Method and apparatus for replacing the rollers of rolling mills having different sizes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for replacing rollers of rolling mills of different sizes involves rollers having lift trunnions mounted on a roller stand in a rolling mill by a roller mounting comprising a plurality of mounting pieces on both ends of the rollers and connected to each other by connecting elements. The roller mounting and the rollers are removed from the roller stand of the roller mill using a conveyor means and passed in a rolling line to an apparatus for replacing the rollers arranged exteriorly of the rolling line. The roller mounting is removed in an upright position and subsequently swung into a horizontal position wherein the mounting pieces are removed from the lift trunnions on both ends of the rollers and brought into a park position. Thereafter, new rollers replace the old rollers in pairs, the mounting pieces are moved back onto the lift trunnions of the new rollers and the completed roller mounting and roller assembly is swung back to the original upright position and returned to the roller stand by the conveyor means. The apparatus includes a swing device for bringing the roller mounting back and forth from the upright position to the horizontal position, a slide device for moving the mounting pieces, and a replaceable multi-functional transport device related in size to the size of the rolling mill.