FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a guide centering device for any mill line in industry
such as for strip rolling in rolling mills. More particularly, the present invention is
directed to a simple, cost effective and user friendly manually operated system for
adjusting the rolling mill horizontal guides for strips and the like so that the center of
mill line and the center of any width of steel strip being rolled can be merged based
on indicator/pointer position on a fixed graduated scale, with desired accuracy and
precision so as to avoid coil side tracking or throwing out.
BACKGROUND ART
In any process line in Steel Industry, there are different 'Guides' to guide the
strip/slabs. In other words, any industry producing flat products, essentially need
Guides to move the product in desired direction on rolling lines. In Pickling line of
cold rolling mills (CRM) also, guides are used at different positions depending on
requirement and design. Each guide is conventionally supported by a position
indicator mechanism so that any operator is able to know the exact width of strip for
which the line is running. Width indicator or position indicator serves as an indicator
device as well as having essential feature of guide position adjustment. Guides in
these Mills is connected to a meter also which indicates the position of the strip in
relation to mill line. Guides may be horizontal and/or vertical. Movement of
horizontal guides and vertical guides depend upon the movement of Central lead
screw which the operator can operate by close/open command which will rotate the
motor of lead screw and eventually the guides move. To have a proper feed back
system of the desired and actual movements, indicator/measurement device is there
which is in general a costly digital device. In these conventional systems, failure of
any indicator instrument leads to coil side tracking, doubling in coil or coil being
thrown out. Replacement of electronic components and spares for the digital
indicator/measurement device and systems are also difficult due to unavailability and
time consuming. There is also the consequent loss of production, interruption in pipe
line and blockage of material and also loss of vital manhours.

There has been thus a need in the art to providing a simple, cost effective yet
reliable system for guide centering in strip rolling line which would indicate the width
of strip vis-vis the position of guide so that the centering of guides with respect to
the center of mill line can be readily adjusted by operator without causing any
interruption in production or avoid defect in product quality.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the present invention is directed to providing a simple, low cost
yet reliable guide centering system for any strip rolling mill line such as including a
pickling line in CRM which would involve simple hardware/gadgets and spares to
ensure easy availability, installation and maintenance as well as simple indication
and guide adjusting feature ensuring long trouble free service life without
interruption in production.
A further object of the present invention is directed to providing a guide centering
system for any strip rolling mill line which would serve all the functions of
conventional digital indicator device in a reliable manner.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a guide
centering system for any strip rolling mill line which would favour minimum
positioning time.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a gu de
centering system for any strip rolling mill line which would favour increased
productivity and reduced overheadcosts.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a gu de
centering system for any strip rolling mill line which would ensure safe and operator
friendly working environment.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a guide
centering system for any strip rolling mill line which would ensure uninterrupted flow
of materials without causing any blockage in pipe line.

A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing a guide
centering system for any strip rolling mill line which would help increasing the life of
gearboxes, rolls and pedestal in the rolling mill line by ensuring smooth operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basic aspect of the present invention is thus directed to a guide centering device
for any line /mill in any industry comprises
a stationary platform selectively disposed to indicate graduation marked
thereon representing different widths of strips for processing in said mill/line
in relation to center line of any mill/ line, and a guide having cooperative
movement in relation to said center line and graduation on said stationary
platform for determining suitable width;
indicator means with respect to said guide adapted for contactless
indications on said plate whereby the position of the indicator in said guide
is indicative of the position of any strip width in relation to center line of mill
and thus the width for running the line/mill for desired operations.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to said guide centering device
wherein said graduations on said stationary platform are marked on a plate fixed to
the stationary platform and a rod means is attached to said guide for indicating the
position of the guide on said graduation plate.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a guide centering device
comprising of said steel plate of selective size with graduation marked thereon
representing different widths of strips being processed in relation to center line of
any mill line, fixed on a stationary platform;
a steel rod of selective size fixed on the vertical arm of the side guide serving
as an indicator/pointer of position of any strip width in relation to center line
of mill;

means to horizontally adjust the side guide to match the centre of the strip
width with the mill centre line.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a guide centering device,
wherein said steel plate is preferably having dimensions with graduations marked
thereon to indicate width of strip ranging from 870mm to 1820mm with respect to
center line of said mill line.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a guide centering device
wherein marking is being done on the scale in said fixed plate form on the operation
side of it, which is in accordance to the centre line of the mill line.
Also in said guide centering device said stationary platform can be in horizontal or
vertical orientation to suit application to both horizontal as well as vertical centering
guide.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for installing
said guide centering device comprising the steps of
(i) Taking a steel plate of suitable size preferably 1ft by 4ft;
(ii) Finding out the center line of said mill line, where the device is to be
installed ;
(iii) fixing said plate on a stationary platform at a suitable fixed distance from
the center line;
(iv) marking graduations on said fixed plate for different widths of strips to be
handled in the said mill line in relation to center of mill line;
(v) fixing a pointer/indicator means which is a steel rod of suitable diameter
and length, on vertical arm of side guide maintaining suitable clearance
with the scale;
(vi) guide is adjusted depending on indicator position on scale to indicate a
particular width of strip, so as to match the centerline of strip width with
mill center line, for smooth operation of mill, avoiding coil side tracking,
doubling or throwing out etc.

The objects and advantages of the present invention are described in greater
details with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 1: shows the existing width position indicator and guide centering system
involving Electrically Latched dual motor generator system.
Figure 2: illustrates an embodiment of the guide centering device according to the
present invention installed in a mill line.
Figure 3: is the flow diagram showing the steps involved in installation of the guide
centering device according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The present invention is directed to providing a simple and low cost, easy to install
and maintain guide centering system for strip rolling mill line. For trouble free
operation of strip rolling in any mill line in CRM, the objective is to determine the
centerline of the mill line and provide means to indicate position of strip in mill line
so that any width's center can be matched with mill's centre line by adjusting the
horizontal guides.
In existing type old Russian system, selsync positioning indicator was invariably used
in line/mill which is Electrically Latched dual motor generator system , and wherein
the movement of any guide is used to generate a voltage which is being transmitted
to have a moving action. The existing width position indicator and guide centering
system is shown in accompanying Figure 1. Such systems suffer from the difficulty
of frequent failure of electronic components involving a digital device as well as loss
of production and prolonged downtime due to unavailability of spares.
A very simple mechanism is provided by way of the present invention for
implementation of the guide centering in mill line compatible with any strip width

being processed. Accompanying Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the guide
centering device according to the present invention. It may be clearly identified in
the Figure 2, that a steel plate of desired size is fixed at a stationary platform and
graduation is marked on it to correspond to different width of strip. Another
cylindrical rod is attached to the guide mechanism as a pointer to indicate width on
said plate with scale marking on it. Care is taken that the movement of rod should
be contactless on the plate. As we know, every line or mill has got its own centre
line. The strip center for any width should match with this centerline. Graduation is
done on the plate which in turn is fixed on the platform. Depending upon the position
of any guide in relation to the width of strip being processed, it will indicate the
position.
The present device is easy to fabricate and operate, and it is accurate enough that: to
measure a difference as low as 1mm. A fix plate form preferably having the
dimension 1 ft x4 ft is taken and on the operation side of it, marking is being done
to indicate position of strip width on scale ; which is in accordance to the centre line
of the line/mill. One 10mm rod is used for making a pointer to indicate position on
scale. So for any width which ranges from 870mm to 1820mm, there is graduation
on scale and operator has to put their guide according to the position indicated by
pointer. The pointer/indicator should be firm/rigid free of any deflection/deviation.
Accompanying Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the steps involved in
implementation of the guide centering system for strip rolling mill line according to
the present invention. The method of implementing such a system comprises the
steps of:
(i) a steel plate of suitable size is taken;
(ii) next the center line of any mill line where the device is to be installed is
found out;
(iii) the said plate is then fixed on a platform at a suitable fixed distance from
the center line;
(iv) graduation is then done on the fixed plate for different widths of strips to
be handled in the said mill line;
(v) a pointer which is a steel rod of suitable diameter and length is fixed on
vertical arm of side guide maintaining suitable clearance with the scale;

(vi) guide is adjusted depending in indicator position on scale to indicate a
particular width of strip, so as to match the centerline of strip width with
mill center line, for smooth operation of mill, avoiding coil side tracking,
doubling or throwing out.
It is thus possible by way of the present invention to providing a simple and low cost
guide centering system for strip rolling mill line capable of ensuring following
advantages:
a) Very easy to fabricate using spare/unused material.
b) Very low cost involved.
c) Satisfactory performance while tested in Pickling line- I guide of C.R.M
d) The system can be designed depending on the width of strip.
e) It can be designed for any guide.
f) Minimum positioning time.
g) Increase in productivity.
h) Decrease in Overhead Cost.
i) No generation of HRPD due to Guide.
j) Ensure Safe and healthy working area.
k) Uninterrupted material supply and no blockage in pipe line.
I) Life of gear box, rolls and pedestal is increased.

We Claim:
1. A guide centering device for any line /mill in any industry comprising
a stationary platform selectively disposed to indicate graduation marked
thereon representing different widths of strips for processing in said mill/line
in relation to center line of any mill/ line, and a guide having cooperative
movement in relation to said center line and graduation on said stationary
platform for determining suitable width;
indicator means with respect to said guide adapted for contactless
indications on said plate whereby the position of the indicator in said guide
is indicative of the position of any strip width in relation to center line of mill
and thus the width for running the line/mill for desired operations.
2. A guide centering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said graduations on said
stationary platform are marked on a plate fixed to the stationary platform and a rod
means is attached to said guide for indicating the position of the guide on said
graduation plate.
3.A guide centering device as claimed in anyone of claim 1 or 2 comprising of said
steel plate of selective size with graduation marked thereon representing different
widths of strips being processed in relation to center line of any mill line, fixed on a
stationary platform;
a steel rod of selective size fixed on the vertical arm of the side guide serving
as an indicator/pointer of position of any strip width in relation to center line
of mill;
means to horizontally adjust the side guide to match the centre of the strip
width with the mill centre line.
4. A guide centering device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said
steel plate is preferably having dimensions with graduations marked thereon to
indicate width of strip ranging from 870mm to 1820mm with respect to center line of
said mill line.

5. A guide centering device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein marking is
being done on the scale in said fixed plate form on the operation side of it, which is
in accordance to the centre line of the mill line.
6. A guide centering device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein said
stationary platform can be horizontal or vertical.
7. A method for installing said guide centering device as claimed in claims 1 to 6
comprising the steps of
(vii) Taking a steel plate of suitable size preferably 1ft by 4ft;
(viii) Finding out the center line of said mill line, where the device is to be
installed ;
(ix) fixing said plate on a stationary platform at a suitable fixed distance from
the center line;
(x) marking graduations on said fixed plate for different widths of strips to be
handled in the said mill line in relation to center of mill line;
(xi) fixing a pointer/indicator means which is a steel rod of suitable diameter
and length, on vertical arm of side guide maintaining suitable clearance
with the scale;
(xii) guide is adjusted depending on indicator position on scale to indicate a
particular width of strip, so as to match the centerline of strip width with
mill center line, for smooth operation of mill, avoiding coil side tracking,
doubling or throwing out etc.
8. A guide centering system for different strip widths in rolling mill lines and a
method for installing such centering substantially as hereindescribed with reference
to the accompanying figures.

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a guide centering device for any mill line in industry
such as for strip processing in rolling/pickling lines. More particularly, the present
invention is directed to a simple, cost effective and user friendly manually operated
system for adjusting the side guides for strips/slabs and the like so that the center of
mill line and the center of a range of widths of steel strip being processed can
coincide based on indicator/pointer position on a fixed graduated scale/plate, with
desired accuracy and precision so as to avoid coil side tracking or throwing out and
resultant mill downtime, reducing wastage and improving productivity.