.

[0042] With regard to the operation of the trimming shear 38, it may be noted that, according to one embodiment, it is possible to operate such trimming shear 38 as a function of the signals of the position sensor 36, which is arranged upstream of such trimming shear 38, only if a deviation of the position and/or the width of the strip-shaped material 11 from a predetermined value is detected, in particular with respect to a center of the conveying section 12.

[0043] According to an additional embodiment, and in correspondence with the illustration in FIG. 2, it is provided thatwhen viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11a strip position control device 24.2 is arranged upstream of the trimming shear 38, with which the strip-shaped material 11 can be aligned with respect to the center of the conveying section 12. The positioning of such strip position control device 24.2 is carried out directly upstream of the trimming shear 38. This means, that a distance of the strip position control device 24.2 to the trimming shear, as explained in the conveying direction T of the strip-shaped material 11 seen upstream thereof, is selected to be very small, and in particular no additional units or the like are provided between the strip position control device 24.2 and the trimming shear 38. In this respect, it is understood that the strip position control device 24.2 is connected to the position sensor 36, whichwhen viewed in the transport direction T of the strip-shaped material 11is also arranged upstream of the trimming shear 38 by means of signal technology. Accordingly, the strip-shaped material 11 can be aligned with respect to a center of the conveying section 12 in an area on the conveying section 12, immediately before it enters the effective area of the trimming shear 38, by means of the strip position control device 24.2 arranged there. In this manner, the specified strip position control device 24.2 fulfills the function of a strip center control unit.

[0044] In addition and/or alternatively to this, according to an additional embodiment (not shown), it is possible to extend or retract the trimming shear 38 laterally into the conveying section 12 perpendicular to the transport direction T, as required.

[0045] Thus, the present disclosure enables the application of a coating to a surface(s) of the strip-shaped material 11 at only low temperatures, without changing or impairing the material properties of the strip-shaped material 11. This is particularly advantageous if the strip-shaped material is a steel strip, in particular in the form of hot-rolled strip, which has a microstructure of at least 10% martensite.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0046] 10 Vacuum-coating system

[0047] 11 Strip-type material

[0048] 12 Conveying section

[0049] 14 Coating chamber

[0050] 16 Inlet area

[0051] 18 Outlet area

[0052] 20 Inlet airlock

[0053] 22 Outlet airlock

[0054] 24 Strip position control device

[0055] 24.2 Strip position control device

[0056] 24.3 Strip position control device

[0057] 24.4 Strip position control device

[0058] 26 Coating part

[0059] 28 Cleaning part

[0060] 34 Control device

[0061] 36 Position sensor

[0062] 38 Trimming shear

[0063] 40 Skin pass mill

[0064] 42 Chemical cleaning device

[0065] 44 Accumulator

[0066] 46 First coiling device (inlet)

[0067] 48 Second coiling device (outlet)

[0068] B Constant width (of the strip-type material 11)

[0069] K Strip edge(s) (of the strip-type material 11)

[0070] T Transport direction (for the strip-type material 11)