Development of Pinch Rolls to Control Strip Wandering in Strip Processing Lines

In strip processing lines, it is important to restrain strip wandering which obstructs operational reliability and makes productivity decline. To improve the stability of the strip conveyance at the existing facilities in addition to the new facilities, a compact guiding apparatus was able to be introduced easily and was valid. In this report, the structure of the unique bent roll covered with a rubber sleeve, which has a wandering restraint function, was examined and the effect was clarified using an experimental apparatus. A rubber sleeve that needs durability to endure expansion and contraction by rotation of the bent roll was also examined. Production machine size rolls were newly developed and evaluated as pinch rolls in processing lines. Under the general condition to set pinch forces identically on both sides of the roll, this roll always has the ability to restrain strip wandering. When putting deviation of pinch forces on both sides, the ability of the wandering correction was increased. It was proposed that the wandering correction system, which controls the pinch force using the output of width sensor, was useful in the processing line. It was also possible to use these pinch rolls as the wandering correction apparatus at the place where it is difficult to use a general guiding apparatus because there is no restriction of line tension.