STRIP PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A STRIP

Abstract

A device for processing a strip guided along a running direction may include a roller holder disposed on a base frame so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis oriented substantially parallel to a strip running surface. A first processing roller may be disposed on the roller holder in the running direction and at a distance from the pivot axis perpendicular to the running direction and offset from the pivot axis such that by pivoting the roller holder, the first processing roller is moved toward the strip and the processing roller is moved away from the strip. A first counter-processing roller may be disposed transversely to the running direction at a further distance from the pivot axis than the first processing roller such that the first processing and counter-processing rollers interact to guide the strip if the first processing roller is moved toward the strip.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A strip processing device for processing a strip that is guided in a processing region of the strip processing device along a strip running direction, the strip processing device comprising: a roller holder disposed on a base frame so as to be pivotable on a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is oriented parallel to a strip running surface; a first processing roller disposed on the roller holder in the strip running direction and at a distance from the pivot axis perpendicular to the strip running direction, wherein the first processing roller is offset from the pivot axis such that by pivoting the roller holder the first processing roller is movable toward or away from the strip; and a first counter-processing roller disposed on the roller holder and in a direction perpendicular to the strip running direction at a distance that is farther from the pivot axis than the first processing roller such that the first processing roller and the first counter-processing roller interact to guide the strip in the processing region between the first processing roller and the first counter-processing roller if the first processing roller is moved toward the strip.

14. The strip processing device of claim 13 wherein a ratio of a distance of the first processing roller from the first counter-processing roller in the strip running direction to a distance of the first processing roller from the first counter-processing roller in a direction perpendicular to the strip running direction is such that placement of the first processing roller against the strip and the interaction of the first processing roller and the first counter-processing roller are effected by pivoting the roller holder.

15. The strip processing device of claim 13 comprising a second processing roller disposed on the roller holder, wherein the first processing roller is disposed on a first side of the pivot axis and the second processing roller is disposed on a second side of the pivot axis, wherein pivoting the roller holder in a first direction moves the first processing roller towards the strip and moves the second processing roller away from the strip.

16. The strip processing device of claim 15 wherein the first processing roller and the second processing roller are disposed with mirror symmetry in a plane in which the pivot axis is disposed.

17. The strip processing device of claim 15 comprising a first dip roller disposed between the first processing roller and the second processing roller, wherein via an axle adjustment mechanism for axle adjustment of the first dip roller, the first dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a first reservoir below the first dip roller to provide at least one of the first processing roller or the second processing roller with the coating material by way of the first dip roller.

18. The strip processing device of claim 15 comprising a first dip roller disposed between the first processing roller and the second processing roller, wherein the first dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a first reservoir below the first dip roller to provide at least one of the first processing roller or the second processing roller with the coating material by way of the first dip roller; and a second dip roller disposed between the first counter-processing roller and the second counter-processing roller, wherein the second dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a second reservoir below the second dip roller to provide at least one of the first counter-processing roller or the second counter-processing roller with the coating material by way of the second dip roller, wherein an axis of rotation of at least one of the first processing roller, the second processing roller, the first counter-processing roller, the second counter-processing roller, the first dip roller, or the second dip roller coincides with a respective axle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the at least one of the first processing roller, the second processing roller, the first counter-processing roller, the second counter-processing roller, the first dip roller, or the second dip roller relative to one another.

19. The strip processing device of claim 15 comprising a second counter-processing roller, wherein the first processing roller, the second processing roller, the first counter-processing roller, and the second counter-processing roller are disposed on the roller holder, wherein a ratio of a distance of the first processing roller from the first counter-processing roller in the strip running direction to a distance of the first processing roller from the first counter-processing roller in a direction perpendicular to the strip running direction, and a ratio of a distance of the second processing roller from the second counter-processing roller in the strip running direction to a distance of the second processing roller from the second counter-processing roller in the direction perpendicular to the strip running direction are configured such that placement of the first processing roller against the strip and the interaction of the first processing roller with the first counter-processing roller, and such that placement of the second processing roller against the strip and an interaction of the second processing roller with the second counter-processing roller are effected by pivoting the roller holder.

20. The strip processing device of claim 19 comprising a second dip roller disposed between the first counter-processing roller and the second counter-processing roller, wherein via an axle adjustment mechanism for axle adjustment of the second dip roller, the second dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a second reservoir below the second dip roller to provide at least one of the first counter-processing roller or the second counter-processing roller with the coating material by way of the second dip roller.

21. The strip processing device of claim 19 comprising a first dip roller disposed between the first processing roller and the second processing roller, wherein via a first axle adjustment mechanism for axle adjustment of the first dip roller, the first dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a first reservoir below the first dip roller to provide at least one of the first processing roller or the second processing roller with the coating material by way of the first dip roller; and a second dip roller disposed between the first counter-processing roller and the second counter-processing roller, wherein via a second axle adjustment mechanism for axle adjustment of the second dip roller, the second dip roller is configured to contact a coating material disposed in a second reservoir below the second dip roller to provide at least one of the first counter-processing roller or the second counter-processing roller with the coating material by way of the second dip roller.

22. The strip processing device of claim 19 comprising at least one of: a first coating material feedline disposed in a region between the first dip roller and at least one of the first processing roller or the second processing roller; or a second coating material feedline disposed in a region between the second dip roller and at least one of the first counter-processing roller or the second counter-processing roller.

23. The strip processing device of claim 13 wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the strip running direction.

24. A method for processing a strip comprising: positioning the strip in a processing region of a strip processing device; and placing a first processing roller disposed on a roller holder against the strip by pivoting the roller holder about a pivot axis, wherein the roller holder is pivotably disposed on a base frame of a processing preliminary guide so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is parallel to a strip running surface of the strip, wherein the first processing roller is positioned eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis such that pivoting causes the first processing roller to be placed against a first side of the strip, wherein a first counter-processing roller is positioned eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis such that pivoting the first counter-processing roller like the first processing roller causes the first counter-processing roller to be placed against a second side of the strip, wherein the first counter-processing roller is disposed on the roller holder.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to a strip running direction.

26. The method of claim 24 comprising coating the strip in a direction of rotation of the first processing roller that follows a strip running direction.

27. The method of claim 24 comprising coating the strip in a direction of rotation of the first processing roller that is opposite a strip running direction.

Description

[0043] Specific embodiments of the invention are more fully explained in detail below with reference to the figures. The figures and accompanying description of the resulting features are not to be read as limiting to the respective embodiments but serve to illustrate the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the respective features can be used with one another and also with features of the above description for possible further developments and improvements of the invention, specifically in additional embodiments which are not illustrated.

[0044] In the figures below:

[0045] FIG. 1a shows a first exemplary embodiment of a strip processing device in a non-placement state;

[0046] FIG. 1b shows the first exemplary embodiment of the strip processing device corresponding to FIG. 1a in a pivoted state with placement of a first strip processing roller and a first counter-processing roller against the strip to be processed;

[0047] FIG. 1c shows a second exemplary embodiment of a strip processing device.

[0048] FIG. 1a is a first exemplary embodiment of a strip processing device 1 which is designed as a roller coater and which is suitable in particular for coating steel strip with a coating material, for example a varnish. The strip processing device comprises a base frame 8 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is equipped with rollers 10 in order to make it possible for the base frame 8 and hence the strip processing device 1 to be able to be moved. A roller holder 6 is arranged on the base frame 8, with the roller holder 6 being designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis 7. Here, the pivot axis 7 is oriented in such a way that a strip 3 guided through a processing region 2 of the strip processing device 1 is directed parallel to the strip running surface of the guided strip 3. Furthermore, in the design shown, the strip processing device 1 comprises a first processing roller 4 designed as a coating roller. The first processing roller 4 is held by the roller holder 6 and mounted eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis 7 of the roller holder 6. Along the strip running direction R illustrated by the arrow R, the first processing roller 4 is arranged downward in the running direction, whereas the distance of an axis of rotation 11 of the first processing roller 4 from the area in which the strip 3 is situated is less than the distance of the pivot axis 7 from this area. As a result of this positioning, the first processing roller 4 is arranged on the roller holder 6 in the strip running direction R and at a distance from the pivot axis 7 perpendicular to the strip running direction R in such a way that, by means of a pivoting of the roller holder 6 about the pivot axis 7, the first processing roller 4 can be moved toward the strip 3 and can be moved away from the strip 3. Furthermore in the design shown, the strip processing device 1 comprises a counter-processing roller 5. In the embodiment shown, an axis of rotation 12 of the counter-processing roller 5 is oriented parallel to the pivot axis 7, wherein the distance of the axis of rotation 12 of the counter-processing roller 5 counter to the strip running direction R is approximately similar to the distance of the axis of rotation 11 of the processing roller 4 along the strip running direction R. In this exemplary embodiment, the distance of the axis of rotation 12 of the counter-processing roller 5 from the strip 3 running in the processing region 2 is, in the non-placement state shown, approximately equal to the distance of the axis of rotation 11 of the processing roller 4 from the strip 3, wherein the strip 3 extends between the two rollers. Furthermore, the ratio of the distance of the first processing roller 4 from the first counter-processing roller 5 in the strip running direction R to a distance of the first processing roller 4 from the first counter-processing roller 5 perpendicular to the strip running direction R, in this case in a perpendicular to a plane contained the strip, is chosen such that, given the pivot angle resulting via the position of the pivot axis 7 and the structural design of the roller holder 6, the pivoting of the roller holder 6 causes the first processing roller 4 to be moved toward the strip 3 and the same movement of the roller holder 6 results in the first counter-processing roller 5 being moved toward the strip 3, with the result that finally a state can be reached in which the first processing roller 4 and the first counter-processing roller 5 are placed against the strip 3 and interact inter alia to guide the strip 3. This state of the strip processing device 1 with a placement both of the first processing roller 4 and of the first counter-processing roller 5 against the strip 3, wherein the strip 3 is guided between the first processing roller 4 and the first counter-processing roller 5 by said rollers, can be seen in FIG. 1b. The processing roller 4 and the counter-processing roller 5 interact to guide the strip 3, it being the case here that the interaction has the effect of maintaining and ensuring this tensioned state of the strip 3. Furthermore, the embodiment of the strip processing device 1 that can be seen in FIG. 1a comprises a second processing roller 4 and a second processing roller 5 which are both arranged on the same roller holder 6 on which there are also already arranged the first processing roller 4 and the first counter-processing roller 5. In the design illustrated the arrangement of the processing rollers 4, 4 and the counter-processing rollers 5, 5 is arranged with mirror symmetry to a plane in which the pivot axis is situated. It is possible by means of pivoting the roller holder 6 to change from a first state with a placement of the first processing roller 4 and the first counter-processing roller 5 against the strip according to the illustration of FIG. 1b to a second state with a placement of the second processing roller 4 and the second counter-processing roller 5 against the strip. In a case in which the first processing roller 4 and the second processing roller 4 and also the first counter-processing roller 5 and the second counter-processing roller 5 are each of the same type, it is thereby possible to double the service life of the strip processing device 1 designed as a roller coater, wherein a conversion time during a change from the first state to the second state is virtually not required, if at all, or a change of the coating material can take place with only very short set-up times. FIGS. 1a and 1b furthermore also depict dip rollers 9, 12 whose axle holder is adjustable, with the result that a positioning of the dip rollers 9, 12 can be carried out which can result in a removal of coating material from the reservoir situated below the dip rollers 9, 12 and it being passed on to the processing rollers 4, 4 or counter-processing rollers 5, 5. For alternative or supplementary feeding of coating material, FIG. 1b and FIG. 1c also depict coating material feedlines 13, 13.

[0049] FIG. 1c depicts an embodiment of a strip processing device 1 which differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1a and of FIG. 1b in particular in that a pivotability of the processing rollers 4 and 4 about a pivot axis 7 and a pivotability of the counter-processing rollers 5, 5 are decoupled from one another.