Coiler device provided with chute guide

This coiler device provided with a chute guide has: pinch rollers that lead a metal sheet carried in along a path line to a coil-up line that is curved from the path line; a mandrel that is disposed ahead of the coil-up line and coils up the metal sheet; and a chute guide that guides the upward-facing surface side of the metal sheet at the coil-up line and introduces the metal sheet to the coil-up opening of the mandrel. A configuration is adopted such that the chute guide has: a main body frame; and a liner that is attached to the main body frame, forms at least a portion of the guide surface that guides the metal sheet, has a lower coefficient of friction than the main body frame, and has a lower hardness than the metal sheet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a coiler device provided with a chute guide.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a coiler device (a winder) is provided on an exit side of a rolling line, and is configured to wind a metal strip (a strip) into a coil shape, where the metal strip is rolled by a rolling mill and continuously supplied from a gap between rollers. The coiler device is provided with pinch rollers located on a pass line for the metal strip, and is configured to cause the pinch rollers to guide the metal strip to a winding line which is bent obliquely downward from the pass line, to allow a leading end of the metal strip to be caught by a mandrel, and to wind up the metal strip (see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 cited below discloses a method and an apparatus for winding a strip, which are designed to wind a rolled strip around a mandrel through pinch rollers. The coiler device includes a chute and an over-guide (a chute guide) which introduce a metal strip into a winding port that is formed by the mandrel and a wrapper roller. The over-guide is configured to function as a guide plate which guides an upper surface side of the metal strip introduced into the winding line.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-305452

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the meantime, after having passed through the pinch rollers, the metal strip is guided to the mandrel while deflecting its passing angle obliquely downward. Here, if the metal strip is a high-strength thick material, the metal strip is not bent very much due to its high bending stiffness, and is therefore thrust hard against the chute guide that guides the upper surface side of the metal strip in the winding line. As a consequence, a surface of the metal strip is vulnerable to flaws and frictional resistance thereon is increased as well. Hence, a large pushing force is required and energy consumption is also increased accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a coiler device provided with a chute guide, which is capable of preventing occurrence of flaws on a surface of a metal strip and stabilizing strip passage even when the metal strip is a high-strength thick material.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the problem described above, the present invention adopts a configuration of a coiler device provided with a chute guide, characterized by: a pinch roller configured to guide a metal strip being conveyed along a pass line to a winding line bent from the pass line; a mandrel disposed ahead of the winding line and configured to wind up the metal strip; and a chute guide configured to guide an upper surface side of the metal strip in the winding line, and to introduce the metal strip into a winding port of the mandrel. The chute guide includes a body frame, and a liner being attached to the body frame, constituting at least part of a guide surface to guide the metal strip, and having a lower friction coefficient than a friction coefficient of the body frame and a lower hardness than a hardness of the metal strip.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, at least part of the guide surface is formed from the liner having the lower friction than that of the body frame constituting the chute guide and having the lower hardness than that of the metal strip. The presence of the liner can reduce frictional resistance on the guide surface. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce energy consumption since it is not necessary to apply a very large pushing force to the metal strip. Moreover, since the liner has the lower hardness than that of the metal strip, it is the liner which is scraped off when the metal strip is thrust thereon. Thus, a surface of the metal strip is prevented from the occurrence of flaws (from being scraped off).

In addition, the present invention adopts a configuration in which the liner is attached to a downstream side of the body frame in the winding line.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, in the winding line, the downstream side of the chute guide being close to a winding port of the mandrel rubs against the metal strip for a longer period than does the upstream side thereof. Accordingly, by attaching the liner to the downstream side of the body frame, it is possible to effectively prevent an increase in frictional resistance on the guide surface and to prevent the occurrence of flaws on the surface of the metal strip.

In addition, the present invention adopts a configuration in which the coiler device includes an attachment unit configured to detachably attach the liner to the body frame.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, it is possible to replace only the liner which rubs against the metal strip and gradually wears away. Thus, replacement workability is improved as compared to a case of replacing the liner together with the body frame, and a replacement cost can be reduced as well.

In addition, the present invention adopts a configuration in which the attachment unit includes: a frame body provided to the body frame; a slide groove provided in the liner; a slide piece configured to be engaged with the slide groove, and to sandwich the frame body in conjunction with the liner; and a screw member configured to fasten and fix the slide piece to the liner.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, the liner can be detached from the frame body provided to the body frame by releasing fastening and fixation with the screw member and then moving the slide piece along the slide groove of the liner to release engagement with the liner. Accordingly, even if the fastening and fixation by the screw member is released, for instance, the liner remains supported by the body frame unless the engagement of the slide piece with the liner is released. Thus, it is possible to surely avoid a circumstance such as the liner being unexpectedly falling off and getting caught in the metal strip.

In addition, the present invention adopts a configuration in which the slide piece includes an engagement protrusion configured to be engaged with the slide groove, and the slide groove includes a first opening opened with a larger width than a width of the engagement protrusion, and a second opening opened with a smaller width than the width of the engagement protrusion.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, the slide piece and the liner can be easily brought into engagement with each other by introducing the engagement protrusion of the slide piece from the first opening into the slide groove and then causing the engagement protrusion to slide to the second opening.

In addition, the present invention adopts a configuration in which the liner includes a plurality of pieces arranged in a width direction of the winding line, and the plurality of pieces are detachably attached to the body frame independently of each other.

As a consequence of adopting this configuration, in the present invention, when the metal strip is rolled out of a rolling mill, a shape of a leading end of the metal strip often fails to be aligned straight, and the liner may be worn unevenly in the width direction. Hence, by forming the liner from the multiple pieces so as to be replaceable partially in terms of the width direction, it is possible to further reduce the replacement cost.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a coiler device provided with a chute guide, which is capable of preventing occurrence of flaws on a surface of a metal strip and stabilizing strip passage even when the metal strip is a high-strength thick material.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is an overall configuration diagram showing a coiler device1according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, the coiler device1is disposed on a downstream side of a not-illustrated rolling mill, and is configured to introduce a metal strip2, which passes through the rolling mill and is conveyed along a pass line L1, to a winding line L2and thereby winding up the metal strip2. The pass line L1is defined by multiple conveyance rollers3that are arranged horizontally.

The coiler device1includes pinch rollers10aand10b. The pinch rollers10aand10bare designed to guide the metal strip2, which is conveyed along the pass line L1, to the winding line L2that is bent from the pass line L1. The winding line L2extends obliquely downward from the pass line L1. The upper pinch roller10ais made capable of approaching and receding from the lower pinch roller10b. The upper pinch roller10ais designed to recede from the lower pinch roller10bexcept in the case of winding the metal strip2around a mandrel20to be described below.

The coiler device1includes the mandrel20. The mandrel20is disposed ahead of the winding line L2and designed to wind up the metal strip2. Multiple wrapper rollers21and wrapper aprons22are provided around the mandrel20. The wrapper rollers21are provided for wrapping the metal strip2around the mandrel20. The wrapper rollers21are disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction of the mandrel20. The wrapper rollers21are made capable of approaching and receding from the mandrel20. The wrapper rollers21are designed to move in conformity with a diameter of the metal strip2wrapped around the mandrel20.

The wrapper aprons22are designed to lead a leading end of the metal strip2when the metal strip2is wrapped around the mandrel20. Each wrapper apron22has a guide surface22a, which is opposed to a peripheral surface of the mandrel20, and allows the leading end of the metal strip2to come into contact therewith. The guide surface22ais curved along the peripheral surface of the mandrel20. Each wrapper apron22is disposed in a space between two corresponding wrapper rollers21adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the mandrel20. The wrapper aprons22are made capable of approaching and receding from the mandrel20. The wrapper aprons22are designed to recede from the mandrel20when the metal strip2is wrapped therearound.

The coiler device1includes a gate30. The gate30is configured to open and close the winding line L2(FIG. 1shows an open state). The gate30is disposed on an exit side of the pinch rollers10aand10b. The gate30includes a first guide surface31that defines the pass line L1, and a second guide surface32that defines the winding line L2. The first guide surface31is formed into a horizontal surface extending along the pass line L1. The second guide surface32is formed into an inclined surface extending along the winding line L2. The gate30has a structure in which a tip end of a substantially V shape is directed to an upstream side of the pass line L1.

The gate30defines the winding line L2in conjunction with chute guides40aand40b. The chute guides40aand40bare designed to guide the leading end of the metal strip2to the winding port23between the mandrel20and the corresponding wrapper roller21. The chute guides40aand40bare arranged in a downward tapered fashion such that a clearance therebetween is gradually narrowed toward the catch part between the mandrel20and the wrapper roller21. The chute guides40aand40bare disposed on a downstream side of the gate30in the winding line L2. In this embodiment, the lower chute guide40bis provided integrally with one of the wrapper aprons22. Meanwhile, the upper chute guide40ais provided turnably about a rotating shaft41.

The coiler device1includes a chute roller50. The chute roller50is configured to suppress a deformation of the metal strip2in such a way as to be curved toward its upper surface side when the leading end of the metal strip2is wrapped around the mandrel20. The chute roller50is disposed at a position corresponding to a joint between the gate30and the upper chute guide40a, which is disposed on the downstream side of the gate30on the winding line L2. The chute roller50is rotatably provided and its peripheral surface projects from the second guide surface32.

The coiler device1includes a bending roller60. The bending roller60is disposed on an upstream side of the pinch rollers10aand10b, and is made capable of approaching and receding from the pass line L1by use of a bending roller drive device61. The bending roller60is configured to approach the pass line L1when the rolling of the metal strip2is about to finish, so as to prevent its trailing end from bouncing up. The bending roller drive device61is formed from a cylinder device, for example.

Next, a configuration of the chute guide40awill be described in detail while additionally referring toFIG. 2toFIG. 6.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the chute guide40aaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, which is viewed from a back side.FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken along and viewed in a direction of arrows I-I inFIG. 2.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view showing attachment units73according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5is a perspective view showing a liner72according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6is a perspective view showing a slide piece76according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The chute guide40ais configured to guide the upper surface side of the metal strip2introduced into the winding line L2(seeFIG. 1), and to introduce the metal strip2into the winding port23of the mandrel20. The chute guide40aincludes a body frame70. A front side of the body frame70forms a guide surface42that guides the upper surface side of the metal strip2. As shown inFIG. 2, multiple reinforcement ribs71are provided on a back side of the body frame70.

The chute guide40aincludes the liner72. As shown inFIG. 1, the liner72is attached to the body frame70, and constitutes at least part of the guide surface42that guides the metal strip2. The liner72is formed from a low friction material having a lower friction coefficient than that of the body frame70, which is also a low hardness material having a lower hardness than that of the metal strip2. The liner72of this embodiment is made of an FCD (ductile cast iron) material, for example.

As shown inFIG. 1, the liner72is attached to a downstream side of the body frame70in the winding line L2. The liner72of this embodiment forms a portion of the guide surface42that accounts for about one-fifth starting from a downstream end of the body frame70. A downstream end of the liner72projects from the downstream end of the body frame70and is disposed in proximity to a peripheral surface of the first wrapper roller21. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 2, the liner72is formed from multiple pieces72aarranged in a width direction of the winding line L2. The liner72of this embodiment adopts a configuration including four pieces72a, so that each of the four pieces72ais independently replaceable.

As shown inFIG. 3, the chute guide40aincludes attachment units73. The attachment units73are configured to detachably attach the liner72to the body frame70. The attachment units73of this embodiment are configured to detachably attach the respective pieces72aof the liner72to the body frame70independently of one another (seeFIG. 2andFIG. 4). Each attachment unit73includes a frame body74, a slide groove75, slide pieces76, and screw members77.

As shown inFIG. 4, the frame body74is provided to the body frame70. Specifically, the frame body74is provided on the downstream side of the body frame70in the winding line L2, and forms an integral structure with the body frame70. A fitting hole74ain a convex shape with its leading end directed to the downstream side of the winding line L2is formed on an inner side of the frame body74. The fitting hole74ais formed between the reinforcement ribs71that are adjacent to each other.

The slide groove75is provided in the liner72as shown inFIG. 4. The liner72includes a convex projection78to be fitted into the fitting hole74aof the frame body74. The slide groove75is formed in the projection78. Screw holes79to be threadedly engaged with the screw members77are formed in the projection78. The screw holes79are formed at four positions in total, namely, at two positions each while interposing the slide groove75in between. As shown inFIG. 3, the screw holes79are formed so as not to penetrate or reach the guide surface42.

As shown inFIG. 3, each slide piece76is configured to be engaged with the slide groove75, and to sandwich the frame body74in conjunction with the liner72. As shown inFIG. 4, this embodiment adopts a configuration in which the two slide pieces76are engaged with the single slide groove75. Each slide piece76includes an engagement protrusion80to be engaged with the slide groove75. As shown inFIG. 3, the engagement protrusion80is formed into a T-shape in a cross-sectional view. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, the engagement protrusion80is formed from a head portion80ahaving a large width, and a neck portion80bhaving a smaller width. The slide piece76includes insertion holes81to allow insertion of the screw members77, which are formed at two positions in total, namely, at one position each while interposing the engagement protrusion80in between.

As shown inFIG. 5, the slide groove75includes a first opening82which is opened at a large width, and second openings83which are opened at a small width. The first opening82enables introduction of the engagement protrusion80of the slide piece76, and is opened at a larger width than a width of the engagement protrusion80(the head portion80a). In the meantime, the second openings83enable engagement with the engagement protrusion80of the slide piece76, and are opened at a smaller width than the width of the engagement protrusion80(the head portion80a). Note that hooks are fitted into holes84shown inFIG. 5at the time of slinging up the liner72.

The first opening82is disposed at a central part of the slide groove75while the second openings83are disposed on two end portions of the slide groove75. Each second opening83is configured to reduce an opening width of the slide groove75down to the width of the neck portion80bof the engagement protrusion80. As shown inFIG. 3, the two end portions of the slide groove75are formed into a T-shape in a cross-sectional view so as to correspond to the engagement protrusion80, thereby enabling the engagement with the slide pieces76. The liner72and the slide pieces76are formed greater than the fitting hole74a, so that the frame body74can be sandwiched from the front and the back by engaging the liner72with the slide pieces76.

The screw members77are configured to fasten and fix the slide pieces76to the liner72. Each screw member77passes through the insertion hole81and is threadedly engaged with the screw hole79, thereby preventing disengagement while restricting movement of the slide piece76along the slide groove75, and constricting the frame body74between the liner72and the slide piece76at the same time. As shown inFIG. 2, the screw members77fasten and fix the slide piece76at the two positions. Note that in this embodiment, the screw members77are connected to each other with wiring85so as to keep them from turning and loosening.

Next, an operation to wind the metal strip2by the coiler device1having the above-described configuration and an action of the chute guide40awill be described with reference toFIG. 7. Note that a description is given below of a case where the metal strip2is a high-strength thick material.

FIG. 7is a diagram for explaining a winding operation of the coiler device1and an action of the chute guide40aaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 7, the metal strip2having passed through the not-illustrated rolling mill is conveyed along the pass line L1and reaches the pinch rollers10aand10b. After having passed through the pinch rollers10aand10b, the metal strip2changes its passing angle obliquely downward and is hence guided to the winding line L2which is bent from the pass line L1. Here, when the metal strip2is the high-strength thick material, its leading end is not bent enormously but is instead curved in such a way as to draw an arc. As a consequence, the metal strip2is thrust against the chute guide40ain the winding line L2.

The chute guide40aincludes the guide surface42which guides the upper surface side of the metal strip2introduced into the winding line L2. At least part of the guide surface42is formed from the liner72. The liner72is made of the low friction material having the lower friction coefficient than that of the body frame70constituting the chute guide40a, and thus reduces frictional resistance against the metal strip2. In this way, by attaching the liner72to the body frame70and reducing the frictional resistance on the guide surface42, it is possible to reduce energy consumption since it is not necessary to apply a very large pushing force to the metal strip2.

Moreover, since the liner72is made of the low hardness material having the lower hardness than that of the metal strip2, it is the liner72which is scraped off when the metal strip2is thrust thereon. Thus, the surface of the metal strip2is prevented from the occurrence of flaws (from being scraped off). Accordingly, in this embodiment, at least part of the guide surface42is formed from the liner72having the lower friction than that of the body frame70constituting the chute guide40aand having the lower hardness than that of the metal strip2. Thus, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance, to stabilize strip passage without the need to apply a large pushing force to the metal strip2, and meanwhile, to prevent the occurrence of flaws on the surface of the metal strip2by abrading the liner72side.

As shown inFIG. 7, the leading end of the metal strip2introduced into the winding line L2is thrust at the body frame70. Thereafter, the metal strip2is thrust at the liner72disposed on the downstream side of the winding line L2, then passes through the winding port23, and is wound around the mandrel20. When the metal strip2is the high-strength thick material, as the metal strip2is wound around the mandrel20one time, a downstream side thereof is lifted up by its leading end that gets into a bottom side. Hence, the metal strip2will remain thrust at the downstream side of the chute guide40afor some time while being wound around the mandrel20.

As described above, in the winding line L2, the metal strip2is thrust on the downstream side of the chute guide40afor a longer period than is thrust on the upstream side thereof. The liner72of this embodiment is attached to the downstream side of the body frame70in the winding line L2. According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent an increase in frictional resistance on the guide surface42on the downstream side, which is close to the winding port23of the mandrel20and rubs against the metal strip2for a long period, and to effectively prevent the occurrence of flaws on the surface of the metal strip2.

Meanwhile, the liner72of this embodiment is detachably attached to the body frame70by using the attachment units73. Accordingly, it is possible to replace only the liner72, which rubs against the metal strip2and gradually wears away, separately from the body frame70. As a consequence, replacement workability is improved as compared to the case of replacing the liner72together with the body frame70, and a replacement cost can be reduced as well. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 2, the liner72is formed from the multiple pieces72aarranged in the width direction of the winding line L2, and the multiple pieces72aare detachably attached to the body frame70independently of one another. A weight of each of the pieces72ais obviously lighter than a total weight of the liner72, and it is therefore easy to conduct replacement work.

In the meantime, when the metal strip2is rolled out of the not-illustrated rolling mill, the shape of the leading end of the metal strip2often fails to be aligned straight. Accordingly, when the leading end of the metal strip2is thrust at the chute guide40a, the liner72may be worn unevenly in the width direction. In this embodiment, the liner72is formed from the multiple pieces72aso as to be replaceable partially in terms of the width direction, thereby allowing the replacement of only the unevenly worn part, for example. As a consequence, it is possible to further reduce the replacement cost for the liner72.

The attachment of the liner72of this embodiment is conducted as illustrated inFIG. 4. First, the liner72is slung up with a wire and the projection78is fitted from a top side of the frame body74into the fitting hole74a. Next, the slide pieces76are brought into engagement with the slide groove75from a back side of the frame body74. Specifically, the engagement protrusion80of each slide piece76is introduced from the first opening82into the slide groove75, and is then caused to slide to the second opening83. Thus, the slide piece76and the liner72are engaged with each other. After the slide pieces76are brought into engagement with the two end portions of the slide groove75, respectively, the slide pieces76are fastened and fixed to the liner72by using the screw members77. In this way, the attachment of the liner72is completed.

The detachment of the liner72is conducted in a reverse procedure to the above-described attachment. Specifically, the fastening and fixation by the screw members77is released and then the slide pieces76are moved along the slide groove75of the liner72to release the engagement with the liner72. Thus, the liner72can be detached from the frame body74provided to the body frame70.

As shown inFIG. 3, according to the configuration of the attachment units73, even if the fastening and fixation by the screw members77is released, for instance, the liner72remains supported by the body frame70unless the engagement of the slide pieces76with the liner72is released. As a consequence, at the time of the replacement, it is possible to surely avoid an unforeseen circumstance such as the liner72unexpectedly falling off and either getting caught in the metal strip2or colliding with a peripheral device, and thus to perform the replacement work safely and reliably.

In this way, the above-described embodiment adopts the configuration of the coiler device1provided with the chute guide40a, including: the pinch rollers10aand10bconfigured to guide the metal strip2, which is conveyed along the pass line L1, to the winding line L2bent from the pass line L1; the mandrel20disposed ahead of the winding line L2and configured to wind up the metal strip2; and the chute guide40aconfigured to guide the upper surface side of the metal strip2in the winding line L2, and to introduce the metal strip2into the winding port23of the mandrel20, in which the chute guide40aincludes the body frame70, and the liner72being attached to the body frame70, constituting at least part of the guide surface42that guides the metal strip2, and having the lower friction coefficient than that of the body frame70and the lower hardness than that of the metal strip2. Thus, it is possible to obtain the coiler device1provided with the chute guide40a, which is capable of preventing occurrence of flaws on the surface of the metal strip2and stabilizing strip passage even when the metal strip2is the high-strength thick material.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment. The shapes, combinations, and other features of the respective constituents shown in the above-described embodiment are mere examples, and various modifications based on design requirements and the like are possible within the range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, the present invention may adopt the following aspect shown inFIG. 8. Note that in the following description, constituents which are identical or similar to those in the above-mentioned embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be either simplified or omitted.

FIG. 8is an overall configuration diagram showing the coiler device1according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 8, the liner72of the other embodiment constitutes a downstream end of the chute guide40a. The liner72is detachably attached to the body frame70by using the attachment units73formed from screw members86. This configuration makes it possible to secure a thickness of the liner72and to ensure a large scrape margin. Thus, it is possible to reduce the frequency of replacement of the liner72. It is to be noted, however, that the weight of the liner72becomes larger than that in the above-described embodiment.

Meanwhile, for example, the embodiments have described the configuration in which the liner is formed from the multiple pieces. However, the present invention is not limited only to this configuration. For instance, the liner may be formed from a single piece.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS