Capturing a surface structure of a driver in a rolling mill

Abstract

The invention relates to a driver (51) and to a method for operating a driver (51) of a rolling mill having a reel, the driver (51) being designed to control the feeding of the rolled material to the reel by means of a driver roll (5, 53, 55) which contacts the rolled material. The driver (51) has a sensor unit (1) for capturing a surface structure of the driver roll (5, 53, 55). The sensor unit (1) comprises a sensor support (9) with a plurality of laser sensors (7) which are designed to each output a divergent laser light beam (23) onto the surface (54, 56) of the driver roll (53, 55) and to receive laser light (29). The driver (5) can have a control unit (11) for capturing the surface structure of the driver roll (53, 55) on the basis of the reflected laser light (29). For the purpose of demounting, the sensor unit (1) can be arranged such that it can be removed from the driver (51) by means of a lifting device or such that it can be laterally led out of the driver (51).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Capturing a surface structure of a driver in a

[0003] rolling mill

[0004] The invention relates to a driver and a method for operating a driver (51) for a rolling mill equipped for rolling a rolled stock, which has a reel equipped for winding the rolled stock, wherein the driver is designed to control the feed of the rolled stock to the reel using at least one driver roller contacting the rolled stock. Since the driver roller contacts the rolled stock, defects in the surface of the driver roller have a direct effect on the rolled stock. Such defects are, in particular, deposits on the surface of the driver roller. For example, oxide layers (scale) can form on the hot surface of the rolled stock due to the process. Small pieces of scale can then adhere to the surface of the driver roller and thus form defects. In particular, detachments of lateral guides (chips) in front of the reel, especially when rolling silicon materials, lead to damage to the driver roller and deposits on the driver roller.Other undesirable process effects, such as so-called "walkers" or cracks in the rolled stock, can also damage the surface of the driver roll. Due to the typically long downtime of the driver roll (often several weeks), these effects accumulate and impair the surface of the rolled stock unless they are detected and remedied. This leads to a reduction in the quality of the rolled stock.

[0005] Currently, driver rolls are typically visually inspected manually by a line operator during production downtimes. Such inspections typically occur when a surface defect on the rolled stock is discovered, for example, by a surface inspection device. By this time, however, the driver rolls are usually already damaged or contaminated. If necessary, an attempt is also made to manually remove buildup using a grindstone (attached to a long rod). This requires a line operator to climb onto a roller table. On the one hand, this compromises the operator's safety, and on the other hand, ineffective manual grinding, short inspection intervals, and human error (missing defects) lead to a reduction in production quality.

[0006] CN 114112908 A discloses a device comprising a plurality of laser heads mounted on a frame for scanning a roll surface of a roll for rolling a rolled product. The frame can be moved along the roll to be measured. The projection planes of the individual laser beams each run perpendicular to the roll axis.

[0007] EP 1 120 628 A1 discloses a device for measuring the contour, the horizontal curvature, and / or the horizontal position of a roll of a rolling stand, with contactless distance sensors, by means of which a distance to the outer surface of the roll can be measured without contact. The device has at least one measuring beam arranged parallel to the roll at a fixed distance therefrom, and on which the distance sensors are arranged spaced apart from one another in its axial direction. The distance sensors are designed either as eddy current sensors or as optical sensors.

[0008] CN 206772226 U discloses a measuring device with several laser line triangulation sensors and an encoder to detect the movement and size of a measuring object.

[0009] EP 3 663 017 A1 discloses a monitoring device for monitoring the wear condition of a strand guide roller of a continuous casting plant. The monitoring device comprises a determination unit for determining one or more wear-dependent condition parameters of the strand guide roller and a connecting element by means of which the monitoring device can be pivotally connected to a cold strand link chain.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of enabling an improved detection of defects in a surface of a driver roller.

[0011] The object is achieved according to the invention by a driver having the features of claim 1 and a method for operating such a driver having the features of claim 11.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] A sensor unit according to the invention for detecting a surface structure of a surface of a measuring object comprises

[0014] - a sensor carrier,

[0015] - several laser sensors arranged next to each other along a sensor axis and each firmly connected to the sensor carrier, whereby

[0016] - each laser sensor is designed as a laser line triangulation sensor, which is arranged to output a divergent laser light beam, which widens fan-like around a main output direction of the laser sensor, and to receive laser light, wherein

[0017] - the main output directions of all laser sensors match and

[0018] - the laser light beams of all laser sensors are concentrated in one plane.

[0019] The sensor unit according to the invention enables contact-free detection of a surface structure of a surface of a measurement object. For this purpose, the sensor unit has a plurality of laser sensors, each of which is designed as a laser line triangulation sensor. The laser sensors are arranged next to one another along a sensor axis and emit laser light beams that are concentrated in one plane and are identically aligned. By irradiating the surface of the measurement object with the laser light beams emitted by the laser sensors, the sensor unit can thus detect a surface structure of a region of the surface of the measurement object that lies in the plane in which the laser light beams are concentrated and is thus essentially one-dimensional.By rotating the measuring object about an axis parallel to the sensor axis of the sensor unit during the measurement, the recording of the surface structure can be extended to a two-dimensional area of ​​the surface of the measuring object. The result of such a measurement can be represented as a two-dimensional data matrix which assigns a distance from the longitudinal axis of the measuring object and an intensity value for laser light reflected from the surface, which is received by the sensor unit, to each point on the surface of the measuring object specified by two coordinates. By using an intelligent algorithm, the data matrix can be used, for example, to analyze deviations in the height profile of the surface of the measuring object and the intensity of the reflection, to detect surface defects and to document wear.

[0020] The measurement object can, in particular, be a driver roller of a driver for feeding a rolled product to the reel in a rolling mill. The sensor unit according to the invention thus enables, in particular, the detection of the surface structure of such a driver roller and thus the detection of defects in the surface of the driver roller.

[0021] In one embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention, the sensor carrier has a housing that surrounds all of the laser sensors. The housing can protect the laser sensors from adverse environmental influences. This is particularly advantageous when the measurement object is a driver roll, since very harsh conditions prevail in the vicinity of a driver roll, particularly when rolling stock is guided by the driver having the driver roll. In a further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention, the housing has a viewing window for each laser sensor, through which light from the laser sensor can be emitted and received. The viewing windows can, for example, each have a glass plate to protect the laser sensors. Furthermore, instead of one viewing window for each laser sensor, the housing can have one viewing window for all of the laser sensors, which window can also have a glass plate.

[0022] A further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention comprises a pressure-generating device configured to generate an overpressure in the housing. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to prevent or reduce the ingress of particles, moisture, and steam into the housing due to the overpressure. Furthermore, this reduces the risk of condensation forming on the laser sensors.

[0023] A further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention comprises a cooling system designed to cool the laser sensors. This advantageously prevents overheating of the laser sensors.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention, the cooling system for each laser sensor has at least one heat sink which is in contact with the laser sensor and is designed to conduct a cooling liquid, and the cooling system has cooling lines through which all of the heat sinks can be supplied with the cooling liquid. Water, for example, is used as the cooling liquid. The supply lines to the cooling system are designed, for example, to be pluggable onto the sensor carrier. This allows the sensor unit to be easily connected to or disconnected from the supply lines during installation and removal.A further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention has a cover plate which is movable between a first end position, in which the cover plate prevents the emission and reception of light by the laser sensors, and a second end position in which the cover plate enables the emission and reception of light by the laser sensors. The cover plate can protect the laser sensors or viewing windows from adverse environmental influences when the sensor unit is not in operation. This embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention is also particularly advantageous when the measurement object is a driver roller. In this case, the laser sensors can be protected by the cover plate in particular when a rolling stock is guided through the driver having the driver roller.

[0025] A further embodiment of the sensor unit according to the invention has a control unit which is set up to evaluate laser light received by the laser sensors, which is reflected from a region of the surface of the measurement object onto which laser light is emitted by the laser sensors, in order to detect the surface structure of the region of the surface of the measurement object. If the sensor unit has a pressure generating device, a cooling system and / or a cover plate, the control unit can further be set up to control these components of the sensor unit as well. Furthermore, the control unit can be set up to control a drive unit, by means of which the measurement object is rotated during operation of the sensor unit in order to detect the surface structure of a two-dimensional region of the surface of the measurement object.

[0026] In the method according to the invention for operating a sensor unit according to the invention, the sensor unit is arranged relative to the measuring object in such a way that the sensor axis of the sensor unit is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the measuring object and the laser light beams emitted by the laser sensors together irradiate an area of ​​the surface of the measuring object that extends over the entire length of the measuring object relative to the longitudinal axis. The sensor unit detects the surface structure of the area of ​​the surface of the measuring object that is irradiated with laser light by evaluating laser light received by the laser sensors and reflected from the surface of the measuring object. By irradiating an area of ​​the surface of the measuring object that extends over the entire length of the measuring object, a gapless detection of a surface structure of the surface of the measuring object along its entire length is made possible.

[0027] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the measurement object is rotated at least once by 360 degrees around its longitudinal axis while the laser light is being emitted onto its surface. The rotation of the measurement object by at least 360 degrees around its longitudinal axis advantageously enables detection of the surface structure of an entire surface of the measurement object, which can be turned toward the sensor unit by rotating the measurement object around its longitudinal axis.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, in order to calibrate the sensor unit, a calibration object is arranged on the measuring object, which has a surface with a known surface structure and extends along the entire length of the measuring object, laser light beams are emitted from the laser sensors of the sensor unit onto the surface of the calibration object and the sensor unit is calibrated in such a way that the surface structure determined by it by evaluating the laser light received by the laser sensors, which is reflected from the surface of the calibration object, corresponds to the known surface structure of the surface of the calibration object.Calibration of the sensor unit is particularly necessary because the laser light beams of neighboring laser sensors on the surface of the measuring object usually overlap when the laser light beams together irradiate an area of ​​the surface that extends over the entire length of the measuring object.

[0029] A driver according to the invention for a rolling mill equipped for rolling a rolled stock, which has a reel equipped for winding the rolled stock, is designed to control the feed of the rolled stock to the reel using a driver roll that contacts the rolled stock. The driver has a sensor unit according to the invention that is designed to detect a surface structure of a surface of the driver roll, wherein the sensor axis of the sensor unit is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the driver roll and the laser sensors of the sensor unit are designed to emit laser light beams onto a surface of the driver roll. The longitudinal axis of the driver roll is the axis of rotation about which the driver roll is rotatably mounted.

[0030] The wording that the driver has a driver roller and a sensor unit does not exclude the possibility that the driver has more than one driver roller and more than one sensor unit. Rather, this wording is to be understood to mean that the driver has at least one driver roller and at least one sensor unit. As a rule, a driver actually has at least two driver rollers. In this case, the driver preferably has a sensor unit according to the invention for each driver roller, which sensor unit is designed to detect a surface structure of a surface of the driver roller. Defects in the surface of the driver roller can advantageously be reliably detected using the sensor unit. If a defect is detected, it can be rectified or the driver roller can be replaced.

[0031] In one embodiment of the driver according to the invention, the sensor unit is arranged at a distance from the driver roller which enables the laser light beams emitted by the laser sensors to jointly irradiate an area of ​​the surface of the driver roller which extends over the entire length of the driver roller. When the driver roller is rotated by at least 360 degrees during a measurement, the surface structure of the entire outer surface of the driver roller can be detected. The distance of the longitudinal axis of the driver roller from the laser sensors of the sensor unit is expediently selected as a compromise between a minimum required distance, a desired accuracy of the measurement and a number of laser sensors in the sensor unit.As the distance decreases, the accuracy of the measurement increases, but at the same time the number of laser sensors required to cover the entire length of the driver roller with their laser light beams also increases. A suitable distance between the longitudinal axis of the driver roller and the laser sensors of the sensor unit is, for example, in a range of 400 mm to 450 mm. This distance enables a spatial resolution of the surface structure of the driver roller of approximately 230 pm in the direction of the driver roller’s longitudinal axis and of approximately 130 pm perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The laser light beams on the surface of the driver roller have, for example, an extension in the range of 200 mm to 300 mm along the longitudinal axis of the driver roller, and the laser light beams of any two adjacent laser sensors overlap on the surface of the driver roller along its longitudinal axis by, for example, approximately 20 mm.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the driver according to the invention, the sensor unit is arranged in the driver so that it can be removed, so that the sensor unit can be removed from the driver using a lifting device if the driver roller is arranged above the rolled stock when the rolled stock is passed through the driver, and if the driver roller is arranged below the rolled stock when the rolled stock is passed through the driver, the sensor unit is arranged so that it can be moved in the driver for removal, so that the sensor unit can be guided out of the driver by moving it. This embodiment of the driver according to the invention advantageously enables the sensor unit to be installed and removed from the driver relatively easily.

[0033] In the method according to the invention for operating a driver according to the invention, a surface structure of the surface of the driver roller is detected by means of the sensor unit only at times when no rolling stock is being guided through the driver.

[0034] 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 readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0035] FIG 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a sensor unit for detecting a surface structure of a measuring object,

[0036] FIG 2 a schematic diagram of the sensor unit shown in Figure 1 and the measuring object,

[0037] FIG 3 is a schematic side view of the sensor unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 and a part of the surface of the measuring object,

[0038] FIG 4 shows a calibration object arranged on the measuring object for calibrating the sensor unit shown in Figures 1 to 3,

[0039] FIG 5 the calibration object shown in Figure 4 and its arrangement on the measuring object relative to the sensor unit in a side view,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a driver for feeding a rolled stock to a reel in a rolling mill. Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0041] Figure 1 (FIG 1), Figure 2 (FIG 2) and Figure 3 (FIG 3) show an embodiment of a sensor unit 1 for detecting a surface structure of a surface 3 of a measurement object 5. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the sensor unit 1, Figure 2 shows a schematic sketch of the sensor unit 1 and the measurement object 5 and Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the sensor unit 1 and a part of the surface 3 of the measurement object 5.

[0042] The sensor unit 1 comprises several laser sensors 7, a sensor carrier 9, a control unit 11, a pressure generating device 13, a cooling system 15, a cover plate 17 and a drive unit 19.

[0043] The laser sensors 7 are arranged equidistantly next to one another along a sensor axis 21 and are each firmly connected to the sensor carrier 9. For example, the sensor carrier 9 has a profile rail to which the laser sensors 7 are attached. Each laser sensor 7 is designed as a laser line triangulation sensor, which is configured to output a divergent laser light beam 23 that expands fan-like from the laser sensor 7 around a main output direction 25 of the laser sensor 7. The main output directions 25 of all laser sensors 7 coincide, and the laser light beams 23 of all laser sensors 7 are concentrated in one plane. The laser sensors 7 each emit red laser light, for example; this is particularly advantageous if water droplets may be present on the surface 3 of the measurement object 5.

[0044] 2 and 3, the measurement object 5 is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis 27. In particular, the measurement object 5 can be a driver roller 53, 55 of a driver 51 for feeding a rolled stock to a reel in a rolling mill, see Figure 6 and its description. The sensor unit 1 is arranged relative to the measurement object 5 such that the sensor axis 21 of the sensor unit 1 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis 27 of the measurement object 5 and the laser light beams 23 emitted by the laser sensors 7 together irradiate an area of ​​the surface 3 of the measurement object 5 that extends over the entire length of the measurement object 5 relative to the longitudinal axis 27. The laser light beams 23 of any two adjacent laser sensors 7 overlap on the surface 3 of the measurement object 5. The laser sensors 7 are further each configured to receive laser light 29 reflected from the surface 3 of the measuring object 5.

[0045] The distance between the longitudinal axis 27 of the measuring object 5 and the laser sensors 7 of the sensor unit 1 is, for example, in a range from 400 mm to 450 mm. This distance enables a spatial resolution of the surface structure of the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 of approximately 230 pm in the direction of the longitudinal axis 27 of the measuring object 5 and of approximately 130 pm perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 27. The laser light bundles 23 on the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 have, for example, an extension in the range from 200 mm to 300 mm along the longitudinal axis 27 of the measuring object 5, and the laser light bundles 23 of any two adjacent laser sensors 7 overlap on the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 along the longitudinal axis 27 of the measuring object 5, for example by approximately 20 mm.

[0046] The sensor carrier 9 has a housing 31 that surrounds all of the laser sensors 7. The housing 31 has a viewing window 33 for each laser sensor 7, through which window light can be emitted and received by the laser sensor 7. The viewing windows 33 can, for example, each have a glass plate. Furthermore, instead of one viewing window 33 for each laser sensor 7, the housing 31 can have one viewing window 33 for all of the laser sensors 7, which window can also have a glass plate. The pressure generating device 13 is designed to generate an overpressure in the housing 31.

[0047] The cooling system 15 is designed to cool the laser sensors 7. For this purpose, the cooling system 15 has two plate-shaped heat sinks 35 for each laser sensor 7, each of which is in contact with the laser sensor 7 and is arranged on opposite sides of the laser sensor 7 and is each designed to conduct a cooling liquid. The cooling system 15 has cooling lines 37 through which all of the heat sinks 35 can be supplied with the cooling liquid and which are connected to an inlet 39 and an outlet 41 for the cooling liquid.

[0048] The cover plate 17 is movable between a first end position, in which it prevents the emission and reception of light by the laser sensors 7, and a second end position shown in Figure 3, in which it enables the emission and reception of light by the laser sensors 7. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the cover plate 17 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 43. In other embodiments, however, the cover plate 17 can also be designed differently, for example, displaceable or rotatable between the two end positions.

[0049] The drive unit 19 is configured to rotate the measuring object 5 about its longitudinal axis 27.

[0050] The control unit 11 is configured to control the output of laser light 23 by the laser sensors 7. Furthermore, the control unit 11 is configured to evaluate laser light 29 received by the laser sensors 7, which is reflected by a region of the surface 3 of the measurement object 5, in order to detect the surface structure of the region of the surface 3 of the measurement object 5. The described process for detecting the surface structure of a region of the surface 3 of the measuring object 5, which comprises the emission of laser light 23 by the laser sensors 7 onto the region of the surface 3 of the measuring object 5, the reception of laser light 29 reflected from the region of the surface 3 by the laser sensors 7 and the evaluation of the received laser light 29 by the control unit 11, is also referred to here as scanning the region of the surface 3 of the measuring object 5.

[0051] The control unit 11 is further configured to control the pressure generating device 13, the cooling system 15, the movement of the cover plate 17, and the drive unit 19. In particular, the control unit 11 is configured to control the drive unit 19 such that the measurement object 5 is slowly rotated by 360 degrees at least once (for example, for approximately 80 seconds for a rotation of 360 degrees) about the longitudinal axis 27 while laser light 23 is being emitted onto its surface 3, and to detect a surface structure of the entire surface 3 of the measurement object 5 by evaluating the laser light 29 received by the laser sensors 7.

[0052] For example, the control unit 11 comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the laser sensors 7, the pressure generating device 13, the cooling system 15, the movement of the cover plate 17, and the drive unit 19, and an additional computer for transmitting the raw data acquired by the laser sensors 7 and for evaluating this data. Alternatively, the control unit 11 can, for example, comprise an industrial computer that performs the functions of the programmable logic controller and the additional computer in one device.

[0053] For the electrical connections of the control unit 11 to the laser sensors 7, the sensor carrier 9 has, for example, at least one plug connection, via which the control unit 11 can be connected to at least one laser sensor 7. Figure 4 (FIG 4) and Figure 5 (FIG 5) illustrate a calibration of the sensor unit 1. To calibrate the sensor unit 1, a calibration object 45 is arranged on the measuring object 5 and extends along the entire length of the measuring object 5. In the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, the calibration object 45 has a tooth profile mounted on two parallel, cylindrical steel rods 47 with edges 49 rounded in the circumferential direction of the measuring object 5, so that the edges 49 are at the same distance from the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 everywhere.Figure 4 shows the calibration object 45 arranged on the measuring object 5 in a top view, and Figure 5 shows the calibration object 45 and its arrangement on the measuring object 5 relative to the sensor unit 1 in a side view. The steel rods 47 center the calibration object 45 automatically on the surface 3 of the measuring object 5. A slight tilt of the calibration object 45 along one of the curved arrows shown in Figure 5 is unproblematic, since the edges 49 are at the same distance from the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 everywhere.

[0054] The calibration is carried out by means of evaluation software executed by the control unit 11, which knows the exact dimensions and profile of the calibration object 45 as well as the positions of the individual laser sensors 7 relative to one another on the sensor carrier 9 and the alignment and shape of the laser light beams 23 emitted by the laser sensors 7. To calibrate the sensor unit 1, an area of ​​the surface of the calibration object 45 is scanned with the sensor unit 1. The profile of the calibration object 45 measured in this way is then mathematically compared by the evaluation software with the known actual profile of the calibration object 45. This comparison enables the evaluation software to locate the profile of the calibration object 45 in an absolute coordinate system, namely both the dimensions of the calibration object 45 and its spatial orientation in the coordinate system.Thus, after removing the calibration object 45, the sensor unit 1 also "sees" an area of ​​the surface 3 of the measuring object 5 in the absolute coordinate system and can measure the surface structure of this area in absolute values.

[0055] Figure 6 (FIG. 6) shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a driver 51 for feeding a rolled stock to a reel in a rolling mill. The driver 51 is set up to control the feeding of the rolled stock to the reel using two driver rollers 53, 55. A first driver roller 53 is arranged above the second driver roller 55 and can be pivoted about a tilting axis 59 by means of a first hydraulic cylinder 57. In order to guide the rolled stock through the driver 51, the first driver roller 53 is pivoted downwards from the position shown in Figure 6 so that it rests against the rolled stock and the rolled stock is guided between the two driver rollers 53, 55, the first driver roller 53 contacting an upper side of the rolled stock and the second driver roller 55 contacting an underside of the rolled stock.The rolled stock is fed to the driver 51 from the left via an inlet roller table 61, where it is guided by an inlet guide plate 63 and stabilized by a guide roller 65. The rolled stock runs out of the driver 51 to the right and, depending on the position of a switch 67, either diagonally downwards via an outlet guide plate 69 or essentially horizontally via a switch roller 68 of the switch 67. The position of the switch 67 is determined by means of a second

[0056] Hydraulic cylinder 71, by means of which the switch 67 is rotatable about a roller axis of the switch roller 68. Further details of the driver 51, which do not relate to its sensor units 1 described below, are known from EP 2 624 977 B1 and are not relevant to the invention and are therefore not described in detail here.

[0057] The driver 1 has, for each of the two driver rollers 53, 55, a sensor unit 1 according to the invention which is assigned to this driver roller 53, 55 and which was described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 and whose measurement object 5 is the respective driver roller 53, 55. The sensor unit 1 assigned to the first driver roller 53 is therefore set up to detect a surface structure of a surface 54 of the first driver roller 53. The sensor unit 1 assigned to the second driver roller 55 is set up to detect a surface structure of a surface 56 of the second driver roller 55. The sensor axis 21 of the sensor unit 1 assigned to the first driver roller 53 is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis 58 of the first driver roller 53, which is a rotational axis of the first driver roller 53.The sensor axis 21 of the sensor unit 1 assigned to the second driver roller 55 is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis 60 of the second driver roller 55, which is a rotational axis of the second driver roller 55. The laser sensors 7 of each sensor unit 1 are configured to output laser light beams 23 onto the surface 54, 56 of the driver roller 53, 55 to which the sensor unit 1 is assigned. Furthermore, each sensor unit 1 is arranged at a distance from the driver roller 53, 55 to which it is assigned, which distance enables the laser light beams 23 output by the laser sensors 7 of the sensor unit 1 to together irradiate an area of ​​the surface 54, 56 of this driver roller 53, 55 that extends over the entire length of the driver roller 53, 55. The distance of the longitudinal axis 58, 60 of a driver roller 53, 55 from the laser sensors 7 of the sensor unit 1 assigned to it is, for example, in a range of 400 mm to 450 mm.This distance is indicated in Figure 6 for the two driver rollers 53, 55 by a dashed circular line 70 which runs around the axis of rotation of the respective driver roller 53, 55.

[0058] The sensor unit 1 for the first driver roller 53 is not pivoted downwards when the first driver roller 53 is pivoted, but remains in the position shown in Figure 6. Each of the two sensor units 1 is arranged in the driver 51 so that it can be removed. The sensor unit 1 for the first driver roller 53 can be removed from the driver 51, for example using a lifting device. The sensor unit 1 for the second driver roller 55 is arranged so that it can be moved (with a corresponding locking option) in the driver 51 so that it can be guided out of the driver 51 through an access opening 73 in a frame part 75 of the driver 51.

[0059] The sensor units 1 are further configured to detect a surface structure of the surface 54, 56 of the respective driver roller 53, 55 only when no rolling stock is being guided through the driver 51. For example, the surfaces 54, 56 of the driver rollers 53, 55 are scanned by means of the sensor units 1 during rolling breaks and / or at least once a day when no rolling stock is being guided through the driver 51. To scan the surfaces 54, 56 of the driver rollers 53, 55, the latter are set into slow rotation about their longitudinal axes 58, 60 and rotated at least once through 360 degrees in order to scan the entire surfaces 54, 56 of the driver rollers 53, 55. For example, the duration of a rotation of each driver roller 53 , 55 by 360 degrees is approximately 80 s .The rotation of the driver rollers 53, 55 is controlled by the control unit 11 of the sensor unit 1, in that the control unit 11 transmits corresponding signals to a drive unit 19 for the driver rollers 53, 55. When a rolling stock is guided through the driver, the laser sensors 7 of the sensor units 1 are not activated, and the cover plates 17 of the sensor units 1 are preferably each moved to their first end position.

[0060] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. List of reference symbols

[0061] I Sensor unit

[0062] 3 Surface of a measuring object

[0063] 5 measuring object

[0064] 7 Laser sensor

[0065] 9 sensor carriers

[0066] II Control unit

[0067] 13 Pressure generating device

[0068] 15 Cooling system

[0069] 17 Cover plate

[0070] 19 Drive unit

[0071] 21 Sensor axis

[0072] 23 laser light beams

[0073] 25 Main output direction

[0074] 27 Longitudinal axis of a measuring object

[0075] 29 reflected laser light

[0076] 31 housings

[0077] 33 viewing windows

[0078] 35 heat sinks

[0079] 37 Cooling line

[0080] 39 Inlet

[0081] 41 Procedure

[0082] 43 Swivel axis

[0083] 45 Calibration object

[0084] 47 steel rod

[0085] 49 edge

[0086] 51 drivers

[0087] 53 first driver role

[0088] 54 Surface of the first driver roller

[0089] 55 second driver role

[0090] 56 Surface of the second driver roller

[0091] 57 first hydraulic cylinder

[0092] 58 Longitudinal axis of the first driver roller

[0093] 59 Tilting axis

[0094] 60 Longitudinal axis of the second driver roller

[0095] 61 Inlet roller conveyor

[0096] 63 Inlet guide plate

[0097] 65 Guide roller 67 Switch

[0098] 68 Switch roller

[0099] 69 Outlet baffle

[0100] 70 Circular line 71 Second hydraulic cylinder

[0101] 73 Access opening

[0102] 75 frame part

Claims

Patent claims 1. Driver (51) for a rolling mill designed to roll a rolling stock, which has a reel designed to wind up the rolling stock, wherein the driver (51) is designed to control the feeding of the rolling stock to the reel using a driver roller (5, 53, 55) contacting the rolling stock, and wherein the Driver (51) has a sensor unit (1) for detecting a surface structure of a surface (3, 54, 56) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55), the sensor unit (1) comprising: - a sensor carrier (9), - several laser sensors (7) which are arranged next to one another along a sensor axis (21) and are each firmly connected to the sensor carrier (9), wherein - each laser sensor (7) is designed as a laser line triangulation sensor, which is set up to output a divergent laser light beam (23), which widens fan-like from the laser sensor (7) around a main output direction (25) of the laser sensor (7), onto the surface (54, 56) of the drive roller (53, 55) and to receive laser light (29), wherein - the main output directions (25) of all laser sensors (7) match and - the laser light beams (23) of all laser sensors (7) are concentrated in one plane.

2. Driver (51) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor carrier (9) has a housing (31) surrounding all laser sensors (7).

3. Driver (51) according to claim 2, wherein the housing (31) has a viewing window (33) for each laser sensor (7) through which light from the laser sensor (7) can be output and received.

4. Driver (51) according to claim 2 or 3 with a pressure generating device (13) which is arranged to generate an overpressure in the housing (31).

5. Driver (51) according to one of the preceding claims with a cooling system (15) which is arranged to cool the laser sensors (7).

6. Driver (51) according to claim 5, wherein the cooling system (15) has at least one heat sink (35) for each laser sensor (7), which heat sink is in contact with the laser sensor (7) and is designed to conduct a cooling liquid, and wherein the cooling system (15) has cooling lines (37) through which all heat sinks (35) can be supplied with the cooling liquid.

7. Driver (51) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cover plate (17) which is movable between a first end position in which the cover plate (17) prevents the output and reception of light by the laser sensors (7), and a second end position in which the cover plate (17) enables the output and reception of light by the laser sensors (7).

8. Driver (51) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (11) which is configured to evaluate laser light (29) received by the laser sensors (7), which is reflected by a region of the surface (3, 54, 56) of the measurement object (5, 53, 55) onto which laser light (23) is emitted by the laser sensors (7), in order to detect the surface structure of the region of the surface (3, 54, 56) of the measurement object (5, 53, 55).

9. Driver (51) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (1) is arranged at a distance from the driver roller (53, 55) which allows a plurality of laser light beams (23) emitted by the laser sensors (7) to together form a continuous Irradiate the area of the surface (54, 56) of the driver roller (53, 55).

10. Driver (51) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (1) is arranged in the driver (51) in a removable manner, so that the sensor unit (1) can be removed from the driver (51) using a lifting device if the driver roller (53, 55) is arranged above the rolling stock when the rolling stock is passed through the driver (51), and if the driver roller (53, 55) is arranged below the rolling stock when the rolling stock is passed through the driver (51), the sensor unit is arranged in the driver (51) in a displaceable manner for removal, so that the sensor unit (1) can be guided out of the driver (51) by displacing it.

11. A method for operating a driver (51) designed according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (1) is arranged relative to the driver roller (5, 53, 55) in such a way that a plurality of laser light beams (23) emitted by the laser sensors (7) together irradiate a contiguous region of the surface (3, 54, 56) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55), and wherein the surface structure of the region of the surface (3, 54, 56) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55) irradiated with laser light (23) is detected by the sensor unit (1) by evaluating laser light (29) received by the laser sensors (7) and reflected by the surface (3, 54, 56) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor axis (21) of the sensor unit (1) is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis (27, 58, 60) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55) and the driver roller (5, 53, 55) is rotated at least once by 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis (27, 58, 60) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55) during the output of the laser light (23) onto its surface (3, 54, 56).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein for calibrating the sensor unit (1) on the drive roller (5, 53, 55) a A calibration object (45) is arranged which has a surface with a known surface structure, laser light beams (23) are emitted from the laser sensors (7) of the sensor unit (1) onto the surface of the calibration object, and the sensor unit (1) is calibrated in such a way that the surface structure determined by it by evaluating the laser light (29) received by the laser sensors (7) and reflected by the surface of the calibration object (45) corresponds to the known surface structure of the surface of the calibration object (45).

14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a surface structure of the surface (3, 54, 56) of the driver roller (5, 53, 55) is detected by means of the sensor unit (1) only at times when no rolling stock passes through the Driver (51).

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