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

Abstract

To provide an air blower, an imaging system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and an imaging method, capable of suppressing generation of steam above a metal strip compared to conventional arts.SOLUTION: An air blower 50 comprises: a cross-flow fan 84 that is provided on both an operating side and a driving side outside a width direction of a metal strip 1 so as to extend from an upstream rolling machine to a downstream rolling machine among a plurality of rolling machines that roll the metal strip 1, and that ejects air to block the intrusion of outside air from outside a rolling line from a lateral side in the width direction of the metal strip 1; and an air supply unit that supplies air to the cross-flow fan 84.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air blower, an imaging system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and an imaging method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a process for manufacturing steel plate using a hot rolling mill, which includes a case provided at an appropriate height above the running line of the steel plate, an optical device housed within the case that irradiates light onto the surface of the steel plate and detects reflected light from the surface, and a surface defect detection device that processes the detection signal output by the optical device to detect surface defects, a slit is provided on the closed surface of the case facing the running line in a portion that serves as the light path of the optical device, and a shielding plate is provided within the case that can be opened and closed relative to the slit, and this shielding plate is opened only during surface defect inspection.

[0003] Patent document 2 describes a defect judgment device that includes a roll whose rotating axis extends in the width direction of the rolled steel plate and lifts the rolled steel plate upward, a camera that takes images including the lifted area of ​​the rolled steel plate lifted upward by the roll, and a control device that judges defects in the plate shape of the rolled steel plate based on the image taken by the camera. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-156334 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6808888 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In hot rolling lines, cooling water evaporates on the metal strip being rolled during rolling, generating water vapor. If this water vapor condenses to generate steam, when the state of the metal strip is photographed with a camera, the atmosphere above the metal strip becomes white due to the steam, making it difficult to take a normal image.

[0006] As a result of investigating the cause of the generation of this steam, the inventors found that it is because air from outside the rolling line flows into the rolling line, causing a drop in the temperature of the atmosphere above the metal strip, and as a result, the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere decreases, causing the water vapor to condense and turn into steam.

[0007] As a technology that takes into account the water vapor in the atmosphere above a metal strip when capturing an image, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a camera above the traveling line of the steel strip is housed in a case, a water-cooled heat shield with a slit is provided in the optical path of the camera, and an air curtain is formed on the opening surface of the slit by spraying air toward the opening surface to prevent the intrusion of water vapor, etc.

[0008] However, the technology in Patent Document 1 reduces the temperature near the case to protect the camera from heat, and therefore the air blown out onto the opening is also at a low temperature, which is thought to cause a drop in the temperature of the atmosphere above the metal band plate, and the generation of steam makes it difficult to take normal images, so improvements are needed.

[0009] The present invention provides an air blower, a photography system, a rolling facility, an air blowing method, and a photography method that are capable of suppressing the generation of steam on a metal strip compared to conventional methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention includes a number of means for solving the above-mentioned problems. One example is an air ejection section that is provided on both the operating side and the driving side of the outer side of the width direction of the metal strip plate, among a number of rolling mills that roll a metal strip plate, so as to extend in the rolling direction from the upstream rolling mill to the downstream rolling mill, and that ejects air to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from the side side in the width direction of the metal strip plate, and an air supply section that supplies air to the air ejection section. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the generation of steam on the metal strip can be suppressed compared to the conventional art. Objects, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a rolling facility equipped with a photography system including an air blower of the present embodiment, viewed from the side with the air blowing direction of the air blower set downward. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a rolling facility equipped with a photography system including an air blower according to the present embodiment, as viewed from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a rolling facility equipped with a photography system including an air blower according to the present embodiment, as viewed in the rolling direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ambient temperature and the amount of saturated water vapor. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between theoretical and experimental values ​​of jet characteristics. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a basic structure of the air blower of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a specific basic structure of the air blower of the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a rolling facility equipped with a photography system including an air blower of the present embodiment, in which the air blowing direction of the air blower is set upward, as viewed from the side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE DISCLOSURE The air blower, the photography system, the rolling equipment, the air blowing method, and the photography method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the general configuration of an example of a rolling equipment equipped with a photography system including an air blower of this embodiment, with the air blowing direction of the air blower set downward, as viewed from the side; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the general configuration of a rolling equipment equipped with a photography system including an air blower of this embodiment, as viewed from the top; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the general configuration of a rolling equipment equipped with a photography system including an air blower of this embodiment, as viewed in the rolling direction; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between atmospheric temperature and the amount of saturated water vapor; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between theoretical values ​​and experimental values ​​of jet characteristics; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the basic structure of the air blower of this embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the basic structure of the air blower of this embodiment; and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the general configuration of an example of a rolling equipment equipped with a photography system including an air blower of this embodiment, with the air blowing direction of the air blower set upward, as viewed from the side.

[0015] In the drawings used in this specification, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and repeated description of these components may be omitted.

[0016] First, the overall configuration of the rolling equipment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0017] In Figures 1 to 3, a rolling facility 100 for rolling a metal strip 1 includes a plurality of rolling mills (for convenience of illustration, only two mill housings 10 and 20 are shown in Figure 1), an air blower 50, a camera 70, a lighting device 60, a looper roll 40 for tension control, a control device 90, a display device 95, and the like.

[0018] Of these, the photography system of this embodiment is composed of the essential air blower 50 and camera 70, and an optional control device 90 and display device 95. The rolling facility 100 is equipped with a photography system composed of the air blower 50, camera 70, etc., and multiple rolling mills (mill housings 10, 20 in FIG. 1).

[0019] The rolling facility 100 is not limited to the configuration in which two rolling mills are provided as shown in FIG. 1, but may have a configuration in which three or more rolling mills are provided.

[0020] Each rolling mill having mill housing 10 or mill housing 20 is equipped with a pair of upper and lower work rolls 30, and a pair of upper and lower backup rolls 35 that support these work rolls 30 by contacting them. It is possible to provide an intermediate roll between each work roll and each backup roll, giving a six-stage configuration. The roll configuration of the rolling mill is not limited to the above-mentioned form, and it is sufficient to have a minimum of one pair of upper and lower work rolls.

[0021] 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 vertically upward. The looper roll 40 is installed so that its rotation axis extends in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and is provided between each rolling mill having the mill housing 10 and the mill housing 20 as a roll for lifting the metal strip 1 from below upward in the vertical direction.

[0022] It should be noted that a looper roll type shape detector for detecting the shape of the metal strip 1 can be used instead of the looper roll 40. The shape detector can have a known configuration, and the details thereof will be omitted.

[0023] The camera 70 is provided at a position where it can capture an image including the lifted area of ​​the metal strip 1 lifted upward by the looper roll 40. This camera 70 preferably performs the photographing process of photographing the reflected light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1.

[0024] More specifically, the reflected light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 is formed near the area lifted by the looper roll 40, but if there is an obstacle between the reflected light area and the camera installation position, the reflected light will not reach the camera 70. However, since it is essential for the camera 70 to photograph this reflected light area, it is necessary that the optical path is not blocked by an obstacle. For this reason, the camera 70 is placed in a position where there are no obstacles between it and the lifted area of ​​the metal strip 1. Data of the image photographed by the camera 70, including the lifted area of ​​the metal strip 1 lifted upward by the looper roll 40, is transmitted to the control device 90.

[0025] The lighting device 60 is a light source that illuminates the lifted shooting area of ​​the metal strip 1 that is lifted vertically upward by the looper roll 40 and that is primarily photographed by the camera 70. A general light source appropriately placed on the ceiling of the rolling factory in which the rolling equipment 100 is installed, for example, can also be used.

[0026] More specifically, the lighting device 60 is installed on one side of the width direction of the metal band 1, sandwiching the metal band 1, and may be installed to form a reflective light area on the surface of the metal band 1, but if there is an obstacle in the optical path, the illuminance on the surface of the metal band 1 may be insufficient and it may not be possible to form a reflective light area, so it is necessary to ensure that the optical path is not obstructed by an obstacle. For this reason, it is desirable to install the lighting device 60 in a position where there are no obstacles between the lighting device 60 and the lifted area of ​​the metal band 1.

[0027] 1 and 2 is composed of an air blowing section, an air supply section, a support section, etc., and is preferably an air blowing step in which the air blower 50 extends from an upstream rolling mill to a downstream rolling mill among a plurality of rolling mills that roll the metal strip 1, and blows air on both the operation side and the drive side on the outside in the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from the side in the width direction of the metal strip 1. Note that the "rolling line" in the present invention refers to the three-dimensional space in which the metal strip 1 exists.

[0028] This air blower 50 may be retrofitted to existing rolling equipment (in which case, one or more of the lighting device 60 and camera 70 can also be installed or repositioned later), or it may be installed as initial equipment in a newly constructed rolling equipment.

[0029] The support section of the air blower 50 is composed of a plurality of pillars 52 which support the casings of the air blowing section and the air supplying section on the upstream and downstream sides in the rolling direction. The pillars 52 may be equipped with wheels 54 attached to the floor installation surface, so that the air blowing section and the air supplying section may be moved in any direction during maintenance, etc.

[0030] The air blowing section of the air blower 50 is composed of, for example, a cross-flow fan 84 (see Figure 6, etc.) and is provided on both outer sides of the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the upstream mill housing 10 to the downstream mill housing 20 among the multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip 1, and is a device for blowing out air that is preferably at a temperature higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line so as to block the intrusion of outside air into the rolling line from the side of the metal strip 1.

[0031] The air ejection section separates the gap between the mill housings 10, 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is provided vertically above the pass line as shown in Figure 1. It is positioned so as to eject air vertically downward from the vertically upper side of the pass line, thereby preventing outside air from flowing into the rolling line.

[0032] 2, the air blowing portion is provided on the outside of the outer wall on both the driving side and the operating side of the mill housings 10, 20 in the width direction of the rolling line. Note that the air blowing portion does not have to be provided on the outside of the outer wall of the mill housings 10, 20, and it is preferable to provide it on the outside of the outer wall of the mill housings 10, 20 from the viewpoint of ease of installation, but it may be provided on the inside of the outer wall of the mill housings 10, 20 from the viewpoint of installation to suppress the inflow of outside air into the rolling line.

[0033] The air supply section of the air blower 50 is a mechanism that supplies air at a temperature preferably equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line to an air outlet section mainly consisting of a cross-flow fan 84 so as to block outside air from entering the rolling line from the width direction side of the metal strip 1, and more preferably supplies air of 100°C or higher to the air outlet section.

[0034] The air supply unit is provided for the purpose of preventing outside air from flowing into the rolling line due to the air supply from the air blowing unit, and also for the purpose of preventing the temperature of the gas supply source from cooling the atmosphere temperature in the rolling line. By supplying air at a temperature of preferably 100°C or higher, air at a temperature higher than or equal to the temperature at which the cooling water can be reliably evaporated under atmospheric pressure when it evaporates on the metal strip 1 can be supplied, so that the generation of steam can be reliably suppressed. Note that the temperature may be lower than 100°C depending on the environment in which the rolling equipment 100 operates, and can be set appropriately according to the environment.

[0035] The results of an investigation into the reasons for providing the air blower 50 in the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0036] In the system configuration of the defect judgment device for monitoring defects in plate shape described in Patent Document 2, a reflected light area formed in a band in the plate width direction is detected on the surface of the metal plate 1 at the looper roll 40, and the distance distribution of the reflected light area in the rolling direction is measured by image processing to determine the plate shape. However, this technology is premised on the ability to detect a band-shaped reflected light area, and it is important to suppress the generation of steam that interferes with the optical detection of the reflected light area within the rolling line at the looper roll 40.

[0037] Here, in hot rolling of the metal strip 1, the temperature of the iron-based metal strip 1 is usually about 900°C. In addition, in hot rolling of an aluminum-based metal strip 1, the temperature of the metal strip 1 is usually about 400°C.

[0038] That is, the metal strip 1 is a high-temperature heat source. However, despite the presence of the high-temperature heat source, water vapor condenses and generates steam at the looper roll 40. The reason for this is believed to be that the amount of moisture present exceeds the amount of saturated water vapor at the ambient temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40, causing the water vapor to turn into steam.

[0039] If the ambient temperature is T [℃], the saturated water vapor pressure e(T) [hPa] can be expressed as the following equation (1) using the Tetens equation.

[0040] e(T)=6.1078×10^{7.5T / (T+237.3)} … (1) Also, the amount of saturated water vapor a(T) [g / m 3 ] can be written as follows:

[0041] a(T)=217e(T) / (T+273.15) … (2) This equation (2) can be graphed as shown in Figure 4.

[0042] From the above formula (2), it can be seen that the generation of steam can be prevented by ensuring that the amount of moisture present in the looper roll 40 does not exceed the amount of saturated water vapor in the atmosphere. There are two possible methods for preventing this.

[0043] The first is to reduce the moisture content at the looper roll 40 so that the moisture content does not exceed the saturated water vapor content.

[0044] The second is to increase the atmospheric temperature at the looper roll 40 to increase the amount of saturated water vapor, thereby preventing the amount of moisture from exceeding the amount of saturated water vapor.

[0045] However, since it is considered difficult to reduce the amount of water in the cooling water during rolling in terms of rolling operation, the second method, which is to prevent steam generation by increasing the atmospheric temperature in the looper roll 40 area and increasing the amount of saturated water vapor, will be adopted.

[0046] Now, despite the presence of a high-temperature heat source, the hot-rolled sheet, it is highly likely that the cause of the drop in the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line at the looper roll 40 is the flow of low-temperature air from outside the rolling line into the rolling line at the looper roll 40, causing the drop in the atmospheric temperature. Therefore, measures are taken to prevent air from outside the rolling line from flowing into the rolling line.

[0047] In the rolling facility 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, measures are taken to prevent steam generation in the looper roll 40 portion installed in the rolling line between each rolling mill having the mill housings 10 and 20.

[0048] Since the looper roll 40 is installed at an intermediate position between the rolling mill (having mill housing 10) on the upstream side in the rolling direction and the rolling mill (having mill housing 20) on the downstream side in the rolling direction, it is considered that the rolling mill itself acts as a barrier to prevent outside air from entering from both the upstream and downstream sides in the rolling direction.

[0049] On the other hand, there is no barrier in the direction perpendicular to the line center (width direction) of the looper roll 40, and it is assumed that outside air can easily enter the rolling line. If it is possible to prevent outside air from entering the rolling line from the direction perpendicular to the line center, it is possible to prevent condensation of water vapor caused by a drop in the atmospheric temperature in the rolling line, and it is believed that the generation of steam can be suppressed.

[0050] Therefore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, we came up with the idea of ​​installing a horizontally long air blower 50 so as to cover the gap on the side of the width direction of the rolling line between both rolling mills having an upstream mill housing 10 and a downstream mill housing 20, and generating air that is preferably hotter than the ambient temperature outside the rolling line vertically downward or upward using a principle similar to that of an air curtain, thereby preventing outside air that is cooler than the ambient temperature inside the rolling line from entering the rolling line.

[0051] The airflow blown from the air blower 50 needs to reach the pass line from the installation position of the air blower 50. If the wind speed at the pass line position is set to 1 m / s or more, the following relationship can be derived for the central velocity Uc of the airflow from the experimental value relationship in FIG.

[0052] If the position of the air outlet of air blower 50 is at a height h of 2 m from the pass line and the thickness B of the air outlet is 66 mm, then h / B is approximately 30.

[0053] At this time, the value obtained by dividing the central velocity Uc of the jet by the outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately Uc / Uc1 = 0.38, as shown in FIG.

[0054] Therefore, if the central speed Uc of the airflow at the path line position is 1 m / s, the outlet wind speed Uc1 is approximately Uc1 = Uc / 0.38 = 1 / 0.38 = 2.6 m / s.

[0055] However, in the defect judgment device system described in Patent Document 2, which is capable of detecting a reflected light region formed in a band shape in the width direction on the surface of the metal strip plate 1 in the looper roll 40 portion and monitoring changes in the plate shape, the looper roll 40 portion is photographed by a camera 70 as shown in Fig. 3, and illumination light may be irradiated onto the looper roll 40 portion from an illumination device 60. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the installation height of the air blower 50 so as not to interfere with the illumination light and the photography by the camera 70.

[0056] From Figure 3, it is required that the distance C (=h) from the path line to the outlet of the air blower 50 is greater than the lower limit position D at which the air blower 50 will not interfere with the lighting device 60 when installed at a position distance A from the line center to the air blower 50 installation position, and is also greater than the lower limit position E at which the air blower 50 will not interfere with photography by the camera 70 when installed at the position distance A.

[0057] The distance A from the line center to the installation position of the air blower 50 is set to a position outside the outer wall of the mill housing 10, 20. However, it is desirable that the distance A of the installation position of the air blower 50 be as close to the outer wall of the mill housing 10, 20 as possible.

[0058] In FIG. 3, the distance C from the pass line to the outlet of the air blower 50 is the same on both sides of the metal band 1, but it may be different.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, air blower 50 further includes a heater 81, a motor 82, a casing 83, a cross-flow fan 84 (air ejection portion), and the like, in addition to the support portion shown in FIG.

[0060] Of these, the heater 81 is a device that heats the air taken in through the air inlet 86, and is a part of the air supply unit.

[0061] The casing 83 is a housing that houses a heater 81 on the upstream side of the air flow path and a cross flow fan 84 on the downstream side, and has an intake port 86 provided vertically above the pass line for drawing in ambient air within the rolling line, and an exhaust port 87 for blowing out air heated by the heater 81 and ejected from the cross flow fan 84.

[0062] The cross-flow fan 84 is a cylindrical fan having multiple cylindrical blades, and is configured to take in air in its radial direction and blow out the air in a different radial direction. The cross-flow fan 84 is driven by a motor 82. Note that the air ejection unit is not limited to the cross-flow fan 84, and a propeller fan, a blower, or the like can also be used.

[0063] The air blower 50 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 6. Air blowers 50A and 50B of modified examples will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 7, air blower 50A differs from air blower 50 shown in FIG. 6 in that, in addition to the support part shown in FIG. 1 etc., it further includes a motor 82, a ducted casing 83A, a crossflow fan 84 (air ejection part), etc.

[0065] The air blower 50A shown in FIG. 7 does not include a heater 81, and the air intake 86A extends vertically above the pass line so as to draw in air above the metal strip 1, which is usually at a temperature exceeding 400 degrees.

[0066] Ducted casing 83A is configured to guide air drawn in from intake port 86A to cross-flow fan 84, and exhaust port 87 ejects air above metal band 1, which is at a high temperature. In this case, by using a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, for casing 83A and cross-flow fan 84, the temperature of air blower 50 itself can be kept high, and high-temperature air can be efficiently exhausted.

[0067] In addition, Figure 7 illustrates an example in which the air blower blows air vertically downward and sucks in air above the metal band plate 1 that is at a high temperature using the metal band plate 1. However, the air sucked in at the air intake port is not limited to air above the metal band plate 1, but may be air vertically below or to the side of the metal band plate 1, or any two or more of these three locations.

[0068] The air blower 50B in the rolling equipment 100B shown in Figure 8 is similar to the air blowers 50, 50A in that it is composed of an air blowing section, an air supply section, a support section, etc., but unlike the air blowers 50, 50A, it is configured to blow air from the vertically lower side to the vertically upper side of the metal strip 1.

[0069] The support portion of the air blower 50B is made up of wheels 54B for moving the air ejection portion and the air supply portion in any direction on the installation surface 55.

[0070] The air blowing section is mainly composed of a cross-flow fan 84, and is provided on both outer sides of the width direction of the metal strip 1 so as to extend from the upstream mill housing 10 to the downstream mill housing 20 among the multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip 1.The air blowing section is basically the same as the air blower 50 or air blower 50A in that it blows out air that is preferably at a temperature higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line so as to block the intrusion of outside air into the rolling line from the side of the metal strip 1.

[0071] In addition, even in a configuration in which air is sprayed from the vertically lower side of the metal band plate 1 to the vertically upper side as shown in Figure 8, the air supply unit can be configured to, instead of heater 81, suck in air above the metal band plate 1 that has been heated by the metal band plate 1 as shown in Figure 7, or to suck in air heated by the metal band plate 1 from the vertically lower or side of the metal band plate 1, or from one or more of these three locations.

[0072] Returning to Fig. 1, the control device 90 is a device that controls the operation of each device in the rolling equipment 100. In this embodiment, in particular, the control device 90 detects the distance distribution in the rolling direction of the reflected light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 described in Patent Document 2 based on the image taken by the camera 70, thereby determining defects in the sheet shape of the metal strip 1 during rolling and executing various controls according to the occurrence state of the sheet shape defects. These operations are performed in an atmosphere free of steam, so that the reflected light area can be detected and the various controls can be executed.

[0073] The display device 95 is a display device such as a display, an alarm, or an audio device, and since it is a device for informing an operator of the occurrence of a plate shape defect and the corresponding action to be taken when the control device 90 determines that the plate shape is defective, a display or monitor is often used as such a display device 95.

[0074] During rolling operation, the operator checks for the presence or absence of a strip shape defect by closely watching the display screen of the display device 95. For example, when a strip shape defect such as center elongation is displayed on the display device 95, the operator can manually intervene and operate each actuator according to the corresponding instruction to restore the strip shape from the defective state to a good state.

[0075] In addition, the system is not limited to informing the operator of the defective plate shape, but can also display the defective plate shape and have the control device 90 automatically intervene to correct it, or can automatically intervene to correct it without displaying it.

[0076] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0077] The air blowers 50, 50A, 50B of the present embodiment described above are provided on both the operating side and the driving side of the outer width direction of the metal strip 1, extending from the upstream rolling mill to the downstream rolling mill among the multiple rolling mills that roll the metal strip 1, and are equipped with an air blowing section that blows air to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from the side side in the width direction of the metal strip 1, and an air supply section that supplies air to the air blowing section.

[0078] By forming such an air curtain between rolling machines arranged in tandem, outside air does not enter the rolling line and the temperature of the air curtain does not easily lower the temperature of the atmosphere in the rolling line, so that the saturated water vapor content of the atmosphere does not decrease but can be maintained high, and water vapor is unlikely to condense on the metal strip 1, so that the generation of steam can be reduced. Therefore, when the defect judgment device system described in Patent Document 2 is adopted, it becomes possible to take an image of the reflected light area formed on the surface of the metal strip 1 more reliably than before, and accordingly, it becomes possible to more accurately and reliably judge the sheet shape abnormality of the metal strip during rolling.

[0079] In addition, by blowing out air that is at a temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line, the air blowing section can prevent the temperature of the atmosphere inside the rolling line from decreasing due to the temperature of the air curtain. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the saturated water vapor content of the atmosphere and maintain a high temperature, making it more difficult for water vapor to condense on the metal strip 1.

[0080] Furthermore, by supplying air of 100°C or higher to the air outlet, the air supply section supplies air at a temperature higher than that which can reliably evaporate cooling water under atmospheric pressure if it evaporates on the rolling line. Therefore, even if a cold atmosphere flows in from outside the rolling line, it is expected that the air can be heated to a high temperature to a temperature that is highly likely to suppress the generation of steam, thereby further suppressing the generation of steam.

[0081] In addition, by providing the air ejection sections on both sides of the width of the metal strip 1 in the rolling direction outside the outer walls of the housings of the two rolling mills, a space in which steam is less likely to generate can be formed in the space above the metal strip 1 between the two rolling mills on the upstream and downstream sides.

[0082] Furthermore, the device further includes a casing 83 having air intakes 86, 86A and an exhaust port 87. By housing an air supply section on the upstream side of the air flow path and an air outlet section on the downstream side, the casing 83 can minimize the possibility that low-temperature air other than that supplied from the air supply section will be ejected from the air outlet section, allowing the device to function more reliably as a high-temperature air curtain.

[0083] Furthermore, the air supply section includes a heater 81 that heats the air drawn in from the air inlet 86, so that air at a temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line can be reliably ejected.

[0084] Furthermore, air intake 86A is provided around metal strip 1 so as to draw in air that is at a temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line heated by metal strip 1, and the air supply section includes a casing 83A with a duct that guides the air drawn in from air intake 86A to the air outlet section, so that the high-temperature air in the atmosphere above metal strip 1 is drawn in as is, eliminating the need to prepare a separate heat source.

[0085] Furthermore, since the air ejection section is a cross-flow fan 84, it is possible to easily achieve uniform ejection of air in the rolling direction.

[0086] In addition, in FIG. 8, the air outlet is provided vertically below the metal strip 1 and outlets air vertically upward, so that air can be blown from the side closer to the side where the reflected light region 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 outlet, the wind speed is relatively fast and it is possible to efficiently prevent outside air from entering the rolling line from the side of the rolling line and effectively prevent a drop in the atmospheric temperature inside the rolling line. This reliably prevents a drop in the saturated water vapor content of the atmosphere and makes it possible to provide a configuration that is less likely to generate steam.

[0087] Furthermore, by using an imaging system including air blowers 50, 50A, 50B installed on both sides of the width of the rolling line and a camera 70 installed on either side of the width of the metal strip 1 for photographing the reflected light areas formed on the surface of the metal strip 1, the optical path is not blocked by steam, making it possible to photograph the reflected light areas more frequently and clearly.

[0088] Furthermore, in a rolling equipment 100 equipped with an imaging system and a plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip plate 1, when the system of the defect judgment device described in Patent Document 2 is adopted, the generation of steam in the atmosphere is suppressed and the reflected light area is photographed during rolling more reliably than in the past, so that the plate shape abnormality can be judged more accurately and reliably, abnormalities can be detected more quickly and with a higher probability, and the rolling equipment can deal with rolling defects more appropriately.

[0089] <Other> The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. The above-mentioned embodiment has been described in detail to explain the present invention in an easily understandable manner, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all of the described configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1...Metal strip 10,20…Mill housing 30…Work roll 35…Back-up roll 40…Looper roll 50, 50A, 50B...Air blower 52...post 54,54B…Wheels 55…Installation surface 60…Lighting equipment 70…Camera (photography device) 81...Heater (air supply section, heating section) 82…Motor 83…Casing 83A…Casing with duct (air supply section, intake duct) 84...Crossflow fan (air outlet) 86,86A…Air intake 87…Exhaust port 90...Control device 95…Display device 100,100B...Rolling equipment

Claims

1. an air blowing section provided on both the operation side and the drive side of the outer side in the width direction of the metal strip so as to extend in the rolling direction from the upstream rolling mill to the downstream rolling mill among a plurality of rolling mills for rolling the metal strip, the air blowing section blowing air so as to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from the side surface of the width direction of the metal strip; an air supply unit that supplies air to the air ejection unit; Air blower.

2. 2. The air blower of claim 1, The air blowing section blows out air at a temperature equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature outside the rolling line. Air blower.

3. 2. The air blower of claim 1, The air supply unit supplies air at 100° C. or higher to the air ejection unit. Air blower.

4. 2. The air blower of claim 1, The air ejection portions are provided on the outer side of the outer wall of a housing of the plurality of rolling mills in the width direction of the metal strip. Air blower.

5. 2. The air blower of claim 1, a casing having an intake port and an exhaust port; The casing accommodates the air supply unit on the upstream side of the air flow path and the air ejection unit on the downstream side. Air blower.

6. 6. The air blower according to claim 5, The air supply unit includes a heating unit that heats the air drawn in through the air inlet. Air blower.

7. 6. The air blower according to claim 5, the air intake is provided around the metal band plate so as to draw in the air heated by the metal band plate, The air supply unit includes an intake duct that guides the air drawn in through the intake port to the air ejection unit. Air blower.

8. 2. The air blower of claim 1, The air ejection section is a cross-flow fan. Air blower.

9. 2. The air blower of claim 1, The air ejection portion is provided vertically below the metal band plate and ejects the air vertically upward. Air blower.

10. An air blower according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and an imaging device that is installed on either one side of the metal band plate in the width direction and that captures an image of a reflected light area formed on the surface of the metal band plate. Shooting system.

11. The imaging system according to claim 10, and a plurality of the rolling mills for rolling the metal strip. Rolling equipment.

12. Among a plurality of rolling mills for rolling a metal strip, an air blower extending in the rolling direction from the upstream rolling mill to the downstream rolling mill blows air on both the operation side and the drive side on the outer side in the width direction of the metal strip so as to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from the side of the width direction of the metal strip. Air blowing method.

13. an air blowing step of blowing air so as to block the intrusion of outside air from outside the rolling line from a side surface of the metal strip in the width direction by the air blowing method according to claim 12; and an imaging step of imaging a reflected light region formed on the surface of the metal band plate. How to shoot.

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