Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) and a method for holding together and transporting a metal band rolled into a coil ( 3 ) after the band is rolled in a coiling station ( 5 ). The device ( 1 ) includes a removal trolley ( 20 ) for receiving the coil ( 3 ) in the coiling station ( 5 ) and for transporting the coil ( 3 ) from the coiling station ( 5 ). A coil safety device places a securing sling ( 40 ) around the coil ( 3 ) fixed on at least part of the circumference, such that the coil ( 3 ) is held together by the securing sling ( 40 ) and is pressed onto the removal trolley ( 20 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§371 national phase conversion of PCT/EP2015/058246, filed Apr. 16, 2015, which claims priority of European Patent Application No. 14167893.8, filed May 12, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Application was published in the English language. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a device and to a method for holding together and transporting a metal strip wound up to form a coil post winding up of said metal strip in a coiling station. 
       TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pre-rolled metal strips are often wound up to form a so-called coil in hot coiling units. Metal strips of high-tensile grades are in increasing demand and are being produced. If the dead weight of a thick, high-tensile, wound metal strip is no longer sufficient for the wound strip to be stabilized, spontaneous uncoiling of the coil may occur. The internal stresses are relaxed, and the coil increases in diameter. This type of coil poses risks in production and transportation, and the coil requires specialized handling. 
         [0004]    DE 10 2011 080 410 A1 discloses a device and a method for handling a metal strip, comprising a coiling installation having a coiling mandrel for winding up of the metal strip to form a coil on the coiling mandrel, and a coil-removal trolley having bearing points for receiving the coil from the coiling mandrel and for them moving the coil out of the coiling installation. To additionally secure the metal strip in the coiling installation when it is being transferred from the coiling mandrel to the coil-removal trolley and during transportation of the coil by the coil-removal trolley, a down-holding arm exerts a down-holding-force on the external circumference of the coil to press the coil onto the bearing points of the coil-removal trolley. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device and method for holding together and transporting a metal strip wound in a coil after winding up the metal strip in a coiling station. 
         [0006]    A device according to the invention for achieving that aspect comprises a coil-removal trolley for receiving the coil in the coiling station and for transporting the coil out of the coiling station. The device further comprises a coil-securing device configured for firmly placing a securing sling around part of the circumference of the coil, such that the coil is held together by the securing sling and is pressed onto the coil-removal trolley. 
         [0007]    The invention thus holds a coil together and presses it onto a coil-removal trolley by a securing sling that surrounds the coil on part of its circumference. The securing sling enables a friction-increasing form-fit of the circumferential wrapping of the coil, and an optimized force-fit between the coil, the securing sling, and the coil-removal trolley. This provides a compact construction of the coil-securing device. Comparing the device hereof to prior art securing devices, for example, from DE 10 2011 080 410 A1, for using the invention securing the coil, no complex massive down-holding arm for exerting a down-holding-force on the external circumference of the coil may be used or is required when tying the coil, for example. On account of this, this avoids limitations relating to the coil diameter, which result from the use of a down-holding arm, since the securing sling is configured substantially narrower than a massive down-holding arm. Furthermore, no complex transfer system for transferring the coil prior to and after transportation of the coil is required. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the invention provides the coil-removal trolley with at least one anchor point for a sling end of the securing sling. The flow of force for securing the coil is thereby advantageously directed onto the coil-removal trolley, so that no further component is required to absorb this flow of force. 
         [0009]    An embodiment of the invention provides the coil-removal trolley with at least one tensioning device for the securing sling. The securing sling is advantageously integrated in the coil-removal trolley, and the force for tensioning the securing sling is also absorbed by the coil-removal trolley. 
         [0010]    A tensioning device preferably has a hydraulic cylinder or a winch, by which a sling end of the securing sling is movable for tensioning the securing sling. On account of high forces required, a hydraulic cylinder and a winch are particularly suitable. 
         [0011]    A further embodiment of the invention provides the coil-securing device with a guide frame for the securing sling for advantageously enabling simple positioning and handling of the securing sling. 
         [0012]    A refinement of the aforementioned embodiment provides at least one coupling unit for releasably coupling the guide frame to the coil-removal trolley. That coupling avoids a requirement for synchronizing the movements of the guide frame and of the coil-removal trolley where the coil is transported. Releasability of the coupling enables the guide frame to be uncoupled from the coil-removal trolley such that prior to and after transportation of the coil, the guide frame and the coil-removal trolley may be suitably positioned in a mutually independent manner. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the guide frame is preferably movable so as to be guided on rails. Rail-based guiding enables simple and precise moving of the guide frame. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the securing sling is configured to be under tensile stress, in particular as a steel strip or a chain or a movable mechanism. 
         [0015]    In a method according to the invention for holding together and transporting a metal strip wound up to form a coil after winding up the metal strip in a coiling station, the coil is received in the coiling station by a coil-removal trolley and is transported by the coil-removal trolley out of the coiling station. 
         [0016]    A securing sling is firmly placed around part of the circumference of the coil so that prior to and during transportation on the coil-removal trolley the coil is held together by the securing sling and is pressed onto the coil-removal trolley. This method enables a coil to be secured by the securing sling, having the advantages mentioned above. 
         [0017]    Corresponding to the above described embodiments of the device, in the method, at least one sling end of the securing sling is also anchored on the coil-removal trolley, and/or the securing sling for holding together the coil and for pressing the coil onto the coil-removal trolley is tensioned by at least one tensioning device which is disposed on the coil-removal trolley, and/or the securing sling is guided in a guide frame, wherein preferably during transportation of the coil on the coil-removal trolley, the guide frame is coupled to the coil-removal trolley and is jointly moved with the coil-removal trolley. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, the coil is transported by the coil-removal trolley from the coiling station preferably to a tying station in which tying bands for holding the coil together are placed around the coil. 
         [0019]    Securing a coil by a securing sling is advantageous in particular for tying the coil, since the securing sling occupies little space on the circumference of the coil, and in particular less space than a down-holding arm, thus facilitating and simplifying tying of the coil. 
         [0020]    A minimum number of tying bands are preferably predefined. The securing sling is released from the coil in the tying station after the minimum number of tying bands has been placed around the coil. 
         [0021]    This advantageously enables the securing sling to be released after the coil has been secured against uncoiling by a suitable selected minimum number of tying bands. 
         [0022]    The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, and the manner in which the former are achieved, will become more readily and more obviously understandable in the context of the following description of exemplary embodiments which are explained with reference to the drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a metal strip, which has been wound up on a coiling mandrel to form a coil, and of a device for holding together and transporting the coil, including a coil-removal trolley and a guide frame, shown uncoupled from the coil-removal trolley, and a securing sling; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective side view of a securing sling in a guide frame and guide-frame rails for the guide frame; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective front view of a guide frame for a securing sling; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the side view  FIG. 1  in a different condition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a releasable coupling of a guide frame to a coil-removal trolley; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of a device for holding together and transporting a coil, having a coil-removal trolley and a guide frame, coupled to the coil-removal trolley, and a securing sling placed around the coil; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective illustration of a coil, of a securing sling placed around the coil, and of a guide frame of the securing sling; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a fixing unit for releasably fixing a sling end of a securing sling to a guide frame or to a tensioning device; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  shows a side view as in  FIG. 1  of a coiling mandrel and of a device for holding together and transporting the coil, having a coil-removal trolley and a guide frame, coupled to the coil-removal trolley, of a securing sling, wherein the device is moved into a tying station by the coiling mandrel. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    Equivalent parts are provided with the same reference sign in all Figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]      FIG. 1  in a side view showing a device  1  for holding together and transporting a metal strip wound up to form a coil  3 , after winding up the metal strip in a coiling station  5 . The metal strip is wound around a coiling mandrel  7  of the coiling station  5  (not otherwise illustrated in more detail). 
         [0034]    The device  1  comprises a coil-removal trolley  20  for receiving the coil  3  in the coiling station  5  and for transporting the coil  3  out of the coiling station  5 , and a coil-securing device which is configured for firmly placing a securing sling  40  (not visible in  FIG. 1 , but in  FIGS. 2 and 7 ) around part of the circumference of the coil  3 , such that prior to and during transportation on the coil-removal trolley  20 , the coil  3  is held together by the securing sling  40  and is also pressed onto the coil-removal trolley  20 . The securing sling  40  is guided in a guide frame  50  (seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0035]    The coil-removal trolley  20  has coil-removal trolley wheels  21  enabling the trolley to move on coil-removal trolley rails  9 , for example, by means of a hydraulic rack drive  22  along a rack  10 . 
         [0036]    A guide frame  50  is movable on guide-frame rails  11  which extend parallel with the coil-removal trolley rails  9 . For example, the frame  50  is moved by a rope winch  12  drawing a tackle  13 . 
         [0037]    Two coupling units  23  releasably couple the guide frame  50  to the coil-removal trolley  20 . A tensioning device  30  tensions the securing sling  40 , and the coupling units  23  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The tensioning device  30  comprises a first hydraulic drive having a first hydraulic cylinder  31 , and a first piston  32  which is guided in the first hydraulic cylinder  31 , a hook element  33 , and a connection rod  34  which connects the first piston  32  to the hook element  33 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5  and described below, a sling end  41  of the securing sling  40  may be anchored to the hook element  33  on the coil-removal trolley  20 , and by means of the first hydraulic cylinder  31  thereafter be pulled downward in order for the securing sling  40  to be tensioned. 
         [0038]    The coil-removal trolley  20  and the guide frame  50  are located in their respective initial positions in  FIG. 1 . The coil-removal trolley  20  is located below the coil  3 . The guide frame  50  is located in front of the coiling mandrel  7 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective side view of a securing sling  40  in a guide frame  50 , and of guide-frame rails  11  for the guide frame  50 .  FIG. 3  shows a perspective front view of a guide frame  50 . 
         [0040]    An upper part of the guide frame  50  has the shape of an open annular guide  51 . The lower part of the guide frame  50  is formed by two base portions  52 , each adjoining one end of the annular guide  51  and each being guided in a respective guide-frame rail  11 . In the region of the annular guide  51 , the securing sling  40  is guided on the inboard side of the annular guide  51 . In the transition regions between the annular guide  51  and the two base portions  52 , the securing sling  40  is in each case guided through a guide duct  53  in the guide frame  50 . In the region of each base portion  52 , the securing sling  40  is guided from an exit of a guide duct  53  to a fixing unit  54 , explained with  FIG. 8  and which reasonably fixes a sling end  41  of the securing sling  40  to the respective base portion  52 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  in a side view shows the coil-removal trolley  20  and the guide frame  50  in positions for transferring the coil  3  from the coiling mandrel  7  to the coil-removal trolley  20 . The coil-removal trolley  20  is still in the initial position thereof as shown in  FIG. 1 , below the coil  3 . The guide frame  50  has moved from the initial position thereof in  FIG. 1  toward the coil-removal trolley  20  where the annular guide  51  passes around the coil  3 . Furthermore, the guide frame  50  is coupled to the coil-removal trolley  20  by the coupling units  23 , as described by means of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows coupling of the guide frame  50  to the coil-removal trolley  20  by a coupling unit  23 . The coupling unit  23  comprises a second hydraulic cylinder  24 , a second piston  25  which is guided in the second hydraulic cylinder  24 , and a bolt element  26  connected to the second piston  25 . The second hydraulic cylinder  24  is fastened to the coil-removal trolley  20  by a mount  27 . To couple the guide frame  50  to the coil-removal trolley  20 , by means of the second hydraulic cylinder  24  and of the second piston  25 , the bolt element  26  is driven into a bolt receptacle  56 , corresponding to the bolt element  26 , in the guide frame  50 . The bolt element  26  is guided in a bolt guide  28 . Preferably, there are a plurality of coupling units  23  of this type, for example four, and corresponding bolt receptacles  56 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows the device  1  for holding together and transporting the coil  3  in a front view, after the securing sling  40  has been firmly placed around the coil  3 . Before the securing sling  40  is tensioned, a movable mounting cylinder  37  of the coil-removal trolley  20 , and mounting rollers  38  which are disposed on the mounting cylinder  37 , are first moved close to the coil  3  by a third hydraulic cylinder  36  of the coil-removal trolley  20 , causing the mounting rollers  38  to bear on the circumference of the coil  3 , and pressing the coil  3  against the coiling mandrel  7 . Thereafter, the securing sling  40  is tensioned by two tensioning devices  30  so that each of the sling ends  41  of the securing sling  40  is pulled downward by means of the first hydraulic cylinder  31  of a tensioning device  30  ( FIG. 8 ). By tensioning the securing sling  40 , the coil  3  is held together and is pressed onto the mounting rollers  38 . 
         [0044]    After the securing sling  40  has been tensioned, the coiling mandrel  7  is contracted to reduce its diameter, and by means of the device  1  in the state as shown in  FIG. 6 , the coil  3  is pulled off the coiling mandrel  7  and transported out of the coiling station  5 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a perspective illustration shows the coil  3  and the securing sling  40 , tensioned around the coil  3 , in the guide frame  50 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  shows a fixing unit  54  releasably fixing a sling end  41  of the securing sling  40  to a base portion  52  of the guide frame or of a tensioning device  30  of the coil-removal trolley  20 . The sling end  41  has two mutually parallel end pieces  42 , each having one bore. A connection bolt  60  which interconnects the end pieces  42  and which has a retaining mandrel  61  which projects toward the outer side of the base portion  52  is guided through the bores. The fixing unit  54  furthermore has a hook-shaped lever element  62  which is pivotably mounted on the base portion  52  and which in the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  retains the retaining mandrel  61  such that the sling end  41  is fixed to the base portion  52  of the guide frame  50 . The lever element  62  has an activation mandrel  63  which projects toward the outer side of the base portion  52  and which interacts with a wedge  35  which is disposed on the guide-frame rails  11 . When the guide frame  50  is slid over the coil-removal trolley  20 , the connection bolt  60  is guided into the hook element  33  of a tensioning device  30  of the coil-removal trolley  20 , the wedge sliding below the activation mandrel  63  and pushing the latter upward such that the lever element  62  is pivoted away from the retaining mandrel  61  of the connection bolt  60 , releasing the retaining mandrel  61 . On account of the foregoing, the sling end  41  is released from the guide frame  50  and coupled to the hook element  33  such that the sling end  41  may be moved by the tensioning device  30  with which the hook element  33  is associated, so as to tension the securing sling  40 . Preferably, each of the two sling ends  41  of the securing sling  40  is capable in this manner of being simultaneously coupled to one tensioning device  30  of the coil-removal trolley such that the securing sling  40  may be tensioned by simultaneously pulling the two sling ends  41 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows the device  1  in its terminal position, after the coil  3  has been transported from the coiling station  5  to a tying station  15 . A tying device  17  places tying bands for holding together the coil  3  around the coil  3  in the tying station  15 . To this end, a minimum number of tying bands is pre-defined, and the securing sling  40  is released from the coil  3  in the tying station, once the minimum number of tying bands has been placed around the coil  3 . 
         [0048]    Subsequently, the guide frame  50  and the coil-removal trolley  20  are mutually uncoupled and moved to the initial positions as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0049]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by way of preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
       [0050]      1  Device for holding together and transporting a coil 
         [0051]      3  Coil 
         [0052]      5  Coiling station 
         [0053]      7  Coiling mandrel 
         [0054]      9  Coil-removal trolley rail 
         [0055]      10  Rack 
         [0056]      11  Guide frame rail 
         [0057]      12  Rope winch 
         [0058]      13  Tackle 
         [0059]      15  Tying station 
         [0060]      17  Tying device 
         [0061]      20  Coil-removal trolley 
         [0062]      21  Coil-removal trolley wheel 
         [0063]      22  Rack drive 
         [0064]      23  Coupling unit 
         [0065]      24  Second hydraulic cylinder 
         [0066]      25  Second piston 
         [0067]      26  Bolt element 
         [0068]      27  Mount 
         [0069]      28  Bolt guide 
         [0070]      30  Tensioning device 
         [0071]      31  First hydraulic cylinder 
         [0072]      32  First piston 
         [0073]      33  Hook element 
         [0074]      34  Connection rod 
         [0075]      35  Wedge 
         [0076]      36  Third hydraulic cylinder 
         [0077]      37  Mounting cylinder 
         [0078]      38  Mounting roller 
         [0079]      40  Securing sling 
         [0080]      41  Sling end 
         [0081]      42  End piece 
         [0082]      50  Guide frame 
         [0083]      51  Annular guide 
         [0084]      52  Base portion 
         [0085]      53  Guide duct 
         [0086]      54  Fixing unit 
         [0087]      56  Bolt receptacle 
         [0088]      60  Connection bolt 
         [0089]      61  Retaining mandrel 
         [0090]      62  Lever element 
         [0091]      63  Activation mandrel