초록 ▼

A process and apparatus for producing increased reductions in strip material, particularly soft metal strip materials, are disclosed. The process and apparatus utilize a rolling mill having at least two offset work rolls driven at a peripheral speed ratio less than a desired gage reduction ratio but

A process and apparatus for producing increased reductions in strip material, particularly soft metal strip materials, are disclosed. The process and apparatus utilize a rolling mill having at least two offset work rolls driven at a peripheral speed ratio less than a desired gage reduction ratio but greater than zero and a mechanism for applying forward tension to the strip material. The desired gage reduction may be obtained using reduced separating force magnitudes and minimized tension force magnitudes. The rolling mill utilizes relatively small diameter work rolls without having to provide additional support structures other than the back-up rolls and frame roll supports to prevent roll bending in the rolling direction. Roll flattening is substantially eliminated resulting in improved gage control and strip flatness.

대표청구항 ▼

A rolling mill for reducing the thickness of a strip material being rolled, said mill comprising: at least two driven back-up rolls, each of said back-up rolls having an axis of rotation; said axes of rotation defining a first plane; at least two offset idler work rolls forming a roll bite through w

A rolling mill for reducing the thickness of a strip material being rolled, said mill comprising: at least two driven back-up rolls, each of said back-up rolls having an axis of rotation; said axes of rotation defining a first plane; at least two offset idler work rolls forming a roll bite through which said strip material passes in a desired rolling diretion to effect a desired gage reduction in said strip material thickness, each of sid work rolls having an axis of rotation and being in contact with a respective one of said back-up rolls; said work rolls being arranged so that said axes of rotation of said work rolls forming said roll bite are positioned on opposite sides of said first plane and define a second plane at an angle to said first plane; means for applying a compressive force having a desired magnitude to said rolls to effect said desired gage reduction; and means driving said work rolls forming said roll bite at a peripheral speed ratio less than the desired gage reduction but greater than zero for creating a first resultant frictional force acting in said rolling direction for at least partially driving said strip material through said roll bite, said work roll driving means comprising said work rolls being driven by respective ones of said driven back-up rolls.