Lateral Strip Guide Sensing for Rolling Mill Edge Contour Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the lateral strip contour and position of metal strips in rolling mills are complex, expensive, and prone to errors, particularly due to the use of cameras which require significant space and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Integrating sensing elements into side guides of the metal strip conveyor device, where the wear bodies with adjustment devices function both as guides and sensing elements, allowing for contact with the metal strip to collect measurement data on distance and force, thereby determining the lateral strip contour and position without the need for separate sensing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera equipment is used to monitor lateral strip contour, then measurement capability is provided, but device complexity and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lateral guide function with the measurement function into a single integrated device. The lateral guide that normally guides the metal strip is equipped with sensors that measure the lateral contour, eliminating the need for separate camera equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral guide is transformed into a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs guiding and measurement tasks. By integrating sensors into the existing lateral guide structure, the same component serves dual purposes, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If camera equipment is used for monitoring, then lateral strip contour can be detected, but maintenance requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical camera systems with mechanical/electrical sensor systems integrated into the lateral guide. These sensors directly contact or closely follow the strip edge, providing measurement data through mechanical means rather than optical detection, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.
3Measurement precision
If optical detection methods are used, then lateral strip contour can be measured, but measurement accuracy decreases under unfavorable environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detection with direct mechanical measurement using sensors integrated into the lateral guide. These sensors physically contact or closely track the strip edge, providing reliable measurements that are independent of lighting conditions, temperature, and other environmental factors that affect optical systems.
4Measurement precision
If separate sensing elements are integrated into lateral guides, then measurement capability is improved, but wear body service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensing function with the wear body itself, making the wear body the sensing element. This integration allows the measurement function to be performed by the existing wear body without adding separate sensing components that would accelerate wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear body serves dual purposes: guiding the strip and measuring its lateral contour. By making the wear body itself the sensing element, the system utilizes the existing component's interaction with the strip for measurement, avoiding additional wear from separate sensing elements.
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
This approach simplifies the determination of the lateral strip contour and position, extends the service life of wear bodies, reduces maintenance complexity, and allows for accurate measurement under various environmental conditions, enabling effective correction of strip run deviations.
Implementation Method 1
the wear bodies can, for example, be disc-shaped... the wear body adjustment device can comprise a rotary drive for changing the rotational position of the wear bodies... or a linear drive for displacing the wear body in the direction of the rotation axis
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for ascertaining the lateral strip contour and/or the position of the strip edges of a metal strip, comprising at least one sensing element for ascertaining suitable measurement data. The sensing element is integrated into a lateral guide (17) together with a main part module of the metal strip conveying device. The lateral guide (17) comprises at least one wear element (15a, 15b, 15c) which is arranged in the lateral guide and which comprises a wear element adjusting device that can be rotated about a rotational axis (20) substantially perpendicular to a guide plane of the lateral guide (17). The wear element (15a, 15b, 15c) together with the wear element adjusting device is designed as a sensing element. In an operating method, at least one sensing element (15a, 15b, 15c) is brought into contact with a lateral edge at a starting time, and suitable measurement data is ascertained using the sensing element while the metal strip runs past the sensing element. The strip course can be corrected on the basis of the ascertained measurement data using corrective measures on one or more roll stands and/or on one or more lateral guides (17) of the rolling mill.