Method and apparatus to control and adjust the drawing action in a rolling mill, and corresponding rolling mill

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12240024-B2
Application number	US-202117923492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2021
Priority date	May 6, 2020
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

Apparatus to control and adjust the drawing action in a rolling mill provided with rolling stands through which a product passes. A video monitoring system acquires frames of the product; a processing system that processes the frames and defines a normal rolling range within which the product being rolled must be positioned; identifies the position of the product and its geometric characteristics; and identifies a possible variation of the position of the product being rolled over time based on the analysis of the sequence of frames acquired. An automation system is associated with the rolling mill, configured to receive data relating to the position of the product to determine the continuation of the rolling if the product is correctly positioned in the range, or a variation of the rolling parameters if the position of the product being rolled is able to generate a cobble which is outside of the range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus to control and adjust a drawing action in a rolling mill ( 11 ) provided with a plurality of rolling stands ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c ) located in sequence through which a product ( 13 ) being rolled passes in a direction of rolling (A), comprising:
a video monitoring system ( 14 ) for acquiring a sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) of the product ( 13 ) being rolled while the product ( 13 ) being rolled is positioned, during use, in at least one position along the rolling mill ( 11 );
a processing system ( 16 ), connected to the video monitoring system ( 14 ) and configured to: carry out processing of the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) and define in the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) wherein the product ( 13 ) being rolled has to be positioned within the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) in a situation of normal rolling; identify a position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled and a geometric characteristic of the product ( 13 ) being rolled; identify an oscillation of the product ( 13 ) being rolled as a function of a variation of the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled over time with respect to the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) based on an analysis of the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c );
an automation system ( 18 ) associated with the rolling mill ( 11 ), connected to the processing system ( 16 ) and configured to determine an optimal condition of the drawing action for the product ( 13 ) being rolled corresponding to a condition of minimum oscillation of the product ( 13 ) being rolled in at least one inter-stand segment and to receive data relating to the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled and of the variation of the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled, so as to be able to determine a continuation of rolling if the product ( 13 ) is correctly positioned in the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ), and to determine a variation of at least one rolling parameter if the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled is outside of the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ), in order to maintain or restore the optimal condition of the drawing action in the at least one inter-stand segment,
wherein the automation system is configured to verify, as an initial step, under conditions of unknown drawing action, whether the product ( 13 ) being rolled passing between two consecutive rolling stands is vibrating or is not vibrating; and if the product ( 13 ) being rolled is not vibrating, to induce a vibration of the product being rolled between two consecutive rolling stands ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c ), by increasing a speed (Vg 1 ) of a rolling stand located upstream with respect to a speed (Vg 2 ) of a rolling stand located downstream, wherein increasing the speed (Vg 1 ) determines an increase in a flow rate and a creation of the vibration between the two consecutive rolling stands; and
wherein the automation system is configured to detect the oscillation of the product ( 13 ) being rolled with respect to the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) and to correct the at least one rolling parameter in the rolling stand located upstream to keep the product in a desired oscillation within the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ).

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the automation system ( 18 ) is configured to apply controlled timed accelerations and decelerations to at least one motorized roll ( 27 , 28 ) of at least two rolling stands of the plurality of rolling stands ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c ) to impose set and controlled vibrations on the product ( 13 ) being rolled.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the video monitoring system ( 14 ) comprises at least one video camera ( 19 ) for each inter-stand segment of the rolling mill ( 11 ) located, during use, upstream and/or downstream of each rolling stand of the plurality of rolling stands ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c ).

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the video monitoring system ( 14 ) comprises, for a same detection position, at least one video camera ( 19 ) located according to a direction (B) substantially perpendicular to the direction of rolling (A).

5. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the video monitoring system ( 14 ) comprises, for a same detection position, a plurality of video cameras ( 19 ) disposed according to different inclinations with respect to the direction of rolling (A).

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the video monitoring system ( 14 ) comprises at least one video camera ( 19 ) located in a direction (C) inclined by about 45° with respect to the direction of rolling (A).

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the processing system ( 16 ) is connected to at least one display device ( 20 ) able to instantly verify a functioning of the rolling mill ( 11 ).

8. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the processing system ( 16 ) is connected to one or more control systems ( 21 ) outside the rolling mill ( 11 ) and in which data about the product ( 13 ) being rolled can be processed.

9. A rolling mill comprising:
an apparatus to control and adjust a drawing action in a rolling mill ( 11 ) provided with a plurality of rolling stands ( 12 a , 12 b , 12 c ) located in sequence through which a product ( 13 ) being rolled passes in a direction of rolling (A), comprising:
a video monitoring system ( 14 ) for acquiring a sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) of the product ( 13 ) being rolled while the product ( 13 ) being rolled is positioned, during use, in at least one position along the rolling mill ( 11 );
a processing system ( 16 ), connected to the video monitoring system ( 14 ) and configured to: carry out processing of the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) and define in the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c ) at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) wherein the product ( 13 ) being rolled has to be positioned within the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) in a situation of normal rolling; identify a position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled and a geometric characteristic of the product ( 13 ) being rolled; identify an oscillation of the product ( 13 ) being rolled as a function of a variation of the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled over time with respect to the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ) based on an analysis of the sequence of frames ( 15 a , 15 b , 15 c );
an automation system ( 18 ) associated with the rolling mill ( 11 ), connected to the processing system ( 16 ) and configured to determine an optimal condition of the drawing action for the product ( 13 ) being rolled corresponding to a condition of minimum oscillation of the product ( 13 ) being rolled in at least one inter-stand segment and to receive data relating to the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled and of the variation of the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled, so as to be able to determine a continuation of rolling if the product ( 13 ) is correctly positioned in the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ), and to determine a variation of at least one rolling parameter if the position of the product ( 13 ) being rolled is outside of the at least one normal rolling range ( 17 ), in order to maintain or restore the optimal condition of the drawing action in the at least one inter-stand segment,
wherein the automation system is configured to verify, as an initial step, under conditions of unknown drawing action, whether the product ( 13 ) being rolled passing between two consecutive rolling stands is vibrating or is not vibrating; and if the product ( 13 ) being rolled is not vibra

Assignees

• Danieli Off Mecc
• Danieli Automation Spa

Inventors

• Venuti Andrea
• Conti Marco

Classifications

• B21C51/00

  Measuring, gauging, indicating, counting, or marking devices specially adapted for use in the production or manipulation of material in accordance with subclasses B21B - B21F · CPC title

• B21B2273/04

  Lateral deviation, meandering, camber of product · CPC title

• B21B2273/02

  Vertical deviation, e.g. slack, looper height · CPC title

• B21B38/008

  Monitoring or detecting vibration, chatter or chatter marks · CPC title

• B21B37/68

  Camber or steering control for strip, sheets or plates, e.g. preventing meandering · CPC title