[0001] This invention relates to a method of reducing the widths of hot slabs by pressing
without causing defects such as cracks and more particularly to a press for such a
reduction in width of hot slabs.
[0002] In rolling hot strips, ingots as blanks have been rolled by blooming mills to obtain
slabs. The slabs were once heated in heating furnaces and thereafter rolled by strip
mills. Recently, however, it has been well known to use continuous casting apparatus
to produce hot slabs directly without heating the slabs in order to save energy and
shorten the steps of production. In order to save more energy and improve the efficiency
in respective production processes, how to unify widths of castings in the continuous
casting and how to reduce widths of slabs greatly have recently been investigated
for more closely associating the continuous casting apparatus with hot strip mills.
[0003] For example, it has been proposed to roll hot slabs to reduce their widths by vertical
rolls having calibers or by vertical caliberless rolls. In this case, the edges of
the slabs are prone to rise to exhibit "dog bones" in cross-section and extend in
longitudinal directions to form "fish-tails". If the slabs having such "dog bones"
are rolled by horizontal rolls, the slabs increase their widths greatly so as to cancel
the reduction in width by the vertical rolls, so that the energy required in the rolling
by the vertical rolls is wasteful. In case of large reduction in width, moreover,
it is required to pass the slabs through a number of rolling mills which would increase
energy loss and lower the efficiency in production and the yield rate because the
fishtails become large in proportion to the reduction in width.
[0004] Moreover, the rolling of the hot slabs to reduce their widths causes significant
irregular deformations in the edges of the slabs which in turn cause great tensile
stresses in centres of the slabs. Furthermore, if in rolling by horizontal rolls after
the reduction in width, only the "dog bones" of the slabs are rolled in order to reduce
the enlargement of the width in the horizontal rolling, large tensile stresses occur
in the centres of the slabs. Moreover, as a number of rolling mills are required usually
in this method, such tensile stresses occur repeatedly, so that there is a risk of
defects occurring such as cracks in surfaces and inside of the slabs which greatly
lower the quality of the products.
[0005] GB-A-2 062 522 discloses a method of reducing the width of a hot slab by vertical
rolling wherein the ends of the slab are preformed by pressing prior to rolling. Whilst
this method avoids the formation of "fish tails" the problems of "dog bones" and tensile
stresses causing cracking will still occur.
[0006] In order to eliminate these disadvantages of the above methods using the vertical
rolls, it has been proposed to use presses to greatly reduce the widths of hot slabs.
In this method, the slabs are deformed in section relatively uniformly, so that even
if the reduction in width is relatively large, great "dog bones" do not occur and
therefore the enlargement of the width in horizonal rolling is comparatively small.
However, when a slab is continuously pressed to reduce its width from its preceding
end to its trailing end, comparatively large tongues occur at the trailing end which
would lower the yield rate of the slab.
[0007] JP-A-56 114561 relates to a method of preforming the ends of a hot slab before it
undergoes width reduction. The ends of the slab are preformed between a pair of press
anvils each having an inclined entrance portion and a portion parallel to the advancing
direction of the slab. In one embodiment the same anvils are used to reduce the width
of the slab along its whole length.
[0008] The inventors of this application have studied the continuous pressing of hot slabs
to reduce their widths in order to completely eliminate the disadvantages of the prior
art. This invention resides in the discovery that anvils having a long contacting
length when brought into contact with hot slabs in the reduction of width of the slabs
by a press, make uniform the deformation in section of the slabs to remarkably reduce
the tensile stresses therein The enlargement in width in the following horizontal
rolling is therefore small.
[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing
the width of a hot slab by pressing said slab with a pair of anvils such that the
hot slab is advanced between the anvils so that it is pressed along its entire length
by said anvils to reduce its width wherein each of said anvils comprises a plane inclined
entrance portion and a plane parallel portion parallel to the advancing direction
of the hot slab and contiguous with the inclined entrance portion, and characterised
in that said essentially plane inclined entrance portions is inclined at an angle
of more than 10° and less than 18° relative to the advancing direction of the hot
slab.
[0010] In a first embodiment of the invention each anvil further comprises an inclined exit
portion contiguous with the parallel portion on an exit side of the hot slabs relative
to the advancing direction of the hot slabs, and when the anvils are near to the trailing
end of the slab, the slab is advanced to preform the trailing end of the slab by means
of said inclined exit portions and thereafter said slab is retracted and the remaining
portion of the slab which has not been pressed is subjected to the pressing by means
of the inclined entrance portions. The slab may be advanced to preform the trailing
end of the slab when the length of the slab which has not been pressed is substantially
equal to one half of the original width of the slab. The reduction on preforming of
the trailing end of the slab may be determined such that the tongue which would occur
at the trailing end of the slab were the slab to be simply pressed over its length,
and the fishtail which occurs at the trailing end of the slab on pressing the trailing
end with the inclined exit portions of the anvils substantially cancel one another.
The reduction on preforming of the trailing end of the slab may be substantially 0.3
times the total reduction in width of the slab.
[0011] In a second embodiment of the invention when the anvils are near to the trailing
end of the slab the minimum distance between said anvils when pressing is adjusted
such that the remaining portion of the slab which has not been pressed is pressed
to reduce the width with a larger minimum distance than that of the already pressed
portion of the slab and thereafter said slab is rolled by vertical rolls of roughing
rolling mills to a desired width of the slab. The length of the remaining portion
of the slab may be more than approximately 25% of the contact length of the slab with
the inclined entrance portions of the anvils. On pressing the leading end of the slab,
the amplitude and frequency of oscillation of the anvils may be different from those
on pressing the trailing end of the slab and on pressing an intermediate portion of
the slab said amplitude and frequency may be varied. When the pressing of the leading
end of the slab is effected with a minimum distance W between said anvils oscillated
with an amplitude 2a and a frequency f, the pressing of the remaining portion of the
slab may be effected with a minimum distance

, an amplitude

and a frequency

, where α is the trailing end compensation width which is determined such that the
crop occurring at the trailing due to the pressing and the fishtail occurring at the
trailing due to the rolling the vertical rolls substantially cancel one another.
[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a press
for reducing widths of hot slabs comprising a pair of anvils wherein each anvil of
said pair is controllable by a control apparatus to move a predetermined distance
between an open and a closed position and comprises a plane inclined entrance portion
and a plane parallel portion parallel to the advancing direction of the hot slab and
contiguous with the inclined portion, characterised in that the plane inclined entrance
portion has an inclined angle more than 10° but less than 18° on an entrance side
relative to the advancing direction of the slabs, and in that there are provided pinch
rollers controllable by controlling means to advance the slab intermittently, when
the anvils are at the open position, such that a slab may be pressed along its entire
length.
[0013] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings
in which:-
Fig. 1a is an explanatory view illustrating anvils for a press for reducing widths
of slabs according to the invention;
Fig. 1b illustrates the amplitude of the oscillated anvils;
Fig. 2a shows the anvils pressing the slab to reduce the width;
Fig. 2b shows the opened anvils;
Fig. 2c shows the anvils pressing the slab;
Fig. 3a illustrates the relation between the inclined entrance angles θ of the anvils
and sectional configuration T/T₀ of the slab;
Fig. 4 illustrates a zone of the slab at its edges rolled by horizontal rolls after
pressing, said zone being subjected to tensile stresses;
Fig. 5 illustrates a zone of the slab at its center rolled by horizontal rolls after
pressing, said zone being subjected to tensile stresses;
Fig. 6 illustrates the slab being rolled by horizontal rolls;
Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating one example of series of width reducing
apparatuses including the press according to the invention;
Fig. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating growths of tongues occurring at a trailing
end of a slab;
Fig. 9 is a view showing one example of anvils according to the invention;
Figs. 10a-10d are views illustrating successive steps of pressing a non-uniform deformation
zone of a slab to reduce its width;
Fig. 11 is a side view of a press reducing the width of slabs according to the invention;
Fig. 12 is an explanatory view for the method according to the invention using the
press shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the configuration of a trailing end of a slab after
preforming according to the invention;
Fig. 14 is a view illustrating the configuration of trailing ends of a slab after
reducing in width, in which "trailing end preforming+continuous pressing" illustrates
the present invention and "continuous pressing" illustrates the prior art;
Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating shearing deformations at a leading end of
a slab by vertical rolls;
Fig. 16 is a schematic view illustrating shearing deformations at a trailing end of
a slab by vertical rolls;
Fig. 17 is an explanatory outline view of a slab leading and trailing end pressing
preforming apparatus and its preforming process;
Fig. 18a is an explanatory outline view of a press for pressing overall length of
a slab and its pressing;
Fig. 18b illustrates conditions of the pressing;
Figs. 19a-19c illustrate steps of producing a crop at a trailing end of a slab;
Fig. 19d illustrates the crop;
Fig. 20 is a view illustrating one example of a slab in plan view pressed according
to the invention;
Fig. 21 illustrates a hot strip mill roughing rolling line used in carrying out the
invention;
Fig. 22 illustrates a controller used in carrying out the invention;
Fig. 23 is a graph illustrating the relation between reductions and crops at trailing
ends by presses and vertical rolls; and
Figs. 24a and 24b respectively illustrate crops produced in the prior art and the
present invention.
[0014] Fig. 1a illustrates a sectional configuration of anvils for a press for reducing
widths of slabs according to the invention. In the drawing a hot slab 2 is transferred
relatively to a pair of anvils 1 in a direction shown by an arrow R. The sectional
configuration of the anvils comprises an inclined portion

on an entrance side at a predetermined angle θ to the advancing direction of the
slab and a parallel portion

contiguous with the inclined portion

. The pair of the anvils 1 is oscillated with an amplitude 2a (Fig. 1b), while the
hot slab 2 is moved to reduce its width by the press-forming.
[0015] Referring to Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c illustrating the principal operation for reducing
the width of the slab by means of the anvils 1, after the press-forming of the hot
slab 2 has been effected by the anvils 1 (Fig. 2a), the hot slab 2 is advanced by
a distance of

in the direction R when the anvils 1 are opened (Fig. 2b). The width of the hot slab
1 is then reduced by the anvils when they are closed, so that the reduction areas
W are press-formed with wide contact areas of the inclined and parallel portions of
the anvils 1 with the hot slab 2 (Fig. 2c) to form one cycle. By repeating such a
cycle, the width of the hot slab 2 is continuously reduced from the leading end to
the trailing end of the slab 1.
[0016] As above mentioned, the inventors of this application have carried out the following
experiments to investigate the relationship between tensile stresses and contacting
areas of the anvils 1 with hot slabs 2 affecting the sectional shapes of the slabs.
[0017] Widths of hot slabs having initial widths of 1,500 mm and thicknesses of 220 mm were
reduced with reduction amounts ΔW (initial widths of the slabs minus widths after
press-forming) of 330 mm, with varying inclined angles of the anvils on the entrance
side, by means of the continuous width reduction press as shown in Figs. 1a and 1b
and Figs. 2a-2c. Fig. 3a illustrates the relationship between the inclined angles
θ of the anvils and various parameters T/T₀ of sectional shapes of the reduced slabs.
In the graph, T₀ indicates the initial thicknesses of the slabs, T the thicknesses
after reduction, T
max the maximum thicknesses of the slabs, T
c and the thicknesses of the slabs at central portions and T
e the thicknesses of the slabs at the ends (Fig. 3b).
[0018] As can be seen from Fig. 3a, with the anvils having small inclined angles θ, the
thicknesses T
e at the ends of the slabs are smaller than the thicknesses T
c at the centres. For example, in the event that after slabs have been pressed by the
anvils having angles θ=7.5°, the slabs are horizontally pressed with rolling reductions
γ
H=10%, tensile stresses act on ends 5' of the slabs as shown in Fig. 4. In other words,
when the pressed slabs 2' are horizontally rolled in the rolling direction R
r, there are in the ends 5' of the slab from the roll entrance 3 to the roll exit 4
zones 6 subjected to large tensile stresses in the rolling direction and zones 7 near
to the center 5 subjected to compressive stresses.
[0019] On the other hand, with the anvils having large inclined angles θ, the thicknesses
T
e at the ends of the slabs rapidly increase when the θ is more than 18° as shown in
Fig. 3a, so that the sections of the slabs become like dog bones having very large
ends. Accordingly, when such pressed slabs are horizontally rolled, the centres of
the slabs are subjected to large tensile stresses (3 kg/mm²) as shown in Fig. 5.
[0020] Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate internal stresses occurring in the rolled material 2' in
rolling directions at right angles to axes of horizontal rolls 12 horizontally rolling
the material 2' therebetween as shown in Fig. 6.
[0021] In contrast herewith, with anvils having inclined angles of 10°≦θ≦18°, large tensile
stresses did not occur in the slabs even if horizontal rolling was effected after
the pressing.
[0022] In more detail, it has been found that in the event that after the widths of hot
slabs have been reduced with anvils having inclined angles θ of 10°≦θ≦18° on entrance
sides, the slabs are horizontally rolled, any large tensile stresses do not occur
in the slabs in spite of the initial shapes of the slabs although the shapes after
pressing vary somewhat dependent upon the initial shapes of the slabs before pressing.
With the large reduction ΔW of the order of 300-400 mm in press-forming, the slabs
exhibit the same results as the above. On the other hand, with the small reduction
ΔW of 50-100 mm, T
max, T
e and T
c become smaller as a whole, so that tensile stresses are smaller than those when the
ΔW is large. However, the distributions of the tensile stresses are substantially
the same as in the large ΔW as shown in Fig. 3a.
[0023] It is clearly evident from the above results that there are the optimum values of
the inclined angles θ of the anvils. If the inclined angles θ are less than 10°, the
thickness at the centre of the slabs increases to a larger extent than that in ends
of the slabs, so that the following horizontal rolling causes larger tensile forces
in the ends of the slabs, which may cause cracks in the ends. If the inclined angles
θ are more than 18°, large tensile stresses occur in the centers of the slabs resulting
in cracks therein. It has been found that with the inclined angles of 10°≦θ≦18° the
horizontal rolling after pressing does not cause any large tensile stresses in the
slabs and in width reduction, slabs devoid of defects can be produced.
[0024] Fig. 7 illustrates one example of the width sizing series including a press for reducing
widths of slabs according to the invention. In the drawing, a pair of anvils 1 are
mounted slidably in a press housing 8. The anvils 1 have the shape comprising inclined
portions of angles θ on an entrance side in the advancing direction (R) of hot slabs
and parallel portions contiguous therewith. The anvils are oscillated with an amplitude
2a by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 for reducing widths of slabs. Pinch rolls 10
intermittently transfer the slabs. A horizontal rolling mill 11 horizontally rolls
the slabs after pressing.
[0025] With the arrangement of the width sizing series, a hot slab is transferred by the
pinch rolls 10 in the direction R into a space between the pair of anvils 1. Then
the anvils 1 are pressed into the closed position by the hydraulic cylinders 9 to
press the slab so as to reduce its width. Thereafter, while the anvils 1 are being
opened, the hot slab is advanced by a predetermined pitch, and the width of the hot
slab is reduced in the same manner. By repeating such an operation the reduction in
width of the slab is continuously effected and then the hot slab is horizontally rolled
by means of the horizontal rolling mill 11.
Example 1
[0026] Hot slabs having widths of 1,000 mm and thicknesses of 250 mm and widths of 2,200
mm and thicknesses of 220 mm were pressed to reduce their widths with reductions ΔW=330
mm by means of the width sizing series shown in Fig. 7 using anvils having inclined
angles θ=15° on the entrance side oscillated with amplitudes 2a=80 mm. Thereafter
the slabs were horizontally rolled with rolling reduction γ
H=10%. The quality of the rolled slabs was examined by metallurgical microscopes and
supersonic flaw detectors. There was no defect in these slabs.
[0027] On the other hand, similar width sizing was effected with anvils which did not have
inclined angles or parallel anvils. There were fine cracks in ends of slabs. With
anvils having inclined angles θ=22°, moreover, there were fine cracks in the centres
of the slabs.
[0028] As can be seen from the above description, according to the invention the width sizing
of hot slabs can be continuously effected with any desired widths without any defects
such as cracks in the surfaces and the insides of the slabs. As the widths of the
slabs can be varied, the invention has significant effects in accomplishing synchronization
and continuity of continuous casting installations and hot rolling mills.
[0029] Referring back to Figs. 2a-2c, when a slab is continuously pressed to reduce its
width from its leading end to its trailing end, comparatively large tongues occur
at the trailing end which lower the yield rate of the slab. It has been found that
such tongues occur as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 illustrates deformations of the trailing
end of a slab with the lapse of time when anvils 13 having inclined angles θ of 12°
are operated with amplitudes 2a of 60 mm with reductions ΔW of 300 mm. As can be seen
from Fig. 8, although tongues do not occur at the stage where the trailing end of
the slab is in the proximity of the inclined portions of the anvils 13 so as not to
be pressed, tongues start to occur at the stage where the slab 14 has been advanced
in the advancing direction R until its trailing end has been advanced to about one
half of the width of the slab from the rear ends of the inclined portions of the anvils
13. As the slab is advanced, the tongues progressively grow.
[0030] In view of the occurrence and growth of the tongues, a first embodiment of the invention
uses a particular configuration of anvils. Fig. 9 illustrates one example of such
anvils each having pressing surfaces comprising an inclined portion

on an entrance side in the advancing direction R of a hot slab 14, a parallel portion

at an intermediate position and a further inclined portion

on an exit side. The entrance inclined portion

is at an angle θ to the advancing direction R of the slab and the inclined exit portion

is at an angle θ'. The inclined entrance portion

and parallel portion

form pressing surfaces for forming uniform deformed zones including the leading end
of the slab. The inclined exit portion

forms a pressing surface for preforming non-uniform deformed zones by pressing only
the trailing end of the slab.
[0031] In pressing a slab by means of a press including such anvils, first the slab is pressed
to reduce the width starting from the preceding end of the slab with the aid of the
inclined entrance portion

and the parallel portions

according to the basic operation as above described.
[0032] When the reduction in width arrives at the non-uniform deformed zones at the trailing
end of the slab, a treatment of the trailing end of the slab is effected. In other
words, for example, referring to Figs. 10a-10d, the slab is pressed to reduce its
width in the above manner until the length l of the zone which has not been pressed
becomes about one half of the width of the slab (Fig. 10a). Then the anvils 13 are
opened more than the initial width of the slab and the slab 14 is further advanced
in the direction shown by an arrow R to bring the trailing end into a position enabling
the trailing end to contact the inclined exit portions 16 of the anvils (Fig. 10b).
In this position of the slab, it is pressed with the aid of the inclined exit portions
16 in directions shown by arrows in Fig. 10c so as to deform the trailing end of the
slab into a fishtail to complete a preforming.
[0033] The reduction d in the preforming of the trailing end of the slab is dependent upon
the reduction ΔW in width and the like. In general, the reduction d is preferably
in the range 0.3×ΔW to ΔW. To be exact, however, the reduction d should be determined
so as to cancel the tongues at the trailing end of the slab in simply pressing over
its length by means of the fishtail at the trailing end caused by the exit inclined
portions of the anvils according to the invention. In other words, the reduction d
should be determined by the following equation.

where W
s is the original width of the slab, W
p is the width of the pressed slab, T is the temperature of the slab, θ is the inclined
entrance angle θ and θ' is the inclined exit angle θ'.
[0034] In case of further rolling the pressed slab by the use of a continuous hot rolling
mill, it is of course preferable to determine the reduction d in consideration of
conditions of roughing rolling so as to make minimum the crops of the roughing rolled
material to be cut off.
[0035] After the preforming (Fig. 10c), the anvils 13 are again opened more than the initial
width of the slab and the slab 14 is retracted in a direction shown by an arrow R'
(Fig. 10d). Thereafter, while the slab 14 is being advanced, the trailing end is continuously
pressed to reduce its width in the same manner as the reduction before the pressing
the trailing end as shown in Fig. 10a until the trailing end leaves the anvils 13.
In this manner, the tongue at the trailing end of the slab is minimised by treating
the trailing end.
[0036] Fig. 11 illustrates one example of a press for continuously pressing slabs to reduce
their widths. Anvils 13 are arranged on anvil blocks 18 slidable in a frame of the
press and are adapted to be oscillated by means of hydraulic cylinders 19. The anvils
13 have the configuration as shown in Fig. 9. In the drawing, the advancing direction
of the slab 14 is shown by the arrow R. A reference numeral 17 denotes pinch rollers
for transferring the slab.
[0037] The operation of this aspect of the invention including the control of the transferring
of slabs will be explained hereinafter.
[0038] In Fig. 12, a slab 14 having a width W
s is transferred in a direction shown by an arrow R. When the slab detector 31 detects
the leading end of the slab, pinch rollers 30 are lowered. While a pulse generator
32 connected to the pinch rollers 30 is tracking the slab, the slab is pressed from
the leading end so as to reduce its width to a predetermined width W
p to form a uniform deformed zone.
[0039] When the slab detector 31' detects the trailing end of the slab 14, pinch rollers
30' are lowered and the pulse generator 32' is tracks the trailing end. When the trailing
end 14a arrives at a non-uniform deformed zone or a position shown in phantom lines
at a distance l from the points B of the anvils, the anvils 13 are opened more than
the initial width W
s of the slab. Then the slab is advanced by the pinch rollers 30' until the trailing
end of the slab passes by the points C or the slab 14 has moved a distance L. Thereafter
the trailing end is pressed with the anvils 13 to effect the preforming of the trailing
end with the reduction d. The distance moved by the trailing end of the slab for the
preforming may be L+x. In this case, the positions of the anvils where they are stopped
from moving toward each other in pressing can be calculated from the inclined angle
θ' of the inclined portion

of the anvils 13, the distance x and the reduction d.
[0040] Thereafter, the anvils 13 are opened more than the initial width W
s of the slab and the slab 14 is retracted to the original position shown in the phantom
lines. Then the slab is pressed to reduce the width in the same manner before the
preforming of the trailing end until the trailing end 14a has been pressed between
the anvils 13.
Example 2
[0041] Slabs having widths of 1,500 mm, thicknesses of 220 mm and lengths of 12,000 mm were
pressed to reduce their widths with reduction ΔW of 300 mm in their uniform deformed
zones of the slabs by means of the press shown in Fig. 11 including anvils having
inclined entrance angles θ of 12° and inclined exit angles θ' of 20° which are oscillated
with frequency of 2π rad/sec and amplitude 2a of 100 mm. When the length of the slab
which had not been pressed was approximately 800 mm, the anvils were opened and the
slabs were transferred by the pinch rollers so as to bring trailing ends of the slabs
into contact with the inclined exit portions of the anvils. The preforming of the
trailing ends was then effected. The reduction d of the preforming in this example
was

as shown in Fig. 13, which was dependent upon the reduction ΔW.
[0042] Upon completion of the preforming, the slabs 14 were retracted and then continuously
pressed to reduce the width with reduction ΔW of 300 mm by the inclined entrance portions
and parallel portions of the anvils. Fig. 14 illustrates a configuration of the slabs
pressed to reduce the widths indicated by "trailing end preforming plus continuous
pressing".
[0043] As a comparison slabs were uniformly pressed from their preceding ends to trailing
ends without applying the preforming of the trailing ends. A configuration of the
slabs is shown in Fig. 14 by the line marked "continuous pressing".
[0044] As can be seen from the comparison of both the configurations in Fig. 14, the slabs
treated according to the invention include only very short crops and permit only minimum
tongues to occur, so that the configuration of the trailing ends of the slabs is good.
On the other hand, the slabs treated by the prior art include long crops and long
tongues in their trailing ends.
[0045] As can be seen from the above description, this aspect can produce slabs having very
good configurations at the trailing end, devoid of tongues, whilst keeping the high
productivity of the width reduction technique by continuous pressing, thereby remarkably
improving the yield rate of the slabs.
[0046] Before explaining a second embodiment of the invention, the prior art using a pair
of vertical rolls to reduce widths of slabs will be explained. Such vertical rolls
may be caliber rolls or simple cylindrical rolls or caliberless rolls with high reduction
efficiencies. In both the cases, they have respective inherent disadvantages.
[0047] When edges of a slab 41 are rolled by vertical rolls 42 as shown in Figs. 15 and
16, shearing deformations in width directions occur in the edges so as to irregularly
change the shapes in plan view to produce non-uniform portions called ''crops" because
the edges are free. In general, these crops are cut off by crop shears on termination
of roughing rolling before finishing rolling. This greatly lowers the yield rate of
the slabs.
[0048] In order to overcome this problem, it has been known to preform preceding and trailing
ends of slabs before reducing the widths by vertical rolls (refer to, for example,
Japanese Laid-open Patent Applications Nos. 53-40,937; 55-10,363; and 55-48,401).
[0049] In these methods, as shown in Fig. 17, a press 43 for preforming is arranged immediately
before vertical rolling mill. After preforming the leading and trailing ends of slab
41 in the form shown in Fig. 17 by the press, the slab 41 is transferred between the
vertical rolls, so that the leading and trailing ends are hardly subjected to reduction
in width by the vertical rolls 42. Accordingly, the above shearing deformations are
not caused and the shapes of the slabs are substantially good. In this process, however,
a vertical rolling mill for reducing the width and a press for preforming arranged
immediately thereof must be provided, so that the production line is elongated thus
increasing the cost of the installation to making it difficult to realize such an
installation.
[0050] Moreover, the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 55-153,602 above mentioned
discloses the method of preforming four corners of the slab by using vertical rolls,
so that it is necessary to provide an exclusive vertical rolling mill. Therefore,
this method does not fundamentally solve the problem. Moreover, an extra process is
required for preforming the leading and trailing ends of slabs thus remarkably lowering
the production efficiency.
[0051] Referring to Figs. 18a and 18b illustrating a press to be used in the second embodiment
of the invention, the press includes as main components a pair of anvils 44 having
inclined angles θ and a pair of hydraulic cylinders 45 connected to the respective
anvils for driving them. With such a press, a slab 41 having an original width W
s can be pressed to reduce the width by the anvils which are continuously oscillated
with amplitude 2a (each anvil) and frequency f by means of the hydraulic cylinders
45. In this case, the required width W of the pressed slab is substantially coincident
with the minimum distance between the anvils 44 when moved towards each other.
[0052] First the slab 41 is transferred downward by roller tables (not shown) to the position
where it is to be subjected to the reduction in width. The slab 41 is pressed to reduce
its width by the anvils while they are being closed and is then transferred downward
at a speed v while the anvils are opened. The speed v is indicated by

.
[0053] It has been mentioned in such a pressing, however, that when slabs are pressed to
reduce their widths by anvils, tongues often occur on trailing ends of the slabs to
lower the yield rate (Figs. 19a-19d).
[0054] The second embodiment of the invention resides in the discovery that shapes of crops
are determined by the deformations on pressing in conjunction with the shearing deformations
on vertical rolling thereafter.
[0055] In more detail, in an initial stage of pressing the slab 41 is continuously pressed
from its leading end to reduce its width by means of anvils 44 oscillated to open
and close with a predetermined minimum open distance until the reduction in width
arrives in the proximity of the trailing end of the slab 41. When the reduction arrives
in the proximity of the trailing end, the predetermined minimum open distance is changed
such that the pressed width near the trailing end of the slab is wider than the width
W of the already pressed slab. With such an open distance of the anvils, the pressing
of the slab is effected. In this case, the configuration of the slab after completion
of pressing is shown in Fig. 20 in a plan view, wherein the width W' of the slab at
the trailing end having a length l is wider than the predetermined width W of the
pressed slab.
[0056] At this stage, the trailing end of the slab forms a tongue larger than is desired.
According to the invention, however, after this pressing over the length of the slab,
the slab is rolled in roughing rolling by vertical rolls to reduce the width of the
slab, so that the fishtail due to the shearing deformations caused by the vertical
rolls just cancels the tongue caused in the above pressing by the anvils, with the
result that on shearing the crop by means of crop shears before the final finishing
rolling, the slab hardly requires any crop to be cut to obtain a complete slab.
[0057] In this manner, following to pressing the overall length of the slab, the trailing
end is rolled to reduce its width with a predetermined reduction larger than that
of the steady portion of the slab, thereby controlling the slab in a good configuration.
Such an effect will be clearly understood by referring to the following example.
Example 3
[0058] Fig. 21 illustrates a hot strip roughing rolling line relating to the third embodiment
of the invention. This line includes heating furnaces 46, a press 47 for pressing
the overall length of slabs, vertical roll rolling mills 48, 50, 50' and 52 of a roughing
mill, and horizontal roll rolling mills 49, 51 and 53. The press 47 is arranged between
the heating furnaces 46 and the first rolling mills (48, 49). The slabs transferred
from the heating furnaces are subjected to the sizing of the press 47 and reduced
in their widths and are then transferred into the roughing rolling mill. The press
47 for pressing the overall width of the slabs is controlled by a device shown in
Fig. 22.
[0059] Referring to Fig. 22, the width W of the slab after pressing is determined by arithmetic
operation in an upper computer 54 according to an equation

using width W
F of hot rolled products, thickness H
F of the products, width W
S of slabs, thickness H
S of the slabs, thickness H
R of sheet bars, heating temperature T and kinds of sheet S upon receipt demand of
rolling. At the same time, the amplitude 2a and frequency f in pressing are determined.
These determined values are transmitted into a controller 55 for controlling the press
47. Moreover, the trailing end compensation width α and the length l are calculated
using equations

and

. These calculated values are also transmitted into the controller 55.
[0060] The minimum open distance W of the anvils, and the amplitude 2a and frequency f of
pressing are set by arithmetic operation on the basis of these inputted data in the
controller 15.
[0061] When the slab detector 58 detects the leading end of the slab 41, the controller
55 for the press generates a signal to start the oscillation of the anvils 44 through
the hydraulic selector valve 59 and hydraulic cylinders 45. At the same time, moreover,
when the slab detector 58' detects the leading end of the slab 41, pinch rolls 57
and the buckling preventing device 56 are lowered so as to detect distance advanced
by the slab by the pinch rolls to effect the position tracking of the slab 41. The
tracking of the slab 41 by the pinch rolls 57 is controlled by a pulse generator (not
shown) provided thereat.
[0062] In this embodiment, the slab is pressed to reduce the width by the anvils oscillated
with amplitude 2a and frequency f from the leading end to the proximity of the trailing
end of the slab as above described. Pressing in a manner different from this may of
course be used. For example, only the leading end of the slab is pressed by the anvils
with amplitude and frequency different from those in the above embodiment or the intermediate
portion of the slab is pressed by the anvils with varying amplitude and frequency.
These modifications are within the scope of the invention.
[0063] In this manner, starting from the leading end of the slab, it is pressed to reduce
the width. When the slab detector 58 detects the trailing end of the slab 41, the
operation of the press 47 is stopped and at this time the tracking of the trailing
end of the slab is effected. Thereafter, the trailing end of the slab is pressed to
reduce the width from the location immediately before the end is in contact with the
anvils 44 over the length from l to

.
[0064] In more detail, the minimum open distance W of the anvils at the beginning of the
operation is changed into a new minimum open distance

where α is a trailing end compensation width. At the same time, the amplitude 2a
and the frequency f of the anvils are also changed to new amplitude

and

, respectively, and the pressing of the trailing end of the slab is started.
[0065] By the above pressing, the slab 41 as shown in Fig. 20 is obtained. In this embodiment,
thereafter, the slab is roughing-rolled through one pass in the first rolling mills
48 and 49, three passes including reverse pass in the second rolling mills 50, 51,
and 50' and one pass in the third rolling mills 52 and 53 including two horizontal
rolling mills, and is fed to the finishing rolling mills.
[0066] A method of determining the trailing end compensation width α for pressing the trailing
end of the slab according to the invention will be explained in detail hereinafter,
[0067] It has been mentioned that crops are quite different respectively in case of pressing
by a press and case of vertical rolling by vertical roll mills for all the reduction

. It is important however that in carrying out the reduction ΔW in width of a slab,
if a reduction of k% or

is effected by the press and the remaining reduction of

is effected by vertical rolls, a tongue-shaped portion caused in reduction of

by the press and a fishtail-shaped portion caused in reduction of

by the vertical rolls cancel each other to eliminate the crop at the trailing end.
[0068] In view of this, the inventors investigated the relation between the reductions in
width and crops at trailing ends of slabs by measuring crops when various reductions
of 0-450 mm were effected by only the press and by only the vertical rolls. The results
are shown in Fig. 23. In this case, the thicknesses of the slabs were changed from
220 mm to 45 mm and the widths are from 1,500 mm to 1,050-1,450 mm. In the drawing,
a line E indicates the relation between the reduction in width and the tongue at the
trailing end of the slab when the slab is roughing-rolled after pressing to reduce
the width, and a line F indicates the relation between the reduction and the tongue
by the vertical rolls. It can be seen from this drawing that when the total reduction
in width is 450 mm, the crop is substantially completely eliminated if the trailing
end compensation width α is 80 mm and the compensation width is reduced by the vertical
rolls (refer to a point Z in Fig. 23). In other words, it means that the portion of
the slab other than its trailing end is pressed with reduction of 450 mm and the trailing
end is pressed with reduction of 370 mm (=450 mm-80 mm), so that a substantial portion
of the slab is rolled by the vertical rolls with a very small reduction and the trailing
end is rolled with reduction of 80 mm. In fact, the initial reduction by pressing
may be determined to be substantially equal to the reduction of 450 mm which is required
to obtain the aimed width of the slab, or in other words to be somewhat wider than
the aimed width, thereby obtaining sound slabs.
[0069] With the trailing end compensation length l, it has been found that the relation
shown in Fig. 23 can be obtained, if the compensation length l is more than 25% of
the length of the slab which is in contact with the inclined portions of the anvils
in pressing the intermediate portion of the slab. In obtaining slabs having thicknesses
of 45 mm and widths of 1,050 mm from slabs having thicknesses of 220 mm and widths
of 1,500 mm, for example, after the trailing ends of the slabs were pressed with trailing
end compensation width α=80 mm and length l=350 mm, the rolling was effected (according
to the present invention) and also after slabs were pressed without the compensation
of the trailing ends, the rolling was effected (prior art). Crops produced in the
prior art were very long as much as 820 mm as shown in Fig. 24a. On the other hand,
crops produced in the slabs according to the invention were considerably shortened
to only 55 mm.
[0070] As can be seen from the above explanation, according to the second embodiment, slabs
having much better shapes in plan view are obtained to improve the yield rate and
also the pressing to reduce the width can be continuously effected without stopping
the slab as is necessary in the prior art, thereby avoiding lowering the yield rate.
As the reduction by vertical rolls is very small when utilizing the vertical rolls
of roughing mills according to the invention, the reduction in width of slabs can
be accomplished with installations whose number is one less than those in the prior
art process using the preforming press and the exclusive vertical rolling apparatus,
thereby avoiding the disadvantage of an extended operating line.
[0071] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing
and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the
scope of the claims.
1. A method of reducing the width of a hot slab (2) by pressing said slab (2) with a
pair of anvils (1) so that the hot slab (2) is advanced between the anvils (1) such
that it is pressed along its entire length by said anvils (1) to reduce its width,
wherein each of said anvils (1) comprises a plane inclined entrance portion (A,B)
and a plane parallel portion parallel to the advancing direction (R) of the hot slab
(2) and contiguous with the inclined entrance portion (A,B), and characterised in
that said plane inclined entrance portion (A,B) is inclined at an angle (θ) of more
than 10° and less than 18° relative to the advancing direction of the hot slab.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each anvil (1) further comprises an inclined
exit portion (CD) contiguous with the parallel portion (BC) on an exit side of the
hot slab (2) relative to the advancing direction (R) of the hot slab (2), and wherein
when the anvils (1) are near to the trailing end of the slab (2), the slab is advanced
to preform the trailing end of the slab (2) by means of said inclined exit portions
(CD) and thereafter said slab (2) is retracted and the remaining portion of the slab
which has not been pressed is subjected to the pressing by means of the inclined entrance
portions (AB).
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the slab (2) is advanced when the length of
the slab which has not been pressed is substantially equal to one half of the original
width of the slab (2).
4. A method according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the reduction on preforming is determined
such that the tongue which would occur at the trailing end of the slab (2) were the
slab to be simply pressed over its length, and the fishtail which occurs at the trailing
end of the slab (2) on pressing the trailing end with the inclined exit portions (CD)
of the anvils (1) substantially cancel one another.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said reduction on preforming by the inclined
exit portion (CD) of each anvil (1) is substantially 0.3 times the total reduction
in width of the slab (2).
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the anvils (1) are near to the trailing
end of the slab (2) the minimum distance between said anvils (1) when pressing is
adjusted such that the remaining portion of the slab (2) which has not been pressed
is pressed to reduce the width with a larger minimum distance than that of the already
pressed portion of the slab (2) and thereafter said slab (2) is rolled by vertical
rolls of roughing rolling mills to a desired width of the slab.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the length of the remaining portion of the
slab (2) is more than approximately 25% of the contact length of the slab (2) with
the inclined entrance portions (AB) of the anvils (1).
8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein on pressing the leading end of the slab
(2), the amplitude and frequency of oscillation of said anvils (1) are different from
those on pressing the trailing end of the slab (2).
9. A method according to claim 6 or 7 wherein on pressing an intermediate portion of
the slab (2), the amplitude and frequency of oscillation of said anvils (1) may be
further varied.
10. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein when the pressing of the leading end of
the slab (2) is effected with a minimum distance W between said anvils (1) oscillated
with an amplitude 2a and a frequency f, the pressing of the remaining portion of the
slab (2) is effected with a minimum distance

, an amplitude

and a frequency

, there is the trailing end compensation width which is determined such that the crop
occurring at the trailing end due to the pressing and the fishtail occurring at the
trailing end due to the rolling by the vertical rolls substantially cancel one another.
11. A press for reducing widths of hot slabs (2) comprising a pair of anvils (1) wherein
each anvil of said pair is controllable by a control apparatus (55) to move a predetermined
distance (2a) between an open and a closed position and comprises a plane inclined
entrance portion (A,B) and a plane parallel portion (BC) parallel to the advancing
direction of the hot slab (2) and contiguous with the inclined portion (AB), characterised
in that the plane inclined entrance portion has an inclined angle more than 10° but
less than 18° on an entrance side relative to the advancing direction (R) of the slabs
(2), and in that there are provided pinch rollers (10,17, 30,30',57) controllable
by controlling means (55) to advance the slab intermittently, when the anvils are
at the open position, such that a slab (2) may be pressed along its entire length.
12. A press according to claim 11, wherein each anvil further comprises an inclined exit
portion (CD) contiguous to the parallel portion (BC) on an exit side relative to the
advancing direction (R) of the hot slabs (2).
1. Verfahren zur Verringerung der Breite einer heißen Bramme (2) durch Pressen der Bramme
(2) mit zwei Ambossen (1), derart, daß die heiße Bramme (2) zwischen den Ambossen
(1) derart vorgeschoben wird, daß sie auf ihrer gesamten Lange von den Ambossen (1)
zur Verringerung ihrer Breite gepresst wird, wobei jeder der Ambosse (1) einen ebenen
schrägen Eintrittsbereich (A,B) und einen ebenen parallelen Bereich aufweist, der
zur Vorschubrichtung (R) der heißen Bramme (2) parallel ist und sich dem schrägen
Eintrittsbereich (A,B) anschließt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der ebene schräge Eintrittsbereich
(A, B) in einem Winkel (θ) von mehr als 10° und weniger als 18° relativ zur Vorschubrichtung
der heißen Bramme geneigt ist.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem jeder Amboss (1) ferner einen schrägen Austrittsbereich
(CD) aufweist, der sich an den parallelen Bereich (BC) an der Austrittsseite der heißen
Bramme (2) relativ zur Vorschubrichtung (R) der heißen Bramme (2) anschließt, und
bei dem, wenn die Ambosse (1) sich nahe dem hinteren Ende der Bramme (2) befinden,
die Bramme zur Vorformung des hinteren Endes der Bramme (2) durch die schrägen Ausgangsbereiche
(CD) vorgeschoben wird und die Bramme (2) danach zurückgezogen wird und der verbleibende,
nicht gepresste Bereich der Bramme durch die schrägen Eintrittsbereiche (AB) gepresst
wird.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Bramme (2) vorgeschoben wird, wenn die Länge
der Bramme, die nicht gepresst wurde, im wesentlichen gleich einer Hälfte der ursprünglichen
Breite der Bramme (2) ist.
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, bei dem die Verringerung bei der Vorformung derart
bestimmt wird, daß die Zunge, die am hinteren Ende der Bramme (2) auftreten würde,
wenn die Bramme einfach über ihre Länge gepresst würde, und der Fischschwanz, der
am hinteren Ende der Bramme (2) beim Pressen des hinteren Endes mit dem schrägen Austrittsbereich
(CD) der Ambosse (1) auftreten würde, sich im wesentlichen gegenseitig aufheben.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, bei dem die Verringerung beim Vorformen durch den schrägen
Austrittsbereich (CD) jedes Ambosses (1) im wesentlichen dem 0,3-fachen der gesamten
Breitenverringerung der Bramme (2) entspricht.
6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem, wenn sich die Ambosse (1) nahe dem hinteren Ende
der Bramme (2) befinden, der Minimalabstand zwischen der Ambossen (1) beim Pressen
derart eingestellt wird, daß der verbleibende Bereich der Bramme (2), der nicht gepresst
wurde, zur Verringerung der Breite mit einem Minimalabstand gepresst wird, der größer
ist als derjenige des bereits gepressten Bereichs der Bramme (2) und die Bramme (2)
danach durch vertikale Walzen von Rauhwalzwerken auf eine gewünschte Brammenbreite
gewalzt wird.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, bei dem die Länge des verbleibenden Bereichs der Bramme
(2) mehr als ungefähr 25% der Berührungslänge der Bramme (2) mit den schrägen Eintrittsbereichen
(AB) der Ambosse (1) beträgt.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, bei dem beim Pressen des vorderen Endes der Bramme
(2) die Amplitude und die Schwingungsfrequenz der Ambosse (1) von denjenigen beim
Pressen des hinteren Endes der Bramme (2) verschieden sind.
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, bei dem beim Pressen eines Mittelbereichs der Bramme
(2) die Amplitude und die Schwingungsfrequenz der Ambosse (1) weiter verändert werden
können.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, bei dem, wenn das Pressen des vorderen Endes der
Bramme (2) mit einem Minimalabstand W zwischen den Ambossen (1), die mit einer Amplitude
2a und einer Frequenz f schwingen, durchgeführt wird, das Pressen des verbleibenden
Bereichs der Bramme (2) mit einem Minimalabstand

, einer Amplitude

und einer Frequenz

durchgeführt wird, wobei α die Kompensationsbreite für das hintere Ende ist, die
derart bestimmt wird, daß der aufgrund des Pressens am hinteren Ende entstehende Schopf
und der aufgrund des Walzens mittels der vertikalen Walzen entstehende Fischschwanz
sich im wesentlichen gegenseitig aufheben.
11. Presse zum Verringern der Breite heißer Brammen (2) mit zwei Ambossen (1), bei der
jeder der beiden Ambosse (1) durch eine Steuervorrichtung (55) zur Bewegung über eine
vorbestimmte Strecke (2a) zwischen einer geöffneten und einer geschlossenen Position
steuerbar ist und einen ebenen schrägen Eintrittsbereich (A, B) und einen parallel
zur Vorschubrichtung der heißen Bramme (2) verlaufenden und sich an den schrägen Bereich
(A, B) anschließenden ebenen parallelen Bereich (B, C) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der ebene schräge Eintrittsbereich (AB) auf der Eintrittsseite einen Neigungswinkel
von mehr als 10°, jedoch weniger als 18°, relativ zur Vorschubrichtung (R) der Brammen
(2) aufweist, und daß Klemmwalzen (10, 17, 30, 30', 57) vorgesehen sind, die durch
eine Steuereinrichtung (55) bei in der geöffneten Position befindlichen Ambossen (1)
zum intermittierenden Vorschub der Bramme steuerbar sind, so daß eine Bramme (2) über
ihre gesamte Länge gepresst werden kann.
12. Presse nach Anspruch 11, bei der jeder Amboß ferner einen schrägen Austrittsbereich
(CD) aufweist, der sich, relativ zur Vorschubrichtung (R) der heißen Brammen (2),
auf der Austrittsseite an den parallelen Bereich anschließt.
1. Un procédé de réduction de la largeur d'une plaque, à chaud, (2) par pressage de ladite
plaque (2) avec une paire d'enclumes (1) de sorte que la plaque chaude (2) est amenée
à avancer entre les enclumes (1) de telle manière qu'elle soit pressée sur toute sa
longueur par lesdites enclumes (1) afin de réduire sa largeur, dans lequel chacune
desdites enclumes (1) comprend une partie d'entrée inclinée plane (A,B) et une partie
parallèle plane, parallèle à la direction d'avance (R) de la plaque chaude (2) et
contigue à la partie d'entrée inclinée (A,B), et caractérisé en ce que ladite partie
d'entrée inclinée plane (A,B) est inclinée d'un angle (θ) de plus de 10° et de moins
de 18° par rapport à la direction d'avance de la plaque chaude.
2. Un procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque enclume (1) comprend en outre
une partie de sortie inclinée (CD) contiguë à la partie parallèle (BC) sur un côté
de sortie de la plaque chaude (2) par rapport à la direction d'avance (R) de la plaque
chaude (2), et dans lequel lorsque les enclumes (1) sont voisines de l'extrémité arrière
de la plaque (2), la plaque est amenée à avancer pour préformer l'extrémité arrière
de la plaque (2) au moyen desdites parties de sortie inclinées (CD) et ladite plaque
(2) est ensuite retirée et la partie restante de la plaque qui n'a pas été pressée
est soumise au pressage au moyen des parties d'entrée inclinées (AB).
3. Un procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la plaque (2) est amenée à avancer
lorsque la longueur de la plaque qui n'a pas été pressée est sensiblement égale à
une moitié de la largeur originale de la plaque (2).
4. Un procédé selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel la réduction lors du préformage
est déterminée de façon telle que la languette qui se produirait au niveau de l'extrémité
arrière de la plaque (2) si la plaque devait être simplement pressée sur sa longueur,
et que la queue de poisson qui se produit au niveau de l'extrémité arrière de la plaque
(2) lors du pressage de l'extrémité arrière avec les parties de sortie inclinées (CD)
des enclumes (1) s'annulent sensiblement l'une l'autre.
5. Un procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ladite réduction du préformage par
la partie de sortie inclinée (CD) de chaque enclume (1) est sensiblement de 0,3 fois
la réduction totale en largeur de la plaque (2).
6. Un procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lorsque les enclumes (1) sont voisines
de l'extrémité arrière de la plaque (2), la distance minimale entre lesdites enclumes
(1) lors du pressage est reglée de façon telle que la partie restante de la plaque
(2) qui n'a pas été pressée est pressée pour réduire la largeur avec une distance
minimale plus grande que celle de la partie de la plaque (2) déjà pressée et qu'ensuite
ladite plaque (2) est travaillée par des rouleaux verticaux de laminoirs de roulage
de dégrossissement jusqu'à une largeur souhaitée de la plaque.
7. Un procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la longueur de la partie restante
de la plaque (2) est approximativement de plus de 25 % de la longueur de contact de
la plaque (2) avec les parties d'entrée inclinées (AB) des enclumes (1).
8. Un procédé selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lequel lors du pressage de l'extrémité
avant de la plaque (2), l'amplitude et la fréquence d'oscillation desdites enclumes
(1) sont différentes de celles utilisées lors du pressage de l'extrémité arrière de
la plaque (2).
9. Un procédé selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lequel lors du pressage d'une partie
intermédiaire de la plaque (2), l'amplitude et la fréquence d'oscillation desdites
enclumes (1) peuvent être amenées à varier davantage.
10. Un procédé selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lequel lorsque le pressage de l'extrémité
avant de la plaque (2) est effectué avec une distance minimale W entre lesdites enclumes
(1) amenées à osciller avec une amplitude de 2a et une fréquence f, le pressage de
la partie restante de la plaque (2) est effectué avec une distance minimale

, une amplitude

et une fréquence

, où α est la largeur de compensation de l'extrémité arrière qui est déterminée de
façon telle que la chute de laminage se produisant au niveau de l'extrémité arrière
par le fait du pressage et la queue de poisson se produisant au niveau de l'extrémité
arrière par le fait du travail par les rouleaux verticaux s'annulent sensiblement
l'une l'autre.
11. Une presse pour réduire les largeurs de plaques, à chaud, (2) comprenant une paire
d'enclumes (1), dans laquelle chaque enclume de ladite paire peut être commandée par
un dispositif de commande (55) pour se déplacer d'une distance prédéterminée (2a)
entre une position ouverte et une position fermée, et comprend une partie d'entrée
inclinée plane (AB) et une partie parallèle plane (BC), parallèle à la direction d'avance
de la plaque chaude (2) et contiguë à la partie d'entrée inclinée (AB), caractérisée
en ce que la partie d'entrée inclinée plane présente un angle d'inclinaison supérieur
à 10° mais inférieur a 18° sur un côté d'entrée par rapport à la direction d'avance
(R) des plaques (2), et en ce qu'on prévoit des rouleaux de pincement (10, 17, 30,
30', 57) pouvant être commandés par des moyens de commande (55) pour faire avancer
la plaque de manière intermittente, lorsque les enclumes sont dans la position ouverte,
de telle façon qu'une plaque (2) puisse être pressée sur toute sa longueur.
12. Une presse selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle chaque enclume comporte en outre
une partie de sortie inclinée (CD) contiguë à la partie parallèle (BC) d'un côté de
sortie par rapport à la direction d'avance (R) des plaques chaudes (2).