Rolling apparatus, plant and method

Abstract

An apparatus for rolling a metal product includes a first roller and a second roller, both defining at least two rolling channels, and a guide configured to selectively guide the metal product toward one or another of the at least two rolling channels.

1 . Apparatus for rolling a metal product, which can be used in a block of fast stands for rolling and finishing long products, said apparatus being provided with rolling means comprising rolling stands having a first roller rotatable around a first axis of rotation and a second roller, opposite said first roller, rotatable around a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation, wherein said first roller comprises at least two first grooves and said second roller comprises at least two second grooves, opposite said first grooves and defining with them at least two rolling channels, wherein said at least two rolling channels each define their own axis of exit of the metal product being rolled, at least one of which is misaligned with the axis of arrival of the product being rolled from a previous rolling stand, and in that said apparatus also comprises guide means configured to selectively guide said metal product toward one or another of said at least two rolling channels, thus modifying the axis of exit of the metal product from said rolling stand. 
     
     
         2 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said grooves have identical work surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least two rolling channels comprise a first rolling channel and a second rolling channel and in that said first rolling channel is defined by two grooves having a work surface different from the work surface of the two grooves that define said second rolling channel. 
     
     
         4 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said rolling means comprise a first rolling channel defined by a first groove of said first roller and by a first groove of said second roller both having the respective work surface smooth; a second rolling channel defined by a second groove of said first roller and by a second groove of said second roller both having the respective work surface configured to give a first type of rib to a metal product; and a third rolling channel defined by a third groove of said first roller and by a third groove of said second roller both having the respective work surface configured to give a second type of rib to a metal product, different from said first type of rib. 
     
     
         5 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said guide means comprise a fixed structure on which there is disposed a mobile structure to which two opposite guide rollers are attached, which define a guide channel lying on the same plane on which said at least two rolling channels lie, said mobile structure being configured to selectively direct said guide channel toward one or another of said rolling channels. 
     
     
         6 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said fixed structure comprises a sliding guide on which said mobile structure is slidably mounted. 
     
     
         7 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said mobile structure is pivoted to said fixed structure in order to rotate with respect to the latter around an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . Rolling apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said guide means also comprise a mobile diverter with a substantially tubular shape, configured so that a metal product can pass through it and having both a first end associated with said mobile structure, upstream of said guide rollers, and also a second end associated with said fixed structure. 
     
     
         9 . Rolling plant comprising a rolling line having a plurality of rolling stands disposed in succession and a rolling apparatus as in  claim 1 , disposed in a terminal position, or in proximity to said terminal position, of said rolling line. 
     
     
         10 . Method for rolling long metal products in a block of fast stands disposed in sequence with respect to each other, comprising the following steps:
 making available rolling means having a first roller rotatable around a first axis of rotation and a second roller, opposite said first roller, rotatable around a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation, wherein said first roller comprises at least two first grooves and said second roller comprises at least two second grooves, opposite said first grooves and defining with them at least two rolling channels;   feeding a metal product toward said rolling means;   guiding said metal product toward a first rolling channel;   temporarily interrupting the feed of said metal product toward said rolling means;   guiding said metal product toward a second rolling channel different from said first rolling channel;   feeding said metal product toward said rolling means, thus modifying the axis of exit of the metal product with respect to the axis of exit of the first rolling channel.