Coiling Carousel On-Line Inspection Metal Strip

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing metal strip rolling mills face challenges in early detection of faults in rolled strips, such as surface, geometry, and thickness issues, without incurring significant economic losses due to separate off-line inspections, which are time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and installation for on-line inspection of continuously-rolled metal strips, involving a shears system to cut specimens, an insertion table for transporting them to an inspection table, and subsequent parallel movement for fault detection, allowing for rapid and cost-effective inspection within the rolling-coiling line, with optional features like specimen turning and cutting into pieces for waste disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate off-line inspection is implemented to detect faults in rolled strips, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection table is positioned to receive strip specimens before they enter the coiling station, allowing inspection to occur in advance of final coiling operations. This preliminary inspection enables fault detection without interrupting the main production flow, as defective specimens can be identified and removed before being coiled with good material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system segments the continuous strip into discrete specimens using shears that cut individual samples at the inspection table. This segmentation allows for targeted inspection of representative samples without requiring inspection of the entire continuous strip, significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining detection precision through statistical sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If separate off-line inspection is implemented to detect faults in rolled strips, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection table is positioned to receive strip specimens before they enter the coiling station, allowing inspection to occur in advance of final coiling operations. This preliminary inspection enables fault detection without interrupting the main production flow, as defective specimens can be identified and removed before being coiled with good material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system segments the continuous strip into discrete specimens using shears that cut individual samples at the inspection table. This segmentation allows for targeted inspection of representative samples without requiring inspection of the entire continuous strip, significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining detection precision through statistical sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If orienting systems or deflectors are used to direct strip to inspection table, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection table is merged with the coiling station structure, positioned upstream so that the same structural elements and support systems serve both inspection and coiling functions. This integration eliminates the need for separate orienting systems and deflectors, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to direct specimens to the inspection surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection table serves multiple functions: it acts as both an inspection surface and a positioning platform for specimens, while also integrating with the coiling station's mandrel positioning system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated orienting mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while maintaining inspection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9586250B2Tandem rolling mill output method and installation with coiling carousel coupled with on-line inspection

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 COCKERILL MAINTENANCE & INGIE SA

AI summary

Method for coiling and on-line inspection of a continuously-rolled metal strip, involving continuous coiling on at least one mandrel of a coiling station, preferably of carousel type, wherein: the strip is cut by a shears situated before the coiling station, advances over a certain length on an insertion table so as to at least partially cover this table and is then cut a second time by the shears in order to obtain a specimen; —the coiling performed on the mandrel is terminated and the coil is discharged from the coiling station; at the same time, the insertion table bearing the specimen is moved parallel to the rolling-coiling line until it lies in an inspection line comprising an inspection table; —the specimen is inspected on the inspection table so that faults can be detected; —once the specimen has left the insertion table, the latter is placed back in the rolling-coiling line.