Straightening apparatus for metal products and method to replace at least one straightening roll of said apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11207723-B2
Application number	US-201816220342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2018
Priority date	Dec 15, 2017
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

Apparatus for straightening metal products comprising:at least one rotation shaft on which at least one straightening roll is installed in a selectively removable manner;a first structure provided with at least a first support member configured to hold and support a first end of the rotation shaft;a second structure provided with at least a second support member configured to selectively support and hold a second end, opposite the first end, of the rotation shaft;a movement member configured to move the second structure toward/away from the first structure and to allow the installation or removal of the straightening roll from the rotation shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for straightening metal products comprising:
a rotation shaft on which a straightening roll is installed in a selectively removable manner;
a first structure provided with at least a first support member configured to hold and support a first end of the rotation shaft;
a second structure provided with at least a second support member configured to selectively support and hold a second end, opposite the first end, of the rotation shaft,
wherein said second support member comprises a tubular support bushing inserted axially at least on the second end of the rotation shaft, in that said tubular support bushing is provided with a support end installed protruding with respect to the second structure and toward the straightening roll, and in that the straightening roll is provided, at one end of an axial cavity thereof, with a circumferential hollow in which said support end of said tubular support bushing is positioned;

a movement member configured to move the second structure toward/away from the first structure and to allow the installation or removal of the straightening roll from the rotation shaft, wherein said second structure is provided with gripping means, able to be selectively activated to take and hold the straightening roll on the second structure at least during the movement of the second structure.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said second structure is provided with a first surface facing, during use, toward the first structure and with a second surface, opposite said first surface, and in that said gripping means are at least partly installed in the space comprised between said first surface and the straightening roll.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said gripping means comprise a gripping element configured to attach at least one portion of the straightening roll to the second structure, and an actuation device configured to take the gripping element to an active attachment condition of the straightening roll and an inactive condition of non-interference with the straightening roll.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the straightening roll is provided, at one end, with a gripping edge, and in that said gripping edge, during use, is directly facing said second structure, and said gripping means are able to be selectively coupled with said gripping edge in order to take and hold the straightening roll on the second structure.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the straightening roll comprises a bushing having an axial cavity able to be inserted axially on the rotation shaft, and two straightening rings attached solidly to the ends of said bushing, and in that between said gripping edge and one of the straightening rings there is an interspace in which said gripping means are at least partly positioned.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said gripping means are configured to keep the straightening roll inserted with its circumferential hollow in said support end.

7. A method to replace a straightening roll installed in a selectively removable manner on a rotation shaft, said method providing:
to hold and support a first end of the rotation shaft on a first support member of a first structure,
to selectively support and hold a second end, opposite said first end, of the rotation shaft on a second support member of a second structure,
wherein said second support member comprises a tubular support bushing inserted axially at least on the second end of the rotation shaft, in that said tubular support bushing is provided with a support end installed protruding with respect to the second structure and toward the straightening roll, and in that the straightening roll is provided, at one end of an axial cavity thereof, with a circumferential hollow in which said support end of said tubular support bushing is positioned,
to move said second structure, with a movement member, relative to said first structure,
wherein at least during the movement of said second structure relative to said first structure, gripping means take and hold the straightening roll on said second structure to allow, during the removal, the axial removal of the straightening roll from the rotation shaft or, during installation, the axial insertion of the straightening roll on the rotation shaft.

8. The method as in claim 7 , wherein when the installation of said straightening roll on the rotation shaft is required:
a support slider with the straightening roll is positioned between said first structure and said second structure, disposing said straightening roll facing said second structure,
said gripping means take and hold said straightening roll,
said support slider moves outside the space comprised between said first structure and said second structure, leaving said straightening roll on said second structure, and
said second structure is moved toward said first structure to insert said straightening roll on the rotation shaft.

9. The method as in claim 7 , wherein when the removal of the straightening roll from the rotation shaft is required:
said gripping means are driven to take and hold the straightening roll on said second structure,
said second structure is moved away from said first structure, removing the straightening roll from the rotation shaft,
a support slider is positioned between said first structure and said second structure to receive the straightening roll supported by said second structure,
said gripping means are deactivated to position the straightening roll on said support slider.

Assignees

• Danieli Off Mecc

Inventors

• Martinello Paolo
• Tibalt Simone
• Rossit Alessandro

Classifications

• B21D3/05

  arranged on axes rectangular to the path of the work · CPC title

• B21D37/14

  Particular arrangements for handling and holding in place complete dies · CPC title

• B21D1/02 Primary

  by rollers (B21D1/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B21B2015/0071

  Levelling the rolled product · CPC title

• B21D1/05

  Stretching combined with rolling · CPC title