Torsion guide, guide apparatus and corresponding method

A guide apparatus for use in a rolling plant, the guide apparatus comprising:

• at least one torsion guide;
• two or more rolling stands, disposed along a rolling axis;
• a rolling guide disposed downstream of the torsion guide along the rolling axis,
• wherein the torsion guide includes:
• a support body;
• support elements connected to the support body;
• at least one motor means connected to the support elements, the at least one motor means configured to move the support elements in at least in a direction of adjustment;
• at least two torsion rollers connected to a respective support element of the support elements and being rotatable around a respective rotation axes and parallel to each other, wherein the at least two torsion rollers overlap each other when viewed in the direction of adjustment perpendicular to the rotation axes and the rolling axis, and are distanced from each other in the direction of the adjustment;
• a control and management unit;
• and
• one or more detection means for detecting a reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers with respect to each other at least in the direction of the adjustment,
• wherein the detection means is configured to transmit data correlated to the reciprocal position of the at lest two torsion rollers to the control and management unit in order to allow adjustment of the reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers at least in the direction of the adjustment, and
• wherein the rolling guide comprises:
• at least two guide rollers;
• and
• a force detection means for detecting a force applied by a metal product in transit on the at least two guide rollers,
• wherein the force detection means for detecting the force applied by a metal product in transit on the at least two guide rollers is configured to transmit data relating to the force applied to the at least two guide rollers to the control and management unit, and
• wherein an adjustment of the reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers is subjected to the detection of the force by the force detection means.

A rolling plant comprising:

• at least two horizontal axis rolling stands which are disposed in succession along a rolling axis;
• at least one torsion guide placed between the at least two rolling stands, the torsion guide comprising:
• a support body;
• support elements connected to the support body;
• at least one motor means connected to the support elements, the at least one motor means configured to move the support elements in at least in a direction of adjustment;
• at least two torsion rollers connected to a respective support element of the support elements and being rotatable around a respective rotation axes parallel to each other, wherein the at least two torsion rollers overlap each other when viewed in the direction of adjustment perpendicular to the rotation axes and the rolling axis, and are distanced from each other in the direction of the adjustment;
• a control and management unit;
• one or more detection means for detecting the reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers at least in the direction of adjustment, the detection means being configured to transmit data correlated to the reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers to the control and management unit in order to allow to adjust the reciprocal position of the torsion rollers at least in the direction of adjustment;
• and
• at least one rolling guide, placed downstream of the torsion guide and upstream of one of the rolling stands, the rolling guide comprising:
• at least two guide rollers;
• and
• one or more force detection means for detecting a force that, during use, a metal product applies to the at least two guide rollers,
• wherein the force detection means is configured to transmit data relating to the force applied to the at least two guide rollers to the control and management unit.

A rolling method for rolling a metal product along a rolling axis comprising:

• reducing a thickness of the metal product by means of a first rolling stand;
• transmitting a first torsion to the metal product at exit from the first rolling stand by means of a torsion guide provided with at least two torsion rollers which are rotatable around respective rotation axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rolling axis and connected to respective support elements which are movable at least in a direction of adjustment and are mechanically connected to at least one motor means, detecting, via a control and management unit and one or more detection means, a reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers at least in the direction of adjustment, which are configured to transmit data correlated reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers to the control and management unit;
• directly or indirectly detecting a wear of the at least two torsion rollers;
• automatically adjusting the reciprocal position of the at least two torsion rollers, at least in in the direction of adjustment, on the basis of the detection of the wear of the at least two torsion rollers,
• wherein the detecting the wear of the at least two torsion rollers occurs by a force detection means of the control and management unit which analyzes data transmitted by the force detection means applied by the metal product to one or more guide rollers of a rolling guide located downstream of the torsion guide.