Appeal No. 2000-0590 Page 3
Application No. 08/019,500
OPINION
In reaching our decision in this appeal, we have given careful consideration to the
appellants’ specification and claims, to the applied prior art references, and to the
respective positions articulated by the appellants and the examiner. As a consequence of
our review, we make the determinations which follow.
The appellants’ invention is directed to improvements in rolling mill stands with
regard to allowing improved accessibility of the yokes that support the rollers so that the
rollers can be replaced easily. As manifested in independent claim 14, the invention
comprises a stand comprising horizontal and vertical rolls, spaced first and second drive
roll stand posts parallel to each other for supporting the rolls, with the second post being
axially movable relative to the first, bearing means located in the roll stand posts for
supporting the horizontal rolls therein, a horizontal guide frame located in each of the roll
stand posts for supporting a respective vertical roll therein, tie rods for connecting the
horizontal guide frame to the roll stands, an adapter for receiving the respective vertical
rolls arranged in said horizontal guide frame and having “spaced separate horizontally
extending top and bottom plates” for holding a vertical support axle for supporting a vertical
roll, the guide frame comprising a recess for the adapter and “accessible from a space
between said first and second roll stand posts,” and
a U-shaped abutment part located in said recess for positioning said
adapter in said recess, wherein said guide frames are configured in two
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