US3363848A

US3363848A - Roller mill with adjustable bearing means

Info

Publication number: US3363848A
Application number: US406428A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard R Neebel; Richard E Doerfer
Original assignee: Kewanee Machinery and Conveyor Co
Current assignee: Kewanee Machinery and Conveyor Co
Priority date: 1964-10-26
Filing date: 1964-10-26
Publication date: 1968-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1985-01-16

Description

Jan. 16, 1968 R, R. NEI-:BEL ET ALV" 3,363,848

ROLLER MILL WITH ADJUSTABLE BEARING MEANS Filed OCT.. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1968 R. R. NEEBEL ET AL 3,363,848

ROLLER MILL WITH ADJUSTABLE BEARING MEANS Filed Oct.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office 3,363,848 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 3,363,848 RLLER MLL WITH ADIUSTABLE BEARING MEANS Richard R. Neehel and Richard E. Eoerfer, Cedar Falls,

Iowa, assigner-s to Kewanee Machinery & Conveyor Company, Iewance, Ill., a corporation of Iilinois Fiied Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 466,428 12 Claims. (Cl. 241 230) Our present invention relates generally to apparatus for processing grain material, such as kernels of corn, and more particularly to -a roller mill assembly for milling grain material into small particle size.

it is an object of our present invention to provide a roller mill assembly comprised of a pair of cooperating.

rotatable rollers wherein one of the rollers is so mounted that either or both ends thereof are releasable or movable generally arcuately away from the other roller to facilitate cleaning of the rollers and to permit separation of the rollers as any foreign object passes between them.

It is another object of our present invention to provide :a roller mill assembly, as described, wherein the releasable roller has journal ends rotatably mounted eccentrically in bearing blocks which are mounted in the assembly housing walls and upon rotation serve to move the releasable roller relative to the other roller, and which have associated therewith detent means for releasably holding the bearing blocks in a predetermined rotative position, and for facilitating return of the bearing blocks to the predetermined rotative position.

It is another object of our present invention to provide a roller mill assembly, as described, wherein the bearing blocks have spherical peripheral portions to permit either end of the releasable roller to be moved away from the other roller while the bearing block at the other end of the releasable roller swivels in the assembly housing to accommodate such movement of the releasable roller.

It is a further object of our present invention to provide a roller mill assembly, as described, in which the releasable roller has driving connection with one sheave of a power train comprised of a plurality of sheaves and endless belt means trained thereover, and wherein the path of movement of the releasable roller toward and away from the other roller is such that the tension of the belt means does not signicantly change during movement of the releasable roller.

It is a further object of `our present invention to provide a roller mill assembly comprised of a pair of conical rollers wherein one of the rollers is axially shiftable relative to the other roller whereby to permit adjustment of the spacing between the rollers.

It is a still further object of our present invention to provide in a roller mill assembly, of the class described, a cast truncated conical roller having an outer periphery with longitudinal grooves `cast integrally to retain hard cast shearing edges along the boundaries of the groves and having oppositely directed journal ends cast integrally to eliminate possible separation between these parts.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using apparatus in accordance with the principles of our present invention, we shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of our invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a mobile corn chopper and roller mill unit incorporating the principles of our present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, with portions being Ibroken away and shown in section, of the mobile unit of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 2 2 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the roller mill assembly of our present invention, taken substantially -along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 a mobile corn chopper and roller mill unit incorporating the principles of our present invention. The mobile unit 10 comprises a chassis or main frame 12 which is supported on an axle and wheel assembly 14. The frame 12. is provided at one end with a triangular extension 16 that serves :as a hitch for pivotal attachment to the rear end of a tractor or the like, or to channel rails for la stationary installation. Secured to the triangular extension 16 is a generally vertically extending jack 18 which has a lower end engageable with the ground 4and which is manually operable for levelling the mill 10. Supported on the main frame 12 in superposed relation are a roller mill housing 2), a roller mill shroud 22, a corn chopper gear housing assembly 24, a generally annular corn chopper shroud 26, a hopper 28 and a feeder auger transmission housing 29. Extending generally angularly downwardly from the hopper 28 is a feeder auger housing 30 having a feeder auger (not shown) mounted therein. The height of the lower end of the feeder langer housing Si) is adapted t0 be adjusted by means of an extensible jack assembly 32 which, at its one end, is pivotally connected to the housing 3d and, at its other end, is adapted to bear against the main frame 12. Extending longitudinally of the main frame 12 immediately beneath the roller mill housing 20 is a horizontal auger housing 34 which serves to support at one end a generally vertical auger housing 36 provided -at its upper end with a lateral gravity discharge spout 38. Suitable angers (not shown) are mounted within the

auger housings

34 and 36 for conveying milled grain from the bottom of the roller mill housing 20 to ian elevated point of discharge. The generally vertical auger lhousing 36 is arranged to be selectively tilted 25 degrees to either side. Gravity discharge spout 38 can be rotated through 360 degrees and the downward angular position thereof is adapted to be adjusted by means of Ian extensible tie rod 40.

The roller mill assembly of our present invention, which will be described in detail hereinafter, may be used alone or in conjunction with a corn chopper assembly as shown. One suitable embodiment of corn chopper assembly, which includes the gear housing assembly 24, and which is arranged, in part, within the shroud 26, is described and claimed in the copending applications of Robert L. Glidden, John H. Fulper, and Richard E. Doerfer, Ser. No. 406,429, filed Oct. 26, 1964 and of Robert L. Glidden, Ser. No. 406,431, and led Oct. 26, 1964. The corn chopper and roller mill assemblies of the unit 10 are adapted to be driven from the power takeoff shaft of a tractor through suitable power transmission means including a main drive shaft 42 and sheave and belt means enclosed within a cover 44. The feeder auger within the housing Si) is adapted to be drivingly connected with the corn chopper assembly, as described in the aforesaid copending applica tions, through transmission gearing within ythe housing 29. The hopper 28, which is vertically above the corn chopper assembly, is mounted on the shroud 26 for rotation through 360 degrees relative thereto. To permit access to be had to the interior of the corn chopper assembly, the shroud 26 and hopper 28 are adapted to be tilted or swung `upwardly and away from their normal position shown in FIGURE 1. Suitable latch mechanisms 152 may be arranged about the gear housing assembly 24 for engaging catches on the shroud 26 whereby to maintain the latter in closed position.

Arranged immediately beneath the corri chopper assem bly and within the housing 20 is the roller mill assembly of our present invention. The roller mill housing 2G is comprised of two-part rear and front walls 156 and 157 (FIGURES 2 and 3), and side walls 158 (FIGURE l). Mounted within the housing 28, as best shown in FIGURE 3, are a pair of truncated conical or

tapered rollers

166 and 161 having longitudinal grooves 161m and 161a (FIG- URE 4) formed in their outer peripheries. The

grooves

160a and 161a are of a constant width and depth while the land portions between the grooves taper in width from one end to the other. For example, in a roll 17 inches long, 11.275 inches in diameter at one end, and 8.725 inches in diameter at the other end, there are 130 grooves each 1/S inch deep with a 1/32 inch bottom radius and with an angle of 40 degrees between the sides. The roller 161i is a generally hollow cone having apertured radial walls 162 and 163 from which extend opposed axial stub shafts or journal ends 164 and 166. The stub shaft 164 is se cured within the inner races of a pair of roller bearing assemblies 168, the outer races of which are secured within the inner end of a sleeve or supporting member 178. The sleeve member 170 is provided with exterior threads 172 that are threadingly received within a threaded opening 173 formed in the rear housing wall 156. A cross handle 174 with radial spokes is provided at the outer end of the sleeve member 170. The opposite stub shaft 166 of the roller 160, which is provided with a key slot 175, is received in a sleeve member 176 having an internal axial keyway 178 therein. A Woodruff key 180 is seated in the key slot 175 that projects radially into the keyway 178 whereby to cause the stub shaft 166 to rotate with the sleeve member 176 and yet permit axial movement of the stub shaft 166 relative to the sleeve member 176. The inner end of the sleeve member 176 is rotatably mounted by means of a pair of roller bearing assemblies 182 in the front housing wall 157. Secured on the outer end of the sleeve member 176 is a sheave 184.

Upon rotation of the cross handle 174 in one direction or the other, the sleeve member 170 is threaded inwardly or outwardly of the housing opening 173 whereby the roller 160 is caused to be moved axially within the roller mill housing 20 and relative to the adjacent roller 161. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, suitable means are provided for locking the sleeve member 17 (l in any predetermined rotative position. In this connection, the rear housing wall 156 has

rib portions

186 and 188 at the parting line thereof, and formed along the upper surface of the lower rib portion 186 is a narrow recess 198. The recess 191i, which is bounded by the two generally parallel wall portions of the

ribs

186 and 188, interrupts the threads of the threaded opening 173. Projecting upwardly through the

ribs

186 and 188 and the recess 190 is a cap screw 192 the head of which is received within and held against rotation by a lockplate 194 secured to the rib 186 by a screw 196. Threaded onto the upper end of the cap screw 192 is the one end of a generally horizontal lever 197. The lever 197 is so positioned on the cap screw 192 that when it is swung to the rearwardly projecting position shown in FIGURE 3, the

ribs

186 and 188 are urged relatively toward each other whereby to foreshorten the circumference of the threaded opening 173 for clamping the sleeve member 178 therein. Also, when the lever 197 is in this rearwardly projecting position it lies intermediate of two of the spokes of the cross handle 174 thereby limiting accidental rotation of the latter. Still further, the lever 197 is provided with an adjustable linear graduated or calibrated scale 198 with which the inner face of the cross handle 174 may be visually aligned to indicate the axial position of the handle 174 and the roller 160. By reason of this arrangement, any desired axial setting of the roller 168 may be accurately duplicated even though other axial settings have been made in the meantime.

The roller 161 is provided with apertured radial walls 262 and 284 from which extend opposed axial stub shafts or journal ends 286 and 288. The stub shaft 286 is rotatably mounted, by means of a pair of roller bearing assemblies 210, in a bearing block 212, and the stub shaft 288 is similarly rotatably mounted, by means of a pair of roller bearing assemblies 214, in a bearing block 216. The bearing blocks 212 and 216 are respectively formed with spherical surfaces 213 and 228 which are received in

spherical seats

222 and 224 in the rear and front housing walls 156 and 157. The axis of rotation of the stub shafts 286 and 2li-8 is spaced from the rotative axis of the bearing blocks 212 and 216. This eccentric mounting of the roller 161, together with the provision of the spherical bearing blocks 212 and 216, permits either or both ends of the roller 161 to be moved away from the roller 166 by angularly shifting the bearing blocks 212 and 216.

As Ishown in FGURE 2, detent means 226 is provided for maintaining the roller 161 in normal operating position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The detent means 226 comprises a dumbbell-shaped plunger 228 slidably mounted in a radial recess 236 formed in the bearing block 212. The plunger 228 includes an upper hollow body portion 232 which receives a spring 233, and a lower nose portion 234 that is biased by the spring 233 into engagement with a bushing 236 mounted in the rear housing Wall 156. A roll release lever 238 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 240 in the bearing block 212. The pin 248 is formed with a transverse flattened portion 242 that is engageable with the underside of the upper body portion 232 of the plunger 228. A reaction pin 244 at one end is secured in the bearing block 212 and at the other end projects into an arcuate slot 246 formed in the release lever 238. Due to the lost motion connection provided by the pin 24d and slot 246, counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever 238, as viewed in FGURE 2, initially causes the pin 248 to rotate causing the flattened portion 242 to raise the plunger 228 so as to release the detent means by withdrawing the nose portion 234 from engagement with the bushing 236. Then, when the upper end edge of the slot 246 engages the reaction pin 244, subsequent counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever 238 causes rotation of the bearing block 212 thereby swinging the adjacent end of the roller 161 arcuately away from the roller 160, To return the roller 161 to normal operating position, the lever 238 is pivoted clockwise. Initially, the tlattened portion 242 is rotated clockwise thereby permitting the spring 233 to bias the plunger 228 radially outwardly. Then, when the lower end edge of the slot 246 engages the reaction pin 244, the bearing block 212 is rotated clockwise until the nose portion 234 re-engages or snaps into the bushing 236.

Detent and release means of similar construction and operation are incorporated with the bearing block 216, a roll release lever being indicated at 248. The roll release mechanisms are provided for clearing any material that becomes wedged between the rolls 16() and 161. rIhrough appropriate pivotal movement of the levers 238 and 248, either or both ends of the release roll 161 are first moved away from the roll and then returned to original position. During the cleaning operation, which may be carried out while the

rolls

160 and 161 are either rotating or stopped, the axial setting of the roll 168 remains undisturbed and the detent means serve to realign the roll -161 in its original position so that the original roll spacing remains unaffected. In addition, the plunger 228 of the detent means associated with each

bearing block

212 and 216 is so arranged that it will move radially inwardly should any foreign object pass between the

rolls

168 and 161 thus acting as an automatic safety release. As the nose portion 234 of the plunger 228 is withdrawn from the bushing 236, the bearing block 212 or 216, or both, are

permitted to rotate allowing the release roll 161 to move away from the adjusting roll 160. After the foreign object has passed between the rolls, the release roll 161 may be returned to its normal operating position by manipulation of the hand levers 238 and 24E-S. As will be readily appreciated, the release roller 161 may be released either manually or automatically. Due to the provision of the spherical or universal mountings of the bearing blocks 212 and 216, one end or the other of the roller 161 may be moved away from the roller 160 by rotation of one of the bearing blocks while the other bearing block swivels in the adjacent spherical seat to accommodate such movement of the roll without distortion of any of the parts. Selfaligning bearing units comprised of cylindrical bearing blocks combined with self-aligning bearings could be used to accomplish the same result. Because the

rolls

160 and 161 are tapered or conical, a very exacting Vernier adjustment of the roll spacing or separation can be obtained by moving the roil 150 axially. Furthermore, parallelism is maintained between the axes of the rolls 161i and 161 during axial adjustment of the former and regardless of the roll spacing, thus assuring uniform performance of the rollermill at all times. Mounted on the outer end of the stub shaft Zii-S of the release roll 161 is a sheave 251i. Being tapered, the

rollers

160 and 161, and their associated journal ends or stub shafts, may be cast integrally whereby to eliminate possible separation between rolls and shafts. For long roll life, the grooves 16tla. and 161:1 in the outer peripheries of the

rollers

160 and 161 preferably are cast integrally to retain hard cast shearing edges along the boundaries of the grooves, Also, by casting the rollers, manufacturing costs are minimized. Certain features of the roller mill assembly are claimed in the copending application of Robert L. Glidden, Ser. No. 406,430, led Oct. 26, 1964.

The

rollers

160 and 161 are adapted to be driven from the main drive shaft 42.. More particularly, as shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 2, a series of endless belts 252 are trained over a drive sheave '70 that has connection with the drive shaft 42, an idler sheave 254, an auger sheave 256 that has connection with the horizontal auger in the auger housing 34, and the roller sheaves 134 and 251i. This drive train is enclosed within the cover 44 (FIG- URE 1). ln connection with this drive train, since the release roller 161 moves in an arcuate path whenever it is released or swung away from the roller 160, the corresponding path of the sheave 251) is such that the tension on the belts 252 does not significantly change during actuation of the release roller 161.

In the operation of the above-described apparatus, the drive shaft 42 is connected to a power take-off shaft and the rolls 161i and 161 and other associated devices are thereby rotated. Then ears of corn, with or without shucks, are introduced into the lower end of the feeder auger housing 30 wherefrom they are conveyed upwardly to the hopper 2S. From the hopper 28 the ears of corn drop by gravity into the corn chopper assembly where they are fragmentized. These material fragments then drop by gravity to the rollers 160 and 16d of 'the roller mill assembly. Although both tapered rolls 160 and 1611 rotate at .the same rpm., their mating surface speeds differ up to 30 percent. As a result, small particles or kernels that are sm-aller `than the distance between the rolls are caused to be twisted and thereby fractured and are not permitted to pass directly through the rolls without processing as would be the case with cylindrical rolls. This diiference in surface speed also adds a slight shearing action to the rolling process. Since it requires only one-half to three-fourths as much force to fracture by shear as by compression, the power requirements are reduced. The final product leaving the roller mill assembly is conveyed through the horizontal Iauger housing 34, vertical auger housing 36 and gravity discharge spout 38 to the point rof discharge. If desired, the roller mill assembly may be used independently of a corn chopper assembly in which case shelled corn or other small grain may be fed directly of the rollers and 161.

Normally, the axis of 4rotation of the stub shafts 205 and 208 lies on the left side of a vertical plane passing through the vertical axis of the plunger 228 and the rotative axis of the bearing blocks 212 and 216, as viewed in FIGURE 2. However, after the rolls have become worn and are reground to a smaller diameter, the bearing blocks 212 and 216 may be reversed in their mounts. Under these circumstances and in the case of each bearing block, the pins 240 and 247 are interchanged in the bearing block, and the reaction pin 2414 is removed from the position shown and inserted in the aperture 251 on the then outwardly facing side of the bearing block. In this reversed position of the bearing blocks 212 and 216, the axis of rotation of the stub shafts 206 and 298 would lie on the right side of a vertical plane passing -through the vertical axis of the plunger 228 and the rotative axis of the bearing blocks, as viewed in FIGURE 2.

While we have shown and described what we believe to be a preferred embodiment of our present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may -be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block with a spherical peripherai portion being rotatable in a stationary spherical seat in at least one of the housing walls, one of said rolls having a journal end rotatably mounted in said bearing block on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing block, and said bearing block upon rotation in one direction serving to move the one end of said one roll away from 4the adjacent end of the other roll.

2. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two Walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block With a spherical peripheral portion being rotatable in a stationary spherical seat in at least one of the housing walls, one of said rolls having a journal end rotatably mounted in said lbearing block on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing block, detent means for releasably holding said bearing block in a predetermined rotative position, and said bearing block upon rotation in one direction serving to move arcuately the one end of said one roll a-way from the adjacent end of the other roll.

3. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block with a spherical peripheral portion being rotatable in a stationary spherical seat in at least one of the housing walls, one of said rolls having a journal end rotatably mounted in said bearing biock on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing block, detent means for releasably holding said bearing block in a predetermined rotative position, lever means for rotating said bearing block whereby to move the one end of said one roll away from the adjacent end of the other roll, and a lost motion connection between said lever means and said bearing block whereby pivotal move-ment of said lever means initially effects release of said detent means and subsequently causes rotation of said bearing block.

4. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, self-aligning bearing units rotatable in stationary seats in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said self-aligning bearing units, and one of said bearing units upon rotation in one direction serving to move the one end of said one roll away from the adjacent end of the other roll as said other bearing unit accommodates such movement of the roll.

5. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block with a spherical peripheral portion rotatable in a stationary spherical seat in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing blocks, and one of said bearing blocks upon rotation in one direction serving to move the one end of said one roll away from the adjacent end of the other roll as said other bearing block swivels in the adjacent housing wall to accommodate such movement of the roll.

6. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, self-aligning bearing units rotatable in stationary seats in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said self-aligning bearing units, detent means for releasably holding said bearing units in a predetermined rotative position, separate lever means for rotating each of said bearing units whereby to move either or both ends of said one roll away from the other roll, a lost motion connection between each of said lever means and the adjacent bearing unit whereby pivotal movement of either of said lever means in one direction initially effects release of the adjacent detent means and subsequently causes rotation of the adjacent bearing unit, and said detent means serving to facilitate return of said bearing units to said predetermined rotative position.

7. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating conical rotatable rolls within the housing, each of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends, angularly shiftable means in the housing walls for rotatably mounting the journal ends of one of said rolls whereby at least one end of said one roll may be moved away from the adjacent end of the other roll, and means for axially shifting said other roll whereby to adjust the spacing between said rolls.

8. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at leas-t two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating conical rotatable rolls within the housing, each of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends, angularly shiftable means in the housing walls for rotatably mounting the journal ends of one of said rolls whereby at least one end of said one roll may be moved away from the adjacent end of the other roll, said other roll having one of its journal ends rotatable in and axially movable relative to one of the housing walls and having the other of its journal ends rotatable in -a supporting member, and said supporting member being adjustable axially in the other of the housing walls whereby said other roll may be moved axially for adjusting the spacing between said rolls.

9. For use in a roller mill having `a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block with a spherical peripheral portion rotatable in a stationary spherical seat in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing blocks, said bearing blocks upon rotation serving to move at least one end of said one roll away from the adjacent end ot the other roll, said other roll being conical and having oppositely directed journal ends, said conical roll having one of its journal ends rotatable in and axially movable relative to one of the housing walls and having the other of its journal ends rotatable in a supporting member, and said supporting member being adjustable axially in the other of the housing walls Whereby said conical roll may be moved axially for adjusting the spacing between said rolls.

it). For use in a roller mil-l having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating conical rotatable rolls within said housing, a bearing block having a spherical peripheral portion rotatable in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing blocks, said bearing blocks upon rotation in one direction serving to move either or both ends of said one roll away from the other roll, detent means for releasably holding said bearing blocks in a predetermined rotative position, separate lever means for rotating each of said bearing blocks, a lost motion connection between each of said lever means and the adjacent bearing block whereby pivotal movement of either of said lever means in one direction initial-ly effects release of the adjacent detent means and subsequently causes rotation of the adjacent bearing block, said other roll having oppositely directed journal ends, said other roll having one of its journal ends rotatable in and axially movable relative to bearing means retained in one of the housing walls and having the other of its journal ends rota-table in bearing means retained in a supporting member, and said supporting member being exteriorly threaded in the other of the housing walls whereby upon rotation thereof said other roll may be moved axially for adjusting the spacing between said rolls.

1i. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls and having a power train with a plurality of sheaves and endless belt means trained thereover, a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, `a bearing block having a spherical peripheral portion rotatable in stationary spherical seat in each or the housing Walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing blocks, said bearing blocks upon rota-tion in one direction serving to move either or both ends of said one roll away from the other roll, one of said sheaves having connection with said one roll, and the path of movement of said one roll toward and away from said other roll being such that the tension on said belt means does no-t significantly change during movement of said One roll.

12. For use in a roller mill having a housing with at least two walls, the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls within the housing, a bearing block with a spherical peripheral portion rotatable in each of the housing walls, one of said rolls having oppositely directed journal ends rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks on an axis spaced from the rotative axis of said bearing blocks and said bearing blocks being adapted to be reversed and interchanged between their respective housing walls whereby to accommodate changes in diameter of said one roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 276,015 4/1883 Fenner 305-62 768,531 8/1904 Kirby 241-235 X 2,059,384 11/1936 Montgomery et al. 29-132 X 2,107,214 2/1938 Rechtin et al 241-230 X 2,180,046 ll/l939 Gleissner 308-62 2,534,878 12/1950 Packer 10-122 3,174,696 3/1965 Hoffman 241-230 X FOREIGN PATENTS 161,739 4/1921 Great Britain.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. FOR USE IN A ROLLER MILL HAVING A HOUSING WITH A LEAST TWO WALLS, THE COMBINATION OF A PAIR OF COOPERATING ROTATABLE ROLLS WITHIN THE HOUSING, A BEARING BLOCK WITH A SPHERICAL PERIPHERAL PORTION BEING ROTATABLE IN A STATIONARY SPHERICAL SEAT IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE HOUSING WALLS, ONE OF SAID ROLLS HAVING A JOURNAL END ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING BLOCK ON AN AXIS SPACED FROM THE ROTATIVE AXIS OF SAID BEARING BLOCK, AND SAID BEARING BLOCK UPON ROTATION IN ONE DIRECTION SERVING TO MOVE THE ONE END OF SAID ONE ROLL AWAY FROM THE ADJACENT END OF THE OTHER ROLL.