Method and apparatus for the rapid delivery of heavy plates from a rolling mill

Abstract

A method and device for rapid discharging of metallic plates ( 21, 22 ) particularly thick plates, from a rolling mill, to enable secure discharge of relatively short plates ( 21, 22 ) from the rolling mill at high velocity and low cycle times by transporting a first plate ( 21 ) on a roller bed ( 9, 13 ) in the transport direction (T), and preferably the first plate ( 21 ) is accelerated in the transport direction (T); depositing the first plate ( 21 ) on the roller bed ( 9, 13 ); transporting a second plate ( 22 ) on the roller bed ( 9, 13 ) in the transport direction (T); depositing the second plate ( 22 ) in the transport direction before the first plate ( 21 ) on the roller bed ( 9, 13 ); and discharging the first and the second plates ( 21, 22 ) from the roller bed ( 9, 13 ) onto a storage ( 24 ), wherein the discharging occurs crosswise to the transport direction (T).

1 . A method for the delivery of metallic plates from a rolling mill, comprising the method steps:
 transporting a first plate on a roller table in a direction of transport, and accelerating the first plate in the direction of transport; and   storing the first plate on the roller table after the acceleration thereof;   then transporting a second plate on the roller table in the direction of transport; and   storing the second plate in the direction of transport in front of the first plate such that the second plate does not move past the first plate on the roller table; and   concurrently delivering the first and the second plates from the roller table into a storage location.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transporting at least a third plate on the roller table in the direction of transport; and   storing the third plate in the direction of transport in front of the second plate such that the third plate does not move past the second plate on the roller table; and   concurrently delivering the first, second and third plates from the roller table into a storage location.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the delivering of the plates takes place transversely relative to the direction of transport. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       using a lateral conveyor to perform the steps during the delivery by:
 lifting the at least one plate from the roller table; 
 transporting the lifted plate transversely relative to the direction of transport from the roller table to the storage location; 
 storing the at least one plate at the storage location; and 
 returning the lateral conveyor to a start position for the lifting of a plate, such that the lateral conveyor can be used to again transport at least one plate. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       performing the method steps during the delivery by:
 gripping the at least one plate on the roller table by means of a gripper; 
 swiveling the gripper and the gripped at least one plate about a swiveling axis which is oriented parallel to the direction of transport; 
 then releasing the swiveled plate from the gripper and storing the plate at the storage location; and 
 then returning the gripper to a start position, such that the gripper can be swiveled to again deliver at least one plate. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising lowering the storage location by at least a plate thickness after the storage of the at least one plate. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising cutting the plates to a length before transporting the plates on the roller table in the direction of transport. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for delivery of plates from a hot-rolling mill, comprising:
 a roller table for transporting a plate in a direction of transport, wherein the roller table comprises a plurality of driven rollers for accelerating the plate in a direction of transport;   a storage device configured and operable for storing the plate on the roller table at a defined position on the table;   a lateral conveyor configured and operable for concurrent delivery of a plurality of the plates, transversely relative to a direction of transport, from the roller table to a storage location transversely relative to the direction of transport, from the roller table to the storage location.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the storage location comprises a limit stop and an actuator configured for moving the limit stop for the plate, the moving being into and out of a transport path of the plate on the roller table. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the storage location comprises a table roller which can be braked. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the lateral conveyor comprises a lifting rail positioned and configured for lifting the plates, a lift actuator for raising the lifting rail, and a traversing carriage for moving the plate then on the lifting rail transversely relative to the direction of transport. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the lifting rail has a plurality of arms, wherein at least one table roller is arranged between two of the arms in a starting position of the transporting of a plate at the lifting rail. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the lateral conveyor comprises a gripper for clamping to the plate, and a gripper swiveling unit configured for swiveling the plate about an axis of rotation which is oriented in the direction of transport. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the storage location comprising a height-adjustable storage table; and
 an actuator for adjusting the height of the storage table.   
     
     
         15 . A method for cooling a metal plate in a cooling section, wherein the cooling section comprises:
 a roller table for transporting the plate in the direction of transport through the cooling section, the cooling section further comprising:   at least one variable flow cooling nozzle configured for cooling the plate moving through the cooling section;   at least one detector configured for determining a speed of the plate moving through the cooling section; and   an adjustment device configured for setting a volume of coolant through the cooling nozzle;   the method comprising the following method steps:   transporting the plate through the cooling section;   detecting the speed of the plate moving through the cooling section;   supplying the detected speed to the adjustment device; and   setting the volume of coolant through the cooling nozzle by the adjustment device as a function of the speed of the plate for causing the plate to be uniformly cooled.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for cooling a metal plate in a cooling section, comprising:
 a roller table for transporting the plate in a direction of transport through the cooling section;   the cooling section comprising:   at least one speed detector located and configured for determining a speed of the plate moving through the cooling section;   at least one variable flow cooling nozzle configured for uniformly cooling the plate moving through the cooling section;   an adjustment device configured for setting a volume of coolant through the at least one cooling nozzle for the uniform cooling;   the at least one speed detector and the adjustment device being configured for supplying the detected speed to the adjustment device; and   the adjustment device being configured and operable for the adjustment device to set the volume of the coolant through the cooling nozzle as a function of the detected speed of the plate for causing the plate to be uniformly cooled.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising lowering the storage location lowered by at least a plate thickness after the storage of the at least one plate at the storage location. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of the internal conveyors configured and operable for delivering at least one of the plates transversely relative to the direction of transport from the roller table to the storage location.