Deviation device for a coiler installation for coiling strips

The invention relates to a device for deflecting sections of strip, in particular metal strip, in a coiling plant, from a beginning guide channel (1) to an end guide channel (2) and vice-versa, comprising a driver (3) with a pair of driver rollers (4, 4′) and control elements arranged downstream in strip conveyance direction, comprising a switch (5) that can be swiveled towards the beginning guide channel (1) or the end guide channel (2), and a guide table (6) which is swivelably supported under the switch (5) and positionable as a wiper against the lower driver roller (4′). The deflection of sections of strip is optimized in that the switch (5) is convexly shaped at its top and bottom sides and is flexibly arranged at the outlet end of an assigned strip transport roller-conveyor (7, 7′), such that it clears the beginning guide channel (1) when in a raised position and rests in the function of a wiper against the upper driver roller (4), and in that the guide table (6) is concavely shaped corresponding to the bottom of the switch (5). An actuating mechanism each, for example, a hydraulic unit (8, 8′), is assigned to both the switch (5) and the guide table (6).

The invention relates to a device for deflecting sections of strip, in particular metal strip, into a coiling plant, from a beginning guide channel to an end guide channel and vice-versa, comprising a driver with a pair of driver rollers and control elements arranged downstream in strip conveyance direction, comprising a switch that can be swiveled towards the beginning guide channel or the end guide channel, and a guide table which is swivelably supported under the switch and positionable as a wiper against the lower driver roller.

The performance of such a deflection device in a coiling plant depends on the fact that the beginning of the strip, the so-called strip head, of a strip following the strip end of the preceding strip, is fed to a different coil than the preceding strip end. To this effect, two different strip guide channels are provided for sections of strip, namely a so-called “beginning guide channel” and a corresponding “end guide channel”. Thus, during a change of strip, each strip has to be deflected from a beginning guide channel to an end guide channel—and vice versa. In practice this is required both for a multiple coiling plant and for a rotary coiler or recoiler plant.

For sections of strip which follow each other at an adequate distance, there is sufficient time to carry out the required deflection without any problem because all of the elements of the respective deflection device can be moved to the next position prior to the entry of the subsequent strip.

However, the smaller the spacing of successive sections of strip become, the faster the strip change has to take place, eventually resulting in time-critical positioning processes which in extreme cases may cause damage and/or switching errors.

It is the object of the present invention to describe a deflection device in a coiling plant which, while avoiding time-critical positioning processes, safely prevents the afore-mentioned difficulties and switching errors and ensures safe functioning during the deflection process even in cases where the sequence intervals of the strip are extremely small.

This object is met in a device for deflecting sections of strip, in particular metal strip, in a coiling plant of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim1, in that the switch is convexly shaped both at its top and the bottom sides and flexibly arranged at the outlet end of an associated strip transport roller-conveyor, such that the switch in a raised position clears the beginning guide channel, and in that the guide table is concavely shaped corresponding to the bottom of the switch, and in that an actuating mechanism such as, for example, a hydraulic unit each is assigned to the switch and the guide table. This makes it possible, even before the strip end has passed, to position the switch such that the path to the end guide channel or to the beginning guide channel is cleared. This eliminates the danger of tearing the strip, or even breaking pieces thereof off while being guided past the sharp-edged point of the switch.

This embodiment according to the invention succeeds in deflecting strip without problems when there is extremely little spacing between successive sections of strip.

Further embodiments of the device are provided according to the characteristics of the subordinate claims.

FIGS. 1 to 7show in detail the deflection device according to the invention, for a rolling strip in a coiling plant. The coiler is not shown herein, however a multiple coiling plant or a rotary coiler or recoiler plant may be used.

The beginning guide channel1and the end guide channel2located above the beginning guide channel1are provided for separably guiding the uncoiling strip9or9′. According toFIG. 2the strip head11follows the strip end10moving towards the driver3on the left-hand section7of the roller conveyor at a relatively short distance. For further conveyance, the strip head11is taken in and pulled through by the conveying gap between the driver rollers4,4′.

The driver rollers are thereby driveably supported either in a vertical plane x-x or in an inclined plane y-y, depending on the situation according to the description below. When the strip9,9′ passes the outflow side, it is guided either into the beginning guide channel1or the end guide channel2, depending on the position of the switch5and of the guide table6. The positioning thereof preferably takes place by means of hydraulic units8,8′. The letter B designates the strip conveyance direction through the deflection device according to the invention.

The switch is convexly shaped at its top and bottom sides and thus able to fit snugly against the upper driver roller4acting as a wiper when raised. Accordingly, the top of the guide table6is concavely shaped for the purpose of providing a positive fit with the bottom of the switch5, while the free end of the guide table6is also shaped for positive fit with the lower driver roller4′. In this way the guide table6meets the requirement of having an additional function as a wiper against the lower driver roller4′.

The free end of the switch5has the shape of two convex sides meeting at a point. This makes it possible for the point to snugly fit against the concave back of the guide table6with virtually no gaps, as shown for example inFIGS. 2 to 4.

By assigning the section7′ of the strip transport roller-conveyor on the outflow side to the driver roller pair4,4′ downstream in strip conveyance direction B, a smooth passage is facilitated for the strip head11traversing the switch5in its raised position. Finally, according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, the guide surfaces of both the switch5and the guide table6can be equipped with relatively small glide rollers12, which lead to a reduction of friction and resulting wear in the guide channels1and2.

The deflection of strip from a beginning guide channel or beginning conveyance path to an end guide channel or end conveyance path and vice versa takes place as follows:

1. The strip is deflected from the beginning guide channel1into the end guide channel2;

When strip follow each other in short intervals, the switch5is kept in the upper position while the guide table6is kept in the lower position in the case of strip passing through the beginning guide channel1(FIG. 1).

Shortly before the strip end passes, the guide table6is moved to an upper position. When the maximum coil diameter is reached, the strip9then either rests on the roller1′ at the end of the guide table6or is slightly bent around the roller1′.

Prior to the passage of the strip end10, the switch is shifted downwards, thus pressing the strip9against the guide table6, and in so doing clearing the way into the end guide channel2(FIG. 2).

The upper driver roller4is placed vertically above the lower roller4′. In this way the strip head11of the subsequent strip9′ can enter the end guide channel2while the strip end10of the preceding strip9is pulled through the guide gap between the switch5and the top of the guide table6(FIGS. 3 and 4).

2. The strip is deflected from the end guide channel2into the beginning guide channel1; For this purpose, the upper driver roller4is pushed into the y-y plane, so that the strip9is directed in the direction of the beginning guide channel1.

The switch5is pushed from underneath against the strip9′ and the upper driver roller4, thereby clearing the way into the beginning guide channel1for the subsequent strip head11′. The guide table6is in its lower position (FIG. 5).

The strip end10entering the end guide channel2is pulled through between the upper driver roller4and the end edge of the switch5, while the strip head11of the subsequent strip is directed into the beginning guide channel.

The measures explained above eliminate the danger of the strip ripping, or of pieces thereof being torn off as a result of the strip being guided past the sharp-edged point of the switch6.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

B. Strip conveyance direction