ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn automatic plug changer is disclosed, particularly fora plug mill, although some features may have applicability in con-junction with related mills, such as piercing and reeling mills.A rotatable drum is mounted below the pass line of the mill andhas pockets for containing a plurality of mandrel plugs. A com-bined plug support and discharge trough is movably positionedbetween the plug-containing drum and the mill rolls, and is alignedwith a plug-receiving position in the drum. After a tubular shellhas been driven through the mill, over a mandrel plug, the plugsimply drops out of the mill, slides down the discharge trough andis received in the drum. The drum then indexes to a new position,bringing a new plug into alignment with the trough. A pushermechanism then moves the plug out of the drum and onto the dischargetrough. The trough is then pivoted upwardly and becomes part ofthe inlet trough for the tube shell, positioned to be passed throughthe mill, serving to support the plug until it is picked up by theincoming tube shell. The new mechanism improves the overall ef-ficiency of the plug mill by substantially reducing the time re-quired for the plug change cycle to occur.
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