Lateral Guide Rules with Actuating Drives for Slab Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lateral guide tracks for metal strips or slabs face issues such as inability to apply defined torque, leading to displacement and friction problems, resulting in discontinuous transport and potential sticking, especially when using roller guides or long guide rules.
Innovation Solution
A device with first and second guide rules, each connected to actuating drives that can move perpendicular to the transport direction, allowing for adjustable angles and distances relative to the transport track center, equipped with contact rollers to apply torque and reduce width, forming a compact guide chute or parallel guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If roller guides or parallel guides with mutually opposing guide rules are used, then lateral guidance of the metal strip or slab is achieved, but a defined torque cannot be exerted on the product and the product can be displaced between the guides
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rules are made movable in the lateral direction through actuating drives, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and apply torque to the product. The actuating drives enable the guide rules to move perpendicular to the transport direction, providing controlled lateral forces for centering and alignment while maintaining reliability through active control rather than passive guidance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pairs of guide rollers are spaced relatively widely from one another, then the slab can be centered at different locations, but the slab cannot be rotated in a defined manner between the pairs and lateral guidance is lost in the region between pairs
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral guidance system is divided into multiple independently controllable guide rules that can be positioned at different locations along the transport track. Each guide rule with its actuating drive functions as an independent unit that can apply lateral forces and torque to the product, enabling centering at multiple locations while maintaining continuous lateral guidance capability through coordinated operation of segmented guide elements.
3Manufacturing precision
If guide rules are moved up to the lateral edges of the slab, then lateral alignment is achieved, but high friction forces may cause discontinuous transport or the slab becoming stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating drives control the guide rules to apply optimized lateral forces that achieve precise alignment while maintaining friction levels within permissible limits. By dynamically adjusting the position and force application of the guide rules, the system achieves accurate lateral alignment without excessive friction that would cause the slab to become stuck, thereby maintaining continuous transport operation.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional guide rules are used, then lateral guidance is provided, but the guide rules are very long in design which has a negative effect on the lengths of the systems
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rules are designed as movable elements with actuating drives that can actively adjust their position laterally. This dynamic capability allows shorter guide rules to achieve the same lateral guidance effect as longer conventional rules, because the active control enables precise positioning and force application without requiring extended rule lengths. The actuating drives compensate for the reduced length by providing controlled lateral movement and torque application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick centering and alignment of the product on the transport track, preventing collisions and ensuring continuous transport by applying torque and reducing friction, thus maintaining product alignment and preventing sticking.
Implementation Method 1
the forces between the guide rules and the slab may potentially cause a high level of friction, which can lead to a discontinuous transport or to the slab becoming stuck
Implementation Method 2
at least one contact roller which can be placed in contact with a lateral edge of the cast product as the guide rule is moving in the direction of the rolled or cast product, specifically for the purpose of guiding the rolled or cast product and/or reducing the width thereof by compression
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for laterally guiding a slab (2) on a transport track (3), comprising a first guide rule (4) and a second guide rule (5). The guide rules (4, 5) are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the transport track (3) and are each connected to at least one actuating drive (6) so as to move in a direction of a width of the transport track (3). The actuating drive can be actuated perpendicularly to the transport direction (7) of the slab (2), wherein the respective longitudinal axis (4L, 5L) of the first guide rule (4) and/or the second guide rule (5) can be positioned at a specified angle (α) relative to the transport direction (7) of the slab (2). The first and/or the second guide rule (4, 5) has at least one contact roller (8) which can be brought into contact with a lateral edge of the slab (2) in order to guide and/or compress the slab (2).