EP2424689B1 - Device for compensating variations in the tension of a material strang being fed and/or for adjusting said tension - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for compensating variations in tension and/or for adjusting the tensile stress on a conveyed flexible metal material strand, in particular a metal strip, having at least one movable dancer roll which can be wound around by the material strand. At least one dancer roll can be displaced along a path inclinable to the perpendicular, wherein the inclination angle of the path can be adjusted by means of an adjustment unit.

Description

The invention relates to a device for compensating Zugschwankungen and / or for adjusting the tension on a funded flexible metallic strand of material, in particular a metal strip, with at least one of the strand of material wrap around the movable dancer roll, wherein the at least one dancer roll along a trajectory inclined to the vertical web is displaced and wherein the inclination angle of the web is adjustable by means of an adjusting unit.

Devices for compensation of Zugschwankungen and / or for adjusting the tension, for example in thermal belt treatment plants using movable pulleys, so-called dancers are known from the prior art for years and have proven themselves many times in practice. A generic device is in the US-A-4,238,024 described basis for the preamble of claims 1 and 12).

A dancer roll arrangement comprises a roll integrated in the strip line of a strip treatment plant and capable of being acted upon by a certain force, which forms a loop in the strip whose loop length changes with the position of the roll. This mobility can compensate for short-term fluctuations of the strip tension. In order to achieve an adaptation of the strip tension to different operating conditions, it may be necessary to move the line from the dancer roll to the strip force applied, with thick and wide bands requiring higher forces exerted by the dancer roll on them than delicate, thin bands. Especially in the case of thin tapes, the force exerted by the dancer roll on the sensitive tape force must be limited to avoid damage to the tape material.

For this purpose, it is known from the prior art to compensate by acting on the dancer roll counterweights or actuators in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, the force exerted on the strip material weight force of the dancer roll and their storage at least partially ( GB-A-718,375 . US-A-4 553 713 ). In the case of counterweights this results in the problem that the inertial mass of the dancer roll assembly is further increased by the counterweight, whereby these short-term fluctuations in the strip tension due to high inertial forces can no longer compensate sufficiently. In the case of actuators, the breakaway forces and torques that are to be realized become negatively noticeable, since they also hinder the compensation of short-term fluctuations in the strip tension.

In the FIGS. 1 to 5 typical dancer roller assemblies known in the art are shown.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to provide a device for compensation of Zugschwankungen and / or for adjusting the tension on a funded flexible metallic strand of material, in particular a material strip, which is very simple and thus with little effort into existing Treatment systems for metallic material strands, in particular metal strips integrate. Furthermore, the device should allow the compensation of short-term tensile fluctuations in thick, heavy as well as thin, sensitive strands of material, with a change of material strands during operation with appropriate adjustment of the tension should be easily possible.

The object is achieved with a device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the Verstelleineheit is designed to be controllable during operation.

According to the invention the adjusting unit is designed to be controllable for adjusting the inclination angle of the web, i. a change in inclination can be triggered by a corresponding control command in the automated operation of a treatment plant for the metallic material strands, in particular a strip processing plant. This is particularly advantageous if, during continuous operation of the treatment plant, a change in the material strand takes place, the ends of both strands being stapled to one another.

The present invention is based on the idea that by a suitable inclination of the direction of movement of the dancer to the vertical and thus the weight force vector of the dancer a precise adjustment of the web tension during operation without additional, the inertial mass of the arrangement increasing weights and without actuators is enabled.

As a metallic material strand in the context of the present invention, wire or tape-shaped material, tapes for transporting goods of various kinds, but also metal cables, wires and the like understood.

• mit F_G = Gewichtskraft der Tänzerrolle und ihrer Lagerung;
• ϕ = Neigungswinkel der Bahn zur Vertikalen (0<ϕ<90°).

By appropriate adjustment of the inclination angle of the web, along which the dancer roll is displaced, for example, in the case of thick, heavy strands of material, the full weight of the dancer role and their storage to produce a sufficient Strangzuges (strip tension) can be exploited by namely the inclination angle is reduced to zero , so that the dancer roll is displaceable in the vertical direction. For thin, very sensitive bands can be increased according to the inclination angle up to near 90 °, so that the weight of the dancer roller and its storage has virtually no influence on the Strangzug and this is correspondingly minimal. The respective effective tensile force can be determined with a simple trigonometric equation from the weight of the dancer roll and its storage. It corresponds to the slope force on an inclined plane and is calculated to $${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{Z}}={\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{G}}\cdot \cos$$

• with F _G = weight of the dancer roll and its storage;
• φ = angle of inclination of the web to the vertical (0 <φ <90 °).

By a possible frictionless as possible storage of the dancer roll on the tiltable to the vertical path can next to a precise adjustment of the Strangzuges simultaneously Variations in the web of the flexible material strand are effectively compensated.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dancer roll between two pulleys is arranged so in operation, the flexible metallic strand of material forms a band loop together with the dancer roll. In such a known arrangement with known dancer rolls especially in strip processing plants, it proves to be particularly advantageous that, with the dancer roll displaceable according to the invention on a path that can be tilted to the vertical, its wrap angle is relatively constant both during the dancer movement along the inclinable path and during an adjustment of the inclination angle can be held, so that the forces exerted on the material strand tensile forces are precisely controlled at any time.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the inclinable to the vertical path is linear. In a strictly linearly formed path, for example a linear guide, the inclination angle set to the vertical is precisely maintained irrespective of the dancer roller's current position in the dancer movement, so that the tensile force continuously exerted on the flexible material strand corresponds exactly to the value preset by the choice of the inclination angle of the path equivalent. This can be realized constructively, for example, by the bearing of the dancer roller being guided essentially without friction on a linear guide. Linear motion guides are particularly suitable for this purpose. Also structurally different type linear guides are here as "linear guides" used, for example, roller guides and rail guides of all kinds as well as sliding guides or air cushion guides or magnetic guides. For example, the axis of the dancer roll may be guided in a linear slot or in a gap between two mutually parallel carriers.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the adjusting unit may comprise an electromechanical drive, in particular a spindle drive, or an actuator, in particular a hydraulically or pneumatically operated cylinder, so that the linear guide for adjusting the inclination angle of the web is pivotable about a pivot point. Such a pivoting mechanism can be realized structurally simple and is also easily integrated into a general machine control.

As an alternative to the above, the track inclinable to the vertical can be curved, in particular curved in an arc of a circle, wherein the radius of curvature must be selected to be large in relation to the dancer roller deflection along the curved path. A suitable ratio between radius of curvature and dancer roll deflection is about ≥3: 1. With a corresponding choice of the radius of curvature relative to the deflection of the dancer roll, this moves to a good approximation on a still substantially linear path, so that the angle of inclination to the vertical is still defined. Structurally, this variant can be realized by using a rocker on which the bearing of the dancer roll is guided, wherein the pivot point of the rocker for adjusting the inclination angle of the web on which the dancer roll is displaceable, in turn displaced. In particular, the adjusting unit may comprise an actuator, so that the pivot point of the rocker along a linear, substantially vertically oriented trajectory is displaced. This has the advantage that in particular at an arrangement with two adjacent pulleys the wrap angle, ie the angle at which the dancer roll is wrapped by the flexible strand of material, regardless of the position of the swing pivot point and thus the inclination angle of the web is practically constant.

As an alternative to a linear displacement of the swing fulcrum, the adjustment unit may comprise an actuator whose kinematics make it possible for the pivot point of the rocker, at the end of which the dancer roll is arranged, to be displaced along a curved, substantially vertically oriented path curve. This trajectory can be predetermined by a further rocker, on which the pivot point is pivotally mounted.

When using the dancer roller to adjust the web tension in very heavy flexible metallic material strands that require corresponding tensile forces, it may be appropriate to displace the at least one dancer roll along the path inclinable to the vertical by force of an actuator, in particular a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder , This opens up the possibility, in addition to the force generated by the dancer roll itself, i. the downgrade force on the tiltable track to generate another force that increases the train. It makes sense to use the actuator when a vanishing tilt angle is selected, i. E. the full weight force acts on the flexible metallic strand of material.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a treatment plant for sheet-like metallic material with a device for adjusting the tension and / or for compensation of tension fluctuations in the web-shaped material according to one of claims 1 to 10.

For the treatment plant, the advantages mentioned above apply accordingly.

The above-mentioned object is procedurally achieved with a method for operating a treatment plant for flexible metallic material strands, in particular metal strips, with a device for adjusting the tension and / or compensation of tension fluctuations in the material strand according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that when changing the material strand during operation of the treatment plant, the adjustment of the tension by adjusting the inclination angle of the web by means of the adjustment takes place.

The decisive advantage of the method is that due to the possibility of adjusting the tension during operation of the treatment plant no risk of damage to sensitive material strands due to excessive tensile forces, as in a change from heavy, durable material strands on lighter sensitive strands during operation always an optimal strip tension is set. Incidentally, reference is made to the advantages of the method to the above.

Fig. 1

eine aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte Tänzerrollenanordnung für bahnförmiges Material mit einer linear und vertikal verlagerbaren Tänzerrolle in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

eine zweite aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte Tänzerrollenanordnung für bahnförmiges Material mit einer an einer horizontalen Schwinge gehaltenen Tänzerrolle,

Fig. 3

die Tänzerrollenanordnung aus Fig. 1 mit einem Gegengewicht,

Fig. 4

die Tänzerrollenanordnung aus Fig. 2 mit einem Gegengewicht,

Fig. 5

die Tänzerrollenanordnung aus Fig. 2 mit einem Aktor,

Fig. 6

eine Vorrichtung zur Kompensation von Zugschwankungen und zur Einstellung der Zugspannung an bahnförmigem Material mit einer entlang einer zur Vertikalen neigbaren Bahn verlagerbaren Tänzerrolle gemäß einer ersten Ausführung,

Fig. 7

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 6 mit einem Aktor zur Erhöhung der Zugspannung,

Fig. 8

eine Vorrichtung zur Kompensation von Zugschwankungen und zur Einstellung der Zugspannung an bahnförmigem Material in einer zweiten Ausführung und

Fig. 9

eine Behandlungsanlage für metallische Bänder mit einer Vorrichtung zur Einstellung der Zugspannung und zur Kompensation von Zugschwankungen gemäß Fig. 6.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an illustrative drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a known from the prior art dancer roll arrangement for sheet material with a linear and vertical displaceable dancer roll in a schematic side view,

Fig. 2

a second known from the prior art dancer roll arrangement for sheet material with a held on a horizontal rocker dancer roll,

Fig. 3

the dancer roll arrangement Fig. 1 with a counterweight,

Fig. 4

the dancer roll arrangement Fig. 2 with a counterweight,

Fig. 5

the dancer roll arrangement Fig. 2 with an actor,

Fig. 6

a device for compensation of tension fluctuations and for adjusting the tension on web material with a dancer roll displaceable along a path which can be tilted to the vertical according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 7

the device off Fig. 6 with an actuator to increase the tension,

Fig. 8

a device for compensation of Zugschwankungen and for adjusting the tension on web material in a second embodiment and

Fig. 9

a treatment plant for metallic strip with a device for adjusting the tension and for compensation of tension fluctuations according to Fig. 6 ,

Fig. 1 shows a dancer roll arrangement known from the prior art with a dancer roller 100 arranged between two deflection rollers 110, 120. The belt M, in this case a metal belt, which is guided essentially horizontally in a belt treatment system (not shown in detail), is moved out of the horizontal by the deflection roller 110 Direction deflected downward in the vertical direction, the dancer roll 100 wraps around with a wrap angle in the range of 180 ° and is then led to the vertical slightly inclined to the second guide roller 120, where it is deflected in the horizontal direction.

The dancer roll 100 is in the arrangement of Fig. 1 displaceable on a vertically oriented linear guide 130, so that approximately the entire weight of the dancer roller 100 and its storage 110a acts on the metal strip M. This can lead to unacceptably high belt tension, especially for thin and correspondingly sensitive metal bands.

The same problem arises in accordance with the known from the prior art dancer roll arrangement Fig. 2 in which the dancer roller 200, which in turn is disposed between two deflection rollers 210, 220, is guided on a circular path section at the outer end of a rocker arm 230, the rocker arm 230 in turn being pivotable at a pivot point 240 is stored. As in Fig. 2 recognizable, the entire weight of the dancer roll 200 and its suspension on the rocker 230 acts as a pulling force on the metal strip M.

In Fig. 3 another solution known from the prior art is shown. Here, the force acting on the metal strip M weight of the dancer roller 100 and its storage on the linear guide 130 is compensated by a counterweight 140, wherein the counterweight 140 may be selected such that the resulting acting on the metal strip M tensile force corresponds to the desired value. The problem with this arrangement is that the inertial mass of the dancer roller assembly is correspondingly increased by the counterweight, so that in the compensatory movements of the dancer roller 100, the inertial force of both the dancer roller 100 itself and the counterweight 140 must be overcome. This ultimately leads to short-term fluctuations in the strip tension can not be compensated in a satisfactory manner due to inertia.

Fig. 4 shows the dancer roll arrangement Fig. 2 Here, the rocker 230 'is extended beyond the pivot point 240, and a weight 250 along the rocker 230' is displaceable in such a way that it strengthens or attenuates the tensile force exerted by the weight of the dancer roll on the belt M by a corresponding counter-torque.

Fig. 5 again shows the dancer roll arrangement Fig. 2 , Here, an actuator 260 in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder on the rocker 230 engages and thus in to Fig. 4 analogous to the on the band M through the dancer roll 200 exerts tensile force exerted or weakens.

In Fig. 6 is a device for compensating Zugschwankungen and for adjusting the tension on web-shaped material present a metal strip M - shown with a displaceable along a tiltable path to the vertical dancer roller 2 in a first embodiment. The metal strip M is guided for this purpose around a deflection roller 3 and then forms with the dancer roller 2 a belt loop with a wrap angle in the range of 180 °, before it is deflected again via another roller 1. In the present case, the deflection takes place in a direction inclined to the horizontal direction. It is understood, however, that a deflection in the horizontal or in another direction is also possible.

The inclinable orbit of the device Fig. 6 is presently designed as a linear guide 4, on which the dancer roll by means of a subframe 2a, on which the bearing blocks of the dancer roll are arranged, can be moved substantially without friction. The linear guide 4 can be pivoted to adjust the inclination angle φ about a pivot point X by means not shown in detail, an electromechanical drive, in particular a spindle drive, comprehensive adjustment.

wobei G die Gewichtskraft der Tänzerrolle 2 und ihrer Lagerung und ϕ der Neigungswinkel der Linearführung 4 ist.Thus, if for a given strip material and given strip thickness the strip tension on the dancer roll 2 has to be preset, the angle of inclination φ for the linear unit 4 is set such that the resulting tensile force F _z corresponds to the required value. F _{z is} calculated to $${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{Z}}=\mathrm{G}\cdot \cos .$$

where G is the weight of the dancer roller 2 and its bearing and φ is the inclination angle of the linear guide 4.

As a result, a precise adjustment of the tape tension is up to a maximum value, which is determined by the weight of the dancer and its storage, without the use of additional weights or actuators possible. Due to the substantially friction-free mounting of the dancer roller 2 on the linear guide 4 short-term fluctuations in the strip tension can be compensated in the usual way.

In the present case, the adjusting unit is designed to be controllable. This means that when changing the strip thickness or - width - here are the ends of different thicknesses or broad bands stapled together - on a control command of the general machine control out the appropriate adjustment of the strip tension by changing the inclination of the linear guide 4 during operation of a strip processing plant (see. Fig. 9 ).

• mit F_A: vom Aktor 5 auf die Tänzerrolle 2 ausgeübte Kraft.

In Fig. 7 the device is off Fig. 6 additionally provided with an actuator in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 5. This is used when the produced by the full weight of the dancer roll 2 and their storage strip tension is not sufficient, which may be the case for example in the treatment of thick and very heavy metal bands. As in Fig. 7 recognizable, first the full weight of the dancer roller 2 and its storage can be used for the strip tension, if an inclination angle φ = 0 is set so that the linear unit 4 is vertically aligned. If the strip tension produced as a result is not yet sufficient, an additional force can be exerted on the dancer roller 2 via the actuator 5, so that the strip tension is reinforced to the required extent. The resulting belt tensile force is thus calculated to $${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{Z}}\mathrm{\text{'}}=\mathrm{G}+{\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{A}}$$

• with F _A : the force exerted on the dancer roller 2 by the actuator 5.

In Fig. 8 is a further device for compensation of Zugschwankungen and / or for adjusting the tension on a metal strip in a second embodiment shown. This is different from the one of Fig. 6 in that the dancer roller 2 can not be moved without friction along a linear unit, but is suspended on a rocker 6 whose length is chosen to be large compared to the adjustment of the dancer roller 2, so that the deflections of the dancer roller 2 in operation of the device to a good approximation linear are. A suitable ratio between radius of curvature and dancer roll deflection is about ≥3: 1. The inclination to the vertical of this quasi linearly deflectable dancer roll 2 can now be adjusted again to exert the desired strip tension on the metal strip M. For this purpose, the suspension of the rocker, ie its fulcrum, along a predetermined trajectory by means of an adjustment unit, not shown, movable.

In Fig. 8 are two differently set inclination angle φ, φ 'shown. In the first case, the subframe 6a of the rocker 6 is moved to a lower position A, which has a comparatively small angle φ ≈ 30 ° equivalent. The band tensile force attributable to this angle can be calculated with F = G · cosφ. If the strip tension exerted on the metal strip M by the dancer roll 2 is to be reduced in a certain way, the subframe 6a of the rocker 6 is moved into an upper position B by means of an adjusting drive of the adjusting unit, which corresponds to an enlarged angle φ '≈50 °. The resulting tensile tensile force F 'is calculated as F' = G · cosφ 'and is smaller than the tensile force F calculated for position A.

It is understood that the movement of the subframe 6a by an electromechanical drive as well as by a hydraulically or pneumatically operating cylinder (both not shown in FIG Fig. 8 ) of the adjustment can be effected.

The advantage of a vertically arranged linear unit 7, along which the pivot point of the rocker 6 can be displaced, is that in the present arrangement with two adjacent pulleys 1, 3, the wrap angle for the dancer roll 2 is substantially constant regardless of the position of the swing fulcrum can be held.

In Fig. 9 Finally, a treatment plant for metallic bands with a device according to Fig. 6 shown. In this case, the metal strip M, for example a copper or copper alloy strip, is unwound from a first roll 10 and first passed through an oven 12, for example an annealing furnace. Then, the band M is deflected on the roller 3 and forms with the dancer roller. 2 a sling, with the dancer roll 2 in connection with Fig. 6 described manner along a to the vertical by the angle φ by means of an activatable by the general machine control adjustment (not shown) tiltable web. Then, the metal strip is deflected by a further roller 1 back into the horizontal and finally wound up by a second roller 10. In the present treatment plant for metallic bands thus precise pre-adjustment of the strip tension and its controlled change is possible with changed operating parameters.

In a change of the metal strip M, which is an adaptation of the strip tension during operation of the strip processing plant of Fig. 9 requires, the general machine control sends a corresponding control command to the adjustment unit for the adjustment of the inclination angle φ of the tiltable track, whereupon this adapts the inclination angle φ accordingly, so that the dancer roller 2 always exerts an optimal strip tension on the metal strip M.

Claims (12)

1. Device for compensating variations in the tension and/or for adjusting the tension in a conveyed flexible metallic material strand (M), in particular a metal strip, with at least one moveable dancer roller (2) around which the material strand can be wound, wherein the at least one dancer roller (2) is displaceable along a path (4) that can be inclined to the vertical and wherein the angle of inclination (φ) of the path (4) can be adjusted by means of an adjusting unit,
   characterised in that
   the adjusting unit is designed so it can be controlled during operation.
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the dancer roller (2) is arranged between two deflecting rollers (1, 3) so that in operation the flexible metallic material strand (M) together with the dancer roller (2) forms a strand loop.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the path (4) inclinable to the vertical is linear.
4. Device according to clam 3, characterised in that the bearing of the dancer roller (2) is guided substantially frictionless on a linear guide (4).
5. Device according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the adjusting unit includes an electromechanical drive, in particular a spindle drive, or an adjusting member, in particular a hydraulically or pneumatically operating cylinder, so that the linear guide (4) can be swivelled so as to adjust to the angle of inclination (φ) about a rotation point (X).
6. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the path inclinable to the vertical is curved, in particular is semi-circular, wherein the radius of curvature is chosen to be large relative to the deflection of the dancer roller (2) along the curved path.
7. Device according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the bearing of the dancer roller (2) is guided on an oscillating member (6), wherein the rotation point of the oscillating member is displaceable for adjusting the angle of inclination (φ).
8. Device according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the adjusting unit includes an adjusting mechanism so that the rotation point of the oscillating member (6) is displaceable along a linear, substantially vertically aligned path curve (7).
9. Device according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the rotation point of the oscillating member (6) can be displaced by means of the adjusting mechanism of the adjusting unit along a curved, substantially vertically aligned path curve.
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the at least one dancer roller (2) can be displaced along the path (4) inclinable with respect to the vertical by the action of a force of an actuator (5), in particular a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
11. Handling unit for strip-shaped metallic material with a device for adjusting the tension and/or for compensating variations in tension in the strip-shaped material according to one of claims 1 to 10.
12. Method for operating a handling unit for flexible metallic material strands, in particular metal strips, with a device for adjusting the tension and/or for compensating variations in tension in the material strand (M) according to one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    if the material strand (M) is exchanged during operation of the handling unit, the tension is adapted by adjusting the angle of inclination (φ) of the path by means of the adjusting unit.

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