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(11) | EP 2 644 749 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A washing and degreasing system for metal bands, wrapped in coils. |
| (57) A washing and degreasing system (10) for metal bands, wrapped in coils, and having
a thin thickness lower than 60 µm, which comprises a fixed structure (12) and a plurality
of washing and degreasing groups (20) on which the metal band (90) is partially wrapped,
the plurality of washing and degreasing groups (20) being able to move the metal band
(90) along a washing and degreasing path, furthermore the washing and degreasing system
(10) comprising a plurality of nozzles (30), able to spray on the metal band (90)
a washing and/or degreasing fluid and also a rinsing fluid. Each washing and degreasing
group (20) comprises a motorized upper roll (40) and at least one motorized lower
roll (50), which is hinged to a fixed structure (12) of the washing and degreasing
system (10). The ends of the upper roll (40) are inserted and bound in a plurality of vertical guides (19), which are fixed to the fixed structure (12), and they permit a sliding in the vertical direction of the first end (43) and of the second end (44), with respect to the axis of at least a lower roll (50). |
[0001] The present invention refers to a washing and degreasing system for metal bands, wrapped in coils.
[0002] In particular, the present invention refers to a washing and degreasing system for metal bands able to wash and degrease in a continuous way and at high speed metal bands wrapped in coils of great sizes.
[0003] In the case of metal bands having high thicknesses, it is possible to realize a washing and a degreasing by means of very simple spraying and washing systems, provided with advancement rolls; as the bands are quite rigid and they do not flex easily, and hence the washing systems do not determine defects on the band itself, during said washing.
[0004] These systems are not usable with metal bands having small thicknesses, as being the metal bands very thin and flexible, the washing fluid penetrates between the metal band and the advancement roll and it determines a floating of the band in such a way to determine an alternate dragging on the metal band, and deformations on the metal band itself, which determine some defects, such as for example waves on the metal band, such to compromise its use.
[0005] Consequently, the degreasing of the bands with a thin thickness and wrapped in coils is made by a thermal treatment, by inserting one or more metal coils in an oven, at a temperature able to oxidize the grease present on the surfaces, by producing a combustion gas and solid residuals which remain on the surface, by determining a not suitable result.
[0006] The aim of the present invention is that to realize a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness that permit to obtain perfectly washed and degreased surfaces, without determining deformations and defects on the metal bands.
[0007] Another aim is that to realize a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness that is simple and that is able to wash and degrease metal bands with thin thickness having different thicknesses and without determining deformations and defects on the metal bands themselves.
[0008] Another aim is that to realize a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness that is dependable and able to wash and degrease at high speed, without determining deformations and defects on the metal bands themselves.
[0009] Still another aim is that to realize a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness that is easy to realize and with reduced maintenance costs.
[0010] A further aim is that to provide a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness that is easy to realize and economically advantageous.
[0011] These aims according to the present invention are reached by realizing a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness according to claim 1.
[0013] The properties and advantages of a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness according to the present invention will be clearer from the following exemplary and non limitative description, referred to the annexed schematic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a right side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a washing and degreasing system for metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detail in figure 1, in a right side elevation view;
Figure 4 is a perspective detail of figure 3, in a right and top side elevation view;
Figure 5 is a detail of figure 4 in a front elevation view;
Figure 6 is a perspective detail of figure 4 in a right and top side elevation view, showing a washing and degreasing group according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a right and top side elevation view of the washing and degreasing system in Fig.2, with a section along the VII-VII line.
[0014] With reference to the figures a system 10 for washing and degreasing metal bands wrapped in coils and having a thin thickness is shown, said system 10 comprising a fixed structure 12 and a plurality of washing and degreasing groups 20 on which said metal band 90 is partially wrapped, said plurality of washing and degreasing groups 20 being able to move said metal band 90 along a washing and degreasing path, furthermore said washing and degreasing system 10 comprises a plurality of nozzles 30 able to spray on said metal band 90 a washing and/or degreasing fluid, preferably of an alkaline or acid type, and also a rinsing fluid.
[0015] Said washing and degreasing system 10 is able to work metal bands having very thin thicknesses, preferably lower than 60 µm, and in particular having thicknesses comprised between 6 and 30 µm, i.e. very flexible metal bands and having an extremely low rigidity and resistance.
[0016] Preferably, said metal band 90 comprises a thickness lower than 70 µm, and in particular a thickness comprised between 10 and 40 µm, which does not permit to the band itself to be rigid.
[0017] In particular, said metal band 90 is partially wrapped in an alternate way on an upper roll 40 and on at least one adjacent lower roll 50.
[0018] According to the present invention, each washing and/or degreasing group 20 comprises an upper roll 40, which is linked to actuating means able to rotate the same, and at least one lower roll 50, which is also linked to actuating means able to rotate the same, which is hinged to a fixed structure 12 of said washing and degreasing system 10.
[0019] Preferably, said upper roll 40 comprises an outer profile, with a polymeric coating 42, preferably which is rubber base, and also comprising a first end 43 and a second end 44 which are linked to actuating means able to rotate said upper roll 40 around a corresponding symmetry axis 45 of the same.
[0020] Preferably, said at least one lower roll 50 comprises an outer profile, with a polymeric coating 52, preferably which is rubber base, and also comprising a first and a second end which are hinged to said fixed structure 12 of said washing and degreasing system 10.
[0021] Preferably, said washing and degreasing system 10 comprises a plurality of vertical guides 19, which are fixed to said rigid structure 12 preferably metallic of said washing and degreasing system 10.
[0022] In particular, said first end 43 and said second end 44 of said upper roll 40 are inserted and constrained into two corresponding vertical guides 19 of said plurality of vertical guides 19, which permit a sliding in a vertical direction of said first end 43 and said second end 44 with respect to the axis of said at least one lower roll 50.
[0023] Advantageously, this permits a very precise regulation of the distance between said outer profile of said upper roll 40 and said outer profile of said at least one lower roll 50.
[0024] In particular, said polymeric coatings 42 and 52 of which said upper roll 40 and said at least one lower roll 50 are respectively provided are pressed one against the other, and hence they are mutually compressed, and this fact creates a pressure on said metal band 90 which can be regulated by means of a vertical sliding of the upper roll 40 between two corresponding guides 19, said pressure cooperating with a rotation movement produced by said actuating means by producing a high friction between said polymeric coatings 42 and 52 and said metal band 90 by permitting a rapid advancement at high speed of the same, and a contemporary removal of said washing and/or degreasing fluid from the outer surfaces of said metal band 90 in contact with said upper roll 40 and with said at least one lower roll 50.
[0025] In this way, it is possible to advantageously obtain to avoid the insertion of said washing and/or degreasing fluid between said upper roll 40 and said metal band 90 or between said at least one lower roll 50 and said metal band 90, advantageously avoiding relative sliding between the same and discontinuous dragging of the metal band 90 with a consequent formation of waves on said metal band 90 or other defects which would damage the metal band 90 itself.
[0026] Preferably, said washing and degreasing system 10 comprises a plurality of vertical uprights 14, preferably metallic, and on each upright 14 a corresponding pair of vertical guides 19 is fixed.
[0027] Preferably, each upper roll 40 comprises two support bearings 60 into which said first end 43 and said second end 44 are inserted, furthermore said two support bearings 60 are coupled and slide into said two corresponding vertical guides 19 in order to advantageously permit a simple and rapid maintenance of the elements subjected to wearing, by advantageously avoiding expensive maintenance operations.
[0028] In order to regulate in a fine and precise way the distance between said outer profile of said upper roll 40 and said outer profile of said at least one lower roll 50, which permits to finely regulate the pressure on said metal band 90, preferably each washing and degreasing group 20 comprises stopping means 70, which are adjustable in their height, in particular two stops 70 which are adjustable in their height, each of them has a first lower end fixed to said rigid structure 12 of said washing and degreasing system 10 and a second upper end which supports a corresponding support bearing 60.
[0029] Advantageously, this permits to regulate in a fine way the distance between said outer profile of said upper roll 40 and said outer profile of said at least one lower roll 50, in order to have a compression of corresponding polymeric coatings 42 and 52, preferably rubber-based, said compression being orthogonal to said metal band 90 and permitting to have a sufficient friction for dragging said metal band 90 without deforming the same, and at the same time it creates a particular wringing effect of the metal band 90, by avoiding at the same time that said washing fluid introduces itself between the metal band 90 and the polymeric coating of each upper roll 40 or lower roll 50.
[0030] Said wringing effect determines the removal of the washing fluid from the portion of metal band 90 in contact and near to said upper roll 40 and to said at least one lower roll 50, so by avoiding floating effects which would determine defects on the metal band 90 and its damaging.
[0031] Advantageously, this permits to wash and degrease also metal bands with a thin thickness, which can not be subjected to annealing treatments, and hence it permits to maintain rigid the mechanical properties of the metal band 90, by avoiding a thermal treatment which would modify the mechanical properties of the same.
[0032] Advantageously, this also permits to perform an easy maintenance of said upper roll 40 and of said at least one lower roll 50; it is possible in fact to rectify the same for a number of times since each washing and degreasing group 20 by means of stopping means 70, which can be regulated in their height, and in particular by means of said two stopping means 70 that are adjustable in their height, it permits to adapt and regulate in a precise way the distance of the rotation axis of said upper roll 40 and of said at least one lower roll 50, in order to have a sufficient compression of the corresponding polymeric coatings, such as to avoid the infiltration of the washing and/or degreasing fluid between said metal band 90 and the polymeric coatings, by avoiding consequently a floating effect which would cause a damaging of said metal band 90.
[0033] Advantageously, the stopping means which are adjustable in their height 70 of each washing and degreasing group 20 permit to get also a perfect parallelism of the rotation axis of said upper roll 40 and of said at least one lower roll 50, by obtaining in such a way also a compression, uniform level of corresponding polymeric layers, along a transversal direction, parallel to said rotation axis, so by avoiding the formation of waves which would determine permanent deformations and/or the breaking of said metal band 90.
[0034] Hence, also with different diameters of the rolls, caused by one or more grinding operations, it is possible to adapt each group to obtain a correct interference between said polymeric coating 42 of said upper roll 40 and said polymeric coating 52 of said at least one lower roll 50.
[0035] Advantageously, it is possible in this way to maintain a good separation of the degreasing, washing and rinsing fluids, which are sprayed from the plurality of nozzles 30 in different areas of the washing and degreasing system 10.
[0036] Advantageously, in this way it is also possible that the degreasing fluid can pollute the washing fluid in different areas of the washing and degreasing system 10, by avoiding so a possible and periodical substitution of the fluids with an increasing working cost in the system and with the problem of disposing the same.
[0037] Advantageously, said upper roll 40, by cooperating with said at least two lower rolls 50 has a wringing function of said metal band 90 by avoiding the dragging of the degreasing fluid in a subsequent area in which a washing of the metal band 90 it is on the contrary performed.
[0038] Preferably, each washing and degreasing group 20 comprises an upper roll 40 and at least two lower rolls 50, said polymeric coating 42 of said upper roll 40 is in contact and pushes against said polymeric coating 52 of said two lower rolls 50.
[0039] In each washing and degreasing group 20, said upper roll 40 and said at least one lower roll 50 have corresponding rotation axes which are mutually parallel and are also parallel to the rotation axes of the other washing and degreasing groups 20 of said washing and degreasing system 10.
[0040] Furthermore, with respect to a longitudinal plane orthogonal to said rotation axes, preferably the joining of the traces of the rotation axes of the plurality of upper rolls 40 and of lower rolls 50, mutually joined in a continuous way and in sequence, it defines a line 92 substantially shaped with triangular waves.
[0041] Advantageously, this permits to have an advancement path of said metal band 90 in which the same results alternatively wrapped on an upper roll 40 and on at least one lower roll 50, and it is pressed between the same in a series of areas in which the outer polymeric coatings 42 and 52 are in contact, by obtaining high advancement speeds and avoiding stretching or relative dragging between the upper rolls 40 and the lower rolls 50.
[0042] Advantageously, this permits to have a much more compact washing and degreasing system 10 in a longitudinal direction, with a reduced encumbrance and with a weight of the fixed structure 12 preferably metallic.
[0043] It is so clear that a washing and degreasing system for metal bands, wrapped in coils, and having a thin thickness according to the present invention reaches the aims previously pointed out.
[0044] The washing and degreasing system for metal bands, wrapped in coils, and having a so conceived thin thickness of the present invention is susceptible of various changes and variations, all within the same inventive scope. Furthermore, in practice the used materials, and also their sizes and components, can be of any kind according to the technical needs.
1. A washing and degreasing system (10) for metal bands wrapped in coils, and having
a thin thickness, said system (10) comprising a fixed structure (12) and a plurality
of washing and degreasing groups (20) on which said metal band (90) is partially wound,
said plurality of washing and degreasing groups (20) being able to move said metal
band (90) along a washing and degreasing path, furthermore said washing and degreasing
system (10) comprising a plurality of nozzles (30) able to spray on said metal band
(90) a washing and/or degreasing fluid, preferably of an alkaline and acid type, and
also a rinsing fluid, characterized in that said washing and degreasing system (10) work metal bands having very thin thicknesses,
lower than 60 µm, and furthermore each washing and/or degreasing group (20) comprises
an upper roll (40) which is linked to actuating means able to rotate the same, and
at least one lower roll (50) which is also linked to actuating means able to rotate
the same and which is hinged to a fixed structure (12) of said washing and/or degreasing
system (10).
2. The washing and/or degreasing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper roll (40) comprises an outer profile which comprises a polymeric coating
(42), preferably rubber-based, and also comprising a first end (43) and a second end
(44) which are linked to actuating means able to rotate said upper roll (40) around
a corresponding symmetry axis (45) of the same, furthermore said at least one lower
roll (50) comprises an outer profile, which comprises a polymeric coating (52), preferably
rubber-based, and also comprising a first and a second end which are hinged to said
fixed structure (12) of said washing and/or degreasing system (10).
3. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising a plurality of vertical guides (19) which are fixed to said fixed structure
(12) preferably metallic of said washing and degreasing system (10).
4. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first end (43) and said second end (44) of said upper roll (40) are inserted
and constrained in two corresponding vertical guides (19) of said plurality of vertical
guides (19) which permit a sliding in a vertical direction of said first end (43)
and of said second end (44) with respect to the axis of said at least one lower roll
(50).
5. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of vertical metal uprights (14), wherein, on each upright
(14) a corresponding pair of vertical guides (19) is fixed.
6. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 2 to 5, characterized in that said polymeric coatings (42) and (52) are pressed one against the other, and this
creates a pressure on said metal band (90) which can be regulated by means of a vertical
sliding of the upper roll (40) in said two corresponding guides (19), said pressure
also cooperating with a rotation movement produced by said actuating means by producing
a high friction between said polymeric coatings (42) and (52) and said metal band
(90) permitting a rapid advancement at high speed of said metal band (90) and a contemporary
removal of said washing and/or degreasing fluid from the outer surfaces of said metal
band (90) in contact with said upper roll (40) and with said at least one lower roll
(50).
7. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 3 to 6, characterized in that each upper roll (40) comprises two support bearings (60), into which said first end
(43) and said second end (44) are inserted, furthermore said two support bearing (60)
are coupled and sliding in said two corresponding vertical guides (19) in order to
advantageously permit an easy and rapid maintenance of the elements subjected to wearing,
by advantageously avoiding expensive maintenance operations.
8. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that each washing and degreasing group (20) comprises stopping means (70) adjustable in
their height, each of which comprises a first lower end fixed to said rigid structure
(12) of said washing and degreasing system (10) and a second upper end which supports
a corresponding support bearing (60).
9. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each washing and degreasing group (20) comprises an upper roll (40) and at least
two lower rolls (50), said polymeric coating (42) of said upper roll (50) being in
contact and pressing against said polymeric coating (52) of said at least two lower
rolls (50).
10. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 1 to 9, characterized in that in each washing and degreasing group (20) said upper roll (40) and said at least
one lower roll (50) having corresponding rotation axes which are mutually parallel
and which are parallel to the rotation axes of the other washing and degreasing groups
(20) of said washing and degreasing system (10), furthermore with respect to a longitudinal
plane orthogonal to said rotation axes the joining of the tracks of the rotation axes
of the plurality of upper rolls (40) and of the plurality of lower rolls (50) being
mutually joined in a continuous way and in sequence, it defines a line (92) substantially
shaped with triangular waves.
11. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 1 to 10, characterized in that said washing and degreasing system (10) work with metal bands having thicknesses
comprised between 10 µm e 40 µm, which does not permit to the metal band itself to
be rigid.
12. The washing and degreasing system (10) according to any claim 1 to 11, characterized in that said metal band (90) is partially wrapped and in alternate way on an upper roll (40)
and on at least one adjacent lower roll (50).