Device and a method for machining at least one surface of a continuous strip material made of NF metal

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device (10) and a method for machining at least one surface of a continuous strip material (B) made of non-ferrous metals, which in particular comprises aluminum or aluminum alloys or consists of such materials. A rotating roller brush (12) is used, the roller length of which can be brought into contact with a surface of the strip material (B). Such roller brush (12) has a diameter of 200 mm to 1,000 mm and can rotate at a rotational speed of 100 to 3,600 rpm using an assigned motor drive (14).

Claims

1.-25. (canceled)

26. A device (10) for machining at least one surface of a continuous strip material (B) of non-ferrous metals, comprising a rotating roller brush (12), a roller length of which can be brought into contact with a surface of the continuous strip material (B), wherein the rotating roller brush (12) has a diameter between 200 mm and 1000 mm.

27. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the diameter of the rotating roller brush (12) is between 250 mm and 400 mm.

28. The device (10) according to claim 26, further comprising a motor drive (14) that is operatively connected to the rotating roller brush (12) and drives the rotating roller brush (12) about an associated axis of rotation (D), wherein the motor drive (14) is signal connected to a control device (S) and wherein the control device (S) is programmatically configured in such a manner that the rotating roller brush (12) rotates at a rotational speed of 100 to 3,600 rpm.

29. The device (10) according to claim 28, further comprising a gearbox arranged between the motor drive (14) and the rotating roller brush (12), wherein the rotational speed of the rotating roller brush (12) is between 1,200 and 1,800 rpm.

30. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is arranged such that it can move back and forth transversely to a strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B).

31. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is arranged such that it can move back and forth parallel to a strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B).

32. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is arranged on one side of the continuous strip material (B), wherein a support roller is arranged on an opposite side of and in contact with the continuous strip material (B), and wherein the support roller is in alignment with the roller brush (12).

33. The device (10) according to claim 26, further comprising a cleaning device (16) arranged adjacent to the rotating roller brush (12) and on a same side of the continuous strip material (B) as the rotating roller brush (12), by which the surface of the continuous strip material (B) with which the rotating roller brush (12) is in contact can be cleaned, wherein, by the cleaning device (16), compressed air can be generated adjacent to the surface of the continuous strip material (B), and/or wherein negative pressure can be generated adjacent to the surface of the continuous strip material (B).

34. The device (10) according to claim 33, wherein the cleaning device (16) has a housing (15) with an inlet region and an outlet region, wherein the continuous strip material (B) is movable through the housing (15) from the inlet region towards the outlet region along a strip running direction (T), and wherein the housing (15) is shielded from a surrounding area.

35. The device (10) according to claim 34, wherein the cleaning device (16) and the rotating roller brush (12) are combined to form a structural unit, and wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is received in an encapsulated manner within the housing (15).

36. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is part of a plurality of rotating roller brushes (12) that are arranged along a strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) on one side thereof, and wherein the plurality of roller brushes (12) are each equipped with a respective motor drive (14) and a respective height adjustment device (11).

37. The device (10) according to claim 36, wherein two or more of the plurality of rotating roller brushes (12) are arranged one behind the other in the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B), and wherein the two or more of the plurality of rotating roller brushes (12) are subdivided into segments along their longitudinal extension such that regions including bristles (12m) alternate with regions without bristles (12f).

38. The device (10) according to claim 36, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is part of a plurality of individual brush rollers (12E), wherein the plurality of individual brush rollers (12E) are arranged across a width of the continuous strip material (B), and wherein each of the individual brush rollers (12E) has a respective motor drive (14) and can be set independently of one another at a distance from the continuous strip material (B).

39. The device (10) according to claim 26, further comprising a surface inspection device (18), which comprises a strip tracking system with a defect detection device and a control device (S), wherein, by the defect detection device, information relating to a type and position of a surface defect on the surface of the continuous strip material (B) with which the rotating roller brush (12) can be brought into contact is detected, and wherein the rotating roller brush (12) is controlled by the control device (S) based on the information.

40. The device (10) according to claim 26, wherein the rotating roller brush (12) comprises bristles (13) made of hardened stainless steel having a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa/mm.sup.2.

41. A method for machining a surface of a continuous strip material (B) of non-ferrous metal, comprising: moving the continuous strip material (B) in a strip running direction (T); bringing a rotating roller brush (12) with its roller length into contact with the surface of the continuous strip material (B); and brushing the surface of the continuous strip material (B) by driving the rotating roller brush (12) by a motor drive (14) to rotate at a rotational speed of 100 to 3,600 rpm.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein brushing the surface of the continuous strip material (B) is performed by driving the rotating roller brush (12) by the motor drive (14) to rotate at a rotational speed of 1,200 to 1,800 rpm.

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising moving the rotating roller brush (12) back and forth in translation transversely to the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) during brushing.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein moving the rotating roller brush (12) transversely to the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) is performed with an amplitude of 5 mm to 100 mm and with a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 5 Hz.

45. The method according to claim 41, further comprising moving the rotating roller brush (12) back and forth in translation parallel to the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) during brushing.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein moving the rotating roller brush in the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) is performed with an amplitude of 10 mm to 200 mm and with a frequency of between 0.2 Hz and 5 Hz.

47. The method according to claim 43, further comprising arranging a surface inspection device (18) upstream of the rotating roller brush (12), the surface inspection device (18) comprising a strip tracking system with a defect detection device and a control device (S), detecting, by the defect detection device, information including a type and position of surface defects on the surface of the continuous strip material (B) with which the rotating roller brush (12) comes into contact, and controlling the rotating roller brush (12) by the control device (S) as a function of the information.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein controlling the rotating roller brush (12) includes one or more of controlling a rotational speed, controlling a contact pressure against the continuous strip material (B), controlling a movement transverse to the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B), controlling a movement in the strip running direction (T) of the continuous strip material (B) and thereby a relative speed between the rotating roller brush (12) and the continuous strip material (B).

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein controlling the rotating roller brush (12) is effected by the control device (S) as a function of the surface defects detected by the defect detection device in a closed control loop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] FIG. 1 is a simplified view of a device for machining continuous strip material.

[0060] FIG. 2a is a simplified side view of a roller brush, which can be part of the device of FIG. 1 and is continuously covered with bristles.

[0061] FIG. 2b a simplified side view of a roller brush, which can be part of the device of FIG. 1 and is covered with bristles in segments.

[0062] FIG. 2c shows a possible embodiment of the device of FIG. 1, with which rotating roller brushes are arranged in each case above and below a strip material.

[0063] FIG. 2d is a top view of a strip material for a possible embodiment of the device of FIG. 1, with which a plurality of roller brushesviewed in the strip running direction of the strip materialare arranged one behind the other.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a diagram for a control system of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, preferred embodiments of a device 10 and an associated method for machining at least one surface of a continuous strip material made of non-ferrous metals are shown and explained below. Identical features in the drawing are in each case marked with the same reference signs. At this point, it is separately pointed out that the drawing is only simplified and in particular shown without scale.

[0066] The non-ferrous metal strip material, at least one surface of which is machined by means of the present invention, can in particular consist of aluminum or aluminum alloy(s). Alternatively, it is also possible to machine a strip material made of other non-ferrous metals, such as copper, magnesium, lead or zinc/their alloys.

[0067] The device 10 comprises at least one rotating roller brush 12, with which a strip material B, which is moved/transported in a strip running direction T, is cleaned. In the view in FIG. 1, the strip runs from left to right and is symbolized by corresponding arrows T.

[0068] Within a strip casting line, which is not necessarily part of the present invention, the device 10 is positioned in such a manner thatviewed in the strip running direction Tit is arranged downstream of a casting line G and upstream of a hot rolling line W and an associated rolling mill stand.

[0069] The view in FIG. 1 can be a top view of the strip material B, either from its upper side and/or from its lower side. This means that a rotating roller brush 12 can be arranged in each case on the upper side of the strip material B and/or on its lower side. In other words, the device 10 can comprise at least one rotating roller brush 12 arranged either on the upper side or on the lower side of the strip material B. Alternatively, the device 12 of FIG. 1 can also comprise a plurality of roller brushes 12, which are arranged on both sides of the strip material, i.e. on the upper side and on the lower side of the strip material B.

[0070] For the following explanation of the mode of operation of the device and the associated method, it is irrelevant whether the view of FIG. 1 is a top view of the upper side of the strip material B or a view of its lower sidethe mode of operation of the rotating roller brush 12 and its movements is the same in each case.

[0071] With the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the roller length/longitudinal extension of the roller brush 12 is greater than the width of the strip material B. As a result, the entire width of the strip material B is machined abrasively by the rotating roller brush 12 if it is brought into contact with a surface of the strip material B with its roller length.

[0072] The device 10 comprises at least one motor drive 14, which is operatively connected to the rotating roller brush 12 and drives it about an axis of rotation. In the drawing (see FIG. 1, FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2d), such axis of rotation is indicated in each case by a dashdotted line and designated D.

[0073] A motor drive 14 can be arranged on one side of the rotating roller brush 12, to the left or right of the strip material B. Alternatively, two motor drives 14 can also be provided, in each case on opposite sides of the strip material B, wherein such drives 14 in each case interact with the roller brush 12 and drive it about its axis of rotation D. The provision of two motor drives 14 per roller brush 12 is particularly advantageous if such a roller brush 12 has a large width and in this respect is driven from both end faces.

[0074] The motor drive 14 is connected to a control device S by means of signals. This connection by means of signals is symbolized in FIG. 1 by a dotted line and designated V. The specifications Md and n designate, on the one hand, the torque and, on the other hand, the rotational speed with which the roller brush 12 is rotationally driven about its axis of rotation D. The direction of rotation can be selected both in and against the strip running direction, wherein the direction of rotation against the strip running direction is preferred due to the higher efficiency.

[0075] As already explained elsewhere above, the roller brush 12 is designed in such a manner that its diameter is 200 mm to 1000 mm. Furthermore, the control device S is programmatically configured in such a manner that the rotating roller brush 12, driven by the motor drive 14, can rotate at a rotational speed of 100 to 3,600 min.sup.?1, possibly also using a gearbox (not shown), which is arranged between the motor drive 14 and the rotating roller brush 12.

[0076] A roller brush 12 can not only be set in rotation about its axis of rotation D, but can also be moved relative to the strip material B in the directions x, y and z. Such Cartesian coordinate system is symbolized in the bottom right of FIG. 1. For the relative movement in the y-direction, for example, an oscillation drive 17 is provided, which is only shown symbolically in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity.

[0077] The possible movements of the roller brush 12 in the directions x, y and z are achieved with the aid of a frame, which is shown in FIG. 1 in a very simplified form and symbolically only with a rectangle and designated 11. The following explanations are provided below:

[0078] The roller brush 12 is rotatably mounted in the frame 11. Such frame 11 receives bearing shells (not shown), with/in which the roller brush 12 is mounted so that it can rotate about its axis of rotation D. The operative connection to the motor drive 14, with which the roller brush 12 is driven about its axis of rotation D, can be realized on the end face of the roller brush 12 by a drive shaft or the like.

[0079] The frame 11 for mounting a roller brush 12 also comprises vertical bars along which the bearing shells for the roller brush 12 are movably mounted. The bearing shells are connected to adjusting elements 20, preferably in the form of hydraulic cylinders, with which the bearing shells can be moved along the vertical bars. In this manner, the roller brush 12 can be adjusted in the vertical direction z in order to set on a targeted basis a height/a distance between the roller brush 12 and the strip material B.

[0080] At this point, it is pointed out separately that a connection V by means of signals can also exist between the control device S, on the one hand, and the oscillation drive 17 and the adjusting elements 20, on the other hand. On the basis of this, it is possible to control the oscillation drive 17 and the adjusting elements 20 by means of the control device S. In FIG. 1, such connections V by means of signals are also symbolized with dotted lines.

[0081] By means of the specified adjusting elements 20, it is also possible to exert a targeted contact force on the roller brush 12, with which the roller brush 12 is pressed against the strip material B. For example, the contact force can be 0.1 to 2.8 N/mm brush width. In any event, the contact pressure can be set for the roller brush 12, adjusting the alloy of the material to be cleaned. The setting of the adjusting elements 20 is effected using the signals of the control device S.

[0082] With regard to the movable mounting of the roller brush 12 on the specified vertical bars, it is understood that this also makes it possible to lift the roller brush 12 from the surface of the strip material B if required.

[0083] As already explained, the oscillation drive 17 is provided on the frame 11, with which the bearing shells for the roller brush 12, and thus also the roller brush 12 itself, can be moved in the width direction of the strip material B, i.e. in the y-direction. Such oscillation drive 17 can be designed as a hydraulic cylinder or as a motor drive and can also be connected to the control device S by means of signals. Accordingly, such oscillation drive 17 can be suitably controlled by the control device S, for example in such a manner that the bearing shells for the roller brush 12, and thus also the roller brush 12 itself, are oscillated in the y-direction, i.e. moved back and forth in translation.

[0084] The directions (in the y-direction) in which the roller brush 12 can be moved in an oscillating manner transversely to the strip running direction T, as explained above, are also symbolized by the double arrow R1 in FIG. 1.

[0085] The frame 11 also comprises a rail system (not shown) on/at which the roller brush 12 together with its bearing shells can be moved in translation parallel to the strip running direction T (or in the x-direction). A movement in the strip running direction T is symbolized in FIG. 1 by the arrow R2, while movement in the opposite direction, i.e. against the strip running direction T, is symbolized in FIG. 1 by the arrow R2*. To realize such a back and forth movement of the roller brush 12 parallel to the strip running direction T, a further hydraulic cylinder (not shown) or a comparable motorized linear drive is provided, which is operatively connected either to the bearing shells of the roller brush 12 or to the entire frame 11. Expediently, this hydraulic cylinder/drive is also connected to the control device S by means of signals, such that control by means of the control device S is possible to realize a movement/displacement of the roller brush(es) 12 parallel to the strip running direction T.

[0086] The translatory back and forth movement of the roller brush 12 in the directions R2 and R2*, i.e. back and forth parallel to the strip running direction T, can also take place in an oscillating manner. It can be provided that the speeds for the directions R2 (i.e., in the strip running direction T) and R2* (i.e., against the strip running direction T) differ from one another/are set to different values by means of the control device S.

[0087] In connection with the oscillating movements that, as explained above, can be set for the roller brush 12 transversely to the strip running direction T (=y-direction/R1) and parallel to the strip running direction (=x-direction/in the directions R2 and R2*), it is understood that such movements can be superimposed with the rotational movement/rotation of the roller brush 12 about the axis of rotation D. This means that the roller brush 12 can also be moved in the directions R1 and R2/R2* at the same time as it rotates around the axis of rotation D.

[0088] With the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 comprises a housing 15 in which the rotating roller brush 12 is received in an encapsulated manner. Accordingly, the rotating roller brush 12 is shielded from the surrounding area by the housing 15.

[0089] The housing 15 has an inlet region and an outlet region, wherein the strip material B is moved through the housing 15 from the inlet region in the direction of the outlet region along the strip running direction T.

[0090] The housing 15 is connected to an extraction device 22, with which air and the dirt particles and comparable impurities contained therein are extracted/removed from the interior of the housing 15.

[0091] The device 10 comprises a cleaning device 16, which is arranged adjacent to the rotating roller brush 12 and on the same side of the strip material B as the roller brush 12. By means of such cleaning device 16, a surface of the strip material B with which the rotating roller brush 12 has previously come into contact can be cleaned. This can be achieved, for example, by the cleaning device 16 also being connected to the extraction device 22, thereby generating negative pressure with which dirt particles and similar impurities are extracted from the surface (or the surfaces) of the strip material B.

[0092] Additionally or alternatively, with regard to the cleaning device 16, it can be provided that compressed air is hereby directed onto at least one surface of the strip material B, preferably in a direction transverse to the strip running direction T. The surface of the strip material B is then intensively cleaned by applying such compressed air. In such a case, the unit 22 can be a blower with which such compressed air is generated and fed into the cleaning device 16.

[0093] The application of compressed air in/with the cleaning device 16 to at least one surface of the strip material B can also be superimposed with the suction of air specified above. In the interior of the housing 15/the cleaning device 16, compressed air is directed on a targeted basis onto the surface of the strip material B that has previously come into contact with the rotating roller brush 12 and has been abrasively machined as a result. At the same time or following this, air is extracted from the interior of the housing 15/the cleaning device 16 in order to suitably eliminate the dirt particles/impurities contained therein.

[0094] According to a preferred further development of the device 10, it is expedient if the cleaning device 16 and the housing 15, in which the rotating roller brush 12 is received in an encapsulated manner, are integrated/combined to form a structural unit. In such a case, it is understood that the housing 15 shown in the illustration in FIG. 1 is that of the cleaning device 16.

[0095] Even in the case of the integration specified above of a cleaning device 16 with the housing 15, it can be provided that-viewed in the strip running direction Tan additional cleaning device 16 is provided downstream of the rotating roller brush 12, as shown in FIG. 1

[0096] The device 10 also comprises a surface inspection device 18, which-viewed in the strip running direction Tis provided upstream of the rotating roller brush 12. This surface inspection device 18 has a defect detection device (not specifically designated), for example in the form of an optical sensor or a camera, with which defects/flaws on/at the surface of the strip material B can be detected. In this respect, it is understood that the defect detection device is positioned on the same side of the strip material B as the rotating roller brush 12, which comes into contact with the surface of the strip material B on this side.

[0097] With one embodiment of the device 10, with which rotating roller brushes 12 are arranged both on the upper side and on the lower side of the strip material B (see FIG. 2c), it is expedient for separate defect detection devices to be arranged in the same manner on the upper side and on the lower side of the strip material B, such that possible defects in the strip material B can be detected on both sides thereof.

[0098] The defect detection device referred to above is part of a strip tracking system, which is part of the surface inspection device 18, and is connected to the control device S by means of signals. In this manner, it is possible to assign recognized flaws on a surface of the strip material B to a specific section of the strip material B, wherein, on the basis of this, it is further possible that the movements of the roller brush(es) 12, specifically both their rotation about the axis of rotation 12 and the associated rotational speed n, along with the specified oscillating movements in the direction of the arrow R1 and in the direction of the arrows R2/R2*, are preferably set in a controlled manner by the control device S as a function of the surface defects and their location and position, which have previously been detected by the surface inspection device(s) 18.

[0099] Further details with regard to the composition and arrangement of a roller brush 12 and/or a plurality of them are shown in FIGS. 2a to 2d and explained as follows:

[0100] According to the illustration in FIG. 2a, a roller brush 12 can have/be fitted continuously with bristles. In the right-hand region of FIG. 2a, a sub-region of the outer circumferential surface of a roller brush 12 is shown in enlarged and greatly simplified form, wherein the dimensions of the bristles are not shown to scale in comparison with the diameter of the roller brush 12. In the enlarged sub-region of FIG. 2a, it is shown in simplified form that the bristle ends 13 are slanted, wherein with such embodiment the flattening of the bristle ends 13 extends in the direction of rotation of the roller brush 12.

[0101] FIG. 2b shows a possible embodiment of a roller brush 12 which is not continuously populated with bristles. This means that, along the longitudinal extension of the roller brush 12, regions 12m (with bristles) alternate with regions 12f (without bristles).

[0102] FIG. 2c illustrates the use of roller brushes 12 in the left-hand image region, which are arranged above and below the strip material B and opposite one another, i.e. positioned vertically one above the other.

[0103] In the right-hand image region of FIG. 2c, a variant is shown with regard to the arrangement of the roller brushes 12, wherein, here, the roller brushes 12 are arranged in a manner offset to one another.

[0104] FIG. 2d illustrates the use of a plurality of roller brushes, which are designed here in the form of individual brush rollers 12E. It can be provided that such individual brush rollers 12E are not only arranged several times in the width direction of the strip material B, but alsoviewed in the strip running direction T-one behind the other. With regard to such individual brush rollers 12E, it is understood that they can in each case be equipped with their own motor drives 14 and their own adjustment/rail systems in order to thereby achieve individually different rotational speeds n, torques Md and oscillating movements in the direction of the arrows R1 and R2/R2*.

[0105] FIGS. 1 and 2d show an arrangement of the roller brushes with which the axis of rotation is aligned at right angles to the strip running direction T. For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that a non-rectangular orientation is equally covered by the invention.

[0106] With regard to the variants of a roller brush 12 shown in FIG. 2a to FIG. 2d and explained above, it is understood that such variants can be combined with one another as desired for the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0107] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a diagram for controlling the device 10/for carrying out a method.

[0108] The invention now functions as follows:

[0109] While the strip material B is being moved from the casting machine G in the strip running direction T to the hot rolling line W, it passes through a surface machining by the roller brush 12, with which surface impurities caused by the casting process are mechanically removed. The roller brush 12 is operated with operating parameters preset by the control device S, such as rotational speed n, torque Md, contact pressure and oscillation movements transverse and/or parallel to the transport direction of the strip material. The adjustment of the operating parameters can be effected manually or, as explained separately below, on the basis of a process model and/or can be adjusted automatically by coupling with a surface inspection device.

[0110] In the event of the automated adjustment of the operating parameters, the strip material runs past the surface inspection device 18 prior to surface machining. Thereby, surface defects of the strip material B can be detected by the defect detection device(s) of the surface inspection device 18. In other words, during the movement of the strip material B past the surface inspection device 18, possible surface defects of the strip material B are detected by measurement technology. Following this, such surface defects are evaluated by the strip tracking system of the surface inspection device 18 and the information formed from this is passed on to the control device S. On the basis of this, it is then possible to set the operating parameters for the rotating roller brush(es) 12 by means of the control device S, taking into account the measured surface defects, specifically with respect to rotational speed n, torque Md, contact pressure and the oscillating movements transverse (v.sub.y) and/or parallel (v.sub.x) to the strip running direction T.

[0111] In connection with the oscillating movement of the rotating roller brush(es) 12 parallel to the strip running direction T, it is pointed out separately that an individual brush setting/abrasive machining of the strip material B is achieved by the translatory back and forth movement of a roller brush 12: For example, a predetermined section of the strip material B can be brushed shorter or longer, as a function of the surface defects previously detected. Furthermore, it is also possible to realize a dwell time of the rotating roller brush 12 at exactly this section for a predetermined section of the strip material B, by moving the roller brush 12 in the strip running direction T (=direction R2) at exactly the same speed as the strip material B itself. As a result, such predetermined section of the strip material B is machined particularly intensively by means of the rotating roller brush 12.

[0112] Furthermore, when the roller brush 12 moves in an oscillating manner parallel to the strip running direction T, it is possible for the forward and return speeds (i.e., in the direction R2 and in the opposite direction R2*) to differ from one another, wherein brushing with the roller brush 12/its rotation takes place in both directions of travel.

[0113] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to use a process model when setting the operating parameters for the rotating roller brush(es) 12. This is symbolized in the diagram in FIG. 3 by a corresponding arrow between the process model and control device blocks. The required operating parameters for the rotating roller brush(es) 12 are calculated by means of the process model, or alternatively the calculation in the control device S is supported. In any event, the calculated operating parameters are passed on to the motor drives/actuators that are assigned to a respective roller brush 12.

[0114] According to a further embodiment of the method, a control system is provided. Such control system is effected as a function of the measured surface defects, specifically as a function of the location of the defect and/or the size of the defect and/or the periodicity of the defect, wherein the previously described setting parameters of a roller brush 12 are used to set the brushing intensity.

[0115] To carry out the control system specified above, it can be provided that the control device S is equipped with a suitable process computer.

[0116] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, in the course of evaluating the measured values (i.e., the surface defects that have been detected by the defect detection device), an adaptation calculation is carried out to optimize the control system. The process computer just mentioned can also be used for this purpose.

[0117] If a plurality of possibly segmented sub-brushes 12 are provided for the device 10 of FIG. 1, it is understood that an individual/separate control is possible for each of such sub-brushes 12.

[0118] If rotating roller brushes 12 are arranged on both sides of the strip material B and thus both the upper side and the lower side of the strip material B are cleaned by this, such roller brushes 12, which are arranged above and below the strip material B, can be controlled/regulated either jointly or individually.

[0119] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible for certain specifications with regard to the surface quality (in the sense of target values) of the strip material B to be transmitted to the control device S. This is symbolized in the diagram in FIG. 3 by a dashed arrow between the blocks surface quality specification and control device. In addition or as an alternative to the dependence on the detected surface defects, it is then also possible for the method that the operating parameters for the rotating roller brush(es) 12 are set/regulated by the control device S taking into account such specific specifications for the surface quality. If necessary, this can be effected separately for the upper side and lower side of the strip material B.

[0120] Finally, it should be pointed out that it is not always necessary to achieve totally clean surfaces for the strip material B produced. For example, for reasons of wear with respect to the rotating roller brush(es) 12, it can make sense to clean the surfaces of the strip material B only to the extent that is actually necessary for such strip material or, as just explained, corresponds to the specific specifications for the surface quality. In such a case, the specifications for the surface quality can be entered into the control device S from a planning system/transmitted to it, wherein such specifications then serve as target values. The control device S will then take these specifications into account appropriately when calculating the operating parameters for the rotating roller brush(es) 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0121] 10 Device [0122] 11 Frame [0123] 12 Rotating roller brush [0124] 12f Regions of the roller brush 12 without bristles [0125] 12m Regions of the roller brush 12 with bristles [0126] 12E Individual brush rollers [0127] 13 Bristle ends (of a roller brush 12) [0128] 14 Motor drive [0129] 15 Housing [0130] 16 Cleaning device [0131] 17 Oscillation drive [0132] 18 Surface inspection device [0133] 20 Hydraulic cylinder [0134] 22 Pump/blower [0135] B Strip material [0136] D Axis of rotation (of a rotating roller brush 12) [0137] R1 Movement of the roller brush 12 transverse to the strip running direction T [0138] R2 Movement of the roller brush 12 parallel to the strip running direction T [0139] G Casting line [0140] S Control device [0141] T Strip running direction [0142] V Connection by means of signals [0143] W Hot rolling line