Metal workpiece required for the production of flat metal products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for producing a required metal workpiece (192) from a flat metal product (144), wherein the method has: providing a computer model (165) for producing the required metal workpiece (192) from the flat metal product (144) during a machining process (180, 182), wherein the computer model (165) has an input and an output, wherein the machining process (180, 182) has a machining step of the flat metal product (144) by a machining device, receiving a technical data set (120) characterizing the flat metal product (144), wherein at least a part of the data of the technical data set (120) is collected during the production process of the flat metal product (144), transferring the technical data set (120) to the input of the computer model (165), based on the transfer of the technical data set (120), receiving from the output of the computer model (165) model values for the operating parameters of the machining device, producing the required metal workpiece (192) by controlling the machining process (180, 182), wherein the control of the machining process (180, 182) includes: controlling the machining device to perform the machining step on the flat metal product (144) with the operating parameters set to the model values.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the control of production equipment for metal products, in particular to the control of a production system for flat metal products (such as sheets, strips) and the process of their further processing into metal workpieces.

[0002] Slabs made of different materials such as steel, copper alloy or aluminum, for example, are produced in a continuous casting plant and then further processed in a metal processing enterprise such as a stamping plant or a rolling mill. Usually, the further processing is carried out in multiple stages. For example, on the one hand, in a hot rolling mill and then in a cold rolling mill. The hot rolling mill uses the following method, that is, the slab is heated to a corresponding temperature above the recrystallization temperature and reduced to a predetermined thickness by extrusion in the roll gap of the hot rolling mill. Since the volume of the slab remains unchanged, corresponding changes in length and width occur. For example, a strip is finally obtained from the slab due to the hot rolling process, and then it is coiled on a coiler to form a so-called coil.

[0003] Rolling can be carried out in different ways, especially in multiple stages. When referring to hot rolling, either the continuous casting slab is (re)heated to a predetermined temperature above the recrystallization temperature, or the continuous casting billet is maintained at a predetermined temperature above the recrystallization temperature based on the casting heat in continuous casting and rolling, or it is reheated and hot rolled to a predetermined thickness, for example, to obtain a coil.

[0004] The hot rolled strip (hot rolled band) can be further processed in further process steps, such as pickling, annealing, slitting, cold rolling and / or coating. For example, if the hot rolled strip is cold rolled to form a cold rolled strip, its thickness will be further reduced and desired properties will appear in the cold rolled strip. If the hot rolled strip or the cold rolled strip is slit, a wide strip is longitudinally cut into multiple narrow strips (slit strips). If the hot rolled strip or the cold rolled strip or the slit strip is coated, the strip is coated with a non-metallic coating or a metallic coating, especially a metallic corrosion-resistant coating, which can be applied, for example, in a hot dip coating device or an electrolytic coating device.

[0005] The production of hot rolled strips or cold rolled strips or the resulting slit strips that can be pickled, annealed and / or coated is generally carried out by the manufacturer, in the case of steel strips by the steel producer, and they are provided as flat metal products to the deep processing enterprise (deep processor). The deep processor generally conducts an incoming inspection when receiving the flat metal product. Based on this, sorting especially occurs for its deep processing. This process brings work effort, delays and possible quality losses on the side of the deep processor.

[0006] Accordingly, the task underlying the present invention is to provide an improved method for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product, a corresponding control device, a method for controlling the production equipment of a metal processing enterprise, a corresponding control device, and a computer program product for implementing the method. The task underlying the present invention is accomplished by the features of the independent patent claims. Embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] This task is accomplished by a computer-implemented method for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product. According to one aspect of the present invention, the computer-implemented method for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product has the following steps:

[0008] - Providing a computer model for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product during a machining process, wherein the computer model has an input and an output, and wherein the machining process has a machining step of the flat metal product by a machining device,

[0009] - Receiving a set of technical data characterizing the flat metal product, wherein at least a part of the data of the set of technical data is collected during the production process of the flat metal product,

[0010] - Transferring the set of technical data to the input of the computer model,

[0011] - Based on the transfer of the set of technical data, receiving, from the output of the computer model, model values for the operating parameters of the machining device,

[0012] - Producing the required metal workpiece by controlling the machining process, wherein the control of the machining process includes: controlling the machining device to perform the machining step on the flat metal product with the operating parameters set to the model values,

[0013] wherein the flat metal product is logically divided into multiple segments, and wherein the set of technical data has technical data characterizing each segment for each segment.

[0014] One aspect of this method is thus based on the fact that the manufacturer of the flat metal product has corresponding material and production data, which he, for example, either already internally records or has to record during the process for quality measures, or he uses these data for the production of the flat metal product for control purposes, or specifically collects these data to implement the above method.

[0015] A method for producing required metal workpieces from flat metal products provides a technology data set to a processor, who can use this technology data set to view and thus analyze details of the flat metal product and / or its production. For example, this can be done in time before receiving the flat metal product and its further processing by the processor's further processing device. Providing the technology data set early on may have the following advantages, namely, the scope of the incoming inspection of the flat metal product by the processor can be reduced or only carried out randomly (i.e., not for each received flat metal product), or even completely dispensed with. A reduced scope of incoming inspection can, for example, forgo time-consuming manual inspections.

[0016] The technology data set can also serve as a basis for plausibility checks, where, for example, the data of the technology data set is compared with incoming inspection data. In particular, the technology data set may contain data that is not accessible within the scope of the incoming inspection, such as specific physical parameters or technical process parameters of the production or the identification of a production machine involved in the production of the flat metal product. In this way, the database for plausibility checks can be expanded and thus the plausibility check can be simplified and / or shortened.

[0017] The technology data set can also make it easier to identify flat metal products, thus reducing or eliminating the risk of material confusion. In this way, a more stable quality of the metal workpiece can be obtained and the risk of complaints can be reduced.

[0018] At least some of the data of the technology data set is transferred as input to a computer model that numerically and / or analytically simulates the processing of the flat metal product, and whose output has model values of the operating parameters of the processing device, which should be used in the processing steps of the processing process for processing the flat metal product. This may have the following advantages, namely, the processing steps using the model values can be carried out based on the actual characteristics of each flat metal product, rather than based on, for example, empirical values, standard values, target values, fixed values or average values. Additionally or alternatively, this can enable process optimization and / or efficiency improvement. The risk of fluctuations in the quality of the metal workpiece can also be reduced.

[0019] Furthermore, an optimized sequence in the further processing (chain) can be achieved based on the technology data set and / or the model values, which can have beneficial effects, for example, by increasing the utilization rate of the processing device, shortening the passage time of the flat metal product through the processing equipment (e.g., reducing the number of material changes for each processing device) and / or reducing the energy required for the operation of the processing device. The ratio of flat metal products as raw materials for producing certain metal workpieces can also be optimized according to certain desired characteristics of the metal workpieces, which can also favorably affect the quality of the metal workpieces.

[0020] Some of the terms and matters used in this text shall be understood according to the following definitions and explanations. Thus, a flat metal product herein refers to a semi-finished product made of metal, steel, or metal alloy, whose geometric shape allows for assigning a nominal value to the thickness that is smaller than any other assignable nominal overall dimension (such as width, corresponding length in a fully unfolded or laid-out state). Herein, "smaller than..." means a difference of at least 10 times, preferably at least 100 times. The flat metal product can optionally contain non-metallic components (such as carbon dissolved in steel or a plastic coating), where the weight of the non-metallic part is small compared to the weight of the metal part. The flat metal product is preferably made of steel. For example, the use of aluminum is also conceivable.

[0021] This specification relates to a flat metal product from which the required metal workpiece should be produced during the processing. The processing has one processing step or a sequence of multiple processing steps over time. Herein, each processing step includes physical and / or chemical changes to the flat metal product or the intermediate product resulting therefrom. Herein, simultaneous basic changes are regarded as a single processing step of the said sequence.

[0022] Examples of processing steps include but are not limited to the above, namely heat treatment, cutting, and / or forming. Heat treatment can be purposefully used to achieve special properties in the metal workpiece to be produced. The deep-processing device for heat treatment can include a furnace, such as a continuous furnace. If predefined properties such as high strength / hardness are to occur in the metal workpiece, the deep-processing device can, in addition to the furnace, also include a cooling device for purposefully cooling the hot metal workpiece or hot flat metal product. Cutting can be targeted for transverse cutting of the flat metal product, such as into plates or sheets, and / or for longitudinal cutting, especially also into plates or sheets or longitudinal cut strips. Forming includes a change in shape compared to the previous state and can include profiling, roll forming, flanging, deep drawing, etc.

[0023] If the processing has exactly one processing step, this processing step directly transforms the flat metal product from the initial state into the required metal workpiece. If the processing has more than one processing step, each processing step in the sequence (except the last processing step in the sequence) transforms the flat metal product into a different intermediate state, and the last processing step in the sequence transforms the flat metal product from its final intermediate state into the required metal workpiece. Thus, the definition of the flat metal product extends from its initial state up to (and including) its final intermediate state, and a metal workpiece rather than a flat metal product is obtained only after the end of the final processing step.

[0024] The processing of flat metal products into metal workpieces can be influenced by the production details of the flat metal products by transmitting a technical data set that contains data characterizing the flat metal products collected during the production process and using it to determine the values (model values) of the process parameters of the processing steps for the processing. Here, the production of flat metal products includes all the treatment and processing steps of one or more materials of the flat metal products between the end of the chemical preparation of these materials (such as adjusting the chemical composition of the melt in the blast furnace) and the initial state of the flat metal products. The initial state is characterized by the thermodynamic, chemical, and mechanical equilibrium of the flat metal products with their environment without technical means (except for storage and transportation equipment). In addition, the production of flat metal products is considered to be completed only when the processor receives the complete technical data set and has free and spontaneous access to it.

[0025] Without limiting generality, the technical data set can, for example, have measurement data collected during the production of flat metal products, i.e., during the execution of production steps (such as casting, pickling, cutting) and / or after a production step for the intermediate products thus produced. The technical data set can also contain data calculated from measurement data measured, for example, during the production process of flat metal products. The technical data set can also, for example, have parameter values set during production for the production devices involved in the production of flat metal products. Static information, such as the machine identification of the production equipment involved in the production of flat metal products, and / or dynamic information, such as a timestamp or the identification of the employees monitoring the production of flat metal products, can be added to the technical data set, for example. Such additional information can be stored, for example, in the memory of a control device that controls the production equipment for producing flat metal products.

[0026] In any case, similar to the definition of the production of flat metal products, the generation of the technical data set is considered to be completed when the processor has received the complete technical data set and can access it spontaneously. This means that the data of the technical data set can be stored before it is received by the processor, but cannot be read or cannot be fully read by the processor. Only due to the receipt of the data can the processor access the technical data set. Therefore, the technical data set is different from other data, such as data measured on the flat metal products produced but not transferred to the processor (internal data of the producer), or data that is directly available to the processor without prior storage after collection (such as within the scope of incoming inspection), or data that can be freely read by the public in any storage state. In this regard, the step of (physically) receiving the data set can also be implemented as a permission for a storage space with controlled access rights, so that the processor can physically receive the technical data set at any time after the permission. This also includes a permanently permitted storage space quota (such as a network folder) to which the processor has temporary random access privileges, which is thus distinguished from public data. Therefore, the receipt of the technical data set is exclusive to the receiving processor.

[0027] The data type, data key, or data category of the technical data set can be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the processor of flat metal products. It can, for example, include the identification of information requirements, such as for the optimized breakdown of flat metal products into multiple sub - segments and their independent further processing. This already requires a differential consideration of the entire strip according to dynamically determinable segments when providing the data. It may also be necessary to draw up special requirements for data acquisition at the production equipment on the supplier side. The provision of the technical data set may make it necessary for the manufacturer to expand the plausibility checks and verification of the data collected according to the requirements of the processing enterprise. The data of the technical data set can be provided in a pre - prepared form with respect to the requirements of the processing enterprise, for example, in the form of an interpretation of the content such as use - case testing, or through specific information representation forms such as traffic - light logic, specific values, curve graphs, etc. The form of data provision (e.g., fully automatic, on - demand, as the case may be) can also be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the processor.

[0028] Similar to the technical data set and without limiting generality, the processing data set can, for example, have measurement data collected during the processing of flat metal products, i.e., during the execution of processing steps (such as straightening, forming, joining) and / or after processing steps on the resulting intermediate products. The processing data set can also contain, for example, data calculated from the measurement data measured during the processing of flat metal products. The processing data set can also, for example, have parameter values set for the processing devices involved in the processing of flat metal products during the production of the required metal workpiece. For example, static information, such as the machine identification of the processing devices involved in the production of the metal workpiece, and / or dynamic information, such as a timestamp or the identification of the employee monitoring the production of the metal workpiece, can be added to the processing data set. For example, such added information can be stored in the memory of a control device that controls the processing equipment for the production of the metal workpiece.

[0029] The manufacturer of flat metal products and the processor (deep - processor), i.e., the manufacturer that manufactures metal workpieces from flat metal products, form at least two independent entities with respect to the technical data set. This means that the processor can be economically related to the manufacturer of flat metal products (i.e., for example, different departments of the same company, two different subsidiaries or sister companies of the same group company, joint - venture partners, or companies related to each other through accounting and / or organizational consolidation) or can be structured independently; in any case, the processor cannot spontaneously access the data of the technical data set before the step of providing the technical data set is completed. The same applies to the situation where the processor generates a processing data set during processing and transmits it as data feedback to the manufacturer of flat metal products, such that the manufacturer of flat metal products cannot spontaneously access the data of the processing data set before said transmission.

[0030] A computer model herein refers to any type of prediction of physical property changes of flat metal products and / or intermediate products made therefrom by one or more processing devices. The technical data set of the flat metal product herein serves as an input variable. The modeling itself can be carried out, for example, in an analytical, heuristic, direct digital or approximate digital form based on a mathematical model. A neural network can also be used, in which case the actual deep processing characteristics of the processing device can be considered thereby, and thus the corresponding characteristics of each deep processing device can also be incorporated into the modeling. As an output variable, at least one model value for the working parameters is provided, which is used to control at least one processing device involved in the entire processing process of processing the flat metal product into the required metal workpiece.

[0031] A typical processing step is forming. Thus, the metal workpiece can be, but is not limited to, a formed part, such as an open profile or a tube. In a non-exclusive example of the production of welded tubes, first a strip-shaped flat metal product is provided, which is in the form of an unslit strip or a slit strip (made within the range of slitting and / or longitudinal division of the unslit strip) according to the size or diameter of the tube to be produced. In this example, the technical data set of the flat metal product is pre-transferred from the flat metal producer before receiving the flat metal product, so that based on the processing of the technical data set by the computer model, at least one working parameter capable of controlling the processing device can be provided.

[0032] In this example, a roll forming device is particularly used as the processing device, in which the strip / slit strip is formed into a tubular slit strip. Then, it passes through a welding device, in which the slit, i.e., the two longitudinal edges of the strip, are connected in a material-bonding manner, especially in a butt weld, so that a tubular strip with a closed cross-section appears. Here, another device for transverse division of the tubular strip is provided after the welding device, so that the tubular strip can be divided into individual tubes with a limited length and provided. If necessary, the flat metal product in the form of a strip or a slit strip can be subjected to a straightening process before roll forming, so that a predefined flatness can appear in the strip, and optionally a trimming process for trimming the longitudinal edges can be carried out before or after this, so that a specified width and / or a specified edge profile for the welding process can appear.

[0033] Exemplary processing steps particularly include:

[0034] - Division, such as punching, cutting, transverse division, longitudinal division;

[0035] - Forming, such as profiling, roll forming, pressing, flanging (die bending), drawing, deep drawing, forging, rolling, twisting, bulging;

[0036] - Heat treatment, such as annealing, hardening, case hardening, thermochemical surface hardening, tempering, bainitization, pearlitization;

[0037] - straightening, e.g. straightening by tension and bending, flame straightening;

[0038] - joining, for example, form-fitting (e.g. riveting, clinching (clinching)), force-fitting (e.g. screwing), material-fitting (e.g. welding, soldering, gluing);

[0039] - surface finishing, e.g. painting, coating, electroplating, galvanizing, enameling, flanging, gluing, melting, dipping, spraying, flame spraying, fluidized bed sintering;

[0040] - Production of composite materials such as metal / plastic or metal / ceramic.

[0041] An exemplary list of possible steps within the scope of flat metal product production includes:

[0042] -melt;

[0043] - casting;

[0044] -Rolling such as hot rolling, cold rolling;

[0045] - pickling;

[0046] -annealing;

[0047] - coating such as electrolytic, hot dip galvanizing, strip coating, painting;

[0048] -smooth;

[0049] - Production of composite materials such as metal / plastic or metal / ceramic;

[0050] - Check / repair;

[0051] - Cutting (longitudinal, transverse) / splitting / punching.

[0052] In a non-limiting example, the operating parameters may include variable control values ​​of a processing device (e.g., processing speed, punch size), physical or chemical variables acting on each intermediate product during processing (e.g., force, temperature, pickling agent concentration), and / or the desired properties of the intermediate product or workpiece to be achieved through the processing steps (e.g., electroplating layer thickness, bending stiffness, hardness).

[0053] According to one embodiment, the technical data set comprises geometrical data, material-specific data and / or surface-specific data of the flat metal product. This can have the advantage that the processing of the flat metal product by the processing device can be adjusted automatically and based on actual data to fluctuations and characteristics of the dimensions, material and / or surface condition of the flat metal product using the operating parameter model values.

[0054] Here, the geometric shape data of the data set relate to the length, width, thickness, and / or curvature of the flat metal product, while the material-specific data relate to the properties of the flat metal product, such as mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation, microstructure, etc. For example, if the flat metal product is also coated with a non-metallic coating and / or a metallic coating, surface-specific data such as effectiveness can be considered, so that local fluctuations in the composition and / or thickness of the coating can be taken into account.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the production of the flat metal product has a production step, where the production step is selected from casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, pickling, annealing, surface finishing, and leveling, and where a part of the technical data set collected during the production of the flat metal product has a parameter of this processing step or a measured value collected during this processing step. In this way, the specific properties of an individual flat metal product resulting from the technical conditions of casting, hot rolling or cold rolling, pickling, annealing, surface finishing, and / or leveling can be taken into account when performing the processing step in a working mode of the processing device adapted to the specific properties by means of model values reflecting the specific properties using the working parameters of the processing device that performs this processing step on the flat metal product. Obviously, the technical data set can contain one or more such parameters.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the parameters of the production step are selected from the casting process name, casting temperature, rolling process name, rolling speed, rolling thickness, roll roughness, roll crown, pickling process name, annealing temperature, annealing time, surface finishing process name, name of the material for possible surface finishing, leveling process name, and flatness. For example, by setting the working parameters to the model values, the processing device can take into account the physical properties of the flat metal product (such as rigidity, hardness, toughness, (specific) strength, ductility, brittleness, surface roughness, deviation from the nominal geometry) known to be related to the casting process, casting temperature, rolling process, rolling speed, rolling thickness, roll roughness, roll crown, pickling process, annealing temperature, annealing time, surface finishing process, material for possible surface finishing, leveling process, and / or flatness.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the technical data set has data characterizing possible defects of the flat metal product. A defect herein refers to a production defect of the flat metal product, i.e., a deviation of the physical or material properties of the flat metal product from the nominal, standard, or rated state expected at the time of delivery. A non-exhaustive list of typical defects includes segregation, shrinkage cavity, crack, blowhole, void, inclusion, and coating peeling. For example, visible defects can be detected on the surface of the flat metal product using suitable means such as by induction method or imaging method, and hidden defects within the flat metal product can be detected by suitable means such as by ultrasonic wave. For example, a defect can be characterized by a sign of the defect type, its location (without limitation, e.g., in two coordinates if the thickness of the flat metal product is negligible as in the case of coil or metal foil, or in three coordinates if a significant thickness can be machined structurally, e.g., in the case of a thick plate with a thickness of 20 mm or 160 mm), and / or geometric shape information characterizing its size and shape (e.g., a circle with a circular diameter, a polygon with one or more side lengths).

[0058] The defect communication by means of the technical data set can allow the manufacturer to consider the defect during the processing of the flat metal product, e.g., by not using the area where the defect is located, by adding appropriate repair steps during the processing, or by machining the defect together (if the defect does not damage the function of the metal workpiece), which may involve, for example, a turning step that turns the flat metal product to an orientation such that the defect is in an unimportant position of the required metal workpiece after the processing is completed. Optionally, the receipt of the defect characterization can be carried out additionally or alternatively through a path separate from the transmission channel of other data of the technical data set (e.g., obtaining the data set based on a session from a remote access memory), and is output as a message, for example, on an output device (e.g., a screen, a speaker).

[0059] According to one embodiment, the flat metal product has a surface finish and / or a coating. In this case, the flat metal product may have defects hidden by the coating or other surface finish, so that they cannot be detected even during the incoming inspection. However, if a defect is found during the production of the flat metal product, technical data characterizing the defect can be collected, for example, in an inspection step before the surface finishing task and incorporated into the technical data set. Therefore, the receipt of the defect characterization of invisible defects can achieve the advantage of more stable quality of the metal workpiece. The coating can be especially a metal corrosion-resistant coating or a non-metal coating, for example, in the form of a foil (foil coating) or a paint (paint coating).

[0060] According to one embodiment, metal workpieces are produced in a processing plant, where the processing plant receives flat metal products and a technical data set from a metal production enterprise (such as a stamping plant or a rolling mill). The advantage of this is that, due to receiving the technical data set, the production control equipment of the processing plant can access the technical information characterizing the flat metal products contained therein, which would otherwise be considered internal information of the metal processing enterprise and thus not accessible from the processing plant side. Thus, by determining model values for the operating parameters of the processing devices described herein, the processing plant can take into account such information when producing metal workpieces from flat metal products with the processing devices set to the model values of the operating parameters. An example of a processing plant is a so-called steel service center (SSC). The SSC has processing devices for the further processing of flat metal products and defines an interface with the end users (further processors) for the flat metal product manufacturers, so that the required target products (metal workpieces) can be provided. In this way, the SSC can obtain the corresponding technical data set of the flat metal products from the flat metal product manufacturers in advance before receiving the flat metal products, so that they can plan and commission accordingly, reducing incoming inspection and downtime, optimizing throughput time, and improving the safety of the processing process planning related to a large number of other processing processes set on the SSC side. In this regard, the SSC can also notify the end users of the delivery date faster and commit or comply accordingly.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the method for producing the required metal workpieces from flat metal products further has: collecting a processing data set characterizing the processing step during the execution of the processing step on the flat metal product and transmitting the processing data set to the metal processing enterprise to adjust the control of the production equipment of the metal processing enterprise based on the processing data set. The data feedback from the processing plant to the metal processing enterprise established in this way can allow the metal processing enterprise to adjust the process parameters when producing other flat metal products in the future, so that certain characteristics of the future flat metal products are optimized for one or more processing steps. In this way, for example, systematic deviations between the geometry of the flat metal products and the known requirements of the processing plant can be identified and reduced or eliminated at the metal processing enterprise, so that in this example, additional processing steps (trimming) for correcting systematic deviations may be less complex or even omitted.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the processing device is selected from a forming device, a dividing device, a joining device, a heat treatment device, a straightening device, a picking device, a surface finishing device, and a device for producing a composite material, wherein the operating parameters characterize the setting of the processing device or the physical action of the processing device on the flat metal product. Thus, the computer model can directly set the setting of one or more device parameters of the processing device (such as processing speed, geometric shape setting, tool selection, or the force to be applied on the device side), and thus this does not have to be determined in an additional working step. Alternatively or additionally, the physical action of the processing device on the flat metal product (such as temperature, force at the position of the flat metal product) can be defined, which can be monitored, for example, by means of a measuring device and converted into the device setting of the processing device by means of a control loop. In this way, the required scope of manual operation of the processing device can be reduced, the processing time of the flat metal product caused by the processing device can be shortened, and / or the quality of the required metal workpiece can be improved.

[0063] According to the present invention, the flat metal product is reasonably divided into multiple segments, and for each segment, the technical data set has technical data characterizing the segment. In this way, the segment-specific selection and processing of the flat metal product can be achieved. For example, the characteristics of the flat metal product are not considered as an average value or a nominal value defined separately over the entire length and width ranges, but as segment-specific actual values for modeling. Thus, during the processing, especially in the control of the processing device, local fluctuations can be better responded to.

[0064] For example, if the flat metal product exists in a strip shape, it has a larger longitudinal extension dimension (length) compared to the transverse extension dimension (width), and in particular, the length can be divided into multiple separate parts. Since the physical properties and / or material-specific properties may vary within the longitudinal and / or transverse extension ranges of the flat metal product, dividing it into multiple parts helps: dividing it into multiple parts within the longitudinal extension range (and / or the transverse range if necessary) is more persuasive than the average value over the entire length range that does not consider local fluctuations, and local fluctuations can be better identified.

[0065] According to one embodiment, each section can be designed individually, particularly based on the technical data set. Each section preferably has an extension dimension of at most 5 meters, preferably at most 1 meter, in at least one direction. For example, this direction can be the longitudinal direction of the strip, so that the strip is reasonably divided into a plurality of small transverse sections, or this direction is the transverse direction of the strip, so that there is a logical division into a plurality of longitudinally cut strips with unique characteristics. The flat metal product can also be divided in more than one direction with logical dimensional constraints, for example in the form of a 50 x 50 centimeter (cm) grid. Since the material-specific properties may vary in the longitudinal and / or transverse extension of the flat metal product, the division into multiple parts can help: the subdivision into multiple parts within a longitudinal extension of 1 meter or less (and / or if necessary in the transverse extension) is more persuasive than the average value for the entire length without considering local fluctuations, and local fluctuations can be better identified.

[0066] Taking into account material fluctuations with high resolution during the production process can enable, for example, more accurate sorting according to quality, especially when producing small-sized metal workpieces. Another advantage may lie in the fact that when manufacturing a large number of metal workpieces from the same flat metal product, the final quality inspection can be simplified because workpiece-specific quality information already exists from the production of the base flat metal product due to high resolution.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the operating parameter has the specification of a section selected from these sections for the production of a metal workpiece. By evaluating the technical data set and comparing it with the required metal workpiece specifications provided for the computer model input, the computer model can identify the section most suitable for a specific metal workpiece. This can, for example, allow for further quality improvement and simplify quality monitoring in the mass production of metal workpieces.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the processing device is selected from a large number of available processing devices based on the technical data set and / or model values. For example, the selection can be made according to criteria such as "optimization of the processing device for the specific characteristics of the flat metal product" or "reduction of processing device wear". For example, the optimization can consist of selecting a smaller processing device for the processing step of a flat metal product with a smaller (e.g., significantly below average) overall size, so that when processing a larger flat metal product on a larger machine, it will not be delayed due to full load operation caused by processing a smaller flat metal product. Or, when a large number of flat metal products with small specifications are to be processed, a large-sized machine may be more fully loaded due to processing small-sized flat metal products in between. This principle can be similarly applied to other characteristics of the flat metal product, such as using a forming device with a higher maximum bending force for a flat metal product with a thickness above the average level or using it to form a thinner flat metal product to improve full load operation.

[0069] For example, the reduction of wear of the processing device can be achieved in such a way that, from a large number of different devices in which the same operating parameters can occur within specifically different allowable value ranges, a processing device is selected for a separately simulated flat metal product where the model value does not lie within the allowable value range, for example, the upper limit. For example, a forming device with medium bending force, process temperature, etc. can operate with less wear compared to when it has high bending force, process temperature, etc. Or, operation at the lower limit, for example, of the allowable value range of the operating parameters may cause quality defects for the required metal workpiece. Therefore, a bending device for thick plates may require a very small bending force to form flat metal products with a thickness below the average level, and such a bending force can only occur with a relatively high degree of uncertainty. This will lead to more frequent fluctuations in the geometry of the resulting metal workpiece when this use is repeated.

[0070] According to one embodiment, if the model value is outside the predetermined value range or if a warning about "violation of the predetermined quality standard in the case of producing a metal workpiece from a flat metal product" is received based on the model value and / or the technical data set, the production of the required metal workpiece is prohibited. The setting conditions for the value range of the model value can, for example, be derived from one or more allowable or achievable value ranges of the corresponding operating parameters, which can be set in conjunction with the available processing device, either directly as the parameters to be set at the respective machine or indirectly as the physical influence of the machine on the flat metal product. For example, the corresponding quality warning can be received by a computer model based on its evaluation of the technical data set, by an analysis software based on the simulation results received from the computer model, or by one of the processing devices involved in the processing, and optionally output as a message or notification on an output device (such as a screen, speaker). The violation of the quality standard may particularly be a failure in the rationality check of the data in the technical data set. In this way, for example, the confusion of flat metal products can be identified and the processing process using the confused flat metal products can be prevented.

[0071] The prohibition of production here means that if there is a quality warning or an out-of-range value, the processing process (i.e., the processing steps of the processing process) is not started. The prohibition of the processing process in the case of an out-of-range value can, for example, prevent the overload of the processing device set for the model value setting. The prohibition of the processing process in the case of a quality warning can result in a more constant quality when producing multiple metal workpieces with the same processing process or maintaining the lower limit of the quality level for the required metal workpiece.

[0072] As a reaction to the prohibited processing procedure, the computer model can be run using the technical data set of another more suitable flat metal product, and then the required metal workpiece can be produced from the more suitable flat metal product. Alternatively, the relevant operating parameters can be set within a suitable value range, for example manually or based on an alternative automatic determination method (such as a control electronic device). Alternatively, another processing device that does not exceed the value range or violate the quality standard can be used to perform the prohibited processing procedure, or the practice is, if possible, to perform the illegal sub-step on another processing device where no exceeding or violation occurs.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the flat metal product has a metal sheet, strip or slit strip. For the common specifications of flat metal products, the method for producing the required metal workpiece from the flat metal product can be particularly unobstructedly implemented in the case of an existing industrial infrastructure composed of processing and transportation devices.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the method for producing the required metal workpiece from the flat metal product further has:

[0075] - For each of a large number of available flat metal products, receive a technical data set that respectively characterizes the available flat metal product, wherein at least a part of the data in the technical data set is collected during the production of the available flat metal product,

[0076] - Select a flat metal product based on the technical data set, wherein the selected flat metal product is the flat metal product used to perform the method for producing the required metal workpiece.

[0077] In this way, the selection of the flat metal product to be used for producing the metal workpiece can be optimized, and thus an improvement in the quality of the metal workpiece and / or a milder wear of the processing device can be obtained.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the selection has:

[0079] - Receive a specification data set that characterizes the required metal workpiece,

[0080] - For at least a part of the technical data set, calculate the deviation degree between the technical data set and the specification data set,

[0081] - Identify the flat metal product that minimizes the deviation degree.

[0082] This provides the advantage of quality-optimally selecting flat metal products by being as consistent as possible with the metal workpiece specifications. In a non-limiting example, the specification data set can here have one or more data key values, which are also included in the technical data set, and for each of the said data key values a value or value range is set (key value - value data set). The specification can also specify one or more of the included data key values, which are used to calculate the degree of deviation. Then, the degree of deviation can be calculated as the difference between the specification value and the technical data set value for consistent numerical data key values (such as geometric dimensions, stiffness). Thus, for non-numerical data key values (such as the name of the rolling process), quantification may be necessary, for example, if consistent, the factor "1", if inconsistent, the factor "0", similar to adding 0 when there is no consistency and adding 1 when there is consistency, or according to a table that quantifies different rolling processes, for example, according to their similarity. When using multiple data key values to determine the degree of approximation to the metal workpiece specifications, the degree of deviation can integrate the individual consistencies, for example, as a mathematical function (such as the sum of differences or squared differences or as a weighted sum with fixed weights or weights specified in the specification data set).

[0083] According to one embodiment, the selection comprises:

[0084] - For each of at least a part of the technical data sets:

[0085] - Transfer the technical data set to the input of a computer model,

[0086] - Due to the transfer of the technical data set, receive from the output of the computer model a model value for the operating parameter,

[0087] - Compare the model value with a predetermined optimum value of the operating parameter,

[0088] - Identify the flat metal product for which the difference from the optimum value is minimized.

[0089] This provides the advantage of selecting flat metal products that minimize the risk of wear of the processing device and / or allow maintaining a constant metal workpiece quality by being optimally consistent with the optimum value. For example, wear reduction can be obtained by having the optimum value in an intermediate value range set by the structural limits of the processing device, the allowable value range being spaced from the maximum and minimum values of the operating parameter by an upper or lower value range. If the computer model now provides different model values for many different flat metal products that are scattered around the optimum value, the upper and lower value ranges can be avoided by getting as close as possible to the optimum value.

[0090] For example, a forming device with medium bending force, process temperature, etc. can operate with less wear compared to a forming device with high bending force, process temperature, etc. Or, operation within a low range of working parameter values may, for example, result in quality defects of the required metal workpiece. Thus, a bending device for thick plates for forming flat metal products with a thickness below the average level may require a very low bending force, which can only occur with a relatively high degree of uncertainty. This may lead to more frequent fluctuations in the geometry of the resulting metal workpiece when such use is repeated.

[0091] According to one embodiment, a method for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product further comprises:

[0092] - comparing the model value with a comparison value of the working parameters, wherein the comparison value characterizes the assumption of using the processing device for another processing step on another flat metal product,

[0093] - if the value of the difference between the model value and the comparison value is below a predetermined limit value, then grouping the processing step together with another processing step in terms of time.

[0094] This can provide the advantage that different processing steps of different flat metal products (here, it may also be different cut pieces of the same original flat metal product in the initial state) by the same processing device, which require similar working parameter values, are executed successively. "Grouping in terms of time" here means that there is no such processing step between two processing steps grouped into the same group for which the model value and the comparison value differ by at least the limit value. Thus, the grouping in terms of time of the different processing steps corresponds to the grouping of the model values within an interval with a width of twice the limit value based on the comparison value. Here, the comparison value can be determined, for example, by statistically identifying accumulation points (such as median / percentile analysis).

[0095] On the other hand, the present invention provides a device for controlling the production of a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product, wherein the device has a first processor and a first memory with program instructions, and wherein the execution of the program instructions causes the device for controlling the production of a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product to:

[0096] - provide a computer model for producing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product during the processing, wherein the computer model has an input and an output, and wherein the processing has a processing step of processing the flat metal product by a processing device,

[0097] - receive a technical data set characterizing the flat metal product, wherein at least a part of the data of the technical data set is collected during the production of the flat metal product,

[0098] - Transfer the technical data set to the input of the computer model,

[0099] - Receive, as a result of the transfer of the technical data set, model values of the operating parameters for the processing device from the output of the computer model,

[0100] - Produce a desired metal workpiece by controlling the processing, wherein the control of the processing comprises: controlling the processing device to perform processing steps on the flat metal product by using the operating parameters set to the model values,

[0101] wherein the flat metal product is logically divided into a plurality of segments, and wherein the technical data set has technical data characterizing each segment for each segment.

[0102] On the other hand, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for controlling production equipment of a metal processing enterprise, such as a stamping plant or a rolling mill, wherein the method has:

[0103] - Controlling the production equipment to produce a flat metal product,

[0104] - Collecting a technical data set characterizing the flat metal product during the production of the flat metal product,

[0105] - Transmitting the technical data set to the production equipment of the processing plant to control the processing of the flat metal product during the processing implemented by the production equipment based on the technical data set,

[0106] wherein the flat metal product is logically divided into a plurality of segments, and wherein the technical data set has technical data characterizing each segment for each segment.

[0107] A method complementary to the method for producing a desired metal workpiece from a flat metal product can cause the technical data set to be provided to the processing plant out of phase or on demand together with the flat metal product, such that it is transferred to the input of the computer model and the model values of the operating parameters derived therefrom for the production of the metal workpiece can be adjusted.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the method for controlling the production equipment of a metal processing enterprise further includes: receiving a processing data set characterizing a processing process based on a technical data set and adjusting the control of the production equipment based on the processing data set. The data feedback from the processing plant to the metal processing enterprise established in this way allows the metal processing enterprise to adjust the process parameters when producing other flat metal products in the future, so that certain characteristics of future flat metal products are optimized for one or more processing steps. For example, systematic deviations between the edge geometry of a flat metal product and the known requirements of the processing plant for the joining process can be identified and reduced or eliminated on the side of the metal processing enterprise in this way. Therefore, in this example, additional processing steps (such as trimming) for correcting systematic shape deviations may be less complex or even omitted.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the method for controlling the production equipment of a metal processing enterprise further includes: receiving a large number of other processing data sets, storing the processing data set together with the other processing data sets, and providing the stored processing data sets to the input of pattern recognition, wherein the adjustment of the control of the production equipment is based on the recognized pattern received from the output of the pattern recognition.

[0110] Pattern recognition implementing known methods, such as based on support vector machines, artificial neural networks, or adaptive algorithms, can simply determine cumulative values, systematic and / or accidental deviations, and / or relationships that can only be recognized based on a large amount of data in the processing data set. For example, the influence of the material composition, edge geometry, and / or surface condition of various flat metal products on their weldability can be examined, and the recognized material composition relationships can be considered in future melting and casting processes in relation to weldability optimization, the edge geometry can be considered in future slitting or trimming processes, and the surface condition can be considered in future rolling and / or leveling processes.

[0111] On the other hand, the present invention provides a device for controlling the production equipment of a metal processing enterprise, wherein the device has a second processor and a second memory with program instructions, and the running of the program instructions causes the device for controlling the production equipment of the metal processing enterprise to:

[0112] - Control the production equipment to produce flat metal products,

[0113] - Collect a technical data set characterizing the flat metal product during the production process of the flat metal product,

[0114] - Transmit the technical data set to the production equipment of the processing plant to control the processing of the flat metal product during the processing process based on the technical data set.

[0115] Among them, the flat metal product is logically divided into multiple segments, and the technical data group has technical data characterizing each segment for each segment.

[0116] On the other hand, the present invention provides a computer program product having instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to one of the embodiments described herein.

[0117] The above embodiments can be combined with each other in any way as long as the combination is not mutually exclusive.

[0118] Those skilled in the art will understand that aspects of the present invention can be embodied as a device, a method, or a computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention can take the form of a pure hardware embodiment, a pure software embodiment (including firmware, software in memory, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, which may be collectively referred to herein as "circuit", "module", or "system". In addition, aspects of the present invention can take the form of a computer program product carried by one or more computer-readable media in the form of computer-executable code.

[0119] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media can be used. A computer-readable medium can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. As used herein, a "computer-readable storage medium" includes a tangible storage medium that can store instructions executable by a processor of a computer device. A computer-readable storage medium may be referred to as a computer-readable non-volatile storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may also be referred to as a tangible computer-readable medium. In several embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may also be capable of storing data that allows access thereto by a processor of a computer device. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to: floppy disks, magnetic hard disks, solid state hard disks, flash memories, USB flash drives, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), optical disks, magneto-optical disks, and register files of processors. Examples of optical disks include compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs), such as CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, CD-Rs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-RWs, or DVD-R discs. The term "computer-readable storage medium" also refers to various types of recording media suitable for retrieval by a computer device through a network or a communication connection. For example, data can be retrieved through a modem, the Internet, or a local area network. The computer-executable code executed on a computer-readable medium can be transmitted through any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical waveguide, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing media.

[0120] A computer-readable signal medium may include, for example, a propagated data signal containing computer-readable program code embodied in a base signal (baseband) or as part of a carrier signal (carrier wave). Such a propagated signal

[0121] It can be designed in any form, including but not limited to electromagnetic form, optical form, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium can be any computer-readable medium other than a computer-readable storage medium, which can transmit, propagate, or convey a program for use in or in conjunction with a system, apparatus, or device for instruction execution.

[0122] "Computer memory" or "memory" is an example of a computer-readable storage medium. Computer memory is any memory directly accessible by a processor.

[0123] "Computer data storage" or "data storage" is another example of a computer-readable storage medium. Computer data storage is any non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, computer memory can also be computer data storage, or vice versa.

[0124] As used herein, a "processor" includes an electronic component capable of executing program-executable or machine-executable instructions or computer-executable code. A reference to a computer device including a "processor" should be construed as possibly including more than one processor or processing core. For example, the processor can be a multi-core processor. A processor can also refer to a collection of processors within a single computer system or distributed across multiple computer systems. The terms "computer device" or "computer" should also be construed as possibly indicating a collection or network of computer devices or computers each including one or more processors. Computer-executable code can be executed by multiple processors, which can be distributed within the same computer device or across multiple computers.

[0125] Computer-executable code can include machine-executable instructions or a program that causes a processor to execute an aspect of the present invention. The computer-executable code for performing the operations of an aspect of the present invention can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and traditional method-oriented programming languages such as the "C" programming language or the like, and translated into machine-executable instructions. In some cases, the computer-executable code can exist in a high-level programming language or in a pre-compiled form and be used in conjunction with an interpreter that generates machine-executable instructions.

[0126] The computer-executable code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or can establish a connection to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet in the case of using an Internet service provider).

[0127] Aspects of the present invention are described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that each block or portion of a block in a flowchart, illustration, and / or block diagram can be implemented by computer program instructions, perhaps in the form of computer-executable code. It should also be noted that blocks in different flowcharts, views, and / or block diagrams can be combined where they are not mutually exclusive. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a device such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate means for performing the functions / steps determined in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0128] The computer program instructions can also be stored on a computer-readable medium, which can control a computer or other programmable data processing device or other device such that they operate in a particular manner, so that the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium produce a manufacture, including instructions for implementing the functions / steps determined in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0129] The computer program instructions can also be stored on a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other device to cause a series of processing steps to be executed on the computer, other programmable data processing device, or other device to produce a process that is executed on the computer, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device generate a method for implementing the functions / steps determined in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0130] The specific design of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures below. The figures and the accompanying description of the resulting features should not be construed as being limited to their respective designs, but are only used to illustrate one or more exemplary designs. Additionally, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the respective features can be combined with each other and can also be combined with other features disclosed herein, even if such combinations are not explicitly shown or mentioned. The accompanying drawings show:

[0131] Figure 1Schematic diagram showing an environment for implementing a method for manufacturing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product and a method for controlling a production facility of a metal processing enterprise;

[0132] Figure 2 Flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a required metal workpiece from a flat metal product;

[0133] Figure 3 Flowchart showing a method for explaining a method for controlling a production facility of a metal processing enterprise.

[0134] Figure 1 Shows an organizational chart of a processing plant 104, which is connected to a metal processing enterprise 102 (such as a stamping plant or a rolling mill) via a communication network 100 (such as an intranet or an IP network, especially the Internet). The control device 110 of the metal processing enterprise 102, for example, has an interface 111 connected to the network 100, and the control device 160 of the processing plant 104, for example, has an interface 161 connected to the network 100. The control devices 110, 160 are also referred to as control systems 110, 160 in this document.

[0135] The metal processing enterprise 102 uses the control system 110 to control the production of flat metal products in a plurality of production steps 130. The programmable control system 110 operating in a digital mode has, in addition to the network interface 111, a processor 112, a control interface 113, and a memory 114. The memory 114 contains program instructions 115 for performing, for example, pattern recognition and program instructions 116 for controlling production equipment (not shown) for implementing the production steps 130. The control of the production equipment is carried out, for example, via the control interface 113 (such as a bus system or a digital control network).

[0136] The figure shows the production steps controlled by the control system 110: slab casting 130, then rolling 130, then cooling 130, then pickling 130, then annealing 130, then skin pass rolling 130, then cutting 130. These steps do not all need to be carried out and are only shown as examples for understanding. The slab casting 130 converts molten metal into a semi-finished product 140, such as a slab 140. The production steps "cooling 130", "pickling 130", "annealing 130" and "skin pass rolling 130" convert the slab into a series of intermediate products 142 in sequence. The final step "cutting 130" converts the last intermediate product 142 into a strip, which, after coiling (not shown), results in a flat metal product 144, such as a coil.

[0137] During the production of the flat metal product 144, various technical information is available and can be collected as technical data 120 by recording, for example, the measured or predefined parameters of the production equipment and / or the measured parameters observable from the slab 140, the intermediate product 142, and / or the flat metal product 144. The collected technical data 120 is transmitted, for example, via the control interface 113 to the control device 110, where optionally additional technical data 120 such as timestamps and / or identifiers of the production equipment involved in the production of the flat metal product 144 is supplemented. The technical data 120 thus integrated in the memory 114 of the control system 110 forms at least a part of the technical data set 120.

[0138] The network 100 and the interfaces 111, 161 are configured to receive the technical data set 120 from the control system 110 at least once via the control system 160. The technical data set 120 can, for example, be transmitted from the control system 110 of the metalworking enterprise 102 to the control system 160 of the processing plant 104 via the network 100 since its compilation time, or be queried from the control system 110 of the metalworking enterprise 102 by the control system 160 of the processing plant 104.

[0139] The processing plant 104 then uses the control system 160 to control the processing of the flat metal product 144 in, for example, a number of processing steps 180. The programmable control system 160 operating in a digital manner has, for example, in addition to the network interface 161, a processor 162, a control interface 163, and a memory 164. The memory 164 contains, for example, program instructions 165 for running computer models and program instructions 166 for controlling processing equipment (also referred to here as processing devices) that implement the processing steps 180, which are not shown. The control of the processing equipment is carried out, for example, via the control interface 163 (such as a bus system or a digital control network).

[0140] This figure exemplarily shows the processing steps controlled by the control system 110: splitting 180, followed by straightening 180, then forming 182, then joining 180, then surface finishing 180, then heat treatment 180, and then packing 180. These steps do not have to be all executed and are only to be understood as examples. The processing steps "splitting 180", "straightening 180", "forming 182", "joining 180", and "surface finishing 180" successively convert the flat metal product 144, such as a coil, into a series of intermediate products 190. The penultimate step "heat treatment 180" transforms the final intermediate product 190 into the required metal workpiece 192.

[0141] Before performing the processing steps 180, 182 for producing the metal workpiece 192 from the flat metal product 144, the control system 160 of the processing plant 104, for example, runs a computer model 165 while transmitting the received set of technical data 120 or the parts thereof considered relevant to the input of the computer model 165. The computer model 165 numerically and / or analytically simulates the processing process 180 of the flat metal product 144, for example, based on the implemented mathematical model. As an output, the computer model 165 provides the control system 160 with model values of at least one operating parameter for one of the processing devices determined from the set of technical data 120 received at its input. In the non-limiting example of the figures, it is the processing step "forming 182".

[0142] The output of the computer model 165 can also include other specifications, such as the specification of the processing device to be used for one of the processing steps 180, 182 on the flat metal product 144 or the intermediate product 190 formed therefrom. Alternatively or additionally, the control system 160 can assign one or more available processing devices to the respective processing steps 180, 182. After the processing device assignment is completed, the control program 166 of the control system and / or the computer model 165, for example, checks whether all the preset values for setting the operating parameters of the processing device during the production of the metal workpiece 192 are within their respective specified allowable value ranges.

[0143] If this is the case, the control program 166 then, for example, starts the processing processes 180, 182 at a predetermined processing time to produce the metal workpiece 192. Here, for example, the operating parameters of the forming process 182 are set to the model values output by the computer model 165, and the set of technical data 120 is used in its determination. In this way, the control of the forming process 182 can be carried out based on the characteristics of the flat metal product 144 that are collected during the production of the flat metal product 144 and may only be observable during the production of the flat metal product 144.

[0144] During the production of the metal workpiece 192, it is preferably possible to provide various different technical information, which is collected as technical data 170 by recording, for example, the measured or preset operating parameters of the processing equipment and / or the measured parameters observable from the flat metal product 144, the intermediate product 190, and / or the metal workpiece 192. The collected technical data 170 is transmitted, for example, via the control interface 163 to the control device 160, where it is optionally supplemented with additional technical data 170 such as time stamps and / or the identification of the processing equipment involved in the processing of the flat metal product 144. The technical data 170 thus aggregated in the memory 164 of the control system 160 forms the processing data set 170.

[0145] In the configuration shown in the figure, the control system 110 of the metalworking enterprise 102 can also receive a processing data set 170 from the control system 160 of the processing plant 104, that is, the network 100 provides bidirectional data transmission, for example, between the metalworking enterprise 102 and the processing plant 104. From its scheduling time, the processing data set 170 can be transmitted through the network 100 from the control system 160 of the processing plant 104 to the control system 110 of the metalworking enterprise 102, or can be called by the control system 110 of the metalworking enterprise 102 from the control system 160 of the processing plant 104. The transmission of the technical data set 120 and / or the processing data set 170 via the network 100 can be encrypted to prevent data from being snooped by third parties.

[0146] The control system 110 can then evaluate the received processing data set 170, for example, by means of pattern recognition 115, and perhaps compare it with other processing data sets received in this way within the scope of earlier processing orders in the processing plant 104 and stored in the memory 114 of the control system 110, in order to adjust the control of the production equipment by means of one or more of the data key values included in the processing data set, thereby optimizing the future production of other flat metal products.

[0147] Figure 2 A flowchart showing a computer-implemented method for schematically showing the metal workpiece 192 required for the production of the flat metal product 144 is shown. Here, it is explained by taking "implemented by the control device 160 of the processing plant 104" as an example. Figure 2 The method shown.

[0148] In a step 200, the control device 160 provides a computer model 165 for producing the required metal workpiece 192 from the flat metal product 144 during the processing processes 180, 182. The processing steps 182 of the processing processes 180, 182 are performed by a processing device, and the manner in which the processing device acts on the flat metal product 144 or the intermediate product 190 formed therefrom can be controlled by working parameters.

[0149] In a step 202, the control device 160 generally receives a technical data set 120 characterizing the flat metal product 144 from the manufacturer of the flat metal product 144, such as the metalworking enterprise 102, and at least part of the data thereof is collected during the production of the flat metal product 144. The control system 160 transmits 204 the technical data set 120 to the input of the computer model 165.

[0150] Subsequently, the processor 162 of the control system 160 runs the computer model 165 and simultaneously simulates the production processes 180, 182 based on the mathematical model implemented by the computer model 165. The computer model 165 includes a model description of the processing devices required for production and optimizes its operation by adjusting the operating parameters to which it belongs.

[0151] For at least one of the operating parameters, after the simulation is completed, the control device 160 receives 206 a model value from the output of the computer model 165, and the processing device implementing the processing step 182 is set to this model value to optimize the production of the metal workpiece 192.

[0152] In the subsequent production 208 of the required metal workpiece 192, the control system 160 controls the processing devices implementing the processing steps 180, 182 according to the control program 166, for example, via the control interface 163, while setting the operating parameters of the processing device implementing the processing step 182 to this model value.

[0153] Figure 3 The flowchart shows a computer-implemented method for schematically illustrating the control of the production equipment of the metal processing enterprise 102. Figure 3 The method shown is explained here by taking "implemented by the control device 110 of the metal processing enterprise 102" as an example.

[0154] In a step 300, the control system 110 controls the production equipment via the control interface 113 according to the control program 116 stored in the memory 114 of the control system 110 and run by the processor 112 of the control system 110 to produce the flat metal product 144. Here, the technical data of the production process (such as measurement data and operating parameters) are collected 302, transmitted to the control device 110 through the control interface 113, optionally supplemented by other data stored in the memory 114, such as timestamps and / or the identity identification of the employees for production monitoring, and stored in the memory 114 as the technical data set 120. In a step 304, the stored technical data set 120 is transmitted to the processing plant 104 to process the flat metal product 144 (for example, by sending it to the control device 160 of the processing plant 104 or being retrieved by it), so that the control device 160 can plan and control the subsequent processing of the flat metal product 144 in consideration of the technical data set 120.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for producing a metal workpiece (192) required from a flat metal product (144), wherein, The method has: - providing (200) a computer model (165) for producing the required metal workpiece (192) from the flat metal product (144) in machining steps (180, 182), wherein the computer model (165) has an input and an output, and wherein the machining steps (180, 182) have a machining step (182) of the flat metal product (144) by a machining device, - receiving (202) a technical data set (120) characterizing the flat metal product (144), wherein at least a part of the data of the technical data set (120) is collected during the production of the flat metal product (144), - transferring (204) the technical data set (120) to the input of the computer model (165), - receiving (206) from the output of the computer model (165) model values for the working parameters of the machining device due to the transfer (204) of the technical data set (120), - producing (208) the required metal workpiece (192) by controlling the machining steps (180, 182), wherein the control of the machining steps (180, 182) has: controlling the machining device to perform the machining step (182) on the flat metal product (144) with the working parameters set to the model values, wherein the flat metal product (144) is logically divided into multiple segments, the flat metal product (144) is a strip, and wherein the technical data set (120) has technical data characterizing each of the segments.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The technical data set (120) has geometric shape data, material-specific data, and / or surface-specific data of the flat metal product.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The production of the flat metal product (144) has a production step (130), wherein the production step (130) is selected from: casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, pickling, annealing, surface finishing, and leveling, and wherein a part of the technical data set (120) collected during the production of the flat metal product (144) has the parameters of the production step (130) or the measured values collected in the production step (130).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The parameters of the production step (130) are selected from: casting process name, casting temperature, rolling process name, rolling speed, rolling thickness, roll roughness, roll crown, pickling process name, annealing temperature, annealing time, surface finishing process name, name of the material used for surface finishing, leveling process name, and flatness.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, The technical data set (120) has data characterizing defects of the flat metal product (144), and / or wherein the flat metal product (144) has surface finishing and / or a coating.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein The metal workpiece (192) is produced in a processing plant (104), wherein the processing plant (104) receives the flat metal product (144) and the technical data set (120) from a metal processing enterprise (102).

7. The method according to claim 6, the method further comprising: During the execution of the processing step (182) on the flat metal product (144), a set of processing data (170) characterizing the processing step (182) is collected and the set of processing data (170) is transmitted to the metal processing enterprise (102) to adjust the control of the production equipment of the metal processing enterprise (102) based on the set of processing data (170).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The processing device is selected from: a forming device, a dividing device, a joining device, a heat treatment device, a straightening device, a sorting device, a surface finishing device, and a device for producing a composite material, wherein the operating parameter characterizes the setting of the processing device or the physical action of the processing device on the flat metal product (144).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein Each section has an extension dimension of at most 5 meters in at least one direction, and / or wherein the operating parameter has the specifications of the section selected from the sections for the production of the metal workpiece (192).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein The processing device is selected from among a plurality of available processing devices based on the set of technical data (120) and / or the model value, and / or wherein, if the model value is outside the specified value range or if a warning regarding a violation of the set quality standard is received based on the model value and / or the set of technical data (120) in the case of assuming the production of the metal workpiece (192) from the flat metal product (144), the production of the required metal workpiece (192) is prohibited.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: - For each of the many available flat metal products, receive a technical data set that separately characterizes the available flat metal product, where At least a part of the data of the set of technical data is collected during the production of the available flat metal product, - selecting the flat metal product (144) based on the set of technical data, wherein the selected flat metal product (144) is the flat metal product used to perform the method for producing the required metal workpiece (192).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The selection comprises: - receiving a set of specification data characterizing the required metal workpiece (192), - for at least a part of the set of technical data, calculating the degree of deviation between the set of technical data and the set of specification data, - identifying the flat metal product that minimizes the degree of deviation; and / or wherein the selection comprises: - for each of at least a part of the set of technical data: - transferring the set of technical data to the input of the computer model (165), - receiving, due to the transfer of the set of technical data, a model value for the operating parameter from the output of the computer model (165), - comparing the model value with the specified preferred value of the operating parameter, - identifying the flat metal product that minimizes the difference from the preferred value.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: - Compare the model value with the comparison value of the working parameter, where, The comparison value characterizes the assumed use of the processing device for performing another processing step on another flat metal product, - if the value of the difference between the model value and the comparison value is lower than a pre-specified limit value, grouping the processing step (182) and the other processing step together in time.

14. An apparatus for controlling a metal workpiece (192) required for the production of a flat metal product (144), wherein, The device has a first processor (162) and a first memory (164) with program instructions (166), wherein the running of the program instructions (166) causes the device for controlling the metal workpiece (192) required for the production from the flat metal product (144): - Provide (200) a computer model (165) for producing the required metal workpiece (192) from the flat metal product (144) in the machining steps (180, 182), wherein the computer model (165) has an input and an output, and wherein the machining steps (180, 182) include a machining step (182) of the flat metal product (144) by a machining device, - Receive (202) a set of technical data (120) characterizing the flat metal product (144), wherein at least a part of the data of the set of technical data (120) is collected during the production of the flat metal product (144), - Forward (204) the set of technical data (120) to the input of the computer model (165), - Due to the forwarding (204) of the set of technical data (120), receive (206) model values for the working parameters of the machining device from the output of the computer model (165), - Produce (208) the required metal workpiece (192) by controlling the machining steps (180, 182), wherein the control of the machining steps (180, 182) includes: controlling the machining device to perform the machining step (182) on the flat metal product (144) with the working parameters set to the model values, wherein the flat metal product (144) is logically divided into multiple segments, the flat metal product (144) is a strip, and wherein the set of technical data (120) has technical data characterizing each of the segments.

15. A computer-implemented method for controlling production equipment of a metal processing enterprise (102), wherein, The method has: - Control (300) the production equipment to produce a flat metal product (144), - During the production of the flat metal product (144), collect (302) a set of technical data (120) characterizing the flat metal product (144), - Transmit (304) the set of technical data (120) to the production equipment of the processing plant (104) for controlling the machining of the flat metal product (144) in the machining steps (180, 182) implemented by the production equipment, wherein the flat metal product (144) is logically divided into multiple segments, the flat metal product (144) is a strip, and wherein the set of technical data (120) has technical data characterizing each of the segments.

16. The method according to claim 15, further having: receiving a set of machining data (170) characterizing the machining process based on the set of technical data (120) and adjusting the control of the production equipment based on the set of machining data (170).

17. The method according to claim 16, the method further comprising: Receiving a plurality of other machining data sets, storing the machining data sets together with the other machining data sets, and providing the stored machining data sets to the input of a pattern recognition device (115), wherein the control of the production equipment is adjusted based on the recognized pattern received from the output of the pattern recognition device (115).

18. A device for controlling the production equipment of a metal processing enterprise (102), wherein, The device has a second processor (112) and a second memory (114) with program instructions (116), wherein the execution of the program instructions (116) causes the device for controlling the production equipment of a metalworking enterprise (102): - Controlling (300) the production equipment to manufacture a flat metal product (144), - During the production of the flat metal product (144), collecting (302) a technical data set (120) characterizing the flat metal product (144), - Transmitting (304) the technical data set (120) to the production equipment of a processing plant (104) to control the machining of the flat metal product (144) in machining steps (180, 182) based on the technical data set (120), wherein the flat metal product (144) is logically divided into multiple segments, the flat metal product (144) is a strip, and the technical data set (120) has technical data characterizing each of the segments for each of the segments.

19. A computer program product having instructions executable by a processor for performing the computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 - 13, 15 - 17.

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