Device and method for producing a rolled metal strip

A device for producing a rolled metal strip, preferably a hot-rolled metal strip, comprising:

• a rolling mill, which is designed to plastically deform the metal strip by rolling during transport along a conveying direction;
• a cooling device with variable cooling capacity, which is arranged behind the rolling mill in the conveying direction and is designed to cool the metal strip;
• a straightening machine which is arranged behind the cooling device in the conveying direction and is designed to bend the metal strip into a desired shape, preferably to straighten it to improve flatness;
• a first measuring point, arranged between the rolling mill and the cooling device, with a flatness measuring device for measuring topological properties of the metal strip;
• a second measuring point, arranged between the cooling device and the straightening machine, with a further flatness measuring device for measuring topological properties of the metal strip;
• and
• a controller which is in communication with the rolling mill, the cooling device, the straightening machine and with the first and second measuring points and is configured to receive topological information from the first and second measuring points and to control the cooling device depending on the topological information received from the first and second measuring points.

A method for producing a rolled metal strip, preferably a hot-rolled metal strip, comprising:

• forming the metal strip by rolling in a rolling mill during transport of the metal strip along a conveying direction;
• detecting topological properties of the metal strip formed by the rolling mill by a flatness measuring device of a first measuring point;
• subsequently cooling the metal strip by a cooling device with variable cooling capacity;
• detecting topological properties of the metal strip cooled by the cooling device by a flatness measuring device of a second measuring point;
• subsequently straightening the metal strip, preferably improving the flatness of the metal strip, by a straightening machine;
• receiving topological information from the first and second measuring points by a controller;
• and
• controlling the cooling device depending on the topological information received from the first and second measuring points;
• preferably controlling the rolling mill and/or the straightening machine depending on the topological information received from the first and second measuring points.