Apparatus for cutting steel billets, and method for cutting steel billets

Abstract

This technology provides an improvement in the yield rate of steel products caused by the steel billet cutting process. [Solution] The cutting apparatus comprises a conveying unit for conveying cast and rolled steel billets, a cutting unit for cutting the steel billets being conveyed in the conveying unit, an operating unit for receiving operations from an operator to control the conveying unit and the cutting unit, an imaging unit for imaging the steel billets being conveyed in the conveying unit, a display unit for displaying the image of the steel billets acquired by the imaging unit and information for cutting the steel billets to the operator, and a control unit for analyzing the image of the steel billets to detect the end of the steel billets in the conveying direction on the image of the steel billets, calculating the distance from the current position of the end to the cutting position of the steel billets by the cutting unit as the cutting length based on the image of the steel billets, and displaying it on the display unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steel material cutting device and a steel material cutting method.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in a blooming process carried out in a blooming plant or the like at an ironworks, a steel slab continuously cast in the preceding process is subjected to a plurality of rolling passes to form steel materials called slabs, blooms, billets and the like. In the rolling process, unsteady portions that do not meet the predetermined quality may occur at the ends in the rolling direction of each steel material. Usually, such unsteady portions are cut off from the steady portions of the steel material that meet the predetermined quality by a cutting device in the steel material conveying line. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a cutting device provided with an upper blade and a lower blade for cutting steel materials.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] If there is variation in the dimension of the unsteady portion cut off from the steel material by the cutting device, the amount of wasted steel increases due to the variation, which causes a reduction in the yield rate of steel products. However, conventionally, sufficient measures have not been taken to suppress the occurrence of variation in the dimension cut off from the steel material.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to improve the yield rate of steel products, it is preferable to accurately measure, record, and manage the actual amount of steel removed as non-steady parts, and to evaluate and analyze this data. However, conventionally, sufficient measures have not been taken to accurately measure the actual amount of steel removed as non-steady parts, nor to record and manage the measurement results.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a technology that can improve the yield rate of steel products caused by the steel billet cutting process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention can be realized, for example, in the following forms.

[0008] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the present invention is provided as a steel billet cutting device. The cutting device of the first embodiment comprises: a conveying unit for conveying cast and rolled steel billets; a cutting unit for cutting the steel billets being conveyed in the conveying unit; an operating unit for receiving operations by an operator to control the conveying unit and the cutting unit; an imaging unit for imaging the steel billets being conveyed in the conveying unit; a display unit for displaying the image of the steel billets acquired by the imaging unit and information for cutting the steel billets to the operator; and a control unit for analyzing the image of the steel billets to detect the end of the steel billets in the conveying direction on the image of the steel billets, and calculating the distance from the current position of the end to the cutting position of the steel billets by the cutting unit as the cutting length based on the image of the steel billets, and displaying it on the display unit. According to the first embodiment of the cutting device, the operator can cut the steel billet while checking the cutting length, which indicates the dimension to be removed from the steel billet by the cutting section, through the display unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the amount removed from the steel billet as non-steady parts for each operator, and to suppress deterioration of the yield rate of steel products.

[0009] [Second Embodiment] In the cutting apparatus of the first embodiment described above, when the position of the steel slab is changed by the transport unit, the control unit may update the cutting length according to the position of the steel slab and display it on the display unit. According to the second form of the cutting device, the operator can adjust the position of the steel slab and cut it while checking the cutting length, which is updated in real time as the steel slab moves, on the display unit. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the part removed from the steel slab by the cutting unit can be further improved.

[0010] [Third Embodiment] The cutting device according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment may further include a storage unit that stores information under the control of the control unit, and the cutting length when the cutting unit cuts the steel piece by the operator's operation may be recorded in the storage unit as actual information indicating the actual dimensions of the part removed from the steel piece by the cutting unit. According to the third form of cutting device, the dimensions of the non-steady portions cut from the steel billet can be stored in the memory as actual cutting information for the steel billet. Therefore, based on this actual information, the evaluation and analysis of the steel billet cutting process can be performed easily and with high accuracy, making it easier to improve the yield rate of steel products.

[0011] [Fourth Embodiment] In the cutting device described in any of the first, second, or third embodiments above, when the end of one steel piece is cut by the cutting unit in multiple steps, the control unit may record the length of the portion removed from the steel piece in the storage unit each time the cutting unit cuts the end of the steel piece, and record the total length of the removed portions as the length of the non-steady portion removed from the steel piece. According to the fourth form of the cutting device, even when non-steady portions are removed by multiple cuts by the cutting section, the amount of steel removed from the steady portion of the steel billet can be controlled with greater precision. Therefore, it becomes easier to improve the yield rate of steel products.

[0012] [Fifth Embodiment] The fifth embodiment of the present invention is provided as a method for cutting a steel billet. The cutting method of the fifth embodiment comprises the steps of: a computer controlling the transport of a cast and rolled steel billet by a transport unit according to the operation of an operator through an operation unit; a computer controlling an imaging unit to image the steel billet being transported by the transport unit, analyzing the image of the steel billet acquired by the imaging unit to detect the end of the steel billet in the transport direction on the image of the steel billet, calculating the distance from the end of the steel billet at the current position of the steel billet to the cutting position of the steel billet by the cutting unit as the cutting length based on the image of the steel billet, and displaying it on a display unit together with the image of the steel billet; and a computer controlling a cutting unit to cut the steel billet being transported by the transport unit according to the operation of the operator to cut the steel billet. According to the fifth form of the cutting method, the operator can cut the steel billet while confirming the dimensions of the material removed from the billet by the cutting section. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the amount of material removed from the steel billet as non-steady parts for each operator, and thus suppress deterioration of the yield rate of steel products.

[0013] [Sixth Embodiment] The cutting method of the fifth embodiment may further include a step in which, when the position of the steel slab is changed by the conveying unit, the computer updates the cutting length according to the position of the steel slab and displays it on the display unit. According to the sixth form of the cutting method, the operator can adjust the position of the steel piece and cut it while checking the cutting length, which is updated in real time as the steel piece moves, on the display unit. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the part removed from the steel piece by the cutting unit can be further improved.

[0014] [Seventh Embodiment] The cutting method of the fifth or sixth embodiment described above may further include a step in which the computer records the cutting length when the cutting unit cuts the steel billet in a storage unit as actual information indicating the actual dimensions of the portion removed from the steel billet by the cutting unit. According to the cutting method of the seventh aspect, the dimensions of the unsteady portion cut off from the steel slab can be accumulated in the storage unit as the performance information of steel slab cutting. Therefore, based on the performance information, the evaluation and analysis of the steel slab cutting process can be easily performed with high accuracy, and the yield rate of steel products can be more easily improved.

[0015] The present invention can be implemented in various forms other than the steel slab cutting device and cutting method. For example, it can also be implemented in the form of a steel blooming system, a steel blooming method, a control method for a steel slab cutting device, a control method for a blooming system, a management method for the yield rate of steel products, programs for executing these methods, and the like. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the cutting device. [Figure 2] Explanatory diagram showing the flow of the cutting process executed by the cutting device. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing a display example of the display unit during the cutting process. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram for explaining the process of cutting the end portion in multiple steps. [Figure 5] Explanatory diagram showing an example of performance information recorded in the storage unit. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0017] 1. Embodiment: 1-1. Configuration of the cutting device: With reference to Figure 1, the configuration of the cutting device 10 for steel slab MT in the present embodiment will be described.

[0018] The steel billet MT to be cut by the cutting device 10 of this embodiment is formed by performing multiple rolling processes on a cast metal slab, which is a metal block cast by continuous casting or the like. These steel billet MTs include, for example, slabs, blooms, and billets. A slab is a plate-shaped steel billet, a bloom is a prismatic steel billet, and a billet is a smaller prismatic steel billet than a bloom. The cutting device 10 of this embodiment corresponds to a large shearing machine also known as a bloom shear, and targets steel billet MTs that constitute a bloom, which has been formed into a roughly prismatic shape by rolling.

[0019] The cutting device 10 is integrated into the line of the sprucing mill and receives and cuts steel billets MT that have gone through the continuous casting process and the rolling process. The cutting device 10 receives input from the operator and performs a cutting process to cut the steel billets MT according to that input.

[0020] The cutting process of the cutting device 10 is performed to remove from the steel billet MT non-steady parts that do not meet predetermined quality standards, from the steady parts that meet those standards. "Quality standards" refer to standards such as dimensional and morphological standards, or standards for the state of the internal structure.

[0021] The cutting device 10 comprises a control unit 11, an operation unit 15, a transport unit 20, a cutting unit 30, an imaging unit 40, a display unit 42, and a storage unit 45.

[0022] The control unit 11 is comprised of a computer equipped with a central processing unit (CPU) and main memory (RAM). The control unit 11 is connected to each component 15, 20, 30, 40, 42, and 45 of the cutting device 10 via signal lines and performs various functions for controlling the cutting device 10. The control unit 11 is realized when the CPU loads pre-prepared instructions and programs into the RAM and executes them.

[0023] The control unit 11 functions as an image analysis unit 12 that processes and analyzes images acquired from the imaging unit 40. The control unit 11 may also be equipped with a dedicated processor for image processing and image analysis that constitutes the image analysis unit 12. Image processing and image analysis by the image analysis unit 12 will be described later.

[0024] The control unit 15 consists of a console panel with switches, buttons, etc., and receives operations from the operator and transmits them to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the cutting device 10 according to the operator's operations received through the control unit 15.

[0025] In the cutting device 10, the operator can adjust the position of the steel billet MT by operating the conveying unit 20 through the operating unit 15. The operator can also cut the steel billet MT with the cutting unit 30 by operating the operating unit 15.

[0026] The conveying unit 20 is equipped with a plurality of conveying rollers 21 that constitute a conveying path for the steel billet MT. The conveying rollers 21 are driven under the control of the control unit 11. The conveying unit 20 conveys the steel billet MT, which has been cast and rolled by continuous casting, to the cutting unit 30 using the conveying rollers 21. In this embodiment, the conveying direction of the steel billet MT by the conveying unit 20 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the steel billet MT. Furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the steel billet MT coincides with the rolling direction of the steel billet MT.

[0027] Of the transport rollers 21 of the transport unit 20, those positioned around the cutting unit 30 constitute a transport path for adjusting the position of the steel billet MT in the cutting unit 30. The control unit 11 controls the transport rollers 21 that constitute the transport path of the cutting unit 30 according to the operator's operation via the operation unit 15. As a result, the operator can displace the position of the steel billet MT in the cutting unit 30 by operating the operation unit 15, thereby adjusting the cutting position of the steel billet MT by the cutting unit 30.

[0028] The cutting unit 30 cuts the steel billet MT that has been transported by the transport unit 20 along the transport path. In this embodiment, the cutting unit 30 cuts off the transient portion formed at the longitudinal end of the steel billet MT from the transient portion, according to the operator's operation through the operation unit 15. As will be described later, the length to be cut off from the steel billet MT as the transient portion is predetermined for each type of steel billet MT. The operator cuts the steel billet MT with the cutting unit 30, using that length as the target value.

[0029] The cutting section 30 includes a drive mechanism 31, an upper blade 32, and a lower blade 33 as means for cutting steel billet MT. The upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33 are installed so as to sandwich the transport path of the steel billet MT, which is formed by the transport rollers 21 of the transport section 20, from above and below. The upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33 are each configured to be displaceable in the vertical direction by the drive mechanism 31. The drive mechanism 31 includes a motor and a gear mechanism such as a reduction gear connected to the motor, and displaces the upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33 in the vertical direction under the control of the control unit 11. The steel billet MT is cut on the transport path by the application of shearing force in the vertical direction by the upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33.

[0030] The imaging unit 40, under the control of the control unit 11, images the steel slab MT being transported by the transport unit 20. The imaging unit 40 is composed of, for example, a CCD camera. The imaging unit 40 is installed at a predetermined position relative to the cutting position of the cutting unit 30. In this embodiment, the "cutting position of the cutting unit 30" corresponds to the installation positions of the upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33.

[0031] The imaging unit 40 transports the steel slab MT to the cutting unit 30 and images it from a predetermined position at a predetermined magnification, while the slab is positioned on the transport path of the cutting unit 30. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 40 images the side surface of the end of the steel slab MT. The imaging unit 40 transmits a signal representing the image of the captured steel slab MT to the control unit 11.

[0032] The display unit 42 is comprised of, for example, a display device that displays information provided by a computer. The display unit 42 is installed near the operation unit 15 and, under the control of the control unit 11, displays images showing information about the cutting device 10 to the operator operating the operation unit 15.

[0033] The display unit 42 can, for example, display images of the steel slab MT being transported, captured by the imaging unit 40, as a real-time video. The display unit 42 can also display images of the steel slab MT processed by the image analysis unit 12, and the results of the image analysis of the steel slab MT by the image analysis unit 12. The display unit 42 displays the cutting length calculated by the control unit 11, as described later. The operator can control the transport unit 20 to adjust the position of the steel slab MT while checking the image of the steel slab MT and its cutting length displayed on the display unit 42, and cut the steel slab MT with the cutting unit 30 at the target cutting length.

[0034] The memory unit 45 stores information under the control of the control unit 11. The memory unit 45 is composed of a large-capacity storage device that stores information non-volatilely, such as a hard disk (HD) or a solid-state disk (SSD). "Storeing information non-volatilely" means that the information is stored in a way that it can be retained not only temporarily but also after the power supply is cut off. The control unit 11 records performance information PI, which indicates the actual cutting performance of the steel billet MT by the cutting unit 30, in the memory unit 45. The control unit 11 constructs a database in the memory unit 45 for recording the performance information PI. The performance information PI recorded in the memory unit 45 will be described later.

[0035] 1-2. Cutting process: The cutting process performed in the cutting device 10 will be explained with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4 as appropriate. Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the cutting process. Figure 3 schematically shows an example of the display on the display unit 42 during the cutting process. Figure 4 shows the details of the process described later when the end of the steel billet MT is cut in multiple steps.

[0036] When a steel billet MT is formed into a long shape by rolling, as in this embodiment, the transient portion is usually formed at both ends in the rolling direction of the steel billet MT, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the steel billet MT. Therefore, in the cutting process of this embodiment, first, the transient portion at the leading end of the steel billet MT in the transport direction is removed by the process of steps S10 to S70 in Figure 2, which will be described below. After that, in order to remove the transient portion at the rear end of the same steel billet MT, the steel billet MT is moved by the transport unit 20, and then the process of steps S10 to S70 is repeated. The cutting process of the leading end of the steel billet MT will be described below.

[0037] Refer to Figure 2. In step S10, the control unit 11 controls the transport unit 20 to transport the steel slab MT to the cutting unit 30. The steel slab MT is positioned so that the end to be cut can be imaged by the imaging unit 40.

[0038] In addition to Figure 2, the processes of steps S20 to S40 will be explained with reference to Figure 3. In step S20, under the control of the control unit 11, the imaging unit 40 images the steel piece MT on the transport path of the cutting unit 30.

[0039] In step S30, the image analysis unit 12 of the control unit 11 analyzes the image of the steel slab MT acquired from the imaging unit 40 and detects the position of the end of the steel slab MT on the image of the steel slab MT. In step S30, first, the image analysis unit 12 performs image processing to binarize the image of the steel slab MT so that the extraction of the image of the steel slab MT in the image is made easier.

[0040] Figure 3 schematically shows an example of a binarized image of a steel slab MT. The control unit 11 displays the binarized image of the steel slab MT on the display unit 42. The operator may adjust the level of binarization, such as sensitivity and brightness, through the operation unit 15 while viewing the image displayed on the display unit 42. The image analysis unit 12 identifies regions in the binarized image of the steel slab MT that have color information above a predetermined threshold as regions representing the image of the steel slab MT, and detects the position of the end of the image of the steel slab MT in the transport direction as the end position Pt of the steel slab MT.

[0041] In step S40, the control unit 11 calculates the cutting length L based on the image of the steel billet MT, determining the distance from the end position Pt to the cutting position Pc of the cutting section 30 at the current position of the steel billet MT. The "cutting length L" corresponds to the length of the portion that is removed from the steel billet MT when it is cut at the current position.

[0042] As described above, the imaging unit 40 images the steel slab MT on the transport path from a predetermined position relative to the cutting position by the cutting unit 30, so the cutting position Pc on the image of the steel slab MT is known. The control unit 11 calculates the cutting length L using the magnification of the image of the steel slab MT, the resolution of the image of the steel slab MT, and the number of pixels between the end position Pt and the cutting position Pc. The control unit 11 displays the calculated cutting length L together with the image of the steel slab MT on the display unit 42.

[0043] In step S50, the control unit 11 receives operator input through the operation unit 15 and controls the transport unit 20 according to that input to adjust the position of the steel billet MT on the transport path of the cutting unit 30. When the position of the steel billet MT is changed, the control unit 11 calculates the cutting length L corresponding to the change, updates it in real time, and displays it on the display unit 42. The control unit 11 may calculate the current cutting length L using the same process as in steps S30 to S40, or it may calculate the current cutting length L by calculating the amount of change in the cutting length L from the distance the steel billet MT is moved by the transport unit 20.

[0044] The operator adjusts the position of the steel billet MT so that the cutting length L reaches the target value by controlling the transport unit 20 with the operation unit 15 while checking the current cutting length L through the display unit 42. The target value of the cutting length L is a value determined from the length of the non-steady portion to be removed from the steel billet MT, which is predetermined for each type of steel billet MT. The length of the non-steady portion to be removed from the steel billet MT may be determined based on past experience. The length of the non-steady portion to be removed from the steel billet MT is indicated to the operator via a terminal (not shown) when the cutting process is started.

[0045] In step S60, the control unit 11 receives an operator's input through the operation unit 15 and drives the cutting unit 30 according to that input to cut the steel billet MT. As a result, an unsteady portion with a cutting length L is removed from the end of the steel billet MT.

[0046] Thus, in the cutting process of this embodiment, the operator can determine a target value for the cutting length L from the length of the transient portion to be removed from the steel billet MT, which has been instructed in advance, and then perform the cutting of the steel billet MT while confirming the cutting length L on the display unit 42. Therefore, according to the cutting process of this embodiment, variations in the length of the transient portion removed from the steel billet MT by each operator are suppressed.

[0047] In step S70, the control unit 11 records the cutting length L when the steel billet MT is cut by the cutting unit 30 as actual information PI in the storage unit 45, which indicates the actual dimensions of the portion removed from the steel billet MT by the cutting unit 30. As will be described later, this actual record is linked to the steel billet MT that was cut and managed in a database.

[0048] Refer to Figure 4. Figure 4 shows an example of cutting the tip end of the steel billet MT in four separate steps.

[0049] In the cutting device 10, when the length of the non-steady portion to be removed from the steel billet MT is large, the operator can cut the end of the steel billet MT in multiple steps. In this case, as indicated by the dashed arrows in Figure 2, the process from steps S30 to S70 is repeated the number of times the cutting is performed in multiple steps.

[0050] In the second and subsequent loops of steps S30 to S70, in step S30, the position of the cut end face of the steel billet MT is detected as the end position Pt, and in step S40, the cutting length L for the end position Pt is calculated and displayed on the display unit 42. In steps S50 to S60, the operator cuts the steel billet MT to a target cutting length L determined according to the number of cuts, while referring to the cutting length L displayed on the display unit 42. In step S70, the cutting lengths L1, L2, ... for each of the multiple cuts are recorded in the storage unit 45 as actual values ​​of the dimensions of the parts removed from the steel billet MT.

[0051] In the cutting device 10, while the process from steps S30 to S70 is repeated, the operator can check the cutting lengths L1, L2, ... for each cut and their cumulative total on the display unit 42. The operator can perform the cutting with the cutting device 10 while setting a target value for the cutting length L in each cut so that the cumulative total matches the length of the non-stationary portion to be removed. When the last cut is completed, the operator inputs that the cutting is complete to the operation unit 15 and commands the control unit 11 to start the cutting process for the next end to be cut.

[0052] As described above, by cutting the ends of the steel billet MT in multiple stages, it is possible to prevent the amount of steel removed from the steel billet MT in a single cut from becoming too large. This reduces the load required to transport the steel removed from the steel billet MT. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the heating efficiency when melting the removed steel. Therefore, the efficiency of the process for reusing the non-steady portion removed from the steel billet MT can be increased.

[0053] 1-3. Performance information recorded in the memory unit: Referring to Figure 5, the performance information PI recorded in the storage unit 45 by the control unit 11 in step S70 of Figure 2 will be explained.

[0054] As described above, the memory unit 45 records performance information PI, which indicates the cutting performance, each time the cutting device 10 cuts a steel billet MT. In the database of the memory unit 45, identification information for identifying each steel billet MT and the performance information PI for that steel billet MT are linked and managed together.

[0055] The non-steady portions are cut off at the leading and trailing ends of the steel billet MT in the transport direction. The memory unit 45 records the actual values ​​at the leading and trailing ends of the steel billet MT. The number of cuts n and m for the leading and trailing ends of the steel billet MT are also recorded. n and m are natural numbers greater than or equal to 1.

[0056] If the transient portion at the end of the steel billet MT is cut in a single cut, only the length L of each cut at each end is recorded. If the transient portion at the end of the steel billet MT is cut in multiple steps, the lengths L1, L2, ..., L of each cut at the leading and trailing ends of the steel billet MT are recorded. n-1 ,L n , L1, L2, ..., L m-1 ,L m This is recorded. Also, the cutting lengths L1, L2, ..., L for each cut are recorded. n-1 ,L n , L1, L2, ..., L m-1 ,L m The cumulative total is also recorded.

[0057] 1-4. Summary: As described above, with the cutting device 10 of this embodiment, the operator can cut the steel billet MT after confirming the cutting length L using the display unit 42. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the dimensions of the portion removed from the steel billet MT as a non-steady portion for each operator, and to suppress deterioration of the yield rate of steel products.

[0058] In the cutting device 10 of this embodiment, when the operator controls the transport unit 20 to adjust the position of the steel slab MT on the transport path of the cutting unit 30, the cutting length L is updated in real time according to the movement of the steel slab MT and displayed on the display unit 42. This allows the operator to adjust the position of the steel slab MT and cut the steel slab MT while checking the cutting length L. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the portion removed from the steel slab MT by the cutting unit 30 can be further improved.

[0059] In the cutting device 10 of this embodiment, the memory unit 45 records the actual cutting information PI of the steel billet MT, so that the actual performance of the steel billet MT cutting process in the steel product manufacturing process can be accurately evaluated and analyzed. By using the evaluation and analysis results, the steel billet MT cutting process can be easily improved, making it even easier to improve the yield rate of steel products.

[0060] In the cutting device 10 of this embodiment, if the non-steady portion at the end of the steel billet MT is cut in multiple steps, the cutting lengths L1, L2, ... are recorded in the storage unit 45 for each cut. Therefore, in the manufacturing process of steel products, the amount of steel removed from the steel billet MT can be controlled with greater precision, and the yield rate of steel products can be improved more easily.

[0061] 2. Other embodiments: The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, and can also be realized in the following forms, for example. Any configuration described herein as other embodiments is, like the embodiments described above, positioned as an example of a form for carrying out the present invention.

[0062] 2-1. Other Embodiment 1: In the above embodiment, the steel billet MT to be cut by the cutting device 10 is not limited to those constituting a bloom. In other embodiments, the steel billet MT may be a slab or billet other than a bloom, or may be a steel material of another shape. The steel billet MT does not have to have a long rectangular prism shape.

[0063] 2-2. Other Embodiments 2: In the above embodiment, the cutting section 30 may cut the steel billet MT by cutting means other than the upper blade 32 and the lower blade 33. The cutting section 30 may be configured to cut the steel billet MT by, for example, a gas laser.

[0064] 2-3. Other Embodiments 3: In the above embodiment, the cutting device 10 may be configured as a cutting system for steel billet MTs that is linked to a terminal that instructs the operator on the length of the non-steady portion to be cut off from the steel billet MT, which is predetermined for each type of steel billet MT. The control unit 11 of the cutting device 10 may have the function of the terminal and be capable of displaying on the display unit 42 the length of the non-steady portion to be cut off from the steel billet MT, which is predetermined for each type of steel billet MT. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 10...Cutting device, 11...Control unit, 12...Image analysis unit, 15...Operation unit, 20...Conveying unit, 21...Conveying roller, 30...Cutting unit, 31...Drive mechanism, 32...Upper blade, 33...Lower blade, 40...Imaging unit, 42...Display unit, 45...Storage unit, PI...Performance information, L...Cutting length, MT...Steel slab, Pc...Cutting position, Pt...End position

Claims

1. A conveying section for transporting cast and rolled steel billets, The conveying section includes a cutting section for cutting the steel piece being conveyed, An operating unit that receives operations from an operator to control the transport unit and the cutting unit, An imaging unit for imaging the steel slab being transported in the transport unit, A display unit that displays to the operator the image of the steel slab acquired by the imaging unit and information for cutting the steel slab, A control unit analyzes an image of the steel slab to detect the end of the steel slab in the transport direction on the image of the steel slab, calculates the distance from the current position of the end to the cutting position of the steel slab by the cutting unit as the cutting length based on the image of the steel slab, and displays it on the display unit. A cutting device equipped with the following features.

2. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the position of the steel slab is changed by the transport unit, the control unit updates the cutting length according to the position of the steel slab and displays it on the display unit.

3. The system further includes a storage unit that stores information under the control of the control unit, The cutting device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cutting length when the cutting unit cuts the steel billet by the operation of the operator is recorded in the storage unit as actual information indicating the actual dimensions of the portion removed from the steel billet by the cutting unit.

4. The cutting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the end of one steel piece is cut by the cutting unit in multiple steps, the control unit records the length of the portion removed from the steel piece in the storage unit each time the cutting unit cuts the end of the steel piece, and records the total length of the removed portions as the length of the non-steady portion removed from the steel piece.

5. A process in which a computer controls the transport of cast and rolled steel billets by a transport unit according to the operator's instructions via a control unit, The computer controls the imaging unit to image the steel slab being transported by the transport unit, analyzes the image of the steel slab acquired by the imaging unit to detect the end of the steel slab in the transport direction on the image of the steel slab, calculates the distance from the end of the steel slab at its current position to the cutting position of the steel slab by the cutting unit as the cutting length based on the image of the steel slab, and displays this length on the display unit along with the image of the steel slab. A computer controls a cutting unit to cut the steel piece being transported by the transport unit, in accordance with the operation of the operator, and cuts the steel piece. A method for cutting steel billets, comprising the following:

6. The cutting method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of a computer updating the cutting length according to the position of the steel slab and displaying it on the display unit when the position of the steel slab is changed by the transport unit.

7. The cutting method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising the step of a computer recording in a storage unit the cutting length when the cutting unit cuts the steel billet as actual information indicating the actual dimensions of the portion removed from the steel billet by the cutting unit.

Images