ROLL CHANGING DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE WORKING AND / OR INTERMEDIATE ROLLS OF A ROLLING STAND

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roll changing device for changing the working and / or intermediate rolls of a rolling stand, wherein the roll changing device comprises a roll changing carriage with which rolls to be replaced or removed can be transported, wherein the roll changing device comprises at least one cassette and wherein the cassette is equipped with receiving spaces for the rolls.

[0002] A roll-changing device of this type is disclosed in DE 32 44 200 A1. The rolls to be changed are first transported by means of a roll-loading station to the roll-changing carriage, which carries the cassette for receiving the rolls. After the rolls are transferred from the roll-loading station to the roll-changing carriage, the rolls are then exchanged. A similar solution is shown in US Pat. No. 5,887,472 A. Another roll-changing device is disclosed in EP 0 911 089 B1. The device described therein serves for rapid roll changes on a six-high rolling stand, whereby a roll-changing carriage is used. Similar and other solutions are shown in EP 1 136 143 B1, EP 2 150 361 B1, EP 3 167 975 B1, JP H07 108 305 A, and JP H09 10844 A.

[0003] To date, when changing work or intermediate rolls, the individual rolls have been transported separately between the rolling stand and the roll changing carriage or between the roll changing carriage and the roll workshop.

[0004] The disadvantage is that the process of changing rolls is difficult to automate. Furthermore, the crane system located at the rolling mill requires a high level of activity to transport the individual rolls.

[0005] The high level of manual intervention near the rolling mill during roll changing also poses a certain safety problem, requiring a relatively high level of effort to ensure safe operation. A particular problem is that the personnel loading and unloading the roll changing carriage are sometimes inadequately protected against roll breakouts during crane operations.

[0006] Changing the rollers and especially loading and unloading the roller changing carriage is therefore time-consuming and labor-intensive and correspondingly expensive.

[0007] The invention is based on the Task The aim is to further develop a roll-changing device of the type mentioned above in such a way that it is possible to ensure simplified and safe loading and unloading of a roll-changing carriage. Furthermore, this process should be able to be accomplished more quickly, thus enabling more economical operation. Finally, safety conditions should be improved.

[0008] The SolutionThis object is achieved by the invention in that the cassette can be detachably arranged in the roll changing carriage, wherein the cassette is provided with a load attachment means for the engagement of a crane hook and wherein the cassette consists of two basic components, namely a base body which has the receiving spaces for the rolls, and a crane cross member which can be detachably connected to the base body.

[0009] The cassette preferably has several receiving locations for rollers arranged one above the other.

[0010] Preferably, the crane traverse is provided with the load attachment device for the engagement of a crane hook.

[0011] The crane traverse can surround the base body of the cassette at least on part of the outer sides of the base body when the base body and the crane traverse are connected to each other. The crane traverse preferably has a number of vertically extending columns; between four and eight, preferably six, vertically extending columns can be provided.

[0012] It is particularly advantageous for the purpose of producing a transport lock if, according to a further development, it is provided that the base body has a longitudinal extension which corresponds to the axis of the accommodated rollers, wherein at least one column is arranged in the axial end region of the base body with respect to the longitudinal extension when the base body and the crane cross member are connected to one another.

[0013] The roll changing device is preferably part of a cold or hot flat rolling mill.

[0014] The proposed concept is therefore based on providing a transportable (separate) cassette for loading and unloading the roll changing carriage, which, after being loaded with rolls to be replaced or removed, can be placed in the roll changing carriage and transported by it.

[0015] When changing the work and / or intermediate rolls, the cassette is loaded with the individual rolls, and the loaded cassette is then lifted into the roll changing carriage by the overhead crane. Preferably, but not necessarily, all the roll slots provided in the cassette are used.

[0016] With a suitable crane system (overhead crane), the interchangeable cassette can be automatically placed on and removed from the change carriage. With suitable devices, the cassette can be automatically loaded and unloaded in the roller workshop.

[0017] The preferred method of operation for the described roll changing device is to load the cassette (when removed from the roll changing carriage) with rolls, or to remove the rolls from the cassette, at the rolling stand or in the roll workshop. Once the cassette is loaded, it is placed on the roll changing carriage (using a crane).

[0018] The rolls are exchanged between the rolling stand and the cassette or between the cassette and the roll workshop, whereby the cassette is not located on the roll changing carriage.

[0019] As explained, the cassette can be constructed in one or two parts (consisting of a base body and a crane beam). In the latter case, the base body of the cassette is enclosed by a custom-made crane beam (load suspension).

[0020] In this case, the crane beam can secure the rolls in the cassette during transport, meaning the rolls are then secured in the cassette's base body against displacement along their longitudinal axis. This is also very advantageous when transporting new or reconditioned rolls, as it prevents damage during transport to the rolling stand.

[0021] Another advantage is that the rollers can be quarantined without interruption, meaning that roller breakouts due to thermal stresses cannot endanger the operating personnel.

[0022] By means of a simple and cost-effective construction of the cassette (which applies in particular to the two-part embodiment mentioned above), the proposal according to the invention can be implemented cost-effectively.

[0023] Another advantage is that when using the proposed concept, the readiness for another roll change is very quickly ensured after a roll change.

[0024] The loading of the cassette can also be automated in the roller workshop, i.e. manual loading of the cassette in the roller workshop can be avoided, which is advantageous in terms of time expenditure, accuracy and safety.

[0025] The cassettes can also be used as roller storage locations in the roller workshop.

[0026] This results in greater overall safety on the rolling mill, less crane activity when loading and unloading the rolls and a potential savings for operating personnel during roll changes.

[0027] Regarding the general procedure for changing rolls in a rolling stand, explicit reference is made to the above-mentioned EP 0 911 089 B1 of the patent applicant. This document describes, in particular, how the rolls to be changed are handled using a "side shifter" and a gripper carriage.

[0028] The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a roll changing device for changing the working and / or intermediate rolls of a rolling stand, wherein a roll changing carriage is shown, into which a cassette for receiving the rolls to be changed is inserted, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the arrangement according to Figure 1, whereby the cassette is lifted out of the roller changing carriage, Fig. 3 in perspective view the cassette with mounted rollers, Fig. 4 in perspective view the base body of the cassette, Fig. 5 in front view the base body of the cassette according to Figure 4 , Fig. 6 in perspective view two stacked base bodies of the cassette arranged one above the other, Fig. 7 the cassette equipped with rollers during transport with a crane, showing a position of the cassette pivoted about a horizontal axis, Fig. 8 in perspective view a Figure 2 analogous arrangement, whereby here the cassette is realized in a different embodiment, and Fig. 9 schematically shows the process of loading and unloading the cassette with rollers, for which a shifting device ("tong carriage") is used.

[0029] In Figure 1, a roll changing device 1 can be seen, which essentially consists of a roll changing carriage 3 and at least one cassette 4, which serves to accommodate the rolls 2 to be loaded or unloaded. The rolls 2 are the work rolls or intermediate rolls required in a rolling stand. Thus, the roll changing device 1 comprises at least one cassette 4, which can be detachably arranged in the roll changing carriage 3. The cassette 4 is provided with receiving positions 5 (see Fig. 5 ) for reels 2.

[0030] This makes it possible to first load the cassette 4 with the rolls 2 on the rolling stand (not shown) and then to insert the loaded cassette into the roll changing carriage 3 using an overhead crane. This is Figure 2illustrated, where it can be seen that the cassette 4 is not yet in its receiving position in the roll changing carriage 3. The handling or transport of the cassette by means of the overhead crane is permitted by load suspension devices 6 arranged on the cassette 4.

[0031] A preferred embodiment (according to the Figures 1 to 7 ) provides that the cassette 4 is essentially designed in two parts. It comprises, on the one hand, a base body 7 and, on the other hand, a crane beam 8; this is best done Figure 3 This can be seen particularly in conjunction with the Figures 4 and 5 It can be seen that the base body 7, with its essentially cuboidal base geometry, has a longitudinal extension L that corresponds to the axis of rotation of the rollers 2 to be accommodated. This results in axial end regions 13 and 14 of the base body 7.

[0032] The crane beam 8 is then placed on the base body 7 loaded with rollers 2 and anchored to the base body 7. For this purpose, engaging hooks of the crane beam (not shown) can be used, which engage in corresponding recesses in the base body 7. The cassette 7 loaded with rollers can then be transported from the overhead crane by means of the load suspension device 6 and moved to the roller changing carriage 3.

[0033] Out of Figure 3 It can be seen that the crane beam 8 has several columns 10, 11, 12 which extend in the vertical direction (this is to be understood as the vertical when the device is used as intended), whereby the columns 10, 11, 12 are on the outside 9 (see in particular Figure 5) of the base body 7 when the crane crossbeam 8 is placed onto the base body 7 and connected to it. The columns 10, 11, 12 extend vertically downwards from a part of the crossbeam arranged at the top and are free here so that they can be easily placed onto the base body 7. This makes it particularly easy to couple the base body 7 equipped with rollers 2 to the crane crossbeam 8 and thus prepare it for transport.

[0034] In this context, 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. This can advantageously provide a transport lock, which is evident from Figure 7This shows a position of the cassette 4 during transport, wherein the cassette is unfavorably positioned at an angle to the vertical V during transport. Accordingly, the rollers 2 can move in the direction of the longitudinal extension L in the cassette 4. However, this movement is limited by the columns 10 and 12, respectively, thus preventing the rollers 2 from falling out of the cassette 4.

[0035] In Figure 5 The various mounting positions 5 for the rollers 2 are indicated. Figure 6 It can be seen that several base bodies 7 can be stacked, which is advantageous in terms of storage.

[0036] In Figure 8An alternative embodiment of the cassette 4 is shown, with a different design. The crane beam 8, which is also provided here, engages the upper end area of ​​the base body 7. This figure also shows a protective hood 15, which can be provided in all design variants and provides protection in the event of roll bursts.

[0037] In Figure 9 is illustrated how the cassette 4 is handled when rollers 2 are loaded into or unloaded from the cassette 4. For this purpose, a pulling or pushing device 16 is provided, with which the individual rollers 2 can be pushed out of the cassette 4 one after the other in the longitudinal extension L or pulled into the cassette. A lifting device 17 brings the cassette into the vertical position in which the pulling or pushing device 16 can engage in the corresponding receiving space 5 for the roller 2. Figure 9The handling shown can be used both on the rolling stand and in the rolling workshop.

[0038] The proposed concept can be supplemented by the following refinement, which allows for improved tracking of individual rolls: Roll tracking is possible during the automatic loading of the cassette 4 in the roll workshop. For this purpose, each roll 2 is provided with an identification element, for example, an RFID chip. The chip is read during the loading of the cassette 4 using a suitable reader on the loading unit in the roll workshop. Furthermore, each cassette 4 has such an identification element, for example, an RFID chip. This ensures that each roll 2 and its position in the interchangeable cassette 4 are known.

[0039] The roll changing carriage 3 also has reading devices at the cassette 4 release positions that detect the cassettes 4. This way, it is known which roll 2 is in which position and what position it will assume in the stand after the roll change.

[0040] Roller selection can be performed by connecting to a roll shop management system, which also receives data or information from, for example, a digital maintenance system (system for managing maintenance measures). This allows cassette 4 to be configured for the specific situation, depending on production planning.

[0041] While a cassette 4 can accommodate only a small number of rolls (at least two), it is also possible to design a cassette 4 to accommodate a complete set of rolls in the case of a four-high or six-high stand. List of reference symbols:

[0042] 1Roll changing device 2Working roll / intermediate roll 3Roll changing carriage 4Cassette 5Load attachment point for the roll 6Load suspension device 7Cassette base body 8Crane cross beam of the cassette 9Outside of the base body 10Column 11Column 12Column 13Axial end area of ​​the base body 14Axial end area of ​​the base body 15Protective hood 16Pull / push device 17Lifting device LLongitudinal extension of the base body VVertical

Claims

1. Roll change device (1) for changing work and / or intermediate rolls (2) of a roll stand, wherein the roll change device (1) comprises a roll change carriage (3) by which rolls (2) to be changed out or changed in can be transported, wherein the roll change device (1) comprises at least one cassette (4), wherein the cassette (4) is equipped with receiving spaces (5) for the rolls (2) and wherein the cassette can be detachably arranged in the roll change carriage (3), characterised in that the cassette (4) is provided with load attaching means (6) for engagement of a crane hook and wherein the cassette (4) consists of two basic components, namely a base body (7) having the receiving spaces (5) for the rolls (2) and a crane crossbeam (8) which can be detachably connected with the base body (7).

2. Roll change device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cassette (4) has a plurality of receiving spaces (5), which are arranged one above the other, for rolls (2).

3. Roll change device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the crane crossbeam (8) is provided with the load attaching means (6) for engagement of a crane hook.

4. Roll change device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the crane crossbeam (8) encloses the base body (7) at at least a part of the outer sides (9) of the base body (7) when the base body (7) and the crane crossbeam (8) are connected together.

5. Roll change device according to claim 4, characterised in that the crane crossbeam (8) comprises a number of vertically extending columns (10, 11, 12).

6. Roll change device according to claim 5, characterised in that the crane crossbeam (8) comprises between four and eight, preferably six, vertically extending columns (10, 11, 12).

7. Roll change device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the base body (7) has a length dimension (L) corresponding with the axis of the received rolls (2), wherein in each instance at least one column (10, 12) is arranged in the axial end region (13, 14) - as referred to the length dimension (L) - of the base body (7) when the base body (7) and the crane crossbeam (8) are connected together.

8. Roll change device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it is a component of a cold or hot flat rolling mill.