Roll cleaning apparatus and method

Abstract

A roll cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member mounted to a support member that extends lengthwise relative to a first roller of the machine. The cleaning member has a brush having a substantial area to place against the surface of the roll. The cleaning member may be movable between an engaged position against the roll during operation, and a disengaged position spaced away from the roll in a non-operating condition, such as when replacement of the cleaning member is desired. The roll cleaning apparatus may include a drive connected to cause linear reciprocation of the cleaning member. The roll cleaning apparatus may have a drive or actuator mounted to move the cleaning member between the engaged and disengaged positions, and may be operable to bias the cleaning member against the roll in use. The roll cleaning member may have a contact head that includes an array of abrasive bristles.

1 . A roller cleaning apparatus for engagement with a roller of a steel rolling facility, said apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning member operable to engage the roller while the roller is revolving;   a carrier;   said cleaning member being mounted to said carrier;   said carrier being mounted to present the cleaning member to the roller;   said cleaning member being movable between a first position in which said cleaning member engages the roller, and a second position in which the cleaning member is located clear of the roller;   said cleaning member having a contact region having both axial and circumferential extent; and   said cleaning member including an array of bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning member has a roller contacting interface element, and said roller contact interface element is operable at temperatures in excess of 200 F. 
     
     
         3 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bristles of said cleaning member include Nylon™ filaments. 
     
     
         4 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bristles include abrasive surface elements. 
     
     
         5 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bristles are made of Brushlon™ material. 
     
     
         6 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning member is axially displaceable relative to the roller, while in contact with the roller and while the roller is revolving. 
     
     
         7 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a drive connected to impart reciprocating axial motion to said cleaning member. 
     
     
         8 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said carrier is movably mounted relative to the roller, and is constrained to cause said cleaning member mounted thereto to move in a manner having a non-zero radial component of displacement relative to the roller. 
     
     
         9 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said carrier is driven by a force maintaining member. 
     
     
         10 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said cleaning member has a circumferentially extending surface conforming to the roller, and said cleaning member has a degree of freedom of motion permitting said circumferentially extending surface to self-center on said roller. 
     
     
         11 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said cleaning member includes a self-centering shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said apparatus includes a motion governor operable to move said cleaning member between said first and second positions. 
     
     
         13 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said apparatus includes a biasing member operable to urge said cleaning member against the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein a biasing member is mounted between said support member and a fitting that is rigidly positioned relative to the axis of rotation of the roller, and is operable to move the support member, and the cleaning member attached thereto, relative to the roller. 
     
     
         15 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said biasing member employs a working fluid to urge said bristles against the roller. 
     
     
         16 . The roller cleaning apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a drive mounted to reciprocate said cleaning member axially relative to the roller. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said drive is an oscillator, and said cleaning member is driven by said oscillator non-harmonically relative to the roller. 
     
     
         18 . A machine for rolling sheets of metal, said machine comprising:
 a first roller and a second roller mounted in parallel and defining a nip therebetween;   said first roller having an axis of rotation;   at least a first roller cleaning apparatus for engagement with said first roller, said roller cleaning apparatus including a cleaning member operable to engage the roller while the roller is revolving, and a carrier;   said cleaning member being mounted to said carrier;   said carrier being mounted to present the cleaning member to said first roller;   said cleaning member being movable between a first position in which said cleaning member engages said first roller, and a second position in which the cleaning member is located clear of said first roller;   said cleaning member having a contact region having both axial and circumferential extent; and   said contact region including an array of abrasive bristles.   
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 18  further including a second roller cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19  wherein said first and second roller cleaning apparatuses are mounted to engage said first and second rollers on opposite sides of the nip. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 18  wherein at least said first roller cleaning apparatus has a drive connected to cause axial reciprocation of said cleaning member while said first roller is revolving. 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 21  wherein at least said first roller cleaning apparatus includes an actuator operatively connected to urge said cleaning member against said first roller. 
     
     
         23 . The machine of  claim 18  wherein said machine is a machine for rolling steel sheet. 
     
     
         24 . The machine of  claim 18  wherein said machine is a machine for cold rolling sheet steel. 
     
     
         25 . A method of cleaning rollers of a steel sheet rolling mill, said method including advancing a cleaning head toward at least a first of a pair of said rollers, and maintaining that cleaning head in contact with said first roller which a sheet metal workpiece is passed between said pair of roller. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said method includes providing a cleaning head having a contact member, said contact member including an array of bristles. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said method includes providing abrasive treated bristles. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said method includes the step of providing bristles made of Brushlon™ material. 
     
     
         29 . The use of an abrasive brush to clean rollers of a steel rolling mill while said rollers are in operation. 
     
     
         30 . The use of  claim 29  wherein the brush is made of abrasive bristles. 
     
     
         31 . The use of  claim 29  wherein the brush is made of nylon bristles, and the bristles have been treated with an abrasive coating or material. 
     
     
         32 . The use of  claim 29  wherein the brush includes bristles made of Brushlon™. 
     
     
         33 . A roll cleaning apparatus including a scrubbing element positionable against a roll to be cleaned, said apparatus including a drive operable to move said scrubbing element axially relative to the roll, said scrubbing element being porous to permit the passage of airflow therethrough, said scrubbing element being mounted to at least one ventilation manifold, said ventilation manifold having a plurality of inlet ports through which air may be drawn through said scrubbing element, said ventilation manifold also including a plurality of exhaust ports spaced therealong, said apparatus including an air mover operable to draw exhaust from said plurality of exhaust ports. 
     
     
         34 . The roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said air mover is operable to draw more than 100 CFM per square foot of surface area through said scrubbing element. 
     
     
         35 . The roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said air mover is operable at a pressure drop of greater than 8 inches of water when said roll cleaning apparatus is in operation. 
     
     
         36 . The roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein said there are between 60 and 100 of said inlet ports per square foot of contact area of said scrubbing element. 
     
     
         37 . The use of the roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  where the roll has a temperature of greater than 250 F. 
     
     
         38 . The use of the roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  where the roll has a temperature of up to 500 F. 
     
     
         39 . The use of the roll cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the airflow maintains the scrubbing element at a temperature of less than 285 F.