EP1552892A1 - Machine for straightening metal bands - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has two leveling equipments with respective active cylinders (A, 2). Maintaining units (4, 4`) at the ends of the cylinder (2) are associated to springs, to apply the cylinder (2) on intermediate rollers. The cylinder (2) drives the rollers and support rollers, when the equipments are in rest position. The machine is stopped while placing the equipments in leveling position, when synchronous speed of the tape is reached. An independent claim is also included for a method of leveling a metallic tape by tape movement.

Description

The subject of the invention is a leveling machine that can be used, in particular, in a planing installation under tension of a band metal and also covers the process used.

In the different sectors of metallurgy and, in particular, for the production of metal sheets, leveling machines to eliminate as much as possible the defects of flatness occurring as a result of rolling.

As schematically shown in Figure 1, a machine of planing includes, in general, a number of cylinders rotatably mounted about axes orthogonal to a scrolling direction of the band to be hovered and offset longitudinally and vertically, from way to define a wavy path of the band which, furthermore, is put under traction and thus undergoes tensile-bending effects in opposite directions allowing to homogenize the constraints. For this purpose, such a machine comprises, inside a frame not shown in FIG. 1, at least two planing crews offset longitudinally, respectively an upper crew E 'and a lower crew E, placed respectively above and below the M band and means mechanical or hydraulic control of vertical displacements of each leveling crew, transversely to the plane of scrolling of the belt, between a leveling position and a rest position away from the band.

As shown in FIG. 1, such a machine can comprise, for example, two flexure units F1, F2, each comprising a upper leveling board E 'and a lower crew E, a unit flexion T carrying a roller called "corrector tile" adjustable vertically by a mechanical system and often another unit of bending carrying a "hanger" or decambering correction roll.

Other configurations of installations may, however, be used according to the field of application.

Each leveling crew comprises a transverse frame, vertically movable in the frame and carrying a leveling cylinder, called active cylinder, rotatably mounted about an axis transverse to the scroll direction. For planing, the active cylinder is weak diameter, and must therefore rely on support organs consist, in most cases, of two intermediate rollers resting themselves in three rows of pebbles.

The transmission of the forces and the centering in rotation are done by application of the active cylinders on the intermediate rolls and the support rollers which are only fixed on the transverse frame.

Indeed, to achieve the desired effect of flexion-traction, the active planing cylinders must have a fairly small diameter and therefore rotate at a very high speed, which leads to wear relatively fast of their external faces. Active cylinders and, possibly, the intermediate rollers must therefore be replaced periodically.

For this, we usually use a disassembly device that allows to remove the entire planing crew requiring a maintenance to spread it laterally on one side of the machine, the tape which may remain in the machine, either at a standstill or during scrolling. Indeed, for a simple change of the active cylinders or any other short term maintenance, it is best to stop only the planer to open it and replace the cylinders without stop scrolling the tape in the processing section.

Such operations must therefore be carried out quickly and that is why, usually, active cylinders and rollers intermediates are simply held at their ends by axial abutments, generally made of ceramic material, which take up the axial thrusts appearing during the planing of the band. All must, however, be mounted so as to remain attached to the chassis transversal in the opening and closing phases of the machine, out of planing, as well as when handling the chassis.

Previously, planing was done in separate machines, the strip unwinding from a coil placed upstream to be rewound downstream. However, it is now necessary to install hovering machines in continuous lines used, in particular, for annealing or hot-dip galvanizing the strip.

In such lines, the coils are butt welded to the entrance of the line, the band being cut in coils at the exit. of the accumulators of bands are placed, respectively, upstream and downstream to ensure a constant speed scrolling of the band in a central processing section during the stop required for entry for welding or outgoing for shearing. The planers are, normally installed in this center section at a speed substantially constant in order to obtain the desired regularity of quality parameters of the product.

However, the welding between two successive coils constitutes generally, an extra thickness that may deteriorate the cylinders of planing. To avoid this inconvenience, it is best to open the leveler by spreading the planing rollers at the time of the passage of welding and then bringing them back into contact with the band. The set of active cylinders, intermediate rollers and support rollers is then again driven by friction when berthing equipment on the tape and inevitably results in slip due to rotational inertia of the various cylinders and rollers for a few seconds that can, however, correspond to several tens of meters of tape, given the speed of scrolling.

Generally, in a continuous annealing line or hot dip galvanizing, such slippage is tolerated because the defects by scratches, pits or roughness defects that may result are not very visible or at least not prohibitive for ordinary steels.

However, we are now looking to deal in lines Continuous other types of steels for which the surface is more fragile and its more important aspect, such as stainless steels. In addition, such steels often have a coefficient of friction reduced, that is to say a lower capacity to drive by friction all cylinders and rollers, which increases the risk of skating.

To avoid this disadvantage, it has been proposed in JP-A-63-149017 that to give in advance to the active cylinder, in the position away from the planing crew, a corresponding angular velocity substantially at the speed of the tape, allowing avoid skating at the time of docking. For this purpose, the document JP-A-63149017 provides for rotating the central row of support rollers, the latter being mounted on a spline shaft connected to a motor by a clutch. The rotation movement is then transmitted by friction to the intermediate rollers and then to the active cylinder, the the speed of rotation of the driven rollers being adjusted so as to give to the active cylinder an angular velocity corresponding to the speed of tape, which avoids skating when docking.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to place the engine and the clutch on the chassis of the planing crew in a position away from the band scrolling plan but has some disadvantages.

Indeed, the torque is transmitted to the active cylinder only by friction and this effect depends on the application pressure bodies rotating on each other. For the lower crew, this application pressure is simply the weight of the cylinder active and intermediate rollers, as long as the active cylinder is not applied on the tape.

On the other hand, for the upper crew, the active cylinder must be carried at its ends by two bearings suspended from the chassis of the crew by springs that pull up the active cylinder in order to apply it on the intermediate rollers and the support rollers.

To enable disassembly of the active cylinder, the springs are connected to the bearings by removable hooks.

Such a provision is quite complex and may not be ensure sufficient application pressure for training by friction of the active cylinders at the desired speed.

On the other hand, the angular velocity of the support rollers on which is applied the torque must be adjusted according to the ratio of diameters of said rollers, intermediate rollers and active cylinder so that the angular velocity of the latter matches exactly at the tape speed. However, the diameters of these different organs may vary slightly due to wear and it This must be taken into account when adjusting the angular speeds. Moreover, this wear is not evenly distributed over the length of the cylinders and so there may be a slight difference in diameter and, by consequently, of peripheral speed between the successive rollers of the row driven in rotation. This difference leads to increased wear certain parts of the intermediate rollers and active rollers which can result in defects on the tape. The objective sought risk of not being reached.

The invention overcomes these various disadvantages by a new provision allowing, by very simple means, to drive for sure the active cylinders at an angular velocity corresponding to the scroll speed of the product, while maintaining a possibility of dismounting and reassembly easy and fast cylinders assets and, where appropriate, intermediate rollers.

The invention therefore applies, in a general way, to a machine planing system comprising at least two leveling crews placed both sides of the strip and each comprising an active cylinder and a set of support members rotatably mounted around their axes on a transverse frame, the assembly being movable parallel to itself between a rest position for which the active cylinder is away from the band and a leveling position for which the cylinder active is applied to the tape by pressing, on the opposite side, on its support organs, each active cylinder being able to be driven by rotation, before its application on the band, at an angular velocity corresponding substantially to the speed of travel of the band.

According to the invention, the rotational drive of each active cylinder is determined by direct application of a torque on one end of said cylinder, at an angular speed slaved to the tape speed.

For this purpose, each active cylinder is carried, at each of its ends, by a centering pin rotatably mounted about the axis of the cylinder, on a support piece slidably mounted on the frame crosswise of the crew parallel to a radial plane passing through the axis said active cylinder, the positions relative to said frame of the two support pieces that can be adjusted by radial sliding for the displacement of the active cylinder, parallel to its axis, between a position of application on its support organs and a discarded position, and one of the centering pins of each active cylinder is connected to a means for directly applying a torque to said trunnion.

Particularly advantageously, each support piece of an active cylinder, comprises a first housing-shaped portion cylinder, in which is mounted a rotary support bearing of the active cylinder, centered on a radial plane passing through the axis of said cylinder, and a second part forming an arm mounted sliding on a slide arranged on a guide foot fixed to the transverse frame of the planing crew. In addition, each piece of sliding support is associated with a return means supporting, in a sense on the piece support and in the other on the transverse chassis, for the application of the active cylinder on its support organs.

Preferably, each support piece comprises a means support on the chassis, advantageously constituted by a mounted cam rotational between at least two positions, respectively one position away from the chassis, allowing the application of the active cylinder on its support members, by means of return means supported on said support piece and a support position on the frame to repel the support piece against the action of the return means.

In a preferred embodiment, each support piece has a bearing part provided with at least one through-hole at least one guide rod fixed at one end to the transverse frame and extending, on the other side of the bearing portion of the support piece, up to a second end on which is provided a support flange of elastic means compressed between said flange and the support part of the support piece.

According to another preferred feature, each piece of support of an active cylinder carries a centering bearing with a cage internal rotating device in which is threaded a support pin fixed on the end of the active cylinder, in the axis of the latter, one of the two journals being extended outwardly by a drive end connected to a means for controlling the rotation of the journal with the active cylinder, around its axis.

Advantageously, each of the two support pins of the active cylinder forms a shaft end provided, on the side of the active cylinder, with a detachable connection means with the active cylinder, said shaft end being axially displaceable between a constricted position of connection with the cylinder, for the rotary support of the latter and a spaced position, disengaged from the end of the cylinder, for disassembly of this last, this connecting means may consist of two parts of conjugate forms formed respectively on the trunnion and the end of the cylinder and engaging one another by displacement axial axis of the pin from a position apart to a constricted position.

According to another particularly advantageous provision, minus the support piece of the trunnion of each cylinder active is slidably mounted parallel to a radial plane passing through the axis of said cylinder, on a guide foot integral with a base slidably mounted on the transverse frame, parallel to the axis of the active cylinder, between a constricted position of the two support pieces for the engagement of the ends of the active cylinder on the bearings of centering and a spaced release position of the ends of the active cylinder, for disassembly of the latter, the transverse chassis being provided with means for fixing the base of the guide foot of each support piece in the tightened engagement position of ends of the active cylinder on the centering bearings.

Thanks to the provisions according to the invention, in the rest position of the planing crew, the active cylinder can be removed from its support rollers by both cams, in order to be disassembled then, after reassembly between the two pins, it is repulsed by the two pieces support in the opposite direction so as to take support in advance on its support organs. In this position, he is trained in rotation at a peripheral speed corresponding to the scroll speed of the band, also supporting the support organs, so that that the contact with the belt, in the planing position, can occur without risk of slipping and, therefore, deterioration the superficial quality of the product.

However, this application of the active cylinder on its organs of support can be maintained in the rest position of the crew of planing, the active cylinder being removed from its support members only in case of need for disassembly and / or replacement.

Moreover, because the torque is applied directly on the active cylinder, the angular speed of rotation thereof around its axis can be slaved to the scroll speed of the band and this not only in the rest position of the crew of planing but also, during the planing, in the working position of the crew.

This avoids the risk of skating, not only when the berthing after a stop of the planing, but also during the planing, for example in case of sudden variation of the scrolling speed in the planing section, the inertia of rollers and support rollers being compensated by the fact that the speed-controlled torque is applied directly to the active cylinder which causes friction by its support organs.

Other advantageous features falling within the scope of protection of the invention, will appear in the description which follows of a particular embodiment, given by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a set of planing installation.

Figure 2 is an overview, from the side, of a crew of top planing.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, in axial section, of an end of the upper leveling crew.

Figure 4 is a side view of the two planing crews.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along line V-V of Figure 4.

As indicated above, Figure 1 shows schematically the conventional layout of a leveling installation comprising by example, two flexion units F1-F2 and a correction device of T tile, associated with rollers D and adjustable in height, in order to define a wavy path of the band M that runs between the rollers in a longitudinal direction parallel to the plane of the figure 1.

To achieve planing, the strip is put under tension by known means such as tensioning rollers called "rollers in S "upstream and downstream. Figure 1 shows, for example, the downstream tensioner device S.

Each bending unit includes two planing crews, respectively lower E and upper E 'longitudinally offset and each having, usually, an active cylinder A associated with two intermediate rollers I which rest on three rows of rollers G when the active cylinder A is applied to the belt in the planing position shown in Figure 1, by vertical displacement chassis C, for example, by means of cylinders or screws represented.

FIG. 2 shows, in a side view, the set of the upper leveling equipment E 'mounted on a transverse frame 1 forming a resilient beam extending in one direction orthogonal to the scroll axis of the strip and provided with parts 10 for cylinders or thrust screws of the crew of planing in its application position on the tape.

Advantageously, in the example shown in FIG. transverse frame of the upper crew E 'is rotatably mounted around of a horizontal axis, according to a provision which is the subject of the patent FR-A-2 659 254 from the same company, which allows to go back up the entire crew to facilitate dismantling and replacement of cylinders and rollers.

As mentioned above, in the provisions used usually, the active cylinder A and the intermediate rollers I, do not bear on each other and on the rollers G that in the planing position and that is why they are worn with play by the transverse frame C and are only held laterally by axial stops.

In the invention, on the contrary, as shown in FIGS. 3, the active cylinder 2 is provided at its opposite ends with two trunnions 3, 3 'centered on the axis 20 of the cylinder and rotatably mounted, by by means of bearings 30, 30 ', on two support pieces 4, 4' of the as shown in more detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

In this arrangement, each support piece 4 forms a kind of empoise centered on a radial plane P passing through the axis 20 of the cylinder active 2 and has an arm 41 mounted sliding radially on a foot 5 extending to the strip from the frame 1, and a portion in the form of housing 40, attached to the end of the arm 41 opposite the chassis, and in which is inserted the bearing 30 of the pin 3.

On the other hand, each support piece 4 at one end of the active cylinder 2 is associated with return means 6 allowing to apply the active cylinder 2 on its support members which are constituted, in the example shown, of two intermediate rollers 7, 7 ', held axially between the two guide feet 5, 5' and resting on three rows of support rollers 70 rotatably mounted on the transverse frame 1.

For this purpose, each support piece 4, 4 'is provided, on the side of the frame 1, a sole 44 on which support at least two springs 6 spaced apart symmetrically on both sides of the radial plane P and bearing, in the opposite direction, on the frame 1.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each spring 6 is threaded on a sleeve 61 passing through an orifice of the sole 44 of the chock 4 and fixed on the frame 1 by an axial screw 62, the sleeve 61 comprising a compression flange 63 of the spring 6.

Each chock 4, 4 'is thus mounted radially sliding on at least two bushes 61 and pushed back to the frame 1 by the springs 6 tablets between the flanges 63 and the sole 44 which extends parallel to the base 51, at a short distance therefrom.

The two chocks 4, 4 'supporting the ends of the roll active 2 are thus pushed back to the transverse frame 1 by applying the active cylinder on the intermediate rollers 7, 7 'which take support on the pebbles 70.

As usual, the intermediate rollers 7 are not carried by bearings but simply held laterally between two axial abutments each consisting of a ceramic pellet 71 mounted in a housing 72 fixed by a rear extension 73 on the foot 5. For this purpose, the guide foot 5 comprises two uprights spaced 52 carrying the slides 50, between which extends a sleeper 54 provided with two recesses 53 into which the extensions 73 of the two centering stops 71, respectively, of the two intermediate rollers 7, 7 '.

Each housing 72 is held by a clamping screw engaging in a threaded bore of extension 73 which is mounted sliding in the housing 53 parallel to the bisecting plane of two rows of pebbles 70 on which he leans, with a game allowing slight adjustments of the intermediate roll.

Thus, when the active cylinder 2 is applied by the springs 6 on the support rollers 7, the latter can move slightly, parallel to themselves so as to come to apply on the pebbles 70.

Moreover, as indicated above, the active cylinder 2 is subject to wear and must be able to be replaced. For this, the bases 51 of the two guide feet 5 carrying the two support pieces 4 are slidably mounted on the transverse frame 1, parallel to the axes of the cylinders.

For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each base 51 is provided with a central groove which engages on a boss rectilinear 11 of the transverse frame 1. In addition, it is provided with two longitudinal dwellings 12 within which are mounted sliding, respectively, two strips 13 connected to the base 51 by screws 14 which allow, after sliding, to block the base 51 in the chosen position.

Moreover, each pin 3 of the active cylinder consists of two parts engaging one in the other and secured by a screw 34, respectively a pivot 31 fixed to the end of the active cylinder 2, in the axis thereof, and a shaft end 32 threaded into the bearing 30 and, by therefore axially secured to the support piece 4 and the foot of guidance 5.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. the pivot 31 and the shaft end 32 are provided with conical parts conjugates formed respectively recessed and protruding, and engaging one into the other to ensure both the centering and the rotational drive of the active cylinder 2, one of the shaft ends 32, for example, the one on the left in FIG. 3, being provided with a tip 33 on which is applied a torque produced by a means motor not shown.

However, to allow disassembly of the active cylinder 2, it is necessary to remove the application pressure of it on the rollers intermediate 7, 7 '.

For this purpose, each chock 4, 4 'of a trunnion 3, 3' of the cylinder active 2 is equipped with a means of spacing the cylinder constituted, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, of a profile cam 8 eccentric rotatably mounted on the central rib 41 of the chock 4 around of an axis 80. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, a rotation of the cam eccentric 8 around its axis 80 allows to push the sole 44 of each support piece 4, 4 'by increasing the compression of the 6. The active cylinder 2 thus being slightly away from the rollers intermediate 7, 7 ', it is possible to spread both feet laterally 5, 5 'with support pieces 4, 4' to release the pivots 31 at both ends of the cylinder 2.

Thus, after unlocking the bases 51 by unscrewing the screws 14 and disengaged the two parts 31, 32 of each pin 3 in unscrewing the screws 34, one can axially move the two feet of 5 with the support pieces 4, 4 'and the bearings 30, 30' which drive the shaft ends 32, 32 '.

In the case of the lower planing crew E, shown on FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the active cylinder 2 thus disengaged from its bearings 30, 30 'simply rests on its support rollers 7, 7'. It can therefore be easily removed and replaced.

If necessary, you can also remove and replace the rollers intermediate 7, 7 'which rest on the support rollers 70.

In the case of the upper planing equipment E 'shown in FIG. 2, it is particularly interesting that the transverse frame 1 is rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis 15, according to a provision which is the subject of the French patent FR 2 659 254 already cited. Indeed, before any disassembly operation, it is possible to turn 180 ° the upper leveling equipment E 'so that the active cylinder 2 is placed above its support organs and is therefore based on these last when one discards the two ends of the tree 32, 32 'with the chocks 4, 4 '.

After replacement of the active cylinder 2 and possibly intermediate rollers 7, 7 ', the chocks 4, 4' are tightened so that the tapered portions of the pivot 31 and the shaft end 32 engage one in the other. The cylinder 2 can then be applied to the rollers intermediate 7, 7 'by turning the eccentric cams in the other direction 8 which are provided with a plane face 81, in order to allow the springs 6 to push the sole 44 towards the base 51.

To prevent jamming of the cam 8, the spacing (e) between the soleplate 44 and the base 51 is maintained at a minimum value by adjustable stops 64 consisting of screws engaging in bores threaded of the sole 44.

As usual, these operations can be performed on each leveling crew, in a separate maintenance position of the machine and the entire crew, with the transverse chassis, is then returned to working position inside the frame.

Moreover, as indicated above, one of the two trunnions of each active cylinder 2, for example the left trunnion 3 in the figure 2, is extended by a drive end 33, for example fluted, which can be removably connected to a motor means such as gearmotor, pulley and belt or other transmission device of the movement, according to the general arrangement adopted for the machine. By for example, a motor means 9, shown schematically in FIGS. and 2, can be arranged on the fixed frame or on the frame of each leveling equipment E, E 'and removably connected to the active cylinder 2, 2 ', by a telescopic extension double cardan 36 allowing transmit the torque by following all the positions of the axis of the active cylinder, according to the diameters of all its support members.

On the other hand, easy to design ways to solve the rotation speed of the active cylinders of the two crews of planing, taking into account their diameters, so as to enslave their peripheral speeds at the linear velocity of the moving band. This scrolling speed can be measured at any moment by a sensor 92, for example from the speed of rotation of the rollers of one of the tensioning units S which, as at present, are placed on both sides of the planing machine in order to put the band into traction.

The provisions just described make it possible to bring a simple and relatively economical solution to all problems mentioned above and, in particular, to avoid the effects of skating risk of damaging the surface condition of the product, while facilitating the maintenance of planing crews.

Indeed, because a rotation torque can be applied directly on one of the pins of each active cylinder, the speed angle of it can be fine-tuned and, in particular, enslaved to the speed of the tape, so that both speeds are kept identical at each moment.

Moreover, the direct drive in rotation of each cylinder by a pin connected detachably to the cylinder 2 facilitates the disassembly and reassembly of the cylinder.

Indeed, after placing the whole of a leveling crew in its rest position, separated from the band, it is possible, by simple rotation of the cams 8, to push back the two support pieces 4, 4 'with the cylinder 2. The two support pieces 4, 4' are then discarded axially to release the cylinder 2 which, in this position, is discarded intermediate rollers 7, 7 'and can be removed without risk of deterioration of its surface.

After reassembly of the active cylinder 2, it is applied from new on the intermediate rollers 7 and the rollers 70 by rotation the two cams 8. The whole is tightened under an effort set by the setting of springs 6.

The active cylinders 2 can then be launched in rotation and they the intermediate rollers and the support rollers are frictionally driven. When the speed of synchronism with the band is reached, one can proceed to close the machine by placing the two crews E, E 'in their planing positions, the docking of the active cylinders on the band thus without skating and without risk of marking the product.

Moreover, even during flattening, because of the precise control and the possibility of servocontrolling the angular velocities of active cylinders, these can be driven permanently to an angular velocity corresponding to the scrolling speed of the band, which allows to absorb variations of the planing speed without risk of slipping, even for low friction.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the details of the mode of realization which has just been described as a simple example, others variants that can be imagined without departing from the protective frame of the invention.

This is how equivalent means could be used for the removable mounting of the journals of an active cylinder in their bearings, the sliding assembly of these, both in the direction axial and in the radial direction and the application of said cylinder on its organs Support.

In particular, the springs 6 could be replaced by other ways. In addition, it should be noted that enforcement efforts of the active cylinder are not the same for the lower equipment E and for the upper equipment E 'whose weight must be compensated. It is why, as shown in Figure 4, the chocks of the active cylinder are advantageously associated with two pairs of springs symmetrical with respect to the radial plane P, on the one hand the springs 60 which exert only the necessary application pressure to the rotational drive of the cylinder and intermediate rollers, and on the other hand, two springs 65 which are calibrated so as to take up the weight of the active cylinder 2 with its two chocks 4, 4 ', its means 36 and, in a general way, all the organs which are not not carried directly by the chassis.

Moreover, in a simpler embodiment, only the trunnion drive 3 could be releasably connected to the end of the cylinder, the other pin remaining fixed on the cylinder and can simply engage axially in the inner cage of the bearing corresponding for the winding of the cylinder, the guide foot of the bearing support piece 4 'being then fixed on the frame.

The reference signs inserted after the characteristics techniques mentioned in the claims, have the sole purpose of facilitate the understanding of these and do not limit the scope.

Claims (24)

Machine for leveling a metal strip comprising means for controlling the tensioning movement of the strip in a longitudinal direction and along a running plane, at least two leveling equipments E, E 'placed on one side and on the other side other of the band M and each comprising an active cylinder (A, 2) and a set (I, 7) of support members rotatably mounted on a transverse frame (C, 1), about axes of rotation parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of travel, and means for controlling the displacement of each planing unit (E, E '), parallel to itself, between a rest position for which the active cylinder (A, 2) is discarded of the strip and a leveling position for which the active cylinder is applied to the strip by bearing, on the opposite side, on its support members (I, 7), each active cylinder (2) being able to be rotated, before its application on the strip (M) at an angular velocity c corresponding substantially to the running speed of the strip, characterized in that each active cylinder (2, 2 ') is carried at each of its ends by a centering pin (3, 3') rotatably mounted around the axis of the cylinder, on a support piece (4, 4 ') slidably mounted on the transverse frame (1) of the crew (E, E') parallel to a radial plane (P) passing through the axis of said cylinder active (2), that the positions with respect to said frame of the two support pieces (4, 4 ') can be adjusted by radial sliding for the movement of the active cylinder (2), parallel to its axis, between a position of application on its support members (7, 7 ') and a spaced position, and that each active cylinder (2, 2') can be rotated about its axis by direct application of a rotational torque on one of its centering pins (3). Leveling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each support piece (4, 4 ') of an active cylinder (2) comprises a housing-shaped part (40) in which a bearing (30) is mounted. rotary support of the corresponding journal (3, 3 ') of the active cylinder (2), centered on a radial plane (P) passing through the axis (20) of said cylinder (2) and an arm (41) slidably mounted on a slide (50) formed on a guide foot (5) fixed to the transverse frame (1) of the leveling crew. Leveling machine according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each piece of sliding support (4, 4 ') is associated with a return means (6) bearing in one direction on the support piece ( 4) and, in the opposite direction, on the transverse frame (1), for the application of the active cylinder (2) on its support members (7, 7 '). Leveling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that each support piece (4, 4 ') has a means (8) for supporting the frame (1) to push the active cylinder (2) against the action of the return means (6), in a disassembly and reassembly position for which the active cylinder (2) is spaced apart from its supporting members (7, 7 ') or rests freely thereon. Leveling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the support means (8) is a cam mounted to rotate about an axis (80) and having a face bearing on the frame (1) by rotation around the axis (80), to push the support piece (4, 4 ') against the action of the return means (6) and a flat face (81) coming, by rotation of the cam (8), in a position away from the frame (1) to allow the application of the active cylinder (2) on its support members (7) by the return means (6). Leveling machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each support piece (4) comprises a bearing portion (44) provided with at least one orifice for the passage of at least one rod of a guide (61) fixed at one end to the transverse frame (1) and extending, on the other side of the support portion (44) of the support piece, to a second end on which is provided a flange (63) for supporting an elastic return means (6) compressed between said flange (63) and the bearing portion (44) of the support piece (4). Leveling machine according to claim 6, characterized in that each support piece (4) is mounted to slide radially on at least two guide rods (61) each passing through an orifice of the bearing part (44) and associated each with a spring (6) threaded on said rod (61) and compressed between the bearing portion (44) and a flange (63) formed at the end of the guide rod (61). Leveling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that each guide rod consists of a sleeve (61) threaded on a screw (62) fixed on the support portion (44) of the support piece (4). ) and bearing on a flange (63) formed at the end of the sleeve (61) opposite the bearing portion (44), a spring (6) being threaded on the sleeve (61) and compressed by clamping the screw (62) between the flange (63) and the support portion (44). Leveling machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the two support pieces (4, 4 ') of the ends of each active cylinder (2) are each associated with return means (6) which are calibrated so as to applying the active cylinder (2) on its support members (7, 70) under a pressure just sufficient to frictionally drive said support members (7, 70) by the active cylinder (2). Leveling machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the two support pieces (4, 4 ') of the active cylinder (2) of the upper leveling equipment (E') are each associated with a first return means (60) calibrated for the application of the active cylinder (2) on its support members (7, 70) and, in addition, a second biasing means (65) calibrated to compensate for the weight of the active cylinder, its chocks (4, 4 ') and members (36) which are not carried directly by the support frame (1). Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each support piece (4) carries a rotational centering bearing (30) of one end (3) of an active cylinder (2), comprising at least one at least one bearing with an outer cage (30a) fixed to the support piece (4) and a rotatable inner cage (30b), into which a centering pin (3), attached to the corresponding end of the active cylinder ( 2) and centered on the axis of rotation (20) of the latter. Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one (3) of the two journals respectively fixed to both ends of the active cylinder (2), is extended outwardly by a drive end ( 33) connected to a means (36) for applying a torque to the trunnion (3) for driving the cylinder (2) about its axis (20) at a desired angular velocity. Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the support part (4) of the drive journal (3) is slidably mounted on a guide foot (5) which is itself slidably mounted on the transverse frame (1), parallel to the axis of the active cylinder (2), between a constricted position of the two support pieces (4, 4 ') for the engagement of each end (31, 31') the active cylinder (2) on the corresponding support piece (4, 4 ') and a spaced apart position of the ends (31, 31') of the active cylinder (2), for disassembly of the latter. Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the drive pin (3) to which the torque is applied is removably connected to the corresponding end (31) of the machine. active cylinder (2). Leveling machine according to claim 14, characterized in that at least the drive trunnion (3) has a shaft end (32) rotatably mounted on the support part (4) and provided with a removable connection with the end (31) of the active cylinder, said shaft end (32) being axially displaceable, with the support part (4), between a constricted position of connection with the cylinder (2), for the support rotary of the latter and a spaced apart position, disengaged from the end (31) of the cylinder (2), for disassembly of the latter. Leveling machine according to claim 15, characterized in that the connecting means (34) between the journal (3) and the cylinder (2) consists of two parts of conjugate shapes, formed respectively on the shaft end ( 32) and the corresponding end (31) of the cylinder (2), and engaging one another by axial displacement of the shaft end (32) from a spaced apart position to a constricted position. Leveling machine according to claim 16, characterized in that at least the guide foot (5) of the support part (4) of the drive journal (3) is fixed on a base (51) slidably mounted on the frame (1) parallel to the radial plane (P) and associated with removable means for fixing the guide foot (5) on the frame (1) in the constricted engagement position of the ends (31) of the active cylinder (2 ) on the support pieces (4, 4 '). Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support members of the active cylinder comprise at least two cylindrical rollers (7, 7 ') rotatably mounted about their axis, each between two aligned centering members ( 71), respectively formed on two guide feet (5) fixed on the transverse frame and on which are mounted respectively sliding the two support pieces (4, 4 ') of the active cylinder (2), parallel to a radial plane (P) passing through the axis (20) of said active cylinder (2). Leveling machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the centering members of each support roller (7) consist of two axial stops (71) mounted respectively on the guide feet (5) of the two support pieces ( 4, 4 ') of the active cylinder (2). Leveling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support members (7) of the active cylinder (2) of each leveling unit (E) comprise at least two intermediate rollers (7, 7 ') held together. laterally each between two axial stops (71) and each bearing on at least two rows of rollers (70) rotatably mounted on the transverse frame (1). Leveling machine according to claim 20, characterized in that each end of an intermediate roller (7) is centered on an axial abutment (71) mounted in a housing (72) with an extension (73) housed in a recess ( 53) provided on a portion (52) of the guide foot (5), with a clearance allowing adjustment of the position of the intermediate roller (7) as a function of the diameters of the active cylinder (2) and the support members (7, 70). Improvements to a method of flattening a metal strip (M) by moving it, along a longitudinal axis, between at least two leveling equipments (E, E ') each comprising an active cylinder (2) rotating around an axis (20) orthogonal to the running axis of the strip (M) and associated with at least two rotary support members (7) rotating about axes parallel to that of the active cylinder (2), the assembly being carried by a transverse support frame (1) displaceable, transversely to a running plane of the web (M), between a leveling position for which the active cylinder (2) is applied to the web (M) and is supported , on the opposite side, on its support members (7, 70), with rotational drive of said cylinder (2) and rollers (7), and a rest position for which the active cylinder (2) is separated from the band, process in which each cylinder (2, 2 ') is rotated about its axis, in its posit ion spaced apart from the band, at an angular speed corresponding to the running speed of the band,
characterized in that the rotational drive of each active cylinder (2) is determined by direct application of a rotational torque on one end (31) of the cylinder (2) with servocontrol of the angular velocity of the active cylinder (2). ) at the speed of the band M. Improvement to a planing method according to claim 22, characterized in that each active cylinder (2) can be rotated not only in its position apart from the strip (M) but also in its position of application on the latter. ci, with servo, at each moment, the angular speed of the cylinder (2) at the speed of travel of the strip (M) for docking the cylinder and during planing. Improvement to a leveling method according to one of claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the active cylinder (2) is permanently applied to its support members (7), in the rest position of the flight crew. leveling (E), and is spaced apart from said support members (7) when necessary, for disassembly and replacement of said active cylinder (2).

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