Intermittent rolling mill

Claim 1

Intermittently acting rolling mill comprising a reciprocating roller cage, drive means for continuously rotating in a single direction a drive member, which member is connected to drive said roller cage through means for converting the continuous rotary motion of said drive member to reciprocating movement by said cage, shaft means substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said cage and connected to be continuously driven in synchronism with said drive member, at least one rotatable clamp for gripping a product being rolled in said roller cage, a device through which said at least one clamp is driven from said shaft means, which device converts the continuous rotation of said shaft means to intermittent rotation by said at least one clamp in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of said cage, a carriage for supporting said product, and advancing means for intermittent advancing said carriage to intermittently advance the product in synchronism with the reciprocation of said cage, said advancing means comprising, a rocker arm, an elongated screw having its axis generally parallel to the direction of advance of the product, bearing means connecting one end of said screw to said arm for rotation and for axial reciprocation of the screw in response to rocking of said arm, means for continuously rotating said screw, means driven from said drive member for rocking said arm in synchronism with the reciprocation of said cage, nut means on said carriage and threadedly engaging said screw, and means for driving said carriage with said screw to advance the product, only in response to axial movement of the screw in one direction.