Submerged nozzle mounting/dismounting apparatus

A submerged nozzle mounting/dismounting apparatus for mounting a substantially vertical submerged nozzle on and dismounting the same from a slide valve device which is provided on and below a bottom wall of a molten metal vessel and through which a molten metal in said vessel flows downward into and through the submerged nozzle, wherein said apparatus comprises a submerged nozzle holding mechanism provided below said slide valve device and having substantially horizontally extending support arms with receiving means for supporting mounting pins provided on an upper part of the submerged nozzle for holding the submerged nozzle pressed against the slide valve device, said submerged nozzle mounting/dismounting apparatus comprising:

• a robot arm;
• submerged nozzle support means mounted on said robot arm for supporting the submerged nozzle through support pins provided on the submerged nozzle, said nozzle support means being capable of horizontal sliding movement in a direction across said support arms of the submerged nozzle holding mechanism for horizontal positional adjustment of the submerged nozzle and being capable of vertical movement for vertical positional adjustment of the submerged nozzle;
• a guide member fixedly provided below said slide valve device and having an upper guide surface and a side guide surface;
• and
• a contact mechanism provided on said submerged nozzle support means and having contact means for contacting and being guided along said upper guide surface and said side guide surface to enable the submerged nozzle supported on said submerged nozzle support means to be adjusted in horizontal position relative to said support arms and to be vertically moved for mounting said mounting pins of the submerged nozzle onto said support arms and for dismounting said mounting pins from said support arms.