Separating flexibly rolled strip material

Abstract

Separating flexibly rolled strip material can include a buffer device for temporarily storing the flexibly rolled strip material; a first feed device behind the buffer device; at least one length measuring device for continuously measuring a length of the strip material; a thickness measuring device for continuously measuring a thickness of the strip material along the length; a second feed device behind the first feed device; a separating device behind the second feed device; the first and second feed devices being configured to move the strip material from the buffer device to the separating device depending on the thickness measurement and the length measurement; the thickness measuring device being arranged between the buffer device and the first feed device; and the length measuring device being arranged behind the first feed device.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for separating flexibly rolled strip material, comprising:
 a buffer device arranged to temporarily buffer the flexibly rolled strip material;   a first feed device which is arranged in feed direction of the strip material behind the buffer device;   at least one length measuring device configured to continuously measure a length of the strip material;   a thickness measuring device configured to continuously measure a thickness of the strip material along the length;   a second feed device arranged behind the first feed device; and   a separating device which is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material behind the second feed device;   wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are configured to move the strip material depending on a thickness measurement and a length measurement from the buffer device to the separating device;   wherein the thickness measuring device is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material between the buffer device and the first feed device; and   wherein the at least one length measuring device is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material behind the first feed device.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein a coiler for uncoiling the flexibly rolled strip material and a straightening unit for straightening the flexibly rolled strip material are provided, which are arranged upstream of the buffer device, wherein the first feed device and the second feed device for the separating device are controlled independent of a feed of the coiler and the straightening unit.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one length measuring device comprises a measuring wheel which is in contact with a first side of the strip material, and a support wheel which is in contact as a counter-bearing for the measuring wheel with an opposite side of the strip material, wherein a running surface of the measuring wheel is made from a steel material.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one length measuring device comprises a first length measuring device for measuring the length of the strip material, and a second length measuring device for measuring the length of the strip material, wherein the second length measuring device is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material between the second feed device and the separating device.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the first length measuring device has a first distance to the first feed device which is smaller than 0.5 times a distance between the first feed device and the second feed device, and   wherein the second length measuring device has a second distance to the second feed device which is smaller than 0.5 times a distance between the second feed device and the separating device.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the second feed device is drivable faster than the first feed device, so that the strip material is tension loaded between the first feed device and the second feed device.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein a distance between the thickness measuring device and the separating device is at least twice a blank length of a blank to be cut out of the strip material.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one length measuring device and the thickness measuring device are measuring technically coupled to one another, wherein the length measuring device generates trigger signals and transmits them to the thickness measuring device, with the trigger signals serving as triggers for carrying out thickness measurements.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the separating device comprises a cross-cutting shear or a laser cutting unit.   
     
     
         25 . A method for separating flexibly rolled strip material, by an apparatus comprising a buffer device arranged to temporarily buffer the flexibly rolled strip material; a first feed device which is arranged behind the buffer device in feed direction of the strip material; at least one length measuring device configured to continuously measure a length of the strip material; a thickness measuring device configured to continuously measure a thickness of the strip material along the length; a second feed device arranged behind the first feed device; and a separating device which is arranged behind the second feed device in the feed direction of the strip material;
 wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are configured to move the strip material depending on a thickness measurement and a length measurement from the buffer device to the separating device; wherein the thickness measuring device is arranged, in the feed direction of the strip material, between the buffer device and the first feed device; and wherein the at least one length measuring device is arranged, in the feed direction of the strip material, behind the first feed device;   the method comprising:   performing intermediate buffering of the flexibly rolled strip material by the buffer device;   advancing the strip material from the buffer device by the first feed device and the second feed device;   continuously measuring a thickness of the strip material by the thickness measuring device while the strip material is being fed forward, wherein the measuring of the thickness takes place in the feed direction of the strip material upstream of the first feed device;   continuously measuring a length of the strip material by the length measuring device while the strip material is being fed forward, the length being measured in the feed direction of the strip material behind the first feed device;   calculating an actual thickness profile for a blank to be separated from the strip material from measured thickness values and associated measured length values;   comparing the calculated actual thickness profile with a predetermined nominal thickness profile and calculating a feed length for the blank to be separated from the strip material; and   feeding the strip material to the separating device by the first feed device and the second feed device on the basis of the calculated feed length.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 continuously measuring the length of the strip material by the second length measuring device during the feeding of the strip material to the separating device, wherein the continuous measuring takes place by the second length measuring device in the feed direction of the strip material behind the second feed device;   comparing the first length measured values determined by the first length measuring device with the associated second length measured values determined by the second length measuring device; and   switching off the apparatus if a difference between the first length measured values and the second length measured values exceeds a specified difference value.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 ,
 wherein the first length measuring device is referenced at a starting point with the thickness measuring device with respect to the length, wherein the length measuring device generates trigger signals and transmits them to the thickness measuring device, with the trigger signals serving as triggers for carrying out thickness measurements by the thickness measuring device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 ,
 wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are operated synchronously.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 ,
 wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are controlled such that the second feed device runs faster relative to the first feed device, so that the strip material is subjected to a tensile load.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 ,
 wherein a fixed first distance is set between the thickness measuring device and the first feed device,   wherein a fixed second distance is set between the thickness measuring device and the separating device, and   wherein at least one of the first distance and the second distance are measured with an accuracy of up to +/−0.2 mm.