Cold rolling mill with dynamic target shape control

Abstract

A cold rolling mill (100) for a metal substrate (102), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, may include a control system (108) for controlling the flatness of the metal substrate (102). The control system (108) may dynamically change a target flatness, which is compared to the actual flatness, throughout the rolling process of the metal substrate (102), and may control one or more flatness control actuators (118) based on the difference between the actual flatness and the target flatness. A method of rolling a metal substrate (102) in a cold rolling mill includes providing a target flatness and dynamically changing the target flatness during the rolling of the metal substrate (102).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 580,584 entitled "COLD ROLLING MILL WITH DYNAMIC TARGET SHAPE CONTROL" filed on September 5, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the processing of metal substrates, including but not limited to metal sheets of aluminum or aluminum alloys, and more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling the flatness of metal substrates.

Background Art

[0003] Metal rolling can be used to form metal strips (e.g., plates, sheets, foils, slabs, etc.) (hereinafter referred to as "metal substrates") from metal materials such as ingots or thicker metal strips. Depending on the desired properties of the final metal product, the metal substrate may be hot rolled, cold rolled, and / or warm rolled. Hot rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal exceeds the recrystallization temperature of the metal. Cold rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal is lower than the recrystallization temperature of the metal. Warm rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal is below the recrystallization temperature and higher than the temperature during cold rolling.

[0004] The flatness of a metal substrate refers to its ability to lie flat when placed on a horizontal surface and without external force applied. Deviations from flatness, also known as flatness deviations, can take various forms in metal substrates, such as edge waves, center waves, and / or buckling, and can cause problems in productivity, material handling, downstream processing, and / or customer processing. As a non-limiting example, metal substrates with flatness deviations may be difficult to process at high speeds, and their shape defects may cause strip breakage or other problems that reduce the productivity of the rolling mill and / or the entire process. Metal substrates with flatness deviations can also cause various problems in handling the metal substrate, such as poor coil winding, meandering problems, centering in the rolling mill, difficulties in trimming and / or slitting, and / or poor feed of the metal substrate, etc. [Overview of the project]

[0005] The embodiments covered by this patent are defined not by the summary of this invention, but by the claims set forth below. The summary of this invention is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts further described in the section on embodiments for carrying out the invention below. This summary is not intended to identify any important or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by referring to the entire specification of this patent, any or all of the drawings, and the appropriate parts of each claim.

[0006] According to a particular embodiment, the cold rolling mill includes a flatness control actuator for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate on a workbench, and a controller communicably coupled to the flatness control actuator. The controller can control the flatness control actuator to provide a target flatness that is dynamically changed based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate, and to control the flatness of the metal substrate based on the dynamically changed target flatness.

[0007] According to some embodiments, a rolling mill for a metal substrate includes a control system having a sensor for measuring the flatness of the metal substrate and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller may receive the measured flatness from the sensor and compare the measured flatness with a target flatness, and the controller may dynamically change the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate. The controller may generate a control response for the flatness control actuator of the rolling mill based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness.

[0008] According to some embodiments, a method for rolling a metal substrate in a cold rolling mill includes providing a target flatness, dynamically changing the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate, receiving a measured flatness of the metal substrate, comparing the measured flatness with a target flatness, and controlling a flatness control actuator based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness.

[0009] The various embodiments described herein may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which are not necessarily expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. All such systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be contained within this disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

[0010] This specification refers to the following attached drawings, where the same reference number is used in different drawings, it is intended to indicate similar or identical components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This shows a rolling system equipped with a flatness control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows dynamic target flatness control using the flatness control system, and a comparison between the rolling acceleration phase and the rolling regime phase according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows dynamic target flatness control using the flatness control system, and a comparison between the deceleration phase and the regime phase of rolling according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure illustrates a process for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate using the rolling system shown in Figure 1 according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] This specification describes flatness control systems and methods for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate during rolling. Rolling systems may include, but are not limited to, hot rolling mills, cold rolling mills, and warm rolling mills. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may be particularly useful in cold rolling mills. Thus, although the following description refers to cold rolling mills, the embodiments described herein may also be used with hot rolling mills and warm rolling mills, and are not limited to rolling systems, but may be used in various other types of metal processing systems as needed. Compared to conventional flatness control approaches that utilize a static or fixed target flatness during the rolling process, the flatness control systems described herein dynamically change and / or control the target flatness of the metal substrate during the rolling process. Dynamically changing the target flatness during the rolling process of a metal substrate corresponds to various physical phenomena due to differences between various rolling stages, such as the acceleration phase, the regime (or steady state) phase, and the deceleration phase. This provides a rolled metal substrate with improved flatness control and a process that achieves improved material recovery (or conversely, reduced waste) and increased productivity. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized by the systems and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.

[0013] Figure 1 shows an example of a rolling system 100 for a metal substrate 102 according to an embodiment. In various embodiments, the metal substrate 102 may include, but is not limited to, various metals as needed, such as aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, or other desired metals. In some examples, the metal substrate 102 may be aluminum, or aluminum alloys of the 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, and 8xxx series, and / or any other aluminum or aluminum alloy. The rolling system 100 may include a rolling mill 104 having at least one workbench 106 and a flatness control system 108.

[0014] In the example shown in Figure 1, the rolling mill 104 is a cold rolling mill, but in other examples, the rolling mill 104 may be a warm rolling mill and / or a hot rolling mill as desired. The rolling mill 104 may have any number of workbenches 106 as desired. Thus, two workbenches 106A-B are shown in Figure 1, but in other examples, the rolling mill 104 may include a single workbench 106, or multiple workbenches 106, for example, two workbenches 106, three workbenches 106, four workbenches 106, or any other desired number of workbenches 106.

[0015] Each workbench 106 includes a pair of vertically aligned work rolls 112A-B. In the example in Figure 1, each workbench 106A-B also includes backup rolls 114A-B that support the work rolls 112A-B. In other examples, the workbench 106A-B may also have intermediate rolls. A roll gap 116 of each workbench 106 is defined between the work rolls 112A-B, and a metal substrate 102, such as an aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet, passes through the roll gap 116 in the processing direction (indicated by arrow 110) along the pass line.

[0016] In certain embodiments, one or more of the workbenches 106 include one or more flatness control actuators 118. The one or more flatness control actuators 118 may be various devices, mechanisms, and / or systems for controlling the flatness of the metal substrate 102 by controlling one or more properties of the work rolls 112A-B. Non-limiting examples of the flatness control actuators 118 include work roll bending actuators, work roll tilt actuators, and coolant or temperature actuators. In certain embodiments, a work roll bending actuator may be used to control the roll bending force and control the symmetrical shape of the metal substrate 102. A work roll tilt actuator may be used to control the tilt of the work roll (e.g., the tilt of the metal substrate 102 in the width direction) and control the asymmetrical shape of the metal substrate 102. In certain embodiments, the one or more flatness control actuators 118 may be at least one mechanical actuator, but this is not required in other embodiments. Other flatness control actuators 118 or mechanisms for influencing the shape of the roll gap 116 may be used as desired.

[0017] The flatness control system 108 may include one or more flatness sensors 120 and a controller 122.

[0018] One or more flatness sensors 120 can be various devices for measuring the flatness of the metal substrate 102. The location, type, and number of flatness sensors 120 should not be considered limiting. In the example shown, the flatness sensor 120 is a shape measuring roll or a multi-zone flatness measuring roll, but in other embodiments, the flatness sensor 120 may be other types of flatness measuring rolls, another sensor that measures flatness via contact, and / or other sensors that measure flatness without contact with the metal substrate 102. As a non-limiting example, in other embodiments, the flatness control system 108 additionally or alternatively includes an optical sensor and / or a camera for measuring the flatness of the metal substrate 102.

[0019] The controller 122 may include a computer system and / or one or more processing units and / or one or more memory devices. The processing units may include, but are not limited to, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors, digital signal processing devices, programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays, processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, other electronic units, and / or combinations thereof, and may also include a variety of suitable processing devices or combinations of devices. The one or more memory devices may include, but are not limited to, any type of long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile, or other storage medium, and may be any machine-readable medium accessible by the processor, and may not be limited to any particular type or number of memories or the type of medium in which the memory is stored. Furthermore, as disclosed herein, the terms “storage medium,” “storage,” or “memory” may refer to one or more memories for storing data, including read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage medium, optical storage medium, flash memory devices, and / or other machine-readable medium for storing information. The term “machine-readable media” includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and / or various other storage media capable of storing or transmitting instructions and / or data.

[0020] The controller 122 may be located at various positions within the rolling system 100. Although the flatness sensor 120 and the flatness control actuator 118 are shown separately, in some embodiments the controller 122 (or its subcomponents, e.g., one or more processing units and / or one or more memory devices) may be components of the flatness sensor 120 and / or the flatness control actuator 118.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the controller 122 may optionally include an associated user interface, including but not limited to a graphical user interface or a human-machine interface, thereby enabling the controller 122 to obtain information from and / or provide information to the user. In such embodiments, the user interface and / or human-machine interface may be located on the controller 122 itself, or in a location away from the controller 122, such as a user device, a dedicated user interface device, an operation control center located away from the rolling system 100, a combination thereof, and / or other desired location.

[0022] The controller 122 may be communicatively coupled to the flatness sensor 120 and the flatness control actuator 118. The controller 122 may be communicatively coupled to various other components of the rolling system 100, including, but not limited to, components that control the rolling speed, components that control the tension of the metal substrate, combinations thereof, and / or other components as desired. In various embodiments, as will be described in detail below, the controller 122 may generate control signals for controlling one or more flatness control actuators 118 based at least in part on data relating to the flatness of the metal substrate 102 from the flatness sensor 120.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the controller 122 may receive and / or determine an initial target flatness of the metal substrate 102. The target flatness of the metal substrate 102 is generally the shape or profile of the metal substrate 102 across the entire width of the metal substrate 102. The initial target flatness may be determined based on various control parameters including, but not limited to, the type of rolling process, the type of alloy, the exit thickness of the metal substrate, the reduction ratio of the metal substrate, combinations thereof, and / or other parameters as required. Throughout the rolling process, the controller 122 may compare the actual or measured flatness from the flatness sensor 120 with the target flatness, and may generate control signals for controlling one or more flatness control actuators 118 based on the difference between the actual flatness and the target flatness. By way of non-limiting example, the controller 122 may generate control signals for controlling work roll tilting actuators, work roll bending actuators, and / or temperature control actuators based on the difference between the actual flatness and the target flatness.

[0024] Conventionally, the target flatness was statically maintained during the rolling process, but the controller 122 may dynamically change and / or control the target flatness throughout the rolling process. The controller 122 may, as desired, dynamically change and / or control the target flatness based on a variety of parameters, including but not limited to, the type of rolling process, the type of alloy, the exit thickness of the metal substrate, the reduction ratio of the metal substrate, the rolling stage, the rolling speed, combinations thereof, and / or other parameters. As a non-limiting example, the controller 122 may adjust and / or control the target flatness of the metal substrate 102 based on the rolling stage (e.g., acceleration stage, regime or steady-state stage, or deceleration stage), and the target flatness in one stage (e.g., acceleration) may differ from the target flatness in another stage (e.g., regime). Dynamically controlling the target flatness may accommodate the different physical phenomena that the metal substrate 102 undergoes in various stages, thereby providing a metal substrate 102 with improved flatness and a process with improved recovery rate and productivity. In some embodiments, the controller 122 dynamically controls the target flatness during the rolling process such that the target shape during the acceleration phase is different from the target shape during the regime phase and optionally different from the target shape during the deceleration phase. Similarly, the controller 122 may dynamically control the target flatness such that the target shape during the deceleration phase is different from the target shape during the regime phase and optionally different from the target shape during the acceleration phase.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 show an unspecified example of dynamic control of the target flatness by the controller 122 according to the embodiment. In Figures 2 and 3, the same dynamically controlled target flatness is represented in the target map 201, where the x-axis is time and the y-axis is the distance from the first edge of the metal substrate 102. The red areas in the target map 201 represent compensation by the flatness control actuator 118 to loosen the portion of the metal substrate, and the blue areas represent compensation by the flatness control actuator 118 to tighten the portion of the metal substrate.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an acceleration target profile 203 at time 205 during the acceleration phase of rolling compared to a regime target profile 207 at time 209 during the regime phase of rolling. The regime target profile 207 generally has a positive (or "washboard") profile contour, whereas the acceleration target profile 203 is a modified negative (or "smile") profile contour. As shown by comparing the acceleration target profile 203 to the regime target profile 207, the acceleration target profile 203 looses the center and tightens the edges of the metal substrate 102 more than the regime target profile 207. In various embodiments, the adjusted acceleration target profile 203 may facilitate bending of the metal substrate 102 into a desired profile (e.g., a positive profile contour), and may reduce the time required for acceleration ramp-up.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a deceleration target profile 211 at time 213 during the deceleration phase of rolling compared to a regime target profile 215 at time 217 during the regime phase of rolling. The regime target profile 215 is similar to regime target profile 207, and generally has a positive (or "washboard") profile contour, with the deceleration target profile 211 being closer to a negative profile contour than the regime target profile 215 (or a "modified washboard" for convenience of description). As shown by comparing deceleration target profile 211 to regime target profile 215, deceleration target profile 211 looses the center and tightens the edges of metal substrate 102 more than regime target profile 215, which may facilitate bending metal substrate 102 into a desired positive profile.

[0028] As generally represented by target map 201, the target contour is dynamically controlled and adjusted over the course of rolling. Although target map 201 shows a target contour that changes from a modified negative profile contour to a positive profile contour and then to a modified washboard profile contour, this target contour should not be considered limiting. In other examples, controller 122 may dynamically control the target profile over the course of rolling as needed, based on the aforementioned parameters including, but not limited to, process type, alloy type, exit thickness, desired reduction ratio, rolling speed, and the like.

[0029] Figure 4 shows an example of a process for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate 102 using a rolling system 100. This method may be performed at least partially by a controller 122, and in some embodiments, the entire process may be performed by the controller 122.

[0030] In block 402, the method includes receiving or determining an initial target flatness. Block 402 may be based on a variety of parameters, but not limited to, the type of rolling process, the type of alloy, the exit thickness of the metal substrate, the reduction ratio of the metal substrate, combinations thereof, and / or other parameters as desired. In various embodiments, the user may provide an initial target flatness, and / or the controller 122 may determine the target flatness.

[0031] In block 404, the method includes dynamic control of target flatness. The dynamic control of target flatness may be based on a variety of parameters, including, but not limited to, the type of rolling process, the type of alloy, the exit thickness of the metal substrate, the reduction ratio of the metal substrate, the rolling stage, the rolling speed, combinations thereof, and / or other parameters, as desired. In a non-limiting example, block 404 may include adjusting and / or controlling the target flatness of the metal substrate 102 based on the rolling stage (e.g., an acceleration stage, a regime stage or a steady-state stage, and / or a deceleration stage). In some embodiments, the dynamic control of target flatness may be based on data from one or more system sensors measuring one or more properties of the rolling system 100 and / or the metal substrate 102, but is not required in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the data from one or more system sensors may correspond to different stages of rolling, and the data may be used to determine the rolling stage. In a non-limiting example, the system sensors may measure the rolling speed, temperature, and / or other information that may correspond to the rolling stage.

[0032] In some embodiments, block 404 includes dynamically controlling the target flatness by adjusting the target flatness such that the target flatness during one stage of rolling (e.g., the acceleration stage) may differ from the target flatness during other stages of rolling (e.g., the regime stage and / or deceleration stage). In some examples, block 404 optionally includes providing a static target flatness during one stage of rolling and dynamically changing the target flatness during another stage of rolling. In a non-limiting example, block 404 may include providing a static target flatness during the regime stage of rolling and providing a target flatness to be changed during the acceleration stage and / or deceleration stage. In a non-limiting example, block 404 may include controlling the target flatness such that the target flatness is positive during one stage and negative during another stage.

[0033] In block 406, the method includes receiving the measured flatness of a metal substrate 102 using one or more flatness sensors 120. In certain embodiments, block 406 optionally includes receiving the measured flatness from one or more optical sensors, shape measuring rolls, and / or other flatness sensors 120.

[0034] In block 408, the method includes determining the error or difference between the measured flatness received in block 406 and the dynamically controlled target flatness from block 404.

[0035] Based on the measured flatness being within the tolerance range of the target flatness, the method may proceed to block 410, and based on the continuation of the rolling process, the process returns to block 404. The tolerance range for block 408 may be provided by the user and / or determined by the controller 122 according to the type of process, type of alloy, exit thickness, desired reduction ratio, and / or other preferences.

[0036] In various embodiments, based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness being outside the acceptable range, block 412 includes determining a control response for one or more flatness control actuators 118. In certain embodiments, block 412 may include determining a control response for one or more of the work roll bending actuator, the work roll tilt actuator, and / or the coolant or temperature actuator. In various embodiments, block 412 may include determining a control response based on the type of error determined in block 408. As a non-limiting example, a symmetric error or difference identified in block 408 may result in block 412 determining a control response for the work roll bending actuator and / or other symmetric flatness actuators, while an asymmetric error or difference in block 408 may result in block 412 determining a control response for the work roll tilt actuator and / or other asymmetric flatness actuators. In some embodiments, block 412 may include determining a control response to address both symmetric and asymmetric errors. Non-limiting examples of control responses to one or more flatness control actuators 118 may include increasing the bending force, decreasing the bending force, increasing the tilt of the work roll to the first side, increasing the tilt of the work roll to the second side, combinations thereof, and / or other control responses as needed.

[0037] In block 414, the controller 122 may generate control signals to control one or more flatness control actuators 118 based on the control response determined from block 412, thereby correcting the flatness of the metal substrate 102 so that the measured flatness is within the acceptable range of the target flatness.

[0038] The above method is for illustrative purposes only, and various other operations and / or combinations of operations relating to controlling the flatness of the material head area of ​​the metal substrate may be performed as desired.

[0039] A set of exemplary embodiments is provided below, including at least some expressly listed as “exemplary” to provide a further description of various exemplary embodiments of the concepts described herein. These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or limiting, and this disclosure is not limited to these examples but rather encompasses all feasible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

[0040] Example 1. A cold rolling mill comprising: a flatness control actuator for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate on the workbench of the cold rolling mill; and a controller communicatively coupled to the flatness control actuator, the controller being configured to control the flatness control actuator to provide a target flatness that is dynamically changed based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate, and to control the flatness of the metal substrate based on the dynamically changed target flatness.

[0041] Example 2. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the flatness control actuator includes at least one of a roll bending actuator, a roll tilting actuator, or a coolant actuator.

[0042] Example 3. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically control the target flatness based on whether the cold rolling mill is in the rolling acceleration phase, the rolling regime phase, or the rolling deceleration phase.

[0043] Example 4. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the rolling acceleration phase is different from the target flatness during the rolling regime phase.

[0044] Example 5. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based on the type of cold rolling process, the type of metal of the metal substrate, and / or the exit thickness of the metal substrate.

[0045] Example 6. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness so that the target flatness becomes static during the regime phase of the rolling process.

[0046] Example 7. A cold rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, further comprising a system sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the system sensor measures at least one characteristic of the rolling mill corresponding to the rolling stage, and the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based at least in part on information from the system sensor.

[0047] Example 8. A rolling mill for a metal substrate, wherein the rolling mill includes a control system, the control system including a sensor for measuring the flatness of the metal substrate, and a controller which is communicably coupled to the sensor and receives the flatness measured from the sensor, compares the measured flatness with a target flatness, and the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate, and to generate a control response for the flatness control actuator of the rolling mill based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness.

[0048] Example 9. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, further comprising a workbench including at least one work roll for rolling the metal substrate, and a flatness control actuator for controlling the at least one work roll to control the flatness of the metal substrate.

[0049] Example 10. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the flatness control actuator includes at least one of the following: a roll bending actuator for controlling the bending of the at least one work roll; a roll tilt actuator for controlling the tilt of the at least one work roll; or a coolant actuator for controlling the application of coolant to the at least one work roll.

[0050] Example 11. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or any combination thereof, further comprising a system sensor communicably coupled to the controller, wherein the system sensor measures at least one characteristic of the rolling mill corresponding to the rolling stage, and the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based at least in part on information from the system sensor.

[0051] Example 12. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically control the target flatness so that the metal substrate has a plurality of shapes during rolling.

[0052] Example 13. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the acceleration phase of rolling is different from the target flatness during the regime phase of rolling.

[0053] Example 14. A rolling mill according to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the acceleration phase of rolling is different from the target flatness during the deceleration phase of rolling.

[0054] Example 15. A method for rolling a metal substrate in a cold rolling mill, comprising: providing a target flatness; dynamically changing the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate; receiving a measured flatness of the metal substrate; comparing the measured flatness with the target flatness; and controlling a flatness control actuator based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness.

[0055] Example 16. A method relating to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness provides a target flatness during the acceleration phase of rolling that is different from the target flatness during the deceleration phase of rolling.

[0056] Example 17. A method of any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness provides a static target flatness during a rolling regime stage.

[0057] Example 18. A method of any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, comprising dynamically changing the target flatness to provide a target flatness during the acceleration phase of rolling and a target flatness during the deceleration phase of rolling that is different from the target flatness during the regime phase of rolling.

[0058] Example 19. A method relating to any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein controlling the flatness control actuator includes dynamically controlling the inclination of the work roll or the bending force of the work roll during at least one of the acceleration phase of rolling or the deceleration phase of rolling.

[0059] Example 20. A method of any of the examples described above or below, or a combination of the examples, wherein the method includes dynamically changing the target flatness to provide a negative target flatness during at least one stage of rolling and a positive target flatness during another stage of rolling.

[0060] As used herein, the terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “this present invention” are intended to broadly refer to the subject matter of this patent application and all of the following claims. It should be understood that any statements containing these terms do not limit the subject matter described herein, or the meaning or scope of the following claims.

[0061] This description refers to alloys identified by AA numbers and other related symbols, such as "System" or "5xxx." For an understanding of the most commonly used numbering system for naming and identifying aluminum and its alloys, please refer to "International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys" or "Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot" (both published by the Aluminum Association).

[0062] As used in this disclosure, the meanings of “a,” “an,” and “the” include singular and plural references, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0063] The subject matter of embodiments of this disclosure is described herein using specifics to satisfy statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be construed as implying any particular order or arrangement in or between the various steps or elements, except when the order of individual steps or the arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “upper side,” “lower side,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “sideways,” “vertical,” “front,” and “back” are intended, among other things, to refer to the orientation shown and described in one (or more) figures to which the components and directions refer.

[0064] The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” should be interpreted as open-ended terms (i.e., “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise stated herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any preferred order unless otherwise indicated herein or unless the context more clearly contradicts it. Any and all examples or illustrative expressions (e.g., “etc.”) provided herein are intended solely to better illustrate embodiments of the invention and, unless otherwise asserted, do not limit the scope of the invention. No expression herein should be interpreted as indicating that an unclaimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.

[0065] The embodiments described above are merely possible examples of embodiments and are described solely to provide a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments(s) described above without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of this disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be incorporated herein within the scope of this disclosure, and all possible claims for individual embodiments or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by this disclosure. Furthermore, certain terms are used herein and in the following claims, but they are used in a general and descriptive sense only and are not intended to limit the embodiments described or the following claims.

Claims

1. A cold rolling mill having the following: A flatness control actuator for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate on the workbench of the cold rolling mill, and A controller that is communicatively coupled to the flatness control actuator, Here, the controller is During the rolling of the metal substrate, a target flatness is provided that is dynamically changed based on the rolling stage, and The flatness control actuator is configured to control the flatness of the metal substrate based on the dynamically changing target flatness.

2. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, wherein the flatness control actuator includes at least one of a roll bending actuator, a roll tilt actuator, or a coolant actuator.

3. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically control the target flatness based on whether the cold rolling mill is in the rolling acceleration phase, the rolling regime phase, or the rolling deceleration phase.

4. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the rolling acceleration phase is different from the target flatness during the rolling regime phase.

5. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based on the type of cold rolling process, the type of metal of the metal substrate, and / or the exit thickness of the metal substrate.

6. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness so that the target flatness becomes static during the regime phase of the rolling process.

7. The cold rolling mill according to claim 1, further comprising a system sensor communicably coupled to the controller, the system sensor measuring at least one characteristic of the cold rolling mill corresponding to the rolling stage, and the controller configured to dynamically change the target flatness based at least in part on information from the system sensor.

8. A rolling mill for metal substrates having a control system having the following: A sensor for measuring the flatness of the metal substrate, A controller that is communicatively coupled to the aforementioned sensor, The flatness measured from the aforementioned sensor is received, The measured flatness is compared with the target flatness, and here the controller dynamically changes the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate. Based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness, a control response is generated for the flatness control actuator of the rolling mill. A controller configured in such a way.

9. A workbench including at least one work roll for rolling the metal substrate, The rolling mill according to claim 8, further comprising a flatness control actuator for controlling the at least one work roll to control the flatness of the metal substrate.

10. The rolling mill according to claim 9, wherein the flatness control actuator includes at least one of the following: a roll bending actuator for controlling the bending of the at least one work roll; a roll tilt actuator for controlling the tilt of the at least one work roll; or a coolant actuator for controlling the application of coolant to the at least one work roll.

11. The rolling mill according to claim 8, further comprising a system sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the system sensor measures at least one characteristic of the rolling mill corresponding to the rolling stage, and the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness based at least in part on information from the system sensor.

12. The rolling mill according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically control the target flatness so that the metal substrate has a plurality of shapes during rolling.

13. The rolling mill according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the rolling acceleration phase is different from the target flatness during the rolling regime phase.

14. The rolling mill according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically change the target flatness such that the target flatness during the rolling acceleration phase is different from the target flatness during the rolling deceleration phase.

15. Methods for rolling metal substrates in a cold rolling mill, including the following: To provide a target flatness and to dynamically change the target flatness based on the rolling stage during the rolling of the metal substrate, To receive the measured flatness of a metal substrate, The measured flatness is compared with the target flatness, and The flatness control actuator is controlled based on the difference between the measured flatness and the target flatness.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness provides a target flatness during the rolling acceleration phase that is different from the target flatness during the rolling deceleration phase.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness provides a static target flatness during the rolling regime stage.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness provides a target flatness during the acceleration phase of rolling and a target flatness during the deceleration phase of rolling that are different from the target flatness during the regime phase of rolling.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein controlling the flatness control actuator includes dynamically controlling the inclination of the work roll or the bending force of the work roll during at least one of the acceleration phase or deceleration phase of rolling.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein dynamically changing the target flatness includes providing a negative target flatness during at least one stage of rolling and providing a positive target flatness during another stage of rolling.

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