Patent ID: 6976617

Claim:
A method of rolling discrete product lengths having front and tail ends through successive roll stands arranged on a mill pass line, said method being operable alternatively in first and second modes, said first mode comprising: operating a first of the roll stands at a delivery speed that exceeds the take up speed of a successive second roll stand; directing first and second product lengths as they exit from the first roll stand away from the mill pass line along an entry path leading to a welding station positioned laterally with respect to the mill pass line, and from the welding station along a delivery path leading back to the same mill pass line for continued rolling in the second roll stand; temporarily accumulating a first portion of the first product length along the delivery path while rolling of the first product length is taking place in the second roll stand; retaining the tail end of the first product length at the welding station during a time interval in which the accumulated first portion continues to be rolled in the second roll stand; retaining the front end of the second product length at the welding station during said time interval, while temporarily accumulating a second portion of the second product length along the entry path; welding the retained front and tail ends together during said time interval; and releasing the thus welded ends; and said second mode comprising bypassing said entry path and directing said product lengths along said mill pass line from said first roll stand directly to said second roll stand.