Roll change apparatus
AssigneeFives Bronx, Inc.
InventorsArmando F. Morreale, Edward A. Dray, Mark E. Lukowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rolling machine has pairs of rolls in a horizontal line of roll pair locations, with each pair including upper and lower rolls opposed across a vertical gap. A sliding frame is mounted on the rolling machine for movement alongside the rolling machine in a direction parallel to the line of roll pair locations. A lifting frame is mounted on the sliding frame for movement vertically relative to the sliding frame beside each of the roll pair locations. Other parts include a roll cassette and a load tray. The load tray is configured to carry the roll cassette, and is mounted on the lifting frame for movement relative to the lifting frame transversely into the vertical gap between the rolls at each roll pair location.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a rolling machine having pairs of rolls in a horizontal line of roll pair locations, with each pair including an upper roll and a lower roll opposed across a vertical gap;
- a sliding frame mounted on the rolling machine for movement horizontally alongside the rolling machine in a direction parallel to the line of roll pair locations;
- a lifting frame mounted on the sliding frame for movement vertically relative to the sliding frame beside each of the roll pair locations;
- a roll cassette configured for attachment and detachment with an upper roll from beneath the upper roll, and for attachment and detachment with a lower roll from above the lower roll;
- and
- a load tray configured to carry the roll cassette, the load tray being mounted on the lifting frame for movement relative to the lifting frame transversely across the line of roll pair locations, whereby the load tray can carry the cassette horizontally into the gap between the rolls at each roll pair location.
An apparatus comprising:
- a rolling machine having pairs of rolls in a horizontal line of roll pair locations, with each pair including an upper roll and a lower roll opposed across a vertical gap, the rolling machine further having a base upon which the lower rolls are mounted, and a crown upon which the upper rolls are mounted for movement vertically relative to the lower rolls;
- a horizontal upper rail mounted on the crown above the line of roll pair locations, and a parallel lower rail mounted on the base below the line of roll pair locations;
- a sliding frame mounted on the rails for movement horizontally alongside the rolling machine in a direction parallel to the line of roll pair locations;
- a lifting frame mounted on the sliding frame for movement vertically relative to the sliding frame beside each of the roll pair locations;
- a roll cassette configured for attachment and detachment with an upper roll from beneath and a lower roll from above;
- and
- a load tray configured to carry the roll cassette, the load tray being mounted on the lifting frame for movement relative to the lifting frame transversely into the gap between the rolls at each roll pair location.
An apparatus for use with an upper roll and a lower roll opposed to the upper roll across a vertical gap, the apparatus comprising:
- a roll cassette configured for attachment and detachment with the upper roll from beneath the upper roll, and for attachment and detachment with the lower roll from above the lower roll, the roll casette having a first rest pad surface;
- and
- a load tray configured for movement horizontally into the gap between the upper and lower rolls, the load tray having a second rest pad surface configured to support the roll cassette in a seated position with the second rest pad surface resting on the first rest pad surface;
- wherein the rest pad surfaces have contours providing rolling contact between the roll cassette and the load tray when the roll cassette is in the seated position.
An apparatus for use with upper and lower rolls having skewed axes of rotation and concave axial profiles opposed across a vertical gap, each roll having bearing housings at its opposite ends, the apparatus comprising:
- a roll cassette configured for attachment and detachment with the upper roll from beneath the upper roll, and for attachment and detachment with the lower roll from above the lower roll;
- the roll cassette having upper and lower plates supported for movement relative to each other pivotally about a vertical axis, the plates having pivotally aligned positions in which they are movable together horizontally into the vertical gap;
- the upper plate having an upper portion configured to mate with a bearing housing at one end of the upper roll, the upper portion having an arched surface profile protruding upward;
- and
- the lower plate having a lower portion configured to mate with a bearing housing at one end of the lower roll, the lower portion having an arched surface profile protruding downward.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.