Control device, control unit, side guide device, rolling equipment and control method

Abstract

This control device is for controlling a side guide device for guiding a metal belt conveyed along a conveyance line, the side guide device comprising a pair of guide parts provided on both sides of the conveyance line as well as a drive unit for moving the pair of guide parts along a width direction of the metal belt. The control device comprises a control unit configured to supply a command signal to the drive unit. The control unit is configured to supply, to the drive unit, a first command signal for moving the pair of guide parts while maintaining the distance in the width direction between the pair of guide parts so that said distance is wider than the width of the metal belt. The pair of guide parts are moved reciprocatingly along the width direction, in a region outside the range of extension of the metal belt in the width direction, the region being defined when the center of the metal belt matches the center of the conveyance line.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device, a control unit, a side guide device, a rolling facility, and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In facilities for processing metal strips, such as rolling mills, side guides are used to guide the metal strip being transported.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a control method for side guides provided between a rolling mill and a down coiler. In this control method, when the leading edge of a strip enters the side guides, the gap between the side guides is narrowed from a standby state to a first gap, and then, when the leading edge of the strip is caught in the pinch rolls just before the down coiler, the gap between the side guides is narrowed from the first gap to a second gap. This allows the strip to pass through the side guides smoothly and eliminates telescoping that may occur in the coil being wound around the down coil. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-264110 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the metal strip is thin, it is likely to buckle when it comes into contact with the side guide, and if buckling occurs, the metal strip will not be able to pass properly downstream of the side guide in the conveying direction of the metal strip.

[0006] In this regard, when handling a relatively thin metal strip in cold rolling or the like, it is common for an operator to manually adjust the position of the side guides so that the center of the metal strip aligns with the center of the conveying line so that the metal strip does not come into contact with the side guides. However, in this case, for the safety of operators working near the conveying line, it is necessary to stop the conveying of the metal strip when adjusting the position of the side guides, which results in a long time required for threading the metal strip. Alternatively, it is possible to use a control device to adjust the position of the side guides in accordance with the position of the strip edge in the width direction of the metal strip while the metal strip is being conveyed so that the metal strip does not come into contact with the side guides. However, this requires precise control, which makes the device configuration complex.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a control device, a control unit, a side guide device, a rolling facility, and a control method that are simple in configuration and capable of centering even a relatively thin metal strip while transporting it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A control device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: A control device for controlling a side guide device for guiding a metal strip transported along a transport line, The side guide device a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; Including, a control unit configured to provide a command signal to the drive unit; The control unit is configured to provide the drive unit with a first command signal to cause the pair of guide portions to reciprocate along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned, while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide portions in the width direction wider than the width of the metal strip.

[0009] Moreover, the control unit according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a guide portion position detection portion for detecting the position of at least one of the pair of guide portions in the width direction; the control device described above configured to generate the first command signal based on the position detected by the guide portion position detection unit; Equipped with.

[0010] Moreover, the side guide device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; the control device described above configured to provide the first command signal to the driver; Equipped with.

[0011] Further, the rolling equipment according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: a rolling mill for rolling the metal strip conveyed along the conveying line; the aforementioned side guide device configured to guide the metal strip; Equipped with.

[0012] In addition, a control method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: 1. A control method for controlling a side guide device for guiding a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line, comprising: The side guide device a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; Including, While maintaining the distance between the pair of guide portions in the width direction wider than the width of the metal strip, the pair of guide portions are moved back and forth along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a control device, control unit, side guide device, rolling equipment, and control method that are simple in configuration and capable of centering even relatively thin metal strips while transporting them. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rolling facility to which a control device according to an embodiment is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the rolling equipment shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a drive unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is an example of a flowchart of a control method for a side guide device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are schematic time-series diagrams illustrating the movement of a guide unit when a control method according to an embodiment is performed. [Figure 7] 10 is a graph showing the change over time in the position of the guide portion in the width direction when a control method according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 8] 10 is a graph showing the change over time in the position of the guide portion in the width direction when a control method according to an embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0016] (Configuration of rolling equipment and side guide device) Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rolling facility to which a control device according to one embodiment is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the rolling facility shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the rolling facility 100 includes a rolling mill 2 for rolling a metal strip S transported along a transport line, and a side guide device 20 configured to guide the movement of the metal strip S along the transport line. Note that the symbol St in Figs. 1 and 2 indicates the leading end of the metal strip S, and the symbol CL in Fig. 2 indicates the center of the transport line for the metal strip S.

[0017] The rolling mill 2 includes a pair of work rolls 4, 4 provided on both sides of the metal strip S. As shown in Fig. 1, the rolling mill 2 may also include a pair of backup rolls 6, 6 for supporting the pair of work rolls 4, 4. The rolling mill 2 also includes a reduction device (hydraulic cylinder or the like; not shown) for applying a load to the pair of work rolls 4, 4 to reduce the metal strip S between the pair of work rolls 4, 4.

[0018] The rolling mill 2 is configured to roll the metal strip S unwound from the unwinder 8. The metal strip S rolled by the rolling mill 2 is wound by a winder 14. As shown in the figure, transport rolls 10, 12 may be provided between the unwinder 8 and the rolling mill 2, and between the rolling mill 2 and the winder 14, respectively.

[0019] The side guide device 20 includes a pair of guide sections 22A, 22B provided facing each other on both sides of the conveying line for the metal strip S, a drive section 30 for driving the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B, and a control device 70 for controlling the drive section 30. Here, Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the drive section 30 according to one embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the control device 70 according to one embodiment.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B includes a guide portion 22A provided on one of the two sides of the metal strip S in the width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the width direction) of the metal strip S to be rolled, that is, a first side, and a guide portion 22B provided on the other side, that is, a second side. The pair of guide portions 22A, 22B extend along the conveying line and have guide surfaces 23A, 23B provided to face the ends of the metal strip S in the width direction. The distance Wa between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B in the width direction of the metal strip S (i.e., the distance between the guide surfaces 23A and 23B in the width direction; see FIG. 2) is set to be slightly larger than the width Ws (see FIG. 2) of the metal strip S to be rolled. The movement of the metal strip S in the conveying direction is guided by the guide surfaces 23A, 23B so as not to cause significant meandering.

[0021] The driving unit 30 is configured to move the pair of guide units 22A, 22B along the width direction of the metal strip S.

[0022] 2 and 3, in one embodiment, the driving unit 30 includes a pair of cylinders 32A, 32B for respectively moving the pair of guide units 22A, 22B along the width direction of the metal strip S. A fluid (e.g., oil or air) from a fluid source 38 is supplied to the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B as a working fluid.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3 , a pair of cylinders 32A, 32B are provided to extend along the width direction of the metal strip S. Pistons 34A, 34B are provided inside the cylinders 32A, 32B and are slidable along the axial direction of the cylinders 32A, 32B (i.e., the width direction of the metal strip S). The pistons 34A, 34B divide the internal space of the cylinders 32A, 32B into two chambers. The pistons 34A, 34B are connected to the guide members 22A, 22B via rods 36A, 36B, respectively. By adjusting the supply of fluid to and discharge of fluid from the two chambers of the cylinders 32A, 32B, the positions of the pistons 34A, 34B in the axial direction of the cylinders 32A, 32B (i.e., the width direction of the metal strip S) can be adjusted. In other words, the positions of the pair of guide members 22A, 22B in the axial direction (i.e., the width direction of the metal strip S) can be adjusted.

[0024] Of the two chambers of the cylinders 32A, 32B, the chamber located on a first side in the width direction of the metal strip S is connected to first lines 46A, 46B, and fluid is supplied and discharged via the first lines 46A, 46B. Of the two chambers of the cylinders 32A, 32B, the chamber located on a second side in the width direction of the metal strip S is connected to second lines 48A, 48B, and fluid is supplied and discharged via the second lines 48A, 48B.

[0025] The fluid source 38 includes a reservoir 40 for storing fluid, and the fluid from the reservoir 40 is supplied to one of the two chambers of the pistons 34A, 34B via a supply line 42, while the fluid discharged from the other of the two chambers of the pistons 34A, 34B is returned to the reservoir 40 via a return line 44. The supply line 42 is provided with a pump 41 for pressurizing the fluid from the reservoir 40.

[0026] In one embodiment, the drive unit 30 includes a first switching unit 50 for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in the width direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the first switching unit 50 may include a first valve 51 provided between the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B and the fluid source 38 for controlling the flow of fluid between the fluid source 38 and the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B.

[0028] 3, the first valve 51 is a solenoid valve provided in the supply line 42. The illustrated first valve 51 has four ports, including an A port, a B port, a P port, and a T port.

[0029] The P port and the T port are connected to the supply line 42 and the return line 44, respectively. The A port is connected to one of the first line 46A or the second line 48A connected to the cylinder 32A and one of the first line 46B or the second line 48B connected to the cylinder 32B via a branching portion provided in the second valve 53, which will be described later, in the illustrated example. The B port is connected to the other of the first line 46A or the second line 48A connected to the cylinder 32A and the other of the first line 46B or the second line 48B connected to the cylinder 32B via a branching portion provided in the second valve 53, which will be described later, in the illustrated example.

[0030] Therefore, when the driving current supplied to the first valve 51 is turned on and off, the position of the first valve 51 changes, switching the connection state between the P / T port and the A / B port, and switching the destination of the fluid supplied from the fluid source 38 between the A port and the B port. That is, the destination of the fluid supplied from the fluid source 38 switches between the first line 46A and the second line 48A connected to the cylinder 32A, and between the first line 46B and the second line 48B connected to the cylinder 32B, switching the movement direction of the pistons 34A, 34B and the guide members 22A, 22B in the axial direction of the cylinders 32A, 32B. Therefore, by repeatedly turning on and off the driving current supplied to the first valve to repeatedly switch the connection state between the P / T port and the A / B port, the pair of guide members 22A, 22B can be moved back and forth in the width direction of the metal strip S.

[0031] In addition, in one embodiment, the drive unit 30 includes a second switching unit 52 for switching the operating mode of the pair of guide units 22A, 22B between a same direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units move in the same direction in the width direction, and an opposite direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units 22A, 22B move in opposite directions to each other in the width direction.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the second switching unit 52 may include a second valve 53 provided between the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B and the first valve 51 for controlling the flow of fluid between the first valve 51 and the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the second valve 53 is a solenoid valve provided on a line connected to the A port of the first valve 51 and a line connected to the B port.

[0034] The second valve 53 shown in FIG. 3 includes a branching section 54 that branches the fluid from port A or port B of the first valve 51, and a confluence section 55 that confluences the fluid heading from the cylinders 32A, 32B toward port A or port B.

[0035] The branch section 54 and the confluence section 55 are configured to connect the A / B port of the first valve to a line connected to one of the two chambers of each of the cylinders 32A and 32B that is located on the same side in the width direction (for example, the first lines 46A and 46B connected to the one of the two chambers of each of the cylinders 32A and 32B that is located on the first side), or to a line connected to a chamber that is located on the opposite side in the width direction (for example, the first line 46A connected to the one of the two chambers of the cylinder 32A that is located on the first side, and the second line 48B connected to the one of the two chambers of the cylinder 32B that is located on the second side).

[0036] In the former case, the pistons 34A, 34B of the cylinders 32A, 32B and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in the same direction in the width direction (i.e., the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move simultaneously from the first side toward the second side or from the second side toward the first side). In the latter case, the pistons 34A, 34B of the cylinders 32A, 32B and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in opposite directions in the width direction (i.e., the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in directions toward or away from each other).

[0037] When the drive current supplied to the second valve 53 is switched on / off, the position of the second valve 53 changes, switching the connection state between the A / B port of the first valve and the first lines 46A, 46B and the second lines 48A, 48B. This switches the operation mode of the side guide device between a same-direction operation mode in which the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in the same direction in the width direction, and a same-direction operation mode in which the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in opposite directions in the width direction.

[0038] In the same-direction movement mode, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B can be reciprocated so as to move in the same direction in the width direction. In the opposite-direction movement mode, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move toward or away from each other, so that the distance in the width direction between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B can be changed.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side guide device 20 may include a guide portion position detector 62 for detecting the position of at least one of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B in the width direction of the metal strip S. The guide portion position detector 62 may be configured to detect a distance L3 (see FIG. 2) between the guide portion position detector 62 and one of the guide portions 22A, 22B in the width direction of the metal strip S. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide portion position detector 62 is configured to detect the position of the guide portion 22A, of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B, which is provided on a first side in the width direction of the metal strip S (specifically, the distance between the guide portion position detector 62 and the guide portion 22A in the width direction). A signal indicating the detection result by the guide portion position detector 62 is sent to the control device 70.

[0040] 2, the side guide device 20 may include a leading edge detector 64 that is provided upstream of the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in the conveying direction of the metal strip S and that detects the leading edge St of the metal strip S. The leading edge detector 64 may include an edge position detector that can detect the edge position in the width direction of the metal strip S. A signal indicating the detection result by the leading edge detector 64 is sent to the control device 70.

[0041] 4, the control device 70 includes a control unit 72 for giving a command signal to the drive unit 30. The control device 70 may also include a command signal generation unit 74 for generating a command signal to be given to the drive unit 30, and / or a determination unit 76 for determining whether the front end St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide units 22A, 22B.

[0042] The control unit 72 is configured to give a first command signal to the drive unit 30 to cause the pair of guide units 22A, 22B to move back and forth along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip S in the width direction when the center of the metal strip S coincides with the center CL of the conveying line, while maintaining the widthwise distance Wa (see Figure 1) between the pair of guide units 22A, 22B wider than the width Ws of the metal strip S.

[0043] The control unit 72 may be configured to repeatedly provide, as the above-mentioned first command signal, a direction switching command signal to the first switching unit 50 (such as the first valve 51) for switching the movement direction of the pair of guide portions 22A and 22B in the width direction. When the first switching unit 50 includes the above-mentioned first valve 51, the direction switching command signal includes a signal for switching between supplying and stopping the supply of excitation current to the first valve 51 (i.e., a signal for switching the position of the first valve 51 between a position in which the P port is connected to the A port and the T port is connected to the B port (the position of the first valve 51 shown in FIG. 3 ), and a position in which the P port is connected to the B port and the T port is connected to the A port). By repeatedly providing the direction switching command signal to the first valve 51, the position of the first valve 51 is repeatedly switched between the above-mentioned two positions, so that the pistons 34A and 34B of the pair of cylinders 32A and 32B and the pair of guide portions 22A and 22B repeatedly reciprocate in the width direction.

[0044] 3, when the drive unit 30 includes the first switching unit 50 and the second switching unit 52, the control unit 72 may be configured to provide, as the first command signal described above, a same-direction command signal to the second switching unit 52 (e.g., second valve 53) for operating the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in a same-direction movement mode, and to repeatedly provide, to the first switching unit 50 (e.g., first valve 51), a direction-switching command signal for switching the movement direction in the width direction of the pair of guide units 22A, 22B. When the second switching unit 52 includes the second valve 53, providing the same-direction command signal to the second valve 53 sets the position of the second valve 53 to a position where the pistons 34A, 34B of the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B and the pair of guide units 22A, 22B move in the same direction (the position of the second valve 53 shown in FIG. 3).

[0045] In some embodiments, the control unit 72 is configured to, when the determination unit 76 described below determines that the tip St of the metal strip S has entered a pair of guide sections, provide a second command signal to the drive unit 30 to narrow the distance between the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B, and then provide the above-mentioned first command signal to the drive unit 30.

[0046] The control unit 72 is configured to provide an opposite direction command signal to the second switching unit 52 as the above-mentioned second command signal for operating the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in an opposite direction movement mode, and to provide a direction switching command signal to the first switching unit so that the distance between the pair of guide units 22A, 22B decreases.

[0047] 3, by providing an opposite direction command signal to the second valve 53 (second switching unit 52), the second valve 53 is positioned so that the pistons 34A, 34B of the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move in opposite directions. Also, by providing a direction switching command signal to the first valve 51 (first switching unit 50) to decrease the distance between the guide portions 22A, 22B, the first valve 51 is positioned so that the fluid from the fluid source 38 is supplied to the chamber located on the outer side in the width direction of each of the two chambers of the pair of cylinders 32A, 32B (i.e., the first chamber of the two chambers of the first-side cylinder 32A and the second chamber of the two chambers of the second-side cylinder 32B).

[0048] The command signal generating unit 74 is configured to generate the above-mentioned first command signal and / or second command signal.

[0049] The command signal generating unit 74 may be configured to generate the above-mentioned first command signal based on the position in the width direction of at least one of the pair of guide units 22A, 22B. The command signal generating unit 74 may be configured to generate the above-mentioned first command signal based on the detection result of the guide unit position detecting unit 62.

[0050] The determination unit 76 is configured to determine that the leading edge St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B. The determination unit 76 may be configured to determine that the leading edge St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B based on the detection result of the leading edge detector 64. The determination unit 76 may be configured to calculate the timing at which the leading edge St of the metal strip S will enter between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B from, for example, the timing at which the leading edge St of the metal strip S is detected by the leading edge detector 64, the conveying speed of the metal strip S, and the distance L1 (see FIG. 1) between the leading edge detector 64 and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B in the conveying direction, and to determine that the leading edge St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B based on the calculation result.

[0051] The control device 70 includes a computer equipped with a processor (e.g., CPU), a main storage device (memory device; e.g., RAM), an auxiliary storage device, an interface, etc. The control device 70 is configured to receive signals from the guide portion position detection unit 62 and / or the tip detection unit 64 via the interface. The processor is configured to process the signals received in this manner. The processor is also configured to process a program loaded in the main storage device. This realizes the functions of the control unit 72, command signal generation unit 74, and determination unit 76 described above.

[0052] The processing contents of the control device 70 are implemented as programs executed by the processor. The programs may be stored in, for example, an auxiliary storage device. When the programs are executed, they are loaded into the main storage device. The processor reads the programs from the main storage device and executes the instructions contained in the programs.

[0053] The above-described control device 70, together with the guide portion position detection unit 62, constitutes a control unit 60 according to some embodiments. By applying this control unit 60 to existing equipment (rolling equipment, etc.), it is possible to execute the control flow of the side guide device described below.

[0054] (Control flow of the side guide device) Next, a control method for the side guide device according to some embodiments will be described. In the following, a case where the above-mentioned control device 70 is used to control the above-mentioned side guide device 20 will be described, but in some embodiments, part or all of the control method described below may be performed by another device or manually.

[0055] Fig. 5 is an example of a flowchart of a control method for a side guide device according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 is a time-series schematic diagram showing the movement of the pair of guide parts 22A, 22B when the control method according to one embodiment is executed.

[0056] In one embodiment, first, after the unwinding machine 8 starts unwinding the metal strip S, before the leading end St of the metal strip S reaches the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B, the control section 72 sets the distance between the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B in the width direction of the metal strip S (hereinafter referred to as the inter-guide section distance) to Ws+α (where Ws is the width of the metal strip S), and waits (S2; state shown in FIG. 6(A)). At this time, the respective distances between the guide surfaces 23A, 23B of the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B and the center CL of the conveying line are approximately equal to about α / 2.

[0057] Next, the determination unit 76 determines whether or not the leading end St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B (S4). While the leading end St of the metal strip has not entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B (No in step S4), the distance between the guide portions is maintained at Ws+α. On the other hand, if it is determined that the leading edge St of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B (Yes in step S4), the control section 72 narrows the distance between the guide sections to Ws + β (S6; the state shown in FIG. 6B). At this time, the distances between the guide surfaces 23A, 23B of the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B and the center CL of the conveying line are approximately equal, at about β / 2.

[0058] In step S6, the control unit 72 provides a second command signal to the drive unit 30 to reduce the distance between the guide units. More specifically, the control unit 72 provides, as the second command signal, an opposite direction command signal to the second valve 53 (second switching unit 52) ​​to operate the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in the opposite direction movement mode, and also provides a direction switching command signal to the first valve (first switching unit 50) so as to reduce the distance between the guide units.

[0059] Furthermore, in step S6, the control unit 72 provides the direction switching signal to the first switching unit 50 based on the detection result of the guide unit position detection unit 62 until the inter-guide distance becomes Ws+β.

[0060] In addition, since the widthwise distance L3 between the guide portion position detection unit 62 and the guide portion 22A and the widthwise position of the guide surface 23A of the guide portion 22A have a predetermined relationship, the distance between the guide portions can be calculated based on the detection results of the guide portion position detection unit 62.

[0061] For example, if the distance between the guide portion position detector 62 and the guide portion 22A is L3 B If it is known that the distance between guide surface 23A and the center CL of the conveying line is (Ws+β) / 2 (see (B) of Figure 6), then, assuming that the center positions of guide portions 22A and 22B coincide with the center CL of the conveying line, the distance between the pair of guide portions (i.e., the distance between guide surface 23A and guide surface 23B) can be calculated to be Ws+β.

[0062] Next, when the inter-guide distance becomes Ws+β, the control unit 72 provides the drive unit 30 with a first command signal to reciprocate the pair of guide units 22A, 22B in the width direction while maintaining the inter-guide distance at Ws+β (a value wider than the width of the metal strip S) during conveyance of the metal strip S. This causes the pair of guide units 22A, 22B to reciprocate in the width direction within a region outside the extension range of the metal strip S in the width direction when the center of the metal strip S coincides with the center CL of the conveyance line. As a result, the pair of guide units 22A, 22B reciprocate in the width direction while maintaining the inter-guide distance at Ws+β (S8). That is, the transition from state (C) to state (D) in FIG. 6 and the transition from state (D) to state (C) are repeated.

[0063] In the above-described control method, by providing the first command signal to the drive unit 30 while the metal strip S is being conveyed, the pair of guide units 22A, 22B can be reciprocated while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip S wider than the width of the metal strip S. As a result, even if the metal strip S meanders in either direction in the width direction, the guide unit 22A or 22B can push the metal strip S back to the center CL of the conveying line. Therefore, even for a thin metal strip S, it is possible to automatically align the center of the metal strip S in the width direction with the center CL of the conveying line (centering of the metal strip) while reducing the risk of buckling. Therefore, even for a relatively thin metal strip S, centering can be achieved while suppressing buckling during conveyance. Furthermore, in the above-described control method, by reciprocating the pair of guide units while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip S wider than the width of the metal strip S, the metal strip S can be centered regardless of the position of the plate ends of the metal strip S. Therefore, compared to a case where the positions of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B are adjusted in accordance with the position of the strip end of the metal strip S, the device configuration is simpler. Therefore, according to the above-described control method, even a relatively thin metal strip S can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0064] In the above-mentioned step S8, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B may be reciprocated based on the position in the width direction of at least one of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B (that is, the detection result of the guide portion position detection portion 62).

[0065] For example, in step S8, a first command signal (direction switching command signal) may be generated and given to the first switching unit based on the detection result of the guide portion position detection unit 62 so that the guide surfaces 23A, 23B of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B do not fall within an allowable range Ra in the width direction (see FIG. 6). Here, the allowable range Ra is a value determined based on the sheet width Ws of the metal strip S, and has a length of Ws+2γ in the example shown in FIG.

[0066] More specifically, when the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move from the first side toward the second side in the width direction, when the distance in the width direction between the guide surface 23A of the guide portion 22A and the above-mentioned allowable range Ra, calculated based on the detection result of the guide portion position detection portion 62 (the distance between the guide portion position detection portion 62 and the plate edge), becomes zero (i.e., when the state reaches (C) in Figure 6), a first command signal (direction switching command signal) is given to the first switching portion 50 (i.e., the position of the first valve 51 is switched), and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B is moved from the second side toward the first side in the width direction.

[0067] Similarly, when the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B move from the second side toward the first side in the width direction, when the distance in the width direction between the guide surface 23A of the guide portion 22A and the above-mentioned allowable range Ra, calculated based on the detection result of the guide portion position detection portion 62 (the distance between the guide portion position detection portion 62 and the plate edge), becomes equal to +β-2γ (i.e., when the state shown in (D) of Figure 6 is reached), a first command signal (direction switching command signal) is sent to the first switching portion 50 (i.e., the position of the first valve 51 is switched), and the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B is moved from the first side toward the second side in the width direction.

[0068] By repeating these operations, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B can be repeatedly moved back and forth in the width direction so that the guide surfaces 23A, 23B of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B do not fall within the allowable range Ra.

[0069] In some embodiments, in step S8, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B may be repeatedly moved back and forth in the width direction while both of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B are moved in the same direction in the width direction.

[0070] In some embodiments, the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B may be repeatedly moved back and forth in the width direction while the distance between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B is maintained at a specified distance.

[0071] In this way, by repeatedly moving the pair of guide sections 22A, 22B back and forth in the width direction while moving them in the same direction or while maintaining the distance between the guide sections at a specified distance, it is possible to properly center the metal strip with a simple configuration while reducing the risk of buckling even for thin metal strips.

[0072] 7 and 8 are graphs showing the change over time in the position of the guide surface 23A of the guide portion 22A in the width direction when a control method according to one embodiment is applied.

[0073] 7 and 8, at time t0, it is determined that the leading end St of the metal strip S has entered between the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B. At this time, the distance between the guide portions is Ws+α (see FIG. 6), and the position of the guide surface 23A in the width direction is (Ws+α) / 2 (state (A) in FIG. 6). Thereafter, at time t1, the distance between the guide portions is narrowed to Ws+β (state (B) in FIG. 6), and then the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B reciprocates in the width direction. While the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B reciprocates, the position of the guide surface 23A when the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B is positioned furthest to the second side is X1 (state (C) in FIG. 6), and the position of the guide surface 23A when the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B is positioned furthest to the first side is X2 (state (D) in FIG. 6).

[0074] In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, while the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B are reciprocating, the positions of the pair of guide portions 22A, 22B may be maintained constant at X1 or X2 for the length of a specified time T. In this case, the length of the specified time T may be changed depending on the rolling speed (the conveying speed of the metal strip S). For example, the faster the rolling speed, the shorter the specified time T1 may be.

[0075] Alternatively, the above-mentioned specified time T may be made variable according to the progress of the material. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, immediately after the leading edge St of the metal strip S passes through the guide sections 22A, 22B (i.e., immediately after the strip is threaded through the rolling mill and rolling begins), the above-mentioned specified time T may be set to a relatively long T1, and once the material has progressed to a certain extent, the above-mentioned specified time T may be set to a shorter T2.

[0076] Furthermore, the above-mentioned specified time T may be changed according to the distance L2 (see FIG. 1) between the guide portions 22A, 22B and the work rolls 4 (rolling mill 2) in the conveying direction.

[0077] The contents described in each of the above embodiments can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0078] (1) A control device (70) according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: A control device for controlling a side guide device (20) for guiding a metal strip (S) conveyed along a conveying line, comprising: The side guide device a pair of guide portions (22A, 22B) provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit (30) for moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip; Including, a control unit (72) configured to give a command signal to the drive unit; The control unit is configured to provide the drive unit with a first command signal to cause the pair of guide parts to reciprocate along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center (CL) of the conveying line are aligned, while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide parts in the width direction wider than the width of the metal strip.

[0079] In the above configuration (1), by providing the first command signal to the drive unit while the metal strip is being conveyed, the pair of guide units can be reciprocated while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip (hereinafter simply referred to as the width direction) wider than the width of the metal strip. This makes it possible to automatically align the center of the width direction of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line (centering the metal strip) while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips. Therefore, even for relatively thin metal strips, centering can be achieved while suppressing buckling while being conveyed. Furthermore, in the above configuration (1), by reciprocating the pair of guide units while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip, the metal strip can be centered regardless of the position of the strip edges. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide units are adjusted depending on the position of the strip edges. Therefore, according to the above configuration (1), even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0080] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1), The control device The apparatus includes a command signal generating section (74) configured to generate the first command signal based on the position of at least one of the pair of guide sections in the width direction.

[0081] According to the configuration (2) above, a first command signal is generated for reciprocating the pair of guide sections in the width direction based on the position in the width direction of at least one of the pair of guide sections. Based on the first command signal generated in this manner, the pair of guide sections can be reciprocated within a predetermined region in the width direction of the metal strip (a region outside the extension range of the metal strip) while the metal strip is being transported, thereby making it possible to center the metal strip regardless of the position of the strip ends. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide sections are adjusted depending on the position of the strip ends. Therefore, according to the configuration (2) above, even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0082] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2), The control unit is configured to move both of the pair of guide parts in the same direction in the width direction and to give a first command signal to the drive unit to cause the pair of guide parts to move back and forth along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned.

[0083] According to the configuration (3) above, by providing the first command signal to the drive unit while the metal strip is being conveyed, the pair of guide units can be moved back and forth in the same direction in the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned. This allows the metal strip to be properly centered while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips.

[0084] (4) In some embodiments, in any of the configurations (1) to (3) above, The control unit is configured to provide the first command signal to the drive unit to cause the pair of guide portions to move back and forth along the width direction within the area while maintaining the distance in the width direction between the pair of guide portions at a specified distance.

[0085] According to the configuration (4) above, by providing the first command signal to the drive unit while the metal strip is being transported, the pair of guide units can be reciprocated in the width direction while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide units at a specified distance. This allows the metal strip to be properly centered while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips.

[0086] (5) In some embodiments, in any of the configurations (1) to (4) above, The control device a determination unit (76) for determining whether the leading end of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide units, The control unit is configured to, when it is determined that the leading end of the metal strip has entered the pair of guide sections, provide a second command signal to the drive unit to narrow the distance between the guide sections, and then provide the first command signal to the drive unit.

[0087] According to the above configuration (5), after the leading end of the metal strip enters between the pair of guide sections, the distance between the pair of guide sections is narrowed, and then the pair of guide sections are moved back and forth in the width direction. This makes it possible to properly center the metal strip while effectively preventing the width direction ends of the metal strip from contacting the guide sections when the metal strip enters the guide sections.

[0088] (6) The control unit (60) according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a guide portion position detection unit (62) for detecting the position of at least one of the pair of guide portions in the width direction; The control device according to any one of (1) to (5) above, configured to generate the first command signal based on the position detected by the guide portion position detection unit; Equipped with.

[0089] According to the configuration (6) above, a first command signal is generated for reciprocating the pair of guide sections in the width direction based on the position in the width direction of at least one of the pair of guide sections detected by the guide section position detector. Based on the first command signal generated in this manner, the pair of guide sections can be reciprocated within a predetermined region in the width direction of the metal strip (a region outside the extension range of the metal strip) while the metal strip is being transported, thereby making it possible to center the metal strip regardless of the position of the metal strip's plate ends. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide sections are adjusted depending on the position of the metal strip's plate ends. Therefore, according to the configuration (6) above, even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0090] (7) At least one embodiment of the side guide device (20) of the present invention includes: a pair of guide portions (22A, 22B) provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit (30) for moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip; The control device according to any one of (1) to (5) above, configured to give the first command signal to the drive unit; Equipped with.

[0091] In the configuration (7) above, by providing the first command signal to the drive unit while the metal strip is being conveyed, the pair of guide units can be reciprocated while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip. This makes it possible to automatically align the center of the width direction of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line (centering the metal strip) while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips. Therefore, even for relatively thin metal strips, centering can be achieved while suppressing buckling while being conveyed. Furthermore, in the configuration (7) above, by reciprocating the pair of guide units while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip, the metal strip can be centered regardless of the position of the strip edges. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide units are adjusted depending on the position of the strip edges. Therefore, according to the above configuration (7), even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0092] (8) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (7), the drive unit includes a first switching unit (50) for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide units in the width direction, The control device is configured to repeatedly provide, as the first command signal, a direction switching command signal for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide portions in the width direction to the first switching portion.

[0093] According to the above configuration (8), the direction switching command signal for switching the movement direction of the pair of guide sections in the width direction is repeatedly sent to the first switching section, so that the pair of guide sections can be moved back and forth in the width direction. This makes it possible to automatically align the center of the metal strip in the width direction with the center of the conveying line while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips.

[0094] (9) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (8), the pair of guide portions each have a guide surface (23A, 23B) extending along the conveying line and facing an end portion of the metal strip in the width direction, The control device is configured to provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit based on the position of at least one of the pair of guide units in the width direction so that the guide surfaces of the pair of guide units do not fall within the width direction allowable range (Ra) determined based on the plate width of the metal strip.

[0095] According to the above configuration (9), the direction switching command signal is repeatedly sent to the first switching unit based on the widthwise position of at least one of the pair of guide units so that the guide surfaces of the pair of guide units do not fall within the widthwise tolerance range determined based on the width of the metal strip, so that the pair of guide units can be moved back and forth within a predetermined range in the widthwise direction of the metal strip (a range outside the above-mentioned tolerance range). This makes it possible to automatically align the widthwise center of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips.

[0096] (10) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (8) or (9), the driving unit includes a pair of cylinders (32A, 32B) for respectively moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip, The first switching unit is provided between the pair of cylinders and a fluid source (38) of fluid for operating the pair of cylinders, and includes a first valve (51) for controlling the flow of the fluid between the fluid source and the pair of cylinders.

[0097] According to the above configuration (10), the direction switching command signal is repeatedly sent to the first valve (first switching unit) for controlling the flow of fluid between the pair of cylinders for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction and the fluid source for operating the pair of cylinders, so that the pair of guide units can be moved back and forth in the width direction. This makes it possible to automatically align the widthwise center of a thin metal strip with the center of the conveying line while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips.

[0098] (11) In some embodiments, in any of the configurations (8) to (10) above, the drive unit includes a second switching unit (52) for switching the operation mode of the pair of guide units between a same-direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units move in the same direction in the width direction and an opposite-direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units move in opposite directions in the width direction, The control device is configured to provide a same-direction command signal to the second switching unit as the first command signal for operating the pair of guide units in the same-direction movement mode, and to repeatedly provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit.

[0099] According to the above configuration (11), a same-direction command signal is sent to the second switching unit to switch the operation mode of the pair of guide units between a same-direction movement mode and an opposite-direction movement mode, and the above-mentioned direction-switching command signal is repeatedly sent to the first switching unit, so that the pair of guide units can be reciprocated while moving in the same direction in the width direction. This makes it possible to automatically align the widthwise center of a thin metal strip with the center of the conveying line while reducing the risk of buckling.

[0100] (12) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (11), the control device includes a determination unit (72) for determining whether the leading end of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide units, the control device is configured to, when it is determined that the leading end of the metal strip has entered the pair of guide portions, give a second command signal to the drive portion for narrowing the distance between the guide portions, and then give the first command signal to the drive portion; The control device is configured to provide, as the second command signal, an opposite direction command signal to the second switching unit for operating the pair of guide units in the opposite direction movement mode, and to provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit so that the distance between the guide units decreases.

[0101] According to the configuration (12) above, when it is determined that the leading edge of the metal strip has entered the pair of guide sections, an opposite direction command signal is provided as the second command signal to the second switching section, and a direction switching command signal is provided to the first switching section so as to decrease the distance between the pair of guide sections. Thereafter, a same direction command signal is provided as the first command signal to the second switching section, and the direction switching command signal is repeatedly provided to the first switching section. Thus, after the leading edge of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide sections, the distance between the pair of guide sections is decreased by the second command signal, and then the pair of guide sections are reciprocated in the width direction by the first command signal. This effectively prevents the widthwise ends of the metal strip from contacting the guide sections when the metal strip enters the guide sections, and allows the metal strip to be properly centered.

[0102] (13) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (11) or (12), the driving unit includes a pair of cylinders (32A, 32B) for respectively moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip, the first switching unit (50) is provided between the pair of cylinders and a fluid source of fluid for operating the pair of cylinders, and includes a first valve (51) for controlling the flow of the fluid between the fluid source and the pair of cylinders; The second switching unit (52) is provided between the pair of cylinders and the first valve, and includes a second valve (53) for controlling the flow of the fluid between the first valve and the pair of cylinders.

[0103] In the above configuration (13), the drive unit includes a first valve (first switching unit) for controlling the flow of fluid between a pair of cylinders for moving the pair of guide units along the width direction, respectively, and a fluid source for operating the pair of cylinders, and a second valve (second switching unit) for controlling the flow of the above-mentioned fluid between the first valve and the pair of cylinders. Therefore, by providing the first valve and the second valve with a same-direction command signal and a direction-switching command signal as the first command signal, the pair of guides can be moved back and forth in the same direction in the width direction. This reduces the risk of buckling even for thin metal strips, and automatically aligns the widthwise center of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line. Therefore, with the configuration (13) above, even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being conveyed with a simple configuration. Alternatively, by providing a reverse direction command signal and a direction switching command signal as second command signals to the first and second valves, the pair of guides can be moved in opposite directions in the width direction. Therefore, when the leading end of the metal strip enters between the pair of guides, the second command signal can be used to operate the drive unit to narrow the distance between the pair of guides. This effectively prevents the widthwise end of the metal strip from contacting the guides when it enters the guides.

[0104] (14) At least one embodiment of the rolling equipment (100) of the present invention comprises: a rolling mill (2) for rolling a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line; A side guide device (20) according to any one of (7) to (13) above, configured to guide the metal strip; Equipped with.

[0105] In the configuration (14) above, by providing the first command signal to the drive unit while the metal strip is being conveyed, the pair of guide units can be reciprocated while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip. This makes it possible to automatically align the center of the width direction of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line (centering the metal strip) while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips. Therefore, even for relatively thin metal strips, centering can be achieved while suppressing buckling while being conveyed. Furthermore, in the configuration (14) above, by reciprocating the pair of guide units while maintaining the distance between them in the width direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip, the metal strip can be centered regardless of the position of the strip edges. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide units are adjusted depending on the position of the strip edges. Therefore, according to the above configuration (14), even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0106] (15) A control method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: A control method for controlling a side guide device (20) for guiding a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line, comprising: The side guide device a pair of guide portions (22A, 22B) provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit (30) for moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip; Including, While maintaining the distance between the pair of guide portions in the width direction wider than the width of the metal strip, the pair of guide portions are moved back and forth along the width direction within an area outside the extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned (S8).

[0107] In the method (15) above, the pair of guide units are reciprocated while maintaining the distance between them wider than the width of the metal strip. This makes it possible to automatically align the widthwise center of the metal strip with the center of the conveying line (centering the metal strip) while reducing the risk of buckling, even for thin metal strips, during conveyance. Therefore, even for relatively thin metal strips, centering can be achieved while suppressing buckling during conveyance. Furthermore, in the method (15) above, by reciprocating the pair of guide units while maintaining the distance between the pair of guide units in the widthwise direction of the metal strip wider than the width of the metal strip, centering of the metal strip can be achieved regardless of the position of the metal strip's plate edges. Therefore, the device configuration is simpler than when the positions of the pair of guide units are adjusted depending on the position of the metal strip's plate edges. Therefore, according to the method (15) above, even a relatively thin metal strip can be centered while being transported with a simple configuration.

[0108] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and also includes forms in which the above-described embodiment is modified, or forms in which these forms are appropriately combined.

[0109] In this specification, expressions expressing relative or absolute arrangement such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial" not only express such an arrangement strictly, but also express a state in which there is a relative displacement with a tolerance or an angle or distance to the extent that the same function is obtained. For example, expressions such as "identical," "equal," and "homogeneous" that indicate that something is in an equal state not only indicate a state of strict equality, but also indicate a state in which there is a tolerance or a difference to the extent that the same function is obtained. Furthermore, in this specification, expressions representing shapes such as a rectangular shape or a cylindrical shape not only represent rectangular shapes or cylindrical shapes in the strict geometric sense, but also represent shapes including uneven portions, chamfered portions, etc., to the extent that the same effect can be obtained. Furthermore, in this specification, the expressions "comprise," "include," or "have" a component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the presence of other components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 2. Rolling mill 4 Work rolls 6 Backup Role 8 Unwinder 10 Transport roll 12 Transport roll 14 Winder 20 Side guide device 22A Guide part 22B Guide part 23A Guide surface 23B Guide surface 30 Drive unit 32A Cylinder 32B cylinder 34A Piston 34B Piston 36A Rod 36B Rod 38 Fluid source 40 Storage section 41 Pump 42 Supply Line 44 Return Line 46A 1st Line 46B 1st Line 48A Second Line 48B 2nd Line 50 First switching section 51 First valve 52 Second switching section 53 Second valve 54 Branch 55 Junction 60 Control Unit 62 Guide position detection unit 64 Tip detection unit 70 Control device 72 Control Unit 74 Command signal generation section 76 Judgment section 100 Rolling Equipment CL Center of the conveyor line Ra tolerance range S Metal Strip St tip

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a side guide device for guiding a metal strip transported along a transport line, The side guide device a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; Including, a control unit configured to provide a command signal to the drive unit; the control unit is configured to provide a first command signal to the drive unit for causing the pair of guide units to reciprocate along the width direction within an area outside an extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned, while maintaining a distance in the width direction between the pair of guide units wider than the width of the metal strip, The control unit is configured to provide the first command signal to the drive unit to repeatedly reciprocate the pair of guide units along the width direction while moving both of the pair of guide units in the same direction in the width direction, or while maintaining a specified distance between the pair of guide units in the width direction. Control device.

2. a command signal generating unit configured to generate the first command signal based on the position of at least one of the pair of guide units in the width direction; The control device according to claim 1 .

3. a determination unit for determining whether the leading end of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide units, The control unit is configured to, when it is determined that the leading end of the metal strip has entered the pair of guide units, give a second command signal to the drive unit to narrow the distance between the guide units, and then give the first command signal to the drive unit. The control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a guide portion position detection portion for detecting the position of at least one of the pair of guide portions in the width direction; the control device according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured to generate the first command signal based on the position detected by the guide portion position detection unit; A control unit comprising:

5. a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; The control device according to claim 1 or 2, configured to give the first command signal to the drive unit; A side guide device comprising:

6. the drive unit includes a first switching unit for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide units in the width direction, The control device is configured to repeatedly provide, as the first command signal, a direction switching command signal for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide portions in the width direction to the first switching portion. The side guide device according to claim 5.

7. the pair of guide portions each have a guide surface extending along the conveying line and facing an end portion of the metal strip in the width direction; The control device is configured to provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit based on a position in the width direction of at least one of the pair of guide units so that the guide surfaces of the pair of guide units do not fall within an allowable range in the width direction that is determined based on the plate width of the metal strip. The side guide device according to claim 6.

8. the driving unit includes a pair of cylinders for respectively moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip, The first switching unit is provided between the pair of cylinders and a fluid source of fluid for operating the pair of cylinders, and includes a first valve for controlling the flow of the fluid between the fluid source and the pair of cylinders. The side guide device according to claim 6.

9. A side guide device for guiding a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line, comprising: a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; a control device including a control unit configured to provide a command signal to the drive unit; the control unit is configured to provide a first command signal to the drive unit for causing the pair of guide units to reciprocate along the width direction within an area outside an extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned, while maintaining a distance in the width direction between the pair of guide units wider than the width of the metal strip, the drive unit includes a first switching unit for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide units in the width direction, the control device is configured to repeatedly provide, as the first command signal, a direction switching command signal for switching the movement directions of the pair of guide portions in the width direction to the first switching portion, the drive unit includes a second switching unit that switches the operation mode of the pair of guide units between a same direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units move in the same direction in the width direction and an opposite direction movement mode in which the pair of guide units move in opposite directions in the width direction, The control device is configured to provide, as the first command signal, a same direction command signal for operating the pair of guide units in the same direction movement mode to the second switching unit, and to provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit. Side guide device.

10. the control device includes a determination unit for determining whether the leading end of the metal strip has entered between the pair of guide units, the control device is configured to, when it is determined that the leading end of the metal strip has entered the pair of guide portions, give a second command signal to the drive portion for narrowing the distance between the guide portions, and then give the first command signal to the drive portion; The control device is configured to provide, as the second command signal, an opposite direction command signal to the second switching unit for operating the pair of guide units in the opposite direction movement mode, and to repeatedly provide the direction switching command signal to the first switching unit so that the distance between the guide units decreases. The side guide device according to claim 9.

11. the driving unit includes a pair of cylinders for respectively moving the pair of guide units along the width direction of the metal strip, the first switching unit is provided between the pair of cylinders and a fluid source of fluid for actuating the pair of cylinders, and includes a first valve for controlling the flow of the fluid between the fluid source and the pair of cylinders; The second switching unit includes a second valve provided between the pair of cylinders and the first valve for controlling the flow of the fluid between the first valve and the pair of cylinders. The side guide device according to claim 9.

12. a rolling mill for rolling the metal strip conveyed along the conveying line; a side guide device according to claim 5 configured to guide the metal strip; Rolling equipment equipped with:

13. A rolling mill for rolling a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line; a side guide device according to claim 9 configured to guide the metal strip; Rolling equipment equipped with:

14. 1. A control method for controlling a side guide device for guiding a metal strip conveyed along a conveying line, comprising: The side guide device a pair of guide portions provided on both sides of the conveying line; a driving unit for moving the pair of guide units in the width direction of the metal strip; Including, a step of reciprocating the pair of guide parts along the width direction within an area outside an extension range of the metal strip in the width direction when the center of the metal strip and the center of the conveying line are aligned, while maintaining a distance in the width direction between the pair of guide parts wider than the width of the metal strip, In the step, the pair of guide parts are repeatedly reciprocated along the width direction while both of the pair of guide parts are moved in the same direction in the width direction, or while the distance between the pair of guide parts in the width direction is maintained at a specified distance. Control method.

Images