DEVICE FOR THE CONTACT-FREE CLEANING OF ROLLERS, AND METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

Devices and methods for cleaning a roller of a system for processing strip-type material may involve a suction duct in addition to a nozzle that directs a gas flow onto a surface of the roller. The nozzle and the suction duct may be disposed in a hood that covers part of a circumference of the roller. Further, the nozzle can be disposed at an angle within a range of 45 degrees with respect to a normal line extending orthogonally from the surface of the roller. Moreover, the nozzle may be spaced less than 50 mm apart from the surface of the roller.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device for cleaning a roller of a system for processing strip-type material, the device comprising: a hood configured to cover part of a circumference of a roller; a nozzle that is disposed in the hood and is configured to direct a gas flow onto a surface of the roller; and a suction duct disposed in the hood.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the nozzle is configured to cover at least a width of the roller corresponding to a width of a strip-type material carried along or supported by the roller.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the nozzle is configured to be positioned at an angle within a range of 45 degrees with respect to a normal line extending from the surface of the roller.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the nozzle is configured to be spaced less than 50 mm from the surface of the roller.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein the hood comprises internal faces, wherein either the internal faces of the hood are continuous or the hood comprises rounded transitions between the internal faces.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein the nozzle is configured to cover at least a width of the roller corresponding to a width of a strip-type material carried along or supported by the roller, wherein the nozzle is configured to be positioned at an angle within a range of 45 degrees with respect to a normal line extending from the surface of the roller, wherein the nozzle is configured to be spaced less than 50 mm from the surface of the roller.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein an amount of suction in terms of volumetric flow created by the suction duct is greater than the gas flow of the nozzle.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein the nozzle is configured as a slit nozzle or as a nozzle beam having a plurality of individual nozzles disposed beside one another.

25. The device of claim 22 wherein the gas flow directed by the nozzle composes air and exits the nozzle at a velocity of at least 20 m/s.

26. The device of claim 22 wherein the nozzle is a first nozzle, the device further comprising a second nozzle that is disposed ahead of the first nozzle with respect to a rotation direction of the roller.

27. The device of claim 22 wherein the nozzle and an infeed line to the nozzle are capable of receiving abrasive particles to be directed as part of the gas flow.

28. The device of claim 22 wherein the nozzle is configured to be disposed perpendicular to the roller surface and configured to be spaced 1-30 mm apart from the roller surface.

29. The device of claim 22 wherein the suction duct is a first suction duct, the device further comprising a second suction duct configured to be positioned across a width of the roller corresponding to a width of a strip-type material carried along or supported by the roller, wherein the second suction duct is disposed outside the hood in a region proximate at least one of the strip-type material or an adjacent roller.

30. A method for cleaning a roller of a system for processing strip-type material, the method comprising: directing a gas flow from a nozzle within a hood onto a surface of the roller such that the gas flow is directed at least across a width of the roller corresponding to a width of the strip-type material that comes in contact with the roller, wherein the gas flow is directed onto the surface of the roller at an angle within a range of 45 degrees with respect to a normal line extending from the surface of the roller, with the nozzle being positioned less than 50 mm from the surface of the roller, wherein the hood covers a part of a circumference of the roller; and removing glitter and dissolved contaminants by way of a suction duct disposed in the hood.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein a volumetric flow created by the suction duct is greater than the gas flow created by the nozzle.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the gas flow composes air and exits the nozzle at a velocity of at least 20 m/s.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising directing a second gas flow from a second nozzle onto the surface of the roller, wherein with respect to the roller the second gas flow is circumferentially-offset from the gas flow from the nozzle.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the directed gas flow at least temporarily includes abrasive particles.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein the nozzle directs the gas flow at an angle that is perpendicular to the roller surface, wherein the nozzle is spaced 1-30 mm apart from the roller surface as the nozzle directs the gas flow.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein the suction duct is a first suction duct, the method further comprising removing glitter and dissolved contaminants by way of a second suction duct positioned across the width of the roller corresponding to the width of the strip-type material carried along or supported by the roller, with the second suction duct being disposed outside the hood in a region proximate at least one of the strip-type material or an adjacent roller.

Description

[0021] Further details and features of the invention are derived from the drawings and the description hereunder by means of the schematic illustrations. The figures merely illustrate exemplary embodiments in a schematic manner. Same parts are referenced using identical reference signs.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device according to the invention, when viewed in the direction of the roller width.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a further cleaning device according to the invention, when viewed from the direction of the roller surface.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a further cleaning device according to the invention, when viewed from the direction of the roller surface.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a rolling stand having cleaning devices according to the invention.

Reference Signs

[0026] 1 Roll [0027] 1.1 Work roll [0028] 1.2 Support roll [0029] 2 Roller surface [0030] 3 Contaminant layer [0031] 4 Hood [0032] 5 Nozzle [0033] 5.1 Slit nozzle [0034] 5.2 Nozzle beam [0035] 5.3 Individual nozzle [0036] 6 Gas flow [0037] 7 Particles [0038] 8 Suction duct [0039] 8.1 First suction duct [0040] 8.2 Second suction duct [0041] 8.3 Individual suction duct [0042] 9 Exhaust air [0043] 10 Strip material [0044] 11 Further suction duct

[0045] A roller (1) having a contaminant layer (3) which adheres to the roller surface (2) is illustrated in FIG. 1. A hood (4) according to the invention has been offered up to the roller surface (2), wherein this hood (4) does not contact the roller surface (2). At least one nozzle (5) is provided in the direction of the width in the hood (4), from which nozzle a gas flow (6) is blown down at a velocity of more than 20 m/s, preferably more than 40 m/s onto the roller surface (2) having the contaminant layer (3). For reasons of economy, velocities in excess of 500 m/s are no longer expedient. Furthermore, velocities below 300 m/s are preferable for reasons of noise abatement. The contaminant layer (3) is released from the roller surface (2) by the gas flow (6), and the particles (7) created are extracted together with the exhaust air (9) through at least one suction duct (8). The volumetric flow of the exhaust air (9) herein is dimensioned such that the former is greater than the volume of the gas flow (6) that is infed by way of the at least one nozzle (5).

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a hood (4) when viewed from the direction of the roller surface, wherein the at least one nozzle (5) is embodied as a slit nozzle (5.1). Slit nozzles (5.1) or flat slit nozzles of this type are known as pneumatic blades or air knives. The slit nozzle (5.1) extends across the width of the hood (4) and in one embodiment is provided in an approximately centric manner. In the embodiment illustrated, two suction ducts (8) are provided on the hood (4), wherein the first suction duct (8.1) when viewed in the rotation direction of the roller is located ahead of the slit nozzle (5.1), extending across a large part of the width of the hood (4). Additionally, a second suction duct (8.2) is provided on the trailing side of the slit nozzle (5.1) when viewed in the rotation direction of the roller. However, the symmetrical construction shown in FIG. 2 is not mandatory but does have the advantage that the installation may be performed independently of the rotation direction.

[0047] In one further embodiment, only one of the two suction ducts (8.1 or 8.2) is provided. On account thereof, a smaller installation space of the hood (4) may be implemented, this simplifying the installation and the repositioning capability of the hood (4). Instead of the width shown, the suction ducts (8) may also be composed of a plurality of individual suction ducts disposed beside one another.

[0048] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is likewise viewed from the direction of the roller surface. However, the at least one nozzle (5) herein is configured in the form of a nozzle beam (5.2) which in the direction of the width is composed of a multiplicity of individual nozzles disposed beside one another. Further additional individual nozzles (5.3) are provided on the leading side of the nozzle beam (5.2) in the rotation direction, the contaminant layer (3) being burst open thereby already ahead of the nozzle beam (5.2), on account of which the cleaning effect may be further improved. A plurality of suction ducts (8.3) are provided ahead of the additional individual nozzles (5.3) and therebetween. As is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a second suction duct (8.2) is provided after the nozzle beam (5.2). Of course, the second suction duct (8.2) need not to be embodied as illustrated as an individual duct which extends approximately across the width of the hood (4), but may be subdivided into a plurality of individual suction ducts (8.3).

[0049] FIG. 4 schematically shows a rolling stand having two work rollers (1.1), the strip material (10) to be processed running through therebetween. The work rollers (1.1) are supported by a pair of support rollers (1.2). In the case of the device according to the invention, the hoods (4) may be provided on the work rollers (1.1) as well as on the support rollers (1.2). In consideration of the quality requirements, the disposal of the hoods (4) and thus the cleaning is performed on the work rollers (1.1), preferably on the entry side of the strip (10).

[0050] In one further embodiment, further suction ducts (11) for suctioning free particles are provided. The further suction duct (11) preferably has a width that corresponds to the width of the strip-type material and in the exit direction is disposed in the region of the contact point between the work roller (1.1) and the strip (10). Further suction ducts (11) may additionally or alternatively be disposed in the proximity of the contact points between the work roller (1.1) and the support roller (1.2), or between support rollers (1.2), respectively.