Patent Description:
Conventionally, a sensor roller unit that measures a shape of a rolled material rolled by a rolling mill is known. <CIT> discloses a shape sensing roll arranged on the entry side or the exit side of a rolling line as such a sensor roller unit. This shape sensing roll has a core shaft having a hollow portion and a plurality of sensors placed along the axis direction. In addition, in this shape sensing roll, a thin sleeve is fitted onto an outer periphery of the core shaft. Cables of the sensors are pulled out to an outer portion of the shape sensing roll via a hollow inner portion of the core shaft, which is positioned radially inward. Such a shape sensing roll detects the load by receiving a load from the rolled material while the shape sensing roll is rotated. Based on this detection result, a shape of the rolled material is calculated.

In the technique described in <CIT>, since the cables of the sensors are pulled out to the outside via the hollow inner portion of the core shaft, a hollow-shaped core shaft is essential in an inner portion of a sensor roller.

<CIT> discloses a sensor roller unit as specified in the preamble of claim <NUM>. A sensor is housed in a bore that extends along an axis direction on a radially outer side of a sensor roller. A cable of the sensor is pulled out to the outside via a transverse channel communicating with a central cable duct in a journal of the sensor roller.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor roller unit in which an outer diameter of a sensor roller can be made smaller than a conventional sensor roller unit.

A sensor roller unit of the present invention includes a sensor roller having a rotation center axis, and a sensor housing portion capable of housing a sensor and a cable, and a journal coupled to the sensor roller along the axis direction. The sensor housing portion is formed to extend in the axis direction on the radially outer side of the rotation center axis. The journal has a hollow portion communicating with the sensor housing portion along the axis direction and receiving the cable. On a section perpendicular to the axis direction, a maximum distance from the rotation center axis to an inner surface of the hollow portion of the journal is set to be larger than a minimum distance from the rotation center axis to the sensor housing portion.

According to the present configuration, the hollow portion of the journal communicates with the sensor housing portion along the axis direction. Thus, there is no need for providing a hollow portion for making the cable pass through in an inner portion of the sensor roller, and it is possible to reduce a diameter of the sensor roller. It is also possible to easily pull out the cable from the sensor housing portion to the hollow portion. In addition, even in a case where a plurality of sensors is arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller on the section perpendicular to the axis direction, the hollow portion can receive the cable from each of the sensors.

The hollow portion of the journal may have a circular shape on the section perpendicular to the axis direction.

According to the present configuration, irrespective of the position of the sensor housing portion in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller, it is possible to easily pull out the cable from the sensor housing portion to the hollow portion. In addition, even in a case where a plurality of sensors is arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller on the section perpendicular to the axis direction, the hollow portion can receive the cable from each of the sensors.

The hollow portion of the journal may include a cylindrical shape about the rotation center axis.

According to the present configuration, irrespective of the position of the sensor housing portion in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller on the section perpendicular to the rotation axis, it is possible to easily pull out the cable from the sensor housing portion to the hollow portion.

The sensor housing portion may have a cylindrical shape having a center that extends along the axis direction.

According to the present configuration, compared to a case where a sensor housing portion has a rectangular shape on a section, it is possible to easily form the sensor housing portion in the sensor roller.

The sensor roller unit may further include a cable bundle portion arranged on the axially outer side of the journal in view from the sensor roller, the cable bundle portion receiving the cable from the hollow portion and bundling the cable.

According to the present configuration, there is no need for providing a cable bundle portion in an inner portion of the journal, and it is possible to reduce a diameter of the journal and to downsize a bearing portion by which the journal is axially supported.

The hollow portion of the journal may have a tapered portion inclined to spread toward the sensor housing portion.

According to the present configuration, the cable is more easily arranged from the sensor housing portion to the hollow portion, and it is possible to further reduce the diameter of the sensor roller.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sensor roller unit in which an outer diameter of a sensor roller can be made smaller than a conventional sensor roller unit.

Hereinafter, a sensor roller unit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a schematic view showing a state where the sensor roller unit <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged on the exit side of a rolling mill <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor roller unit <NUM> is used, for example, for measuring the flatness (shape) of a rolled material S fed from a rolling portion <NUM> of the rolling mill <NUM>. The sensor roller unit <NUM> measures a load (tensile force) received from the rolled material S and outputs a signal corresponding to the measured load. A calculation device (not shown) receives the signal and calculates the flatness of the rolled material S by evaluating a balance of the load (tension distribution). It is noted that the sensor roller unit <NUM> may measure other shapes of objects to be measured.

<FIG> is a sectional side view of the sensor roller unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment. It is noted that hereinafter, for explanation, the right side on the paper plane in <FIG> will sometimes be referred to as the axially outer side (anti-driving side), and the left side on the paper plane will sometimes be referred to as the axially inner side (driving side). In addition, <FIG> is a sectional view along the arrows III-III of <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view along the arrows IV-IV of <FIG>.

The sensor roller unit <NUM> has a rotating body <NUM>. The rotating body <NUM> is axially supported by an inside bearing portion <NUM> and an outside bearing portion <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis CL.

The rotating body <NUM> has a sensor roller <NUM>, an inside journal <NUM>, an outside journal <NUM> (journal), a cable bundle portion 104A, a signal processing portion <NUM>, and a driving force input portion <NUM>.

The sensor roller <NUM> is a member that houses a plurality of sensors <NUM> in an inner portion, and the member to be contacted with an object to be measured such as the rolled material. The sensor roller <NUM> has a columnar shape having the rotation center axis CL. In the inner portion of the sensor roller <NUM>, a plurality of sensor housing portions P is formed so as to extend along the axis direction on the radially outer side of the rotation center axis CL. The plurality of sensor housing portions P is arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, three sensor housing portions P are arranged at equal intervals of <NUM> degrees, for example. Each of the sensor housing portions P has a cylindrical shape having a center that extends along the axis direction. In addition, each of the sensor housing portions P can house the sensors <NUM> and cables K pulled out from the sensors <NUM>. Load sensors, etc., can be used as the sensors <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, as an example, two sensors <NUM> are respectively fixed to an inner peripheral surface of one sensor housing portion P so that the two sensors <NUM> are arranged at intervals in the axis direction in the one sensor housing portion P. It is noted that each of the sensor housing portions P is exposed respectively in both end portions in the axis direction of the sensor roller <NUM>. In other words, each of the sensor housing portions P is formed to pass through the sensor roller <NUM> in the axis direction. It is noted that the sensor housing portion P may be exposed only on one side in the axis direction of the sensor roller <NUM>.

A description will be given with reference to <FIG>. The plurality of sensor housing portions P formed in the sensor roller <NUM> has a diameter r smaller than a diameter R of the sensor roller <NUM>. In addition, a thin portion having a thickness t is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the sensor housing portion P and an outer peripheral surface of the sensor roller <NUM>.

The inside journal <NUM> is a part of the rotating body <NUM> axially supported by the inside bearing portion <NUM>. The inside journal <NUM> is arranged on the axially inner side of the sensor roller <NUM> and coupled to the sensor roller <NUM> by a plurality of bolts along the axis direction. In addition, the inside journal <NUM> seals an inside end portion of each of the sensor housing portions P of the sensor roller <NUM>. The inside journal <NUM> is rotated integrally with the sensor roller <NUM>. In the present embodiment, an intermediate part of the inside journal <NUM> is axially supported by the inside bearing portion <NUM>. In addition, a large diameter part of the inside journal <NUM> is fixed to the sensor roller <NUM>. The shape of the inside journal <NUM> is not limited to these shapes.

The outside journal <NUM> is a part of the rotating body <NUM> axially supported by the outside bearing portion <NUM>. The outside journal <NUM> is arranged on the axially outer side of the sensor roller <NUM> (on the opposite side of the inside journal <NUM>) and coupled to the sensor roller <NUM> by a plurality of bolts along the axis direction. In addition, the outside journal <NUM> is rotated integrally with the sensor roller <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a small diameter part of the outside journal <NUM> is axially supported by the outside bearing portion <NUM>. In addition, a large diameter part of the outside journal <NUM> is fixed to the sensor roller <NUM>. It is noted that the small diameter part of the outside journal <NUM> projects on the axially outer side of the outside bearing portion <NUM> and is coupled to the cable bundle portion 104A. The shape of the outside journal <NUM> is not limited to these shapes.

Further, a hollow portion Q is formed in the outside journal <NUM>. The hollow portion Q respectively communicates with the plurality of sensor housing portions P in the sensor roller <NUM> along the axis direction and receives a cable K of each of the sensors <NUM>. It is noted that, in the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the cables K pulled out from the sensors <NUM> extend toward the axially outer side (anti-driving side).

The hollow portion Q described above has a cylindrical shape about the rotation center axis CL. In addition, the hollow portion Q has a taper 103A (tapered portion) inclined to spread toward the sensor housing portions P. As shown in <FIG>, in the hollow portion Q, the taper 103A is formed in an axially inner side part, and a part having a fixed inner diameter is provided in an axially outer side part (part axially supported by the outside bearing portion <NUM>).

Further, a description will be given with reference to <FIG>. The hollow portion Q of the outside journal <NUM> respectively communicates with radially inner side parts of the three sensor housing portions P of the sensor roller <NUM>. In other words, regarding an arrangement of <FIG>, in a cross-sectional view of a section perpendicular to the axis direction, a radius (maximum distance) from the rotation center axis CL to an inner surface of the hollow portion Q is set to be larger than a minimum distance from the rotation center axis CL to the sensor housing portion P.

The cable bundle portion 104A receives the cables K from the hollow portion Q and bundles the cables K. The cable bundle portion 104A is arranged on the axially outer side of the outside journal <NUM> in view from the sensor roller <NUM>, and it is coupled to the outside journal <NUM> by a plurality of bolts, etc. via a cable bundle portion outer tube <NUM>. The cable bundle portion outer tube <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and has a cable connection portion (not shown) in an inner portion. The cable connection portion communicates with the hollow portion Q of the outside journal <NUM> along the axis direction. In addition, the cable bundle portion 104A has the function of bundling the cables K of the plurality of sensors <NUM>. It is noted that the cables K placed in the cable bundle portion 104A are not shown in <FIG>.

Inside the signal processing portion <NUM>, a rotation portion <NUM> of the signal processing portion <NUM> is arranged, and the rotation portion <NUM> receives detection results (signals) of the plurality of sensors <NUM> outside the rotating body <NUM>. The signal processing portion <NUM> is coupled to the cable bundle portion 104A and respectively receives the plurality of cables K. The signal processing portion <NUM> has a transmission portion (not shown) respectively connected to the cable K of each of the sensors <NUM>.

Outside the signal processing portion <NUM>, a fixed portion <NUM> of the signal processing portion <NUM> is arranged, and the fixed portion <NUM> receives signals transmitted from the rotation portion <NUM> of the signal processing portion <NUM> in a contact manner or in a contactless manner, and the fixed portion <NUM> inputs the signals to the calculation device described above. As a result, the calculation device acquires information corresponding to the magnitude of the load received by each of the sensors <NUM>. It is noted that the fixed portion <NUM> is fixed to an installation place of the rolling mill <NUM> without rotating, similarly to the inside bearing portion <NUM> and the outside bearing portion <NUM>, and that the fixed portion <NUM> is connected to an outside end portion of the rotating body <NUM>. A sensor roller device is configured by the sensor roller unit <NUM>, the inside bearing portion <NUM>, the outside bearing portion <NUM>, and the fixed portion <NUM>.

The driving force input portion <NUM> receives a driving force from a motor (not shown). Upon receiving the driving force, the rotating body <NUM> is rotated about the rotation center axis CL.

The sensor roller <NUM>, the inside journal <NUM>, the outside journal <NUM>, the cable bundle portion 104A, and the signal processing portion <NUM> described above are integrally rotated about the rotation center axis CL.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the hollow portion Q of the outside journal <NUM> communicates with the sensor housing portions P along the axis direction. Therefore, in the sensor roller <NUM>, it is not necessary for forming a hollow portion extending in the axis direction and being further radially inward than the sensor housing portions P. As a result, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the sensor roller <NUM>, for example, the outer diameter of <NUM> or less. Further, as shown in <FIG>, it is possible to enhance the rigidity of the sensor roller <NUM> by using a region on the radially inner side of the sensor housing portions P of the sensor roller <NUM> as a solid portion. In the case that the thickness t of the thin portion outside the sensor housing portions P is reduced as in <FIG>, it is possible to highly precisely detect the load (tensile force) that the sensors <NUM> (<FIG>) receive from the object to be measured such as the rolled material. In particular, even in a case of the small load, since the sensors <NUM> are arranged at positions relatively close to the rolled material, it is possible to detect a change in the load with good precision.

In addition, in the sensor roller unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten an axial length of the sensor roller <NUM>. Therefore, for example, it is also possible to detect a shape (flatness) of a rolled material having as a small width as <NUM> or less with good precision. It is noted that, by reducing the diameter and shortening the length of the sensor roller <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the cost of the sensor roller unit <NUM>.

In addition, as described above, viewed along the axis direction, the radius (maximum distance) from the rotation center axis CL to the inner surface of the hollow portion Q is set to be larger than the minimum distance from the rotation center axis CL to the sensor housing portion P (see <FIG>). Therefore, it is possible to easily pull out the cables K from the sensor housing portions P to the hollow portion Q (easily cable drawing effect). In addition, even in a case where the plurality of sensors <NUM> is arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller <NUM> on the section perpendicular to the axis direction, the hollow portion Q can receive the cable K from each of the sensors <NUM>.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the hollow portion Q has a circular shape on the section perpendicular to the axis direction. According to such a configuration, as shown in <FIG>, the hollow portion Q is open so that the hollow portion Q can receive the cables K over the entire region in the circumferential direction. Thus, irrespective of the positions of the sensor housing portions P in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller <NUM> on the section perpendicular to the rotation axis, it is possible to easily pull out the cables from the sensor housing portions P to the hollow portion Q.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the hollow portion Q of the outside journal <NUM> includes a cylindrical shape about the rotation center axis CL. Even in such a configuration, irrespective of the positions of the sensor housing portions P in the circumferential direction of the sensor roller <NUM> on the section perpendicular to the rotation axis, it is possible to easily pull out the cables K from the sensor housing portions P to the hollow portion Q.

In addition, in the present embodiment, each of the sensor housing portions P has a cylindrical shape having a center that extends along the axis direction. Thus, compared to a case where a sensor housing portion P has a rectangular shape on a section, etc., it is possible to easily form the sensor housing portions P in the sensor roller <NUM>.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the plurality of sensor housing portions P is arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction and the hollow portion Q communicates with the plurality of sensor housing portions P along the axis direction (see <FIG>). As a result, by arranging the sensors <NUM> in the plurality of sensor housing portions P, it is possible to enhance detection precision of the sensors <NUM>. In addition, the hollow portion Q can stably receive the cables K of the plurality of sensors.

In addition, the hollow portion Q of the outside journal <NUM> has the taper 103A inclined to spread toward the sensor housing portions P. According to such a configuration, the cables K are more easily arranged from the sensor housing portions P to the hollow portion Q, and it is possible to further reduce the diameter of the sensor roller <NUM>.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cable bundle portion 104A is arranged on the axially outer side of the outside journal <NUM> in view from the sensor roller <NUM>, so the cable bundle portion 104A has a function receiving the cables K from the hollow portion Q and bundling the cables K. According to such a configuration, there is no need for providing the cable bundle portion 104A in an inner portion of the outside journal <NUM>, and it is possible to reduce a diameter of the outside journal <NUM> and to downsize the bearing portion by which the outside journal <NUM> is axially supported.

The sensor roller unit <NUM> according to the embodiments of the present invention is described above. It is noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modified embodiments described below are available as the sensor roller unit according to the present invention.

Claim 1:
A sensor roller unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a sensor roller (<NUM>) having a rotation center axis (CL), and a sensor housing portion (P) capable of housing a sensor (<NUM>) and a cable (K); and
a journal (<NUM>) coupled to the sensor roller (<NUM>) along the axis direction, wherein
the sensor housing portion (P) is formed to extend along the axis direction on the radially outer side of the rotation center axis (CL), and
the journal (<NUM>) has a hollow portion (Q) communicating with the sensor housing portion (P) along the axis direction and receiving the cable (K),
characterized in that
on a section perpendicular to the axis direction, a maximum distance from the rotation center axis (CL) to an inner surface of the hollow portion (Q) of the journal (<NUM>) is set to be larger than a minimum distance from the rotation center axis (CL) to the sensor housing portion (P).