Scale removal device and system

Abstract

To provide a mechanical scale removal device that is less likely to leave behind scale residue. [Solution] The mechanical descaling device 1 includes a pair of endless belts 11, 21 made of nonwoven fabric containing abrasive material, arranged with their belt surfaces facing each other, and drive motors M1, M2 that synchronously drive the pair of endless belts 11, 21 so that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts 11, 21 move in the opposite direction to the direction in which the wire 5 is sandwiched between the pair of endless belts 11, 12 is traveling, or so that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts 11, 12 move in the same direction as the direction in which the wire 5 is traveling, at a speed different from the speed at which the wire 5 is traveling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a scale removing apparatus and system. Background Art

[0002] Generally, scale (oxide film) adheres to the surface of wire rods such as steel wires heated by heat treatment. Scale generally has higher hardness than the wire rod itself. When drawing the heat-treated wire rod, the scale may damage the die used for wire drawing, or become an impurity in the drawn wire rod and cause wire breakage. For this reason, the removal of scale (descaling) from the wire rod surface is performed before wire drawing.

[0003] As descaling methods, there are known a "chemical method" in which scale on the surface of a wire rod is dissolved and removed using a large pickling tank storing acidic chemicals, and a "mechanical method" in which scale is peeled and removed by bending the wire rod in various directions or causing an abrasive (small iron balls or sand) to collide with the wire rod at high speed (see Patent Document 1 for a method in which granular abrasives are collided).

[0004] Compared with the mechanical method, the chemical method can obtain a cleaner wire rod surface, and residual scale is less likely to occur. However, environmental countermeasures are required, and large pickling tanks used in the chemical method may be prohibited from being installed. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-200214 Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical scale removing apparatus and system in which residual scale is less likely to occur.

[0007] The scale removal device according to this invention is a so-called mechanical scale removal device that removes scale from the surface of a moving wire by polishing its surface.

[0008] The scale removal device according to this invention comprises a pair of endless belts made of nonwoven fabric containing abrasive material, arranged with their belt surfaces facing each other, and a driving means for synchronously driving the pair of endless belts such that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts move in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts, or so that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts move in the same direction as the direction of travel of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts at a speed different from the travel speed of the wire.

[0009] A wire is sandwiched between a pair of opposing endless belts. The pair of endless belts are made of nonwoven fabric and contain abrasive material. Because they are made of nonwoven fabric, they are highly flexible, and the surfaces of the pair of endless belts can be brought into contact with the entire circumferential surface of the wire sandwiched between them. Nonwoven fabric endless belts are generally formed in a ring shape by joining the ends of a strip of nonwoven fabric, which is formed by intertwining many short synthetic fibers without weaving. The endless belt used in the scale removal device of the present invention is a nonwoven fabric endless belt (synthetic fiber) to which many fine abrasive particles are bonded with an adhesive.

[0010] According to this invention, a pair of endless belts are driven synchronously so that their opposing surfaces move in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the wire, or so that their opposing surfaces move in the same direction as the direction of travel of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts at a speed different from the travel speed of the wire. As a result, the surface of the wire is polished as it passes between the pair of endless belts, and scale on the wire surface can be removed. As described above, since the pair of endless belts sandwiching the wire are made of a highly flexible nonwoven fabric, the entire circumferential surface of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts comes into contact with the surfaces of the pair of endless belts. Scale can be removed over the entire circumferential surface of the wire. Furthermore, since the pair of endless belts are driven synchronously, the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts do not rub against each other.

[0011] Preferably, the system includes a pair of pressing members that press the pair of endless belts toward the wire. This allows the wire to be firmly in contact with the surface of the endless belt, making it less likely for scale residue to occur.

[0012] In one embodiment, the direction of travel of the wire and the direction of travel of the pair of endless belts are at an angle that is not parallel. That is, a predetermined angle is set between the direction of travel of the wire and the direction of travel of the pair of endless belts. Since the pair of endless belts can be used widely in the width direction, the lifespan of the endless belts can be extended (the replacement time can be delayed).

[0013] This invention also provides a scale removal system comprising a plurality of scale removal devices having the above-described pressing member, wherein the plurality of scale removal devices are arranged longitudinally with the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts tilted at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of the wire. Since the circumferential surface of the wire can be polished by a predetermined angle by each of the plurality of scale removal devices, variations in the intensity of polishing of the circumferential surface of the wire can be reduced.

[0014] Preferably, the multiple scale removal devices are tilted at equal angles. This allows for uniform polishing of the wire surface. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a mechanical descaling device. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged end view of a pair of endless belts in the width direction. [Figure 3] This shows the arrangement of the endless belt and wire. [Figure 4] Figures (A) through (D) are schematic diagrams of a mechanical descaling device viewed from the side. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of a mechanical descaling device of another embodiment, viewed from the side. [Figure 6]This diagram schematically shows a mechanical descaling system equipped with three mechanical descaling devices. [Figure 7] (A) to (C) are cross-sectional views highlighting the circumferential surface area of ​​the wire being strongly polished by each of the three mechanical descaling devices. [Examples]

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical descaling device. Figure 4(A) is a simplified side view of the mechanical descaling device shown in Figure 1.

[0017] The mechanical descaling device 1 is a device that mechanically (physically) removes scale adhering to the surface of steel wires (strands) 5, especially thin wires 5 with a diameter of 4 mm or less before drawing. The mechanical descaling device 1 comprises an upper device 10, on which a highly flexible endless belt 11 made of nonwoven fabric containing abrasive material is stretched over a pair of rollers 12, 13 arranged parallel to each other at a distance apart, and a lower device 20, on which a highly flexible endless belt 21 is stretched over a pair of rollers 22, 23 also arranged at a distance apart, with the endless belts 11, 21 (their belt surfaces) facing each other. The upper device 10 and the lower device 20 are fixed together by frames 31, 32 (shown as dashed lines in Figure 1) provided along both sides of the endless belts 11, 21. Note that "upper level" and "lower level" are terms used to clearly indicate the relative positions of the two devices, and it is not necessarily required that they be in a vertical positional relationship.

[0018] The endless belts 11 and 21 are made of a synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric formed by intertwining numerous short synthetic fibers without weaving, to which numerous fine abrasive particles are bonded with an adhesive, and have an annular shape.

[0019] The rotation axes of rollers 13, 12, 23, and 22 are rotatably supported by frames 31 and 32.

[0020] The upper-stage device 10 includes a drive motor M1 (indicated by a one-dot chain line), and the rotating shaft of the roller 13 is connected to the motor shaft of the drive motor M1. When the motor shaft of the drive motor M1 rotates, the roller 13 is rotationally driven in synchronization therewith (driving roller 13). Power is transmitted via an endless belt 11 stretched between the roller 13 and a roller 12, which is provided parallel to the roller 13 at an interval from the roller 13 and forms a pair with the roller 13, whereby the roller 12 also rotates in the same direction as the driving roller 13 (driven roller 12).

[0021] Similarly, the lower-stage device 20 includes a drive motor M2 (indicated by a one-dot chain line), a driving roller 23 is rotationally driven by the drive motor M2, and a driven roller 22 forming a pair with the driving roller 23 via an endless belt 21 also rotates in the same direction as the driving roller 23.

[0022] The rotation direction of the motor shaft of the drive motor M1 of the upper-stage device 10 and the rotation direction of the drive motor M2 of the lower-stage device 20 are opposite directions, and the drive motors M1 and M2 are synchronously driven so as to rotate at the same rotational speed. The rotation directions of the drive motors M1 and M2 are directions such that the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 travel (orbit) in a direction substantially opposite to the traveling direction of the wire 5 (see FIG. 4(A)).

[0023] Support members 14 are fixed to frames 31 and 32 at the points where the rotating shafts extend from both sides of the driven roller 12 of the upper device 10, and support members 14 have sliding holes 14a that extend in the direction connecting the driven roller 12 and the drive roller 13. Both ends of the rotating shaft of the driven roller 12 are inserted into the sliding holes 14a of the support members 14. The driven roller 12 is adjustable in position along the sliding holes 14a in the direction connecting the driven roller 12 and the drive roller 13. The driven roller 12 is biased away from the drive roller 13, so that the endless belt 11 is always under tension and kept taut. Similarly, support members 24 are fixed to frames 31 and 32 at the points where the rotating shafts extend from both sides of the driven roller 22 of the lower device 20, and both ends of the rotating shaft of the driven roller 22 are also inserted into the sliding holes 24a of the support members 24. The driven roller 22 is also biased away from the drive roller 23, and tension is constantly applied to the endless belt 21.

[0024] The biasing force on the driven rollers 12 and 22 is achieved by an elastic member (for example, a spring member) (not shown) provided between the rotation axis of the driven rollers 12 and 22 and the frames 31 and 32.

[0025] A long wire (strand) 5 with a circular cross-section is sandwiched between the opposing surfaces of the endless belt 11 and the endless belt 21. The wire 5 travels in a predetermined direction by being wound up by a winding machine (not shown).

[0026] Figure 2 shows an enlarged end view in the width direction at approximately the center of the longitudinal direction of the endless belts 11 and 21. Figure 3 shows the arrangement relationship between the endless belt 21 and the wire 5.

[0027] The endless belt 11 of the upper device 10 is biased toward the wire 5 (the endless belt 21 of the lower device 20) by a retaining plate 33. Conversely, the endless belt 21 of the lower device 20 is biased toward the wire 5 (the endless belt 11 of the upper device 10) by a retaining plate 34. Both retaining plates 33 and 34 are supported by biasing jigs (for example, members fixed to frames 31 and 32 that bias the retaining plates 33 and 34 toward each other by an elastic member) (not shown) that are fixed to frames 31 and 32. Since the endless belts 11 and 21 are made of nonwoven fabric and are highly flexible, the biasing of the retaining plates 33 and 34 toward each other causes the endless belts 11 and 21 in the area that sandwiches the wire 5 to deform along the outer shape of the wire 5, and the entire circumferential surface of the wire 5 comes into contact with the surfaces (opposing surfaces 8) of the endless belts 11 and 21.

[0028] The wire 5 travels between the opposing surfaces 8 of the endless belt 11 of the upper device 10 and the endless belt 21 of the lower device 20. As described above, the direction of travel of the wire 5 and the direction of travel of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 are roughly opposite. Therefore, as the wire 5 passes between the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21, the surface of the wire 5 is polished by the endless belts 11 and 21, and any scale adhering to the surface of the wire 5 is removed.

[0029] Referring to Figure 3, the direction of travel of the wire 5 and the direction of travel of the endless belts 11 and 21 are not parallel. The direction of travel of the endless belts 11 and 21 is oblique to the direction of travel of the wire 5, and the mechanical descaling device 1 is positioned so that the wire 5 crosses almost the entire width of the endless belts 11 and 21. If the direction of travel of the wire 5 and the direction of travel of the endless belts 11 and 21 were parallel, only a narrow, straight area of ​​the width of the endless belts 11 and 21 would always be in contact with the wire 5, while the rest of the area would not be in contact with the wire 5 at all. As shown in Figure 3, by positioning the mechanical descaling device 1 so that the wire 5 crosses almost the entire width of the endless belts 11 and 21, the wire 5 can be made to contact almost the entire surface of the endless belts 11 and 21. This extends the lifespan of the endless belts 11 and 21 and delays their replacement.

[0030] The endless belts 11 and 21 (mechanical descaling device 1) may be moved back and forth (oscillated) in the width direction, or the wire 5 may be moved back and forth (oscillated) in the width direction of the endless belts 11 and 21, so that as much of the entire surface of the endless belts 11 and 21 as possible is used evenly for polishing the wire 5.

[0031] As described above, the rotation direction of the motor shaft of the drive motor M1 of the upper device 10 and the rotation direction of the drive motor M2 of the lower device 20 are opposite, and they are synchronously driven to rotate at the same rotational speed, so the opposing surfaces 8 of the endless belts 11 and 21 come into contact but do not rub against each other.

[0032] As shown in Figures 4(B) to 4(D), instead of the retaining plates 33 and 34, the endless belts 11 and 21 may be biased toward the wire 5 by roller members 35 and 36. Figure 4(B) shows a configuration in which multiple retaining roller members 35 are provided to bias the endless belt 21 toward the wire 5 instead of the retaining plate 34. The multiple roller members 35 are rotatably supported by the frames 31 and 32. Figure 4(C) shows a configuration in which multiple retaining roller members 35 and 36 are provided instead of the retaining plates 33 and 34. Figure 4(D) shows a configuration in which multiple retaining roller members 35 and 36 are provided in a staggered pattern (alternating without aligning the top and bottom).

[0033] When using presser plates 33 and 34, the presser plates 33 and 34 are always in contact with the endless belts 11 and 21, so it is advisable to apply a lubricant, for example, to the contact surfaces. Since the surface of the endless belts 11 and 21 that contacts the wire 5 (outer surface, opposing surface) and the surface opposite to it (inner surface) contact the presser plates 33 and 34, the endless belts 11 and 21 may be constructed so that the inner surface of the endless belts 11 and 21 that contacts the presser plates 33 and 34 does not contain any abrasive material. If presser roller members 35 and 36 are used instead of presser plates 33 and 34, the presser roller members 35 and 36 rotate, allowing the endless belts 11 and 21 to move smoothly.

[0034] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the mechanical descaling device 2. It differs from the mechanical descaling device 1 shown in Figure 1 in that it is provided with belt tension adjustment rollers 15 and 25, and the endless belts 11 and 21 are also placed over the belt tension adjustment rollers 15 and 25.

[0035] The belt tension adjustment roller 15 is vertically adjustable, and the tension of the endless belt 11 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the belt tension adjustment roller 15. Similarly, the belt tension adjustment roller 25 is vertically adjustable, and the tension of the endless belt 21 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the belt tension adjustment roller 25.

[0036] Figure 6 shows a mechanical descaling system comprising three of the aforementioned mechanical descaling devices 1 (Figure 1). Figure 6 schematically illustrates three mechanical descaling devices 1 with the same structure (distinguished by reference numerals 1A, 1B, and 1C in Figure 6).

[0037] The mechanical descaling device 1 can polish the entire circumference of the wire 5 by covering it with endless belts 11 and 21 made of a flexible material. However, since the wire 5 is sandwiched between the endless belts 11 and 21 which are pressed down by the pressing plates 33 and 34 (see Figure 2), the area pressed down by the pressing plates 33 and 34 (see Figure 2, a predetermined angular range centered at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions in the clock position) is polished strongly. Conversely, a predetermined angular range centered at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions in the clock position is polished weakly (lightly).

[0038] In order to polish the entire circumference of the wire 5 as uniformly as possible, the mechanical descaling system consists of three mechanical descaling devices 1A, 1B, and 1C, which are arranged longitudinally with the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 tilted so that their angular positions differ by 60° in the circumferential direction of the wire 5.

[0039] Figures 7(A) to 7(C) highlight the angular ranges of the wire 5 that are strongly polished by each of the three mechanical descaling devices 1A, 1B, and 1C shown in Figure 6, using thick lines. As described above, by arranging the three mechanical descaling devices 1A to 1C at an angle such that the opposing surfaces 8 of the pair of endless belts 11 and 21 differ by 60° in the circumferential direction of the wire 5, the first mechanical descaling device 1A polishes predetermined angular ranges 5A and 5B centered at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock directions (Figure 7(A)), the second mechanical descaling device 1B polishes predetermined angular ranges 5C and 5D centered at the 2 o'clock and 8 o'clock directions (Figure 7(B)), and the third mechanical descaling device 1C polishes predetermined angular ranges 5E and 5F centered at the 4 o'clock and 10 o'clock directions (Figure 7(C)) with strong force. The entire circumferential surface of the wire 5 can be polished uniformly.

[0040] The number of mechanical descaling devices 1 arranged in cascade may be increased. For example, if four mechanical descaling devices 1 are used, the four mechanical descaling devices 1 are arranged in cascade, each tilted at 45°. If six mechanical descaling devices 1 are used, the six mechanical descaling devices 1 are arranged in cascade, each tilted at 30°.

[0041] By using a mechanical descaling system equipped with multiple mechanical descaling devices 1, the entire circumference of the wire 5 can be polished uniformly even if the entire circumference of the wire 5 is not necessarily covered by the endless belts 11 and 21, that is, even if the degree of deformation of the endless belts 11 and 21 when pressed by the pressing plates 33 and 34 is small.

[0042] The mechanical descaling system may be configured using mechanical descaling device 2 (Figure 5) instead of mechanical descaling device 1.

[0043] In the mechanical descaling devices 1 and 2 described above, the direction of travel of the wire 5 and the direction of travel of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 are generally opposite. However, if there is a difference between the travel speed of the wire 5 and the travel speed of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21, the direction of travel of the wire 5 and the direction of travel of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 may be generally the same. If they are opposite, a relatively large force is required to move (pull) the wire 5, but by making them the same direction, the endless belts 11 and 21 assist in the movement of the wire 5, and less force is required to move the wire 5. The travel speed of the wire 5 may be faster than the travel speed of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21, or the travel speed of the opposing surfaces of the endless belts 11 and 21 may be faster. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 1,1A,1B,1C,2 Mechanical descaling device (scale removal device) 5 wires 11,21 Endless belt 12,22 Driven roller 13,23 Drive rollers 15,25 Belt tension adjustment roller 33,34 Pressing plate 35,36 Pressing roller member M1, M2 drive motors

Claims

1. A scale removal device that removes scale from the surface of a moving wire by polishing its surface, A pair of endless belts made of nonwoven fabric containing abrasive material, arranged with their belt surfaces facing each other, and The system includes a driving means for synchronously driving the pair of endless belts such that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts move in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts, or so that the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts move in the same direction as the direction of travel of the wire sandwiched between the pair of endless belts at a speed different from the travel speed of the wire. Scale removal device.

2. The system includes a pair of pressing members that press a pair of endless belts, each within the range that encloses the wire, toward the wire. The scale removal device according to claim 1.

3. The direction of travel of the above wire material and the direction of travel of the above pair of endless belts are at an angle that is not parallel. The scale removal device according to claim 1.

4. A plurality of scale removal devices according to claim 2 are provided, The above-mentioned multiple scale removal devices are arranged longitudinally, with the opposing surfaces of the pair of endless belts tilted at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of the wire. Scale removal system.

5. Multiple scale removal devices are tilted at equal angles. The scale removal system according to claim 4.

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