Patent Number: 041529189
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vertical rolling mill which is provided with at least a pair of rolling rolls having vertical axes of rotation. To explain the conventional rolling mills of this type reference is made to a rolling mill 31 shown in FIG. 1 as an example. A pair of spindle members 33 and 33' are connected to a driving member 32 and said spindle members are disposed directly above a stand 35 provided with a pair of rolling rolls 34 and 34'. The spindle members 33 and 33' are respectively connected with the rolling rolls 34 and 34' so as to drive them from above. Therefore, in the case of this rolling mill 31, at the time of replacing the stand 35, it is impossible to perform said replacing by lifting same with a machine, such as crane, etc., unless the stand 35 is shifted from the prescribed position for rolling indicated by the solid line to one side as indicated by the dotted line because the spindle members 33 and 33' obstruct it. Accordingly, provision of a mechanism 36 for the purpose of thus shifting the stand 35 sideways is indispensable. Besides, since much time is required in the work of replacing the stand 35, as stated above, in order to reduce the frequency of replacing, multicaliber-type rolls 34 and 34' provided with plural number of calibers for inserting the material-to-be-rolled have been adopted. Because of the adoption of this multicaliber-type roll, provision of a mechanism 37 for effecting vertical movement of the stand 35 in order to align all the calibers with the pass line appropriately is indispensable. Inasmuch as the rolling mill 31 is provided with the mechanisms 36 and 37 as stated above, it becomes large in size, complicated in structure and heavy in weight as a whole, necessitating a large-size foundation at the time of erecting it, and also a spacious site is required therefore. Accordingly, it is difficult to erect this rolling mill 31 among existing various machines for the rolling process in factories. Moreover, inasmuch as the stand 35 per se having said multicaliber-type rolls 34 and 34' is heavy in weight, the machine for use in lifting it, e.g., crane, etc., must be of a large size. The upper end of a lifting machine such as a large-sized crane and the like at the time of operation is close to the restricted height of factory buildings, and therefore it must be operated with prudence. Consequently, the work of replacing the stand 35 is inconvenient and is difficult to perform. As set forth above, the conventional rolling mills exemplified by the rolling mill 31 illustrated in FIG. 1 have been accompanied by various drawbacks such as enumerated in the foregoing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide a vertical rolling mill which will eliminate the aforedescribed drawbacks of the conventional vertical rolling mills. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vertical rolling mill wherein at least a pair of spindle members, for the purpose of rotating at least a pair of rolling rolls having vertical axes of rotation, are juxtaposed below a sole plate installed on a frame on which is mounted a stand for supporting said rolling rolls in rotatable fashion. When said stand is mounted on said sole plate the rolling rolls are connected with the spindle members respectively so as to be driven thereby, whereby there is no necessity for shifting the stand sideways from the prescribed position for rolling beforehand at the time of lifting the stand in order to replace it with another stand. The replacing work can be performed by lifting the stand directly from the rolling position, and accordingly, provision of any particular mechanism for moving the stand can be dispensed with and the rolling mill can be of a small size and light weight compared with the conventional rolling mills, thereby facilitating the stand replacing work. The pair of rolling rolls are provided with a single caliber formed thereon whereby it is not necessary to provide any specific mechanism for effecting vertical movement of the stand necessary for aligning all the calibers with the pass line appropriately. Therefore, the rolling mill can be of small size and light weight compared with the conventional rolling mills employing a pair of multicaliber-type rolls and the foundation work at the time of erecting the rolling mill can be simplified. A further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical rolling mill wherein an upright portion is provided on the sole plate and extends upwardly at one side thereof. A guide face parallel to the direction of inserting the material-to-be-rolled between said pair of rolling rolls is formed on said upright portion. Another guide face which cooperates with this guide face is formed on the stand. The stand is further provided with an adjusting member for advancing or retracting said guide face. By the action of this adjusting member the horizontal position of the caliber can be adjusted at will. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a vertical rolling mill which comprises universal couplings as said spindle members, each of said couplings being of a self-standing and short length type and having its upper part provided with an engaging portion for the purpose of connecting the coupling with the lower end of the rolling roll so as to drive said roll. The interspace of the paired rolling rolls is not restricted at the time of installing them on the stand in rotatable fashion. Accordingly, a delicate, subtle adjustment of the caliber can be performed by slightly widening or narrowing said interspace. Because said coupling is of a self-standing and short length type, no coupling holder is required therefor and, moreover, the distance from the sole plate to the bottom of the reduction means can be shortened. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a vertical rolling mill wherein holding members are installed on the upright portion of the frame by disposing same on one side of the sole plate so as to hold the sole plate therebetween. Each of the holding members is provided with a projection so as to clamp said stand at the time of operation. The stand is provided with vertical grooves which cooperate with these projections, whereby when mounting the stand on the sole plate, the stand can be very easily fixed on a prescribed position on said table.