Individually Adjustable Guide Rolls for Metal Product Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current guide apparatuses for rolling metal products face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and adjusting the roller guide gap during the rolling process, leading to non-uniform wear, misalignment, and failure to meet dimensional and geometric tolerances, especially for large-sized products.

Innovation Solution

A guide apparatus with independently adjustable guide rolls, each equipped with its own drive member and detection devices, allowing for precise adjustment of the roller guide gap and alignment with the rolling axis, even when installed on the rolling machine, using a control unit to command the drive members based on detected stress data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single drive is used to adjust both guide rolls, then the adjustment mechanism is simpler, but the ability to independently adjust each guide roll is lost, preventing precise alignment and compensation for non-uniform wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment mechanismVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is segmented into independent drive members for each guide roll. Each guide roll has its own motorized drive that can be controlled independently, allowing precise individual adjustment of each roll's position and angle. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high alignment precision while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If adjustment screws with clamping screws are used, then the adjustment is mechanically simple, but remote automation is prevented because the clamping screw blocks rotation of the adjustment screw

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment mechanismVSAvoidremote adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical adjustment system (adjustment screws with clamping screws) is replaced with an automated motorized drive system. Each guide roll is equipped with an electric motor that can be remotely controlled to adjust the roll position and angle. This substitution eliminates the need for physical clamping screws while enabling remote automation and precise control through electronic means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If guide rolls are not independently adjustable, then the device structure is simpler, but dimensional and geometric tolerances cannot be maintained for large-sized products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide apparatus structureVSAvoiddimensional and geometric tolerances
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide apparatus transitions from a static, fixed-configuration structure to a dynamic, independently adjustable system. Each guide roll can be individually positioned and angled through its own motorized drive, allowing the system to adapt to different product sizes and maintain precise dimensional and geometric tolerances. This dynamic capability is particularly important for large-sized products that require higher precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If manual adjustment is used, then the control system is simpler, but real-time adjustments and compensation for misalignments and wear are not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidmaintenance needs
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through detection devices that monitor the position, alignment, and operational status of each guide roll in real-time. This feedback is transmitted to the control system, which automatically adjusts the motorized drives to maintain optimal alignment and compensate for wear or misalignments. This closed-loop feedback control reduces maintenance needs by continuously optimizing system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3582908B1Apparatus and method to guide metal products
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 DANIELI & C OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
  • EP3582908B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3582908B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3582908B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatus to guide a metal product, the apparatus comprising: - a support body (11); - a plurality of support arms (12) associated with the support body (1 1); - a plurality of guide rolls (13) installed rotating in an idle manner on the support arms (12) and defining between them a roller guide gap (14) for the metal product; - adjustment devices (24) associated with the support arms (12) and provided to adjust, independently from each other, the position of each of the guide rolls (13); - detection devices (19) to detect the stresses induced by the metal product on the guide rolls (13).