Rolling mill drive with a coupling and decoupling device

1. A rolling mill comprising

a drive spindle which is arranged between a drive unit and a driven roll, a first spindle head on the spindle and connected detachably to the driven roll;

a coupling and decoupling device between the roll and the spindle head of the drive spindle, the coupling and decoupling device comprising

a coupling sleeve extending along an axis of the driven roll,

a coupling pin between the driven roll and the coupling sleeve, the coupling pin being inserted releasably into the coupling sleeve;

a locking element arranged displaceably transversely to the axis of rotation of the neck of the roll, and when inserted into the coupling sleeve and engages behind the coupling pin in an operating position of the locking element, and

a locking element displacing device to which, the locking element is capable of being coupled and operable to displace the locking element transversely.

2. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the coupling pin comprises a foot plate having an end-side fastened to the neck of the roll and a coupling hook including at least one locking surface transverse to the axis of the coupling sleeve and projecting from the foot plate toward the locking element,

a longitudinal groove including at least one counter-locking surface in the locking element and transverse to the axis of the coupling sleeve, the groove is positioned for guiding the coupling hook in and out of the coupling sleeve, the longitudinal groove having a coupling opening at one location along the groove, the locking element is movable into a release position at which the coupling opening in the locking element is aligned with the coupling hook enabling release of the coupling and decoupling device and the locking element is movable into an operating position at which the locking surface on the coupling hook lies opposite the counter-locking surface on the locking element enabling coupling of the coupling and decoupling device; and

the displacing device is operable to move the coupling and decoupling device between the release and operating position.

3. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the coupling hook has a T-shape, and the locking element has a longitudinal groove transverse to the axis and of cooperating T-shape to receive the coupling hook.

4. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driven roll has a first axis of rotation, the coupling pin has a second axis of rotation and the coupling sleeve of the spindle head has a third axis of rotation, the first, second and third axes are in alignment in relation to one another; and

the longitudinal axis of the locking element is oriented transversely to the axes of rotation and intersects them.

5. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking element has a circular cylindrical outer contour; a circular cylindrical bore aligned radially in the coupling sleeve in which the outer contour of the locking element is inserted in a rotationally secured manner.

6. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a preloaded tension spring between the locking element and a fixed stop on the coupling sleeve for fixing the operating position of the locking element.

7. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for the displacing device at least on one side of the locking element.

8. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the displacing device comprises a pressure medium cylinder.

9. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling sleeve has a peripheral annular groove, a spindle support having a supporting surface which lies opposite the annular groove, the spindle support is movable so that the supporting surface is movable into engagement with the annular groove for supporting the coupling sleeve;

the displacing device for the locking element is connected to the locking element for enabling synchronous movement of the displacing device and of the supporting surface of the spindle support.

10. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the displacing device is fastened rigidly to the displaceable spindle support.

11. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the displacing device and the supporting surface of the spindle support is connected to a control for synchronizing their movement sequence.

12. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driven roll has a neck on the end of the driven roll, the first spindle head being detachably connected to the neck of the driven roll.

13. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the neck of the driven roll has a first axis of rotation, the coupling pin has a second axis of rotation and the coupling sleeve of the spindle head has a third axis of rotation, the first, second and third axes are in alignment in relation to one another; and

the longitudinal axis of the locking element is oriented transversely to the axes of rotation and intersects them.

14. The rolling mill drive as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a spindle support outside the coupling sleeve and operable into engagement with the coupling sleeve for supporting the coupling sleeve; and

the displacing device for the locking element being operable for enabling synchronous movement of the displacing device and the spindle support.