Straightening machine and method for the operation thereof

Abstract

A straightening machine for straightening a metal strip or planar metal parts is provided, having a number of upper straightening rollers 15 which are each mounted at one first and one second bearing location 24, 25 in an upper roller mill 12 , and a number of lower straightening rollers 16 are each mounted at one first and one second bearing location 24, 25 in a lower roller mill 14 . The upper and lower straightening rollers 15, 16 are disposed such that they form a straightening gap 17 between an inlet 6 and an outlet 7 of the straightening machine 1 to act from above and from below on the metal strip or metal part 10 to be straightened and to guide the latter through the straightening machine 1 . The straightening rollers are provided with coupling elements 5 , disposed on an end side, for coupling drive shafts of a drive device 2, 3, 4 , and are removable from the respective roller mill 12, 14 . At least some of the straightening rollers 15, 16 are provided with coupling elements 5 at in each case both ends sides, so as to be able to reverse the straightening rollers 15, 16 within the roller mill 12, 14.

1 . A straightening machine for straightening a metal strip or planar metal parts ( 10 ), the straightening machine comprising:
 a plurality of upper straightening rollers ( 15 ) mounted in an upper roller mill ( 12 );   a plurality of lower straightening rollers ( 16 ) mounted in a lower roller mill ( 14 );   the upper and lower straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) being disposed to form a straightening gap ( 17 ) between an inlet ( 6 ) and an outlet ( 7 ) of the straightening machine ( 1 ) and are adapted to act from above and from below on the metal strip or metal part ( 10 ) to be straightened and to guide the metal strip or metal part through the straightening machine ( 1 );   the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) are provided with coupling elements ( 5 ) on a first end side thereof for coupling to drive shafts of a drive device ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ),   the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) are removable from the respective roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ); and   at least some of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) are provided with additional coupling elements ( 5 ) on a second end side opposite to the first end side.   
     
     
         2 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements ( 5 ) of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) are configured as drive studs or drive sockets having a profiled cross section for axial transmission of torque. 
     
     
         3 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each said straightening roller ( 15 ,  16 ) on the end side thereof that faces away from the straightening gap ( 17 ) is assigned at least two support roller pairs ( 23 ) which are positioned asymmetrically in relation to a center of an imaginary line that connects a first bearing location ( 24 ) and a second bearing location ( 25 ) of the straightening roller ( 15 ,  16 ). 
     
     
         4 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising sensors ( 19 ) that detect forces which act in a straightening procedure between the upper and the lower roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ). 
     
     
         5 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the sensors ( 19 ) are distributed in the straightening machine ( 1 ) in order to detect an asymmetrical distribution of said forces. 
     
     
         6 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising stay bolts ( 20 ) that interconnect the upper and the lower roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ), and at least some of the stay bolts ( 20 ) are provided with the sensors ( 19 ) that detect an elongation of the respective stay bolts ( 20 ). 
     
     
         7 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sensors ( 19 ) are displacement sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a load spectrum memory assigned to the sensors ( 19 ) configured to at least one of store detected forces or store and add up straightening cycles that are determined from the detected forces. 
     
     
         9 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the load spectrum memory is configured such that it stores the forces detected in a straightening procedure and a temporal profile of said forces and, when detected, an asymmetrical distribution of said forces, or in each case computes a load and, when detected, an asymmetrical distribution of the load from the forces detected in a straightening procedure and from the temporal profile of said forces, stores the latter as a load cycle, and adds up the load cycles. 
     
     
         10 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the straightening machine ( 1 ) further comprises a computer configured to detect wear from the straightening cycles or load cycles added up in the load spectrum memory, and computes a wear value and emits a signal when a predefined wear threshold value is reached. 
     
     
         11 . The straightening machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the straightening machine ( 1 ) further comprises a computer which is configured to detect wear from the forces detected by the sensors ( 19 ) and stored in the load spectrum memory, and the temporal profile of said forces and, when detected, a spatial distribution of said forces, computes an expectancy value for wear of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) and emits a signal when a predefined expectancy threshold value is reached. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a straightening machine ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 removing the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) provided with the additional coupling elements ( 5 ) on the second end side after a number of performed straightening procedures, from the respective roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ), and   reversing the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) provided with the additional coupling elements ( 5 ) on the second end side and reinserting the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) provided with additional coupling elements ( 5 ) on the second end side into the roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ).   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 detecting at least one of forces that act between the upper and the lower roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ) in a straightening procedure, or the asymmetry of said forces,   counting the performed straightening procedures as straightening cycles, and   carrying out the removing and the reversing of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) after reaching a predefined straightening cycle threshold value for a number of the performed straightening procedures.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 detecting and adding up forces that act between the upper and the lower roller mill ( 12 ,  14 ) in a straightening procedure to form a temporal profile of said forces and, when detected, an asymmetrical distribution of said forces,   determining an expectancy value for wear of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ), and   after reaching a predefined expectancy threshold value, carrying out the removing and the reversing of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) provided with the additional coupling elements ( 5 ) on the second end side.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising;
 in addition to carrying out the reversing of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ), reversing a sequence of the straightening rollers ( 15 ,  16 ) along the straightening gap ( 17 ).