Air blower, photographing system, rolling facility, air blowing method, and photographing method

Abstract

Among a plurality of rolling mills (10, 20) for rolling a metal strip 1, an air blower 50 includes a cross flow fan that provides on both the work side and the drive side of the outside in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the rolling mill (10) on the upstream side toward the rolling mill (20) on the downstream side and jets air so as to block the entry of outside air outside a rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and an air supply section that supplies air to the cross flow fan.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method.2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] JP-2002-156334-A describes that in a process of manufacturing a steel strip by hot rolling mill, provided are a case provided at an appropriate height position above a travel line of the steel strip, an optical device accommodated in the case and irradiates the surface of the steel strip with light to detect reflected light reflected from the surface, and a surface defect detection device that detects a surface defect by processing detection signals output from the optical device, a slit is provided at a part serving as an optical path of the optical device on a closed surface opposite to the travel line of the case, and a shielding plate is provided in a openable and closable manner against the slit in the case, so that the shielding plate is opened only during surface defect inspection.

[0003] JP-6808888-B describes a defect determination device provided with a roll that is installed with a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of a rolled steel strip and lifts the rolled steel strip to the top side, a camera that photographs an image including a lifted region of the rolled steel strip lifted to the top side by the roll, and a control device that determines a defect in the shape of the rolled steel strip on the basis of the image photographed by the camera.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a rolling line in hot rolling, water vapor is generated by evaporation of cooling water on a rolled metal strip during rolling. When the water vapor condenses and steam is generated, the atmosphere on the metal strip becomes white due to the steam in the case where the state of the metal strip is photographed by the camera, and it may be difficult to normally photograph an image.

[0005] As a result of examining the cause of generation of the steam, the inventors have found that it is because air outside the rolling line flows into the rolling line to cause the temperature of the atmosphere on the metal strip to decrease, and the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere decreases, so that the water vapor condenses and become steam.

[0006] As a technique for considering water vapor in the atmosphere on the metal strip at the time of image photographing, for example, JP-2002-156334-A describes that a camera above a travel line of a steel strip is accommodated in a case, a water-cooled heat shielding plate having a slit is provided at an optical path part of the camera, and air is jetted toward the opening surface of the slit to form an air curtain on the opening surface, thereby preventing the entry of water vapor and the like.

[0007] However, in the technique described in JP-2002-156334-A, the temperature in the vicinity of the case is lowered in order to protect the camera from heat. Therefore, it is conceivable that the air jetted on the opening surface is also low in temperature and causes a decrease in the temperature of the atmosphere on the metal strip, and it is difficult to photograph a normal image due to the generation of steam, and thus improvement is necessary.

[0008] The present invention provides an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method capable of suppressing generation of steam on a metal strip as compared with the conventional method.

[0009] Although the present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above problem, an example thereof is an air blower including: in multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip, an air jetting section configured to provide on both a work side and a drive side of the outside in a width direction of a metal strip so as to extend from a rolling mill on an upstream side toward a rolling mill on a downstream side and to jet air so as to block entry of outside air outside a rolling line from side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip; and an air supply section that supplies air to the air jetting section.

[0010] According to the present invention, the generation of steam over the metal strip can be suppressed as compared with the conventional method. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of an embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side; FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side; FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction; FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amounts of saturated water vapor; FIG. 5 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between theoretical values and experimental values of jet characteristics; FIG. 6 is a diagram for depicting an example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram for depicting an embodied example of the basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment; and FIG. 8 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of the air blower of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the top side when viewed from the side surface side. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side, FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side, FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction, FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amounts of saturated water vapor, FIG. 5 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between theoretical values and experimental values of jet characteristics, FIG. 6 is a diagram for depicting an example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a diagram for depicting an embodied example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of the air blower of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the top side when viewed from the side surface side.

[0014] In the drawings used in the specification, the same or corresponding constitutional elements will be denoted by the same or similar signs, and repeated descriptions of these constitutional elements will be omitted in some cases.

[0015] First, the overall configuration of the rolling facility will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

[0016] In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a rolling facility 100 for rolling a metal strip 1 includes a plurality of rolling mills (only two mill housings 10 and 20 are depicted in FIG. 1 for illustration reasons), an air blower 50, a camera 70, an illumination device 60, a looper roll 40 for tension control, a control device 90, a display device 95, and the like.

[0017] Among them, the photographing system of the embodiment is configured using the air blower 50 and the camera 70 that are essential, and the control device 90 and the display device 95 that are optional. In addition, the rolling facility 100 includes a photographing system configured using the air blower 50, the camera 70, and the like, and the plurality of rolling mills (the mill housings 10 and 20 in FIG. 1).

[0018] It should be noted that the rolling facility 100 is not limited to the configuration in which two rolling mills are provided as depicted in FIG. 1, but can be configured with three or more rolling mills.

[0019] Each rolling mill having the mill housing 10 or the mill housing 20 includes a pair of top and bottom work rolls 30, a pair of top and bottom backup rolls 35 that contact with these work rolls 30 for supporting, and the like. It should be noted that a six-high configuration in which an intermediate roll is further provided between each work roll and each backup roll can be employed. The roll configuration of the rolling mill is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it is only necessary to provide at least one pair of top and bottom work rolls.

[0020] The looper roll 40 for tension control is a roll for controlling the line tension applied to the metal strip 1 during rolling, and lifts the metal strip 1 to the top side in the vertical direction. The looper roll 40 is installed so that the rotation shaft thereof extends in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and is provided between the respective rolling mills having the mill housing 10 and the mill housing 20 as a roll for lifting the metal strip 1 to the top side from the bottom side in the vertical direction.

[0021] It should be noted that instead of the looper roll 40, a looper roll-type shape detector for detecting the shape of the metal strip 1 can be used. A shape detector having a known configuration can be used, and the details thereof are omitted.

[0022] The camera 70 is provided at a position where an image including a lifted region of the metal strip 1 lifted to the top side by the looper roll 40 can be photographed. The camera 70 preferably serves as an execution main body of a photographing process for photographing a reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1.

[0023] More specifically, the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 is formed near the region lifted by the looper roll 40, but if there is an obstacle between the reflecting light area and the camera installation position, the reflected light cannot reach the camera 70. However, since the prerequisite of the camera 70 is to photograph the reflecting light area, it is necessary not to obstruct the optical path with the obstacle. For this reason, the camera 70 is arranged at a position where there is no obstacle between the camera 70 and the lifted region of the metal strip 1. Data of the image photographed by the camera 70 and including the lifted region of the metal strip 1 lifted to the top side by the looper roll 40 is transmitted to the control device 90.

[0024] The illumination device 60 is a light source for illuminating the lifted photographed region of the metal strip 1 that is mainly photographed by the camera 70 and lifted to the top side in the vertical direction by the looper roll 40, and a general light source appropriately arranged on the ceiling or the like of a rolling plant where the rolling facility 100 is installed can also be used.

[0025] More specifically, the illumination device 60 is installed on one side in the width direction of the metal strip 1 across the metal strip 1, and is installed to form a reflecting light area on the surface of the metal strip 1 in some cases, but it is necessary not to obstruct the optical path with an obstacle because if there is an obstacle in the optical path, there is a possibility that the illumination on the surface of the metal strip 1 is not sufficient and the reflecting light area cannot be formed. For this reason, it is desirable to be installed at a position where there is no obstacle between the illumination device 60 and the lifted region of the metal strip 1.

[0026] The air blower 50 depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is formed of an air jetting section, an air supply section, support sections, and the like, and preferably serves as an execution main body of an air blowing process for jetting air on both the work side and the drive side on the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to block the entry of outside air outside the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 by the air blower 50 extending from the rolling mill on the upstream side toward the rolling mill on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1. It should be noted that the "rolling line" in the present invention refers to a three-dimensional space in which the metal strip 1 exists.

[0027] The air blower 50 may be retrofitted to an existing rolling facility (at this time, one or more of the illumination device 60 and the camera 70 can be retrofitted and installed together or the position change is possible), or may be installed in a new rolling facility as an initial facility.

[0028] The support sections of the air blower 50 are formed of a plurality of posts 52 for supporting the casing of the air jetting section and the air supply section on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rolling direction, the posts 52 may be provided with wheels 54 provided on the floor installation surface, and the air jetting section and the air supply section may be movable in a free direction during maintenance or the like.

[0029] The air jetting section of the air blower 50 is configured using, for example, a cross flow fan 84 (see FIG. 6 and the like), is provided on each of both the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the mill housing 10 on the upstream side toward the mill housing 20 on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, and is preferably a device for jetting air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the metal strip 1.

[0030] As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the air jetting sections partition the gap between the mill housings 10 and 20, and, as depicted in FIG. 1, are provided above the pass line in the vertical direction, and are arranged so as to jet air to the bottom side in the vertical direction from the top side of the pass line in the vertical direction to suppress the inflow of outside air into the rolling line.

[0031] In addition, as depicted in FIG. 2, the air jetting sections are provided outside the outer walls on both the drive side and the work side of the mill housings 10 and 20 in the width direction of the rolling line. It should be noted that the air jetting sections need not be provided outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20, and are desirably provided outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 from the viewpoint of installation properties, but may be provided inside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 for the purpose of installation to suppress the inflow of outside air into the rolling line.

[0032] The air supply section of the air blower 50 is preferably a mechanism for supplying air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line to the air jetting section mainly formed of the cross flow fan 84 so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and more preferably supplies air at 100°C or higher to the air jetting section.

[0033] The air supply section is provided for the purpose of preventing outside air by the supply of air by the air jetting section from flowing into the rolling line and preventing the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line from being cooled by the temperature of the gas as the supply source. Preferably, since the air having a temperature of 100°C or higher is used, in the case where the cooling water is evaporated over the metal strip 1, the air having a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the cooling water can be reliably vaporized under the atmospheric pressure, and thus the generation of steam can be reliably suppressed. It should be noted that depending on the environment where the rolling facility 100 is operated, the temperature may be 100°C or lower, and can be appropriately set according to the environment.

[0034] Hereinafter, the results of the examination of the reason for providing the air blower 50 in the present invention will be described using FIG. 4 and the drawings that follow.

[0035] In the system of the defect determination device for monitoring a defect of the plate shape described in JP-6808888-B, the reflecting light area formed like a belt in the plate width direction is detected on the surface of the metal strip 1 at the looper roll 40 part, and the plate shape is determined by measuring the distance distribution of the reflecting light area in the rolling direction by image processing, but in this technique, it is assumed that the reflecting light area like a belt can be detected, and it is important to suppress the generation of steam that interferes with the detection of the optically reflecting light area in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part.

[0036] Here, in the hot rolling of the metal strip 1, the temperature of the iron-based metal strip 1 is usually approximately 900°C. In addition, in the aluminum-based hot rolling, the temperature of the metal strip 1 is usually approximately 400°C.

[0037] That is, the metal strip 1 is a high-temperature heat source. However, in spite of the presence of the high-temperature heat source, condensation of water vapor occurs at the looper roll 40 part and steam is generated in some cases. As the probable reason for this, it is conceivable that the amount of existing moisture exceeds the amount of saturated water vapor at the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part and becomes steam.

[0038] When the atmospheric temperature is T°C, a saturated water vapor pressure e(T) [hPa] can be described as the following equation (1) from the Tetens equation. e T = 6.1078 × 10 ∧ 7.5 T / T + 237.3 In addition, the amount of saturated water vapor a(T) [g / m 3< ] can be described as the following equation (2). a T = 217 e T / T + 273.15 The equation (2) can be graphically represented as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0039] From the above equation (2), it can be understood that the generation of steam can be prevented if the amount of moisture existing at the looper roll 40 part does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere. Two methods can be considered as the countermeasures.

[0040] The first is to reduce the amount of moisture at the looper roll 40 part so that the amount of moisture does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor.

[0041] The second is to increase the amount of saturated water vapor by raising the atmospheric temperature at the looper roll 40 part so that the amount of moisture does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor.

[0042] However, since it is conceivable that it is difficult to reduce the amount of moisture of the cooling water during rolling in the rolling operation, a countermeasure for steam generation prevention that is the second method is taken to increase the amount of saturated water vapor by raising the atmospheric temperature at the looper roll 40 part.

[0043] As a factor for lowering the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part in spite of the presence of the high-temperature heat source such as a hot-rolled strip, it is conceivable that air having a low temperature outside the rolling line highly possibly flows into the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part to lower the atmospheric temperature. Therefore, a countermeasure is taken to prevent air outside the rolling line from flowing into the rolling line.

[0044] In the rolling facility 100 as depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a countermeasure for preventing the generation of steam is taken at the looper roll 40 part installed in the rolling line between the respective rolling mills having the mill housings 10 and 20.

[0045] Since the looper roll 40 part is installed at an intermediate position between the rolling mill (having the mill housing 10) on the upstream side and the rolling mill (having the mill housing 20) on the downstream side in the rolling direction, it is conceivable that the rolling mills themselves serve as barriers and there is almost no entry of outside air from the upstream side and the downstream side in the rolling direction.

[0046] On the other hand, there is no barrier in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the line center at the looper roll 40 part, and it is assumed that outside air easily enters inside the rolling line. If the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the direction orthogonal to the line center can be prevented, it is conceivable that condensation of water vapor due to the lowering of the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line can be prevented and generation of steam can be suppressed.

[0047] Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it has been conceived that the laterally-long air blowers 50 are installed so as to cover gaps at side surface portions in the rolling line width direction between both the rolling mills having the mill housing 10 on the upstream side and the mill housing 20 on the downstream side, and that air having a high temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line is preferably generated in the bottom direction or the top direction in the vertical direction by the principle similar to an air curtain, so that outside air having a temperature lower than the atmospheric temperature inside the rolling line does not enter the rolling line.

[0048] The airflow blown from the air blower 50 needs to reach the pass line from the installation position of the air blower 50. Accordingly, under the condition that the wind speed at the pass line position is 1 m / s or more, the following relationship can be derived for the center speed Uc of the airflow from the relationship between the experimental values of FIG. 5.

[0049] When the height h at the position of the air outlet of the air blower 50 from the pass line is 2 m and the thickness B of the air outlet is 66 mm, h / B is approximately 30.

[0050] The value obtained by dividing the center speed Uc of the jet at this time by the air outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately 0.38 from FIG. 5.

[0051] Thus, when the center speed Uc of the airflow at the position of the pass line is 1 m / s, the air outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately 2.6 m / s as the equation of Uc1 = Uc / 0.38 = 1 / 0.38 = 2.6 m / s.

[0052] However, in the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B in which the reflecting light area formed like a belt in the width direction is detected on the surface of the metal strip 1 at the looper roll 40 part and changes in the plate shape can be monitored, the looper roll 40 part is photographed by the camera 70 as depicted in FIG. 3, and there is a case in which the looper roll 40 part is irradiated with illumination light from the illumination device 60. Therefore, it is required to fix the installation height of the air blower 50 so as not to obstruct the illumination light and the photographing of the camera 70.

[0053] From FIG. 3, it is required that the distances C (= h) from the pass line to the air outlets of the air blowers 50 are larger than a lower limit position D where the air blowers 50 do not obstruct the illumination device 60 in the case where the air blowers 50 are installed at the positions of distances A from the line center to the mounting positions of the air blowers 50, and is larger than a lower limit position E where the air blowers 50 do not obstruct the photographing of the camera 70 in the case where the air blowers 50 are installed at the positions of the distances A.

[0054] It should be noted that the distances A from the line center to the mounting positions of the air blowers 50 are positions outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 from the line center. However, it is desirable that the distances A where the air blowers 50 are installed are as close to the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 as possible.

[0055] FIG. 3 depicts a case where the distances C from the pass line to the air outlets of the air blowers 50 are the same on both sides of the metal strip 1, but may be different from each other.

[0056] As depicted in FIG. 6, the air blower 50 further includes a heater 81, a motor 82, a casing 83, the cross flow fan 84 (air jetting section), and the like in addition to the support sections depicted in FIG. 1 and the like.

[0057] Among them, the heater 81 is an apparatus for heating air taken in from an intake port 86 and is a part of the air supply section.

[0058] The casing 83 is a housing for accommodating the heater 81 on the upstream side and the cross flow fan 84 on the downstream side in the air flow path, and has the intake port 86 provided on the top side in the vertical direction of the pass line to take in atmospheric air in the rolling line and an exhaust port 87 for jetting air heated up by the heater 81 and jetted from the cross flow fan 84.

[0059] The cross flow fan 84 is a cylindrical fan having a plurality of blades in a cylindrical shape, and is configured to take in air in the radial direction and blow out the air taken in in different radial directions. The cross flow fan 84 is driven by the motor 82. It should be noted that the air jetting section is not limited to the cross flow fan 84, and a propeller fan, a blower, or the like can be used.

[0060] The air blower 50 is not limited to the configuration as depicted in FIG. 6. Hereinafter, air blowers 50A and 50B of a modified example will be described using FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

[0061] As depicted in FIG. 7, unlike the air blower 50 depicted in FIG. 6, the air blower 50A further includes a motor 82, a casing 83A with a duct, a cross flow fan 84 (air jetting section), and the like in addition to the support sections depicted in FIG. 1 and the like.

[0062] In the air blower 50A depicted in FIG. 7, the heater 81 is not provided, and an intake port 86A is provided by extending vertically above the pass line so as to take in air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1 whose temperature usually exceeds 400°C.

[0063] In addition, the casing 83A with a duct is configured to guide air taken in from the intake port 86A to the cross flow fan 84, and an exhaust port 87 jets air above the metal strip 1 whose temperature is high. In this case, by using a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum for the casing 83A and the cross flow fan 84, the temperature of the air blower 50 itself can be kept at a high temperature, and high-temperature air can be efficiently exhausted.

[0064] It should be noted that although FIG. 7 exemplifies a case where air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1, is taken in when the air blower jets air to the bottom side in the vertical direction, the air taken in at the intake port is not limited to the air above the metal strip 1, but may be air existing on the vertically bottom side or the lateral side of the metal strip 1, or may be air existing at any two or more locations among these three locations.

[0065] The air blower 50B in a rolling facility 100B depicted in FIG. 8 is the same as the air blowers 50 and 50A in that it includes the air jetting section, the air supply section, the support sections, and the like, but is configured to jet air from the bottom side in the vertical direction to the top side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 unlike the air blowers 50 and 50A.

[0066] The support sections of the air blower 50B are formed of wheels 54B for moving the air jetting section and the air supply section on an installation surface 55 in a free direction.

[0067] The air jetting section is basically the same as the air blower 50 or the air blower 50A in that it is configured using, for example, the cross flow fan 84, is provided on each of both the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the mill housing 10 on the upstream side toward the mill housing 20 on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, and preferably jets air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the metal strip 1, and the other configurations are basically the same.

[0068] It should be noted that even in the configuration in which air is jetted from the bottom side in the vertical direction to the top side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 as depicted in FIG. 8, instead of the heater 81, the air supply section can employ a configuration in which air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1, is taken in as depicted in FIG. 7, or a configuration in which air heated up by the metal strip 1 is taken in from the vertically bottom side or the lateral side of the metal strip 1 or any one or more locations among these three locations.

[0069] Referring back to FIG. 1, the control device 90 is a device that controls the operation of each equipment in the rolling facility 100. In the embodiment, in particular, the control device 90 detects the distance distribution in the rolling direction of the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 described in JP-6808888-B on the basis of the image photographed by the camera 70, so that a defect in the plate shape of the metal strip 1 during rolling is determined, and various controls according to the occurrence state of the defect in the plate shape are executed. Since the atmosphere without steam can be maintained in these operations, the reflecting light area can be detected, and the various controls can be executed.

[0070] Since the display device 95 is a display apparatus such as a display, an alarm device, or an acoustic apparatus, and is a device for informing, for example, the operator of the occurrence of a defect in the plate shape or coping work when the control device 90 determines that the plate shape is defective, a display or a monitor is used as such a display device 95 in many cases.

[0071] During rolling operation, the operator checks the presence or absence of a defect in the plate shape by paying attention to the display screen of the display device 95. For example, in the case where a defect in the plate shape such as center buckle is displayed on the display device 95, the operator operates each actuator by manually intervening in accordance with the corresponding instruction, so that it is possible to restore the defective state of the plate shape to a good state.

[0072] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which a defect in the plate shape is informed to the operator, but a configuration in which an operation to display and correct a defect in the plate shape is automatically intervened by the control device 90, or a configuration in which an operation to correct a defect is automatically intervened without displaying can be employed.

[0073] Next, the effects of the embodiment will be described.

[0074] Each of air blowers 50, 50A, and 50B of the above- described embodiment includes: an air jetting section that is provided on each of both the work side and the drive side on the outer sides in the width direction of a metal strip 1 so as to extend from a rolling mill on the upstream side toward a rolling mill on the downstream side among a plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1 and jets air so as to block the entry of outside air outside the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1; and an air supply section that supplies air to the air jetting section.

[0075] By forming such an air curtain between the rolling mills arranged in tandem, it is possible to prevent outside air from entering the rolling line and to make it difficult to lower the temperature of the atmosphere in the rolling line by the temperature of the air curtain, so that it is possible to maintain the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere at a high level without lowering, and it is possible to reduce the generation of steam because condensation of water vapor hardly occurs over the metal strip 1. Thus, in the case where the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B is employed, the image photographing of the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 can be reliably performed as compared with the conventional method, and the determination of the plate shape abnormality of the metal strip during rolling can be accordingly performed more accurately and reliably.

[0076] In addition, since the air jetting section can hardly lower the temperature of the atmosphere in the rolling line by the temperature of the air curtain by jetting air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line, it is possible to maintain at a high temperature by suppressing the lowering of the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere more, and condensation of water vapor hardly occurs over the metal strip 1.

[0077] Further, by supplying air of 100°C or higher to the air jetting section, the air supply section supplies air having a temperature or higher at which it is possible to reliably vaporize cooling water under the atmospheric pressure in the case where it evaporates on the rolling line, and thus even if a cold atmosphere flows in from outside the rolling line, since it can be expected that it can be heated up to a temperature with a high possibility of suppressing the generation of steam by heating at the temperature, the generation of steam can be more suppressed.

[0078] In addition, since the air jetting sections are provided in the rolling direction on the outer sides of the outer walls of the housings of the two rolling mills on both sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1, a space where steam is hardly generated can be formed in a space above the metal strip 1 present between the two rolling mills on the upstream side and the downstream side.

[0079] Further, the casing 83 having the intake ports 86 and 86A and the exhaust port 87 is further provided, and the casing 83 accommodates the air supply section on the upstream side and the air jetting section on the downstream side of the air flow path, so that the possibility that air having a low temperature other than that supplied from the air supply section is jetted from the air jetting section can be minimized as much as possible, and it is possible to more reliably function as an air curtain of a high temperature.

[0080] In addition, since the air supply section includes the heater 81 for heating air taken in from the intake port 86, air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line can be reliably jetted.

[0081] Further, since the intake port 86A is provided around the metal strip 1 so as to take in air heated up by the metal strip 1 and having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line, and the air supply section includes the casing 83A with a duct to guide air taken in from the intake port 86A to the air jetting section, the high-temperature air in the atmosphere on the metal strip 1 is taken in as it is, and thus a heat source need not be additionally prepared.

[0082] In addition, since the air jetting section is the cross flow fan 84, uniform jetting of air in the rolling direction can be easily realized.

[0083] In addition, in FIG. 8, since the air jetting section is provided on the bottom side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 and jets air to the top side in the vertical direction, the air can be blown from the side closer to the side where the reflecting light area of the metal strip 1 is formed. Since the wind speed in the vicinity of the metal strip 1 is close to the initial speed of the air jetting section, the wind speed is relatively fast, the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the rolling line can be efficiently prevented, and the lowering of the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line can be effectively prevented. Thus, a decrease in the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere can be reliably prevented, and a configuration in which steam is hardly generated can be realized.

[0084] Further, according to the photographing system provided with the air blowers 50, 50A, and 50B installed on both sides in the width direction of the rolling line and the camera 70 installed on either side in the width direction of the metal strip 1 and photographing the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1, since the blocking of the optical path by steam is eliminated, it is possible to photograph the reflecting light area more frequently and clearly.

[0085] In addition, in the rolling facility 100 provided with the photographing system and the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, in the case where the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B is employed, the generation of steam in the atmosphere is suppressed, and the reflecting light area is reliably photographed during rolling as compared with the conventional method. Thus, it is possible to realize a rolling facility capable of performing a plate shape abnormality determination more accurately and reliably, finding abnormality generation quickly and with higher probability, and coping with a rolling defect more appropriately.<Other>

[0086] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified and applied in various ways. The above-described embodiment has been described in detail for the purpose of clearly explaining the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.[Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0087] 1...Metal Strip 10, 20...Mill Housing 30...Work Roll 35...Backup Roll 40...Looper Roll 50, 50a, 50b...Air Blower 52...Post 54, 54b...Wheel 55... Installation Surface 60... Illumination Device 70...Camera (Photographing Device) 81...Heater (Air Supply Section, Heating Section) 82...Motor 83... Casing 83a...Casing With Duct (Air Supply Section, Intake Duct) 84...Cross Flow Fan (Air Jetting Section) 86, 86a...Intake Port 87...Exhaust Port 90...Control Device 95...Display Device 100,100b... Rolling Facility

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0012]An embodiment of an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side, FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side, FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction, FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amoun...

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method.2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] JP-2002-156334-A describes that in a process of manufacturing a steel strip by hot rolling mill, provided are a case provided at an appropriate height position above a travel line of the steel strip, an optical device accommodated in the case and irradiates the surface of the steel strip with light to detect reflected light reflected from the surface, and a surface defect detection device that detects a surface defect by processing detection signals output from the optical device, a slit is provided at a part serving as an optical path of the optical device on a closed surface opposite to the travel line of the case, and a shielding plate is provided in a openable and closable manner against the slit in the case, so that the shielding plate is opened only during surface defect inspection.

[0003] JP-6808888-B describes a defect determination device provided with a roll that is installed with a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of a rolled steel strip and lifts the rolled steel strip to the top side, a camera that photographs an image including a lifted region of the rolled steel strip lifted to the top side by the roll, and a control device that determines a defect in the shape of the rolled steel strip on the basis of the image photographed by the camera.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a rolling line in hot rolling, water vapor is generated by evaporation of cooling water on a rolled metal strip during rolling. When the water vapor condenses and steam is generated, the atmosphere on the metal strip becomes white due to the steam in the case where the state of the metal strip is photographed by the camera, and it may be difficult to normally photograph an image.

[0005] As a result of examining the cause of generation of the steam, the inventors have found that it is because air outside the rolling line flows into the rolling line to cause the temperature of the atmosphere on the metal strip to decrease, and the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere decreases, so that the water vapor condenses and become steam.

[0006] As a technique for considering water vapor in the atmosphere on the metal strip at the time of image photographing, for example, JP-2002-156334-A describes that a camera above a travel line of a steel strip is accommodated in a case, a water-cooled heat shielding plate having a slit is provided at an optical path part of the camera, and air is jetted toward the opening surface of the slit to form an air curtain on the opening surface, thereby preventing the entry of water vapor and the like.

[0007] However, in the technique described in JP-2002-156334-A, the temperature in the vicinity of the case is lowered in order to protect the camera from heat. Therefore, it is conceivable that the air jetted on the opening surface is also low in temperature and causes a decrease in the temperature of the atmosphere on the metal strip, and it is difficult to photograph a normal image due to the generation of steam, and thus improvement is necessary.

[0008] The present invention provides an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method capable of suppressing generation of steam on a metal strip as compared with the conventional method.

[0009] Although the present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above problem, an example thereof is an air blower including: in multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip, an air jetting section configured to provide on both a work side and a drive side of the outside in a width direction of a metal strip so as to extend from a rolling mill on an upstream side toward a rolling mill on a downstream side and to jet air so as to block entry of outside air outside a rolling line from side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip; and an air supply section that supplies air to the air jetting section.

[0010] According to the present invention, the generation of steam over the metal strip can be suppressed as compared with the conventional method. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of an embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side; FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side; FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction; FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amounts of saturated water vapor; FIG. 5 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between theoretical values and experimental values of jet characteristics; FIG. 6 is a diagram for depicting an example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram for depicting an embodied example of the basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment; and FIG. 8 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of the air blower of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the top side when viewed from the side surface side. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side, FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side, FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction, FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amounts of saturated water vapor, FIG. 5 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between theoretical values and experimental values of jet characteristics, FIG. 6 is a diagram for depicting an example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a diagram for depicting an embodied example of a basic structure of the air blower of the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of the air blower of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the top side when viewed from the side surface side.

[0014] In the drawings used in the specification, the same or corresponding constitutional elements will be denoted by the same or similar signs, and repeated descriptions of these constitutional elements will be omitted in some cases.

[0015] First, the overall configuration of the rolling facility will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

[0016] In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a rolling facility 100 for rolling a metal strip 1 includes a plurality of rolling mills (only two mill housings 10 and 20 are depicted in FIG. 1 for illustration reasons), an air blower 50, a camera 70, an illumination device 60, a looper roll 40 for tension control, a control device 90, a display device 95, and the like.

[0017] Among them, the photographing system of the embodiment is configured using the air blower 50 and the camera 70 that are essential, and the control device 90 and the display device 95 that are optional. In addition, the rolling facility 100 includes a photographing system configured using the air blower 50, the camera 70, and the like, and the plurality of rolling mills (the mill housings 10 and 20 in FIG. 1).

[0018] It should be noted that the rolling facility 100 is not limited to the configuration in which two rolling mills are provided as depicted in FIG. 1, but can be configured with three or more rolling mills.

[0019] Each rolling mill having the mill housing 10 or the mill housing 20 includes a pair of top and bottom work rolls 30, a pair of top and bottom backup rolls 35 that contact with these work rolls 30 for supporting, and the like. It should be noted that a six-high configuration in which an intermediate roll is further provided between each work roll and each backup roll can be employed. The roll configuration of the rolling mill is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it is only necessary to provide at least one pair of top and bottom work rolls.

[0020] The looper roll 40 for tension control is a roll for controlling the line tension applied to the metal strip 1 during rolling, and lifts the metal strip 1 to the top side in the vertical direction. The looper roll 40 is installed so that the rotation shaft thereof extends in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and is provided between the respective rolling mills having the mill housing 10 and the mill housing 20 as a roll for lifting the metal strip 1 to the top side from the bottom side in the vertical direction.

[0021] It should be noted that instead of the looper roll 40, a looper roll-type shape detector for detecting the shape of the metal strip 1 can be used. A shape detector having a known configuration can be used, and the details thereof are omitted.

[0022] The camera 70 is provided at a position where an image including a lifted region of the metal strip 1 lifted to the top side by the looper roll 40 can be photographed. The camera 70 preferably serves as an execution main body of a photographing process for photographing a reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1.

[0023] More specifically, the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 is formed near the region lifted by the looper roll 40, but if there is an obstacle between the reflecting light area and the camera installation position, the reflected light cannot reach the camera 70. However, since the prerequisite of the camera 70 is to photograph the reflecting light area, it is necessary not to obstruct the optical path with the obstacle. For this reason, the camera 70 is arranged at a position where there is no obstacle between the camera 70 and the lifted region of the metal strip 1. Data of the image photographed by the camera 70 and including the lifted region of the metal strip 1 lifted to the top side by the looper roll 40 is transmitted to the control device 90.

[0024] The illumination device 60 is a light source for illuminating the lifted photographed region of the metal strip 1 that is mainly photographed by the camera 70 and lifted to the top side in the vertical direction by the looper roll 40, and a general light source appropriately arranged on the ceiling or the like of a rolling plant where the rolling facility 100 is installed can also be used.

[0025] More specifically, the illumination device 60 is installed on one side in the width direction of the metal strip 1 across the metal strip 1, and is installed to form a reflecting light area on the surface of the metal strip 1 in some cases, but it is necessary not to obstruct the optical path with an obstacle because if there is an obstacle in the optical path, there is a possibility that the illumination on the surface of the metal strip 1 is not sufficient and the reflecting light area cannot be formed. For this reason, it is desirable to be installed at a position where there is no obstacle between the illumination device 60 and the lifted region of the metal strip 1.

[0026] The air blower 50 depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is formed of an air jetting section, an air supply section, support sections, and the like, and preferably serves as an execution main body of an air blowing process for jetting air on both the work side and the drive side on the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to block the entry of outside air outside the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 by the air blower 50 extending from the rolling mill on the upstream side toward the rolling mill on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1. It should be noted that the "rolling line" in the present invention refers to a three-dimensional space in which the metal strip 1 exists.

[0027] The air blower 50 may be retrofitted to an existing rolling facility (at this time, one or more of the illumination device 60 and the camera 70 can be retrofitted and installed together or the position change is possible), or may be installed in a new rolling facility as an initial facility.

[0028] The support sections of the air blower 50 are formed of a plurality of posts 52 for supporting the casing of the air jetting section and the air supply section on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rolling direction, the posts 52 may be provided with wheels 54 provided on the floor installation surface, and the air jetting section and the air supply section may be movable in a free direction during maintenance or the like.

[0029] The air jetting section of the air blower 50 is configured using, for example, a cross flow fan 84 (see FIG. 6 and the like), is provided on each of both the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the mill housing 10 on the upstream side toward the mill housing 20 on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, and is preferably a device for jetting air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the metal strip 1.

[0030] As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the air jetting sections partition the gap between the mill housings 10 and 20, and, as depicted in FIG. 1, are provided above the pass line in the vertical direction, and are arranged so as to jet air to the bottom side in the vertical direction from the top side of the pass line in the vertical direction to suppress the inflow of outside air into the rolling line.

[0031] In addition, as depicted in FIG. 2, the air jetting sections are provided outside the outer walls on both the drive side and the work side of the mill housings 10 and 20 in the width direction of the rolling line. It should be noted that the air jetting sections need not be provided outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20, and are desirably provided outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 from the viewpoint of installation properties, but may be provided inside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 for the purpose of installation to suppress the inflow of outside air into the rolling line.

[0032] The air supply section of the air blower 50 is preferably a mechanism for supplying air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line to the air jetting section mainly formed of the cross flow fan 84 so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and more preferably supplies air at 100°C or higher to the air jetting section.

[0033] The air supply section is provided for the purpose of preventing outside air by the supply of air by the air jetting section from flowing into the rolling line and preventing the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line from being cooled by the temperature of the gas as the supply source. Preferably, since the air having a temperature of 100°C or higher is used, in the case where the cooling water is evaporated over the metal strip 1, the air having a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the cooling water can be reliably vaporized under the atmospheric pressure, and thus the generation of steam can be reliably suppressed. It should be noted that depending on the environment where the rolling facility 100 is operated, the temperature may be 100°C or lower, and can be appropriately set according to the environment.

[0034] Hereinafter, the results of the examination of the reason for providing the air blower 50 in the present invention will be described using FIG. 4 and the drawings that follow.

[0035] In the system of the defect determination device for monitoring a defect of the plate shape described in JP-6808888-B, the reflecting light area formed like a belt in the plate width direction is detected on the surface of the metal strip 1 at the looper roll 40 part, and the plate shape is determined by measuring the distance distribution of the reflecting light area in the rolling direction by image processing, but in this technique, it is assumed that the reflecting light area like a belt can be detected, and it is important to suppress the generation of steam that interferes with the detection of the optically reflecting light area in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part.

[0036] Here, in the hot rolling of the metal strip 1, the temperature of the iron-based metal strip 1 is usually approximately 900°C. In addition, in the aluminum-based hot rolling, the temperature of the metal strip 1 is usually approximately 400°C.

[0037] That is, the metal strip 1 is a high-temperature heat source. However, in spite of the presence of the high-temperature heat source, condensation of water vapor occurs at the looper roll 40 part and steam is generated in some cases. As the probable reason for this, it is conceivable that the amount of existing moisture exceeds the amount of saturated water vapor at the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part and becomes steam.

[0038] When the atmospheric temperature is T°C, a saturated water vapor pressure e(T) [hPa] can be described as the following equation (1) from the Tetens equation. e T = 6.1078 × 10 ∧ 7.5 T / T + 237.3 In addition, the amount of saturated water vapor a(T) [g / m 3< ] can be described as the following equation (2). a T = 217 e T / T + 273.15 The equation (2) can be graphically represented as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0039] From the above equation (2), it can be understood that the generation of steam can be prevented if the amount of moisture existing at the looper roll 40 part does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere. Two methods can be considered as the countermeasures.

[0040] The first is to reduce the amount of moisture at the looper roll 40 part so that the amount of moisture does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor.

[0041] The second is to increase the amount of saturated water vapor by raising the atmospheric temperature at the looper roll 40 part so that the amount of moisture does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor.

[0042] However, since it is conceivable that it is difficult to reduce the amount of moisture of the cooling water during rolling in the rolling operation, a countermeasure for steam generation prevention that is the second method is taken to increase the amount of saturated water vapor by raising the atmospheric temperature at the looper roll 40 part.

[0043] As a factor for lowering the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part in spite of the presence of the high-temperature heat source such as a hot-rolled strip, it is conceivable that air having a low temperature outside the rolling line highly possibly flows into the rolling line at the looper roll 40 part to lower the atmospheric temperature. Therefore, a countermeasure is taken to prevent air outside the rolling line from flowing into the rolling line.

[0044] In the rolling facility 100 as depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a countermeasure for preventing the generation of steam is taken at the looper roll 40 part installed in the rolling line between the respective rolling mills having the mill housings 10 and 20.

[0045] Since the looper roll 40 part is installed at an intermediate position between the rolling mill (having the mill housing 10) on the upstream side and the rolling mill (having the mill housing 20) on the downstream side in the rolling direction, it is conceivable that the rolling mills themselves serve as barriers and there is almost no entry of outside air from the upstream side and the downstream side in the rolling direction.

[0046] On the other hand, there is no barrier in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the line center at the looper roll 40 part, and it is assumed that outside air easily enters inside the rolling line. If the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the direction orthogonal to the line center can be prevented, it is conceivable that condensation of water vapor due to the lowering of the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line can be prevented and generation of steam can be suppressed.

[0047] Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it has been conceived that the laterally-long air blowers 50 are installed so as to cover gaps at side surface portions in the rolling line width direction between both the rolling mills having the mill housing 10 on the upstream side and the mill housing 20 on the downstream side, and that air having a high temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line is preferably generated in the bottom direction or the top direction in the vertical direction by the principle similar to an air curtain, so that outside air having a temperature lower than the atmospheric temperature inside the rolling line does not enter the rolling line.

[0048] The airflow blown from the air blower 50 needs to reach the pass line from the installation position of the air blower 50. Accordingly, under the condition that the wind speed at the pass line position is 1 m / s or more, the following relationship can be derived for the center speed Uc of the airflow from the relationship between the experimental values of FIG. 5.

[0049] When the height h at the position of the air outlet of the air blower 50 from the pass line is 2 m and the thickness B of the air outlet is 66 mm, h / B is approximately 30.

[0050] The value obtained by dividing the center speed Uc of the jet at this time by the air outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately 0.38 from FIG. 5.

[0051] Thus, when the center speed Uc of the airflow at the position of the pass line is 1 m / s, the air outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately 2.6 m / s as the equation of Uc1 = Uc / 0.38 = 1 / 0.38 = 2.6 m / s.

[0052] However, in the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B in which the reflecting light area formed like a belt in the width direction is detected on the surface of the metal strip 1 at the looper roll 40 part and changes in the plate shape can be monitored, the looper roll 40 part is photographed by the camera 70 as depicted in FIG. 3, and there is a case in which the looper roll 40 part is irradiated with illumination light from the illumination device 60. Therefore, it is required to fix the installation height of the air blower 50 so as not to obstruct the illumination light and the photographing of the camera 70.

[0053] From FIG. 3, it is required that the distances C (= h) from the pass line to the air outlets of the air blowers 50 are larger than a lower limit position D where the air blowers 50 do not obstruct the illumination device 60 in the case where the air blowers 50 are installed at the positions of distances A from the line center to the mounting positions of the air blowers 50, and is larger than a lower limit position E where the air blowers 50 do not obstruct the photographing of the camera 70 in the case where the air blowers 50 are installed at the positions of the distances A.

[0054] It should be noted that the distances A from the line center to the mounting positions of the air blowers 50 are positions outside the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 from the line center. However, it is desirable that the distances A where the air blowers 50 are installed are as close to the outer walls of the mill housings 10 and 20 as possible.

[0055] FIG. 3 depicts a case where the distances C from the pass line to the air outlets of the air blowers 50 are the same on both sides of the metal strip 1, but may be different from each other.

[0056] As depicted in FIG. 6, the air blower 50 further includes a heater 81, a motor 82, a casing 83, the cross flow fan 84 (air jetting section), and the like in addition to the support sections depicted in FIG. 1 and the like.

[0057] Among them, the heater 81 is an apparatus for heating air taken in from an intake port 86 and is a part of the air supply section.

[0058] The casing 83 is a housing for accommodating the heater 81 on the upstream side and the cross flow fan 84 on the downstream side in the air flow path, and has the intake port 86 provided on the top side in the vertical direction of the pass line to take in atmospheric air in the rolling line and an exhaust port 87 for jetting air heated up by the heater 81 and jetted from the cross flow fan 84.

[0059] The cross flow fan 84 is a cylindrical fan having a plurality of blades in a cylindrical shape, and is configured to take in air in the radial direction and blow out the air taken in in different radial directions. The cross flow fan 84 is driven by the motor 82. It should be noted that the air jetting section is not limited to the cross flow fan 84, and a propeller fan, a blower, or the like can be used.

[0060] The air blower 50 is not limited to the configuration as depicted in FIG. 6. Hereinafter, air blowers 50A and 50B of a modified example will be described using FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

[0061] As depicted in FIG. 7, unlike the air blower 50 depicted in FIG. 6, the air blower 50A further includes a motor 82, a casing 83A with a duct, a cross flow fan 84 (air jetting section), and the like in addition to the support sections depicted in FIG. 1 and the like.

[0062] In the air blower 50A depicted in FIG. 7, the heater 81 is not provided, and an intake port 86A is provided by extending vertically above the pass line so as to take in air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1 whose temperature usually exceeds 400°C.

[0063] In addition, the casing 83A with a duct is configured to guide air taken in from the intake port 86A to the cross flow fan 84, and an exhaust port 87 jets air above the metal strip 1 whose temperature is high. In this case, by using a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum for the casing 83A and the cross flow fan 84, the temperature of the air blower 50 itself can be kept at a high temperature, and high-temperature air can be efficiently exhausted.

[0064] It should be noted that although FIG. 7 exemplifies a case where air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1, is taken in when the air blower jets air to the bottom side in the vertical direction, the air taken in at the intake port is not limited to the air above the metal strip 1, but may be air existing on the vertically bottom side or the lateral side of the metal strip 1, or may be air existing at any two or more locations among these three locations.

[0065] The air blower 50B in a rolling facility 100B depicted in FIG. 8 is the same as the air blowers 50 and 50A in that it includes the air jetting section, the air supply section, the support sections, and the like, but is configured to jet air from the bottom side in the vertical direction to the top side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 unlike the air blowers 50 and 50A.

[0066] The support sections of the air blower 50B are formed of wheels 54B for moving the air jetting section and the air supply section on an installation surface 55 in a free direction.

[0067] The air jetting section is basically the same as the air blower 50 or the air blower 50A in that it is configured using, for example, the cross flow fan 84, is provided on each of both the outer sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the mill housing 10 on the upstream side toward the mill housing 20 on the downstream side among the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, and preferably jets air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line so as to block the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the metal strip 1, and the other configurations are basically the same.

[0068] It should be noted that even in the configuration in which air is jetted from the bottom side in the vertical direction to the top side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 as depicted in FIG. 8, instead of the heater 81, the air supply section can employ a configuration in which air above the metal strip 1, which has a high temperature due to the metal strip 1, is taken in as depicted in FIG. 7, or a configuration in which air heated up by the metal strip 1 is taken in from the vertically bottom side or the lateral side of the metal strip 1 or any one or more locations among these three locations.

[0069] Referring back to FIG. 1, the control device 90 is a device that controls the operation of each equipment in the rolling facility 100. In the embodiment, in particular, the control device 90 detects the distance distribution in the rolling direction of the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 described in JP-6808888-B on the basis of the image photographed by the camera 70, so that a defect in the plate shape of the metal strip 1 during rolling is determined, and various controls according to the occurrence state of the defect in the plate shape are executed. Since the atmosphere without steam can be maintained in these operations, the reflecting light area can be detected, and the various controls can be executed.

[0070] Since the display device 95 is a display apparatus such as a display, an alarm device, or an acoustic apparatus, and is a device for informing, for example, the operator of the occurrence of a defect in the plate shape or coping work when the control device 90 determines that the plate shape is defective, a display or a monitor is used as such a display device 95 in many cases.

[0071] During rolling operation, the operator checks the presence or absence of a defect in the plate shape by paying attention to the display screen of the display device 95. For example, in the case where a defect in the plate shape such as center buckle is displayed on the display device 95, the operator operates each actuator by manually intervening in accordance with the corresponding instruction, so that it is possible to restore the defective state of the plate shape to a good state.

[0072] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which a defect in the plate shape is informed to the operator, but a configuration in which an operation to display and correct a defect in the plate shape is automatically intervened by the control device 90, or a configuration in which an operation to correct a defect is automatically intervened without displaying can be employed.

[0073] Next, the effects of the embodiment will be described.

[0074] Each of air blowers 50, 50A, and 50B of the above- described embodiment includes: an air jetting section that is provided on each of both the work side and the drive side on the outer sides in the width direction of a metal strip 1 so as to extend from a rolling mill on the upstream side toward a rolling mill on the downstream side among a plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1 and jets air so as to block the entry of outside air outside the rolling line from the side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1; and an air supply section that supplies air to the air jetting section.

[0075] By forming such an air curtain between the rolling mills arranged in tandem, it is possible to prevent outside air from entering the rolling line and to make it difficult to lower the temperature of the atmosphere in the rolling line by the temperature of the air curtain, so that it is possible to maintain the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere at a high level without lowering, and it is possible to reduce the generation of steam because condensation of water vapor hardly occurs over the metal strip 1. Thus, in the case where the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B is employed, the image photographing of the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 can be reliably performed as compared with the conventional method, and the determination of the plate shape abnormality of the metal strip during rolling can be accordingly performed more accurately and reliably.

[0076] In addition, since the air jetting section can hardly lower the temperature of the atmosphere in the rolling line by the temperature of the air curtain by jetting air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line, it is possible to maintain at a high temperature by suppressing the lowering of the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere more, and condensation of water vapor hardly occurs over the metal strip 1.

[0077] Further, by supplying air of 100°C or higher to the air jetting section, the air supply section supplies air having a temperature or higher at which it is possible to reliably vaporize cooling water under the atmospheric pressure in the case where it evaporates on the rolling line, and thus even if a cold atmosphere flows in from outside the rolling line, since it can be expected that it can be heated up to a temperature with a high possibility of suppressing the generation of steam by heating at the temperature, the generation of steam can be more suppressed.

[0078] In addition, since the air jetting sections are provided in the rolling direction on the outer sides of the outer walls of the housings of the two rolling mills on both sides in the width direction of the metal strip 1, a space where steam is hardly generated can be formed in a space above the metal strip 1 present between the two rolling mills on the upstream side and the downstream side.

[0079] Further, the casing 83 having the intake ports 86 and 86A and the exhaust port 87 is further provided, and the casing 83 accommodates the air supply section on the upstream side and the air jetting section on the downstream side of the air flow path, so that the possibility that air having a low temperature other than that supplied from the air supply section is jetted from the air jetting section can be minimized as much as possible, and it is possible to more reliably function as an air curtain of a high temperature.

[0080] In addition, since the air supply section includes the heater 81 for heating air taken in from the intake port 86, air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line can be reliably jetted.

[0081] Further, since the intake port 86A is provided around the metal strip 1 so as to take in air heated up by the metal strip 1 and having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line, and the air supply section includes the casing 83A with a duct to guide air taken in from the intake port 86A to the air jetting section, the high-temperature air in the atmosphere on the metal strip 1 is taken in as it is, and thus a heat source need not be additionally prepared.

[0082] In addition, since the air jetting section is the cross flow fan 84, uniform jetting of air in the rolling direction can be easily realized.

[0083] In addition, in FIG. 8, since the air jetting section is provided on the bottom side in the vertical direction of the metal strip 1 and jets air to the top side in the vertical direction, the air can be blown from the side closer to the side where the reflecting light area of the metal strip 1 is formed. Since the wind speed in the vicinity of the metal strip 1 is close to the initial speed of the air jetting section, the wind speed is relatively fast, the entry of outside air into the rolling line from the side surface sides of the rolling line can be efficiently prevented, and the lowering of the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line can be effectively prevented. Thus, a decrease in the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere can be reliably prevented, and a configuration in which steam is hardly generated can be realized.

[0084] Further, according to the photographing system provided with the air blowers 50, 50A, and 50B installed on both sides in the width direction of the rolling line and the camera 70 installed on either side in the width direction of the metal strip 1 and photographing the reflecting light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1, since the blocking of the optical path by steam is eliminated, it is possible to photograph the reflecting light area more frequently and clearly.

[0085] In addition, in the rolling facility 100 provided with the photographing system and the plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip 1, in the case where the system of the defect determination device described in JP-6808888-B is employed, the generation of steam in the atmosphere is suppressed, and the reflecting light area is reliably photographed during rolling as compared with the conventional method. Thus, it is possible to realize a rolling facility capable of performing a plate shape abnormality determination more accurately and reliably, finding abnormality generation quickly and with higher probability, and coping with a rolling defect more appropriately.<Other>

[0086] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified and applied in various ways. The above-described embodiment has been described in detail for the purpose of clearly explaining the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.[Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0087] 1...Metal Strip 10, 20...Mill Housing 30...Work Roll 35...Backup Roll 40...Looper Roll 50, 50a, 50b...Air Blower 52...Post 54, 54b...Wheel 55... Installation Surface 60... Illumination Device 70...Camera (Photographing Device) 81...Heater (Air Supply Section, Heating Section) 82...Motor 83... Casing 83a...Casing With Duct (Air Supply Section, Intake Duct) 84...Cross Flow Fan (Air Jetting Section) 86, 86a...Intake Port 87...Exhaust Port 90...Control Device 95...Display Device 100,100b... Rolling Facility

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0012]An embodiment of an air blower, a photographing system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photographing method of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of an example in which the air blowing direction of an air blower of a rolling facility provided with a photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment faces the bottom side when viewed from the side surface side, FIG. 2 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed from the top surface side, FIG. 3 is a diagram for depicting an outline configuration of the rolling facility provided with the photographing system including the air blower of the embodiment when viewed in the rolling direction, FIG. 4 is a diagram for depicting the relationship between atmospheric temperatures and the amoun...

Claims

1. An air blower (50, 50A, 50B) comprising: in multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip (1), an air jetting section configured to provide on both a work side and a drive side of the outside in a width direction of a metal strip (1) so as to extend from a rolling mill on an upstream side toward a rolling mill on a downstream side and to jet air so as to block entry of outside air outside a rolling line from side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip (1); and an air supply section that supplies air to the air jetting section.

2. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the air jetting section jets air having an atmospheric temperature or higher outside the rolling line.

3. The air blower according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air supply section supplies the air of 100°C or higher to the air jetting section.

4. The air blower according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air jetting sections are provided on outer sides of outer walls of housings of the plurality of rolling mills in the width direction of the metal strip (1).

5. The air blower according one of the preceding claims, further comprising a casing (83) having an intake port (86, 86A) and an exhaust port (87), wherein the casing (83) accommodates the air supply section on an upstream side and the air jetting section on a downstream side in a flow path of the air.

6. The air blower according to claim 5, wherein the air supply section includes a heating section (81) for heating air taken in from the intake port (86).

7. The air blower according to claim 5, wherein the intake port (86A) is provided around the metal strip (1) so as to take in the air heated up by the metal strip (1), and the air supply section includes an intake duct (83A) for guiding air taken in from the intake port (86A) to the air jetting section.

8. The air blower according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air jetting section is a cross flow fan (84).

9. The air blower according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air jetting section is provided on a bottom side in a vertical direction of the metal strip (1), and jets the air to a top side in the vertical direction.

10. A photographing system comprising: the air blower (50, 50A, 50B) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and a photographing device (70) that is installed in either one of sides in a width direction of a metal strip (1) and photographs a reflecting light area formed on a surface of the metal strip (1).

11. A rolling facility (100, 100B) comprising: the photographing system according to claim 10; and a plurality of rolling mills for rolling a metal strip (1).

12. An air blowing method, in multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip (1), jetting air on both a work side and a drive side on outer sides in a width direction of a metal strip (1) so as to block entry of outside air outside a rolling line from side surface sides in the width direction of the metal strip (1), by an air blower extending in a rolling direction from a rolling mill on an upstream side toward a rolling mill on a downstream side among a plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip (1).

13. A photographing method comprising: air blowing step of jetting the air so as to block entry of outside air outside a rolling line from side surface sides in a width direction of a metal strip (1), by the air blowing method according to claim 12; and photographing step of photographing a reflecting light area formed on a surface of the metal strip (1).

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