Method and device for honing metal strips of arbitrary width in continuous motion

Abstract

A method and device for honing a metal strip of arbitrary width in continuous motion, allow honing of a suspended portion of at least one side of a metal strip, being free of artifacts and automated. The device includes a device for vertically positioning an abrasive element at the surface of the strip. A device for horizontally moving the abrasive element transversely to the motion of the strip can be coupled to the vertical-positioning device and moved back and forth from one edge of the strip to the other. A first device allows uniform pressure to be applied to press the abrasive element against the strip. The first device allows a uniform pressure to be applied to a suspended portion of the strip in motion and can be coupled to a second device allowing the pressure to be adjusted according to the longitudinal tension of the suspended portion of strip.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for honing at least one side of a continuous metal strip to increase surface roughness in a contact zone defined by contact of an abrasive element with the strip, the method comprising the following steps:
 placing the abrasive element in contact with the metal strip;   motorized alternatingly transversely displacing the abrasive element in contact with the strip with a transverse movement perpendicular to a rolling direction of the strip and fixed relative to a motion of the strip;   applying pressure to the abrasive element limited to a portion of a throughput of the strip; and   variably adjusting the pressure as a function of a longitudinal tension of a suspended portion of the strip.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises carrying out the honing for a specified duration on a strip of arbitrary width in a course of processing in a processing plant. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises:
 adapting the transverse movement of the abrasive element to the arbitrary width of the strip by detecting edges of the strip in its transverse direction;   setting transverse movement limits using the detection; and   performing the detection at a start of a honing cycle.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises:
 providing the contact by moving the abrasive element from at least one idle position to at least one operating position;   providing an operator with safe access to the abrasive element in the idle position; and   providing at least one in-contact state of the abrasive element with the strip as well as one out-of-contact state of the abrasive element above the strip in the operating position.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , which further comprises adjusting the pressure in at least one of the idle position or the operating position. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises adjusting the pressure as a function of the longitudinal tension of the strip by adding at least one constraint to a vertical degree of freedom of the abrasive element. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , which further comprises carrying out the step of adding the at least one constraint by an addition of at least one mass to a mechanism allowing the abrasive element to be displaced vertically. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to can  24 , which further comprises regulating the displacement of the abrasive element by a correlation between a rolling speed of the strip and a transverse movement speed of the abrasive element. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises defining a transverse movement speed of the abrasive element as a function of a contact zone geometry, a strip geometry and a rolling speed of the strip. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , which further comprises fixing the transverse movement speed of a rectangularly shaped abrasive element with a length Lp in the rolling direction of the strip and a width lp, to a value equal to a quotient [Vb·(lb−2r−lp)]/Lp, defined by a width lb of the strip, the rolling speed Vb of the strip and a setback distance r of an edge of the strip relative to a parallel and nearest edge of the abrasive element at each extremity of its transverse movement. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , which further comprises adjusting the rolling speed of the strip in at least part of a processing plant as a function of the transverse movement speed of the abrasive element. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises:
 providing at least one strip accumulator device upstream of the abrasive element in a processing plant relative to the rolling direction of the strip; and   determining an initiation of the honing method and a duration of honing as a function of an availability and storage capacity of the at least one strip accumulator device.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises detecting and signaling an exceeding of a wear threshold of the abrasive element for causing honing to be interrupted. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises performing the honing upstream of a visual inspection station. 
     
     
         38 . A device for honing at least one side of a continuously moving metal strip, the device comprising;
 an abrasive element;   a device for vertically positioning said abrasive element at a surface of the strip;   a device for horizontally displacing said abrasive element transversely to a motion of the strip, said horizontal displacing device configured to be linked to said vertical positioning device and configured to be capable of effecting an alternating movement from one side of the strip to another;   a first device for allowing a uniform abrasive element pressure to be applied to a moving suspended portion of the strip; and   a second device configured to be linked to said first device for allowing the pressure to be adjusted as a function of a longitudinal tension of the moving suspended portion of the strip.   
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein the honing device is configured to be incorporated in a processing pant for metal strips of arbitrary width in order to perform honing for a specified duration on a strip in a course of processing. 
     
     
         40 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 said horizontal displacement device allows the abrasive element to be moved from at least one idle position to at least one operating position;   said idle position is located out of range of the strip in order to allow the abrasive element to be safely maintained by an operator; and   said operating position is located above the strip and includes at least one state in which the abrasive element is in contact with the strip as well as at least one out-of-contact state of the abrasive element above the strip.   
     
     
         41 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein:
 said horizontal displacement device includes at least one horizontal carriage capable of moving transversely relative to the strip over a distance greater than a width of the strip including said idle and operating positions;   said vertical positioning device includes a tool holder and at least one vertical transfer unit disposed between said carriage and said tool holder; and   said tool holder has a fixed vertical position during honing and supports said first and second pressure applying devices.   
     
     
         42 . The device according to  claim 41 , wherein said at least one vertical transfer unit includes at least one jack actuating a set of hinged rods disposed in a deformable parallelogram. 
     
     
         43 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein said first device for applying pressure includes at least one tool mounting plate supporting said abrasive element and at least one vertical slide incorporating said at least one tool mounting plate in said tool holder, said at least one tool mounting plate configured to freely slide in said at least one vertical slide. 
     
     
         44 . The device according to  claim 38 , which further comprises a detection system detecting edges of the strip and transmitting a signal reporting the detection to said horizontal displacement device for adapting a displacement of the abrasive element to an arbitrary width of the strip. 
     
     
         45 . The device according to  claim 44 , wherein the horizontal displacement is limited to a travel having a value equal to Lb−(lp+2r), defined by a difference between a strip width Lb and a sum of a width lp of the abrasive element and a distance  2   r  equal to twice a setback distance r of an edge of the strip with respect to a parallel and nearest edge of the abrasive element at each end of its transverse movement. 
     
     
         46 . The device according to  claim 44 , wherein said detection system includes at least one detector capable of detecting the edges of the strip during the transverse movement of the abrasive element, said detector being incorporated in an element having a fixed vertical position during honing and forming part of said vertical positioning device. 
     
     
         47 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein said second pressure applying device includes at least one detector for detecting a horizontal level of the abrasive element, said detector being incorporated in an element having a fixed vertical position during honing. 
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 38 , which further comprises a detection system detecting and signaling abrasive element wear approaching a threshold value and interrupting honing if said threshold value is exceeded. 
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 38 , which further comprises an adjustment system correlating a rolling speed of the strip with a transverse movement speed of the abrasive element for adapting the rolling speed of the strip to honing capabilities of the honing device in at least part of a processing plant.