Aligning device for high aspect ratio slabs or plates

Abstract

A rolling mill has an arrangement for aligning a work piece with the work rollers. A beam having a face or edge providing an alignment datum is introduced to the path of the work piece, which is contacted with, and pushed against the face or edge by the roller table. After the work piece is aligned, the beam is raised and the work piece proceeds to the working rollers.

1 . A rolling mill comprising:
 a roller table having a plurality of transport rollers, operable to transport a work piece via a path to a pair of cooperating work rollers, each of said work rollers being rotatable around a rotational axis thereof; and   a mechanical stop having a face or edge parallel with the respective rotational axes of the work rollers, the stop being moveable between a first position in the path of the work piece being transported to the work rollers and a second position clear of said path.   
     
     
         2 . A rolling mill according to  claim 1 , where the mechanical stop is a beam located above the roller table. 
     
     
         3 . A rolling mill according to  claim 2 , comprising hydraulic rollers that interact with the beam to move the beam between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         4 . A rolling mill according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller table comprises a first region having a plurality of transport rollers of constant diameter and a second region having a plurality of tapered or stepped transport rollers with different diameter from a first end to a second end, alternate tapered or stepped transport rollers being arranged with their first ends at a first side of the roller table and a second side of the roller table respectively and further characterized in that the first region extends along the direction of transport from at least two roller pitches in front of the mechanical stop up the work rollers. 
     
     
         5 . A method of rolling a work piece on a rolling mill comprising:
 introducing a mechanical stop, having a face or edge providing an alignment datum, to a path of the work piece proceeding along a roller table to work rolls;   transporting the work piece, via the roller table, and driving the work piece against the face to effect alignment therewith;   raising the mechanical stop clear of the path of the work piece and transporting the work piece to the work rolls.