Separating flexibly rolled strip material

An apparatus for separating flexibly rolled strip material, comprising:

• a buffer device arranged to temporarily buffer the flexibly rolled strip material;
• a first feed device which is arranged in feed direction of the strip material behind the buffer device;
• at least one length measuring device configured to continuously measure a length of the strip material;
• a thickness measuring device configured to continuously measure a thickness of the strip material along the length;
• a second feed device arranged behind the first feed device;
• and
• a separating device which is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material behind the second feed device;
• wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are configured to move the strip material depending on a thickness measurement and a length measurement from the buffer device to the separating device;
• wherein the thickness measuring device is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material between the buffer device and the first feed device;
• and
• wherein the at least one length measuring device is arranged in the feed direction of the strip material behind the first feed device.

A method for separating flexibly rolled strip material, by an apparatus comprising a buffer device arranged to temporarily buffer the flexibly rolled strip material;

• a first feed device which is arranged behind the buffer device in feed direction of the strip material;
• at least one length measuring device configured to continuously measure a length of the strip material;
• a thickness measuring device configured to continuously measure a thickness of the strip material along the length;
• a second feed device arranged behind the first feed device;
• and a separating device which is arranged behind the second feed device in the feed direction of the strip material;
• wherein the first feed device and the second feed device are configured to move the strip material depending on a thickness measurement and a length measurement from the buffer device to the separating device;
• wherein the thickness measuring device is arranged, in the feed direction of the strip material, between the buffer device and the first feed device;
• and wherein the at least one length measuring device is arranged, in the feed direction of the strip material, behind the first feed device;
• the method comprising:
• performing intermediate buffering of the flexibly rolled strip material by the buffer device;
• advancing the strip material from the buffer device by the first feed device and the second feed device;
• continuously measuring a thickness of the strip material by the thickness measuring device while the strip material is being fed forward, wherein the measuring of the thickness takes place in the feed direction of the strip material upstream of the first feed device;
• continuously measuring a length of the strip material by the length measuring device while the strip material is being fed forward, the length being measured in the feed direction of the strip material behind the first feed device;
• calculating an actual thickness profile for a blank to be separated from the strip material from measured thickness values and associated measured length values;
• comparing the calculated actual thickness profile with a predetermined nominal thickness profile and calculating a feed length for the blank to be separated from the strip material;
• and
• feeding the strip material to the separating device by the first feed device and the second feed device on the basis of the calculated feed length.