Device and method for aligning the input apparatusses and the channels in a rolling stand

1. A device for aligning input apparatuses and channels in a rolling stand, comprising:

a measurement instrument equipped with means for detecting a position of a surface of a channel, the means for detecting a position including:

four inclined shafts, each pivoted through a pin so as to be able to oscillate about said pin;

an end of each shaft carrying a push rod suitable for making contact with a surface of a groove constituting a channel, to detect a position of the surface of the groove with respect to a central axis of the measurement instrument;

at least one electronic sensor for obtaining the detected position of the surface of the groove; and

instrumentation for displaying the detected position and a processing of the detected position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said four inclined shafts are arranged to each oscillate independently about its pivot, so as to carry out independent measurements of the position of the groove surface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a base structure suitable for being mounted on the slide that carries the input apparatuses of the rolling stand, through a key in the place of the input guide apparatus of the rolling stand.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein said device comprises a ball crank handle suitable for making the slide translate along a slide-carrying base, the slide-carrying base being height-adjustable.

5. A method for aligning input apparatuses and channels in a rolling stand, comprising the steps of:

a) arranging and mounting a device in place of an input apparatus to the rolling stand, the device including:

a measurement instrument equipped with means for detecting a position of a surface of a channel, the means for detecting a position including:

four inclined shafts, each pivoted through a pin so as to be able to oscillate about said pin;

an end of each shaft carrying a push rod suitable for making contact with a surface of a groove constituting a channel, to detect a position of the surface of the groove with respect to a central axis of the measurement instrument;

at least one electronic sensor for obtaining the detected position of the surface of the groove; and

instrumentation for displaying the detected position and a processing of the detected position;

b) opening wide the shafts until each push rod contacts a surface of a groove;

c) detecting the four rays R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 between the surfaces of the grooves and the central detection axis of the instrument, the rays R 1 , R 2 referring to a top groove and the rays R 3 , R 4 referring to a bottom groove of the channel, respectively;

d) controlling an equality between the ray R 3 and the ray R 4 ;

e) displacing a slide acting on a ball crank handle until the ray (R 3 ) is made equal to the ray (R 4 ), in a case in which the ray (R 3 ) is different from the ray (R 4 ), in such a way obtaining a centering key of the stands input apparatus, perfectly centered with a groove of a bottom roller;

f) controlling an equality between the ray R 1 and the ray R 2 ;

g) displacing a top roller through suitable mechanisms of the rolling stand, to center the top groove with the bottom groove should the ray R 2 be different from the ray R 1 ;

h) checking that an opening is at the value foreseen by the rolling conditions, the opening being calculated through geometric relationships by the reading of the rays R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 in relation to a ray of a known channel;

i) proceeding to the adjustment of the top and bottom rollers if there is a difference of reading;

j) adjusting a height of a slide-carrying base, should the values of the rays R 1 , R 4 , or R 2 , R 3 , not be equal to each other;

k) dismounting the device;

l) remounting the input apparatus in the stand.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the four inclined shafts are arranged to each oscillate independently about its pivot, so as to carry out independent measurements of the position of the groove surface.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the device comprises a base structure suitable for being mounted on the slide that carries the input apparatuses of the rolling stand, through a key in the place of the input guide apparatus of the rolling stand.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a ball crank handle suitable for making the slide translate along the slide-carrying base, the slide-carrying base being height-adjustable.