	US 11,858,022 B2
	Method and apparatus for controlling metal strip profile during rolling with direct measurement of process parameters
Matthew J. Fairlie, Kingston (CA); Timothy F. Stanistreet, Kennesaw, GA (US); Carlos Eboli, Kennesaw, GA (US); Hansjuerg Alder, Feuerthalen (CH); and Luiz Murad, Pindamonhangaba (BR)
Assigned to Novelis Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by NOVELIS INC., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/224,361.
Application 17/224,361 is a continuation of application No. 15/453,429, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, granted, now 10,994,317.
Application 15/453,429 is a continuation of application No. 62/305,113, filed on Mar. 8, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0220885 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. B21B 37/74 (2006.01); B21B 1/22 (2006.01); B21B 37/16 (2006.01); B21B 37/28 (2006.01); B21B 38/02 (2006.01); B21B 38/04 (2006.01); B21B 38/10 (2006.01); B21B 38/12 (2006.01)

CPC B21B 37/74 (2013.01) [B21B 1/22 (2013.01); B21B 37/16 (2013.01); B21B 37/28 (2013.01); B21B 38/02 (2013.01); B21B 38/04 (2013.01); B21B 38/10 (2013.01); B21B 38/12 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A rolling mill comprising:

a first work stand defining a first roll gap;

a second work stand downstream from the first work stand and comprising an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll tilt actuator, wherein the upper work roll and the lower work roll define a second roll gap, wherein the first work stand and the second work stand are adapted to receive a metal substrate moving along a pass line, and wherein the roll tilt actuator is configured to control an inclination of at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll relative to the pass line;

a strip sensor at an interstand location along the pass line between the first work stand and the second work stand, wherein the strip sensor is configured to measure a parameter of the metal substrate at the interstand location; and

a controller operably coupled to the roll tilt actuator and the strip sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor data from the strip sensor comprising the measured parameter of the metal substrate, compare the measured parameter to a target parameter, and actuate the roll tilt actuator such that the measured parameter is within a predefined tolerance of the target parameter,

wherein the strip sensor is a strip property sensor, wherein the rolling mill further comprises a position sensor along the pass line between the first work stand and the second work stand, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect a relative location of the metal substrate, and wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a three-dimensional position of the metal substrate based on the measured parameter from the strip property sensor and the detected relative location of the metal substrate from the position sensor; and

actuate the roll tilt actuator such that the determined three-dimensional position is within a predefined tolerance of a target position.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a metal substrate moving along a pass line in a first roll gap of a first work stand of a rolling mill;

receiving the metal substrate moving along the pass line in a second roll gap of a second work stand of the rolling mill, wherein the second work stand is downstream from the first work stand and comprises an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll tilt actuator, wherein the upper work roll and the lower work roll define the second roll gap, wherein the roll tilt actuator is configured to control an inclination of at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll relative to the pass line;

measuring a parameter of the metal substrate with a strip sensor at an interstand location along the pass line between the first work stand and the second work stand;

comparing the measured parameter to a target parameter; and

actuating the roll tilt actuator such that the measured parameter is within a predefined tolerance of the target parameter,

wherein measuring the parameter comprises measuring a strip property parameter of the metal substrate, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a relative location of the metal substrate with a position sensor between the first work stand and the second work stand;

determining a three-dimensional position of the metal substrate based on the measured strip property parameter and the detected relative location of the metal substrate; and

actuating the roll tilt actuator such that the determined three-dimensional position is within a predefined tolerance of a target position.

18. A method comprising:

measuring a thickness profile of a metal substrate with a thickness profile measurement sensor, wherein the thickness profile measurement sensor is disposed at an interstand location between work stands of a rolling mill;

measuring a flatness of the metal substrate with a flatness measurement sensor, wherein the flatness measurement sensor is disposed downstream from a last work stand of the rolling mill;

receiving data at a controller from the thickness profile measurement sensor and the flatness measurement sensor;

detecting a relative location of the metal substrate with a position sensor between a first work stand of the work stands and a second work stand of the work stands;

determining a three-dimensional position of the metal substrate based on the measured thickness profile and the detected relative location of the metal substrate; and

actuating, by the controller, a roll tilt actuator such that a work stand of the rolling mill provides a desired thickness profile and a desired flatness of the metal substrate within predefined tolerances and wherein actuating comprises actuating such that the determined three-dimensional position is within a predefined tolerance of a target position.