Winding method and system

Abstract

A method and a system for winding a continuously produced metal band in which the metal band is guided via a guide pulley that is positioned in a first pulley position and belongs to a pair of guide pulleys. The metal band is guided along a first transport path to a first reel and divided upstream of the pair of guide pulleys. The guide pulley of the pair of guide pulleys is repositioned into a second pulley position, in which the metal band is guided via the guide pulley along a second transport path to a second reel. The repositioning of the guide pulley depends on the thickness of the metal band and / or the transport speed of the metal band and is undertaken either before or after the dividing of the metal band.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip.PRIOR ART

[0002] So-called “endless strip production” (ESP) in a combined casting and rolling machine has established itself as a particularly efficient process for the production of thin metal strips, which involves rolling a continuously cast metal strand to the desired strip thickness immediately downstream of a corresponding casting machine. A strip produced in this way is usually divided for storage and transport, and the resulting strip portions are wound into metal bundles, so-called “coils” by means of reels (often referred to as “down coilers”). To be able to maintain continuous production of the metal strip, several reels are provided, to which the strip portions can be selectively fed.

[0003] If a new strip portion is to be fed to another reel, a movable guide roller of a guide roller pair arranged directly in front of the currently active reel can be moved during operation in such a way that the new strip portion is transported past this reel to the other reel.

[0004] However, when producing thick metal strips with a strip thickness of, for example, more than 6-13 mm, such a procedure can no longer be used. In conventional combined casting and rolling machines, a movement of the guide roller leads to contact between the thick metal strip and the wall of the guide shaft leading to the currently still active reel. Therefore, thick metal strips, especially in conventional hot rolling mills without continuous operation, are usually produced in such a way that the metal strip portions are guided to different reels via a switchable switch instead of via the movement of the guide roller.

[0005] In order to maintain a strip tensile force, it is known from DE 101 62 433 A1 to provide at least two drive rollers adjustably in front of at least one winding reel such that at least two different drive directions of the metal strip can be specified by adjusting the drive rollers.

[0006] KR 2015 0073016 A discloses a downward clamping roller provided between a material distributor and a reel. A pressure roller arranged subsequently between the material distributor and the reel and a lateral guide can be omitted.

[0007] DE 196 20 696 A1 relates to the allocation of individual rolled material lots to respective reels and proposes arranging a driver downstream of flying shears, the rollers of which can be displaced in such a way that the plane defined by the two axes of the rollers can be pivoted from a substantially vertical position in such a way that a normal standing on this plane is pivoted in the direction of the first of the downstream reels.

[0008] KR 100 470 642 B1 relates to the guiding of the front and rear ends of a strip produced in a steel mill using a plurality of tensioning reels. A strip guide roller and a bending roller are provided, which are movable above a deflection roller in the circumferential direction of the deflection roller.

[0009] It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,737 A to rotate a strip guide element around an axis before dividing a strip, so that a pressure roller presses the strip onto a deflection roller, and to align a strip guide on a common tangent of a winding drum and the deflection roller.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for winding metal strips, in particular to enable changing between two reels in continuous operation even in the case of thick metal strips.

[0011] This object is achieved by a method and a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to the independent claims.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims and the following description.

[0013] In the case of a method for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to a first aspect of the invention, a metal strip is guided over a guide roller of a guide roller pair positioned in a first roller position along a first transport path to a first reel and divided upstream of the guide roller pair. Moreover, the guide roller of the guide roller pair is repositioned into a second roller position, in which the metal strip is guided over the guide roller along a second transport path to at least one second reel. According to the invention, the repositioning of the guide roller takes place depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip either before or after the dividing of the metal strip.

[0014] Upstream in the sense of the present invention is preferably understood as “before” with respect to a transport direction.

[0015] For example, if a dividing device is provided that is arranged upstream of the guide roller pair, a metal strip portion first passes the dividing device before reaching the guide roller pair.

[0016] One aspect of the invention is based on the approach of moving a repositionable guide roller of a guide roller pair at a point in time that depends on a thickness and / or a transport speed of a metal strip to be wound. This point in time is expediently timed to coincide with a point in time at which the metal strip is divided. The point in time can be selected such that, even in the case of thick metal strips with a strip thickness of 6-13 mm or more, no undesirable impairment of the metal strip and / or a system component occurs, for example, due to contact of the metal strip with a component of the reel feed or a reel shaft.

[0017] The point in time at which the guide roller is moved, for example, from a first roller position to a second roller position, can be before or after the point in time at which the metal strip is divided. When processing a thick metal strip, it is preferable to reposition the guide roller only after the metal strip has been divided. By dividing the metal strip, a gap can be created between the two metal strip ends created during dividing. If the gap is large enough, the guide roller can be repositioned while the gap passes the guide roller pair. In this case, the guide roller pair does not perform a guiding function during the repositioning of the guide roller, and unwanted contact of the (thick) metal strip running over the guide roller during normal operation with a system component of the reel device, in particular the guide shaft, can be prevented.

[0018] The size of the gap that can be created when dividing the metal strip preferably corresponds to the transport speed of the metal strip. Generally speaking, the lower the transport speed, the larger the gap that can be created. Since the volume flow remains constant in a continuous casting process, the transport speed usually depends on the thickness of the metal strip. Consequently, in the case of a thick metal strip, the gap can be large enough to allow the guide roller to be repositioned in a“contact-free” state.

[0019] In contrast, when processing a thin metal strip that is transported at high speed, it is preferable to reposition the guide roller already before dividing the metal strip. In the case of thin metal strips with a thickness of less than 6-13 mm, for example, there is no risk of contact with a system component due to the movement of the guide roller.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the invention and their further developments are described below. These embodiments can in each case be combined with each other as well as with the aspects of the invention described below, unless expressly excluded.

[0021] If the guide roller is repositioned only after the metal strip has been divided, it is preferable—as already described above—that the guide roller no longer contacts the metal strip during the repositioning. Therefore, in this case, the guide roller is preferably repositioned at a certain time interval from the dividing of the metal strip. For example, a predetermined waiting time can be observed from the point in time when the metal strip is divided before the guide roller is repositioned. The time interval or the predetermined waiting time expediently depends on the thickness of the metal strip and / or the transport speed of the metal strip. The time interval or the waiting time can then correspond precisely to the time span required for the gap between the two metal strip ends created during dividing to reach the guide roller pair.

[0022] The decision as to whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after the metal strip is divided should depend on whether the gap between the metal strip ends is sufficient to reposition the guide roller. Therefore, it is preferable to check whether a travel time required to reposition the guide roller is greater than a period of time during which the guide roller pair is not guiding any metal strip after the metal strip is divided, i.e. is “contact-free.” The guide roller is expediently repositioned either before or after the metal strip is divided based on a result of this test.

[0023] For example, if the metal strip is divided into a preceding metal strip portion wound with the first reel and a subsequent metal strip portion wound with the second reel, the test can be reliably carried out as follows:

[0024] The travel time required to reposition the guide roller is compared with a difference between a first time period and a second time period. The first time period is expediently defined by the dividing of the metal strip, on the one hand, and the arrival of a head end of the subsequent metal strip portion at the guide roller pair, on the other. The second time period is expediently defined by the dividing of the metal strip, on the one hand, and the exit of a tail end of the preceding metal strip portion from the guide roller pair, on the other. The difference between the first and second time periods therefore indicates the period of time during which no metal strip runs over the guide roller.

[0025] If the test shows that the difference between the first and second time periods is less than the travel time, the guide roller is expediently repositioned before the metal strip is divided. However, if the test shows that the difference between the first and second time periods is greater than the duration of the process, the guide roller can also be repositioned after the metal strip has been divided without interrupting system operation. Performing a test to determine whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after the metal strip has been divided enables flexible system operation with a wide range of strip thicknesses.

[0026] As an alternative to testing, the decision as to whether the guide roller should be repositioned before or after dividing the metal strip can also be made with minimal effort using a look-up table. For example, such a look-up table can be used to determine the strip thicknesses and / or transport speeds at which repositioning should occur before dividing and the strip thicknesses and / or transport speeds at which repositioning should occur after dividing the metal strip.

[0027] The strip thickness and / or the transport speed can be calculated for this purpose using an automation unit, for example, in so-called electrical and automation (EA) pre-calculations for the configuration of the system components. Alternatively, these parameters can also be measured using a sensor unit, for example, one or more sensors of a so-called measuring hut.

[0028] Of course, the strip thickness and / or transport speed determined in this way can, however, also be used as a basis for the test described further above, in particular for determining the first and / or second time period.

[0029] In order to provide sufficient time for repositioning the guide roller, particularly when processing thick metal strips, the transport speed on the first transport path is preferably increased after the metal strip has been divided. This allows the gap created during the dividing of the metal strip between the preceding metal strip portion and the following metal strip portion to be created with a predetermined size, in particular a minimum size. This increase in transport speed is consequently particularly advantageous if the guide roller is only repositioned after the metal strip has been divided. The increase in transport speed on the first transport path is expediently accompanied by an increase in the winding speed of the first reel.

[0030] In particular, the transport speed on the first transport path can be achieved by increasing the winding speed of the first reel. The preceding metal strip portion can thus be accelerated relative to the subsequent metal strip portion, and a gap created during the dividing of the metal strip can be enlarged, thus providing more time for repositioning the guide roller.

[0031] The winding method according to the invention can be advantageously used across a wide range of thicknesses. For example, metal strips with a thickness between 0.5 mm and 30 mm can be wound without difficulty. Therefore, it is advantageous that, as part of the method, the metal strip is produced in a continuous process by a combined casting and rolling machine, i.e. within the framework of an ESP, so that the metal strip, upon reaching the guide roller pair, has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm and / or up to 25.4 mm and more, preferably up to 30 mm and more.

[0032] If the metal strip has a thickness of, for example, 6 mm or less, the guide roller can be repositioned prior to dividing.

[0033] Consequently, for strip thicknesses of up to, for example, 6 mm, the conventional winding method or a conventional change of the winding means can be used. However, if the metal strip has a thickness of, for example, 13 mm or more, it is preferable that the guide roller is repositioned only after the metal strip has been divided. This ensures that mechanical impairment to the metal strip and / or a system component, in particular a reel feed or reel shaft, is avoided. In particular, for strip thicknesses of, for example, 6 mm or more, it may be possible to displace the roller after the strip has been divided. However, for strip thicknesses of, for example, 10-13 mm or more, it may be necessary to displace the roller after the strip has been divided.

[0034] The preferred point in time for repositioning the guide roller may depend on the system design, particularly the reel design, or the system operation. In particular, the limit value for a strip thickness at which a displacement of the guide roller is possible and / or necessary after the strip has been divided may depend on the casting or transport speed, the travel distance of an actuator for repositioning the guide roller, and / or the travel speed of the actuator.

[0035] A system for winding a continuously produced metal strip according to a second aspect of the invention comprises: (i) a guide roller pair with a repositionable guide roller; (ii) a first reel arranged downstream of the guide roller pair; (iii) at least one second reel arranged downstream of the first reel; (iv) at least one dividing device arranged upstream of the guide roller pair for dividing the metal strip; and (v) a control device configured to initiate a repositioning of the guide roller from a first roller position to a second roller position depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip, either before or after the dividing of the metal strip by means of the dividing device. In the first roller position, the metal strip can be guided along a first transport path to the first reel. In the second roller position, the metal strip can be guided along a second transport path to the at least one second reel.

[0036] Such a winding system can be used universally for continuously produced metal strips with a wide range of strip thicknesses and / or (associated) transport speeds. In particular, it can be used to wind both very thin metal strips, for example, with a strip thickness of approximately 1 mm or less, and very thick metal strips, for example, with a strip thickness of approximately 20 mm or more, in continuous operation. Consequently, the winding of even thick metal strips can be continued on a second reel without interrupting plant operation once the metal coil on a first reel has reached its specified size.

[0037] The system preferably has an actuator for repositioning the guide roller, the actuation of which allows the guide roller to be moved from the first to the second roller position and / or from the second to the first roller position. The control device can therefore be configured to send a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator. The control device preferably decides, for example, by means of appropriate control logic, based on the strip thickness and / or the transport speed, whether the actuation signal is sent before or after the metal strip is divided.

[0038] In one variant, the control device can determine the strip thickness and / or the transport speed itself, for example, if the control device is at least part of an automation unit. Alternatively, the control device can access sensor data that characterize the strip thickness and / or the transport speed and can be provided by a sensor unit.

[0039] The control device can be configured with hardware and / or software. The control device can, in particular, comprise a processing unit, preferably connected to a memory and / or bus system for data or signals. For example, the control device can comprise a microprocessor unit (CPU) or a module thereof and / or one or more programs or program modules. The control device can be configured to process commands implemented as a program stored in a memory system, to acquire input signals from a data bus, and / or to output signals to a data bus. A memory system can comprise one or more, in particular different, storage media, in particular optical, magnetic, solid-state, and / or other nonvolatile media. The program can be designed in such a way that it embodies or is capable of executing the methods described here, so that the control device can execute the steps of such methods and thus reposition the guide roller in a targeted manner before or after the metal strip is divided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of embodiments, which are explained in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0041] Therein, at least partially schematically:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an example of a system for winding a continuously produced metal strip;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a first roller position and a second roller position of a guide roller;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows an example of a divided metal strip with a gap formed by increasing a winding speed of a preceding metal strip portion; and

[0045] FIG. 4 shows an example of a method for winding a metal strip.

[0046] Where appropriate, the same reference signs are used in the figures for the same or corresponding elements of the invention.DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an example of a system 1 for winding a continuously produced metal strip 2 with a guide roller pair 10 with a repositionable guide roller 11 and a support roller 12, a first reel 20, a second reel 30, a dividing device 40 for dividing the metal strip 2, a control device 50, a sensor unit 60 and an actuator 70 for repositioning the guide roller 11. The control device 50 is expediently connected to the dividing device 40, the sensor unit 60 and the actuator 70 in terms of data or signals.

[0048] The system 1 can be part of a combined casting and rolling plant designed for so-called “endless strip production” (ESP), i.e. for the continuous production of the metal strip 2. In addition to a casting machine (not shown), such a combined casting and rolling plant expediently also includes one or more rolling stands (not shown) in which the cast metal strand is rolled into the metal strip 2.

[0049] The system 1, and possibly also the combined casting and rolling plant, expediently comprises means, not shown, for transporting the metal strip 2. These transport means may, for example, comprise driven transport rollers. The reels 20, 30 may also be at least part of these transport means, with the metal strip 2 being pulled along by winding on the corresponding reel 20, 30.

[0050] The transport means are expediently configured to transport the metal strip 2 along a transport direction 3. In the example shown, this transport direction 3 runs at least substantially horizontally. With respect to the transport direction 3, the first reel 20 is arranged downstream of the guide roller pair 10, and the second reel 30 is arranged downstream of the first reel 20, so that the guide roller pair 10 can guide the metal strip 2 selectively to the first reel 20 or to the second reel 30. If necessary, at least one further reel can also be provided downstream of the second reel 30. The dividing device 40 is arranged upstream of the guide roller pair 10.

[0051] In the example shown, the first reel 20 is arranged below the guide roller pair 10, so that the metal strip 2 runs downwards over the guide roller 11 arranged below the metal strip 2 into a guide shaft 21 leading to the first reel 20. The path of the metal strip 2 between the guide roller 11 and the first reel 20 defines a first transport path 22, which is indicated in FIG. 1 as a dotted oval.

[0052] In principle, the first reel 20 could, however, also be arranged above the guide roller pair 10. In this case, the metal strip 2 would run over the guide roller 11 arranged above the metal strip 2 along the first transport path 22 upwards to the first reel 20.

[0053] In the example shown, the guide shaft 21 is formed by a first guide element 23, for example, a chute or a guide table, and a second guide element 24, which may optionally also be designed to be movable, for example, as a switch.

[0054] As already indicated above, the guide roller pair 10 can also guide the metal strip 2 past the first reel 20 to the second reel 30. In this case, the metal strip 2 is transported via the second guide element 24, which expediently has several transport rollers 25 on its upper side. In this case, the second guide element 24 supports the metal strip 2 during transport to the second reel 30. The path of the metal strip 2 over the second guide element 24 is plotted by dashed lines in FIG. 1 and defines a second transport path 32.

[0055] Whether the guide roller pair 10 guides the metal strip 2 to the first or second reel 20, 30 is determined by the positioning of the guide roller 11, in particular relative to the support roller 12, when a head end of the metal strip 2, i.e. the start of the strip of the metal strip 2, arrives at the guide roller pair 10.

[0056] If the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3, i.e. the axis 11a of the guide roller 11 is arranged upstream of the axis 12a of the support roller 12, the incoming head end of the metal strip 2 is directed onto the first transport path 22. If the guide roller 11 and the support roller 12 are at the same height with respect to the transport direction 3 or if the guide roller 11 is positioned downstream of the support roller 12, i.e. if the axis 11a of the guide roller 11 is located downstream of the axis 12a of the support roller 12, the incoming head end of the metal strip 2 is directed onto the second transport path 32.

[0057] The position of the guide roller 11, in particular relative to the support roller 12, can be changed by actuating the actuator 70. In particular, the guide roller 11 can be moved by means of the actuator 70 from a first roller position, in which the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3, to a second roller position, in which the guide roller 11 and the support roller 12 are preferably at the same height with respect to the transport direction 3, or the guide roller 11 is even positioned downstream of the support roller 12. For this purpose, the control device 50 can be configured to send a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator 70.

[0058] In order to enable substantially continuous winding of the metal strip 2 on the first and second reels 20, 30, regardless of the strip thickness, the control device 50 is expediently configured to initiate a change in the position of the guide roller 11 depending on a thickness of the metal strip 2 and / or a transport speed of the metal strip 2, before or after the metal strip 2 is divided by means of the dividing device 40. Continuous winding of the metal strip 2 is understood to mean a change of the winding means, in particular from the first reel 20 to the second reel 30, which is carried out without interrupting the production process of the metal strip 2. The circumstances in which the guide roller 11 is repositioned before or after the metal strip 2 is divided will be explained in greater detail below in connection with FIG. 2.

[0059] Using the data or signal connection to the dividing device 40, the control device 50 can precisely coordinate the point in time at which the guide roller 11 is repositioned with the point in time at which the metal strip 2 is divided. For example, the dividing device 40 can provide a signal or data that characterizes the time of dividing. Alternatively, the control device 50 can also be configured to cause the dividing device 40 to divide the metal strip 2 at a predetermined point in time.

[0060] Information about the thickness and / or transport speed of the metal strip 2 can be received by the control device 50 from the sensor unit 60. The sensor unit 60 is configured to measure the thickness and / or transport speed of the metal strip 2. Alternatively or additionally, these parameters can also be determined, in particular calculated, by the control device 50 itself, for example, if the control device 50 is at least part of an automation unit.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a first roller position P1 and a second roller position P2 of a guide roller 11. In the first roller position P1, the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of a support roller 12, with which the guide roller 11 forms a guide roller pair, with respect to a transport direction 3 of a metal strip 2 guided by the guide roller pair. In the second roller position P2, however, the guide roller 11 is preferably arranged at the same height as the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3 or is positioned downstream of the support roller 12. This is indicated by the vertical dashed line, which runs perpendicular to the transport direction 3.

[0062] During repositioning, the guide roller 11 is advantageously moved parallel to the transport direction 3. The travel distanced traveled is preferably quite large in comparison with a thickness of the metal strip 2 of a few millimeters, so that the guide roller pair can reliably guide a head end 4 of the metal strip 2 into a guide shaft 21 to a first reel (not shown) when the guide roller 11 is in the first roller position P1. The travel distance d can, for example, be approximately ten to one hundred times the strip thickness. A typical travel distance dis approximately 200 mm to 350 mm.

[0063] If the metal strip 2 is guided via the guide roller 11 to the first reel, the metal strip 2 passes through the guide shaft 21 on a first transport path 22, indicated by dashed lines. The guide shaft 21 is delimited on one side by a second guide element 24. A gap 26 between the guide roller 11 in the second roller position P2 and the second guide element 24 must be very narrow, for example, 10 mm or less, so that a head end 4 of a very thin metal strip 2 can be guided from the guide roller 11 over the gap 26 onto a second transport path 32, also indicated by dashed lines, to a second reel (not shown). If the width of the gap 26 is chosen to be too large, there is a risk that the very thin metal strip 2 will bend too much due to its own weight and that its head end 4 will hit the side of the second guide element 24 instead of running along its surface.

[0064] While a thin metal strip 2 with a thickness of less than 6-13 mm can be fed to the first reel via the first transport path 22 without any problems, in particular without colliding with the guide shaft 21 or the second guide element 24, even when the guide roller 11 is in the second roller position P2, this is not possible for thick metal strips 2 with a thickness of 6-13 mm or more. Such thick metal strips 2 can only be safely fed to the first reel via the first transport path 22 when the guide roller 11 is in the first roller position P1. If a thick metal strip 2 is initially wound using the first reel, and the winding is to be continued using the second reel, the guide roller 11 can therefore only be positioned in the second roller position P2 when no more metal strip 2 passes through the guide shaft 21 or at least no more metal strip 2 is arranged between the guide roller 11 and the second guide element 24.

[0065] The exact strip thickness at which the guide roller 11 can be displaced after dividing the metal strip 2 depends on the casting speed and thus also the transport speed. At low speeds, the strip can be thinner, while at high casting speeds, this is only possible in the case of thicker strip thicknesses.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows an example of a metal strip divided into a preceding metal strip portion 2a and a subsequent metal strip portion 2b. The preceding metal strip portion 2a runs over a guide roller 11 of a guide roller pair 10 on a first transport path 22 to a first reel 20. The guide roller 11 is positioned in a first roller position. In this first roller position, the guide roller 11 is positioned upstream of a support roller 12 of the guide roller pair 10 with respect to a transport direction 3.

[0067] When the metal strip is divided, a gap L is formed between ahead end 4 of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b and a tail end 5 of the preceding metal strip portion 2a. The gap L can be further enlarged after dividing, for example, by increasing the winding speed of the first reel 20.

[0068] By forming the gap L, sufficient time can be gained to position the guide roller 11 in a second roller position, in which the guide roller 11 is preferably at the same height as the support roller 12 with respect to the transport direction 3, or even downstream of the support roller 12, before the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b reaches the guide roller pair 10. It is expedient to start repositioning the guide roller 11 only after the tail end 5 of the preceding metal strip portion 2a has left the guide roller pair 10. If the metal strip is a thick metal strip with a strip thickness of, for example, more than 6-13 mm, this can prevent the preceding metal strip portion 2a from becoming clamped between the guide roller 11 and a second guide element 24 arranged downstream of the guide roller pair 10.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows an example of a method 100 for winding a metal strip 2.

[0070] In a method step S1, the metal strip 2 is guided to a first reel 20 by means of a guide roller pair 10. The metal strip 2 runs over a guide roller 11 of the guide roller pair 10, which is located in a first roller position, on a first transport path 22 to the first reel 20.

[0071] In a further method step S2, a decision is made as to whether the guide roller 11 should be repositioned into a second roller position before or after the metal strip 2 has been divided by means of a dividing device 40. For this purpose, it can be checked, for example, whether a travel time required to reposition the guide roller 11 is greater than a time period during which the guide roller pair 10 does not guide any metal strip 2 after the metal strip 2 has been divided. If this is not the case, i.e. there is sufficient time to reposition the guide roller 11, as already described above in connection with FIG. 3, the metal strip 2 is first divided in a further method step S3a using the dividing device 40. When the metal strip 2 is divided, a preceding metal strip portion 2a with a tail end 5 and a subsequent metal strip portion 2b with a head end 4 are created. In method step S3a, the winding speed of the first reel 20 and thus the transport speed on the first transport path 22 is expediently increased simultaneously or at least immediately after the metal strip 2 has been divided.

[0072] As soon as the tail end 5 of the preceding metal strip portion 2a has left the guide roller pair 10, a time window opens for the repositioning of the guide roller 11. Accordingly, in a further method step S4a, the guide roller 11 is moved into the second roller position—as indicated by the arrow.

[0073] The end of this time window is defined by the arrival of the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b at the guide roller pair 10. At this point in time, the guide roller 11 is already in the second roller position. Accordingly, in a further method step S5a, the guide roller pair 10 guides the subsequent metal strip portion 2b on a second transport path 32 to a second reel (not represented). The preceding metal strip portion 2a wound using the first reel 20 can be removed, thus preparing the first reel 20 for reuse.

[0074] If the test in method step S2 reveals that the travel time required to reposition the guide roller 11 is greater than the time period during which the guide roller pair 10 does not guide any metal strip 2 after the metal strip 2 has been divided, the guide roller 11 is first moved to the second roller position in a further method step S3b. This is indicated by the arrow.

[0075] After the guide roller 11 is positioned in the second roller position, the metal strip 2 can be divided using the dividing device 40. This takes place in the further method step S4b.

[0076] When the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b reaches the guide roller pair 10, the subsequent metal strip portion 2b is guided onto the second transport path 32. In a further method step S5b, the subsequent metal strip portion 2b is subsequently fed to the second reel via the guide roller 11 on the second transport path 32.

[0077] Whether the time window in which the guide roller pair 10 is not guiding a metal strip 2 is sufficient to reposition the guide roller 11 depends largely on the transport speed at which the preceding metal strip portion 2a is transported and the transport speed at which the subsequent metal strip portion 2b (on the first transport path 22) is transported. The transport speed of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b is usually constant and corresponds to the thickness of the metal strip 2, since the mass flow is constant in the case of a continuously produced metal strip 2. Since the metal strip 2 is divided, the transport speed of the preceding metal strip portion 2a can be adjusted independently, for example, via the winding speed of the first reel 20. This speed is nevertheless generally limited.

[0078] Therefore, if the metal strip 2 is a thin metal strip 2 with a strip thickness of, for example, 6.5 mm or less, the transport speed of the preceding metal strip portion 2a can only be increased slightly above the transport speed of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b specified by the manufacturing process of the metal strip 2. In the case of such a metal strip 2, the head end 4 of the subsequent metal strip portion 2b consequently reaches the guide roller pair 10 before the guide roller 11 can be positioned in the second roller position.

[0079] Consequently, the test in method step S2 can be based on the thickness of the metal strip 2 and / or the transport speed. Alternatively, the decision in method step S2 as to whether the guide roller 11 should be moved before or after the metal strip 2 is divided can also be made by using a lookup table containing instructions regarding the time of repositioning the guide roller 11 depending on the strip thickness and / or the transport speed.

[0080] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.List of reference signs 1System 2Metal strip 2aPreceding metal strip portion 2bSubsequent metal strip portion 3Transport direction 4Head end 5Tail end 10Guide roller pair 11Guide roller 11aAxis 12Support roller 12aAxis 20First reel 21Guide shaft 22First transport path 23First guide element 24Second guide element 25Transport rollers 26Gap 30Second reel 32Second transport path 40Dividing device 50Control device 60Sensor unit 70Actuator100MethodS1-S5a, bMethod stepsP1First roller positionP2Second roller positionLGapdTravel distance

Claims

1. A method for winding a continuously produced metal strip, havingguiding a metal strip over a guide roller of a guide roller pair positioned in a first roller position along a first transport path to a first reel,dividing the metal strip upstream of the guide roller pair, andrepositioning the guide roller of the guide roller pair into a second roller position, in which the metal strip is guided over the guide roller along a second transport path to at least one second reel,wherein the repositioning of the guide roller takes place depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip either before or after the dividing of the metal strip.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide roller, when repositioned after the dividing of the metal strip, is repositioned at a time interval from the dividing of the metal strip which depends on the thickness of the metal strip and / or the transport speed of the metal strip.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a check is performed as to whether a travel time required to reposition the guide roller is greater than a time period in which the guide roller pair does not guide a metal strip after the metal strip has been divided, and the guide roller is repositioned on the basis of a result of this check either before or after the metal strip has been divided.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe metal strip is divided into a preceding metal strip portion, which is wound with the first reel, and a subsequent metal strip portion, which is wound with the second reel, andthe check is based on a difference between a first time period from the dividing of the metal strip until the arrival of a head end of the subsequent metal strip portion at the guide roller pair and a second time period from the dividing of the metal strip until the exit of a tail end of the preceding metal strip portion from the guide roller pair.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a decision as to whether the repositioning of the guide roller should take place before or after the dividing of the metal strip is made on the basis of a look-up table.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the metal strip and / or the transport speed is calculated using an automation unit or measured using a sensor unit.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport speed on the first transport path is increased after the metal strip has been divided in order to create a gap (of a predetermined size between the preceding metal strip portion and the subsequent metal strip portion during the dividing of the metal strip.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal strip is produced in a continuous process by a combined casting and rolling plant, so that the metal strip has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.8 mm, and / or of up to 25.4 mm or more, preferably of up to 30 mm or more, upon reaching the guide roller pair.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide roller is already repositioned before the metal strip is divided if the metal strip has a thickness of 6 mm or less, and is repositioned only after the metal strip is divided if the metal strip has a thickness of 6-13 mm or more.

10. A system for winding a continuously produced metal strip, havinga guide roller pair with a repositionable guide roller,a first reel arranged downstream of the guide roller pair,at least one second reel arranged downstream of the first reel,at least one dividing device arranged upstream of the guide roller pair for dividing the metal strip, anda control device configured to reposition the guide roller from a first roller position, in which the metal strip can be guided over the guide roller along a first transport path to the first reel, to a second roller position, in which the metal strip can be guided along a second transport path to the at least one second reel, depending on a thickness of the metal strip and / or a transport speed of the metal strip either before or after dividing the metal strip by means of the dividing device.

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