Rotating entry system with front end or front and rear drive system

Abstract

A rolling mill rotating entry system (RES) with at least one front end-driven drum that indexes alignment of the RES guide path and drum with the bar stock transfer guide path. The front end drive system is offset from the bar stock transfer path, so that the bar stock has sufficient clearance to enter the guide path. The front end drive system facilitates desired indexed alignment of the RES guide path and the bar stock transfer path without the need for front end braking or damping systems that are customarily used with rear driven drums in known RES systems. Other RES embodiments include a rear drive system that drives the drum in tandem with the front drive system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rolling mill rotating entry system, comprising:
 a drum rotatable about an axis, having a front axial end and a rear axial end, at least one drum channel capable of receiving stock translated into the drum from said front end toward said rear end thereof along a downstream transfer path that is established when the drum is rotated to a loading position and discharging stock from the drum channel when the drum is rotated to a discharge position; and   a drive coupled to the drum proximal the front axial end thereof, for rotating the drum, the drive oriented offset from and not impeding the stock downstream transfer path.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a motor coupled to a drive gear of a gear train, and a driven gear of the gear train coupled to the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the driven gear has a hub that defines at least one through-passage slot for unimpeded passage of stock therethrough along the downstream transfer path. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the driven gear is coupled to a rotatable drum shaft that is coupled to the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the drum has a plurality of drum channels oriented parallel to the drum rotational axis about a periphery of the drum; and   the driven gear defines a plurality of respective through-slots aligned with each respective drum channel along the downstream transfer path.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the motor is a servo motor for rotating the drum in step-like start/stop motion from the loading position to the discharge position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system defines at least one through-passage slot for unimpeded passage of stock therethrough along the downstream transfer path. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the drum has a plurality of drum channels oriented parallel to the drum rotational axis about a periphery of the drum; and   the drive system defines a plurality of respective through-passage slots aligned with each respective drum channel along the downstream transfer path.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the drive comprises a motor coupled to a drive gear of a gear train, and a driven gear of the gear train coupled to the drum, the driven gear having a hub defining the through-passage slots. 
     
     
         10 . A rolling mill line system with a rotating entry system for a cooling bed, comprising coupled in series:
 a roll stand for translating rolled stock along a transfer path;   a stock shear and transfer switch for respectively shearing stock to a desired length and selectively continuing stock translation along at least one downstream transfer path;   a guide structure for guiding stock translation along the downstream transfer path;   a drum rotatable about an axis, having a front axial end in proximity to the guide structure and a rear axial end, at least one drum channel capable of receiving stock translated from said front end toward said rear end thereof along the downstream transfer path when the drum is rotated to a loading position and discharging stock from the drum channel when the drum is rotated to a discharge position;   a drive coupled to the drum proximal the front axial end thereof, for rotating the drum, the drive oriented offset from and not impeding the stock transfer path; and   a cooling bed for receiving stock discharged from the drum.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the drive comprises a motor coupled to a drive gear of a gear train, and a driven gear of the gear train coupled to the drum. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drive comprises a motor coupled to a drive gear of a gear train, and a driven gear of the gear train coupled to the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the driven gear has a hub that defines at least one through-passage slot for unimpeded passage of stock therethrough along the downstream transfer path. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the driven gear is coupled to a rotatable drum shaft that is coupled to the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the drum has a plurality of drum channels oriented parallel to the drum rotational axis about a periphery of the drum; and   the driven gear defines a plurality of respective through-slots aligned with each respective drum channel along the downstream transfer path.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the drive system defines at least one through-passage slot for unimpeded passage of stock therethrough along the downstream transfer path. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the drum has a plurality of drum channels oriented parallel to the drum rotational axis about a periphery of the drum; and   the drive system defines a plurality of respective through-passage slots aligned with each respective drum channel along the downstream transfer path.   
     
     
         18 . A rolling mill line system with a rotating entry system, comprising coupled in series:
 a roll stand for translating rolled stock along a transfer path;   a stock shear and transfer switch for respectively shearing stock to a desired length and selectively continuing stock translation along a plurality of downstream transfer paths;   a plurality of respective guide structures corresponding to each downstream transfer path for guiding stock translation along said downstream transfer path;   a plurality of respective drums corresponding to each downstream transfer path, each drum rotatable about an axis, having a front axial end in proximity to the respective guide structure and a rear axial end, at least one drum channel capable of receiving stock translated from said front end toward said rear end thereof along the downstream transfer path when the drum is rotated to a loading position and discharging stock from the drum channel when the drum is rotated to a discharge position;   a drive coupled to at least one respective drum proximal the front axial end thereof, for rotating the respective drum, the drive oriented offset from and not impeding the stock downstream transfer path; and   a cooling bed for receiving stock discharged from at least one respective drum.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one drive system defines at least one through-passage slot for unimpeded passage of stock therethrough along the downstream transfer path. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 at least one drum has a plurality of drum channels oriented parallel to the drum rotational axis about a periphery of the drum; and   at least one drive system defines a plurality of respective through-passage slots aligned with each respective drum channel along the downstream transfer path.