Closed loop roller leveler with oscillating laser sensors

Abstract

A closed loop roller leveler assembly for measuring flatness of a strip, having a roller leveler, a flatness sensor, and at least one arm operatively connected to the flatness sensor to raise and lower the flatness sensor. The flatness sensor has a plurality of sensor rolls, at least one load cell, and at least one laser sensor which is mounted on a positioner which oscillates the laser sensors across a width of the strip.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 520,224 filed on Jun. 15, 2017, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The disclosure relates to roller levelers. More particularly it relates to a roller leveler that operates in a closed loop automatic control mode.[0003]A metal strip product is fed into a roller leveler, typically from a coil. Roller levelers use multiple work rolls to flatten the strip. The path of the strip passes between offset upper and lower work rolls, which reverse bend the strip multiple times before the strip exits the leveler.[0004]A given roller leveler is designed to process a range of strip thicknesses and strip yield strengths. As the strip passes between the work rolls very high separating forces are generated against the work roll face, yet the work roll diameters are of necessity relatively small; this to allow the work rolls to bend and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0030]Another embodiment of the disclosure is the ease of maintenance of both the force measurement and the distance measurement sensors used in the overall sensing system.

[0031]Yet another embodiment of the disclosure is self-monitoring of the load cells and automatic repositioning of the flatness measuring system to prevent overload of the force sensors.

[0032]Yet another embodiment of the disclosure is the oscillation of the laser sensor array, which allows the laser sensors to provide a more complete map of the flatness of the strip. In addition, when using the force sensors on light gauge strip, it is important to know where the edges of the strip are in relation to the array of force sensing rollers. When approaching the leveler, the strip can wander relative to the centerline of the process. By o

Problems solved by technology

There are existing automatic closed loop control levelers but a problem with them is the sensing systems are expensive and are not capable of covering the entire range of strip thickness

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