Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
METHOP AN~ APPARATUS FOR l.ASER
CUT'rIN~ AND WELDING THIN STEEL ST~IPS
~IELD OF TH~ INVENTION
This t nventlon rela~es to a method and ~n ~ppar~us ~or
cut~c~ng and weldlng steel strip~. Mo~e particularly, the
invent~on concern~ a method and an ~pparatus for cut~lng and
welding steel strip~ for a steel strip processin~ line, ln whl~h
facLn~ end~ of precedlng and ~ucceeding steel strips are CUt ln
the wldth-wlse direction and the cut surfaces are welded togsther
as b~t~ su~faces to ohtain a butt ~oint whereby the re~uLtan~
~oi~ed steel strlp~ c~n be suhiect to con~nUous rolllng,
stampln~ ~nd other processings, and ln whlch ~ the t~lme o~ t~e
cu~tlng ~nd b~ welding o~ steel strips the acing ends thereof
are cUt ~1th high ~ccu~c~ ~nd a~e butt welded by a la~er beAm,
for ins~nce, wi~ch the cen~r line o~ ~he steel ~trips aligned to
be ~ n re~ ster or pa~ailel ~lth the center ~lne o~ the processi.ng
linet thus permltting high accuracy joining o the ~el strips
and pe~rnittin~ ~ hi~h ~uallty wel~ed ~r~laet ~co be ob~a~ned.
ACKGROU~ OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, in order to per~or~ rolling and other processing
ancillary thereto on ~teel ~trip~ ~hereina~ter re~erre~ to as
rolllng process~ng) in a steel strlp processing lin~, between two
~d~cent s~eel ~rlp~ con~inuously supplied to thc steel strip
processing line, an end-to-Qnd connectlon is achie~e~ hy b~t~l.ng
and welding ~h~lr opposite end edges. Also, s~ch procc~lng and
rewlndlng, weldlng, ~lltt~ng and ~uttlng (herelnafter referre~ ~o
as condl~ioning proce~lng) ~re performe~ on steal ~tr~ps o~
sSl~con steel, and then resultant steel strip3 are ~upplled as a
produ~t to the customer. Especially, ~n order to obtaln a
produc~ havlng ~ unit weight ~equlred by the customer, steel
strlp~ are ~oined together by bu~t weld~ng, ~here~y obtalnlhg
contlnuous steel strip~ havlng an end-to-end connection ther~n
and cu~tlng contlnuou~ ~teel strlps as the produc~ havlng sa1d
unlt welght and then ~upplylnq to the customer the produc~ in the
. .
32~2
-- 2 ~
form of coll~ or ~he~ts. Th~refore, the p~oduct, withoue: ater-
tre~trncnt of ~he w~ld portlon formed during such cand~tlon~ng
processlng i8 d~l~vered to the cus~omer, so that lt ls r~quired
~o obtaln a weld por'c~on of hlgh quallty. Partlcularly, rom the
~tandpo~n~ of reducing pow~r los~, strlps o~ ~ilicon s~eel are
re~ulred to ~B rolled to R th~ cknes~ o ~bou~ O.35mm or le~.
ThereSorQ, such ~hln steeL ~trlps are ~equired to be weld~
to~e~her before they ~re ~upplled to th~ custom~r. However,
~o such thln strlp3, 1~ ~s impossible to obtaln a weld portlon o~
h~h quallty, as ahove described, by edge-prepara~lon of cutting
opposite ends o~ ad~acent str~p~ u~ln~ the prior ~r~ she~rlng
technLgue and then by b~t~-welding tho resul~ant end edges
th~reof by prlor ~rt arc weldlng, such ~s TIG o~ MIG~
Namely, in both the ~or~er case o~ rolling proce~sing ~nd
the l~t~er cas~ o~ cond~tionlng Proce~ing betw*en ad~acent ste~l
strlp~, ~he trailing end o~ a pre~eding steel strip and the
lead~ng end of a succeedLng ~eel ~tX~p are cut by using the
prior art shear welder ~ormlng ~ contLnuous proces~, and ~hen ~he
cut end edges oppo~ed each cther ar~ caused to be ~utt-weld~d by
the arc welding, i.e., ~rIG or MIG. In other w~rds, ln a
contlnuo~s pro~essing llne construct~d by the prlor art ~hear
welder, steel s~rlps axe caused to run fro~ ~he ups~ream to the
do~n~tream, a~d the~e, ars provided ~lon~ thls flow of steel
str~ps, a cutting uni~ and a welding unit of steel strips at
flr~t end of ~hs s~e~ rip ~ cut by the shearin~ unl~ ~x~sting
on the up~tra~m, and ~hen ~h~ strlp is ~ranserred to the
d~wn6tream, wher~ ~he opp~site cutting ends between ad~cent
~tee1 ~r~ ps ~r~ butted arld welded by ~he arc ~elding tec~nique,
~uch as TIG o~ MI~ .
~ low~ver, in the aase c)f the arc we1dlng, i.e., TIG or ~It;, a
larg~ thermal inf14ence zone ls generated and also the width o~
the weld bead tend~ ~o ~e large. The arc weldlng technique
therefore 1~ unsu1table for butt-weldih~ pro~e~ses during
conditlonlng proc:es~ing o~ thin steel strips such a~ slllco
steel strip~.
... , . ~ ~
~2~32~2
,_ 3 _
That i0, when th~ MIG or T~C arc weldin~ is u~ed during t:he
conditionin~ proces~ln~, thln ~teel strlps wlt}l a weld portion of
~ood qu~llty cannot be obtained. Ther~ore, the ~oined ~tee1
strlp 1~ wo~lnd lnto the form of a coil without takirlg off the w~ld
portion lncludlnçl the ~teel str1p. flaw8 ~re gen~ra~ed in th~
steel str~p, thuq gre~tly deteriorating the qUAllty of the
product. For thl~ re~on, owing ~o Avold ~roubl~s wlth cuatom~r,
lt ha~ bson ln practice to remove ~he weld portlon o~ the ~te~l
~trip, when the 3teel strlp i8 wound a~ ~ coil.
Recantly, hl~h performance la~r wel~in~ proce9se~ a~d la~r
welders h~ve be~n d~vsloped, and a hish ~ual~ty weld po~ion c~n
b~ ob~ain~d by u~ing the laaer weldin~ proces~. When th~ hiqh
performance l~er weldin~ i8 ~ed for butt weldinq ~ur~ng
conditlonlng proce~ing of a thln ~llicon ~teel atrlp, A
~ontinuou~ steel strip having a w~d portion of hlgh quality ~sn
bQ obt~ined, 80 a~ to be wound in the orm of a coil without
~emovlng ~he weld portion. By 30 ~oing, no su~tantial flaw i~
genor~ted.
Fur~her, the ~assr weldin~ proceYs permit~ sufici~nt
effQcts and great advantage~ ~o bQ obtain~ wh~n it iR u~od for
butt welding during the condltionin~ proc~sing of ~ilicon ste~l
~trlps. That i8, the weld bead of ~he weld portion obtained by
lR~er w~lding ha~ a very ~mall width and the weld portlon i0
~ub~tan~i~lly fre~ from therm~l influenc~. This mean~ that it ~
no'c n~c~3ary ~ n a produc'c o f laser welding to remove the weld
po~tlon on the ~oit~ted stael ~trip, which may be punc~ed out by
the cu~tom~r~3 durln~ a continuou~ ~tamplng ou~ of pattern~ on ~:he
~heet, without ~,pplyinq any treatment to ~le weld po~tlon ky
~hem~oltro~. Thia point i~ very ~d~an~a~eo~s for th~ customer~.
Ac'cually, punchlng o~ 3illcon 3teel strlps 1~ ~Igu~lly proc~sed
in high ~peed continu0~l9 ~tamplng eq~(lpment w~ch 1~ proved by
thn cu~tomer. ~ho~efore, v*ry long ~ointed ~te~l ~trlp~ a~o
strongly de~ired or incre~sing the punch efficiency on the ~id~
of the cU~tomer.
~ owever, th~ ad~antage of the efective la~el! welding ~8
not~d abov~ cannot be ob~a~ned ~imply b~ a ~ub25ti tution o a
la~er weldlng torch in pl~ce of' the TIG or MIO weldlnq to~ch o
. ~
32~
~,
tho prlor Rrt lihenr ~elde!r. In othor word~, unles~ ~dg~
pr~parat~on by cutting oppo~d ends of !-teel strip~ and butt:lng
of cut end ~dge~ opposlr~ e~ch other i~ done with high accuracy,
the de~lr~d efect~ o th~3 laser ~eldlng ~anno~: be obtRined, 80
that a hl~h quall~y w~ld portlon ~annot be ~b~alned. ~or th~
~ake of rofnrencQ, a hlslh quall~y weld portlon which mee'c~ 'ch~
customor'0 detn~nd~l io deflned ~ f~llow~:
(~3 thnt weld portlon 1~ homogenou~ atld conforms to
prcd~terminecl refe~ence,
(~) thrlt m~hani~/~l charQct~rl~tlc~ oE we~Ld port~on
conform~ ~o thoae declded by prod~termit~ed ~ef~renc~, ~hd
~ c) th~t the w~ld portlon i8 ~ree rom be!nd2l or fAiLure of
~llgnm~nt of ~nd edge~ of r~tf~ trip~ ~i.e., fallure of
811~nm~n'c mean~ that a line, wllich 1~ ormed by l~utted Rsld ed~es
o ~t~el ~trips, 18 not conformity with ~ ~'cr~ight lina
perpen~icular to the cent~3r llne o the ~hear welder).
For ~educing ore 108g, there i~ R trend for r~ducin~ th~
thl~kness of ~llicon ~eol ~tr1ps, part:lcul~r1y direct1on~1 ~tee1
~trips h~ving crystaL11n~! ~nisotropy, f rom about 0 . 3S to 0. 30mm
to about 0. 35 to 0. l~mm or below. The ~ma11er the thickness, th~
more difElcult lt i~ to cut steel ~trip end~ w~ th high accuracy
and butt the cut end su~ace~ wi~h hiqh accuracy and withou~
o~mation of an~ gap.
Futther, wher~ ro11ing and h~nt-treAtmer~t are appl~ed to
cold-rolled thin ~teel ~trips, which are rewound f~om a coilQd
o~m, before beinsJ auppliod as a product, ~te~ rlpa to b~
rowo~lhd ~te ~olned togel:her by welding, in order to pero~m a
contlnuou~ rol.linq operatlon. In thiE~ ca~se, in t~e pa~, by
u~lnçl tho TIC, MIG and like welding protea~e~!3, the rewound
aold rolleli sl:eol stripZ~ wer- ~oll~ed to ~ch othe~, but recently
1~ hA~ ~een t~ied to uae th~ 1~3er ~elding proceQs whlch featur~
h~gh anettgy del~s1'cy. Th~ rQa~os~ for this i9 the~ me al3 for
~ licon steel ~tr~.p~3. That i~3, with ls,~er weldin~ it i~ pon~ible
to provid~ a~ 8mA1l laEler beam dlameter as up to about O.lmm. It
1~ thus po~slble to incre~se the ~nergy den~slty and ~educe
therm~l in1uence, ~o that w91d beads having a flAt ~lurfAc~ can
be re~dlly obt~lned.
_ .i,.,-.~
_. .. _ . ;~ -
- ~2~2~
_ 5 ! -
Thls mean~ that a laser ~eldthg petmltt3 welding of
cold-roll~d 'chin atrlp~ havlng a thi~kne~ of O. OS- I . Omm, ~uch ~18
e'calnles3 ~teQl ~trip8 ~nd ~llicon ~'ceel ~trlp~. Such thln steel
strip~ ~re ~ncap~ble of belng welded by the prior ar~ TIG or MIC
w~ldin~ proce~se~. ~v~n ln th~ ~ c~, howeve~, th~ u~ of ~:}~
l~oor w~ldinq require~ highly accurat:~ c~lt'clng flnd buttlng prlor
to butt welding. Pa~tlc~ rly, 1~ mport~h~ ~o cut end~ of
~t~el s~r~p~ accurately along ~ ~tta~ ght 1~ ne perpendicular to
the center llne of the E~teel strlps lrl conformlty with one of
continuous proce~in~ lln~3 and eEfect ~ho buttlng of the cut end~
~uch a~ ~o~ to produc~ dep~rture ~om the ~lignm~nt of the end
~dga~ of th~ bu~ted Bteel strlp~.
To m~et the~ requiremehts, there llave b~n devolopad
technlques of accur tsly cuttln~ ~nd~ of 3teel ~trlps and c~u~lng
accurate butting of the ~ut end~ prior to butt-~eldlnq. One su~h
tachniq~o i~ dl~clo~d in JapRne~e Utlllty Model ~aid-Open
57-102495.
N~mely, ln order to ~void departure frotn tha alignment of
weld line formad by butt-weldln~, t.he ~u~ end edge~ of steal
~trlps ~houl~ be str~i~ht and perpendicular to the center lin~ o~
the s~eel ~ttlp~, l.e., perpendicular to ~he direotion of travel
of the contlnuou~ process line. In ~ltlon, d~lr~ng ~utt~n~
resultant cut ed~e~ of ~tael ~trips, ~ ~tralgh~ nli~nment ~hould
be formed between cut edge~ opposed each other. The JapAn~e
U~illty Model Laid-Open 57-102~95 di~clo~e ~n flltgnihg devlco for
securtnq one side ed~e of ~ steel strip ~uch that ~t i~ parallal
to ~h~ center llne of the ~eel ~trip. Xn th~ Rllqnin~ d~Ylco,
~ ~lde guid~ e~ured to one ~lde of a wor~ table at ~ cutt~ng
or welding po~ltion o~ a contlnuous proce~in~ line, ao that the
~ldQ ~ul~e la paral~el to the center lin~ of tr~vel of the
contlnuou~ ptoc~s~lny llne. One side edge of the steel ~t~lp l~
urged aqaln,~t th~ ~de~ gutde, there~y maklng ~n all~nmellt o~ th~3
centsr llne o steel ~trlp w~th the center lltle of travel of the
continuoua proce~sln~ line. Therefore, ill auc~l Ali~nment the
c~ttlng or buttlng of the ~t~el .~trlp l~ ~one prior ~o weldlnq.
. . .
~X8~12~
. ~
However, ~lncs thls ~llqninq device moves the ~te~ trip
with the p~e~ (co~veyor) belt in contact wlth the surface of th~
~teel ~trlp, pte~ 1aws ~r~ bl~ to be formed on the sutfa~e
o the ~t~el ~trlp, particularly the surface of a very thin ~'ceel
strlp, by the urging force of the pre~ bel ~ and mo~emen~ t~
in th~ wldthwl~ dlrectlon o~ the work ~abl~. F-~rther, w~l~n the
8te~1 ~trlp i8 very thln, i~ i~ llable to adhere ~o thq ~u~~c~
with the work t~ble on the contlnuou~ pro~e~ln~ llh~ "uch ~el on
a ~hear welder. Therefore, lt 18 difi~ult to move the ~e~l
8trlp ln ~he widthwlse dlrect~on toward~ the ~id~ guld~ for
aLlS~nment b~ p~e~slng agnl n~t the ~urac~ oE the st~el ~'crip .
Therefo~e, eyen 1~ thl~ alignlng device 1~ u~ed, lt 1~ difficult
to obtain ~ weld portlon fre~? rorn any ed~e allgnm~nt ~epartU~e.
~ notlhg th~ coe~1cletl~ o rictlon between the pre~ lt
and ~teel ~tr~p by ~ he coefflclen'c vf frlction t~etw~h the
~teel etrlp and th~ work ~ble by 1~2' the urglng f~o~CQ of tlle
pre~ belt by N, and ~he weight oE th~ ~teel st~lp by W, the
orce, wlth wh1ch the steel strlp i~ pulled by ~he p~ocesB belt,
18
~1 (N ~ W)~12 ~ N(1~ 2)-WII2
Thl~ relAtion means that in order for pulling the ~ceel
strlp ~y th~ pres~ ~lt lt i~ necessa~y to n~eet ~ condi~ion ,~
grea'cer than ~
Fu~ther, ~lnce the weight W o~ the s~eeL ~t~lp t~rle3 with
'che thicknoss snd width of tha strip, ~t i~ necessary to ad~u~
the ut~ain~ ~orca N of the pr~Y belt. Furtll~rmore, with a thin
st~el strip, an exca~ive pulllng force will cause a st~Qin of
tha ~trlp after the ~de edqe t~lereo h~ been brought lnto
conSact w1th the ~ido ~uic}e~ In 8uC:h a case, ttle ~de edge~ of
the two eteel ~ip8 Will no~c be truly ~traiyht after ~ub~aquent
cuttlng and bu~tinçJ. A d~ired accuracy o tlle ~oint ~chu~ cP~nnot
be ob ta 1 nod .
In the mesntlme, ln order to 8top the E;teRl strlp as goon a~
on~ ~id~ ed~a tll~reof i~ ~rou5~ht into contact with the ~ide
5Juide o the work table, it may be contemp].ated to UE~ a ~lgh
~.2~
- 7 - !
accu~acy sen~or, ~ continuouo moto~, etc. Howeve~ ch
equlpment 18 expenulve and pose_ many problem~ i~ prsc~lc~, ~o
that it h~ not ~et been employed in practice.
!
SUMMA~Y OF THE INYENTION
A flr~t ~eature of the lnventlon re~ide0 ln ~ ~on~lnuou~
procas~inq llne, ln whlch ~cin~ end~ of pr~ceding ~nd ~uccoeding
oteel ~trlp~ are c~lt and the cut end ~u~fAce~ are ca~3ed to ~but
~ ahutt~ng ~u~fQce~ and are ~Qlded ~lohg the abuttlng 1in~
form~d ~y. the abut~ng, ln that when cuttlng, abut'cln~ ahd
welding ~cin~ ends of the stee1 stlrps, at the tlme of th~
c~ttlng or abutt$ng prlo~ to the ~eldln~, ~ither th~ pre~eding
ateel ~trip or the suçceeding ~teel ~trlp is att~acte~ by ~n
electromagnetic chuck in at least one wo~k tablQ in the
contlnuou~ p~ocesgin~ line, and ~he electrom~gnetlc chucX i~
moved to pu11 the preced~ng or ~ucceedin~ steel ~trip until lt
strike~ an ~d~e of a re~erence block diRp~se~ parallel ~o t~
cente~ lins oE the continuo~ processln~ line to all~n ona edge
of the p~ecedin~ or ~ucceedln~ steel strlp to b~ parallel to the
center line.
Thu~ ~ccordin~ to the lnventlon, ~t the tlmc of cutting
and/or weldlng, the ~nderside of the ~teel strlp i~ attrActed by
the electrom~gne~ic chuc~ and i~ pulled ~n the widthwisQ
ditection toward ~he e~o o the referencc block to ~lign the
~dge of the strip. Thu~, e~en w~th ~teel ~t~lp~ h~lnq a
thlckne~a of l mm or les~, p~rt~cularly a~ thln ~ O.l mm ~n
thlck~e~, lt 1~ pos~ibl~ to obtaln acc-lrate alignMen~ oE ~he
edge~
A second feat~re of ~le lnvention rR~ide~ ln tha~ by moving
the electtoma~netlc chuck tha prece~in~ or ~ucceeding ~teel ~trip
i~ pull~d toward the reerence block ~xtendl~g p~all31 ~o th~
cente~ 11n~ o~ the continuo~ proc~gg~ng llne to ~sing an edge of
the precedln~ or ~ucce~ding steel 3trlp lnto con~act wlth the
reEerence block and that lmmediate1y thereaf~er ~he magn~tlc
force of the electromagl~etlc chucX i3 ~d~usted by the ~urrent to
C~Be a 81ip of the preceding or ~ucceeding ~teel ~trip ~ith
1~82~
I - 8 -
re~pect to th~ electromagnetiC chuck, tllUB align~ng the edgo.
Thu~, ev~n wlth the ~teel strip~ with a tllicknea~ of 1 mm or
le~, pArtlcul~rly a~ thln ~ O.lm~ in thlckne~, when th~ edge
oE the ~eel ~t~ip 1~ ~rought lnto contact wlth th~ reforcnce
blo~k, a 91ip 0~ ~h~ ste~l ~trlp wi ~h re~pect to th~
electromagn~lc chuck i~ cau~ed tl~rough ad~ustmentn o~ the
magnetlc force of the electroma~netic chuck with Cu~rent
~d~tment, w~ereby lt i~ possibl~ to el~mlnate unnoce~
pullln~ orce ~pplied to the ~dge of tha ~teel ~rip ~o that no
c~ain remainq~
A third feature of the invehtion re~ides in th~t ~hen
cau~in~ tho abuttin~ o tha ~o cut end ~urf~ce~ oE ~te~l strlp~
prlor to welding the end suraces wlth ~ w~ldin~ to~c~ ~n ~h~
w$~thwlse d~re~tion oE the ~teel ~trip~ in the con~inuous
proc~s~lng llno, the fac~ng end of one oE t}le s~eal ~trip~ 1~
att~cted and held by an electromagne~ic chuck up~tre~m or
downstream the torch runnlng line, on whicll ~ide the torch
runnlng llne i~ no~ contained, thR f~Cihg end o~ th~ oth~r ~teel
~tirp i8 r~lsed 80 that tho cut end sur~ce i5 directed obliquely
~nd downwardly toward ~he cut end 6urface of the other ~te~l
~trlp, and in thi~ at~,te the a~utting surf~ce~ of t21~ two ~teel
Jtrlp~ a~e cau~ed to abut. Thus, according to the invent~o~ fo~
~tt weLdln~ ~ha ~aclng ends of the precedinq or ~ucceedlng 8te9
atripn, the preceding 3teel strip with t~le cu~ ilin~ en~
~urfac~ can be held ~nd ~agnetlzed by the electro~agnetic chUck
p~o~ded on the ~lde, which 1~ ~ee from the torch ~unning llne,
wlth t~e cut end sut~ce a~ the abu~tihg ~urface in regi~ter with
th~ c~nt~ lin~ of the cont~nuoun proce~8ing lln~. ~h~n, the
ruc~e~dlnq ~t~ t~p with the cut leading end i~ ral~ed by
su~tAbla mean~, ~.g., ~ roller, to direct the cut end ~urface at
t~ leading ~nd obliqu~ly dowl-wardly toward tlle end ~ur~ace of
the prec~ding ~tael ~rlp. Slnce th~ trailtng end of the
p~ecadln~ ~teel strlp l~as b~en magnetlz~d by the electrom~gnetlC
chuck, whan the ~ucceedin~ ~eel 8~rip i8 ~oved ~uch the butt
surface at lt~ le~dil~g e~ dlrected obliqu~ly and ~ownwardly flnd
t~e bu~t aurfac~ appro~che~ the but~ sur~ace ~t tlla trallinq ~nd
o tho prscedlnq ~teel atrlp, the butt ~urface 1~ pulled and
2 ~ ~ 2
- 9
a~tr~c~ to the butt surface o th~ preceding n~e~L ~trlp,
whereby it is po~ la to ~btaln a butt ~Oillt whlch 1~ in
Accurate r~lnter wlth tho runnlng line of the weldlng to~ch~
A ourth feature o the lnY~nt~on re~ld~ in ~h~ a movabl~
work tabl~ movable ln the dlrection of the ~tQ~l ~tr~p eecllr
l~n~ 1~ provided ~ on~ o the wor~ table~ ln the continuous
prvces~in~ lin~ ~uch that it ~8 capable of revolu~lon w~th
r~pRct to a point of intarsectlon between one reference ~urfac~
of the mov~bl~ work ~able and a runnlng line oE the weldlng or
~uttlng~w~ldlng torch, ~nd ~t lQa~t two optic~l ~nla~men~
devlce~ ~re pr~vided on the ~ovable work t~ble for optically
~nl~ging t~Q oppo~lto 2nds of tha but~ line form~d wit the
~buttlng of th~ c~t end ~urf~ce of tho tWG ~teeL ~trlp~ ~nd ~re
con~tructed ~uch that they are rec~procable ln a dir~ctlon
p~rpendicu~r or ~ub3tant~ally perpe~dic~lar to the runnlny lin~
o the two steel 8trip9. Thu~, alignment can be monltored by
optlcally enlarging the opposite end~ oE the but~ llne wl~ tho
opti~l enl~r~ement device~3. Partlcularly, when ths opti~l
imag~ i~ p~ocesned w~t~ an i~a~ ~en~or, ~hB aliqnm~ht can be
dene aut~matlcally.
BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. l ~ B a ~ide ~lew 8howing a cut~er/welder utilizlng
la~0r b~am in ~n embodiment of the in~entlon;
Flq. 2 1~ a ~sont view, partly ln ~ection, taken along ~r~ow
line A-~ ln Fi~. 1
Fi~ 3 1~ a 31do vlew, ~howlhg ~ ex~mple of the ~teel strip
~eed~r;
Fl~. 4 i~ a trahsver~al ~ection~l vi~w, ~owing the 3teel
B~tip fead~r shown in ~lg. 3;
Elg. S ~ ~ pla~ vlew ~howlnq an example of align~ng uAlt~
~onst~ tutinq part oE the cu~r/weld~r ~hown in ~ig. 1;
El~, 6(a) to (e) are views ~howing ~ucce~ive ~tep~ of
cuttinq, CAU~ing abut~lng and weld~llg o~ 8teel str~p~ ~ccordlng
~o the inven~lon~
~L28~
i
F1;1. 7 i~ a sectional view showin~ a cutter/welder utllizing
a l~or be~m in R diffe~nnl~ embodim~nt of the lnventlon; alld
Flq. 8 1~ a plan view ~howin~ an example o~ allghinq unlt~
con~titutlng pAtt of~ the cutter/welder shown in Fig. 7,
I~ETAILEp DE:Sc~I rT ~
~ he invent~on will fir~t be ~e~crlbed by referencM to the
fl~ur~,
Refo~ring now to E ig . 1, referen~:e numcral 1 dc~ignate~ a
pr~cedin~ steel ~trlp, and num~ral 2 nucceeding ~tenl ~trlp.
These ste~l etr1p~3 1 and 2 are cor~s~qu~ntlvely fed by ~ p~lr of
pin~h rolle~ 3 and 4 ~o a cutter/welder whlc~ c:on~tltutes p~t
o n ~ontinuous proco~ing 1 ln~3. Th~ cuttor/welder include~ ~
cu~tlng unit 5 and a welding 'corch 6 provided ~n ~h¢ mentionQd
order rom the upstream Qld~. Alig~ling unit!3 7 to g, ~9 ~hown by
dashed lines in Fig. 1, are prov~ ded be~ore, bett./een and ~f~r
tho cu~cting unit: S and ~elding torch ~ in the dire~tion o~
travel of Bteel ~tripn. Detailed con~tru~tion o~ ~hc ~ligning
unl t3 t ~o 9 i ~ shown i n Fl g . 5 .
In the cutt~ng and weldln~ operation, one side edqe o the
precedlng steel sttip 1 ed by the up~tre~m side plnch roller~ 3
and 4 ~ 8 positloned by t:he ~llgning uni~ ~ qUcll that one ~id~
edge is paralleL to the center line of travel of the cont~nuou~
proc~sing llne C-C ( Bee li'ig. S) . In thi~ state, the tra1l~ ng
end oX ~he p~ecedlng ~teel 13trlp 1 is cut by ~h~ cut~lng un1t 5.
After the cuttlng, ~he pr~cedinç~ ~te~l ~t~p 1 13 u~he~
trRnsportqd by a movable c:l~mp lO to the dowhstream ~ide to be
~toppQd when it~ cut ~nd ~dg~ la come~ to a po~ition behe~th t~e
weld1nq torch 6. E~neAth the w~lding torch 6, one ~ld~ edge of
th~ precedin~ ~teel strlp I i~ po~itlon~d by tlle un~t ~ to mak~
it par~llel to the cen~er line C-C of the~ continuouE~ proc~31n~
llne (~e Fig. 5). Al~o, tha cut end edg~ la of ~;he prec~ n~
~eel strip 1 i~ brought in conformity wlth ~ line 6a 1 se~ Flg.
S) alorlg w~ich t}le we~lding to~ch 6 is move:l hy c~u~ing moveme~2t
of a work tablo 13 ben~Ath the welding 'corch 6 it2 t;:h~3 dl~ct10n
o~ f~ed ln the con~cinu~u~ proce~ln~ line arld ~ o re~volutlon o
the wor~c table 13 about A ~evol~lng ~ect~on 21 ( ~ee F~ g. 2 ) .
~L2~32~Z~
-- 11 --
After the preceding steel strip 1 has been set in this
state, the succeeding steel strip 2 is fed by the pair of pinch
rollers 3 and 4. The leading end of the succeeding steel strip 2
is positioned by the aligning unit 7 such that one side edye of
strip 2 is parallel to the center line C-C of the continuous process
line. In this state, the leading end of strip 2 is cut by the
cutting unit 5.
Subsequently, the succeeding steel strip 2 is further fed
by the pair of pinch rollers 3 and 4 to the downstream side, and
beneath the welding torch 6 the leading end of the succeeding steel
strip 2 is aligned by the aligning unit 8 such that ane side edge
of strip 2 is parallel to the center line C-C of the continuous
process line~ Also, as shown in Fig. 6(d), the cut end edge 2a of
the leading end of the succeeding steel strip 2 is directed
downwards for butting against the cut edge la of the preceding steel
strip 1 having been positioned to be in conformity with the torch
running line 6a (see Fig. 5). In this state, the butted end edges
la and 2a are butt-welded together by driving the laser welding
torch 6 along the line 6a.
As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of work tables 11 to 14 are
arranged along a straight line constituting a feed path, along which
the preceding and succeeding steel strips 1 and 2 are fed. Of these
work tables 11 to 14, th~ work table 13 which is disposed underneath
the welding torch 6 is capable of being moved in the direction of
the continuous processing line, i.e., feed path, and also revolved
about the revolving section 21 (see Fig. 2). By causing the
parallel movement and revolution of the movable work table
(hereinafter referréd to as movable table 13) after one side edye
, ~ .
~2~2~
of the preceding steel strip 1 has been aligned, the cut end surface
la of the preceding steel strip l can be finally disposed such ~hat
it is accurately in register with the torch running line 6a, which
is positioned to be precisely perpendicular to the center line C-C
in the continuous processing line.
In the cutter/welder which constitutes part of the
continuous processing line, the upstream side cutting unit 5 is
usually provided as a shearing unit with a shear or the like or a
fusion severing unit for effecting fusion severing with a laser beam
or a cutting unit for effecting cutting with a grindstone. The
welding torch (hereinafter referred to as the torch~ 6 is provided
on the downstrea~ ~f the cutting unit 5. At this time, the torch
running line 6a is positioned such that it extends in a direction
precisely perpendicular to the center line C-C of the continuous
processing line (see Fig. 5), i.e., the direction of running of the
preceding and succeeding steel strips 1 and 2, and then the torch
6 is provided such that it can run along the torch running line 6a.
The movable table 13 which is provided underneath the torch 6 is
constructed such that it can undergo parallel movement in the
direction of running of the preceding and succeeding steel strips
1 and 2, i.e., along with center line C-C of the continuous
processing line. Also, it is provided on a revolving table 20 to
be noted above such that it can be revolved about the revolving
section 21 (see Fig. 2).
The torch 6 is constructed such that it is vertically
movable and can also run in stringent register with the torch
running line 6a positioned to ~e perpendicular to the direction of
running of the preceding and succeeding steel strips 1 and ~ fed
~ 13 -
along the center line C-C of the continuous processing line. On the
opposite sides o~ the torch 6, securement clamps 16 and 17 are
provided such that they are verkically movable~ on the movable
table 13a back bar 15 is provided in register with the torch running
line 6a (see Fig. 5). Downstream and upstream side electromagnetic
chucks 18 and 19 are provided on the opposite sides o~ the back bar
15. Thus, in the butting and welding operations, the trailing end
of the preceding steep strip 2 and the leading end of succeeding
strip 2 are held from their end sur~aces by the securement clamps
16 and 17, respectively. On the movable table 13 the trailing end
of the preceding steel strip 1 and leading end of the succeeding
steel strip 2 are held by magnetiæation by the downstream and
upstream side electromagnetic chucks 18 and 13.
The mechanism for causing the parallel movement and
revolution may have any desired construction. To ensure accurate
butting, the revolving table 20 is constructed, as shown in Fig. 2
such that it is capable of revolution about tha revolving section
21 and the movable table 13 can undergo parallel movement on the
revolving table 20.
The revolving table 20 is disposed on a stationary table
37. On the stationary table 37, the revolving table 20 is capable
of revolution about the intersection between one reference side
surface 13a of the movable table 13 and the torch running line 6a
(see Fig. 5). For example, revolving table 20 is capable of
revolution.
To permit precise adjustment o~ the parallel movement of
the movable table 13 or revol~tion of the revolving table 20, a
moving mechanism and a butted state detection mechanism may be
~Z82~
- 13a -
constructed as follows.
As shown in Fig. 2, of the work tables 11 t~ 1~
constituting the feed path of the preceding and succeeding steel
strips 1 and 2, i~ e, the running path of the continuous processiny
line, the movable table 13 is straddled by a gate-shaped frame 22
provided on a base 26. A top beam 22a o~ the gate-shaped frame 22
is provided with upper and lower tracks, e.g., rails 23a and 23b,
extending in its longitudinal direction. The torch 6 is provided
such that it can run along these rails 23a and 23b. A laser beam
is ~upplied ~rom a laser beam generator 25 to the torch 6, and it
is converged to a diameter of about 0.1 mm to effect butt welding
of the steel strips 1 and 2 by using the laser beam. A laser beam
path 24 is provided extensively along the beam 22a of the gate-
shaped frame 22. The torch 6 is coupled to the front end of the
laser beam path 24, and the laser beam generator 25 is coupled to
the rear end of the laser beam path 24. Thus, the laser beam
emitted from the laser beam generator 25 is fed through the laser
beam path 24 to the torch 6. As the torch 6 runs along the torch
running line 6a (see Fig. 5), the laser beam path 6a is extended or
contracted, whereby the two steel strips 1 and 2 are butt-welded by
using laser beam.
A mechanism for raising and lowering the downstream and
upstream side securement clamps 16 and 17 may have any structure.
Usually, the mechanism is constructe~ _
/
//
~L~2 !32~2~
- 14 _
mechanlsm. ~esld~ss, 1~ ~8 construct~d th~t it opora~ tl ~t"
in~erlock~d r~lation to the movabl~ table 13, revolvlng tAble Z0
~nd ~tation~ry table 37.
Mor~ ~paciflc~lly, the two ~ecurem~nt clamp~3 16 ~nd 17 m~y
bo con~tructed to ha~fe thel ~ame constructlon~ and ~he ral~lng ~nd
lowerin~ mech~ni~m may 1~9 provld~d independen'cly on ~ACh
~ocurement cl~mp. Fig. 2 ~how0 ~ typlcAl construct:lon o the
mechanium or rAl~lng and loworing the up~tream ~icie ~ecu~ment
clamp 16. Tha mecha~ n con~lst~ of ~ pal~ of ~uppor'c pll~ra ~
pro-rld~d ~nslda the qnt~-sh~ped frame 22, cyllndors 2a mounted on
tho re~p~tl~e eupport piller~ 27 and rod~ 29 driv~n by t~
operatlnç1 f luid of the cyllnder~ 28 . Tha l~p~tream ~lde
aRcuroment clamp 16 1~ n~ou~lted on the ~op of tho rod~ ~g, and lt
laed ancl lowered with the elongation and cont~ac~lon of tha
rods 29. The me~:h~nism for ralslng ~nd lowerinq the downstr~Am
Jlde qecuremen'c clamp, whlch ~B not shown, ha~ the 3~me
cona~ruction.
To p~rmit ~volution of the revolving tabl~ 20 ~nd ~l~o
p~rm~t movement of tho mov~ble table 13 along the ~evolvlng tabl~
~0, tho ~el~ olving t~bl~ 20 i~ provided on tho inner ~lde o~ t]lo
p~lr E3upport pillRre 27 conetituting part of the r~i~ing~lowerirlg
~ache.nism. Rectilinear ~Liding ~earinq~ 31 are prov~cled on t}le
top o the revolvlng tablo 20 and the bottom of the mo~rable tahle
13, respectively a~d bearing ralls 30 ar~ lnterposed between the
uppor and lo~er trat~sl~tional bearing~ 31. Thus, the mov~ble
tabl~ 13 i6 movod. along the ~volvlng ~able 20 in the dir~ction
o~ runnlng o~ tt 1~ preceding and ~ucceeding steQl ~trlp~ 1 and 2,
l . e ., the center llne C C o~ ~he cor~tin~lous proceEIsinq lin~ ~ ~ao
Elg. 5~. At tho time o~ the but~clnq opQration, the movable ~blo
13 1~ mo~ed ~y ~light amount8 to br~n~ th~ butting ond ed~a la o~
tho precoding o~e~l l3trlp 1 ilstO r~3gister with t:he torch runnlng
line 6a (~e ~ig. 5) E~nd IA180 make B but~cing line form~d bet~n
~hs opposi.te end edge~ of two 3tasl ~4trips 1 and 2 to b~ in
re~l~ter w~t:h the ~orch running llne ~a. A paralle~l movem~nt
unit fot CAU~lng A parallol move~nant of the movable t~blo 13, A~l
shown ir~ F~.q. l, ~on8i8t8 o.~ a hUmeri~al control motor 32
provlded on ~;he ~evoLvlng table ~0 and R ba~ crew 33 coupled to
~L2~
I s
th~ numerlc~l con'crol mo~or 32 . The end of the ~al 1 3crew 33 ia
co-lpled to th~ movabLe ~bl~ 13. E'or ~hi~ ~e~son, e~en lf th~
ex~ent of parall~l movement or causlhq ~he tor~h ruhnlng l~ne 6R
~nd ~u~tlng line into r~ 3ter with each other i~ very ~ ht:,
the nu~rlcal cont~ol motor 32 ~an be corresporld1n~1y drlvet~ to ~
nll~h~ ~xtant to obtilln ~ccur~ buttlnq o th~ t:wo cu~ ~nd ~dges
1~ And 2a.
A~ Inent~oned Above, the re~olvlng t~ble 20 i ~ chu~d to
ndergo ~evol~ on El~out the ~volving ~ection 21, wh~ch ~a
loc2ted at the inter~ection b~tween the rsferen~e side edge 13a
o~ the m~ bl~ t~ble 13 ( ~ee Fig. ~ ), 1. e ., the edge pAr~llel to
t~ nter 11ne of the contlrluous proc~in~ lin~, ~nd th~ torch
running llne. The~ revolvin~ mecl~ani~m for revolving ~he table ~0
about th~ ~volving ~eGtion ~ of the int~sect~n, may co~s~
o~ a cyl~ndr~c~l baarin~ 34, a ball ~arew 35 ~nd ~ num~rical
control mo~or 3~ More ~poclically, a0 ah~wn ln Fig. 2, the
cyli~dric~l bearinq 34 i8 pro~lded between the revolvlng table 20
And ~atlonary ta~le 37, the baLl ~crew 35 i~ aliqned to ~he
cylindrical bearing 34, and the num~rical control motor 3~ 1B
co~pled to the b~ll screw 3s. Ther~fore, even lf th~ revolutl~n
cau~ed to brlng the torch runnlnq llne ~a snd but~ing l~ne lnto
reg~ster wlth ~ch other i~ to a very light ~xtent, e.g., of the
order o mlcron~, the numer~cal control motor 3~ ean ~e glven 8
corrs~ponding rotation.
~ urth~r, a~ wlll be deacr~ed later, it i~ nece~ary to
obtaln p~rEoct re~ter o the buttlng llne with the torch
running l~ ne 6a ~ ~ee Eig. S ) af ter th~ end edge~ la ~nd 2a o the
preceding and ~ucceedlng ~te~l ~trip~ 1 and 2 ~ee ~iq. 5~ ~ave
b~n but~d on the mova~le ~able 13. Thi~ is done by cau~ing
parallel mo~m~nt and ~evolutlon of the movable ~abl~ 13 to a
~llght oxtan~. To deteo~ the extent of quch movement, ~t lea~t
two optlc~l onl~gemsnt ~nit~ S0 and 3~ ar~ provided Eor optlc~lly
enlar~lnq th~ two oppo8it~ en~ of the butt~n~ line. The~e t~o
optlcal ~nl~rgement unlts 50 and 3B, ll~a the ~o~ch ~ are ad~pted
to r~n ln ~ dlr~c~on porpendlcular to thæ c~n~er lln~ c-C of the
continuous proce~sing llno (~e~ ~iq. 5).
8~21
~ 16 _
More partlc-~larly, the optical enlargemeht unit~ 50 and 38
h~e the ~am~ COn~rUC~ierl and respectively cons~s~ of
microscop~ 31a and 38a, camer~ 37b and 3Bb and mov~ble ~addle~
37c and 38c. To perm~ ~ runnin~ of the movable ~addles 37c and 3~c
in a dlrection perpendlcular to ~h~ cen'ce~ lin~ C-C o~ the
ContinUO~lB prôce~lng llne, the s~ddle~ 37c and 38c ars engaged
wlth tha rail~ 23A ~nd 23b of the torch 6, ~ ~hown ln ~lg. ~.
~t ~ ~ po~slble to ~r1ve the movRbla ~addle~ 37c and 313c
lnd~pendelltly ln~ead of cau~ing thoir movemen~ alon~ the ~m~
rallff 23a and 23b as for to~ch 6.
The mov~ble ~l~mp 10 or cau~lnq tha prec~din~ st~l str~p 1
to the down~tr~a~ ide aftar cut~ing ~he l~railing ehd of the ~rip
1, a~ ~hown ln ln Fig~. 3 and 4, con~ s of a palr of movn~le
clamp ple~e3 lOa ~nd lOb. The upper clamp piece lOa can be
raisod and lower~d by ve~tical movement cyllndQrs 39 provld~d
on th~ oppo~i,te ~i~a~3 o th~ lower clamp plecn lOb. Th~ lowe~
clamp pioce 10b ha~ ~ comb shaped top port:ion, w~ich 1~ as~embl~sd
to ~he wo~k ~able 14 which h~s a dralt~-boArd-llk~ ~h~pe. The
comb-~hapod top portlon of the the lower clamp piec~ lOb sllsll~tly
pro~ct~ upwards from the work te~ble 14. The preced~ng st~ol
~rip 1 thu~ can be ~moo~ly clamped bctw~en t~le upp~r and low~r
clamps 10~ and 10b witho~lt o~tructlon of itB movement.
A mechanism or mo~ g th* movable clamp 10 consist~ of
nwl~eric~1 con'crol motor 4~, a ball scr~w Js2 and ~ pair of
b~arinq~ 41a and a bearlng rRil 42. Therefo~e, e~sn ~f the
extent of movement of the mov~bl~ clamp 10 i~ very ~llgh~. e.g.,
o~ the order o~ m~cron8, ~he rotation o~ t~le moto~ 40 can be
con'crollad ~:orr~ponAihgly anc~ tlle movable c1amp 10 can be mo~ad
~ccurR'c~
Th~ cutting unit S for cutting the encl~ of the precading and
~ucceedlng st~eL ~trlp~ 1 and ~ ~ u~ually con~l~ts of a pa~ r o,
upper and 10WQ~ b1ede8 S~ and 5b, as ~howh in Fiq. 1, ~nd
whieh blade~ can c:u~ the ends by using she~ring . I n~te~d of ~uch
cuttln~ tlnlt u~ln~ ~hear force lt iB al~o po~3sible to conDtrus:t
t~e cuttlng.un~t S ~o ~!3 to effect melt~.ng and cut~lng by using A
Innor b~am, an el~ctron be=m or other l~eat oourc~=~ A ~crl~p
.::
~L2~ L2~
- 17 -
removal unit 43 may be provided, if necessary, to remove scrap
produced as a result of the cutting operation from the work
table 12.
The three aligning units 7 to 9, which are provided in the
mentioned order from the upstream side as shown in Fig. 1, ha~ the
same construction as shown in Fiy. 5.
As shown in Fig. 5, the aligning units 7 to 9 consist of
respective electromagnetic chucks 7a, 8a and 9a and reference blocks
7b, 8b and 9b. The electromagnetic chucks 7a, 8a and 9a and
reference blocks 7b, 8b and 9b can be moved by extension/contraction
devices 7c, 8c and 9c in a di~ection perpendicular to the center
line C-C of the continuous processing line. When cutting the
trailing end of the preceding steel strip 1, the aligning unit 8 is
used as noted below. More specifically, the opposite side reference
blocks 8b provided outside of the continuous processing line are
moved by the respective extension/contraction devices 8c to a
reference position, at which they are parallel to the center line
C-C or the continuous processing line. Then, the preceding steel
strip 1 is fed by the upper and lower pinch rollers 3 and 4, as
shown in Fig. l, and the preceding strip 1 is stopped while trailing
end of the precedin~ strip 1 is on the upstream side of the cutting
unit 5 (only the upper blade 5a thereof being shown in Fig. 5). The
central electromagnetic chuck 8a is partly incorporated into the
work table 11. When the electromagnetic chuck 8a is excited at this
time, the underside of the preceding steel strip 1 is attracted to
the chuck 8a. In this state, the electromagnetic chuck ~a is pulled
by the extension/contraction device 8c in a direction away from the
continuous processing line in Fig. 5. The side lb of the preceding
.~ . ..... .
~L~Z132~21
- 17a -
steel strip 1 is thus pulled toward and brought into contact with
the reference blocks 8b, so that it is aligned thereto. In this
state, the side edge lb of the preceding steel strip 1 is position
parallel to the center line C-C of the continuous processing line.
Thus, by lowering the upper blade 5a disposed perpendicular to the
center line C-C in
/
2~%3~
- 18
thi~ e, tha ~rall~.ng ~nd of the preced~ng ateel ~trlp 1 ir~ cu~
to ob'caln the cU'c ~3nd edg~ la as the buttin~ surfAce
perpendicular to the center llne C-C.
Wh~n cu'c'clng the l~ading end of tho ~ucceedlng ~t~el ~trlp
~, on~ ~ldo e~ga 2b o it ~ ned by the ~ligr in~ unlt 1
~hAt lt 1~ parnllel to the c~snt~r llne C-C. AgAln, ~ hls
the and 1~ cu~ ln the 6ame m~nner a~ for t~le preceding ~
atrlp 1 to obtain the cut ~nd edges 2~ perper~dicul~ to the
c~3n~er l~n~ C-C at the leadin~ end o the ~ucceedlng steel strlp
2. Further, when the cu~ er~d e~e la ~nd 2~ of the B'C~lel 8tri.p8
1 and 2 a~.~ butted on th~ mov~le table 13, thQ edga~ 1~ ahd 2b
Rre mad~ parallel to the center line! C-C. At thls tlme~ the
precsdlhg ~nd ~ucc~edlng ~'ceel Bttip8 1 and 2 are alignQd by the
r~3pe~tiv~ ~ligning unl~ ~ and 8.
When ~ligning the gid~3 sdg~ lb And 2b of tha ~teel eltrlp~
Wl~h the alignlhg unlt~ 7 to 9 ln the abo~te way, i~ i~ d~sired to
~d~U~t the magneSlc force~ of the electrom~qnetic chuck~ 7a, 8
~nd ga ~uch a3 to permit ~lip of 'che el~ctrom~gnetic chucks 7a,
8a and 9a with respec~.'co the two ~teel ~tr~p~ 1 ancl 2 with 'ch~
sld~ ~dga3 1~ And 2b tl~ereof in contact Wlth t~le ref~rence blocks
7~, 8b and gb, thu~ allgnlng the side edge~ lb ~nd 2b oF th~
~teel strlp~ 1 ancl 2 to be p~ l to the centar l~ne C-C.
More ~pecif~cally, tha Bteel ~trip~ l and 2 are moved ln a
dir~ction perpendic~slar to ~he center line C-C wlth ~he~r under
~lde ~ttractad t~o t~le electromagnetlo chuck~ 7a, 8a anà 9~ by
uslng ~lectrom~gnetic force~, ~nd thereby the slde edg~ lb ~nd
2b of the ~teel ~trips 1 and ~ ~re bro~ght into contact w~h the
roerence block~ ~, 8b and ~b provlded on the oppo~ltQ 31de~ of
t~e elec:tromAgnetlc chuck6 7a, ~a and ~a. I~ 'che magnetlc force~
o~ the elec~omAgnetiC chUclt~ 7~, 8a an~ ga 2~e exces~ive At thl~
tlme, tha ~de edges lb and 2b of the ~teel ~trlps 1 anrl 2 are
linble to ba ~t~ ed by the pulling force. In this ~ e, ~h~
~lde edgeel lb and 2b cannot be accurately aligned.
On the contrary, if ~he magn~iC force~ are ln~ufflcien'c.
~he ~t~el ~trip~ 1 ~nd 2 cannot he moved against the frictional
re814tance. Further, ~he pulllng force ba~ed on the magnatlc
,10 ~Q~
~g,~ol~lL~L :
I q _
forces o tha electrom~gn~tlC chucks 7Q, ~a ~nd 9a are varled
accordlng t~ the thickne~ o~ the ~te~l ~trtpa. That 1~, wlth
the same cu~rent ~upplle~ to the electromagnetic chuck~ 7A, aa
and 9a, the pulllng orce that 1~ produced i~ larg~ ~f
thlckn~ss o~ the ~heet 1~ la~ge, whll~ lt i9 ~m~ll lf the
thlckne~ o the sh~et i~ ~m~ll. Mennwhll~, th~ ~ide ~dges lb
~nd 2b of the ~tecl strip~ 1 ~nd 2 are not ea311y ~tr~ined whon
the thlckne~ of th~ steel ~trips 18 l~rgo, whiln they nr~ ea~ily
s~t~ined when the thickne~ m~
Summln~ up, the prope~ pulling fo~c~ ~hould be ad~u~t~d to
~e in A rRnge graAt~r th~n the pulliny or~e with whlch 'che ~teel
~trlps 1 and 2 are mov~d to b~n~ the nide edg~s lb and 2b ih'Co
con~Act ~ith the reerence hlocks 7b, ~b and 9b, b~t lea~ than
the p~lling force with ~hich the ~ide e~ge~ lb a~d 2b a~
ctr~sed in contact with the reEetencs block3 7b, ~b and 9bo
Therefo~, when pul~ing the ~teel ~trlp~ 1 ~nd 2 wi~h tha
~lectrom~gnet~c chucks 7~, 8a and ~a, the magnetlc force~ oE the
elec~om~netlc chuck~ 7~ nd 9a are suitably ad~u~ted a~
aoon a~ ~ach o the edg~ lb and ~b i3 b~ought in~o contac~ with
~ome of the reerence blocks 7b, 8b and 9b. In tht~ way, the
~te~l ~tr1ps 1 an ~ are al1qned w1th re~pect to the
elect~oma~netic chucks 7Q, ~ ~nd 9a. Py align1nq t~e ~id~ edge~
lb an~ ~b with ~e~pect to the ~teel ~t~ip~ 1 and 2 ln thi~ way~
the pulllng orce 1~ h~ld in an adequ~te range at the t1me oE ~he
cont~c~, ~o ~ha~ the ~id~ ~dge~ lb qnd 2b of the steel ~trlp~ ~
and 2 ~an b~ ~lign~d wl~houS gene~atlon of any stralI~. Until the
31de Qdg~s 1~ and 2b are brought into contac~, the p~lllng Eo~ce
can ba lncre~sed, ~o thAt tho steel ~trips 1 and ~ can be mo~ed
1~resp~Gtiv~ of th-3ir wel~ht and thlckne~s.
~ hi~ ~ffect i~ p~o~noted by ~he pro~l~ioh o the referencQ
block8 7b, 8b, ~nd 9b on the oppoZ~t te side~3 of the
oloctromagne~ic block~ 7a, 8a as~d 9a ln tl~e aligl-1 ng unit~ 7 ~o
9, ~ shown in ~ig. 5 9 and ~he ~1ds edqes lb alld 2b can be
accu~ately allgned to be parallel to ~he center line C-C.
NAm~ly, ~hen ~he ~ido edge 2b of the ~ucceeding ~t~sl strlp
~ is brought lnto co~tact wi~h one o the oppo~l~e s1de reference
block 7b, the pullin~ ~o~ce of tha electrom~gnetic chuck 7~ giv2~
-
~L282~2~
-- 20
to the aucceedi~ teel n~rip 2 a rotatS on~l mom~nt about on0
r~ferancQ ~lock 7h ~ontacti n~ the side edg~ 2~, by ~hlch
rotAtlonal moment the side ed~e 2b of the ~ucceedln~ S~teel strip
2 i~ brouqht lnto con'cact Wl'ch th~ oppo~ite side reference bloc~s~
7b. A~ a re~ult, the ~lde edge 2b ~ 'ch~ uu~ceecling steel ~t~ip
~ le po~ltlonad parallel wlth tho cent~c llne C:-C. Wh0n ~ atrong
pullls~g orce i~ ~ub~quel~tly ex*rted to the succo~ding nt~ol
~trlp ~, a strain l~ liable to be g~rlerated in tho ~ide edqo 2b.
Howover, ~inca ~he magnetic forca iH ~d~ ted Wl'ch tho
electroma~netic chuck 7~ A!~ nocn ~ the ~ucceedlng st~el ~rip ~
~f; brc~ugl~t ~nto corltac:t, a ~lldi ng of the ~ucceedlng ~te~l ~trip
2 wl~h r~opec~ to th~ alec~ront~S~nQtlc chuclc 7~ ~ cau~ed. Thu~,
regardl~ of ~topp~ng t:he chucX 7a at a prope~ posl'clon, it le
po~si~lo to aliqn th~ ed~3e lb of th~ ~ucceeding ~teel ~trlp
without ganeration of any ~traln.
After each o ~he ste~l ~trip~ 1 and 2 has it~ OppOEli~Q ~nd
cU~ by the ~uttlng unit 5, the re~ul~ant ~?dgeE3 la and 2~ ~ra
~oint~d toq~3thsr by butt weldlng on the movablo tabl~ 13 under
the torch 6. For obte.ining a perfect ~utting o~ end edqe la an~
2a, At the ~idQ of the mov~ble table 1~, there 1E~ pro~sided a
roller 4~, whicl~ can be rai~ed and lowered by E~ v~rtic~l movement
cyllnder 45.. ~ h the provlslon of the roller 44 in th1s way, ~t:
c~opera~e~ wlth ~hQ pair electrom~gnatic ~:huck~ and lg on ~h~
movab~e tsble 13 to cause 'che trai~inq end ~dg~ 1A Of the
prec~dlng ~tee~ ~trip 1 to butt the le~d~n~ end edge 2a o the
~ucc~eding ~teel ~ ip 2 wlthout ~ny gap form~d betwe~n the two
ond ~dg~
A'ce.r the, prec~ding ~t~eL ~'cr1p 1 hA~ been ed by 'che pair
of plr~ch roller~ 3 and 4 and ~.tB ~ra~lln~ ~nd has been cut by ~
upper and lower blades SEI and 5b, the ~r.~p 1 1~ bro~l~ht to the
welding po~itlon, i . ~ ., the movablo table 13 ag B}10WII in Flg.
6~a~. On th~ movable tabli3 13, tl~e rez~ul~an~ end edg~ of th~
tr~ ng end of the pr~cedln~ ~teel ~crlp 1 1~ bro~ght lnto
regl~ter ~ith the ~orch running llne 6~, and the pracedlng ~tee1
strip 1 ie secur~d a~ th~ ~ po~ ion hy low~ring th~ ~acurement
~lamp pi~co 17 ~nd ~l~o by excltlng tho eleci;roma~n~ chuck 19,
A~ shown ln Fig. 6(b), th~reby magnetiz1n~ the end edge la o~ the
121!3Z1 21
2- --
~trip 1. Sub~squently, ~he ~u~ceeding 3teel ~trip 2 1~ ~ed by
tha palr of pinch roller~ 3 ~nd ~ up to the cuttlng po~itl~n El~
~hown in Fl~ 6(b). Then, the lsacling end of ~che succeedlhg
~teel strlp ~, like ~he tr~illng and of thel preseding ~eel ~trlp
1, i~ cu~ by tha upper and low~ blac~e~ S~ ~nd ~b wi~h ~he edg~
allgned ~see Fig. ~(b) ~, and th~n the scrap 1~ rbn~ov~d by the
ac:r~lp removAl unl~ 43 (see Flg. 6(c)). Subsequen'cly, ~h~
~ucceedlnq ~teeL ~trip 2 1~ ed to ~he dowl~stre~m ~lde by the
p~ir of pinch rollers 3 ~nd 4.
At this tlme, t:he roll~r ~4 1~ ralnQd when ik 1~ p~s~ed ~y
the lead~n~ end of the ~ucce~dlnq steel 3trip 2. ~ho roll~r 44
ls prov~ded At the upstr~a~n nlde of the torch 6 ~nd i8 ~d~lptRCi to
b~ ~a~ed ~p to a level correspond~ ny to the thlckne~ o~ ~he
te~1 ~tr~p~. For example, when the thlckne~ ~t3 abou~ 0.20 rnm,
th~ levdl i~ ad~u~3ted to ~bou~ 1 ~m. SincR the ~ucceed~ng ~te~l
~trip ~ ~ v~sry thln, e.g., 0.35 mm or 1e~38 ~n l~hlc~tne~, b~
ral~ins the rollor 44 th~ end edge 2a of the leadlnq ~nd 1
directod obl~qu~ly downwEIrd~ ~ BeO Fig . 5~d) ) . In thi~ te, the
~ucce~din~ ateel ~t~.p .2 i~ fed by the pair of pinch roll~r~ 3
~nd 4 ~ch thAt the end ~dq~ 2~ at th~ le~dlng end ~llde on the
movable tQble 13 toward the! end edge la, without rai~ing the ~nd
eclge 2a from ~h~ rface of ths Inovabl~ t~ble 13.
he aua~dlng r~ 1 ot~ip 2 i~ f~d in ~hi~ WA~ nd
edge 2~ of th~ succeedln~ el ~trip 2 ~lidin~l on th~ mov~ble
t~ble 13 approach~3 tho ~nd adge 1A o the tra~llng end of the
proc~ding ~te~ ip l as ~hown ~n Fig. 6(d). ~inc~ ~h~ trailing
end o the prece~ding ~t~el ~tr~p 1 h~ be~n magnetl~ed by th~
aL~ctroma~n~tic chuck l9 ~8 no~ced above, the end edge 2a 1 e
a~trQcted by the end edg~ of precedln~ E~tr~p 1, ~nd perfe~t
clo~o contac~ bR~ween the two end cdge~ 1~ and 2R can be
obtAlnod. More ç~peclE~c~lly, Elince ~he end ~?dge 1a of thn
traillng end o~ th~ preceding Dt:eel t~trlp 1 ha~ been maqnetl~ed by
the elec:~romA~netic c2 uck l9, the approachlllg end adge 2~ of the
leadlng end of ~he ~ucceeding ~teel strlp 2 i~ atrongly at~racted
in ~ downwarc~ly dlrected atate, ~o that it i~ po~lble to vbt~ln
~ parfect butSin~ wltho~t ~ub~tantial gap ~ormecl be~ween the two
, ,,~, ,',1,~
282~2
- 2Z -
~nd 6dg~ 1A ~nd 2~. Af ter the completlon of the buttlng, th~
roll~r ~4 io lowered. Th~n, the ~ucceedin~ steel strip 2 ha~ ~t0
rea~ 8~hCO attrRcted by the ot~er el~ctromagnetlc chuclc 18, and
lt~ front ~u~ace cla~ped by the 8ecutement clamp l& (~ee ~lg.
6(e) ), l`h~eaft~r, ~h~ ~orch ~unning lln~ ~ and bu~ing l~ne
nre brou~ht lnto ragi~t~r by cau~ing paraLl~l mov~m~llt And
revolutlon ot th~ movable tabla 13 wlth two enl~r~em~nt utllt~ 3~.
~n thl~ ~at~, th~ ~nd edge~ la, 2R ar~ b~tt-welded tog~ther by
drlv~ng th~ torch ~.
N~m~ly, wllen butting t~ro ~nd edga~ 1A ~nd 2~ fo~med by
cuttln~ OppO8~ te ~nd~ o~ pr~cedlny And ~c;eeding ste~ trlp:~ 1
and 2, it 12~ aom8tln~e~ thAt the two ~nd edge~ la ar~d 2~
o not flu~h but are stapp~d. E3ven ~n t~ Ctl8~ IIC~ tWo
r~mngnetic chuck~ 18 and 19 are p~ovlded on~ tho mova~l~
table 13 on the oppot3:Lta ~ide~ of the back bar 15 rlgh~
nd~rnoath the ~orch 6 and the securem~nt clamp 1~ 18 pro~ded
fo~ vortlc~l mov~ment on th~ oth~r electromaç1notlc chuck 1~
i~ po3slbl~3 to ccsrrec'c Any bendlnq ar warp~ ns~ of the nucc~eding
s'c~el ~'crlp 2 and thus removo ~ny ~ep by energlzing ~che other
~lectromagn~tic chuck la.
In the abova example, a l~her beam weldlng torch 18 used ac
~he torch 6. As the la~er be~m weld~ng torch, the~ ~ave been
d~velopod v~riou~ torches different with ~lferent powe~ sources.
Usually, cArbonlc acid ga~ la~er beAm weldlng ~o~che~3 Are u~ed,
bu~ Al80 la~or ~eam ~aldlnq torche~ uging iocllne l~ar~ or th~
like a~ powor ~Yourco m~y~ be u~
Wher~ the torch 6 i~ construc~ed a~ 8 l~ler b~am weldlng
tor~h for cut!clng and weld~ng s~ t~ip~ ~ith ~ thlckne~s o~
~bout 0.1 mm, th~re~ no noe~ of providlrlg th~ cut:~c.tng unlt 5
con~iotlng o the upper And lower blade~ 5a an~ Sb up~ream ~h~
torc~ 6. In other w~rd~, it i~ po~ible to con~ruct
cuttet/w~lder a~ p~rt o~ a continuous processing lin~ a~ ehown ln
Elg~. 7 and ~. ~n thi~ cutter/~lder, thn facillg e~ds of th~ two
~tael ~trlp~ l and 2 are c~ and fu3~0~ separat~d by the torch 6,
and then the ~ut end gurf~cen 1~ and 2~ of the ~wo ~teel ~trlps 1
~nd 2 are cau~ed ~o Abut each other and then weldad. rn th~
ca0e, the cutting by the ~u~ion ~ep~ra~ion and ~utt welding ar~
~2~32~
- 23 -
done by the torch 6. Therefore, whlle the construction ~ho~ in
Fl~. 1 h~s ~hree ~llgn~ng unit~ 7, 8 ~nd 9, tha con~tructlon
shown 1r~ F1ç1. 7 ~ onLy two allqn~ng unit~ 8 and 9. Al~o, tho
movable ~ab1e 13 shown ln Flg. 7 1~ provlded with a fu0l~n
~epf~r~tion g~oove 46 in ~ddi tlon to th~ b~ck bar 15 . E'o~ th*
ra~t, the con~tructlon i~ the aam~ a~ that ~hown in Flg. 1.
In ~ig. 7, tho precedln~ ~teel str1p. 1 whlc~- ha~ been ~ed ~y
ULs palr of , 1 . e., upper and lower, plnch ~oller~ provld~d on th~
up~trc~m slde and movable clamp 10 provlded on the dowh~tr~m
rl~de, ia f~d up to the movable tabl~ 13 undernn~th the torch 6.
This movsb1~ table 13, llke the movsbl~ t2ble ~hown ln Figs.
~nd 2, ~ cap~ble of p~rnllel movement in ~ dlrectlon of th~
center 1~ne C-C in the continuou~ proce~s~n~ e (~ee Elg. 8)
and r~volLItion by the ~e~volving table 20 ~bo~t tho re~olvlr,g
~ection 21. Thus, the s1de ec~e lb o the precedlng ~t~al ~tr~p
a FiS~ mqde pa~allel to the center l~ne C-C by the
al1gn1ng unlt 9, and ln thi~ ~t~te the trailin~ end i~ cut on the
~us10n separaSlon groove 46 by fu~ion ~eparation by the ~orch ~,
Subae~uently, the precedlng ~teel strlp 1 i~ fed ~y
predetermin~d dlatance by the down~tr~am side movable clamp 10.
The succeedlng ~tael ~tr~p 2 i8 ~180 Eed ~y the pAir of pinch
r~ller~ 3 and 4 ilp to th~3 po~ tlon of the u~ion sep~rAt10n
groove 46 of tha movable 13. Then, ~ in the ca~a of 'che
precedin~ ateel a~rip 1 ~h9 s~de edge 2b ~3ee Fi~T. 8) i~ made
p~rallel to the cent er llne C-C by ~he aligt~ihq unit ~, ~nd ~ho
end i8 cut by ~ho ~rch 6. ~he cut end ~dge~ 1a and 2d 0~ the
prec~d~ng and su~;;e~dlng ~teeL ~t~lp~3 1 qnd ~ are th~n cAu~ed to
~but ~ach o'che~ on th~ ~ac1t bat 15 ln the manner ~ descrlbed
~bove ~ncl then weldod by ~hc torch ~.
Mor~s spæci~lcally, th~ torch ~ offectE~ cutt1nq of 'che slclslg
end~ of tl~s two a~el 13~crip~ 1 by fu~ion ~eparatlon ancl butt
woldlng o~ the- cut ~urface~ 1A and ~a. ~he mo-~able t~bl~ 13 h~D~
the fu~lon ~pAra~ion groove 46 and bsck bar lS provided ln the
mentloned order f~om ~he up3tre~m sid~, and 11ke tlle ar~n~ment
o Flg. 1 elec~crohlagne~ic chuck~ 18 ~nd 1~ are provided on the
oppoeite ~ld~a o tl~e back bar 15.
- 24 -
Thus as shown in Fig. 8, after the side edges lb and 2b of
the preceding and succeeding steel strips 1 and 2 have been aliyned
by the aligniny units 9 and 8, the ends of the steel stxips are cut
by fusion separation on the fusion separation groove 46 by the torch
6. When butting the cut end surface, the trailing end o~ the
preceding steel strip 1 is fed to a position on the ~ack bar 15, and
the end edges la as the butting surface to be butted is brought into
register with the torch running line 6a and then secured and
magnetized by the electromagnetic chuck l9. In this state, the cut
lo end surface 2a at the leading end of the succeeding steel strip 2
is caused to approach the end edge la. As a result, the end edge
2a is attracted so that it is reliably caused to butt the end edge
la.
The aligning units 8 and 9, as shown in Fig. 8 consist of
respective electromagnetic chucks 8a and 9a and reference blocks 8b
and 9b. The electromagnetic chucks 8a and 9a and reference blocks
8b and 9b are movable by extension/contraction devices 8c and 9c in
a direction perpendicular to the center line C-C of t.he continuous
processing line. Thus, when the facing ends of the preceding and
succeeding steel strips 1 and 2 are cut by fusion separation by the
torch 6, the aligning units 9 and 8 are used, and when ef~ecting the
abutting on the back bar 15 prior to the welding, the aligning units
9 and 8 are used respectively for the respective preceding and
succeeding steel strips 1 and 2.
The cutting and welding as described above are suited for
steel strips with thickness ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 mm, and
particularly for silicon steel strips. The reason for this is that
steel strips with thicknesses less than 0.05 mm are difficult to be
- 24a -
cut either by shearing, fusion separation, grinding, etc. while
steel strips with thickness of 1.0 mm or above may be cut and welded
in the prior art process, i.e., without need of using the present
invention.
As has been descr;bed in the ~oregoing, the method and
apparatus for cutting and welding steel strips acaording to the
invention are very effective when joining together facing ends o~
preceding and succeeding steel strips for permitting a continuous
rollinq or other processinq or when joini~
/
/
~ 2~ -
ætael strlp~ or the like b~ weld~nq beore ~upplylng 'chem ~s ~
product ~o the cu~tom~r, pa~'clcularly for th~ purpose whlch
welght a~ ~quired by tha customer. In these caso8, at the ti~ne
o c~ ln~l cau3in~ the abuttlng ~nd weldinq steel 3~rlp~ th~
end~ o th~ ~teel ~trlp~ are ~ut ~r caused to ab-it wl~h hlgh
~ccur~cy by m~kln~ th~ c~nter line o the s~cel ~lp~ ~o be ln
r~ tor or parallel wi~h thel centet l~ne of th~ pro(,eE~nln~ l~ne.
Thu~, lt i~ po~ible to obtai~ high qu~lity w~ldment.
F~lrt~er, s~nce even wlth steeL st~p~ of about 0.1 mm, for
~n~cance, h~h ~ccurAcy abuttln~ cAn be ~b~Alned, i~ i8 po~lbl~
to obtel~n hlqh p~rformn~ce laa~r beAm weldln~. Furthelr, when the
high per~orm~nc~ la~er beAm w~ldln~ i~ applled, th~ ~oinad ~eel
8'C~ip c~n be wouhd lnto the form of a co~l withou~ any 1aw
form~d eve~ lf the weld ls not removed. Thu~, the invention l~
vary efecti~ for the ~ining o sll1con ste~ rlp~ ~y
weldl ng .
:
