Device and Method for Transforming a Metal Slab from Coil Configuration into Sheet Configuration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for transforming a metal slab from coil configuration into sheet configuration, subsequently comprising: a rotatable coil holder (21); at least one align unit; and a separator; wherein the rotatable coil holder, the at least one align unit and the separator are placed in line wherein the rotatable coil holder is provided with at least one air knife (22) that directs an air flow onto the width of the metal slab. The present invention also relates to a method for transforming a metal slab from coil configuration into sheet configuration, comprising the method steps: A) placing a metal slab coil on a rotatable coil holder; B) rotating the metal slab coil and unwinding the coil; C) feeding the unwound metal slab through at least one at align unit; and D) separating individual metal slab sheets wherein an air knife is directs an air flow onto the width of the metal slab before the unwound metal slab is fed through an align unit.

Claims

1. A device for transforming a metal slab from coil configuration into sheet configuration, comprising: a rotatable coil holder, at least one align unit; and a separator; wherein the rotatable coil holder, the at least one align unit and the separator are placed in line, wherein the rotatable coil holder is provided with at least one air knife that directs an air flow onto the width of the metal slab.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device also comprises a stacking unit placed in line with the a rotatable coil holder, the least one align unit, and the separator.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air knife is comprising an air feed and a nozzle with a width of at least the width of the metal slab coil to be transformed.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air knife is provided with at least one air heater.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle of the air knife is mounted on a nozzle carrier that is moveable relative to the rotatable coil holder.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle carrier is provided with bias means and at least one stop directed towards the rotatable coil holder to contact the outside of the metal slab coil.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle carrier is pivotable connected to the rotatable coil holder.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the pivotable nozzle carrier is provided with a balance weight to urge the nozzle with a constant pressure against the outside of the metal slab coil.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein parallel to the air knife a subsidiary air blower is situated, which subsidiary air blower comprises at least one air blower fan, an air blower feed and an air blower nozzle with a wide of at least the width of the metal slab coil to be transformed.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air knife is provided with at least one inlet for the extraction of air.

11. A method for transforming a metal slab from coil configuration into sheet configuration, comprising the method steps: A) placing a metal slab coil on a rotatable coil holder, B) rotating the metal slab coil and unwinding the coil; C) feeding the unwound metal slab through at least one at align unit; and D) separating individual metal slab sheets; wherein an air knife is directs an air flow onto the width of the metal slab before the unwound metal slab is fed through an align unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method also comprises the method step E) stacking the individualised metal slab sheets on at least one stack.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the air flow directed onto the width of the metal slab is heated.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein a nozzle directing the air knife onto the metal slab is moved relative to the rotatable coil holder to maintain a substantial constant distance between the nozzle and the metal slab before feeding it through an align unit.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the air knife is directed onto the metal slab with a pulsating variable air speed.

Description

[0013] The invention will be further elucidated herein below on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view on a device for transforming a metal slab from coil configuration into sheet configuration according the prior art;

[0015] FIGS. 2A and 2B show schematic two embodiments of a rotatable coil holder that is provided with an air knife according the present invention; and

[0016] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a third embodiments of a rotatable coil holder that is provided with an air knife according the present invention in two different positions.

[0017] In a metal slab transforming device 1 a metal slab in coil configuration 2 is converted into metal slab sheets 3. A coil holder 4 that is rotatable according arrow P.sub.1 holds the metal slab coil 2 from which the metal slab 5 is unwound according arrow P.sub.2. After being unwound of the metal slab coil 2 the metal slab 5 is fed through a first align unit 6. After being aligned for a first time brushes 7 clean the metal slab 5 after which brushes 7 a second align unit 8 acts on the unwound metal slab 5. The straightened metal slab is then cut into individual sheets by a separator 9 to be stacked in a stacking unit 10. The rotatable coil holder 4, the align units 6, 8, the brushes 7, the separator 9 and the stacking unit 10 are placed in line. Some typical dimensions of a metal slab transforming device 1 are: thickness of the metal slab (gauge) 3-20 mm, maximal width of the metal slab 2100 mm, maximum length of the metal slab 16 metres, maximum coil weight 36 tons, optional provision in the line of side trimmers, and metal slab yield strengths for example 1000 MPa at 2000 mm width and 10 mm thickness.

[0018] FIG. 2A shows an embodiments of a rotatable coil holder 20, holding a metal slab coil 21 on the outside of which coil 21 an air knife 22 is acting. The air knife 22 is moveable in a radial direction (see P.sub.3) to the coil 21 and comprises two stops 23 that contact the outside of the coil 21. A cylinder 24 urges a nozzle 25 towards the coil 21 so that the stops 23 a pressed against the coil 21. The nozzle 25 is connecting to a gas feed 26. In FIG. 2B an air knife 27 is shown with a nozzle 28 that is urged by springs 29 to metal slab 30 at a location where the metal slab 30 is already unwound of coil 31.

[0019] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an air knife 40 that is carried by a rotatable arm 41. In FIG. 3A a coil 42 is relatively large while in FIG. 3B the coil 42 is unwound for a substantial part so that the remaining coil part 43 has a substantial smaller diameter than the coil 42 as depicted in FIG. 3A. The arm 41 is connected to a weight 43 That urges the air knife 40 against the coil 42. Furthermore is shown that the air knife 40 connects via a hose 44 and a pipe 45 to a fan assembly 46. Above the air knife 40 also a blow-drier 47 is attached to the arm 41 to further enhanced cleaning.