Patent ID: 6240763
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B21B

Abstract:
In a mill train for rolling elongated metal product including a plurality of mill stands disposed in-line along a roll pass line, a stand storage area adjacent said roll pass line and a stand preparation area adjacent said stand storage area, apparatus for administering the preparation and transfer of mill stands comprising:said stand storage area including a plurality of stand storage compartments disposed in end-to-end relation along a line parallel to said roll pass line,at least one quick change table, each associated with a plurality of stands of the mill train, extending parallel to said roll pass line and disposed intermediate said roll pass line and said stand storage area,means for moving each said quick change table in opposite linear directions parallel to said roll pass line,means for transferring said mill stands between said roll pass line and each said quick change table,means for transferring said mill stands between said stand storage area and each said quick change table, andeach said quick change table being of a length to span across all of the transferring means of the stands associated with said quick change table.