Patent ID: 7188502

Claim:
A method of changing rolls in a tube-welding machine having a frame carrying an upper roll in a holder, a pair of side rolls in respective holders, and a lower roll in a holder, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: raising the upper roll and its holder from a lower working position to an upper takeoff position; positioning underneath the raised upper roll and its holder a transfer device including a horizontal guide beam extending through the frame and an adapter slide movable on the beam, the upper roll and its holder being supported wholly on the adapter slide; lowering the upper roll and its holder onto the transfer device such that the upper roll and its holder are supported on the transfer device; disconnecting the upper-roll holder from the frame; laterally transporting the transfer device with the upper roll and its holder out of the frame; and separating the adapter slide from the guide beam after transporting the upper roll and its holder out of the frame.