Roll-changing device for changing the working and/or intermediate rolls of a rolling mill stand

Abstract

A roll-changing device (1) for changing the working and/or intermediate rolls (2) of a rolling mill stand includes a roll-changing carriage (3), with which rolls (2) to be changed out or in can be transported. In order to further develop such a roll-changing device in such a way that it is possible to ensure simplified and safe loading and unloading of a roll-changing carriage, the roll-changing device (1) includes a cartridge (4) that can be detachably arranged in the roll-changing carriage (3). The cartridge (4) is provided with receiving spaces (5) for the rolls (2).

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A roll-changing device (1) for changing working and/or intermediate rolls (2) of a rolling mill stand, comprising: a roll-changing carriage (3), with which the rolls (2) to be changed out or in can be transported; and a cartridge (4), comprising a base body (7) including receiving spaces (5) for the rolls (2), and a crane crossbeam (8), which can be detachably connected to the base body (7), wherein the cartridge (4) can be detachably arranged in the roll-changing carriage (3), wherein the cartridge (4) is fitted with a load attachment (6) for engaging a crane hook.

12. The roll-changing device according to claim 11, wherein the receiving spaces (5) for the rolls (2) are arranged one above another.

13. The roll-changing device according to claim 11, wherein the crane crossbeam (8) is fitted with the load attachment (6) for engaging the crane hook.

14. The roll-changing device according to claim 11, wherein the crane crossbeam (8) surrounds the base body (7) at least on part of outer sides (9) of the base body (7) when the base body (7) and the crane crossbeam (8) are connected to one another.

15. The roll-changing device according to claim 14, wherein the crane crossbeam (8) includes a number of vertically extending columns (10, 11, 12).

16. The roll-changing device according to claim 15, wherein the crane crossbeam (8) has between four and eight vertically extending columns (10, 11, 12).

17. The roll-changing device according to claim 15, wherein the crane crossbeam (8) has six vertically extending columns (10, 11, 12).

18. The roll-changing device according to claim 15, wherein the base body (7) has a longitudinal extension (L) that corresponds to an axis of the rolls (2), wherein at least one of the vertically extending columns (10, 12) is arranged in each axial end region (13, 14) of the base body (7) in relation to the longitudinal extension (L) when the base body (7) and the crane crossbeam (8) are connected to one another.

19. A cold or hot flat rolling mill comprising the roll-changing device according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following are shown:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a roll-changing device for changing the working and/or intermediate rolls of a rolling mill stand, wherein a roll-changing carriage is shown in which a cartridge is inserted for receiving the rolls to be changed.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1, wherein the cartridge is lifted out of the roll-changing carriage.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of the cartridge with received rolls.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of the base body of the cartridge.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a front view of the base body of the cartridge in accordance with FIG. 4.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of two stacked base bodies of the cartridge arranged one above the other.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows the cartridge equipped with rolls during transportation with a crane, wherein a position of the cartridge pivoted about a horizontal axis is shown.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a perspective representation of an arrangement analogous to FIG. 2, wherein, here, the cartridge is realized in a different embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows schematically the process of loading/unloading the cartridge with rolls, for which a shifting device (gripper carriage) is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a roll-changing device 1, which substantially consists of a roll-changing carriage 3 and at least one cartridge 4, which is used to receive the rolls 2 to be loaded/unloaded. The rolls 2 are the working rolls or intermediate rolls that are required in a rolling mill stand. Thus, the roll-changing device 1 comprises at least one cartridge 4, which can be detachably arranged in the roll-changing carriage 3. The cartridge 4 is provided with receiving spaces 5 (see FIG. 5) for the rolls 2.

[0040] Thus, it is possible to initially load the cartridge 4 with the rolls 2 on the rolling mill stand (not shown) and then insert the loaded cartridge into the roll-changing carriage 3 by means of an overhead crane. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, where it can be seen that the cartridge 4 is not yet in its receiving space in the roll-changing carriage 3. The cartridge can be handled/transported by the overhead crane by means of the load attachment means 6, which are arranged on the cartridge 4.

[0041] A preferred embodiment (in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 7) provides for the cartridge 4 to be designed substantially in two parts. It comprises a base body 7 on the one hand and a crane crossbeam 8 on the other hand; this is best illustrated in FIG. 3. Here, it can be seen, particularly when viewed in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, that the base body 7 with a substantially cuboid base geometry has a longitudinal extension L that corresponds to the axis of rotation of the rolls 2 to be received. This results in axial end regions 13 and 14 of the base body 7.

[0042] The crane crossbeam 8 is then placed on the base body 7 loaded with rolls 2 and anchored to the base body 7. For this purpose, engaging hooks (not shown) of the crane crossbeam, which engage in corresponding recesses in the base body 7, can be used. The cartridge 7 equipped with rolls can then be transported by the overhead crane by means of the load attachment means 6 and moved to the roll-changing carriage 3.

[0043] It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the crane crossbeam 8 has a plurality of columns 10, 11, 12, which extend in a vertical direction (this is to be understood as the vertical when the device is used as intended), wherein the columns 10, 11, 12 come into position on the outer side 9 (see in particular FIG. 5) of the base body 7 if the crane crossbeam 8 is placed on the base body 7 and connected to it. Thereby, the columns 10, 11, 12 extend in the vertical direction downwards from an upper part of the crossbeam and are free here so that they can be easily placed on the base body 7. This makes it particularly easy to couple the base body 7 equipped with rolls 2 to the crane crossbeam 8 and thus prepare it for transportation.

[0044] In this connection, it should be noted that a column 10 is located in one axial end region 13 and a column 12 in the other axial end region 14. Thereby, in an advantageous manner, a transport securing device, as shown in FIG. 7, is produced. Here, one position of the cartridge 4 during transportation is shown, wherein the cartridge comes to rest at an unfavorable angle to the vertical V during transportation. Accordingly, the rolls 2 can move in the direction of the longitudinal extension L in the cartridge 4. However, such movement is limited by the columns 10/12, preventing the rolls 2 from falling out of the cartridge 4.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows the various receiving spaces 5 for the rolls 2. FIG. 6 shows that a plurality of base bodies 7 can be stacked, which is advantageous in terms of storage.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the cartridge 4, wherein a different design is provided here. The crane crossbeam 8 provided here also engages in the upper end region of the base body 7. This figure also shows a protective cover 15, which can be provided for all design variants and which offers protection in the event of roll misplacements.

[0047] FIG. 9 illustrates how the cartridge 4 is handled if rolls 2 are loaded into or unloaded from the cartridge 4. A pulling/pushing device 16 is provided for this purpose, with which the individual rolls 2 can be pushed out of or pulled into the cartridge 4 in the longitudinal extension L one after the other. A lifting device 17 brings the cartridge into position in the vertical position, in which the pulling/pushing device 16 can engage in the corresponding receiving space 5 for the roll 2. The handling shown in FIG. 9 can be used both on the rolling mill stand and in the roll workshop.

[0048] The proposed concept can be supplemented by the following configuration, which enables improved tracking of the individual rolls:

[0049] Roll tracking is possible during automatic loading of cartridge 4 in the roll workshop. For this purpose, each roll 2 is fitted with an identification element, for example an RFID chip. The chip is read when loading the cartridge 4 by using a suitable reading device on the loading unit in the roll workshop. In addition, each cartridge 4 has such an identification element, for example an RFID chip. This ensures that each roll 2 and its position in the changeable cartridge 4 are known.

[0050] The roll-changing carriage 3 also has reading devices at the ejection positions of the cartridge 4, which detect the cartridges 4. This means that it is known which roll 2 is in which position and which position it occupies in the stand after the roll change.

[0051] Roll selection can be carried out through the connection to a roll shop management system, which also receives data/information from a digital maintenance system (system for managing maintenance measures), for example. Depending on the production planning, the cartridge 4 can be equipped in a manner configured to suit the situation.

[0052] While only a small number of rolls can be received in a cartridge 4 (at least two), it is also possible to design a cartridge 4 to receive a complete set of rolls in the case of a quarto or sexto stand.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 1 Roll-changing device [0054] 2 Working roll/intermediate roll [0055] 3 Roll-changing carriages [0056] 4 Cartridge [0057] 5 Receiving space for the roll [0058] 6 Load attachments means [0059] 7 Base body of the cartridge [0060] 8 Crane crossbeam of the cartridge [0061] 9 Outer side of the main body [0062] 10 Column [0063] 11 Column [0064] 12 Column [0065] 13 Axial end region of the base body [0066] 14 Axial end region of the base body [0067] 15 Protective cover [0068] 16 Pulling/pushing device [0069] 17 Lifting device [0070] L Longitudinal extension of the base body [0071] V Vertical