Continuous rolling mill

Claim 2

In a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for rolling joined coils of strip, means for quickly opening and cloSing the work rolls of each stand, means for uncoiling separate coils to said mill, means for joining in the form of a spot welder or stitcher the trailing end of a first fed coil to the leading end of a second coil to be fed to said mill, control means for operating said work roll opening and closing means to either open one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to the joining means, or the entire mill to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby, and then to either quickly close one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to the joining means, or the entire mill immediately after the joined portion has passed through the work rolls of said one or more stands or each stand or said entire mill.

Claim 3

In a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, means for quickly opening and closing the work rolls of each stand, means for establishing a first speed and a second speed substantially higher than the first speed for the mill, means for uncoiling separate coils to said mill, means for joining in the form of a spot welder or stitcher the trailing end of a first fed coil to the leading end of a second coil to be fed to said mill, means arranged between said mill and said joining means capable of storing strip sufficient to permit said joining means to join said coils while the mill is being operated at said first speed, control means operating during said first speed condition for opening said work roll opening and closing means to succeedingly open each mill stand commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and means after the strip has passed through the mill to change the speed of the mill from said first speed to said second speed.

Claim 4

In a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, means for quickly opening and closing the work rolls of each stand, means for establishing a first speed and a second speed substantially higher than the first speed for the mill, means for uncoiling separate coils to said mill, means for joining in the form of a spot welder or stitcher the trailing end of a first fed coil to the leading end of a second coil to be fed to said mill, means arranged between said mill and said joining means capable of storing strip sufficient to permit said joining means to join said coils while the mill is being operated at said first speed, control means operating during said first speed condition for opening said work roll opening and closing means to succeedingly open each mill stand commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and means after the strip has passed through the mill to change the speed of the mill from said first speed to said second speed.

Claim 5

In a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, means for quickly opening and closing the work rolls of each stand, means for establishing a first speed and a second speed substantially higher than the first speed for the mill, separate means for uncoiling separate coils to said mill, means for joining in the form of a spot welder or stitcher the trailing end of a first fed coil to the leading end of a second coil to be fed to said mill, a single roll strip looper means arranged between said mill and said joining means capable of storing strip sufficient to permit said joining means to join said coils while the mill is being operated at said first speed, control means operating during said first speed condition for opening said work roll opening and closing means to succeedingly open each mill stand commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and means after the strip has passed through the mill to change the speed of the mill from said first speed to said second speed.

Claim 6

In a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, means for quickly opening and closing the work rolls of each stand, means for establishing a first speed and a second speed substantially higher than the first speed for the mill, separate means for uncoiling separate coils to said mill, means for joining in the form of a spot welder or stitcher the trailing end of a first fed coil to the leading end of a second coil to be fed to said mill, a single roll strip looper means arranged between said mill and said joining means capable of storing strip sufficient to permit said joining means to join said coils while the mill is being operated at said first speed, control means operating during said first speed condition for opening said work roll opening and closing means to succeedingly open each mill stand commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and means after the strip has passed through the mill to change the speed of the mill from said first speed to said second speed.

Claim 7

In a rolling mill according to claim 3 wherein said means for quickly opening and closing said work rolls of each stand includes for each stand a rapidly operating hydraulic piston cylinder assembly.

Claim 8

In a rolling mill according to claim 3 including a flying shear means at the delivery side of said mill operated at said first speed condition for cutting out the joined portioN of the strips, and separate means for coiling the portion of the strip preceding the cutout portion and for coiling the portion of the strip following the cutout portion.

Claim 9

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between a coil uncoiling means and said mill, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together, opening the work rolls of either one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to said joining means, or the entire mill to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby, and then quickly closing either one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to the joining means, or the entire mill immediately after the joined portion has passed through the work rolls of said one or more stands or each stand or said entire mill, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.

Claim 10

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between a coil uncoiling means and said mill, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together, opening the work rolls of either one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to said joining means, or the entire mill to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby, and then quickly closing either one or more stands as a unit or each stand succeedingly, in both instances commencing with the stand or stands closest to the joining means, or the entire mill immediately after the joined portion has passed through the work rolls of said one or more stands or each stand or said entire mill, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.

Claim 11

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to said mill, causing a portion of strip to be stored between the mill and a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between said coil and said mill, the amount of stored strip being sufficient to permit said joining means to join coils while the mill is being operated at a first speed, operating said mill at said first speed while the leading end of said first coil is fed to the mill, thereafter increasing the speed of the mill to a second speed which speed is substantially greater than said first speed, before the strip of said first coil is completely fed to said mill reducing the speed of the mill to said first speed, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together while feeding the mill at said first speed with said stored strip, detecting the joined ends of said coils, and as a result thereof, and while the mill is still being operated at said first speed, opening the work rolls of each of said stands in succession commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.

Claim 12

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to said mill, causing a portion of strip to be stored between the mill and a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between said coil and said mill, the amount of stored strip being sufficient to permit said joining means to join coils while the mill is being operated at a first speed, operating said mill at said first speed while the leading end of said first coil is fed to the mill, thereafter increasing the speed of the mill to a second speed which speed is substantially greater than said first speed, before the strip of said first coil is completely fed to said mill reducing the speed of the mill to said first speed, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together while feeding the mill at said first speed with said stored strip, detecting the joined ends of said coils, and as a result thereof, and while the mill is still being operated at said first speed, opening the work rolls of each of said stands in succession commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.

Claim 13

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to said mill, causing a single loop of strip to be formed and stored between the mill and a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between said coil and said mill, the amount of stored strip being sufficient to permit said joining means to join coils while the mill is being operated at a first speed, operating said mill at said first speed while the leading end of said first coil is fed to the mill, thereafter increasing the speed of the mill to a second speed which speed is substantially Greater than said first speed, before the strip of said first coil is completely fed to said mill reducing the speed of the mill to said first speed, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together while feeding the mill at said first speed with said stored strip, detecting the joined ends of said coils, and as a result thereof, and while the mill is still being operated at said first speed, opening the work rolls of each of said stands in succession commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.

Claim 14

In a method of operating a rolling mill having a number of cooperative tandemly arranged mill stands for continually rolling joined coils of strip, the steps of: uncoiling a first coil of strip to said mill, causing a single loop of strip to be formed and stored between the mill and a strip joining means in the form of a spot welder or stitcher arranged between said coil and said mill, the amount of stored strip being sufficient to permit said joining means to join coils while the mill is being operated at a first speed, operating said mill at said first speed while the leading end of said first coil is fed to the mill, thereafter increasing the speed of the mill to a second speed which speed is substantially Greater than said first speed, before the strip of said first coil is completely fed to said mill reducing the speed of the mill to said first speed, feeding the trailing end of said first coil to said strip joining means, feeding the leading end of a second coil to said strip joining means, spot welding or stitching the two ends together while feeding the mill at said first speed with said stored strip, detecting the joined ends of said coils, and as a result thereof, and while the mill is still being operated at said first speed, opening the work rolls of each of said stands in succession commencing with the stand closest to the joining means to allow the joined portion of the strips to pass between the open work rolls without being rolled thereby and then to succeedingly close each mill stand to commence rolling quickly immediately after the joined portion is passed through the work rolls of each stand, and establishing tension between succeeding pairs of closed stands and rolling to gauge in each stand once tension in the stand is established.