Coil Box Roller Wear Balancing Through Independent Drive Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rollers in metal processing coil boxes experience uneven wear due to different loads and angles of attack, leading to reduced service life and increased maintenance times, especially when multiple rollers are driven by a common drive train.

Innovation Solution

A device with adjustable rollers, each driven by its own drive train, equipped with a wear determination system that adjusts manipulated variables such as rotational speed, torque, and position to optimize wear distribution, using sensors and theoretical models to monitor and mitigate wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple rollers are driven by a common drive train, then device complexity is reduced, but wear distribution becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive train structureVSAvoidwear distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the common drive train into separate individual drive trains for each roller. This segmentation allows each roller to be controlled independently, enabling uniform wear distribution across all rollers while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of roller parameters (rotational speed, torque, position) through individual drives and a control unit. This dynamic control enables real-time optimization of wear distribution based on actual operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and uniform wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If roller parameters are fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but service life is shortened due to uneven wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller parameter controlVSAvoidroller service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms fixed roller parameters into dynamically adjustable parameters through individual drives and control unit. This enables continuous optimization of roller operating conditions to minimize wear, thereby extending roller service life while maintaining acceptable control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a determination unit monitors roller wear and the control unit adjusts roller parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control optimizes wear distribution and extends service life while managing system complexity through intelligent control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If wear is not monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring systemVSAvoidmaintenance downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a wear determination unit that continuously monitors roller wear and provides feedback to the control unit. This enables predictive maintenance by detecting wear trends before they lead to failures, reducing unplanned downtime while maintaining acceptable monitoring system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary wear detection and analysis to predict future wear patterns. This allows maintenance to be scheduled proactively based on actual wear conditions rather than fixed schedules, reducing overall maintenance downtime while implementing a monitoring system of appropriate complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3584016B1Wear reduction in coil box rollers
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP3584016B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584016B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3584016B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device and method for winding and/or unwinding a strip (1), preferably for winding a metal strip into a coil (2) in metal processing, wherein the device comprises: several rollers (10a, 10b, 11, 20a, 20b) which are arranged to be in contact with the strip (1) at least temporarily, wherein at least one of the rollers (10a, 10b, 11, 20a, 20b) has one or more adjustable control variables which can be set by an adjusting device (40); a wear detection device (50) which is arranged to determine a wear condition of at least one of the rollers (10a, 10b, 11, 20a, 20b); wherein the adjusting device (40) is arranged to adjust one or more of the control variables taking into account the determined wear condition.