Rolling plant comprising a system for mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve

Abstract

A rolling plant includes a building, a system for unwinding / winding a metal coil, including a chassis mounted on a top surface of the building, a coil-holder carriage, extending in line with and below the support manual, arranged in a trench, below the top surface of the building, and a system for the mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve configured to load or unload a removable sleeve on the support mandrel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 2500701, filed Jan. 23, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of rolling plants, in particular cold rolling, that comprise an unwinding / winding system having a support mandrel, motorised for rotation about the axis thereof and which is configured to unwind a coil to be rolled, upstream of a rolling mill according to the direction of travel of the strip at an unwinding section of the rolling mill.

[0003] The unwinding / winding system having the mandrel motorised for rotation can also be configured to wind the strip in a coil, in front of the rolling mill according to the direction of travel of the metal strip, at a winding section of the rolling mill.BACKGROUND

[0004] The prior art of the rolling plant of unwinding / winding systems that comprise a motorised mandrel configured to provide the unwinding of a metal coil to be rolled (before rolling thereof) or winding thereof (after rolling).

[0005] The inside diameter of a coil being variable, the metal coil is not loaded directly in abutment on the motorised mandrel, but only by means of a cylindrical adaptation piece, hereinafter referred to as a sleeve, the inside diameter of which is adjusted to the operating clearance at the outside diameter of the mandrel, and the outside diameter of which is adapted to the inside diameter of the coil.

[0006] When a metal coil is loaded, it is therefore necessary to mount in advance a sleeve adapted to the size of the coil, in particular with regard to the inside diameter thereof.

[0007] The winding / unwinding system is typically secured to a civil-engineering building, typically made from reinforced concrete, which comprises, under the level of the chassis of the unwinding / winding system, a trench (or cave) arranged underneath and in line along an axis of the support mandrel, a trench inside which a coil-holder carriage travels.

[0008] Such a coil-holder carriage is used to load or unload a metal coil on a support mandrel on which a sleeve has already been pre-mounted, by a travel of the coil-holder carriage along a trench between a remote position at a distance from the support mandrel, to a position vertically in line with the mandrel, in a direction aligned with that of the axis of the support mandrel.

[0009] Normally, using the coil-holder carriage to provide the loading of the sleeve is known. This gives rise to a long downtime of the rolling mill (6 minutes) and consequently a significant loss of production. This is because, before being able to undertake the sequence of loading the sleeve, the coil-holder carriage must unload the coil and transport it as far as a storage ramp.

[0010] The coil-holder carriage can then again be mobilised for operations of strapping of the coil and it is only after the release of the carriage that it can return to a sleeve-distribution station to receive a sleeve and to commence the operation of loading on the mandrel.

[0011] This sleeve-distribution station can cause difficulties of reliability of the loading sequence since this loading is very often implemented by simple rolling on an inclined ramp and tilting on the head.

[0012] Since depositing on the carriage head is imprecise, the carriage must start a sequence of measuring the length of the sleeve to know the position of the sleeve on its head and to take account thereof for the centring movement in the line axis of the rolling mill.

[0013] If the sleeve diameter is variable, the carriage also implements a sequence of measuring the sleeve diameter, which also takes a certain amount of sequence time.

[0014] Furthermore, a coil-holder carriage is not a device specifically designed for this operation, but rather for handling coils, and does not provide a precise positioning (centring in the rolling axis) of the sleeve on the mandrel, which very often requires control of this coil-holder carriage and therefore the presence of an operator throughout the sequence of loading the sleeve, preventing this from implementing in parallel.

[0015] The prior art does however know how to equip the rolling plant with a sleeve loading / unloading system, a specific system distinct from the coil-holder carriage.

[0016] For example, a first prior art knows a clamp mounted on a handling crane arranged above the area of the winding / unwinding system. This crane is equipped with a raising / lowering movement for taking or depositing the sleeve on a carriage for bringing the sleeve, under the control of this crane, or of removing the sleeve from this control by a movement parallel to the strip travel axis and by a perpendicular movement making it possible to bring the sleeve onto the mandrel or to remove the sleeve from the mandrel.

[0017] This solution has the drawback of occupying a great deal of space on the ground and requiring bulky framework interfering with maintenance to the crane of the other items of equipment.

[0018] A second prior art knows a movable cradle supported by a device travelling under the level of the building and coming to be placed in line with the coil-holder carriage.

[0019] This solution comprises a carriage with sleeve having a movement parallel to the strip travel and enabling a device for translating and raising a cradle supporting the sleeve to be placed on the coil-holder carriage axis or to be retracted out of the coil-holder carriage axis.

[0020] This translation of the sleeve in the coil-holder carriage axis is implemented by a long arm sliding in guides on the sleeve carriage. This arm is equipped at the end with a system for raising the cradle. The sleeve is positioned in the line axis by putting it in abutment against the coil ejection plate, which is controlled for position by an encoder.

[0021] This solution has the main defects of:

[0022] slowness that significantly increases the cycle of changing the sleeve,

[0023] interference between the specific equipment and the coil-holder carriage constraining the movement of the coil-holder carriage,

[0024] a short travel (2700 mm) for releasing the sleeve from the axis of the rolling mill, which makes the operations of depositing with the crane or taking up the crane dangerous for the other items of equipment, and makes it difficult for the operator to gain access for slinging operations.SUMMARY

[0025] The present disclosure will improve the situation.

[0026] The present disclosure relates to a rolling plant comprising a building, a system for unwinding / winding a metal coil, a coil-holder carriage, housed in a trench of the building, and a system for mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve configured to load or unload a removable sleeve on a support mandrel of the unwinding / winding system.

[0027] The present disclosure also relates to a method for loading a sleeve using a rolling plant according to the present disclosure and providing the loading of a sleeve on the support mandrel by the system for mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve.

[0028] In an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a rolling plant is proposed, comprising:

[0029] a building,

[0030] a system for unwinding / winding a metal coil, comprising a chassis mounted on an upper surface of the building, said system comprising a support mandrel, mounted rotatably about an axis of said support mandrel with respect to the chassis, and a removable sleeve mounted around said mandrel, as well as a system for rotating said support shaft, about its axis,

[0031] a coil-holder carriage, extending in line with and underneath said support mandrel, arranged in a trench, below the surface of the building, the trench emerging on the upper surface through a trench opening, said coil-holder carriage configured to move in the trench, along a direction of the support mandrel, to load a coil onto the support mandrel and the sleeve of the unwinding / winding system, or conversely to extract a metal coil from the support mandrel and sleeve assembly a system for the mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve configured to load or unload a removable sleeve on the support mandrel, including:

[0032] a cradle system, comprising a cradle configured to support a sleeve, along a sleeve axis parallel to the axis of the support mandrel

[0033] a first carriage, guided by a first runner system including at least one guide rail arranged in length along a guidance direction parallel to the axis of the support mandrel, movable along said at least one rail under the action of a first actuator, said at least one rail mounted longitudinally on a beam supported in length by a lateral edge of the trench opening

[0034] a second carriage, incorporating the cradle system, guided with respect to the first carriage, by means of a second runner system configured to provide guidance of the second carriage with respect to the first carriage in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the second carriage movable under the action of a second actuatorand wherein the mechanised unloading and loading system is configured to allow a positioning of the cradle system and of the cradle in an idle position for which the cradle is retracted at a distance from the support mandrel by the first carriage in the first direction, and retracted laterally in the transverse second direction, the cradle and the second carriage being offset transversely and laterally with respect to the trench opening, and a loading of a sleeve loaded on the cradle from the idle position by implementation of the following actions:

[0035] / A / centring of the sleeve with respect to the axis of the support mandrel at least by moving the second carriage in the second direction with respect to the first carriage, under the action of the second actuator

[0036] / B / advancing of the sleeve by moving the first carriage in the first direction under the action of the first actuator until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve.

[0037] The features outlined in the following paragraphs can optionally be implemented independently of one another or in combination with one another:

[0038] According to an embodiment, said plant can include a platform for an operator, and wherein, in the idle position, the second carriage is housed partially as a drawer between the platform and the building.

[0039] According to an embodiment, said plant can have a vertical adjustment system, between the cradle and the second carriage, configured to provide adjustment of the height of the cradle, and wherein the centring comprises a vertical movement of the cradle by the vertical adjustment system.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the cradle can comprise:

[0041] a first segment configured to support the sleeve at a first end of the sleeve, having a first stop configured to engage with the first end of the sleeve,

[0042] a second segment configured to support the sleeve at a second end of the sleeve, having a second stop configured to engage with the second end of the sleeve,and wherein the cradle system comprises a mechanism for adjusting the separation between the first segment and the second segment, configured to allow an adjustment of the separation in an adjustment direction including a third actuator.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the adjustment mechanism can comprise, oriented in the adjustment direction,

[0044] a first runner between the first segment and a support of the cradle system, and a first rack secured to the first segment,

[0045] a second runner between the second segment and the support of the cradle system, and a second rack secured to the second segment,and wherein the first rack and the second rack are facing each other, meshing with one and the same pinion of a motor of the third actuator.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the beam can be a profiled beam comprising:

[0047] a top flange, in abutment on a top surface of the lateral edge of the trench opening, and a set of securing members piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beam

[0048] a vertical flange, in abutment on a vertical wall of the lateral edge of the trench opening, and a set of securing members piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beam,

[0049] a bottom flange, extending below the lateral edge.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the first runner system can comprise a lateral rail extending in length, secured to the vertical flange, projecting laterally, and a bottom rail projecting downwards from said bottom flange.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the first carriage has a C-shaped structure having:

[0052] a bottom flange guided on the bottom rail,

[0053] a vertical flange guided on the lateral rail,

[0054] a top flange, overlapping the lateral edge carrying the second runner system.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the top wall of the lateral edge is partly scalloped below the level of the top surface of the building, so as to house said top flange of the first carriage.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Other features, details and benefits will appear upon reading the detailed description hereinafter, and on analysis of the appended drawings, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a rolling plant comprising:

[0058] a building,

[0059] a system for winding and unwinding a metal coil, having a chassis and a rotary mandrel, around which a sleeve is arranged

[0060] a trench under the building, and a coil-holder carriage configured to move in the trench along an axis of the mandrel to load and unload a coil on the sleeve and support mandrel assembly, the coil-holder carriage illustrated in a position vertically in line with the support mandrel,

[0061] a system for the mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve, comprising a cradle, which is configured to be moved longitudinally to the trench by a first carriage along an axis of the support manual, and transversely to the trench by a second carriage, the first carriage guided notably along the at least one rail secured to a beam supported in length on a lateral edge of the trench opening, emerging upwardsthe figure illustrating the cradle system, the first carriage and the second carriage in the idle position of the cradle system, distant from the support mandrel, and offset laterally from the trench opening, allowing loading of the cradle with a sleeve, while allowing free circulation of the coil-holder carriage.

[0062] FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional view of the plant according to FIG. 1a, along a vertical plane passing through the trench, illustrating the coil-holder carriage vertically in line with the support mandrel, as well as the distance Dl separating the end of the support mandrel from the centre of the crane, when seen in the direction of the beam, which is a first direction,

[0063] FIG. 2 is a view of the rolling plant of FIG. 1a, once the coil-holder carriage has been removed at a distance from the support mandrel, beyond the idle position of the cradle system, and once the cradle system containing a sleeve has been moved so as to straddle the trench opening by moving the second carriage in the second direction, centring the sleeve with respect to the axis of the supported mandrel, and once the centred sleeve has been moved by the first carriage to its positioning on the support mandrel, by moving the sleeve in the first direction.

[0064] FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, along a vertical plane passing through the axis of the trench.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam, illustrating the beam in the form of a profiled member in top abutment and in lateral abutment on the lateral edge of the trench opening, as well as the first carriage, which is guided by two longitudinal rails of the beam, respectively with a first rail projecting laterally from a lateral flange of the profiled member, and a second rail projecting downwards from a bottom flange of the profiled member, the cross-sectional view illustrating a hollowed-out part of the building, receiving a top flange of the first carriage, and so as to position the second carriage substantially flush with the top surface of the building. “substantially flush” means that an uppermost surface of the second carriage lies at the same level as, or within a vertical offset of no more than a few centimeters relative to, the top surface of the building, so as not to protrude significantly above said top surface and to avoid interference with circulation, equipment movement, or operator access at the building surface level.

[0066] FIG. 4 is a detail view illustrating the bottom rail, which is a rack on which a pinion of a first motor secured to the first carriage meshes, the figure also illustrating a second runner system between the second carriage and the first carriage, with sliding oriented in the transverse direction.

[0067] FIG. 5 is a detail view of the rack with a rail function, in engagement with the motor of a first actuator of the first carriage.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the second runner system between the second carriage and the first carriage, as well as a second actuator comprising a motor the output pinion of which is in engagement with a rack.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a detail view of the cradle, which comprises a first segment and a second segment, with adjustable separation with respect to each other.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, along a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cradle, illustrating an electric jack housed in one of the two support uprights vertically connecting a support of the cradle and the second carriage.

[0071] FIG. 9 is a detail view along a horizontal cross-sectional plane of the mechanism for adjusting the separation between the first segment and the second segment of the cradle comprising a first rack secured to the first segment and a second rack of the second segment, in engagement with a motorised pinion.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] The present disclosure relates to a rolling plant 1 comprising:

[0073] a building B,

[0074] a system 2 for unwinding / winding a metal coil, comprising a chassis mounted on a top surface of the building B,

[0075] a coil-holder carriage 3, extending in line with and below said support manual, arranged in a trench F, below the top surface of the building

[0076] a system 4 for the mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve configured to load or unload a removable sleeve V on the support mandrel.

[0077] The building is a civil-engineering structure, typically made from reinforced concrete.

[0078] Said unwinding / winding system 2 comprises a support mandrel 20, mounted so as to rotate about an axis A20 of said support mandrel 20 with respect to the chassis, and a removable sleeve V mounted around said mandrel, as well as a system for rotating said support shaft about its axis and which typically comprises a motor.

[0079] The unwinding / winding system can be an unwinding system and be arranged in a zone for unwinding a metal coil, namely be located upstream of a rolling mill in the direction of travel of the metal strip. However, this system can also be a winding system and be located downstream of the rolling mill in the direction of travel. The rolling mill is typically a cold rolling mill that comprises a cage, rolling cylinders having at least two work cylinders, applying a clamping force, during the travel of the metal strip.

[0080] The rolling mill can typically be a rolling mill of the type:

[0081] with four cylinders, having the two work cylinders, and two pressing cylinders applying a clamping force to said work cylinders by two contact lines between each pressing cylinder and work cylinder, bottom and top, or

[0082] with six cylinders, comprising two intermediate cylinders, respectively top and bottom, each intermediate cylinder being in contact with one of the pressing cylinders and one of the work cylinders, or

[0083] with six so-called laterally supporting cylinders comprising, apart from the two pressing cylinders and the work cylinders and the intermediate cylinders, lateral support cylinders, coming into contact laterally with each work cylinder,

[0084] with 20 cylinders, comprising, apart from the two work cylinders, for each work cylinder (bottom or top), two first intermediate cylinders, three second intermediate cylinders, and four sets of support rollers.

[0085] The trench F emerges on the top surface through a trench opening OV. Said coil-holder carriage 3 is configured to move in the trench, along a direction of the support mandrel, to load a coil onto the support mandrel previously equipped with a sleeve of the unwinding / winding system, or conversely to extract a metal coil from the support mandrel and sleeve assembly.

[0086] The coil-holder carriage 3 comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 3, motorised wheels 30 configured to move the coil carriage 3, substantially in the direction of the support mandrel. The expression “substantially in the direction of the support mandrel” means that the displacement of the coil-holder carriage is oriented along an axis that is parallel to, or coincident with, the axis of the support mandrel, while allowing minor angular deviations or lateral offsets resulting from guidance tolerances, track geometry, or installation constraints, provided that such deviations do not prevent alignment of the axis of the coil with the axis of the support mandrel for loading or unloading operations. The coil-holder carriage 3 comprises a coil-holder cradle, in particular comprising two parallel support rollers 32, for supporting a metal coil, by two contact lines, along generatrixes of the cylinder between the coil and the two support rollers 32. The coil-holder carriage 3 can comprise a mechanism for adjusting the height of the coil-holder cradle with respect to the chassis, arranged between a chassis of the coil-holder carriage and the coil-holder cradle, and comprising one or more jacks 31.

[0087] In a position of the coil-holder carriage then distant from the support mandrel 20, the coil-holder carriage 3 can be loaded with a metal coil. Once the axis of the coil is aligned with the axis of the support mandrel assembly equipped with the sleeve by optional adjustment of the height of the cradle, the coil-holder carriage 3 is moved towards the support mandrel 20, until an insertion of the sleeve V in the inside diameter of the metal coil is obtained, in particular when the coil-holder carriage arrives in line with the support mandrel, vertically in line with the latter.

[0088] The system 4 for the mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve is configured to load or unload a removable sleeve on the support mandrel, and is a device distinct from the coil-holder carriage 4. It makes it possible, prior to the loading of the metal coil, to load a sleeve dimensionally adapted to the inside diameter of the coil.

[0089] In general terms, and according to a first possibility, the unloading and loading system 4 can be arranged in particular substantially above the coil-holder carriage, and so as not to interfere with the travel of the coil carriage. The term “substantially” means that the unloading and loading system is positioned predominantly above the coil-holder carriage in a vertical sense, while allowing for partial lateral offset, local overlap, or vertical deviation due to structural, mechanical, or installation constraints, provided that such positioning does not interfere with the travel, operation, or clearance envelope of the coil-holder carriage.

[0090] In a second possibility, the coil-holder carriage 3 is configured to travel in the trench, to provide the loading of the support mandrel 20 (or unloading thereof), solely in a certain position of the system (hereinafter designated idle position PR) that makes it possible to dispose the movable parts of the system in a position not interfering with the free travel of the coil-holder carriage in the direction of the support mandrel.

[0091] The unloading and loading system 4 includes:

[0092] a cradle system 40, comprising a cradle BC configured to support a sleeve V, on a sleeve axis parallel to the axis of the support mandrel

[0093] a first carriage CH1, guided by a first runner system 41 having at least one guide rail R1 arranged in length along a guidance direction parallel to the axis of the support mandrel 20, said first carriage CH1 movable along said at least one rail R1 under the action of a first actuator AT, said at least one rail R1 mounted longitudinally on a beam PT that is supported in length by a lateral edge BL of the trench opening OV

[0094] a second carriage CH2, incorporating the cradle system 40, guided with respect to the first carriage CH1, by means of a second runner system 42 configured to provide guidance of the second carriage CH2 with respect to the first carriage CH1 in a second direction d2 transverse to the first direction d1, the second carriage CH2 movable under the action of a second actuator AT2.

[0095] The cradle system comprising the cradle BC is, in an embodiment, always oriented, in length, to support a sleeve V directed along its axis, parallel to the axis of the support mandrel. The centring of the sleeve V by the cradle and the insertion movement can be provided by translations, mainly, or even solely, in the first direction d1 and in the second direction d2, or even additionally in a vertical third direction.

[0096] According to the present disclosure, the mechanised unloading and loading system 4 is configured to allow a positioning of the cradle system 40 and of the cradle BC in an idle position PR for which the cradle BC is retracted at a distance from the support mandrel 2 by the first carriage CH1 in the first direction d1, and retracted laterally in the transverse second direction d2.

[0097] The idle position PR of the cradle system and cradle makes it possible to implement operations of loading and unloading the sleeve in a position of the cradle, cradle that is, in an embodiment, always oriented, in length, to support a sleeve directed along its axis, parallel to the axis of the support mandrel. Optionally, with a view to facilitating the loading and unloading operations, the cradle system can provide a rotation mechanism allowing a relative rotation of the cradle, substantially on a vertical axis (i.e. 90°+ / −10 °), by an angular travel of 90°, greater than 90°, for example between 90° and 135°, or less than 90°, for example between 45° and 90°. The cradle has therefore changed orientation on the vertical axis in the idle position, which can make it possible to facilitate the loading and unloading operations in some integrations.

[0098] In particular, the centre of the cradle system can be retracted, in the idle position, to a distance DI greater than or equal to 3 metres with respect to the support mandrel, and in the first direction d1. The direction DI is determined from the distal end of the support mandrel, and as far as the centre of the cradle, when seen in the first direction d1.

[0099] In the idle position PR, the cradle BC is offset transversely, laterally with respect to the trench opening OV. In this position the second carriage CH2 is also offset laterally with respect to the trench opening, and as can be seen in FIG. 3. In this position, the coil-holder carriage 3 can be moved from a position vertically in line with the support mandrel 10 and as far as a position distant from the support mandrel, in particular as far as a position distant from the coil-holder carriage that extends, in the first direction d1, beyond the position of the cradle BC then in its idle position PR, and advantageously without interfering with the first carriage CH1 and the second carriage CH2. In other words, when the cradle BC is no longer retracted in the idle position PR, but straddling the trench, the carriages CH1, CH2 may constitute an obstacle interfering with the free travel of the coil-holder carriage.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the mechanised unloading and loading system 4 can comprise a vertical adjustment system 43 arranged between the cradle BC and the second carriage CH2, configured to provide adjustment of the height of the cradle BC.

[0101] The unloading and loading system 4 is configured to allow a loading of a sleeve V loaded on the cradle BC from the idle position PR by implementing the following actions::

[0102] / A / centring of the sleeve V with respect to the axis of the support mandrel 2 by moving the second carriage CH2 in the second direction d2 with respect to the first carriage CH1, under the action of the second actuator AT2 and / or by movement of the cradle in the vertical direction by the adjustment system 43,

[0103] / B / advancing of the sleeve V by moving the first carriage CH1 in the first direction d1 under the action of the first actuator AT1 until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve V.

[0104] In general terms, the cradle can comprise at least two support walls, inclined with respect to each other, configured to hold the sleeve, by two contact lines, respectively between the cylindrical external surface and the two inclined walls, namely a first contact line between the cylindrical external surface and one of the inclined walls typically along a first generatrix of the cylindrical surface, and a second contact line between the external surface and the other one of the inclined walls, typically along a second generatrix of the cylindrical surface.

[0105] According to one advantageous embodiment, the cradle can comprise:

[0106] a first segment BC1 configured to support the sleeve at a first end of the sleeve, in particular along the first contact line and the second contact line, having a first stop B1 configured to engage with the first end of the sleeve, typically a first base,

[0107] a second segment BC2 configured to support the sleeve at a second end of the sleeve, in particular along the first contact line and the second contact line, the second segment having a second stop B2 configured to engage with the first end of the sleeve, typically a second base.

[0108] The cradle system 40 can comprise a mechanism for adjusting the separation between the first segment BC1 and the second segment BC2, configured to allow an adjustment of the separation in an adjustment direction including a third actuator AT3.

[0109] The adjustment mechanism can comprise, oriented in the adjustment direction

[0110] a first runner G1 between the first segment BC1 and a support of the cradle system, and a first rack CR1 secured to the first segment BC1,

[0111] a second runner G2 between the second segment BC2 and the support of the cradle system, and a second rack CR2 secured to the second segment BC2.

[0112] The first rack CR1 secured to the first segment BC1 and the second rack secured to the second segment BC2 are facing each other, and are meshing with one and the same pinion PIG of a motor of the third actuator AT3.

[0113] According to the embodiment in the figures:

[0114] the rack CR1 is machined on a first rail of the first runner G1, which is configured to cooperate slidingly with a first guide piece on the support: the assembly consisting of first guide piece and first rail forms the first runner,

[0115] the rack CR2 is machined on a second rail of the second runner G2, which is configured to cooperate slidingly with a second guide piece on the support: the assembly consisting of second guide piece and second rail forms the second runner G2.

[0116] Each rail (first or second) can comprise two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, inside which two male guides of the guide piece, projecting towards each other, are configured to slide.

[0117] The rotation of the pinion PIG in a first direction makes it possible to bring the two segments BC1, BC2 closer to each other, and thus to reduce the length of the cradle. Rotating the pinion in an opposite second direction makes it possible on the other hand to separate the two segments BC1, BC2, and thus to increase the length of the cradle BC. During loading, the two segments BC1, BC2 can be separated by a dimension in length greater than the dimension of the sleeve V along its axis, and so as to facilitate the loading of the sleeve. Once in abutment on the first segment BC1 and on the second segment BC2, the adjustment mechanism can be operated to bring the two segments closer to each other, and in particular until the first and second stops B1, B2 are put in contact in abutment on the two ends of the sleeve. The positioning of the sleeve V is thus centred with respect to the cradle BC, in the longitudinal direction of the cradle BC, the sleeve wedged on its axial direction.

[0118] A centred positioning of the sleeve makes it possible to ensure reliable positioning when the first carriage CH1 is moved.

[0119] It should be noted that the height adjustment system 43 can comprise two telescopic uprights each incorporating a vertical internal VR, which is deployed to increase the dimension of the upright, or retracts to reduce the height of the upright. The deployments of the two jacks are synchronised to simultaneously deploy or retract the uprights. Optionally, the commands for the two jacks can be desynchronised in order to adjust a slight inclination defect of the sleeve.

[0120] The beam PT supporting said at least one guide rail R1 serving for guiding the first carriage CH1 is in continuous abutment over the length of the lateral edge BL of the building B of the trench opening OV. The beam PT is advantageously supported over the length of the building and therefore does not flex under the load of the movement of the first carriage and of the mass supported by the first carriage (in particular the second carriage, the cradle system and where applicable the sleeve V.

[0121] The beam PT can be a profiled beam that can comprise:

[0122] a top flange AL1, in abutment on a top surface of the lateral edge BL of the trench opening OF, and a set of securing members OF piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beam

[0123] a vertical flange AL2, in abutment on a vertical wall of the lateral edge of the trench opening, and a set of securing members OF piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beam,

[0124] a bottom flange AL3, extending below the lateral edge BL.

[0125] The top flanges AL1, vertical flange AL2 and bottom flange AL3 can form the three flanges of a C-shaped profiled member.

[0126] The first runner system 41 can comprise a lateral rail R1l extending in length in the first direction d1, secured to the vertical flange AL2, projecting laterally, and a bottom rail R1i projecting downwards from said bottom flange AL3.

[0127] The lateral rail R1l and the bottom rail R1i can each comprise a rail having two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, inside which two male guides of a guide piece, projecting towards each other, are configured to slide.

[0128] The first carriage CH1 can have a C-shaped structure having:

[0129] a bottom flange guided on the bottom rail R1i, by means of a bottom guide piece PG1i,

[0130] a vertical flange Alv guided on the lateral rail R1l, by means of a lateral guide piece PG1i,

[0131] a top flange ALs, overlapping the lateral edge carrying the second runner system 42.

[0132] It should be noted that the bottom rail R1i can include a rack meshing with an output pinion of a motor of the first actuator AT1. The pinion of the motor meshes with the rack in the body of the bottom guide piece PG1i.

[0133] Driving the motor of the first actuator AT1 in a first rotation direction of the pinion makes it possible to actuate the first carriage CH1 in a first direction and on the first axis d1, for example a movement of the cradle towards the support mandrel 20, and rotation in a second direction allows movement of the first carriage CH1 in the opposite direction, namely moving away from the support mantle 20.

[0134] It should be noted that the top wall of the lateral edge BL can be partly scalloped below the level of the top surface of the building B, so as to house said top flange Als of the first carriage CH1, and as illustrated in FIG. 3. Housing the top flange of the carriage makes it possible to arrange the second carriage CH2 in the immediate vicinity of the top surface of the building, even itself partially received in a scallop ECH in the building, arranged in depth from the top surface of the building, locally at the idle position PR, and as can be understood from FIG. 2 when the carriage leaves the scallop ECH free.

[0135] The second guide system 42 can comprise two guide pieces, configured to cooperate with two parallel rails R2 extending below a base of the second carriage CH2. The two guide pieces are secured to the top flange Als of the first carriage. Each rail has two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, inside which two male guides of a guide piece.

[0136] In general terms and as illustrated in FIG. 6, one of the rails R2 can include a rack meshing with a toothed pinion of a motor of the second actuator AT2. The rotation of the motor in one direction makes it possible to move the second carriage CH2, on the second axis d2, in a first direction, and the opposite rotation in an opposite second direction.

[0137] It should be noted that the plant can include a platform PLT for an operator, including a horizontal plate, at a distance from the building, and forming a housing.

[0138] In the idle position PR, the second carriage CH2 can be housed partially like a drawer in a space defined between the platform PLT and the building B.

[0139] The present disclosure also relates to a method for loading a sleeve V using a rolling plant according to the present disclosure having the following steps:

[0140] / A / Centring of the sleeve V with respect to the axis of the support mandrel 20 at least by moving the second carriage CH2 with respect to the first carriage CH1, under the action of the second actuator AT2, and where applicable vertical movement of the cradle when said rolling plant includes the vertical adjustment system 43,

[0141] / B / Advancing of the sleeve V loaded on the cradle by moving the first carriage CH1 along said at least one first rail R1 under the action of the first actuator AT1 until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve V.

[0142] The advantages of the system 4 for loading and unloading the sleeve V comprising all or some of the following advantages:

[0143] No interference with the cycle of the coil-holder carriage: the coil-holder carriage can be moved away at a distance to prepare subsequent operations, such as the loading of a coil or strapping, and whereas the loading and unloading system 4 can be operated simultaneously to load a sleeve V on the support mandrel, or on the other hand unload the sleeve V from the support mandrel,

[0144] the system allows long discharge travel of the support mandrel, namely a distance DI that is greater than three metres, for example four metres

[0145] the loading and unloading system has a minimised footprint on the ground, as well as a controlled vertical footprint, less than the level of the support mandrel.

[0146] The loading and unloading system 3 makes it possible to obtain a drastic reduction in the cycle for loading a coil, including providing in advance the placing of a sleeve V adapted to the dimensions of the coil.

[0147] In particular, the sequence having the centring / A / and the advancing / B / of the sleeve can be fully automated. The system 4 for loading and unloading the sleeve V can comprise a control unit including a microprocessor, a memory and a set of instructions cooperating with the memory and the microprocessor to implement the actions / A / and / B / .

[0148] Said control unit can comprise an incorporated centring function, in particular lateral, and a levelling function in order to ensure centring in the vertical direction. Once the coil is identified and by a user interface, the control unit can comprise its dimensional characteristics in a memory, which enables the unit to control the mechanism for adjusting the height by a given travel ensuring a central between the axis of the mandrel and the sleeve in the vertical direction.

[0149] The present disclosure also relates to a method for loading a sleeve using a rolling plant according to the present disclosure, having the following steps:

[0150] / A / Centring of the sleeve with respect to the axis of the support mandrel at least by moving the second carriage with respect to the first carriage, under the action of the second actuator, and where applicable vertical movement of the cradle,

[0151] / B / Advancing of the sleeve by moving the first carriage along said at least one first rail under the action of the first actuator until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve.

[0152] Expressions such as “comprise”, “include”, “incorporate”, “contain”, “is” and “have” are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

[0153] The articles “a” and “an” may be employed in connection with various elements and components, processes or structures described herein. This is merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the processes or structures. Such a description includes “one or at least one” of the elements or components. Moreover, as used herein, the singular articles also include a description of a plurality of elements or components, unless it is apparent from a specific context that the plural is excluded.

[0154] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one”, in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0155] A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various features, elements, parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, various aspects of the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically described in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

[0156] Having described above several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be aspects of this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.LIST OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS1. Rolling plant

[0158] 2. Unwinding / winding system

[0159] B. Building

[0160] 20. Support mandrel

[0161] A20. Axis of the support mandrel

[0162] V. Sleeve

[0163] 3. Coil-holder carriage

[0164] F. Trench

[0165] OV. Trench opening

[0166] 4. Unloading and loading system

[0167] 40. Cradle system

[0168] BC. Cradle

[0169] CH1. First carriage

[0170] 41 First runner system

[0171] d1. First direction

[0172] R1. Guide rail

[0173] R1i Bottom guide rail,

[0174] PG1i. Bottom guide piece,

[0175] R1v. Lateral guide rail

[0176] PG1l. Lateral guide piece

[0177] AT1. First actuator

[0178] CH2. Second carriage

[0179] 42. Second runner system

[0180] 43 Vertical adjustment system,

[0181] d2. Second direction

[0182] AT2. Second actuator

[0183] PR. Idle position

[0184] BC1. First segment

[0185] B1. First stop

[0186] BC2. Second segment

[0187] B2. Second stop

[0188] AT3. Third actuator

[0189] G1. First runner

[0190] CR1. First rack

[0191] G2. Second runner

[0192] CR2. Second rack

[0193] PIG. Pinion

[0194] PT. Beam

[0195] ALs. Top flange

[0196] ALv. Vertical flange

[0197] ALi. Bottom flange

[0198] ECH. Scallop

[0199] OF. Securing members

[0200] BL. Lateral edge

[0201] PLT. Platform.

Claims

1. A rolling plant comprising:a building,a system for unwinding / winding a metal coil, comprising a chassis mounted on an upper surface of the building, said system comprising a support mandrel, mounted rotatably about an axis of said support mandrel with respect to the chassis, and a removable sleeve mounted around said mandrel, as well as a system for rotating said support shaft, about its axis,a coil-holder carriage, extending in line with and underneath said support mandrel, arranged in a trench, below the surface of the building, the trench emerging on the upper surface through a trench opening, said coil-holder carriage configured to move in the trench, along a direction of the support mandrel, to load a coil onto the support mandrel and the sleeve of the unwinding / winding system, or conversely to extract a metal coil from the support mandrel and sleeve assemblya system for a mechanised unloading and loading of a sleeve configured to load or unload a removable sleeve on the support mandrel, including:a cradle system, comprising a cradle configured to support a sleeve, on a sleeve axis parallel to the axis of the support mandrela first carriage, guided by a first runner system having at least one guide rail arranged in length along a guidance direction parallel to the axis of the support mandrel, movable along said at least one rail under the action of a first actuator, said at least one rail mounted longitudinally on a beam that is supported in length by a lateral edge of the trench opening,a second carriage incorporating the cradle system, guided with respect to the first carriage, by means of a second runner system configured to provide guidance of the second carriage with respect to the first carriage in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the second carriage movable under the action of a second actuator,and wherein the mechanised unloading and loading system configured to allow a positioning of the cradle system and of the cradle in an idle position for which the cradle is retracted at a distance from the support mandrel by the first carriage in the first direction, and retracted laterally in the transverse second direction, the cradle and the second carriage being offset transversely and laterally with respect to the trench opening, and a loading of a sleeve loaded on the cradle from the idle position by implementation of the following actions: / A / centring of the sleeve with respect to the axis of the support mandrel at least by moving the second carriage in the second direction with respect to the first carriage, under the action of the second actuator, / B / advancing of the sleeve by moving the first carriage in the first direction under the action of the first actuator until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve.

2. The rolling plant according to claim 1, including a platform for an operator, and wherein, in the idle position, the second carriage is housed partially as a drawer between the platform the building.

3. The rolling plant according to claim 1, having a vertical adjustment system, between the cradle and the second carriage, configured to provide adjustment of the height of the cradle, and wherein the centring / A / comprises a vertical movement of the cradle by the vertical adjustment system.

4. The rolling plant according to claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises:a first segment configured to support the sleeve at a first end of the sleeve, having a first stop configured to engage with the first end of the sleeve,a second segment configured to support the sleeve at a second end of the sleeve, having a second stop configured to engage with the second end of the sleeve, and wherein the cradle system comprises a mechanism for adjusting the separation between the first segment and the second segment, configured to allow an adjustment of the separation in an adjustment direction including a third actuator.

5. The rolling plant according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises, oriented in the adjustment direction,a first runner between the first segment and a support of the cradle system, and a first rack secured to the first segment,a second runner between the second segment and the support of the cradle system, and a second rack secured to the second segment, and wherein the first rack and the second rack are facing each other, meshing with one and the same pinion of a motor of the third actuator.

6. The rolling plant according to claim 1, wherein the beam is a profiled beam comprising:a top flange, in abutment on a top surface of the lateral edge of the trench opening, and a set of securing members piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beama vertical flange, in abutment on a vertical wall of the lateral edge of the trench opening, and a set of securing members piercing the lateral edge through orifices in the top flange distributed over the length of the beam,a bottom flange, extending below the lateral edge.

7. The rolling plant according to claim 6, wherein the first runner system comprises a lateral rail extending in length, secured to the vertical flange, projecting laterally, and a bottom rail projecting downwards from said bottom flange.

8. The rolling plant according to claim 6, wherein the first carriage has a C-shaped structure having:a bottom flange guided on the bottom rail,a vertical flange guided on the lateral rail,a top flange, overlapping the lateral edge carrying the second runner system.

9. The rolling plant according to claim 8, wherein the top wall of the lateral edge is partly scalloped below the level of the top surface of the building, so as to house said top flange of the first carriage.

10. A method for loading a sleeve using a rolling plant according to claim 1, comprising: / A / centring the sleeve with respect to the axis of the support mandrel at least by moving the second carriage with respect to the first carriage, under the action of the second actuator, / B / advancing the sleeve by moving the first carriage along said at least one first rail under the action of the first actuator until the mandrel is inserted in the sleeve.

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