Abstract: A process of producing an article having a surface provided with an optical diffraction grating such that the surface generates visible color when illuminated with diffuse white light. The process involves deforming a starting material to produce the article having the surface and, during the deforming step, impressing a diffraction relief pattern on the surface by a tool provided with a bearing surface having a corresponding surface relief pattern of parallel lines that contacts the surface of the article under pressure. While the diffraction relief patter is being impressed, the surface is caused to slide in a direction of movement relative to the bearing surface of the tool. The invention also relates to the article.

Abstract: Metal sheets, and in particular, metal sheets for roofing of the kind having upstanding flat edges ending with beads, are bent by rolling the flat edges such that they become gradually thinner towards the beads. The sheets will also be bent if the beads are not rolled.

Abstract: A tubular blank (22) is rolled on a mandrel (14) in a pilgrim rolling mill. In a first rolling stage, a first part of the blank (22) is rolled on a first part (18,19) of the mandrel (14), with a reduction of the outside diameter of the blank (22) to the outside diameter of the guide tube and a reduction of the wall thickness of the blank (22) to one of a first wall thickness (e1) and a second wall thickness (e2) exceeding the first wall thickness (e1). The mandrel (14) is advanced in the axial direction. A second part of the blank (22) is rolled on a second part (20,21) of the mandrel spaced from the first part in the axial direction with a reduction of the outside diameter of the blank to the outside diameter of the guide tube and a reduction of the wall thickness of the blank (22) to the other of the first wall thickness (e1) and second wall thickness (e2).

Abstract: The present invention provides an alignment system for deep rolling tools wherein at least one of an upper or lower tool includes an appendage received in the opposite tool when the upper and lower tools are positioned about a work piece. The present invention further provides a multi roll system for deep rolling wherein both of an upper and a lower tool are provided, each of the upper and lower tools having at least two radially offset work rolls supported on substantially coplanar back up rollers. Upon engagement with a work piece, work rolls are engaged therewith in at least four radial points of contact.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing vibration in a mill stand. The apparatus comprises a roll (4) positioned upstream or downstream of the mill stand (1) and over which the strip material (2) being rolled is passed. The vibration control apparatus comprises an inertia element in the form of a flywheel (7) connected to the roll (4) by a stiffness element in the form of a compliant shaft (6). The components (6) and (7) form a mechanical system which can be tuned in such a way as to introduce a speed fluctuation at the roll (4) which exactly matches the speed fluctuation of the strip material as it enters the roll bite. Both the inertia element (7) and stiffness element (6) can take other forms: for example, the stiffness element could be a flexible drive belt or belts; the inertia element could be a shaft about which the roll (4) rotates, via a stiffness element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device which enables the actuators and consumers provided on a roll stand for rolling metallic and non-metallic strips to be supplied with operating media. The inventive device comprises a self-supporting construction module consisting of elements of variable which can be connected to each other, the height, width and depth of said elements being variable.

Abstract: The method and the device for manufacturing an acoustically effective foil stack (9) made of embossed foil webs (5e, 5f, 5g, 5h) is characterised by the fact that at least two foil webs lying over one another (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are embossed at the same time, are conveyed along different length conveying routes (W, W1, W2, W3), and then are brought together into a stack (9), and embossed foil webs (5e, 5f, 5g, 5h) arranged to be lying next to one another are laid down in an offset fashion due to the different length conveying routes (W, W1, W2, W3). A particularly advantageous-design of the embossing rollers (1a, 1b) provides foil webs which have knobs with a draped or folded type structure.

Abstract: A process for improving the adhesion of a lubricant to, and the distribution on, the surface of a strip of aluminum or aluminum alloy which is cold rolled between two work rolls, said cold rolled strip being coated with lubricant for the purpose of subsequent shape-forming, is such that the surface of at least one work roll exhibits a roughness pattern (10), which is comprised of at least two line patterns (14,18) that cross each other, whereby each of these line patterns is characterised by a plurality of parallel rills (12,16).

Abstract: A gas barrier synthetic resin container 10 has an opening portion 12 defined by a flange 12A, a body portion 14 having the opening portion 12, and a bottom portion 16 for closing the end of the body portion 14. The container 10 is a wide mouth container having the minimum inside diameter Dmin of the opening portion 12 larger than the maximum inside diameter Dmax of the body portion. Alternatively, the container 10 may be a wide mouth container having the minimum inside diameter Dmin of the opening portion 12 smaller than the maximum inside diameter Dmax of the body portion, the difference between the diameters being equal to or less than 20 mm. A diamond-like carbon film 18 is formed on an outer wall of the body portion 14 and bottom portion 16 of the container 10. After the container 10 has been filled with contents, a metal cover 20 and the flange 12A are double-seamed onto the container to provide improved gas barrier properties to the entire container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot rolling mill, with at least one flatness measuring roller, pertaining to at least one rolling bed, arranged before and/or after one of the stands, which influences the settings of at least one of the stands. The aim of the invention is to improve the arrangement of the roller bed working rollers and the flatness measuring roller, such that the flatness measuring roller may be, optionally, either brought into operation, or be withdrawn into a protected position, whereby, in this case, the gap in the rolling bed thus formed can be closed. Said aim is achieved, whereby the flatness measuring roller may be stored, away from its working position, behind a screen and that the rolling bed is completed with at least one retractable working roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing crop losses during slab and ingot rolling concerns the formation of a slab ingot having a specially configured or shaped butt end and optionally a head end as well. A special shape is formed by machining, forging or preferably by casting. The special shape at the butt end is imparted during casting by a specially shaped bottom block or starter block. The special shape of the bottom block is imparted to the cast ingot butt end. The specially shaped butt end of a slab shaped ingot is generally rectangular in shape and has longitudinally outwardly extending, enlarged portions, which slope downwardly toward a depressed central valley region. The lateral sides of the enlarged end portions and the depressed valley region carry transversely extending, tapered or curved edges. A similar shape may be imparted to the head end of the ingot at the conclusion of a casting run through the use of a specially shaped hot top mold or by way of machining or forging the cast head end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting and dismounting mechanism for a straightening or calibrating roller (2) rotatable about a spindle (1) and provided with a circular groove (13). The spindle (1) has its cavity (4) fitted with a pusher (9), having a tapered thrust face (9a, 9b) which shifts, as a result of the force of a spring (10), a holder element (8) from its release position to its clamping position. The holder element (8) is located in an opening present in a wall (3) of the cylinder (4). A plunger (11), associated with the pusher (9), can be used for moving the pusher against the force of the spring (10) to a position in which the holder element (8) is capable of shifting from its clamping position to its release position in which the roller is removable from the spindle (1) or mountable onto the spindle.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing large-area planar wave guide structures is described. A planar substrate is provided with channel-shaped structures and the channel-shaped structures are filled with a wave guide material. The channel-shaped structures are introduced sequentially into the substrate by a stamping tool, the substrate and the stamping tool are moved relative to one another. Therefore, it is easy and inexpensive to apply precise wave guide structures to surfaces of any desired size.

Abstract: There is provided a stainless steel sheet material, used for a semiconductor manufacturing device, to which it difficult for fine dust to be attached and from the surface of which the attaching dust can be easily washed away. Also, there is provided a method of manufacturing the stainless steel sheet material. A stainless steel sheet material characterized in that: the number of pinholes, the area of each pinhole exceeding 0.25 mm2, in the area of 10 cm2 on the surface of a skinpass-rolled stainless steel sheet material is not more than 10; and the average surface roughness Ra on the center line in the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction is not more than 0.15 &mgr;m. A method of manufacturing a stainless steel sheet material comprising the steps of: annealing a stainless steel cold-rolled sheet in a heat-treatment furnace having no support rollers in a temperature region exceeding 600° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing plate substrate made of a rolled and embossed aluminum strip, wherein the surface has depressions with an average diameter of <25 &mgr;m and an aspect ratio of <1.5 (ratio length/width relative to the transport direction of the strip). The number of depressions is >2,500/mm2. The invention also relates to a method of making an aluminum printing plate substrate, wherein the surface of the aluminum strip is roughened using rollers. The surfaces of the rollers have microscopically small, stochastically distributed, dome-shaped projections. In cross-sectional view, the rollers have a round ridge-shaped roughness profile. The invention is also directed to an offset printing plate, wherein a printing plate substrate is produced with the method and provided with an anodically deposited oxide layer. A light-sensitive hydrophobic, oleophilic layer is deposited on the oxide layer.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a cold rolled stainless steel strip of high gloss with a high production efficiency by employing a high rolling speed. Mirror-finished work rolls having a Young's modulus exceeding 54,000 kgf/mm2 and a centerline average surface roughness, Ra, not exceeding 0.10 micron are employed for the last of a plurality of successive passes for cold rolling, while the steel to be drawn between the rolls for the last pass has a centerline average surface roughness, Ra, of 0.05 to 0.30 micron.

Abstract: A noise-damping composite is formed by providing a laminate of two metal layers separated by a much thinner viscoelastic layer which has an initial thickness of at least 1 mil., and then cold rolling the laminate to proportionally permanently reduce the thickness of each layer, until the thickness of the viscoelastic layer is less than 1 mil. and preferably less than 0.5 mil. The cold rolling may be through a set of adjustable rollers, and may be done in multiple passes with the rollers adjusted for each pass to further reduce the thickness. Alternatively, the laminate may be fed successively through a series of roller sets designed to successively reduce the thickness of the laminate.

Abstract: A decorative roll-patterned metal strip or sheet, preferably aluminium strip or sheet, having: a thickness of about 0.05-1.0 mm, preferably about 0.1-0.8 mm, with a surface having a plurality of indentations of a depth of about 0.001-0.05 mm, preferably about 0.02-0.035 mm, and optionally having a layer of a paint of a thickness of about 3-30 microns, preferably about 10-15 microns, on the surface and within its indentations, the ratio of the depth of the indentations to the thickness of the strip or sheet being in the range of about 1:5 to about 1:100. A process is provided for making the decorative roll-patterned metal strip.

Abstract: Lightweight flexure-resistant thin metal sheet is produced by passing flexible thin metal sheet between rolls having defined teeth, the teeth having radiused corners so that rows of projections are formed on both faces of the sheet without damage to the surface material or the rolls.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shaft having below a surface thereof a flow passage, through which a fluid can flow, includes a preliminary step of forming in a surface of a columnar-shaped base material grooves having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a finishing step of compressing crests of thread ridges between the adjacent thread grooves in a direction, in which the base material is reduced in diameter, to perform plastic deformation and join the deformed crests to one another to form a spiral-shaped, closed space which communicates the spaces in the thread grooves.

Abstract: A machine and method for producing pressed items from coins, tokens, and like items. The machine includes multiple operating stations from where multiple operators can activate the machine; a press adapted to press coins, tokens, and like items delivered to it and to release pressed items therefrom; multiple collecting stations adapted to receive items that have been pressed; a gating device that delivers items to be pressed to the press in a predetermined order and in response to activation of the machine at the operating stations; and a dispenser that delivers pressed items from the press to the collecting stations in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A forming station (26) for roll forming a heated glass sheet include a forming conveyor (62) including forming rolls (66) that are moved upwardly between horizontal rolls (46) of a horizontal conveyor (44) on opposite sides of a centerline (C/L) of the horizontal conveyor to rollingly engage the heated glass sheet above a plane of conveyance of the horizontal conveyor at its centerline to roll form the glass sheet in cooperation with a forming press (80) having rotatable forming members (82) that rollingly engage the heated glass sheet from above. A second set of forming rolls (68) cooperates with the first set of forming rolls (66) to provide the roll forming. First and second sets of roll cradles (76,90) are mounted by pivotal supports (128,142) on associated first and second carriages (154,156) and moved by first and second actuators (78,92). Lateral movement of the carriages (154,156) provides versatility in the glass sheet shapes that can be formed.

Abstract: A drawing device for a press is provided with a drawing slide, with a sheet holder having a sheet held therein, and with a pressure cheek which is arranged under the sheet holder and is connected with a piston rod which can be displaced in parallel to the drawing direction. The piston rod is operatively connected with a preacceleration piston of a preacceleration cylinder. The drawing cylinders are applied to the pressure cheek by way of drawing rods, in which case the drawing cylinders have drawing pistons with first and second piston spaces. The first piston space directed to the drawing rod is pressure controlled during the drawing operation for the sheet forming. In the event of a press stoppage during a sheet forming, a control valve device can be activated so that, for maintaining the pressure existing in the first piston space at the start of the press stoppage during the time of the press stoppage, pressure medium can be charged into the first piston space by way of a pressure medium generator.

Abstract: A press assembly includes first and second members which engage opposite sides of a workpiece during operation of the press assembly. A cushion assembly is provided to absorb force transmitted from at least one of the members during operation of the press assembly. A high pressure reservoir is connected in fluid communication with a cylinder of the cushion assembly to receive fluid during operation of the press assembly. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cushion assembly at a relatively low pressure during operation of the press assembly. A valve is operable to block a flow of hydraulic fluid from the cushion assembly as the press assembly begins to operate from a closed condition toward an open condition to thereby retain the cushion assembly in a retracted condition. A secondary or pump cylinder may be actuated by operation of the press assembly to pump hydraulic fluid to the cushion assembly.

Abstract: A method of controlling a crimp press for crimping an assembly includes the steps of placing an assembly in an open crimp die of a crimp press, advancing a ram of the crimp press to a predetermined position to close the crimp die, determining whether a pressure in the ram is within a predetermined range, and alerting an operator if the pressure in the ram is not within the predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention is a press for cold working of metal workpieces. The invention includes a double-acting linear hydraulic power drive cylinder, a continuous press frame for accepting reactive forces that develop during the operation of the press, and a control valve system operable by output signals, and being one of program-controlled or manually triggerable, from an electronic control unit, for controlling motion of a piston of the drive cylinder.

Abstract: A method of producing a stainless steel produces steel sheets having excellent surface brightness. The method includes performing a cold rolling operation using a work roll having a Young's modulus between 25,000 to 70,000 kg/mm.sup.2 in one or more stands of a tandem mill having a plurality of stands. Preferably the work roll is composed of a tungsten carbide based hard metal alloy. The diameter of a work roll at a final stand of the tandem mill is equal to or smaller than a diameter of a work roll in the previous stand. It is preferable that the work roll is dimensioned to have a diameter between 150 mm to 400 mm. In addition, it is preferable that a cold rolling operation is achieved at a reduction between 25% to 60% reduction in the final stand of the tandem mill.

Abstract: In forging hammers, according to the present invention, more than one inlet valve is employed and more than one exhaust may be employed. The force of impact for a particular blow is controlled by the number of valves employed and the timing of the opening and closing of those valves relative to one another. By making successive adjustments with different combination of valves, the controls may be calibrated so that the same ram force may be repeated. Knowing the valve settings required to produce differing amounts of force, it is possible to program the settings into the memory of a computer, so that when a particular impact force is selected the appropriate valve timing will be reproduced and the desired force obtained. It is also possible to set up a sequence of blows of differing selected force, setting each blow using the computer memory.

Abstract: A widthwise-compressing machine for applying a compression force through press tools to a material to reduce a width of the material while applying vibrations to said material to forcibly vibrate said material has a compression unit for producing a compression force forming a working force, and a vibration-applying unit for applying the vibration to said material. The vibration-applying unit is provided independently of the compression unit. In the widthwise-compressing machine, when the material is plastically worked, the material can be vibrated at an extremely high frequency to make it possible to resonate the material, thereby allowing the plastic-deformation thereof to be promoted.

Abstract: A diagnostic method of diagnosing a press for the presence of any abnormality that deteriorates a quality of a product manufactured by the press, wherein physical value (Fs, Fsi, Ff, Ffi, Fp, Fpi, Xsi, Xei, Xy, Xz, Vx, Gx, Gy, Gz, Temp A, Temp B, Va0, Vf0, Vd0, V, Aa, Ag, Az, Afi, Ps, Pmai, Psa, Paa, Pyai, Peai, Pzai) such as a load generated at a selected portion of the press during operation of the press is detected, and the press is diagnosed for any abnormality, on the basis of the detected physical value, and according to a predetermined reference.

Abstract: A roll assembly suitable for use in the production of thin-wall heat exchanger tubes using a high-frequency induction welding tubemill. The roll assembly includes a roll portion that has an arcuate precision profile that defines one-half of the desired cross-sectional shape of the tube being produced by the tubemill. The assembly further includes a shaft portion that directly supports the roll portion so as to serve as a journal bearing for the assembly. At least the bearing surfaces, and preferably the entire roll assembly is formed from ceramic or ceramic composite materials, without any separate bearing components. Moreover, the roll portion of the assembly is formed from a different material than the shaft portion, in a combination that reduces wear between the bearing surfaces of the roll and shaft portions.

Abstract: A method of controlling a crimp press for crimping a hose assembly includes the steps of placing a hose assembly in an open crimp die of a crimp press, advancing a ram of the crimp press to a predetermined position to close the crimp die, determining whether a pressure in the ram is within a predetermined range, and alerting an operator if the pressure in the ram is not within the predetermined range.

Abstract: In a corner reduction device for reducing side corners of a slab with corner rolls, a pair of upper and lower corner rolls are mounted inside a unitary unit frame, and a corner roll unit housing the unitary frame which is movable in the direction of width and vertical direction of the material is formed. Vertical position of the corner roll unit is controlled by a lifting power control cylinder through a push rod and position in direction of material width is controlled by a reduction cylinder. Driving of cylinder servo valves is controlled in accordance with position set values set by position setters, load set values set by load setters, and feedback signals from position sensors, thereby controlling the corner roll positions to fixed lateral and vertical positions. The driving of the servo valves is corrected according to values detected by cylinder pressure sensors, to evenly reduce the right and left corners of the material.

Abstract: A continuous cast positive grid of lead having substantially improved corrosion resistance and decreased growth in a positive plate of a lead-acid battery and a continuous cast negative grid of lead having substantially increased tensile strength for a lead-acid battery. A web of lead is continuously cast with a series of succeeding grid blanks of uniform thickness which are cold worked to reduce the positive grid thickness by at least 3:1 and the negative grid thickness in the range of about 1.5:1 to 2.8:1 preferably by passing through the nip of each of a plurality of successive compression rollers. Electro-chemically active paste is applied to the reduced webs, preferably flash dried, and individual pasted grids are cut from the reduced and pasted webs to provide positive plates and negative plates for a lead-acid battery.

Abstract: A computer controlled pull gun system for pulling interference fit fasteners into a mounting hole. The pull gun has a rotatable and axially movable mandrel the is driven by a pneumatic motor. An axially movable piston in a hydraulic cylinder of the pull gun is attached to the mandrel to move it axially after it has been threaded into an interference fit fastener. A digital control system precisely controls the operation to the functions thread mandrel, pull mandrel, unthread mandrel to quickly and efficiently install a fastener. The digital control system controls pressurized fluid pneumatic and hydraulic valves to perform the installation functions. The digital controller responds to commands from buttons on the pull gun that select the functions and determines when a fastener has been properly installed by feedback from a pressure sensing transducer. A reset command button is provided on the pull gun to abort an installation or reset the pull gun for a new installation.

Abstract: A method of making a strip product having a surface that is both bright and clean after being rolled by work rolls in a roll stand. The work rolls are polished to remove grind lines from the roll surfaces, and the roll surfaces are provided with minute, ovoid depressions having relatively shallow slopes extending in the direction of rolling, followed by steeper slopes at the opposite ends of the depressions. The depressions are created by a laser beam directed against the roll surfaces at oblique incidence to the roll surface normal during relative movement of the beam and roll surfaces. The roll surfaces are then polished to remove any roll material that is raised above the nominal surface of the rolls, the raised material being the result of melting of the roll surfaces and the deposition of roll material vaporized by the laser beam.

Abstract: A tool with socket means for connecting the tool to an ordinary ratchet wrench or the like. The tool includes an offset head portion having socket means, the head portion located in the rearward end for attaching the tool to a ratchet wrench or the like. The forward body portion can be a wedge-shaped, two-prong fork means that is used for spreading, prying, pulling and lifting or it can be an elongated telescoping rollerhead that is used to straighten a piece of metal or essentially any other forward body portion. The offset head portion with socket means not only allows attachment to any ordinary ratchet wrench or the like but it also allows the operator to use the tool when attached to the rachet in extremely confining places whereas a tool not disclosed by the invention could not effectively work.

Abstract: An adjustable elevator rail repair device (14) is provided with a means for forcing raised damaged areas (18) of an elevator rail (10) back into the corresponding depressions (20) of the rail surface (9). The forcing means comprises a roller (24) rotatably mounted within a wedge (22), adjustably positioned in a housing (16). A method is disclosed for repairing the damaged rail (10) comprising a calculating step to determine the amount of adjustment necessary for the rail repair device (14).

Abstract: A widthwise bend of an end of a hot-rolled elongate sheet-shaped metal product is corrected while it is hot. The correction comprises simultaneously:(i) holding the edges of the product at at least two positions longitudinally spaced along the product thereby to hold, at least laterally, a portion spaced from the bent end, and(ii) pushing the end portion laterally by means of a laterally moving member. The method may be performed while the product is continuously moving along a path. Both steps (i) and (ii) are performed by rollers rotatable about vertical axes.

Abstract: A method by which leads of a semiconductor component are bent into their final shape using a roll forming process to bend the leads into the desired shape before separation of the individual components. The roll forming process achieves a final form by passing a lead frame holding a plurality of the semiconductor components through a series of form rollers which progressively bend the leads into the final shape. The method can be designed to cut the components free from the lead frame as a final step, minimizing the individual handling of the miniaturized components.

Abstract: A metal product, such as cold rolled steel sheet, has a surface comprising a plurality of flat, smooth facets which are preferably 50 to 200 .mu.m across and which make up at least 30% of the area of said surface. The facets may be formed either by pressing a network of valleys in a flat, smooth surface or by flattening the peaks of a rough surface.

Abstract: A rolling roll comprises a metal rolling roll body, a ceramic sleeve into which the roll body is inserted with a gap therebetween, thereby providing a working surface of ceramics at an outer periphery thereof, fasteners provided on the roll body at both sides of the sleeve for pressing the side faces of the sleeve thereby to fix the sleeve to the roll body, and at least one spacer having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the roll body and inserted between the sleeve and the fastener so that the sleeve is axially pressed by the fastener to fix the sleeve to the roll body.

Abstract: In conventional fabrication manufacture the thickness of the steel plates are often determined by the metal section required at the weld joints. The subject apparatus and method overcomes this problem by selectively forming a thickened edge along the edge of a thinner steel plate which can now be limited to the thickness required to withstand the stresses on the fabrication. The thickened edge is produced by forcing a plate supported by a table, by passing the plate through a forming apparatus comprised of a combination of rollers. The forming apparatus and table are automatically controlled to produce a thickened edge of constant shape along a non-linear edge of the plate.

Abstract: A method for rolling material between rotating rolls utilizing a lubricant, at least one of the rolls having an anistropic working surface that comprises a topography of smooth bearing areas spaced apart by at least one micron-size groove extending around and along the face of the roll in the general direction of rolling. The groove receives and conducts lubricant freely therealong during the rolling process, i.e., as the material to be rolled is directed through the rotating rolls, and is compressed between the rolls, the smooth-bearing areas force lubricant from the areas to the location of the groove in the roll. In this manner, the material is rolled under boundary lubrication conditions.

Abstract: An uneven patterned metal strip or plate is formed with an uneven pattern as a surface decorative pattern. The pattern is constituted of one or more pattern unit containing a plurality of uneven dot. Each of the uneven dots has a size D. The uneven dots are arranged in a predetermined density to have given ratio .eta. of occupying area versus plane area in said pattern unit. The size D and area ratio .eta. being in a range of:10.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.300 (.mu.m)30.ltoreq..eta..ltoreq.100 (%)and the size of said pattern unit has minimum length of 1 mm.

Abstract: A roll for a mill includes a roll shaft of a circular cross-section having an axis of rotation therethrough and having an outer peripheral surface. A ring of a wear-resistant material having an outer peripheral surface adapted to engage with a metal material to be rolled is disposed around the roll shaft. A tubular sleeve having an inner peripheral surface is disposed between the roll shaft and the ring with the inner peripheral surface mated with the outer peripheral surface of the roll shaft. A layer of adhesive is interposed between the ring and the sleeve for adhesively securing the ring and the sleeve together. The adhesive layer is compressed by the ring and the sleeve so as to be brought into frictional engagement therewith.

Abstract: During operation of a rolling mill the roll gap and roll shape change, because of the influence of heat, bending of the working rolls or the roll mounting, wear and the like, and must be compensated and/or balanced to make a planar product, particularly a planar rolled sheet or strip. To compensate for these undesirable disadvantageous influences on the operation of the rolling mill frequent axial sliding of the rolls with respect to each other and/or positioning of the working rolls transverse to the plane of the rolled material is required. According to our invention these undesirable influences are prevented in a particularly simple way and/or are compensated when the contours of the rolls in the initial state and/or unloaded state of the rolling mill are such that the sum of the roll body diameters at each relative axial position of the rolls varies axially from a constant value.

Abstract: Rolling mills commonly have rollers with shoulders abutting face plates on the frame of the mill. Dirt collects at the interface of the roller shoulders and face plates. There is no simple way to clean that interfacial area. Novel shields positioned against the roller shoulders and movable therefrom now permit facile cleaning of both the roller shoulders and shields. Frequent cleaning is critical in rolling mills of not only the food industry to prevent bacterial contamination of food products but also other industries where gritty material migrates into the interfacial area of roller shoulders and causes abrasion thereof. The shields can be as simple as stiff plastic sheets.

Abstract: A mill roll with a ceramic working surface comprises an annular ceramic formation sleeved upon a hub. In preferred embodiments the ceramic formation is clamped to the hub at angled edge walls so that the formation is held under compression.

Abstract: A retractable instrumentation platform for supporting instrumentation adjacent a roll of a rolling mill. This platform is accurately positioned within a rolling mill at a preselected elevation and it is retractable away from the monitored roll, when desired, for maintenance or other purposes. The re-positioning of this platform within the rolling mill after being retracted is accurately controlled such that it is returned back to its original reference elevation without the need to re-calibrate the supported instrumentation.