Loop lifter

Claim 1

A loop lifter for continuous strip-rolling mills in which the strip forms pendant loops, comprising: a support having a stationary abutment; an arm having a free end portion; a shaft rotatably supported by said support, said arm being connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal first axis so that the free end portion of the arm can bear from below against a respective loop and lift the same; spring means reacting between said arm and the stationary abutment for counter balancing the arm weight in all positions of action; said arm including a roll freely turnably journalled in said free end portion of said arm on a substantially horizontal second axis and engageable with the respective loop; a lever having a free end and mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; said spring means reacting between the free end of said lever and the stationary abutment; said spring means having a pivot; the distance of said pivot from said first axis being equal to the length of said lever; said spring means including a cylindrical housing mounted on said pivot; a rod extending coaxially and slidably into said housing through one housing end thereof and having an inner end provided with an auxiliary abutment and an outer end connected to said lever, and a spring surrounding said rod and having opposite end portions bearing upon said auxiliary abutment and said one housing end, respectively; said one housing end being of bifurcated configuration.