Hot leveller automation system

A hot leveller for levelling metal plates, said hot leveller including upper and lower work rolls mounted in upper and lower cartridges, a drive means for driving the work rolls, an adjustment means for controlling relative positions of the upper and lower work rolls and a control means for controlling the drive means and the adjustment means, said control means comprising:

• first input means for inputting data relative to a type of levelling required and material and selected dimensions of the plates;
• second input means for inputting sensed temperatures of the plates;
• means for determining the number of passes of the plates through the hot leveller in order to achieve the levelling required;
• and
• first and second control signal generating means for generating first and second control signals for controlling the drive means and adjustment means respectively.

A method of controlling a hot leveller for metal plates, said hot leveller having upper and lower work rolls mounted in upper and lower cartridges, a drive means for driving the work rolls, an adjustment means for controlling relative positions of the upper and lower work rolls, and a control means for controlling the drive means and adjustment means, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting a levelling signal, representative of a type of levelling required, to said control means;
• (b) inputting a material signal, representative of a type of material required, to said control means;
• (c) inputting a temperature signal, representative of a temperature of the plates, to said control means;
• (d) inputting a thickness signal, representative of a thickness of the plates, to said control means;
• (e) generating a pass signal, indicative of the number of passes of the plates needed to achieve the levelling required, in response to the levelling, material, temperature and thickness signals, said data being used to determine said pass signal;
• (f) generating a plurality of setting value signals by processing said levelling, material, temperature and thickness signals;
• (g) setting the drive and adjustment means in response to said setting value signals;
• (h) passing a plate between the upper and lower work rolls for a number of passes as determined by said pass signal.

A hot leveller for levelling metal plates, said hot leveller including upper and lower work rolls mounted in upper an lower cartridges, a drive means for driving the work rolls, an adjustment means for controlling the relative positions of the upper and lower work rolls and a control means for controlling the drive means and the adjustment means, said control means comprising:

• first input means for inputting signals indicative of a type of levelling required, a material and selected dimensions of the plates;
• second input means for inputting a signal indicative of a sensed temperature of the plates;
• means for determining the number of passes of the plates through the leveller in order to achieve the levelling required based upon said signals from said first and second input means;
• and
• first and second control signal generating means for generating first and secnd control signals for controlling the drive means and adjustment means respectively based upon said signals from said first and second input means.