Bending Levitation Control for Flexible Steel Plate

Fundamental Consideration on Effective Levitation Angle

Abstract

　In the transport system of a thin steel plate production line, the quality of the plate surface deteriorates over time because of contact with rollers. However, when a flexible thin steel plate is targeted for levitation, levitation control becomes difficult because the thin plate undergoes increased flexure. To solve this problem, we propose a levitation of a flexible thin steel plate that is bent to an extent which does not induce plastic deformation. In this paper, to elucidate the bending levitation performance, ultrathin steel plate with a thickness of 0.18 mm is levitated and the relationship between tilt angle of electromagnets, standard deviation of displacement and levitation probability is evaluated. Furthermore, shape of steel plate is analyzed using finite difference method and effective levitation angle is estimated. As a result, when levitating thin steel plate at the optimal tilt angle of electromagnets attained by finite difference method, desirable levitation performance can be achieved.