Low inertia mechanism for repositioning a workpiece in a rocker mill

In a rocker mill including a rollstand and repositioning means for repositioning a longitudinally elongated member which includes a workpiece extending through said rollstand, said supporting means comprising:

• a stationary feedscrew oriented in a longitudinal direction,
• guide means oriented in said longitudinal direction,
• a carriage mounted on said guide means for movement in said longitudinal direction toward said rollstand,
• a first hollow-shafted electric motor mounted on said carriage and including a first hollow open-ended rotor through which said stationary feedscrew passes,
• a threaded nut through which said stationary feedscrew passes, said threaded nut being connected to said first hollow-shafted electric motor to be rotated thereby relative to said feedscrew in order to move said carriage longitudinally along said guide means,
• a second hollow-shafted electric motor mounted on said carriage and including a second hollow open-ended rotor through which the elongated member is adapted to pass,
• a clamp through which the elongated member is adapted to pass, said clamp including displaceable clamp jaws connected to said second rotor for rotation therewith, and
• clamp actuating means mounted on said carriage and operably connected to said clamp jaws for displacing said clamp jaws into clamping engagement with the elongated member for transmitting rotary movement thereto from said second rotor and for transmitting longitudinal movement thereto from said threaded nut.