Rolling of strip or plate material

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that gauge is detected by an X-ray gauge (1) on the output side of the rolling mill.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that gauge is detected by a load cell (1) under rolling stand adjustment screws.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that shape is detected by a tension distribution meter (2).

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that he tension distribution meter (2) includes at least five probes, positioned at spaced points across the strip or plate material leaving the rolling mill and detecting tension in that material at those points.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of different mill control means includes at least two different mill control means chosen from rolling stand adjustment screw control means (6), roll bending control means (7) and tension control means (8).

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that each of said control means (6,7,8) is present.

Claim 9

Apparatus for controlling gauGe and shape of strip and plate materials during rolling thereof in a rolling mill under symmetrical rolling conditions, characterized in that the apparatus includes sensor means (1) for detecting gauge of said material leaving the mill; sensor means (2) for detecting shape of said material leaving the mill; a computer (4) for receiving the outputs of the first and second sensor means and (a) expressing the detected shape as a combination of at least two curves of different geometrical form defined by algebraic equations, and providing at least two signals representative of a coefficient of each equation, and (b) deriving an error signal from the detected gauge; a controller (5) for receiving said signals in combination and translating them into control signals equal in number to the total number of said signals and for correcting simultaneously gauge and shape errors; and a plurality of different mill control means (6, 7, 8) for receiving at each respective one of the control means each control signal to make simultaneous correction of gauge and shape errors.

Claim 10

Apparatus for controlling gauGe and shape of strip and plate materials during rolling thereof in a rolling mill under symmetrical rolling conditions, characterized in that the apparatus includes sensor means (1) for detecting gauge of said material leaving the mill; sensor means (2) for detecting shape of said material leaving the mill; a computer (4) for receiving the outputs of the first and second sensor means and (a) expressing the detected shape as a combination of at least two curves of different geometrical form defined by algebraic equations, and providing at least two signals representative of a coefficient of each equation, and (b) deriving an error signal from the detected gauge; a controller (5) for receiving said signals in combination and translating them into control signals equal in number to the total number of said signals and for correcting simultaneously gauge and shape errors; and a plurality of different mill control means (6, 7, 8) for receiving at each respective one of the control means each control signal to make simultaneous correction of gauge and shape errors.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the sensor means (1) for detecting gauge includes at least an X-ray gauge on the output side of the mill.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the sensor means (1) for detecting gauge includes at least a load cell under rolling stand adjustment screws.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the sensor means (2) for detecting shape includes at least a tension distribution meter.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the tension distribution meter (2) includes at least five probes for positioning at spaced points across the strip or plate material leaving the mill and for detecting tension in that material at those points.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the plurality of different mill control means includes at least two different mill control means chosen from rolling stand adjustment screw control means (6), roll bending control means (7) and tension control means (8).

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that each of said control means (6,7,8) is present.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said coefficients and said gauge error are each expressible as a function of control factors equal in number to said coefficients plus said gauge error, and wherein said translating step comprises calculating said control factors and providing said control signals in response to each of said control factors.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the said equations are functions of X where X is the distance of a point on the strip or plate from the longitudinal center line thereof.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 16 characterized in that the said equations are of the form F1 K1X2, F2 K2X4 . . . Fn knX2n.

Claim 20

A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said coefficients and said gauge error are each expressible as a linear combination of control factors equal in number to said coefficients plus said gauge error, and wherein said translating step comprises calculating said control factors and providing said control signals in response to each of said control factors.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 characterized in that said signals are each expressible as a function of control factors equal in number to said total number of said signals, and wherein said controller generates said control factors and provides said control signals corresponding to each control factor.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 characterized in that said signals and gauge error signal are each expressible as a linear combination of control factors equal in number to said total number of signals, and wherein said controller generates said control factors and provides said control signals corresponding to each control factor. >