Flatness measurement system for metal strip

Abstract

The invention relates to a flatness measurement and control system for metal strip, which makes it possible to obtain improved strip or coil quality by a simple and effective measurement of departures from flatness and to control the finishing parameters through the evaluation of a line pattern on the strip surface or on the end face of a coil as it is coiled.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A method for continuously measuring the flatness of a moving hot metal strip, the method comprising projecting a shadow in the form of a line pattern onto said moving hot metal strip, and detecting said line pattern on said moving hot metal strip with a camera.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said line pattern detected by said camera is compared continuously by a computer with a reference pattern.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said line pattern detected by said camera is used for control of a finishing train.  
   
   
       11 . A method for continuously measuring the flatness of an end face of a coil when coiling a metal strip, the method comprising the steps of projecting a shadow in the form of a line pattern onto said end face, and detecting said line pattern on said end face with a camera.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said line pattern detected by said camera is compared continuously by a computer with a reference pattern.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said line pattern detected by said camera is used for control of a finishing train.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein projecting a shadow comprises using a projector to project through a slide.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein projecting a shadow comprises using a projector through a slide.