Machine for mechanically treating materials having a movable flexible retarder

Claim 2

In combination with a machine for mechanically compressing a web material having driving means for receiving and conveying the web, first means for confining the web between said first means and said driving means to a predetermined thickness immediately prior to mechanical compression thereof and a flexible retarder downstream of said first means for confining the web and for slowing the movement of the web between said flexible retarder and said driving means, said first means being pressed into said flexible retarder to define a confined compression cavity; means for moving said flexible retarder relative to said driving meanS at a speed less than the speed of said driving means to present fresh surfaces of said flexible retarder to the conveyed web during mechanical compression of the conveyed web.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retarder comprises an elongated strip disposed longitudinally of said driving means, and said means for moving said flexible retarder includes a pair of rotatably mounted rollers mounting the respective ends of said strip thereon in wound-up manner whereby said strip is adapted to be wound from one of said rollers onto the other of said rollers during movement relative to said driving means.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine further includes a backup plate disposed over said flexible retarder to extend over a portion of the planes of said means for confining the web and said driving means, and a shoe apparatus connected to said backup plate for imposing a load on said flexible retarder to deflect said flexible retarder relative to said means for confining the web in a direction towards said driving means.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retarder is made of rubber.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retarder comprises an endless belt.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for moving said flexible retarder includes at least a pair of rotatably mounted rollers, said flexible retarder passing over each of said rollers to be moved thereby.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 6 which further includes a pressing roller mounted over said flexible retarder on an opposite side from said driving means for pressing said flexible retarder towards said driving means.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 7 which further includes a guideway slidably mounting said pressing roller therein for vertical movement relative to said driving surface, said guideway being slidably mounted in said machine for horizontal movement relative to said driving surface to change the size of said compression cavity.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 8 which further includes a weighted roller of larger diameter than said pressing roller mounted over said pressing roller in weighted contact therewith to transmit a load onto said pressing roller.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retarder includes a roller and an endless strip mounted on said roller.

Claim 12

In combination with a machine for mechanically compressing a traveling web of material within a compression cavity, defined by a drive surface on one side, a free edge of a first surface spaced from said drive surface to confine the traveling web to a predetermined thickness prior to entry into said cavity, and a friction surface of a flexible retarder spaced from said drive surface, said friction surface extending from said free edge to define a continuous surface opposite said drive surface, said cavity having a greater height than the spacing between said first surface and said drive surface at said free edge and being of decreasing height downstream of said free edge; means for moving said flexible retarder relative to said drive surface at a speed less than the speed of said driving means during mechanical compression of the web to present different portions of said flexible retarder within said compression cavity to form said friction surface.

Claim 13

In combination with a machine for mechanically compressing a traveling web of material within a compression cavity, defined by a drive surface on one side, a free edge of a first surface spaced from said drive surface to confine the traveling web to a predetermined thickness prior to entry into said cavity, and a friction surface of a flexible retarder spaced from said drive surface, said friction surface extending from said free edge to define a continuous surface opposite said drive surface, said cavity having a greater height than the spacing between said first surface and said drive surface at said free edge and being of decreasing height downstream of said free edge; means for moving said flexible retarder relative to said drive surface at a speed less than the speed of said driving means during mechanical compression of the web to present different portions of said flexible retarder within said compression cavity to form said friction surface.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said flexible retarder moves said flexible retarder longitudinally of said drive surface.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flexible retarder is an elongated strip.

Claim 16

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flexible retarder is an endless belt.

Claim 17

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flexible retarder is a sleeve and said means for moving said flexible retarder includes a rotatably mounted roller mounting said sleeve around the periphery thereof.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flexible retarder is made of rubber.

Claim 19

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means moves said flexible retarder continuously.

Claim 20

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means moves said flexible retarder intermittently in predetermined increments.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means moves said flexible retarder at a speed reduction at about 50:1 with respect to said drive surface.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said flexible retarder moves said flexible retarder intermittently in predetermined increments during mechanical compression of the conveyed web.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible retarder comprises an elongated strip disposed transversely of said driving means, and said means for moving said flexible retarder includes a pair of rotatably mounted rollers mounting the respective ends of said strip thereon in wound-up manner whereby said strip is adapted to be wound from one of said rollers onto the other of said rollers during movement relative to said driving means.

Claim 24

The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said flexible retarder moves said flexible retarder transversely of said drive surface.