Rolling mill product handling system

• US 7,219,521 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primetals Technologies USA LLC (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Morgan Construction Company (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Eldredge, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US11/523,415
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 722/01, 722/50, 198/433, 198/450, 198/451, 198/452, 414/745.7
• US Class Current: 72/250
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 39/004 Transverse moving
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 39/20 Revolving, turning-over, or like manipulation of work, e.g. revolving in trio standsguides in which work is subjected to permanent internal twisting B21B15/02
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 43/003 Transfer to bed

Abstract

A product handling system comprises a support structure defining a pair of stationary inverted first channels with downwardly facing open sides. At least one cylindrical drum is interposed between each of the first channels and an underlying receiver. The drums are rotatable about their axes, with their surfaces arranged to close the open sides of the respective first channels. The drum surfaces are interrupted by second channels, with the first and second channels and the drum axes being arranged in a parallel relationship. Successive product lengths are alternately delivered longitudinally into one and then the other of the first channels. The drums are rotated about their axes resulting in the thus delivered product lengths being sequentially: (i) temporarily retained in the first channels by the rotating drum surfaces; (ii) deposited from the first channels into the second channels when the second channels rotate into radial alignment and communication with the first channels and (iii) downwardly deposited from the second channels to the receiver when the second channels rotate to discharge positions over the underlying receiver.

Claims

1. A product handling system for longitudinally receiving product lengths from a rolling mill, and for transferring said product lengths to an underlying receiver, said system comprising:

a support structure defining a pair of stationary inverted first channels with downwardly facing open sides;

at least one cylindrical drum interposed between each of said first channels and said receiver, said drums being rotatable about their axes and having drum surfaces arranged to close the open sides of the respective first channels, said drum surfaces being interrupted by second channels, with said first and second channels and drum axes being arranged in a parallel relationship;

delivery means for alternately delivering sequential product lengths longitudinally into one and then the other of said first channels; and

drive means for rotating said drums, the arrangement of said drum surfaces and said second channels relative to said first channels being such that as a result of drum rotation, the thus delivered product lengths are each sequentially;

(i) temporarily retained in said first channels by the rotating drum surfaces;

(ii) deposited from said first channels into said second channels when said second channels are rotated into radial alignment and communication with said first channels; and

(iii) downwardly transferred from said second channels to said receiver when said second channels are rotated to a discharge positions over said receiver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a series of said drums are interposed between each of said first channels and said receiver, the drums of each series being aligned on a common axis with their respective second channels in alignment, and wherein said drive means operates to rotate the drums of each series in unison.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said drive means operates to rotate said drums continuously.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said support structure additionally defines shrouds partially enveloping said drums and extending circumferentially from said first channels to said discharge positions.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said drive means is operative to rotate said drums in opposite directions.

6. A product handling system for longitudinally receiving subdivided product lengths from a rolling mill, and for transferring said product lengths to an underlying receiver, said system comprising:

a support structure defining a pair of stationary inverted first channels with downwardly facing open sides;

a series of cylindrical drums interposed between each of said first channels and said receiver, the drums of each series being rotatable in unison about a common axis and having drum surfaces arranged to close the open sides of the respective first channels, the drum surfaces of each series being interrupted by aligned second channels, with said first channels, said aligned second channels and said axes being arranged in a parallel relationship;

delivery means for alternately delivering sequential product lengths longitudinally into one and then the other of said first channels; and

drive means for continuously rotating the drums of each of said series in opposite directions, the arrangement of said drum surfaces and their second channels relative to the respective first channels being such that as a result of the rotation of said drums, the thus delivered product lengths are each sequentially;

(i) temporarily retained in said first channels by the rotating drum surfaces;

(ii) deposited from said first channels into said aligned second channels when said second channels are rotated into radial alignment and communication with said first channels; and

(iii) downwardly transferred from said second channels to said receiver when said second channels are rotated to discharge positions over said receiver.