Online welding system and welding method for zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating steel belt production

Abstract

The invention discloses an online welding system and method for zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating steel belt production, and mainly relates to the technical field of steel belt welding and splicing. When the tail end of the steel coil passes through the conveying beam, the follow-up unit is started to clamp the tail steel belt, and the follow-up unit and the tail of the clamped steel belt synchronously walk in the same direction based on the follow-up stroke; when the starting end of a newly-uncoiled steel belt enters the conveying beam, the butt joint unit is started to clamp the steel belt at the head end, and after the steel belt approaches the follow-up unit in a chasing stroke, the steel belt is switched into a welding stroke to move synchronously with the follow-up unit; and the welding mechanism is started to conduct welding operation on the splicing position under the state that the follow-up unit and the butt-joint unit synchronously advance. The steel belt butt-joint welding device has the beneficial effects that automatic butt-joint and welding of steel belts can be achieved, parking and stopping are not needed in the operation process, the production efficiency and the splicing precision are improved, and continuous operation of a production line can be achieved easily.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of steel strip welding and splicing, in particular to an online welding system and a welding method for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strips. Background Art

[0002] Zinc-aluminum-magnesium (ZAMg)-coated steel strip offers significantly better corrosion resistance than conventional galvanized and galvalume-coated products. Its corrosion resistance is 6-15 times that of pure zinc coating. The production process for ZAMg-coated steel strip is a complex and continuous one, encompassing multiple key steps, from the preparation of raw hot-rolled coils to the finishing and packaging of the finished product. Within this process, welding and butt welding are crucial for ensuring production continuity, profoundly impacting the quality and efficiency of preceding, subsequent, and subsequent processes.

[0003] First, the hot-rolled coils are transported to the cold rolling mill, where they undergo rigorous quality inspections to ensure that their chemical composition, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality meet the requirements of cold rolling production. Qualified coils are then sent to the pickling section. In this section, the coils are first unwound, and their heads are welded to the tails of the previous coils. Butt welding is the process of joining two coils of steel strip together, typically using argon arc welding or laser welding. This creates a continuous strip for continuous pickling. Quality issues in the welded areas can lead to strip breakage or surface defects during the cold rolling process, as well as uneven hardness or inconsistent metallographic structures after annealing. Therefore, the butt welding step has a profound impact on the quality and efficiency of preceding and subsequent processes.

[0004] Currently, the butt welding of steel strips requires manual positioning, meaning the steel strips need to be manually pulled onto the welding table and then operated to weld. This manual operation is not only inefficient but also prone to inaccurate welding positions due to human error, which in turn affects welding quality and the stability of subsequent processes. The few advanced automated welding equipment used on production lines, while capable of automatic position identification and positioning welding, require the production line to be stopped during operation, and feeding can only be resumed after welding is completed. This not only reduces production efficiency but can also cause changes in process parameters such as temperature and tension on the production line, affecting the stability of subsequent processes such as cold rolling and annealing. It also causes discontinuities and pauses in feeding, affecting the production and feeding of the entire production line. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an online welding system and welding method for the production of zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strips, which can realize automatic docking and welding of steel strips, and the operation process does not require stopping, thereby improving production efficiency and splicing accuracy, and facilitating the continuous operation of the production line.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0007] An online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strips comprises a support mechanism having two horizontally parallel conveyor beams, the conveyor beams being equipped with a follower unit and a docking unit capable of traveling in a straight line along their length.

[0008] The follower unit includes a follower slide, which has at least a follower stroke along the length direction of the conveying beam, and the follower stroke is in the same speed and direction as the system's conveying of the steel strip. A first portal frame is provided on the follower slide, and a clamping mechanism is symmetrically provided on both sides of the first portal frame and is located outside the conveying beam. The clamping mechanism has two clamping members that can clamp up and down;

[0009] The docking unit includes a docking slide, which has a catching-up stroke and a welding stroke. The catching-up stroke is in the same direction as the following stroke and is faster than the following stroke. The welding stroke is in the same direction and at the same speed as the following stroke. When the docking slide approaches the following slide through the catching-up stroke, the docking slide is converted into a welding stroke. A second portal frame is provided on the docking slide, and clamping mechanisms located on the outside of the conveying beam are symmetrically provided on both sides of the second portal frame. A welding mechanism is also provided on the docking slide.

[0010] A track frame is provided below the conveying beam and is arranged parallel to it above and below. A walking track extending in the same direction is installed on the top of the track frame. A plurality of walking sliders are matched on the walking track. The bottom surface of the follower slide is fixed on some of the walking sliders, and the bottom surface of the docking slide is fixed on the remaining walking sliders. A rack is provided on one side of the walking track in parallel with it. A follower gear driven by a stepper motor is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the follower slide. A docking gear driven by a stepper motor is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the docking slide. The follower gear and the docking gear are respectively engaged with the rack.

[0011] The conveyor beam is arranged between the uncoiling and pickling of the steel strip and is consistent with the conveying direction of the production system. The width of the two conveyor beams is smaller than the width of the processed steel strip. A plurality of rollers are installed between the two conveyor beams. The top surfaces of the rollers protrude from the conveyor beams. The rollers are divided into two groups and are respectively arranged at both ends of the conveyor beam.

[0012] The front and rear ends of the conveying beam are respectively provided with door-shaped support frames, and a base is fixed under the support frame close to the incoming material side, and relatively arranged mounting frames are fixed on the base, and a pair of rollers are rotatably installed between the mounting frames, and the pair of rollers are arranged higher than the conveying beam.

[0013] The clamping mechanism includes a groove-shaped seat, and the openings of the two groove-shaped seats are arranged opposite to each other inside. The upper and lower sides of the groove-shaped seat are symmetrically fixed with clamping cylinders, and the opposite ends of the clamping cylinders are respectively provided with clamping cylinder rods. The clamping parts are arranged opposite to each other up and down, and the two clamping parts are respectively fixed on the inner ends of the upper and lower clamping cylinder rods.

[0014] The first portal frame includes two vertical first beams, the first beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam, the bottom ends of the first beams are fixed on both sides of the follow-up slide, the top ends of the two first beams are fixed with a first cross plate for connecting and fixing the two, two first compression cylinders are fixed on the first cross plate, the first compression cylinders can be two and symmetrically arranged to obtain uniform pressure, the bottom end of the first compression cylinder is telescopically matched with a first compression cylinder rod, the bottom end of the first compression cylinder rod is fixed with a first strip block, the first strip block is arranged in front of the clamping member, the length direction of the first strip block is consistent with the width direction of the steel strip, and a plurality of first compression heads are equidistantly provided below the strip block along its length direction, and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of first compression heads are coplanar;

[0015] and / or

[0016] The second portal frame includes two vertically arranged second beams, the second beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam, the bottom ends of the second beams are fixed to the first slider on the same side through mounting blocks and bolts, the top ends of the two second beams are fixed with a second cross plate for connecting and fixing the two, two second compression cylinders are fixed on the second cross plate, the second compression cylinders can be two and symmetrically arranged to obtain uniform pressure, the bottom end of the second compression cylinder is telescopically matched with a second compression cylinder rod, the bottom end of the second compression cylinder rod is fixed with a second strip block, the second strip block is arranged at the rear position of the clamping member, and a plurality of second compression heads are equidistantly provided below the second strip block along its length direction, and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of second compression heads are coplanar.

[0017] The follower unit has a standby position, which is located in the middle of the conveying beam or at a position biased towards the incoming material. An identification module is provided in front of the standby position of the follower unit, and the identification module is used to identify the end information of the end of the steel coil and activate the clamping mechanism of the follower unit based on the information;

[0018] The docking unit has a standby position, which is located at the front end of the conveying beam close to the incoming material. A trigger module is provided in front of the standby position of the docking unit. The trigger module is linked with the identification module. The trigger module is started based on the identification module's identification of the end. The trigger module is used to identify the arrival of the steel strip at the front end of the steel coil and start the clamping mechanism of the docking unit based on the identification information.

[0019] The docking slide is symmetrically provided with a first stroke mechanism on both sides of the conveying beam, and the first stroke mechanism includes a first base, a first slide rail, a first slider, and a first cylinder body; the first base is long and fixed to the docking slide, the bottom of the first slide rail is fixed on the first base, the length direction of the first slide rail is in the same direction as the conveying beam, the first slider slides in cooperation with the first slide rail, the first cylinder body is fixed on the first base, and the first cylinder body is arranged on the rear side of the first slider and the first slide rail, the front end of the first cylinder body is telescopically cooperated with the first cylinder rod, and the front end of the first cylinder rod is fixed on the first slider, so that the first slider has a linear stroke moving forward and backward relative to the conveying beam direction, and the bottom side of the second gantry is respectively fixed on the two first sliders.

[0020] A platform is fixed in the center of the rear side of the docking slide. The platform adopts a double-column support or four-column support structure. The first lifting cylinder and telescopic slide rail are installed on the platform. The telescopic slide rail is arranged in front of the first lifting cylinder. The top end of the first lifting cylinder is telescopically matched with the first lifting cylinder rod. The top end of the first lifting cylinder rod is fixed with a welding platform. The welding platform is located above the conveying beam.

[0021] The telescopic slide rail is equipped with a telescopic slider, a telescopic slide is fixed on the top of the telescopic slider, and the telescopic slide includes a lower cross frame, a vertical frame, and an upper cross frame; the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame are arranged side by side up and down, and the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame both extend horizontally along the width direction of the steel belt, the top and bottom ends of the vertical frame are respectively fixed to the outer ends of the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame, and the inner end of the upper cross frame is installed with a welding mechanism.

[0022] The production of cold rolled strip steel is completed on an online welding system, and the method includes:

[0023] When the tail end of the steel coil passes the conveyor beam, the follower unit is started to clamp the steel strip at the end, and moves synchronously with the clamped steel strip end based on the follower stroke;

[0024] When the starting end of the newly uncoiled steel strip enters the conveyor beam, the butt joint unit is started to clamp the steel strip at the head end, and after approaching the follower unit in the catching-up stroke, it switches to the welding stroke and moves synchronously with the follower unit;

[0025] When the follower unit and the docking unit are moving synchronously, the welding mechanism is started to perform welding operations on the joints.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0027] This achieves fully automated docking and welding, eliminating the need for manual docking and positioning throughout the entire process, improving operational precision and efficiency. Furthermore, the welding process is completed while the machine is moving, eliminating the need for downtime or stopping. This not only saves downtime but also significantly improves the overall production line's flow and enables continuous production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 It is an overall schematic diagram of the present invention (the follower unit and the docking unit are separated).

[0029] Figure 2 It is an overall schematic diagram of the present invention (with the follower unit and the docking unit approaching).

[0030] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 It is a side schematic diagram of the separation of the follower unit and the docking unit of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 It is a side schematic diagram of the follower unit and the docking unit approaching each other according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the follower unit and the docking unit of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the follower unit and the docking unit of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the support mechanism of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the connecting unit part of the present invention.

[0037] Reference numerals shown in the accompanying drawings:

[0038] 1. Conveyor beam; 2. Support frame; 3. Base; 4. Mounting frame; 5. Pair of rollers; 7. Support rollers; 8. Track frame; 9. Travel track; 10. Strip plate; 11. Rack; 12. Follow-up slide; 13. First gantry; 14. Grooved seat; 15. Clamping cylinder; 16. Clamping piece; 17. First pressing cylinder; 18. First strip block; 19. First pressing head; 20. Docking slide; 21. First slide Rail; 22. First cylinder body; 23. First slide; 24. Second gantry; 25. Second compression cylinder; 26. Second bar block; 27. Second compression head; 28. Platform; 29. First lifting cylinder; 30. Welding table; 31. Telescopic slide rail; 32. Telescopic slide; 33. Machine plate; 34. Machine frame; 35. Second slide rail; 36. Second cylinder; 37. Second lifting cylinder; 38. Welding machine head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Below in conjunction with specific embodiment, further set forth the present invention.Should be understood that these embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not used in limiting the scope of the present invention.In addition, should be understood that after reading the content taught by the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms fall within the scope limited by the application equally.

[0040] Example:

[0041] This system is mainly used to realize follow-up welding on the steel strip uncoiling and directional conveyor line. The main structure includes:

[0042] The supporting mechanism is arranged at the process position after the steel strip is uncoiled and before pickling, and the previous and subsequent production processes are connected in series.

[0043] The support mechanism is a separately designed structure, including a conveying beam 1, a support frame 2, a base 3, and a track frame 8;

[0044] There are two conveying beams 1 that are arranged horizontally in parallel. The conveying beams 1 are consistent with the conveying direction of the steel strip after uncoiling. Based on the conventional name of steel strip conveying, the incoming material close to the uncoiling process is called the front, and the direction to the pickling link is called the rear.

[0045] The front and rear ends of the conveyor beam 1 are respectively provided with a gate-shaped support frame 2, and one end of the two conveyor beams 1 is centrally fixed on the support frame 2. The width of the two conveyor beams 1 is smaller than the width of the processed steel belt, so that the steel belt has space for operation on both sides.

[0046] The bottom side of the support frame 2 at the rear side falls on the ground, and the bottom side of the support frame 2 at the front side is fixedly provided with a base 3, and the base 3 is used for installation and docking with the incoming material of the upstream steel belt.

[0047] Mounting frames 4 are fixed to the base 3, with rollers 5 rotatably mounted between them. These rollers 5 consist of two circular rollers arranged one above the other, extending through the steel strip. The rollers 5 guide and directionally push the strip. A motor and controller housed within a chassis on one side of the mounting frame 4 drive the rollers 5, enabling relative rotation and conveying. The rollers 5 are mounted higher than the conveyor beam 1 to facilitate docking with upstream unwinding equipment, achieving a consistent height and distance.

[0048] Multiple rollers 7 are installed between the two conveyor beams 1. The top surfaces of these rollers 7 protrude from the conveyor beams 1. These rollers 7 are divided into two groups, one at each end of the conveyor beam 1, to support the front and rear steel strips. Because the steel strips maintain a certain tension and directional conveyance in the production line, they can be suspended and pulled within a certain distance. The conveyor beam 1 without rollers 7 in the middle is used to provide space for welding follower.

[0049] The track frames 8 are divided into two groups and are arranged in parallel. The track frames 8 are arranged in parallel below the conveying beam 1. The track frames 8 are common metal long strip support structures. A strip plate 10 extending in the same direction as the track frame 8 is fixed on the top of the track frame 8. A walking track 9 is fixed on the top surface of the strip plate 10. The walking track 9 is shared by two groups of slides. The walking track 9 is equipped with multiple walking sliders. A rack 11 is provided on one side of the walking track 9 in parallel with the rack 11. The rack 11 can be one, and the rack 11 is also fixed on a strip plate 10.

[0050] A follower unit and a docking unit that can move along the length direction of the supporting mechanism are provided.

[0051] Structurally, the follower unit includes: a follower slide 12, the bottom surface of the follower slide 12 is fixed on a part of the walking slider, a follower gear is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the follower slide 12, a stepping motor driving the follower gear is installed on the follower slide 12, and the follower gear is engaged with the rack 11 to realize the control of the travel and position of the follower slide 12 and the follower unit.

[0052] A first portal frame 13 is provided above the follower slide 12. The first portal frame 13 includes two vertical first beams. The first beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam 1. The bottom ends of the first beams are fixed to both sides of the follower slide 12 through mounting blocks and bolts to achieve fixed installation of the first portal frame 13 and the follower slide 12. The first portal frame 13 is arranged close to the front side of the follower slide 12, so as to facilitate approaching and docking with the docking unit.

[0053] A first horizontal plate for connecting and fixing the two is fixed to the top ends of the two first vertical beams, and a clamping mechanism is symmetrically fixed to the inner side of the first vertical beam. The clamping mechanism includes a groove seat 14. The openings of the two groove seats 14 are arranged opposite to each other inside, and a notch is provided in the middle of the groove seat 14. The notch is used to expose the clamping piece 16 and facilitate the passage of the steel belt.

[0054] Clamping cylinders 15 are symmetrically fixed to the upper and lower sides of the trough seat 14. Clamping rods are provided at opposite ends of the clamping cylinders 15, and clamping members 16 are fixed to the opposite inner ends of the clamping rods. The two clamping members 16 are arranged vertically on the same side of the trough seat 14, and the clamping members 16 are strip plates 10 oriented in the same direction as the conveyor beam 1, which can firmly clamp the steel strip on both sides. The clamping cylinders 15 are supported by cylinders, which ensure stable working conditions and strong clamping.

[0055] Two first compression cylinders 17 are fixed on the first horizontal plate. The first compression cylinders 17 can be two and symmetrically arranged to obtain uniform pressure. The bottom end of the first compression cylinder 17 is telescopically matched with a first compression cylinder rod. The bottom end of the first compression cylinder rod is fixed with a first strip block 18. The first strip block 18 is arranged in the front position of the clamping member 16. The length direction of the first strip block 18 is consistent with the width direction of the steel strip. The first strip block 18 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes equidistantly along its length direction. The bottom of the strip block is provided with a plurality of first compression heads 19 equidistantly along its length direction. The top end of the first compression head 19 is fixed in the mounting hole. The bottom surfaces of the plurality of first compression heads 19 are coplanar and are used to press downward on the surface of the steel strip to fix the steel strips on both sides of the weld in cooperation with welding, thereby improving the stability of the welding process.

[0056] The follower unit has at least a follower stroke along the length of the support mechanism conveyor beam 1. During the follower stroke, the movement direction and speed of the follower slide 12 are consistent with the conveying speed of the steel strip in the production system, that is, the follower slide 12 is consistent with the speed of the downstream pickling conveying, so that it can be consistent with the speed of the tail portion of the previous steel strip. In this stroke, when the clamping member 16 maintains the clamping of both sides of the steel strip, it moves with the tail end of the steel strip, does not cause pulling force on the steel strip, and does not affect the feeding of the steel strip in subsequent processes. When the docking unit is in place and welding is carried out, the first pressing head 19 descends and presses behind the clamping position of the follower unit, pressing the steel strip close to the welding position, and assisting in improving the welding process.

[0057] The following methods are available for connecting the follower unit with the rear end steel belt:

[0058] Set the initial standby position of the follower unit:

[0059] The standby position is set in the middle position of the conveyor beam 1, or in the middle position with respect to the incoming material, and an identification module is set in front of the standby position. The identification module can be fixed on the ground or the supporting mechanism. The identification module can be a sensor or a visual recognition device for identifying the signal at the end of the steel strip. When a roll of steel strip is used up, the tail end is identified by the sensor at this position, or the existence of the tail end is identified by the visual device, and the clamping mechanism of the follower unit is immediately started to clamp the end of the steel strip, and the follow-up stroke is started at the same time to achieve follow-up coordination with the end of the steel strip.

[0060] An identification module is installed in the middle position of the conveying beam 1, or in the middle position away from the incoming material, and the follower unit is on standby at a position adjacent to the rear side of the identification module.

[0061] After each welding butt joint is completed, the follow-up unit is reset to the initial standby position to wait for the next butt joint response at the end of the steel coil.

[0062] Structurally, the docking unit includes a docking slide 20, the bottom surface of which is fixed on a part of the walking slider, and a docking gear is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the docking slide 20. A stepping motor connected to the docking gear shaft is installed on the docking slide 20, and the docking gear is engaged with the rack 11 to realize the control of the movement and position of the docking slide 20 and the docking unit.

[0063] The docking slide 20 is symmetrically provided with a first travel mechanism on both sides relative to the conveying beam 1 . The first travel mechanism includes a first base, a first slide rail 21 , a first slider 23 , and a first cylinder 22 .

[0064] The first base is long and fixed on the docking slide 20, the bottom of the first slide rail 21 is fixed on the first base, the length direction of the first slide rail 21 is in the same direction as the conveying beam 1, the first slider 23 slides with the first slide rail 21, the first cylinder body 22 is fixed on the first base, and the first cylinder body 22 is arranged on the rear side of the first slider 23 and the first slide rail 21 (close to the downstream side), the front end of the first cylinder body 22 (close to the end of the incoming material) is telescopically matched with the first cylinder rod, and the front end of the first cylinder rod is fixed on the first slider 23, so that the first slider 23 has a linear stroke that moves back and forth relative to the conveying beam 1.

[0065] A second portal frame 24 with a forward and backward dragging stroke relative to the docking slide 20 is provided above the docking slide 20. The second portal frame 24 includes two vertically arranged second vertical beams. The second vertical beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam 1. The bottom end of the second vertical beam is fixed to the first slider 23 on the same side through a mounting block and a bolt, thereby obtaining the forward and backward dragging stroke through the first stroke mechanism.

[0066] A clamping mechanism is symmetrically fixed on the inner side of the second vertical beam. The clamping mechanism has the same structure as the aforementioned clamping mechanism and is used to clamp both sides of the steel strip. Since it is installed on the docking unit, it is used to clamp the head end of the newly unrolled steel strip.

[0067] A second horizontal plate is fixed to the top of the two second vertical beams for connecting and fixing them. Two second pressure cylinders 25 are fixed to the second horizontal plate. The second pressure cylinders 25 can be two and symmetrically arranged to achieve uniform pressure. The bottom end of the second pressure cylinder 25 is telescopically coupled with a second pressure cylinder rod. The bottom end of the second pressure cylinder rod is fixed to a second bar block 26. The second bar block 26 is positioned behind the clamp 16. This allows the first bar block 18 of the follower unit and the second bar block 26 of the docking unit to be positioned adjacent to each other, facilitating access to both sides of the weld for welding operations. The length of the second bar block 26 is consistent with the width of the steel strip. The second bar block 26 is provided with multiple mounting holes equidistantly along its length. Below the second bar block 26, multiple second pressure heads 27 are equidistantly provided along its length. The top ends of the second pressure heads 27 are fixed in the mounting holes. The bottom surfaces of the multiple second pressure heads 27 are coplanar, used to press downward on the surface of the steel strip, thereby securing the steel strip on both sides of the weld and improving the stability of the welding process.

[0068] The above-mentioned second gantry 24 is arranged on the front side of the docking slide 20, that is, it is arranged close to the material side of the uncoiling process, and is used to clamp and drag the head end of the steel strip of the new coil. A platform 28 is fixed in the center on the rear side of the docking slide 20. The platform 28 adopts a double-column support or a four-column support structure. A first lifting cylinder 29 and a telescopic slide rail 31 are installed on the platform 28. The telescopic slide rail 31 is arranged on the front side of the first lifting cylinder 29.

[0069] The top end of the first lift cylinder 29 is telescopically coupled to a first lift rod, to which a welding platform 30 is affixed. This platform is designed to rest on the underside of the weld, providing planar support for the underside of the steel strip at the weld. The platform 30 has a small range of movement to precisely align the steel strip's position upward. It is located above the conveyor beam 1.

[0070] The telescopic slide rail 31 is equipped with a telescopic slider.

[0071] A telescopic slide 32 is fixed on the top of the telescopic slider. The telescopic slide 32 is in the shape of a "ㄈ" and specifically includes a lower horizontal frame, a vertical frame, and an upper horizontal frame. The lower horizontal frame and the upper horizontal frame are arranged side by side up and down, and both the lower horizontal frame and the upper horizontal frame extend horizontally along the width direction of the steel belt. The bottom of one end of the lower horizontal frame is fixedly connected to the telescopic slider, the bottom end of the vertical frame is vertically fixedly connected to the end of the lower horizontal frame away from the telescopic slider, the top end of the vertical frame is vertically fixedly connected to the outer end of the upper horizontal frame, and a welding mechanism is installed at the inner end of the upper horizontal frame. A driving cylinder is provided on one side of the telescopic slide 31, and a driving cylinder rod is provided at the end of the driving cylinder close to the telescopic slide 32. The end of the driving cylinder rod is fixed on the telescopic slide 32. This example is not limited to other driving structures, such as a gear rack 11 mechanism, etc.

[0072] The telescopic carriage 32 structure described above enables the welding mechanism to move laterally above the welding table 30 without obstructing the space above or to either side of the welding table 30. When the docking unit approaches the follower unit, the telescopic carriage 32 is positioned between the first portal 13 and the second portal 24, with its sides immediately adjacent to the first and second pressing heads 19 and 27. This creates a well-organized layout for the welding operation and facilitates high-quality docking welds.

[0073] The welding mechanism includes a machine plate 33 that is upright and fixed to the inner end of the upper horizontal frame. The machine plate 33 is mounted on the frame 34 through a second stroke mechanism. The second stroke mechanism includes a horizontally extending second slide rail 35. The length direction of the second slide rail 35 is consistent with the length direction of the conveying beam 1. The second slide rail 35 is horizontally slidably engaged with a second slider. The second slider is fixed to the frame 34. The second stroke mechanism also includes a second cylinder 36 fixed to the top side of the machine plate 33. One end of the second cylinder 36 is telescopically engaged with a second cylinder rod. The end of the second cylinder rod is fixedly connected to the second slider, so that the frame 34 has a linear stroke that moves forward and backward relative to the conveying beam 1, so that the position of the welder can be adjusted slightly.

[0074] A welding machine head 38 is mounted within the frame 34 and is slidably connected to the frame 34. Specifically, a vertical slide rail mechanism is provided within the frame 34, the slider portion of which is secured to the welder. A second lift cylinder 37 is mounted on the top of the frame 34. The bottom end of the second lift cylinder 37 is telescopically coupled to a second lift rod, which is connected to the welding machine head 38. This allows the welding machine head 38 to be lowered for welding or lifted off the steel strip surface after welding.

[0075] The translation and lifting actions of the above-mentioned welding machine mechanism are conventional structures of the existing welding machine head 38, and are not limited to this example. Welding machine mechanisms of other structures or models are also applicable.

[0076] Based on the above structure, the butting machine unit has at least a catching-up stroke and a welding stroke, and a standby stroke position.

[0077] The catching-up stroke is a travel stroke in the direction of the follower unit and at a speed faster than the follower stroke speed;

[0078] The welding stroke is a traveling stroke in the same direction and speed as the following stroke.

[0079] The standby stroke position of the docking unit is set near the front end of the conveyor beam 1, and a trigger module is set on the front side of the docking unit. The trigger module uses a sensor or visual recognition device to identify the head end of the steel strip. When the steel strip is newly unwound and the head end reaches the trigger module, the trigger module recognizes and immediately activates the clamping mechanism of the docking unit to clamp the head end of the steel strip and simultaneously initiates the catch-up stroke. When the docking unit approaches the follower unit, it switches to the welding stroke and moves in sync with the follower unit. Then the first stroke mechanism is activated to cause the second gantry 24 to further drag the steel strip backward to dock with the tail end behind; then the first pressing head 19 and the second pressing head 27 on both sides press down on the steel strip, and then the telescopic slide 32 is activated to allow the welding mechanism to complete the welding stroke horizontally.

[0080] In order to ensure the proximity between the docking unit and the follower unit, a proximity switch can be set on one of them or between them.

[0081] The trigger module is linked with the recognition module. When the recognition module recognizes the tail end, the linkage trigger module is started, and the trigger module begins to identify the top of the conveying beam 1. This can save energy consumption, improve accuracy, and reduce error interference.

[0082] Based on the above structure, the docking unit is able to move forward and backward along the conveyor beam 1 based on the docking slide 20. After the docking unit moves forward and approaches the first section of the newly unwound steel strip, the clamping mechanism on the docking unit clamps and fixes the two sides of the first end of the steel strip. The dragging power of the steel strip then comes from the docking unit. The docking unit quickly moves and catches up with the follower unit already in the follower stroke, while pulling the steel strip backward. When the docking unit approaches the follower unit, the docking unit moves synchronously with the follower unit, further pulling the steel strip backward to achieve precise docking, and then presses down to fix the steel strip and complete the welding movement, realizing non-stop welding and docking.

[0083] Based on the above system, when a coil of steel is about to end and its tail end is separated from the coil core and falls on the conveyor beam 1, the previous process is replaced with a new coil and uncoiled. The online welding and butt-jointing method for cold-rolled steel strips includes the following steps:

[0084] 1. Initial standby state

[0085] The follower unit is located in its standby position, i.e. the middle of the conveyor beam 1;

[0086] The docking unit is located in its standby position, that is, the end of the conveyor beam 1 close to the uncoiling process;

[0087] The recognition module remains in working condition to identify the break at the end of the steel strip;

[0088] The trigger module is in standby mode, waiting for the linkage of the identification module to restart;

[0089] 2. Tail end recognition and follow-up start

[0090] When the strip's tail reaches the identification module, the module detects the tail-end signal. This activates the follower unit's clamping mechanism, actuating clamping cylinder 15 and extending the rod. Clamping element 16 then grips the strip's tail. The follower gear rotates along rack 11, causing follower slide 12 to move in the pickling direction at a speed consistent with the strip's conveying speed, initiating the follower stroke. At this point, the follower unit grips the strip's tail and moves along, without disrupting conveying.

[0091] When the recognition module recognizes the tail end signal, the linkage trigger module ends the standby state and starts the working state.

[0092] 3. First-end identification and docking start

[0093] When a new steel coil is unwound and the leading end of the steel strip reaches the trigger module, the trigger module recognizes the leading end signal. The clamping mechanism of the docking unit activates, clamping cylinder 15 actuates, the clamping rod extends, and clamping members 16 clamp onto both sides of the leading end of the steel strip. The docking gear rotates along rack 11, and the docking slide 20 rapidly moves toward the follower unit, exceeding its speed and entering the catch-up stroke. Simultaneously, it pulls the leading end of the steel strip backward, rapidly approaching the follower unit.

[0094] 4. Proximity and synchronization

[0095] When the docking unit approaches the follower unit to the set distance, the docking unit switches from the catching-up stroke to the welding stroke and adjusts the speed to be synchronized with the follower unit.

[0096] 5. Docking

[0097] The docking unit maintains the welding stroke, the follower unit maintains the follower stroke, the first stroke mechanism of the docking unit is started, the first cylinder 22 drives the first slider 23 to move backward along the first slide rail 21, and drives the second portal frame 24 to drag the steel strip backward, execute its backward dragging stroke, and further pull the steel strip backward to dock the head end of the steel strip with the tail end of the steel strip.

[0098] 6. Positioning

[0099] As the assemblies and docking units press, the first and second compression cylinder rods extend, and the compression heads on the first and second strip blocks 18, 26 press down on the steel strip surface, firmly securing the strip on both sides of the weld. At this point, the steel strip is firmly clamped at both ends by the clamping mechanism, and the compression heads steadily press down, ensuring precise positioning and tight contact during welding.

[0100] 7. The first lifting cylinder 29 drives the first lifting cylinder rod to extend, and the welding platform 30 rises to the bottom surface of the weld, providing stable support for welding. The welding head 38 of the welding mechanism descends to the surface of the steel strip on the slide rails within the frame 34. The telescopic slide 32 of the docking unit is activated, and the telescopic slide moves along the telescopic slide rail 31, completing the welding operation along the horizontal direction of the steel strip, firmly welding the ends of the steel strip.

[0101] 8. Reset and prepare for the next cycle

[0102] After welding is complete, the welding head 38 rises and clears the steel strip, and the telescopic carriage 32 returns to its original position. The first and second pressing heads 19, 27 return to their original positions, and the clamping mechanism releases the steel strip. The docking unit and follower unit each return to their standby positions, awaiting the next welding cycle.

[0103] Through these steps, the newly designed steel strip welding and butt-jointing equipment achieves efficient, precise, and stable steel strip butt-joining, effectively improving the efficiency and quality of cold-rolled steel strip production. The butt-joining and welding operations do not interrupt the steel strip's transport to the next process, ensuring production continuity and contributing to the comprehensive management, quality control, and efficiency improvement of the entire production line.

Claims

1. An online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strips, characterized in that: The supporting mechanism comprises two horizontally parallel conveying beams, and the conveying beams are equipped with a follower unit and a docking unit capable of traveling in a straight line along the length direction thereof; The follower unit includes a follower slide, which has at least a follower stroke along the length direction of the conveying beam, and the follower stroke is in the same speed and direction as the system's conveying of the steel strip. A first portal frame is provided on the follower slide, and a clamping mechanism is symmetrically provided on both sides of the first portal frame and is located outside the conveying beam. The clamping mechanism has two clamping members that can clamp up and down; The docking unit includes a docking slide, which has a catching-up stroke and a welding stroke. The catching-up stroke is in the same direction as the following stroke and is faster than the following stroke. The welding stroke is in the same direction and at the same speed as the following stroke. When the docking slide approaches the following slide through the catching-up stroke, the docking slide is converted into a welding stroke. A second portal frame is provided on the docking slide, and clamping mechanisms located on the outside of the conveying beam are symmetrically provided on both sides of the second portal frame. A welding mechanism is also provided on the docking slide.

2. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: A track frame is provided below the conveying beam and is arranged parallel to it above and below. A walking track extending in the same direction is installed on the top of the track frame. A plurality of walking sliders are matched on the walking track. The bottom surface of the follower slide is fixed on some of the walking sliders, and the bottom surface of the docking slide is fixed on the remaining walking sliders. A rack is provided on one side of the walking track in parallel with it. A follower gear driven by a stepper motor is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the follower slide. A docking gear driven by a stepper motor is rotatably installed on the bottom surface of the docking slide. The follower gear and the docking gear are respectively engaged with the rack.

3. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveyor beam is arranged between the uncoiling and pickling of the steel strip and is consistent with the conveying direction of the production system. The width of the two conveyor beams is smaller than the width of the processed steel strip. A plurality of rollers are installed between the two conveyor beams. The top surfaces of the rollers protrude from the conveyor beams. The rollers are divided into two groups and are respectively arranged at both ends of the conveyor beam.

4. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front and rear ends of the conveying beam are respectively provided with door-shaped support frames, and a base is fixed under the support frame close to the incoming material side, and relatively arranged mounting frames are fixed on the base, and a pair of rollers are rotatably installed between the mounting frames, and the pair of rollers are arranged higher than the conveying beam.

5. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping mechanism includes a groove-shaped seat, and the openings of the two groove-shaped seats are arranged opposite to each other inside. The upper and lower sides of the groove-shaped seat are symmetrically fixed with clamping cylinders, and the opposite ends of the clamping cylinders are respectively provided with clamping cylinder rods. The clamping parts are arranged opposite to each other up and down, and the two clamping parts are respectively fixed on the inner ends of the upper and lower clamping cylinder rods.

6. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first portal frame includes two vertical first beams, the first beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam, the bottom ends of the first beams are fixed on both sides of the follow-up slide, the top ends of the two first beams are fixed with a first cross plate for connecting and fixing the two, two first compression cylinders are fixed on the first cross plate, the first compression cylinders can be two and symmetrically arranged to obtain uniform pressure, the bottom end of the first compression cylinder is telescopically matched with a first compression cylinder rod, the bottom end of the first compression cylinder rod is fixed with a first strip block, the first strip block is arranged in front of the clamping member, the length direction of the first strip block is consistent with the width direction of the steel strip, and a plurality of first compression heads are equidistantly provided below the strip block along its length direction, and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of first compression heads are coplanar; and / or The second portal frame includes two vertically arranged second beams, the second beams are arranged on the outside of the conveying beam, the bottom ends of the second beams are fixed to the first slider on the same side through mounting blocks and bolts, the top ends of the two second beams are fixed with a second cross plate for connecting and fixing the two, two second compression cylinders are fixed on the second cross plate, the second compression cylinders can be two and symmetrically arranged to obtain uniform pressure, the bottom end of the second compression cylinder is telescopically matched with a second compression cylinder rod, the bottom end of the second compression cylinder rod is fixed with a second strip block, the second strip block is arranged at the rear position of the clamping member, and a plurality of second compression heads are equidistantly provided below the second strip block along its length direction, and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of second compression heads are coplanar.

7. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The follower unit has a standby position, which is located in the middle of the conveying beam or at a position biased towards the incoming material. An identification module is provided in front of the standby position of the follower unit, and the identification module is used to identify the end information of the end of the steel coil and activate the clamping mechanism of the follower unit based on the information; The docking unit has a standby position, which is located at the front end of the conveying beam close to the incoming material. A trigger module is provided in front of the standby position of the docking unit. The trigger module is linked with the identification module. The trigger module is started based on the identification module's identification of the end. The trigger module is used to identify the arrival of the steel strip at the front end of the steel coil and start the clamping mechanism of the docking unit based on the identification information.

8. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The docking slide is symmetrically provided with a first stroke mechanism on both sides of the conveying beam, and the first stroke mechanism includes a first base, a first slide rail, a first slider, and a first cylinder body; the first base is long and fixed to the docking slide, the bottom of the first slide rail is fixed on the first base, the length direction of the first slide rail is in the same direction as the conveying beam, the first slider slides in cooperation with the first slide rail, the first cylinder body is fixed on the first base, and the first cylinder body is arranged on the rear side of the first slider and the first slide rail, the front end of the first cylinder body is telescopically cooperated with the first cylinder rod, and the front end of the first cylinder rod is fixed on the first slider, so that the first slider has a linear stroke moving forward and backward relative to the conveying beam direction, and the bottom side of the second gantry is respectively fixed on the two first sliders.

9. The online welding system for producing zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strip according to claim 1, characterized in that: A platform is fixed in the center of the rear side of the docking slide. The platform adopts a double-column support or four-column support structure. The first lifting cylinder and telescopic slide rail are installed on the platform. The telescopic slide rail is arranged in front of the first lifting cylinder. The top end of the first lifting cylinder is telescopically matched with the first lifting cylinder rod. The top end of the first lifting cylinder rod is fixed with a welding platform. The welding platform is located above the conveying beam. The telescopic slide rail is equipped with a telescopic slider, a telescopic slide is fixed on the top of the telescopic slider, and the telescopic slide includes a lower cross frame, a vertical frame, and an upper cross frame; the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame are arranged side by side up and down, and the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame both extend horizontally along the width direction of the steel belt, the top and bottom ends of the vertical frame are respectively fixed to the outer ends of the lower cross frame and the upper cross frame, and the inner end of the upper cross frame is installed with a welding mechanism.

10. A method for welding zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel strips, characterized in that: The method is performed on the online welding system for cold-rolled strip production according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the method comprises: When the tail end of the steel coil passes the conveyor beam, the follower unit is started to clamp the steel strip at the end, and moves synchronously with the clamped steel strip end based on the follower stroke; When the starting end of the newly uncoiled steel strip enters the conveyor beam, the butt joint unit is started to clamp the steel strip at the head end, and after approaching the follower unit in the catching-up stroke, it switches to the welding stroke and moves synchronously with the follower unit; When the follower unit and the docking unit are moving synchronously, the welding mechanism is started to perform welding operations on the joints.

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