Roller table apparatus (200; 300) for transporting a metallic product (P) to or from a mill stand, includes: first and second rolls (202a, 202b; 302a, 302b), outboard ends of the rolls are supported by respective outboard bearings and inboard ends of the rolls are supported by respective inboard bearings, such that each of the rolls is rotatable about its longitudinal axis (X1, X2); and at least one adjuster (216; 316a, 316b), movable in use to displace at least one end of the rolls or the respective bearings of the roll so as to adjust an angle () of inclination of each of the longitudinal axes of the rolls with respect to a datum (D), thereby to adjust a pass-line height (h1, h2) of the product relative to the datum.

Roller table apparatus (200; 300) for transporting a metallic product (P) to or from a mill stand, includes: first and second rolls (202a, 202b; 302a, 302b), outboard ends of the rolls are supported by respective outboard bearings and inboard ends of the rolls are supported by respective inboard bearings, such that each of the rolls is rotatable about its longitudinal axis (X1, X2); and at least one adjuster (216; 316a, 316b), movable in use to displace at least one end of the rolls or the respective bearings of the roll so as to adjust an angle () of inclination of each of the longitudinal axes of the rolls with respect to a datum (D), thereby to adjust a pass-line height (h1, h2) of the product relative to the datum.

A cooling section for a flat rolled material (1) has a frame structure (2), in which a plurality of transport rollers (3) for the flat rolled material (1) are arranged one after another transversely to a transport direction (x) and spaced apart (a). Each transport roller (3) mounted in the frame structure (2) rotates about a respective roller axis (4). The roller axes (4) run orthogonally to the transport direction (x) and horizontally, so that the transport rollers (4) form a pass line (5) for the flat rolled material (1). At least one lower spray bar (6) arranged beneath the pass line (5) has a base block (7) beneath the transport rollers (3) for a liquid coolant (8). Guide sections (9) project upwards from the base block (7) into spaces between the transport rollers (3). Each guide section (9) has an upper terminating element (10) on which spray nozzles (11) are arranged, which feed the coolant (8), which had been fed into the base block (7), to be sprayed onto the flat rolled material (1) from below. The guide sections (9) have a respective length (1) in the transport direction (x) of the flat rolled material (1). That length (1) decreases at least in the vicinity of the respective upper terminating elements (10), in the direction of the respective upper terminating element (10).

A cooling section for a flat rolled material (1) has a frame structure (2), in which a plurality of transport rollers (3) for the flat rolled material (1) are arranged one after another transversely to a transport direction (x) and spaced apart (a). Each transport roller (3) mounted in the frame structure (2) rotates about a respective roller axis (4). The roller axes (4) run orthogonally to the transport direction (x) and horizontally, so that the transport rollers (4) form a pass line (5) for the flat rolled material (1). At least one lower spray bar (6) arranged beneath the pass line (5) has a base block (7) beneath the transport rollers (3) for a liquid coolant (8). Guide sections (9) project upwards from the base block (7) into spaces between the transport rollers (3). Each guide section (9) has an upper terminating element (10) on which spray nozzles (11) are arranged, which feed the coolant (8), which had been fed into the base block (7), to be sprayed onto the flat rolled material (1) from below. The guide sections (9) have a respective length (1) in the transport direction (x) of the flat rolled material (1). That length (1) decreases at least in the vicinity of the respective upper terminating elements (10), in the direction of the respective upper terminating element (10).

A mechanism for use in adjusting the position of components in a machine including an elongate shaft assembly, at least one projection shaft extending in a direction transverse to said elongate shaft assembly, and a support frame. The elongate shaft assembly includes at least one primary shaft segment, and at least one secondary shaft segment removably coupled to the primary shaft segment, the secondary shaft segment includes a first gear. The projection shaft extends in a direction transverse to the elongate shaft assembly and includes a second gear element disposed on its proximal end portion. The second gear element is coupled to the first gear element whereby rotation of the elongate shaft assembly translates into rotation of the projection shaft. The projection shaft is capable of being coupled to the components such that rotation of the projection shaft operates to adjust the position of the components.

A mechanism for use in adjusting the position of components in a machine including an elongate shaft assembly, at least one projection shaft extending in a direction transverse to said elongate shaft assembly, and a support frame. The elongate shaft assembly includes at least one primary shaft segment, and at least one secondary shaft segment removably coupled to the primary shaft segment, the secondary shaft segment includes a first gear. The projection shaft extends in a direction transverse to the elongate shaft assembly and includes a second gear element disposed on its proximal end portion. The second gear element is coupled to the first gear element whereby rotation of the elongate shaft assembly translates into rotation of the projection shaft. The projection shaft is capable of being coupled to the components such that rotation of the projection shaft operates to adjust the position of the components.

A method for reducing the strip tension of a rolling stock, may include: transporting the rolling stock using a roller table between two successive rolling units, wherein a rolling stock loop is formed in a depression in a section of the roller table between the two rolling units, the rolling stock loop being supported by the roller table at least in one off-center portion of the section, wherein the supporting line of the roller table in this portion corresponds to the catenary curve of the free span; measuring a loop depth of the rolling stock loop; calculating a desired value of the loop depth that corresponds substantially to the free span, e.g., depending on the material, thickness and temperature of the rolling stock; controlling the main drives and/or the gap adjustment of the rolling units based on the desired value and the measured loop depth, such that the loop depth substantially corresponds to the desired value.

A method for reducing the strip tension of a rolling stock, may include: transporting the rolling stock using a roller table between two successive rolling units, wherein a rolling stock loop is formed in a depression in a section of the roller table between the two rolling units, the rolling stock loop being supported by the roller table at least in one off-center portion of the section, wherein the supporting line of the roller table in this portion corresponds to the catenary curve of the free span; measuring a loop depth of the rolling stock loop; calculating a desired value of the loop depth that corresponds substantially to the free span, e.g., depending on the material, thickness and temperature of the rolling stock; controlling the main drives and/or the gap adjustment of the rolling units based on the desired value and the measured loop depth, such that the loop depth substantially corresponds to the desired value.

A plurality of flat metal items to be rolled (3) are fed to a plurality of rolling stands (1, 2) of a rolling installation, one after the other over a feed path (4). The items (3) are rolled by the rolling stands (1, 2) past which they are fed. In the rolling stands (1, 2), the flat item to be rolled (3) is first rough-rolled in at least one roughing pass with a wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) and then finish-rolled in finishing passes. After the finish-rolling of the flat item, a thickness taper (dd) that is present in the respective finish-rolled flat item is recorded by measuring instruments. The thickness taper (dd) is compared with a target taper (dZ). On the basis of a deviation of the thickness taper (dd) from the target taper (dZ) and the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds), a new wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) is determined for the at least one roughing pass. The wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) for the at least one roughing pass for the next flat item to be rolled (3) is set to correspond to the newly determined value of the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds), so that the next flat item to be rolled (3) is rough-rolled in the at least one roughing pass with the newly determined value of the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds).

A plurality of flat metal items to be rolled (3) are fed to a plurality of rolling stands (1, 2) of a rolling installation, one after the other over a feed path (4). The items (3) are rolled by the rolling stands (1, 2) past which they are fed. In the rolling stands (1, 2), the flat item to be rolled (3) is first rough-rolled in at least one roughing pass with a wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) and then finish-rolled in finishing passes. After the finish-rolling of the flat item, a thickness taper (dd) that is present in the respective finish-rolled flat item is recorded by measuring instruments. The thickness taper (dd) is compared with a target taper (dZ). On the basis of a deviation of the thickness taper (dd) from the target taper (dZ) and the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds), a new wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) is determined for the at least one roughing pass. The wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds) for the at least one roughing pass for the next flat item to be rolled (3) is set to correspond to the newly determined value of the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds), so that the next flat item to be rolled (3) is rough-rolled in the at least one roughing pass with the newly determined value of the wedge-type roll gap adjustment (ds).