A flexible conversion method of a reversible rolling mill having at least one rolling stand erected on first civil works foundations and a first production capacity, into an upgraded rolling mill having more than one rolling stand and a second production capacity, the second production capacity being higher than the first production capacity, the reversible rolling mill including: an uncoiling device or pay-off reel and a first recoiling device or entry tension reel on a first side or entry side of the stand; a second recoiling device or delivery tension reel on a second side or delivery side of the stand; standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill, the standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill including mainly or at least a roll coolant tank, pumps, filters, heat exchangers and piping.

A flexible conversion method of a reversible rolling mill having at least one rolling stand erected on first civil works foundations and a first production capacity, into an upgraded rolling mill having more than one rolling stand and a second production capacity, the second production capacity being higher than the first production capacity, the reversible rolling mill including: an uncoiling device or pay-off reel and a first recoiling device or entry tension reel on a first side or entry side of the stand; a second recoiling device or delivery tension reel on a second side or delivery side of the stand; standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill, the standard auxiliary and operation equipment necessary for normal operation and control of the reversible rolling mill including mainly or at least a roll coolant tank, pumps, filters, heat exchangers and piping.

During stabilization of a metal band (1) on a roller path (2), the band (1) is to be only minimally cooled via the stabilisation. A device for that includes multiple protective runners (3), each oriented in the conveyor direction (R), for guiding the band (1), wherein the protective runners (3) are arranged above the roller path (2) and the protective runners (3) are at a distance from one another in a width direction (B) of the band (1). Multiple rows (4) of nozzles are arranged in the conveyor direction (R) or in the width direction (B) of the band. Each row (4) of nozzles includes multiple nozzles (5). The nozzles (5) are set back in relation to an underside of the protective runners (3), such that an arched band (1) cannot come into contact with the nozzles (5). A compressed air supply (6) and a network of tubes or pipelines (7) supply the nozzles (5) with compressed air, wherein the nozzles (5) apply compressed air to the upper side of the band (1) in order to stabilize the movement of the band (1) on the roller path (2).

During stabilization of a metal band (1) on a roller path (2), the band (1) is to be only minimally cooled via the stabilisation. A device for that includes multiple protective runners (3), each oriented in the conveyor direction (R), for guiding the band (1), wherein the protective runners (3) are arranged above the roller path (2) and the protective runners (3) are at a distance from one another in a width direction (B) of the band (1). Multiple rows (4) of nozzles are arranged in the conveyor direction (R) or in the width direction (B) of the band. Each row (4) of nozzles includes multiple nozzles (5). The nozzles (5) are set back in relation to an underside of the protective runners (3), such that an arched band (1) cannot come into contact with the nozzles (5). A compressed air supply (6) and a network of tubes or pipelines (7) supply the nozzles (5) with compressed air, wherein the nozzles (5) apply compressed air to the upper side of the band (1) in order to stabilize the movement of the band (1) on the roller path (2).

During stabilization of a metal band (1) on a roller path (2), the band (1) is to be only minimally cooled via the stabilisation. A device for that includes multiple protective runners (3), each oriented in the conveyor direction (R), for guiding the band (1), wherein the protective runners (3) are arranged above the roller path (2) and the protective runners (3) are at a distance from one another in a width direction (B) of the band (1). Multiple rows (4) of nozzles are arranged in the conveyor direction (R) or in the width direction (B) of the band. Each row (4) of nozzles includes multiple nozzles (5). The nozzles (5) are set back in relation to an underside of the protective runners (3), such that an arched band (1) cannot come into contact with the nozzles (5). A compressed air supply (6) and a network of tubes or pipelines (7) supply the nozzles (5) with compressed air, wherein the nozzles (5) apply compressed air to the upper side of the band (1) in order to stabilize the movement of the band (1) on the roller path (2).

During stabilization of a metal band (1) on a roller path (2), the band (1) is to be only minimally cooled via the stabilisation. A device for that includes multiple protective runners (3), each oriented in the conveyor direction (R), for guiding the band (1), wherein the protective runners (3) are arranged above the roller path (2) and the protective runners (3) are at a distance from one another in a width direction (B) of the band (1). Multiple rows (4) of nozzles are arranged in the conveyor direction (R) or in the width direction (B) of the band. Each row (4) of nozzles includes multiple nozzles (5). The nozzles (5) are set back in relation to an underside of the protective runners (3), such that an arched band (1) cannot come into contact with the nozzles (5). A compressed air supply (6) and a network of tubes or pipelines (7) supply the nozzles (5) with compressed air, wherein the nozzles (5) apply compressed air to the upper side of the band (1) in order to stabilize the movement of the band (1) on the roller path (2).

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).

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.