BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method and system for feeding a coil,
such as a metal strip coil, to an un-coiller. More specifically, the invention relates
to a method and system applicable for un-coiling of a metal strip for supplying it
to a continuous treatment line, such as pickling line or plant, a mill or so forth.
Description of the Background Art
[0002] In recent years, there have been developed and proposed a plurality of types of system
for continuous processing of metal strip, or sheet. In order to supply a metal strip
to a continuous processing line to be treated, a metal strip coil has to be un-coiled
or unwound as the metal strip therefrom is fed into the treatment line. In order to
do this an un-coiler is provided at upstream end of the treatment line. The un-coiler
first frees the end of the metal strip from the coil or in other words "opens the
coil" and thereafter performs the un-coiling operation.
[0003] In such a conventional system, the coil-opening operation performed by the coil opener
takes a relatively long time which increases the overall process time. For example,
in a conventional line, it takes about 180 sec. from the time the previous coil becomes
spent to the time a new coil is opened and strip from the new coil is fed to the process
line. In comparison to this, the overall process time required for treatment of the
metal strip is about 300 sec. The un-coiling operation time generally becomes as "loss-time"
in the metal strip treatment process. Therefore, the ratio of loss-time to process
time is about 37.5%. This can be improved by providing a plurality of un-coilers.
When two or more un-coilers are provided, the efficiency of un-coiling operations
can be improved by arranging by performing coil-opening operation for one un-coiler
while the other un-coiler is un-coiling. Thus by providing two un-coilers in the line,
loss-time can be shorted to about 110 sec. and the loss-time ratio can be reduced
at about 26.8%.
[0004] However, providing two or more un-coilers requires more space and cost move. Additionally,
the un-coiling line contruction becomes more complecated requiring additional facilities
for selectively feeding the coils the un-coilers.
[0005] In order to solve the aforementioned problem, An improved system for continuously
treating the metal strip has been discussed in "Recent Cold Strip Plant and Development
of Manufacturing Techniques in This Country" published by Japan Metal Association,
on August 20, 1977. It discloses system for supplying a coil of metal strip, which
comprises means for transporting coil of metal strip, a coil opener which releases
the end of the metal strip from the coil for un-coiling, and an un-coiler.
[0006] As a typical coil-opener, Chizeru magnet system coil-opner may be utilized for opening
the coil. The Chizeru magnet coil-opener comprises means for driving the coil to rotate,
a knife for peeling the end of the metal strip from the coil and a magnetic chuck
for chucking the peeled end and feeding it to the entrance of the treatment line.
For example, the magnetic chuck may feed the end of the metal strip into a pinch roller
of a tandem mill.
[0007] By employing the coil-opener, efficiency with which the metal strip can be fed to
the treatment line is increased. However, on the other hand, in order to facilitate
the coil-opener and to make the coil-opener cooperative with the uncoiler, additional
facilities, such as a walking-beam type conveyer for transporting the metal strip
coil, a.coil transporting means and a coil lifting means or the combination thereof
are necessary. This makes the metal strip supply system for the treatment line bulky.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a metal strip supply
system for an uncoiler, which avoids the abovementioned drawbacks of the conventional
art set forth above.
[0009] Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a more efficient
metal strip supply system for a metal strip treatment process.
[0010] Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a more compact metal strip supply
system for a metal strip treatment process.
[0011] In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other objects, a metal strip supply
system, according to the present invention, comprises a combination of an uncoiler
and a coil-opener which are arranged in series with .respect to the transporting line.
A metal strip coil is transported through the coil-opener. to the uncoiler. During
travel from the coil-opener to the uncoiler, the uncoiled end of the metal strip coil
is held open so that the uncoiler may be able to uncoil without performing coil-opening
operation.
[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for uncoiling and supplying a
metal strip to a metal strip treatment line, comprises the steps of:
supplying a coil of metal strip from a direction perpendicular to feeding direction
of the uncoiling metal strip;
transporting the coil of metal strip to a position facing a coil-opener, disposed
adjacent a coil transporting path for opening the coil;
performing coil opening operation;
holding the strip end released from the coil by means of the coil-opener, away from
the coil;
transporting the opened metal strip coil while holding the coil end away from the
coil to an uncoiler, setting it on the uncoiller; and
performing an uncoiling operation for supplying the uncoiled metal strip to the metal
strip treatment line.
[0013] In the preferred process. the coil opening operation is performed on one coil while
uncoiling operation is performed on another coil. The coil of metal strip is held
with its centeral axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the uncoiler.
[0014] Furthermore, in the preferred process, the coil of metal strip is transported to
the coil-opener and to the uncoiler by means of a common coil transporting means.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, a system for uncoiling and feeding
a metal strip to a metal strip treatment line, comprises an uncoiler for uncoiling
the coil of metal strip for feeding the uncoiled metal strip to the metal strip treatment
line, the uncoiler having a mandrel, the axis of which is perpendicular to the feeding
direction of supply of the uncoiling metal strip, first means for transporting the
coil of metal strip from a supply station to a coil-opening station, the first means
holding the central axis of the coil of metal strip essentially parallel to the axis
of the mandrel; second means, provided in the coil-opening station, for opening the
coil, third means, associated with the second means, for holding the strip end released
from the coil by means of the second means away from the coil, and fourth means for
transporting the opened coil of metal strip, while third means holds the strip end
away from the
' coil, from the coil-opening station to an uncoiling station where the uncoiler is
provided, the fourth means holding the axis of the coil of metal strip essentially
parallel to the axis of the mandrel.
[0016] In the preferred construction, the second means and fourth means are symultaneously
operable so that the second means can perform coil opening operation on one coil while
the uncoiler performs uncoiling operation on another coil. The first means and fourth
means transports the metal strip coil by means of a common coil transporting means.
[0017] On the other hand, the common coil transporting means comprises a coil car movable
along a transporting path extending in a direction that is essentially parallel to
the axis of the mandrel.
[0018] The coil car may have means for setting the metal strip coil onto the second means
and to the uncoiler. On the other hand, the second means may comprise a driving means
for supporting the coil of metal strip and rotatingly driving the coil in a predetermined
direction, a guide means movable toward and away from the coil of metal strip to contact
the coil while the coil is rotating to release the strip end from the coil. The second
means further comprises actuator means associated with the guide means for moving
the guide means toward and away from the coil of metal strip. On the other hand, the
third means comprises a holding means for holding the strip end and transfer means
supporting the holding means for movement along the transporting path so that the
holding means moves therealong according to movement of the metal strip coil by means
of the fourth means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description
given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of
the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific
embodiment but are for explanation and understanding only.
[0020] In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the metal strip uncoiling and
supplying system according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the metal strip uncoiling
and supplying system of Fig. 1, as viewed along the arrow II;
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing arrangement according to another embodiment of the metal
strip uncoiling and supplying system; and
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the metal strip uncoiling and supplying system of Fig.
3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Figs, 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment
of a metal strip uncoiling and supplying system, according to the present invention,
is generally provided upstream of a metal strip processing line, such as that of a
pickling plant, or rolling mill or so forth. The preferred embodiment of the metal
strip uncoiling and supplying system includes an uncoiler 20 with a mandrel 21. The
axis of the mandrel 21 is perpendicular to the direction toward which the uncoiled
metal strip is supplied.
[0022] Coils of metal strip 22 are transported by means of a coil transporting means which
is generally represented by the reference numeral 24. The coil 22 is comprised of
a metal strip wound in a per se well known manner and has a central essentially circular
hole. By the transporting means 24 a path for the metal strip coils 22, which extends
substantially parallel to the axis of the mandrel 21 is defined. During transportation
of the coils of metal strip to the ' uncoiler 20, the transporting means aligns the
axes of the central holes of the coils of metal strip with the axis of the mandrel
21 of.the uncoiler 20.
[0023] A coil-opener 26 is provided in the transporting path defined by the transporting
means at a position unstream of the uncoiler 20. The coil-opener 26 is designed to
slightly uncoil or free the end of the coiled metal strip so that the uncoiler 20
can easily perform uncoiling operation. The coil-opener 26 has a device 28 for holding
the free end of the metal strip. The device 28 will be hereafter referred to as "coil
end holder device".
[0024] The aforementioned transporting means comprises a pair of stationary skids 30 which
define the aforementioned transporting path, and a plurality of coil cars 32. The
stationary skids 30 extend substantially parallel to each other from a coil storage
area (not shown) to the uncoiler 20 so that the coil cars 32 may move there along
to supply the coils of metal strip 22 to the uncoiler. As is well known, each coil
of metal strip 22 is lifted by means of . a crane from the coil storage area and mounted
on the coil car 32. The coil car 32 is then driven along the stationary skids in per
se well known manner.
[0025] The coil car 32 has a lifter 34 for lifting the coil of metal strip 22 mounted thereon.
The lifter 34 is driven to set the coil of metal strip 22 on cradle rollers 36 at
a position opposing the coil opener 26 and onto the mandrel 21 of the uncoiler 20.
[0026] As shown in Fig. 2, the coil-opener 26 incorporates the aforementioned cradle rollers
36. The cradle rollers 36 are mounted on the stationary skids 30 with their rotational
axes extending , essentially parallel to the stationary skids. Each of the cradle
rollers 36 is associated with a driving motor (not shown) to be rotatingly driven
by the latter in order to rotate the metal strip coil 22 set thereon.
[0027] A guide table 38 is provided facing the periphery of the metal strip coil 22 on the
cradle rollers 36. The guide table 38 is pivotably connected to a pivotal arm 39 which
is, in turn, pivotably connected to a base 43. In other words, the guide table 38
is pivotable about a pivot 38a which is supported at the free end of the pivotal arm
39. On the other hand, the pivotal arm 39 is pivotable about a pivot 39a which is
supported by means of a mounting bracket 41 of the base 43. The pivotal arm 39 is
also connected to an actuator 40. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator 40 comprises
an air cylinder having a cylinder rod 40a pivotably connected to the pivotal arm 39
in order to allow relative angular displacement between the pivotal arm 39 and the
cylinder rod 40a about a pivot 40b. On the other hand, the guide table 38 is associated
with an actuator 42. The actuator 42 preferably comprises an air cylinder having a
cylinder rod 41a pivotably connected to the guide table 38 in order to allow relative
angular displacement between the guide table 38 and the cylinder rod 41a. about a
pivot 41b. The air cylinders 40 and 42 operate the pivotal arm 39 and the guide table
38 so that the free end edge of the guide table may contact with the periphery of
coil of the metal strip 22 for releasing the end of the metal strip from the coil.
The guide table 38, the pivotal arm 39 and the air cylinders 40 and 42 constitute
a coil-opening mechanism in the coil-opener 26.
[0028] The coil end holding device 28 is provided above the cradle rollers 36. The coil
end holding device comprises a magnetic chuck. 44. The magnetic chuck 44 is suspended
from a guide mechanism 46. The guide mechanism 46 includes a transfer beam 48 extending
along a section of transporting path of the coils of metal strip between the coil-opener
26 and the uncoiler 20. A guide carridge 50 having rollers 50a engages with the transfer
beam 48 for movement along the latter. The guide carridge 50 supports a vertical guide
53. The . vertical guide 53 comprises a cylindrical outer guide 53a and a cylindrical
or.rod form inner guide 53b which is arranged coaxially within the outer guide. The
outer guide 53a is fixed to the guide carridge 50 at its top end. On the other hand,
the inner guide 53b is thrustingly movable up or down. The inner guide 53b has its
lower end connected to the aforementioned magnetic chuck 44 through a mounting bracket
53c. The mounting bracket 53c has an extention 53d, to which the lower end of a cylinder
rod 52a of an actuator 52 is connected. In the preferred construction, the actuator
52 also comprises an air cylinder. The air cylinder 52 drives the inner guide 53b
of the vertical guide bearing the magnetic chuck 44 up and down.
[0029] It should be appreciated that, though the shown embodiment employs a magnetic chuck
for holding the coil end, it would be possible to use a clamp or a suction holder
for holding the strip end released from the coil 22.
[0030] In the operation of the above-mentioned preferred embodiment of the metal strip supply
system, the metal strip coils 22 are continuously supplied to the coil transporting
means, The coil cars 32 of the coil transporting means receive respective coils of
metal strip coil 22 to transport them along the transporting path defined by the stationary
skids 30. At this time, the coil of metal strip 22 on the coil car 32 is arranged
so that the feed direction of the metal strip uncoiled therefrom matches with the
supply direction of the metal strip treatment line at the position of the uncoiler
20. Therefore, in the example of Fig. 2, the coil of metal strip 22 is placed on the
coil car so as to be unwound in a clockwise direction.
[0031] At the position of the transporting path opposite the coil-opener 26, the lifter
34 of the coil car 32 is actuated to lift up the coil of metal strip 22 and set it
onto the cradle rollers 36. Then, as shown in Fig. 2 the cradle rollers 36 are driven
in a counterclockwise direction by means of the driving motor. By driving the cradle
rollers 36 in counterclockwise direction, the metal strip coil 22 on the cradle rollers
36 is driven to rotate in clockwise direction.
[0032] As coil of the metal strip 22 driven to rotate by the cradle rollers 36, the air
cylinders 40 and 42 are actuated to pivotally move the pivotal arm 39 and the guide
table 38 so that the edge of the guide table comes into contact with the periphery
of the coil of metal strip from the left side. The angular positions of the pivotal
arm 39 and the guide table 38 are adjusted depending upon the diameter of the metal
strip coil 22, as shown by phantom lines in Fig. 2.
[0033] By contacting the edge of the guide table from the left to the periphery of the coil
of metal strip 22 which is rotating in clockwise direction, the edge of the metal
strip comes into contact with the edge of the guide table thus separating it from
the coil. Therefore, the end of the metal strip can be freed.
[0034] Then, the air cylinder 52 is actuated to drive the inner guide 53b of the vertical
guide 53 downwards to bring the magnetic chuck into contact with the freed end of
the metal strip, thereby allowing the magnetic chuck 44 to magnetically hold the strip
coil end.
[0035] After the magnetic chuck has grasped .the coil end, the lifter 34 of the coil car
32 is again actuated to carry the coil of metal strip coil 22 toward the uncoiler
20. At the same time, the guide carriage 50 with the vertical guide 53 moves together
with the coil of metal strip 22 while holding the end of the strip by means of the
magnetic chuck 44.
[0036] At the position opposite the uncoiler 20, the lifter 34 of the coil car 32 is again
actuated to bring , the center hole of the coil of metal strip 22 into alignment with
the the mandrel 21. The metal strip coil 22 is then set on the mandrel of the uncoiler
20. Then, uncoiling operation is carried out by the uncoiler 20 in a per se well known
manner.
[0037] As one coil of metal strip coil is uncoiled by the uncoiler 20, the next coil 22
is set on the coil-opener 26 to be opened.
[0038] It would be desirable to control operation performed by the system such as driving
of the coil cars, and drive timing of the cradle rollers 36, air cylinders 40, 42
and 52 and the lifter 34 of the coil car by means of a controller which may comprise
a computer-based control unit. The coil cars 32 may be controlled to stop at the position,
at which the coil cars receive the coils of metal strip supplied from the coil storage
area. On the other hand, the controller may monitor the position of respective coil
cars for stopping a coil cars when it reaches the position of the coil-opener. After
stopping the coil car 32 at the coil-opening position, the controller feeds a drive
signal to the lifter 34 for setting the coil 22 onto the cradle rollers 36. Setting
of the coil of metal strip 22 onto the cradle roller 36 may be detected by means of
a coil sensor (not shown). Then, the controller feeds a drive signal to the driving
motor to rotatingly drive the cradle rollers 36 to rotate the coil of metal strip
22 thereon. After starting rotation of the metal strip coil 22 on the cradle rollers
36, the controller feeds acutation signals to a pressure control unit (not shown)
for the air cylinders 40 and 42 to move the pivotal arm 39 and the guide table 38.
During this movement, the angular positions of the pivotal arm 39 and the guide table
38 may be feedback controlled utilizing sensors (not shown) which directly detect
the angular position of the pivotal arm and. the guide table, or, detect pressure
in the air cylinders for indirectly detecting the the angular position or the pivotal
arm and the guide table. When the end of the coil of metal strip 22 is opened by means
of the coil opening mechansim set forth above, the controller detects this and stops
.the rotation of the coil of metal strip. At the same time, an actuation signal is
fed to a pressure control unit (not shown) for the air cylinder 52 to lower the magnetic
chuck 44. During this movement, the controller may monitor the position of the magnetic
chuck and detect when the magnetic chuck is holding the freed end of the coil. Thereafter,
the controller again feeds a drive signal for the lifter 34 to release the opened
coil of metal strip 22 from the cradle rollers 36. When the controller has confirmed
complete release of the coil of metal strip from the cradle rollers 36 its drives
the coil car toward the uncoiler. The controller detects the coil car reaching the
uncoiler 20 to feed an actuation signal to the pressure control unit for the air cylinder
52 for adjusting the position of the coil so that it may be acurately set on the mandrel.
Setting of the mandrel is confirmed. After this, a drive signal is fed to the uncoiler
for starting uncoiling operation.
[0039] With the controller set forth above, the driving timing of each component of the
metal strip supply system may optimized.
[0040] As will be appreciated herefrom, a metal strip supply system according to the present
invention is effective for continuously and efficiently uncoiling coils of metal strip
for allowing continuous operation of a metal strip treatment line, such as a pickling
line, a rolling mill line or so forth with substantially loss-time. Furthermore, according
to the shown embodiment, since the same transporting means, i.e. coil car, can be
used before and after opening the coil, the construction of the metal strip supply
system is simplifier and less expensive. Furthermore, since the metal strip supply
system has less components, it can be made more compact.
[0041] Figs. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of a metal strip supply system, according to
the invention. In this embodiment, the coils of metal strip supplied from the coil
yard are transported to the coil-opening position by means of a walking beam 56 mounted
on a stationary skids 52. As shown in Fig. 4, the walking beam 56 comprises a movable
carriage 60 associated with a drive cylinder 58. A walking beam body 66 is mounted
on the movable carriage 60 through lifting links 64. A lifting cylinder 62 is connected
to at least one of the lifting links 64 for adjusting the position of the walking
beam body 66 relative to the movable carriage.
[0042] The coil-opener 26 and the strip end holding device 28, which have the identical
construction as set out with respect to the former embodiment, are provided at the
coil-opening position. Therefore, at the coil-opneing position, the coil of metal
strip 22 transported by the walking beam 56 is set on the cradle rollers 54 supported
by the stationary skids 52 for performing the coil opening operation set forth above.
[0043] After the coil-opening operation, the metal strip coil 22 is transferred with the
coil end holding device 28 by means of the walking beam 56, to the coil car 32.
[0044] While the present invention has been disclosed in terms of the preferred embodiment
in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated
that the invention can be embodied in various ways without departing from the principle
of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all possible
embodiments and modifications to the shown embodiments which can be embodied without
departing from the principle of the invention set out in the appended claims.
1. A method for uncoiling and supplying a metal strip to a metal strip treatment line,
comprising the . steps of:
supplying a coil of metal strip from a direction perpendicular to feeding direction
of the uncoiling metal strip;
transporting said coil of metal strip to a position facing a coil-opener, disposed
adjacent a coil transporting path for opening the coil;
performing coil opening operation;
holding the strip end released from the coil by means of said coil-opener, away from
the coil;
transporting the opened metal strip coil while holding the coil end away from the
coil to an uncoiler, setting it on the uncoiller; and
performing an uncoiling operation for supplying the uncoiled metal strip to said metal
strip treatment line.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coil opening operation is performed
on one coil while uncoiling operation is performed on another coil.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said coil of metal strip is held with
its central axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of said uncoiler.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coil of metal strip is transported
to said coil-opener and to said uncoiler by means of a common coil transporting means.
5. A system for uncoiling and feeding a metal strip to a metal strip treatment line,
comprising:
an uncoiler for uncoiling said coil of metal strip for feeding the uncoiled metal
strip to said metal strip treatment line, said uncoiler having a mandrel, the axis
of which is perpendicular to the feeding direction of supply of the uncoiling metal
strip;
first means for transporting said coil of metal strip from a supply station to a coil-opening
station, said first means holding the central axis of said coil of metal strip essentially
parallel to said axis of said mandrel;
second means, provided in said coil-opening station, for opening the coil;
third means, associated with said second means, for holding the strip end released
from the coil by means of said second means away from the coil; and
fourth means for transporting the opened coil of metal strip, while third means holds
the strip end away from the coil, from said coil-opening station to an uncoiling station
where said uncoiler is provided, said fourth means holding the axis of said coil of
metal strip essentially parallel to said axis of said mandrel.
6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second means and fourth means are
simultaneously operable so that said second means can perform coil opening operation
on one coil while said uncoiler performs uncoiling operation on another coil.
7. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first means and fourth means transports
said metal strip coil by means of a common coil transporting means.
8. A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said common coil transporting means comprises
a coil car movable along a transporting path extending in a direction that is essentially
parallel to the axis of said mandrel.
9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said coil car has means for setting said
metal strip coil onto said second means and to said uncoiler.
10. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second means comprises a driving
means for supporting said coil of metal strip and rotatingly driving said coil in
a predetermined direction, a guide means movable toward and away from said coil of
metal strip to contact said coil while said coil is rotating to release the strip
end from the coil.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second means further comprises
actuator means associated with said guide means for moving said guide means toward
and away from said coil of metal strip.
12. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said third means comprises a holding
means for holding the strip end and transfer means supporting said holding means for
movement along said transporting path so that said holding means moves therealong
according to movement of said metal strip coil by means of said fourth means.