Approach roller feed bed for cooling beds for the retardation and transverse conveyance of product lengths

In an approach roller feed bed for cooling beds for lengths of product of varying cross-sections and approach speeds, in which a strand of rolled stock, divided into lengths, is fed in an axial direction, including conveyor rollers inclined transversely with respect to the conveying line, the feed bed being divided into an inner longitudinal section adjacent the cooling bed for the retardation and transverse conveyance of thick profile cross-sections, and a longitudinal section spaced from the cooling bed and covered by movable covering means for the retardation and transverse conveyance of thin profile cross-sections, the longitudinal sections having braking means which may be raised and lowered independently of one another for retarding and conveying the lengths, the improvement comprising:

• three longitudinal retarding and transverse conveying sections forming three substantially parallel longitudinal channels substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conveying line, comprised of an inner channel adjacent the cooling bed, a central channel adjacent said inner channel and an outer channel adjacent said central channel on the side opposite said inner channel, said channels being disposed in the region within the width of the conveyor rollers;
• braking means in each channel beteen said conveyor rollers;
• means to raise and lower said braking means between a raised position above the upper surfaces of said rollers to lift the rolled stock length off said rollers and retard their axial travel, and a lower position below the upper surface of said rollers;
• a first channel wall separating means between said inner and central channels;
• means to raise and lower said first separating means between a raised position above the upper surface of said rollers and a lower position below the upper surface of said rollers;
• a second channel wall separation means between said central and outer channels;
• movable covering means for each said central and outer channels;
• means to open and close said covering means;
• said central channel forming an approach channel for said inner channel when said braking means of said central channel is in the lower position;
• and
• said braking means for said central and outer channels being operable alternately to transversely convey said lengths of rolled stock toward said inner channel.