Method and apparatus for straightening metal bands

Abstract

The invention may relate, among other things, to a device for straightening a metal strip having two strip drives which are suitable together to apply tension on the metal strip to straighten the metal strip, wherein at least one of the strip drives is a linear drive, characterized in that the at least one linear drive has a positioning device such that the linear drive can be moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the device.

Claims

1. A method for straightening a metal strip, the method including: inputting said metal strip to a first strip drive configured to accept the metal strip as an input; outputting said metal strip from a second strip drive configured to accept as an input the metal strip that has been passed through the first strip drive, wherein said first and second strip drives are configured to drive or brake the metal strip in a contact-based or contactless manner without bending the metal strip and to thereby apply a tension to the metal strip to straighten the metal strip; and positioning one or both of said first strip drive or said second strip drive relative to one another depending on a position of said metal strip or on one or more other properties of said metal strip.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning comprises pivoting said first strip drive, said second strip drive, or both, on a circular path around an axis perpendicular to the metal strip, the axis being located in a flow direction upstream or downstream of the first strip drive or the second strip drive, respectively, depending on the position of said metal strip or on the one or more other properties of said metal strip.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including measuring said position of said metal strips or said properties of said metal strip in a direction of a flow path of the metal strip before said first strip drive.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including measuring said position of said metal strips or said properties of said metal strip in a direction of a flow path of the metal strip behind said first strip drive.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said measuring of said position of said metal strip or said properties of said metal strip is performed on the metal strip in a tension-free state.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said measuring of said position of said metal strip or said properties of said metal strip is performed on the metal strip in a tension-free state.

7. A method for straightening a metal strip, the method including: inputting said metal strip to a first strip drive configured to accept the metal strip as an input; passing the metal strip through a deforming stand; and outputting said metal strip from a second strip drive configured to accept as an input the metal strip that has been passed through the deforming stand; wherein said first and second strip drives are configured to drive or brake the metal strip in a contact-based or contactless manner without bending the metal strip and to thereby apply a tension to the metal strip to straighten the metal strip; wherein a tensile force applied by said first and second strip drives on the metal strip is at least 99% of a 0.2% yield strength times a transverse section area of the metal strip, and wherein the deforming applied by the deforming stand on the metal strip is less than 1%.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the deforming stand is a rolling mill stand.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the deforming stand is a bending stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described below using figures in which preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in greater detail:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a system for stretch straightening metal strips by means of strip tension in an operating position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the system in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of a system for stretch-bend-straightening metal strips by means of strip tension and large bending rollers as flow rollers in an operating position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the system in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a system for stretch-bend-straightening metal strips by means of strip tension and small deflection rollers as flow rollers in an operating position;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the system in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a system for straightening and rolling metal strips by means of strip tension supplemented by a roller mill unit in an operating position;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view of the system in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of a system for straightening and rolling metal strips by means of strip tension supplemented by another roller mill unit in an operating position;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top view of the system in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of a system for stretch-bend-straightening metal strips in a transverse cut-to-length line by means of strip tension and straightening rollers which are as large as possible in an operating position; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a top view of the system in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

(14) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a continuous system for stretch straightening a hot rolled or cold rolled metal strip. This straightening system has a linear drive 6 on the inlet side and a linear drive 8 on the outlet side for stretching a metal strip 1. The linear drives 6 and 8 are each equipped with a strip guiding system. The strip guiding system of the linear drive on the inlet side has an assembly frame 18, a positioning cylinder 14 and a measuring device 4 arranged in front of the linear drive 6 in the direction of movement of the strip 11 for determining the position of the strip. The strip guiding system for the outward linear drive 8 has an assembly frame 19, a support cylinder 15 and a measuring device 10 arranged behind the linear drive 8 in the direction of movement of the strip 11 for determining the position of the metal strip 1. The measuring device 10 can, as with measuring device 4, also have a means to determine the flatness and the sabre of the metal strip 1.

(15) The linear drives 6 and 8 are mounted such that they can be moved independently from one another relative to the longitudinal axis of the system by operating the respective positioning cylinders 14, 15. For this purpose, the frames 16, 17 of each of the linear drives 6, 8 are each movably mounted in the positioning frames 18, 19. For example, the frames of the linear drives 16, 17 can be mounted on the positioning frames 18, 19 by means of plain bearings on respective bearing blocks (roller bearings could also be used). Guides 21, 22, 23, 24 are provided on each of the assembly frames 18, 19. Guide rollers 25, 26, 27, 28 engage in these guides 21, 22, 23, 24, which guide rollers are movable in the guides 21, 22, 23, 24 and are rigidly connected to the frames 16, 17 of the linear drives 6, 8. The positioning cylinders 14, 15 are pivotably coupled to the frames 16, 17 of the linear drives 6, 8 and aligned such that they can act on the frames 16, 17 of the linear drives 6, 8 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the system. In this way, a linear drive 6, 8 can be guided on a path predetermined by the guides 21, 22, 23, 24 by actuating one of the support cylinders 14, 15.

(16) The interacting guides 21 and 22 as well as 23 and 24 of each of the assembly frames 18, 19 are preferably on a circular path 31, 32. In the present exemplary embodiment, the two circular paths 31, 32 have the same centre of the circle M1 which is, with respect to the direction of movement of the strip 11, upstream of the linear drive 6 on the central longitudinal axis of the straightening system. The pivot radius of the linear drive 8 is therefore larger than that of linear drive 6.

(17) The guides do not necessarily have to describe a section of the circular path, it is sufficient if they are straight and run substantially in parallel to a circular path.

(18) In one embodiment, the guides could alternatively extend completely transverse to the longitudinal axis of the system such that the linear drive is exclusively displaceable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the system.

(19) The guides may in particular be arranged adjustably such that various circular paths or an angle between the guiding path and the longitudinal axis of the system can be set. If the pivot radius is larger then a finer strip guiding system is possible, if it is smaller then the position can be corrected or the tensile force distribution over the width of the strip can be corrected more rapidly.

(20) With the strip guiding system, it is optionally possible to guide the metal strip 1 directly over the centre of the system axis (strip centre control), or to exactly guide one of the edges of the metal strip 1 for the straightening process or subsequent processes (strip edge control).

(21) With the exemplary embodiment shown it is possible to guide the centre of the metal strip 1 on the central longitudinal axis of the system or an edge of the metal strip parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the system with an accuracy of less than 1 mm in each case. Furthermore it is possible to achieve that with a sabre-like metal strip the shorter side of the strip experiences a higher strip tension than the longer side. In this area, the additional stretching on the short side of the strip leads to a reduction of the sabre. Through targeted overstretching, the sabre can be kept in a wave shape with low tolerances.

(22) The flow path identified in FIG. 1 is the part of the metal strip 1 between the linear drives 6, 8 which is not gripped by the linear drives 6, 8. In the example shown, this is as short as possible in order to achieve as even a material flow as possible during stretching in the flow path.

(23) Mounted in front of the linear drive 6 on the inlet side in the direction of movement 11 is a pair of rollers (not shown) for the provision of a strip loop 2 in order to feed the metal strip 1 into the linear drive 6 on the inlet side in a substantially tension-free manner. An inspection unit (not shown) is provided between the strip loop 2 and the linear drive 6 on the inlet side, the position of which inspection unit is identified by the number 3. The inspection unit can be used to measure the flatness and the geometry of the metal strip 1. Mounted behind the linear drive 8 on the inlet side in the direction of movement of the strip 11 is a further pair of rollers (also not shown) for the provision of a strip loop 12 in order to also keep the metal strip 1 tension free on the outlet side.

(24) The strip loops 2, 12 have the advantage that the strip measurement in the inspection unit and in the measuring devices 4 and 10 can be carried out without flawed influences.

(25) A measurement of the strip tension applied to the strip by the linear drives 6 and 8 is carried out by means of measurement cells (not shown) in which the reaction forces from the strip tension is recorded. Since there is no distortion of the measurements through deflection rollers as there is in conventional stretch/curving straightening systems, the strip tension measurement is very accurate. Measuring can be carried out for the left-hand and right-hand sides of the strip separately. Since the position of the strip is very carefully regulated, the difference in the strip tensions can be used to assess a strip sabre and to automatically correct the strip sabre.

(26) The results of the strip measurement in the inspection unit 3 can be used in addition to the results of the measurement of the position of the strip in the measuring devices 4, 10 in order to set the position of the linear drives 6 and 8 using the strip guiding system.

(27) The condition of the strip in terms of the geometry and flatness can be recorded on the inlet side for example by means of flatness measuring rollers or camera systems or other measurement systems on the tension-free strip. In this way, in particular the measurements of the inspection unit 3 and/or the measuring device 4 can be used to adapt the values for the strip tensions to be applied by the linear drive 8 on the outlet side and/or the braking forces to be applied by the linear drive 6 on the inlet side and therefore the resulting level of stretching, which is generally predetermined in the metal sheet production process. Values for controlling the position of the linear drives 6, 8 relative to one another can also be determined using these measurement values. In order to regulate the tensile and braking forces and the position of the linear drives relative to one another, the measurement values determined by the measuring device 10 for the position, flatness and sabre-like nature of the straightened metal strip 1 serve in particular to make it possible to correct the previously determined control values. A flatness measuring roller or a camera system could also be used for this. Information on the level of stretching can also be provided from the measurement data on the outlet side, or the predetermined regulating variables are corrected on the basis of these measurement data.

(28) In this exemplary embodiment, the strip tension is set such as to achieve straightening of the strip by only using tension. The straightening of the strip is carried out at very strip tension, up to about 100% of the yield strength or 0.2% of the yield point of the strip material or even more. The straightening of the strip is carried out in relation to evenness and shape (strip sabre). The correction of a strip sabre can be achieved in a targeted manner by means of one or two strip guiding systems.

(29) While the strip in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only straightened or stretched by strip tension, FIGS. 3 to 12 show exemplary embodiments of devices according to the invention in which the deformation is achieved through the strip tension and an additional deformation by means of rolling or bending the sheet.

(30) A further exemplary embodiment according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which exemplary embodiment is similar to the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. As in the exemplary embodiments described hereafter, parts of the system which have the same function as the corresponding part of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 are indicated with the same number. Only the differences between this exemplary embodiment and the exemplary embodiment described above will be addressed below.

(31) In this exemplary embodiment, the distance of the linear drives 6 and 8 from one another is greater. A bending stand 41 is provided between the linear drives 6 and 8, through which bending stand the metal strip 1 is guided. The bending stand has two bending rollers 42 which are arranged consecutively in the direction of movement of the strip having a hard surface and a large diameter, of which one is arranged above and the other below the metal strip 1, such that the bending effect of the bending rollers 42 on the metal strip 1 is low. The curving rollers ensure that the flow of the material takes place on two short flow paths, namely substantially only in the areas in which the bending rollers act on the metal strip (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). As a result, the flow path can be shortened relative to that of the previously described exemplary. At the same time, only a low level of residual stress results from the size of the bending rollers and the associated large bending radius. A ratio of bending roller diameter to strip thickness of 500 or more is ideal.

(32) The contact area between metal strip and the bending roller (or flow roller) can be kept very small.

(33) In this example, as an example, the strip tension can be derived from the transverse section area of the strip99% of the 0.2% tensile yield strength. The flow of the strip is regulated by linear drive 6. A sabre reduction is achieved at the same time. The bending rollers 42 offer a fixed point in the straightening path between the linear drives 6 and 8. The deformation of the metal strip 1 to reduce the sabre is thereby facilitated. Again, in case of a sabre-like metal strip, a considerably higher strip tension is applied by the linear drives 6, 8 to the shorter side of the strip. This increased specific strip tension leads to an additional stretching during stretch straightening with almost no adverse effects owing to an additional stretch-bend straightening on the bending rollers or to an additional material flow through strip tension and overlaid bending.

(34) Deviating from the exemplary embodiment 1, the linear drives are not pivotable about the same pivot point but rather the linear drive 6 on the inlet side about a central point M3 and the linear drive 8 on the outlet side about a central point M4, wherein the two central points in the direction of movement of the strip 11 are each in front of the linear drive and the pivot radius is considerably greater for the linear drive 6 than the pivot radius for the linear drive 8.

(35) An immersion depth of the bending rollers into the path of the metal strip is set according to the information input for how high the percentage of deformation by bending should be in the straightening process. It is ideal if the percentage of deformation by curving to the overall deformation generated during straightening is less than 10%. In this exemplary embodiment, the strip tension is typically set such that around 99% of the desired straightening level is achieved and the remaining 1% of the desired straightening level is carried out by the bending rollers. This means that the aim is not for the metal strip to be straightened by bending but rather to generate a precisely defined short flow path through the area of bending where the metal strip 1 contacts the bending rollers.

(36) In order to optimise costs, the strip tension can be reduced while the diameter of the bending rollers is simultaneously decreased for causing an increase in the level of deformation by the bending rollers. In FIGS. 5 and 6, a stretch-bend-stand 51 having considerably smaller bending rollers 52 is provided between the linear drive 6 on the inlet side and the linear drive 8 on the outlet side instead of a bending stand. During stretch-bend-straightening, the deformation is carried out in the region of the contact zone between the strip and the straightening rollers on 2-21 rollers.

(37) With the stretch-bend stand 17 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, stretching levels of for example 2% can be achieved having imposed strip tensions of about 10% of the material tensile yield strengthtransverse section area of the strip. However, this leads to considerable residual stresses in the metal strip. Since strip tensions of up to 6,000 kN can be generated by the linear drives, an optimisation between costs and residual stresses is possible. The strip tension imposed by linear drives 6 and 8 is ideally at least 70% of the yield strengthtransverse section of the strip, wherein yield strength here is taken to mean the 0.2% yield point in particular.

(38) The advantages of an optimal strip guiding are also present in this exemplary embodiment.

(39) In FIGS. 7 and 8, a rolling mill stand 61 having relatively large rollers 62 is provided between the linear drive 6 on the inlet side and the linear drive 8 on the outlet side instead of a bending stand. By way of example, the rollers 62 should typically cause a slight deformation of around 1% or less for example with a finishing thrust. At the same time, a strip tension of 99% of the yield strengthtransverse section area of the strip is applied.

(40) This exemplary embodiment has the advantage that the flow of the metal strip only occurs in the roll gap. Residual stresses are excluded as far as possible through the strip tension by means of linear drives without bending the strip in combination with rolling.

(41) This exemplary embodiment further has the advantage that the strip path is regulated by the linear drive 6. A sabre reduction is achieved at the same time. The rollers offer a fixed point. The additional deformation to reduce the sabre is facilitated in this way. In order to optimise the cost, the strip tension can be reduced while the diameter of rolling is simultaneously decreased.

(42) Depending on the desired structural composition and in relation to the constriction a strip tension of 50% of the yield strengthtransverse section area of the strip can optionally be useful. A strip tension of 5,000 kN can easily be realised at a system speed of 50 m/min.

(43) The exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 9 and 10 differ from those in FIGS. 7 and 8 in that they have a rolling mill 71 with rollers 72, which rolling mill is designed for a considerably higher level of reduction of strip thickness of typically around 30%.

(44) With the linear drive 6 on the inlet side and the linear drive 8 on the outlet side a very high strip tension can be generated on both sides of the rolling mill stand which can increase the deformation considerably. The deformation process can ideally be carried out such that straightening the strip in further processing steps for a part of strip manufacture is not necessary.

(45) This exemplary embodiment also differs from those described above in that the linear drives 6 and 8 are pivotably mounted about a common centre of the circle M9. The centre of the circle M9 is in the centre of the roll gap between the two rollers 72.

(46) The exemplary embodiment further has the advantage that the strip path is regulated by the linear drive 6. A sabre reduction is achieved at the same time. The rollers offer a fixed point. The additional deformation to reduce the sabre is facilitated in this way.

(47) It should be noted in relation to the latter three exemplary embodiments that a strip guiding system after the roll gap or after the bending rollers enables a targeted correction of a sabre of the metal strip. This means that the strip sabre can be measured directly behind the straightening unit, if possible on the tension-free strip. The roll gap and the bending rollers are to be viewed as virtually a fixed point here. The short side of a sabre strip is impinged at a higher strip tension and therefore additionally stretched until a largely sabre-free metal strip remains. Checking of the strip sabre and the strip flatness is carried out on the outlet side of the linear drive on the outlet side if possible without tension or at a very low strip tension. The strip correction achieved by straightening can be readjusted by means of a strip guiding system and/or by changing the level of stretching.

(48) FIGS. 11 and 12 show an exemplary embodiment according to the invention for a stretch-bend-straightening process, in the present example in a cut-to-length line. Only one linear drive 8 on the outlet side is present in this example, which linear drive 8 is arranged behind a straightening machine 81 with curving rollers 82 in the direction of movement of the strip 11. The linear drive 8 can be pivoted about a pivot point M11 which is arranged, in the direction of movement of the strip, before the linear drive 8. A cut-to-length shear 83 is arranged behind the linear drive 8.

(49) This is a comparatively simple solution with limited effects. The retraction forces to stretch the metal strip must be applied by a decoiler 33 arranged in front of the straightening machine 31 and by the straightening machine 31 itself. The drives for the straightening machine 31 can be omitted if sufficient retraction force can be applied by the deformation action and the decoiler. The function of the straightening machine is in contrast to the diameters of the bending rollers mentioned previously having an as large as possible diameter in order to reduce possible residual stresses. This arrangement nevertheless has the advantage that the strip path is regulated by the linear drive 8. A sabre reduction is achieved at the same time. The straightening rollers offer a fixed point. The additional deformation to reduce the sabre is facilitated in this way.

(50) A further advantage is that the metal strip can be fed to the cut-to-length shear 83 at exactly right angles using the strip guiding system.