Winding method and system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) and to a system (1) for winding a continuously produced metal band (2). The metal band (2) is guided (S1) via a guide pulley (11), positioned in a first pulley position (P1) and belonging to a pair (10) of guide pulleys, along a first transport path (22) to a first reel (20) and divided (S3a, S4b) upstream of the pair (10) of guide pulleys. In addition, the guide pulley (11) of the pair (10) of guide pulleys is repositioned (S3b, S4a) into a second pulley position (P2), in which the metal band (2) is guided (S5a, S5b) via the guide pulley (11) along a second transport path (32) to at least one second reel (30). According to the invention, the repositioning of the guide pulley (11) depending on a thickness of the metal band (2) and / or a transport speed of the metal band (2) is undertaken in terms of time either before or after the dividing of the metal band (2).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Winding process and system

[0003] field of technology

[0004] The present invention relates to a method and a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] So-called "endless strip production" (ESP) in a combined casting and rolling plant has established itself as a particularly efficient process for the production of thin metal strips. This process involves rolling a continuously cast metal strand to the desired strip thickness directly downstream of a corresponding casting machine. Strip produced in this way is typically cut for storage and transport, and the resulting strip sections are wound into metal bundles, so-called "coils," using reels (often referred to as "down coilers"). To maintain continuous production of the metal strip, several reels are provided, to which the strip sections can be selectively fed.

[0007] If a new strip section is to be fed to another reel, a movable guide roller of a pair of guide rollers arranged directly in front of the currently active reel can be moved during operation in such a way that the new strip section is transported past this reel to the other reel.

[0008] However, when producing thick metal strips with a strip thickness of, for example, more than §6-13 mm, such a procedure is no longer applicable. In conventional combined casting and rolling plants, the movement of the guide roller causes the thick metal strip to come into contact with a wall of the guide shaft leading to the currently active coiler. Therefore, thick metal strips, especially in conventional hot rolling mills without continuous operation, are usually produced in such a way that the metal strip sections are guided to different coilers via a switchable switch instead of via the movement of the guide roller.

[0009] From DE 101 62433 A1, it is known to provide at least two adjustable drive rollers to maintain a strip tensile force in front of at least one take-up reel. Adjusting the drive rollers allows at least two different advance directions of the metal strip to be specified. KR 2015 0073016 A discloses a downward clamping roller provided between a material distributor and a reel. A pressure roller and a lateral guide arranged downstream between the material distributor and the reel can be omitted.

[0010] DE 196 20 696 A1 concerns the allocation of individual batches of rolling stock to respective reels and proposes arranging a driver downstream of a flying shear, the rollers of which can be displaced in such a way that the plane defined by the two axes of the rollers can be pivoted from a substantially vertical position in such a way that a normal standing on this plane is pivoted in the direction of the first of the downstream reels.

[0011] KR 100 470 642 B1 relates to the guiding of the front and rear ends of a strip produced in a steel mill using a plurality of tensioning reels. A strip guide roller and a bending roller are provided, which are movable above a deflection roller in the circumferential direction of the deflection roller.

[0012] From US 3 818 737 A it is known to rotate a tape guide element about an axis before cutting a tape, so that a pressure roller presses the tape onto a deflection roller, and to align a tape guide on a common tangent of a winding drum and the deflection roller.

[0013] Summary of the invention

[0014] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for winding metal strips, in particular to enable the change between two reels in continuous operation even with thick metal strips.

[0015] This object is achieved by a method and a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to the independent claims.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims and the following description.

[0017] In the method for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to a first aspect of the invention, a metal strip is guided over a guide roller of a guide roller pair positioned in a first roller position along a first transport path to a first reel and cut upstream of the guide roller pair. In addition, the guide roller of the guide roller pair is repositioned to a second roller position, in which the metal strip is guided over the guide roller along a second transport path to at least one second reel. According to the invention, the repositioning of the guide roller takes place either before or after the cutting of the metal strip, depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip.

[0018] Upstream, in the sense of the present invention, is preferably understood as "before" with respect to a transport direction. For example, if a cutting device is provided that is arranged upstream of the guide roller pair, a metal strip section first passes through the cutting device before reaching the guide roller pair.

[0019] One aspect of the invention is based on the approach of moving a repositionable guide roller of a guide roller pair at a time that depends on the thickness and / or transport speed of a metal strip to be wound. The time is expediently coordinated with the time at which the metal strip is cut. The time can be selected such that even with thick metal strips with a strip thickness of 6-13 mm or more, no undesirable impairment of the metal strip and / or a system component occurs, for example, due to contact of the metal strip with a component of the reel feed or a reel shaft.

[0020] The point in time at which the guide roller is moved, for example, from a first roller position to a second roller position, can be before or after the point in time at which the metal strip is cut. When processing a thick metal strip, it is preferable to reposition the guide roller only after the metal strip has been cut. By cutting the metal strip, a gap can be created between the two metal strip ends created during cutting. If the gap is large enough, the guide roller can be repositioned while the gap passes the pair of guide rollers. In this case, the pair of guide rollers does not perform a guiding function while the guide roller is being repositioned, and unwanted contact of the (thick) metal strip running over the guide roller during normal operation with a component of the coiler device, in particular the guide shaft, can be prevented.

[0021] The size of the gap that can be created when cutting the metal strip preferably corresponds to the transport speed of the metal strip. Generally speaking, the lower the transport speed, the larger the gap that can be created. Since the volume flow remains constant in a continuous casting process, the transport speed usually depends on the thickness of the metal strip. Consequently, with a thick metal strip, the gap can be large enough to allow the guide roller to be repositioned in a "contact-free" state.

[0022] In contrast, when processing a thin metal strip that is transported at high speed, it is preferable to reposition the guide roller before cutting the metal strip. For thin metal strips with a thickness of less than 6-13 mm, for example, there is no risk of the guide roller moving causing contact with a system component.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention and their further developments are described below. These embodiments can be combined with each other and with the aspects of the invention described below, unless expressly excluded.

[0024] If the guide roller is repositioned after the metal strip has been cut, it is preferable - as already described above - that the guide roller no longer contacts the metal strip during the repositioning. Therefore, in this case, the guide roller is preferably repositioned at a time interval from the cutting of the metal strip. For example, a predetermined waiting time can be waited from the time the metal strip is cut before the guide roller is repositioned. The time interval or the predetermined waiting time expediently depends on the thickness of the metal strip and / or the transport speed of the metal strip. The time interval or the waiting time can then correspond exactly to the time required for the gap between the two metal strip ends created during cutting to reach the pair of guide rollers.

[0025] The decision as to whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after the metal strip is cut should depend on whether the gap between the metal strip ends is sufficient to reposition the guide roller. Therefore, it is preferable to check whether the travel time required to reposition the guide roller is greater than the time during which the guide roller pair is not guiding any metal strip after the metal strip is cut, i.e., is "contact-free." The guide roller is expediently repositioned either before or after the metal strip is cut based on the result of this test.

[0026] For example, if the metal strip is divided into a preceding metal strip section, which is wound with the first reel, and a subsequent metal strip section, which is wound with the second reel, the test can be reliably carried out as follows:

[0027] The travel time required to reposition the guide roller is compared with a difference between a first time period and a second time period. The first time period is expediently defined by the cutting of the metal strip on the one hand and the arrival of a head end of the subsequent metal strip section at the guide roller pair on the other. The second time period is expediently defined by the cutting of the metal strip on the one hand and the exit of a tail end (also referred to as the "tail end") of the preceding metal strip section from the guide roller pair on the other. The difference between the first and second time periods therefore indicates the time period for which no metal strip runs over the guide roller.

[0028] If the test shows that the difference between the first and second time periods is less than the travel time, the guide roller is preferably repositioned before the metal strip is cut. However, if the test shows that the difference between the first and second time periods is greater than the process time, the guide roller can also be repositioned after the metal strip has been cut without interrupting system operation. Performing a test to determine whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after the metal strip has been cut enables flexible system operation with a wide range of strip thicknesses.

[0029] As an alternative to testing, the decision as to whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after the metal strip is cut can also be made with minimal effort using a look-up table. For example, such a look-up table can be used to determine the strip thicknesses and / or transport speeds at which repositioning should occur before cutting and the strip thicknesses and / or transport speeds at which repositioning should occur after cutting.

[0030] The strip thickness and / or the transport speed can be calculated using an automation unit, for example, in so-called electrical and automation (EA) precalculations for the configuration of the system components. Alternatively, these parameters can also be measured using a sensor unit, for example, one or more sensors in a so-called measuring hut.

[0031] Of course, the strip thickness and / or transport speed determined in this way can also be used as the basis for the test described above, in particular for determining the first and / or second time period.

[0032] In order to provide sufficient time for repositioning the guide roller, particularly when processing thick metal strips, the transport speed on the first transport path is preferably increased after the metal strip has been cut. In this way, the gap created when the metal strip is cut between the preceding metal strip section and the following metal strip section can be created with a predetermined size, in particular a minimum size. This increase in transport speed is therefore particularly advantageous if the guide roller is not repositioned until after the metal strip has been cut. Expediently, the increase in transport speed on the first transport path is accompanied by an increase in the winding speed of the first reel. In particular, the transport speed on the first transport path can be achieved by increasing the winding speed of the first reel.The preceding metal strip section can thus be accelerated compared to the following metal strip section and a gap created when the metal strip is cut can be enlarged, so that more time is available for repositioning the guide roller.

[0033] The winding method according to the invention can be advantageously used across a wide range of thicknesses. For example, metal strips with a thickness between 0.5 mm and 30 mm can be wound without any problems. Therefore, it is advantageous that, as part of the method, the metal strip is produced in a continuous process by a combined casting and rolling plant, i.e., within the framework of an ESP, so that the metal strip, upon reaching the pair of guide rollers, has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm and / or up to 25.4 mm or more, preferably up to 30 mm or more.

[0034] If the metal strip has a thickness of, for example, 6 mm or less, the guide roller can be repositioned before cutting. Up to a strip thickness of, for example, 6 mm, the conventional winding method or a conventional change of the winding means can therefore be used. However, if the metal strip has a thickness of, for example, 13 mm or more, it is preferred that the guide roller is not repositioned until after the metal strip has been cut. This ensures that mechanical impairment of the metal strip and / or a system component, in particular a reel feed or reel shaft, is avoided. In particular, from a strip thickness of, for example, 6 mm, it may be possible to move the roller after the strip has been cut. From a strip thickness of, for example, 10-13 mm, it may be necessary to move the roller after the strip has been cut.

[0035] The preferred time for repositioning the guide roller may depend on the plant design, particularly the coiler design, or the plant operation. In particular, the limit value for a strip thickness at which a displacement of the guide roller is possible and / or necessary after the strip is cut may depend on the casting or transport speed, the travel distance of an actuator for repositioning the guide roller, and / or the travel speed of the actuator.

[0036] A system for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to a second aspect of the invention comprises: (i) a pair of guide rollers with a repositionable guide roller; (ii) a first reel arranged downstream of the pair of guide rollers; (iii) at least one second reel arranged downstream of the first reel; (iv) at least one cutting device arranged upstream of the pair of guide rollers for cutting the metal strip; and (v) a control device configured to cause the guide roller to be repositioned from a first roller position to a second roller position, depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip, either before or after the metal strip is cut by the cutting device. In the first roller position, the metal strip can be guided along a first transport path to the first reel.In the second roller position, the metal strip can be guided along a second transport path to at least one second reel.

[0037] Such a winding system is universally applicable for continuously produced metal strips with a wide range of strip thicknesses and / or (associated) transport speeds. In particular, it can be used to wind both very thin metal strips, for example, with a strip thickness of approximately 1 mm or less, and very thick metal strips, for example, with a strip thickness of approximately 20 mm or more, in continuous operation. Consequently, the winding of even thick metal strips can be continued on a second reel without interrupting plant operation once the metal coil (the coil) on a first reel has reached its target size.

[0038] The system preferably comprises an actuator for repositioning the guide roller, the actuation of which enables the guide roller to be moved from the first to the second roller position and / or from the second to the first roller position. The control device can therefore be configured to send a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator. The control device preferably decides, for example by means of appropriate control logic, based on the strip thickness and / or the transport speed, whether the actuation signal is sent before or after the metal strip is cut. In one variant, the control device can determine the strip thickness and / or the transport speed itself, for example if the control device is at least part of an automation unit.Alternatively, the control device can access sensor data that characterize the strip thickness and / or the transport speed and can be provided by a sensor unit.

[0039] The control device can be designed in hardware and / or software. The control device can in particular have a processing unit, preferably connected to a memory and / or bus system for data or signals. For example, the control device can have a microprocessor unit (CPU) or a module thereof and / or one or more programs or program modules. The control device can be designed to process commands implemented as a program stored in a memory system, to detect input signals from a data bus and / or to output output signals to a data bus. A memory system can have one or more, in particular different, storage media, in particular optical, magnetic, solid-state and / or other non-volatile media. The program can be designed in such a way that it embodies the methods described here oris capable of carrying out such a process, so that the control device can carry out the steps of such processes and thus reposition the guide roller in a targeted manner before or after the metal strip is cut.

[0040] Short description of the drawings

[0041] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. These show, at least partially schematically:

[0042] FIG 1 shows an example of a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip;

[0043] FIG 2 shows a first roller position and a second roller position of a guide roller;

[0044] FIG 3 shows an example of a divided metal strip with a gap formed by increasing a winding speed of a preceding metal strip section; and

[0045] FIG 4 shows an example of a method for winding a metal strip.

[0046] Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used in the figures for the same or corresponding elements of the invention.

[0047] Description of the embodiments

[0048] FIG 1 shows an example of a system 1 for winding a continuously produced metal strip 2 with a pair of guide rollers 10 with a repositionable guide roller 11 and a support roller 12, a first reel 20, a second reel 30, a cutting device 40 for cutting the metal strip 2, a control device 50, a sensor unit 60 and an actuator 70 for repositioning the guide roller 11. The control device 50 is expediently connected to the cutting device 40, the sensor unit 60 and the actuator 70 by data or signals.

[0049] The system 1 can be part of a combined casting and rolling plant which is set up for so-called “endless strip production” (ESP), i.e. for the continuous production of the metal strip 2. In addition to a casting plant (not shown), such a combined casting and rolling plant expediently also comprises one or more rolling stands (not shown) in which the cast metal strand is rolled into the metal strip 2. The system 1, and optionally also the combined casting and rolling plant, expediently has means (not shown) for transporting the metal strip 2. These transport means can, for example, comprise driven transport rollers. The reels 20, 30 can also be at least part of these transport means, the metal strip 2 being pulled along by winding on the corresponding reel 20, 30.

[0050] The transport means are expediently configured to transport the metal strip 2 along a transport direction 3. In the example shown, this transport direction 3 runs at least substantially horizontally. With respect to the transport direction 3, the first reel 20 is arranged downstream of the guide roller pair 10 and the second reel 30 is arranged downstream of the first reel 20, so that the guide roller pair 10 can guide the metal strip 2 optionally to the first reel 20 or to the second reel 30. If necessary, at least one further reel can also be provided downstream of the second reel 30. The cutting device 40 is arranged upstream of the guide roller pair 10.

[0051] In the example shown, the first reel 20 is arranged below the pair of guide rollers 10, so that the metal strip 2 runs downward over the guide roller 11 arranged below the metal strip 2 into a guide shaft 21 leading to the first reel 20. The course of the metal strip 2 between the guide roller 11 and the first reel 20 defines a first transport path 22, which is indicated in FIG. 1 as a dotted oval.

[0052] In principle, however, the first reel 20 could also be arranged above the pair of guide rollers 10. In this case, the metal strip 2 would run upwards along the first transport path 22 to the first reel 20 via the guide roller 11 arranged above the metal strip 2.

[0053] In the example shown, the guide shaft 21 is formed by a first guide element 23, for example a chute or a guide table, and a second guide element 24, which may optionally also be designed to be movable, for example as a switch.

[0054] As already indicated above, the pair of guide rollers 10 can also guide the metal strip 2 past the first reel 20 to the second reel 30. In this case, the metal strip 2 is transported via the second guide element 24, which expediently has several transport rollers 25 on its upper side. The second guide element 24 in this case supports the metal strip 2 during transport to the second reel 30. The course of the metal strip 2 over the second guide element 24 is shown in dashed lines in Figure 1 and defines a second transport path 32. Whether the guide roller pair 10 guides the metal strip 2 to the first or second reel 20, 30 is decided by the positioning of the guide roller 11, in particular relative to the support roller 12, upon arrival of a head end of the metal strip 2, ie the strip beginning of the metal strip 2, at the guide roller pair 10. If the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream relative to the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3, ieIf the axis 11a of the guide roller 11 is arranged upstream of the axis 12a of the support roller 12, the incoming head end of the metal strip 2 is directed onto the first transport path 22. If the guide roller 11 and the support roller 12 are at the same height with respect to the transport direction 3 or if the guide roller 11 is arranged downstream of the support roller 12, i.e. if the axis Ha of the guide roller 11 is arranged downstream of the axis 12a of the support roller 12, the incoming head end of the metal strip 2 is directed onto the second transport path 32.

[0055] The position of the guide roller 11, in particular relative to the support roller 12, can be changed by actuating the actuator 70. In particular, the guide roller 11 can be moved by means of the actuator 70 from a first roller position, in which the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3, to a second roller position, in which the guide roller 11 and the support roller 12 are preferably at the same height with respect to the transport direction 3, or the guide roller 11 is even positioned downstream of the support roller 12. For this purpose, the control device 50 can be configured to send a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator 70.

[0056] In order to enable essentially continuous winding of the metal strip 2 on the first and second reels 20, 30, regardless of the strip thickness, the control device 50 is expediently configured to initiate a change in the position of the guide roller 11 depending on the thickness of the metal strip 2 and / or the transport speed of the metal strip 2, before or after the metal strip 2 is cut by the cutting device 40. Continuous winding of the metal strip 2 is understood to mean a change of the winding means, in particular from the first reel 20 to the second reel 30, which is carried out without interrupting the production process of the metal strip 2. The circumstances under which the guide roller 11 is repositioned before or after the metal strip 2 is cut will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2.

[0057] Using the data or signal connection to the cutting device 40, the control device 50 can precisely coordinate the time at which the guide roller 11 is repositioned with the time at which the metal strip 2 is cut. For example, the cutting device 40 can provide a signal or data characterizing the time of cutting. Alternatively, the control device 50 can also be configured to cause the cutting device 40 to cut the metal strip 2 at a predetermined time. The control device 50 can receive information about the thickness and / or transport speed of the metal strip 2 from the sensor unit 60. The sensor unit 60 is configured to measure the thickness and / or transport speed of the metal strip 2.Alternatively or additionally, these parameters can also be determined, in particular calculated, by the control device 50 itself, for example if the control device 50 is at least part of an automation unit.

[0058] FIG 2 shows a first roller position P1 and a second roller position P2 of a guide roller 11. In the first roller position P1, the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of a support roller 12, with which the guide roller 11 forms a guide roller pair, with respect to a transport direction 3 of a metal strip 2 guided by the guide roller pair. In the second roller position P2, however, the guide roller 11 is preferably arranged at the same height as the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3 or is positioned downstream of the support roller 12. This is indicated by the vertically drawn dashed line, which runs perpendicular to the transport direction 3.

[0059] During repositioning, the guide roller 11 is advantageously moved parallel to the transport direction 3. The travel distance d covered is preferably quite large compared to a thickness of the metal strip 2 of a few millimeters, so that the guide roller pair can reliably guide a head end 4 of the metal strip 2 into a guide shaft 21 to a first reel (not shown) when the guide roller 11 is in the first roller position P1. The travel distance d can, for example, be approximately ten to one hundred times the strip thickness. A typical travel distance d is approximately 200 mm to 350 mm.

[0060] If the metal strip 2 is guided via the guide roller 11 to the first reel, the metal strip 2 runs through the guide shaft 21 on a first transport path 22 indicated by a dashed line. The guide shaft 21 is delimited on one side by a second guide element 24. A gap 26 between the guide roller 11 in the second roller position P2 and the second guide element 24 must be very narrow, for example 10 mm or less, so that a head end 4 of a very thin metal strip 2 can be guided from the guide roller 11 over the gap 26 onto a second transport path 32, also indicated by a dashed line, to a second reel (not shown). If the width of the gap 26 is chosen to be too large, there is a risk that the very thin metal strip 2 will bend too much due to its own weight and that its head end 4 will strike the second guide element 24 laterally instead of running along its surface.

[0061] While a thin metal strip 2 with a thickness of less than 6-13 mm can be fed to the first reel via the first transport path 22 without any problems, in particular without colliding with the guide shaft 21 or the second guide element 24, even when the guide roller 11 is in the second roller position P2, this is not possible for thick metal strips 2 with a thickness of 6-13 mm or more. Such thick metal strips 2 can only be safely fed to the first reel via the first transport path 22 when the guide roller 11 is in the first roller position P1.If a thick metal strip 2 is first wound using the first reel and the winding is to be continued using the second reel, the guide roller 11 can therefore only be positioned in the second roller position P2 when no more metal strip 2 passes through the guide shaft 21 or at least no more metal strip 2 is arranged between the guide roller 11 and the second guide element 24.

[0062] The exact strip thickness at which the guide roller 11 can be moved after cutting the metal strip 2 depends on the casting speed and thus also the transport speed. At low speeds, the strip can be thinner; at high casting speeds, this is only possible with thicker strip thicknesses.

[0063] FIG 3 shows an example of a metal strip divided into a preceding metal strip section 2a and a following metal strip section 2b. The preceding metal strip section 2a runs over a guide roller 11 of a guide roller pair 10 on a first transport path 22 to a first reel 20. The guide roller 11 is positioned in a first roller position. In this first roller position, the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of a support roller 12 of the guide roller pair 10 with respect to a transport direction 3.

[0064] When the metal strip is divided, a gap L is formed between a head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip section 2b and a foot end 5 of the preceding metal strip section 2a. The gap L can be further enlarged after the division, for example, by increasing the winding speed of the first reel 20.

[0065] By forming the gap L, sufficient time can be gained to position the guide roller 11 in a second roller position, in which the guide roller 11 is preferably at the same height as the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3 or is even located downstream of the support roller 12, before the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip section 2b reaches the guide roller pair 10. It is expedient to start repositioning the guide roller 11 only after the foot end 5 of the preceding metal strip section 2a has left the guide roller pair 10. If the metal strip is a thick metal strip with a strip thickness of more than 6-13 mm, for example, this can prevent the preceding metal strip section 2a from becoming clamped between the guide roller 11 and a second guide element 24 arranged downstream of the guide roller pair 10.

[0066] FIG 4 shows an example of a method 100 for winding a metal strip 2. In a method step S1, the metal strip 2 is guided to a first reel 20 by means of a pair of guide rollers 10. The metal strip 2 runs over a guide roller 11 of the pair of guide rollers 10, which is located in a first roller position, on a first transport path 22 to the first reel 20.

[0067] In a further method step S2, a decision is made as to whether the guide roller 11 should be repositioned into a second roller position before or after the metal strip 2 has been divided by means of a cutting device 40. For this purpose, it can be checked, for example, whether the travel time required to reposition the guide roller 11 is greater than the time period during which the guide roller pair 10 does not guide any metal strip 2 after the metal strip 2 has been divided. If this is not the case, i.e. there is sufficient time to reposition the guide roller 11, as already described above in connection with FIG. 3, the metal strip 2 is first divided in a further method step S3a using the cutting device 40. When the metal strip 2 is divided, a preceding metal strip section 2a with a foot end 5 and a subsequent metal strip section 2b with a head end 4 are created.

[0068] In method step S3a, the winding speed of the first reel 20 and thus the transport speed on the first transport path 22 are expediently increased simultaneously or at least immediately after the metal strip 2 has been cut.

[0069] As soon as the foot end 5 of the preceding metal strip section 2a has left the guide roller pair 10, a time window opens for the repositioning of the guide roller 11. Accordingly, in a further process step S4a, the guide roller 11 is moved into the second roller position - as indicated by the arrow.

[0070] The end of this time window is defined by the arrival of the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip section 2b at the guide roller pair 10. At this point in time, the guide roller 11 is already in the second roller position. Accordingly, in a further process step S5a, the guide roller pair 10 guides the subsequent metal strip section 2b along a second transport path 32 to a second reel (not shown). The preceding metal strip section 2a wound using the first reel 20 can be removed, thus preparing the first reel 20 for reuse.

[0071] If the test in process step S2 reveals that the travel time required to reposition the guide roller 11 is greater than the time during which the guide roller pair 10 does not guide any metal strip 2 after the metal strip 2 has been cut, the guide roller 11 is first moved to the second roller position in a further process step S3b. This is indicated by the arrow. After the guide roller 11 is positioned in the second roller position, the metal strip 2 can be cut using the cutting device 40. This occurs in the further process step S4b.

[0072] When the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip section 2b reaches the guide roller pair 10, the subsequent metal strip section 2b is guided onto the second transport path 32. In a further method step S5b, the subsequent metal strip section 2b is subsequently fed to the second reel via the guide roller 11 on the second transport path 32.

[0073] Whether the time window in which the guide roller pair 10 is not guiding a metal strip 2 is sufficient to reposition the guide roller 11 depends largely on the transport speed at which the preceding metal strip section 2a is transported and the transport speed at which the subsequent metal strip section 2b (on the first transport path 22) is transported. The transport speed of the subsequent metal strip section 2b is usually constant and corresponds to the thickness of the metal strip 2, since the mass flow is constant in a continuously produced metal strip 2. The transport speed of the preceding metal strip section 2a can - since the metal strip 2 is divided - be adjusted independently, for example via the winding speed of the first reel 20. However, this is usually limited.Therefore, if the metal strip 2 is a thin metal strip 2 with a strip thickness of, for example, 6.5 mm or less, the transport speed of the preceding metal strip section 2a can only be increased slightly above the transport speed of the subsequent metal strip section 2b specified by the manufacturing process of the metal strip 2. With such a metal strip 2, the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip section 2b consequently reaches the guide roller pair 10 before the guide roller 11 can be positioned in the second roller position.

[0074] Consequently, the test in process step S2 can be based on the thickness of the metal strip 2 and / or the transport speed. Alternatively, the decision in process step S2 as to whether the guide roller 11 should be moved before or after the metal strip 2 is cut can also be made by consulting a lookup table containing instructions regarding the time of repositioning the guide roller 11 depending on the strip thickness and / or the transport speed.

[0075] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0076] 1 system

[0077] 2 metal bands

[0078] 2a preceding metal strip section

[0079] 2b subsequent metal strip section

[0080] 3 Transport direction

[0081] 4 headboard

[0082] 5 Foot end

[0083] 10 pairs of guide rollers

[0084] 11 Leadership role

[0085] 11a Axis

[0086] 12 support roller

[0087] 12a axis

[0088] 20 first reel

[0089] 21 Guide shaft

[0090] 22 first transport path

[0091] 23 first guide element

[0092] 24 second guide element

[0093] 25 transport rollers

[0094] 26 gap

[0095] 30 second reel

[0096] 32 second transport path

[0097] 40 Cutting device

[0098] 50 Control device

[0099] 60 sensor unit

[0100] 70 Actuator

[0101] 100 procedures

[0102] S1-S5a,b process steps

[0103] P1 first roll position

[0104] P2 second roller position

[0105] L gap d travel

Claims

Claims 1. Method (100) for winding a continuously produced metal strip (2), comprising - (S1) guiding a metal strip (2) over a guide roller (11) of a guide roller pair (10) positioned in a first roller position (P1) along a first transport path (22) to a first reel (20), - (S3a, S4b) cutting the metal strip (2) upstream of the guide roller pair (10), and - (S3b, S4a) repositioning the guide roller (11) of the guide roller pair (10) into a second roller position (P2), in which the metal strip (2) is guided via the guide roller (11) along a second transport path (32) to at least one second reel (30) (S5a, S5b), wherein the repositioning of the guide roller (11) takes place either before or after the metal strip (2) is cut into pieces depending on a thickness of the metal strip (2) and / or a transport speed of the metal strip (2).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the guide roller (11), when repositioned after the metal strip (2) has been cut, is repositioned at a time interval from the cutting of the metal strip (2) which time interval depends on the thickness of the metal strip (2) and / or the transport speed of the metal strip (2).

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein it is checked (S2) whether a travel time required for repositioning the guide roller (11) is greater than a time period in which the guide roller pair (10) does not guide a metal strip (2) after the metal strip (2) has been cut, and the guide roller (11) is repositioned on the basis of a result of this check either before or after the metal strip (2) has been cut.

4. The method (100) according to claim 3, wherein - the metal strip (2) is divided into a preceding metal strip section (2a), which is wound with the first reel (20), and a subsequent metal strip section (2b), which is wound with the second reel (30), and - the test is based on a difference between a first time period from the cutting of the metal strip (2) until a head end (4) of the subsequent metal strip section (2b) arrives at the guide roller pair (10) and a second time period from the cutting of the metal strip (2) until a foot end (5) of the preceding metal strip section (2a) emerges from the guide roller pair (10).

5. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a decision as to whether the repositioning of the guide roller (11) should take place before or after the cutting of the metal strip (2) is made on the basis of a look-up table.

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the metal strip (2) and / or the transport speed is calculated using an automation unit or measured using a sensor unit (60).

7. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport speed on the first transport path (22) is increased after the metal strip (2) has been divided in order to create a gap (L) of a predetermined size between the preceding metal strip section (2a) and the following metal strip section (2b) when the metal strip (2) is divided.

8. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal strip (2) is produced in a continuous process by a combined casting and rolling plant, so that the metal strip (2) has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm, and / or of up to 25.4 mm or more, preferably of up to 30 mm or more, upon reaching the guide roller pair (10).

9. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide roller (11) is repositioned before the metal strip (2) is cut if the metal strip (2) has a thickness of 6 mm or less, and is repositioned only after the metal strip (2) is cut if the metal strip (2) has a thickness of 6-13 mm or more.

10. System (1) for winding a continuously produced metal strip (2), comprising - a pair of guide rollers (10) with a repositionable guide roller (11), - a first reel (20) arranged downstream of the pair of guide rollers (10), - at least one second reel (30) arranged downstream of the first reel (20), - at least one cutting device (40) arranged upstream of the pair of guide rollers (10) for cutting the metal strip (2), and - a control device (50) which is designed to cause a repositioning of the guide roller (11) from a first roller position (P1), in which the metal strip (2) can be guided over the guide roller (11) along a first transport path (22) to the first reel (20), to a second roller position (P2), in which the metal strip (2) can be guided along a second transport path (32) to the at least one second reel (30), depending on a thickness of the metal strip (2) and / or a transport speed of the metal strip (2) either before or after the metal strip (2) is divided by means of the dividing device (40).

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