Roll cleaning apparatus

A roll cleaning apparatus for engagement with a roll of a mill while the roll is turning at speed and a workpiece is being passed through a nip defined between the roll and another, the roll having an axis of rotation defining an axial direction, a radius defining a radial direction, and a circumference defining a circumferential direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a scrubbing pad operable to engage the roll while the roll is revolving, said scrubbing pad having a length in the axial direction and a width in the circumferential direction for subtending an arc of the circumference of the roll;
• a backing member, said backing member having a width corresponding to the arc and a length extending in the axial direction;
• said scrubbing pad being fixedly secured to said backing member with said width of said scrubbing pad being mated widthwise to said backing member to subtend the arc, and said length being mated lengthwise to said backing member;
• said backing member being mounted to present the scrubbing pad to the roll;
• said scrubbing pad being movable between a first position in which said backing member is pushed to press said scrubbing pad against the roll, and a second position in which the scrubbing pad is located clear of the roll;
• said scrubbing pad having a contact region for the roll having both axial and circumferential extent, the axial and circumferential extents corresponding to the length and width of the scrubbing pad, respectively, the contact region of the scrubbing pad remaining constant while the roll revolves;
• and,
• said scrubbing pad being compressible in the radial direction between the roll and the backing member while in the first position.