Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for thermally treating a layer of material in a plurality of successive, distinct phases comprising a treatment roller including a stationary carrier, and a shell mounted for rotation about the carrier; applying means for delivering a layer of material onto the outer surface of the shell; and a plurality of heat-conducting lines, equal in number to the number of said phases, incorporated in the carrier and extending in the direction of its axis, the lines being spaced circumferentially of the carrier in the direction of rotation of the shell, and each line comprising a feed duct for heat exchange medium, and directing means supplied by the associated feed duct and discharging said medium toward the inner surface of the shell, whereby the shell is contacted sequentially by the heat exchange media of the various lines as it rotates about the carrier so that the overlying layer of material is subjected to successive, distinct thermal treatments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for thermally treating a layer of material in a plurality of successive, distinct phases comprising a treatment roller including a stationary carrier, and a shell mounted for rotation about the carrier; applying means for delivering a layer of material onto the outer surface of the shell; and a plurality of heat-conducting lines, equal in number to the number of said phases, incorporated in the carrier and extending in the direction of its axis, the lines being spaced circumferentially of the carrier in the direction of rotation of the shell, and each line comprising a feed duct for heat exchange medium, and directing means supplied by the associated feed duct and discharging said medium toward the inner surface of the shell, whereby the shell is contacted sequentially by the heat exchange media of the various lines as it rotates about the carrier so that the overlying layer of material is subjected to successive, distinct thermal treatments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said directing means of each heat-conducting line comprises a series of hydrostatic pressure elements arranged side-by-side in the carrier, each element having a pressure pocket which faces the inner surface of the shell and which is aupplied with liquid heat exchange medium from the associated feed duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said liquid heat exchange medium is chemically related to the material being treated or is inert relative thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the shell and carrier are spaced radially from each other and bound an intervening space, and which includes circumferentially spaced baffle strips mounted in the carrier and extending radially to the inner surface of the shell to form in said space compartments for collecting the heat exchange media issuing from the various heat-conducting lines; and discharge ducts in the carrier for withdrawing heat exchange media from the compartments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 or 4 in which said applying means comprises an application roller which coacts with the treatment roller to define a pressing gap in which the layer of material is laid onto the shell; and which includes a series of hydrostatic support elements in the carrier and arranged to support the shell along the pressing gap, and pressure duct means in the carrier for feeding pressure medium to the hydrostatic support elements, whereby the treatment roller serves as a deflection compensating roller with respect to the application roller and thereby maintains the pressing gap constant over its entire length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for heating the application roller, whereby the material is heated by this roller before it is applied to the shell of the treatment roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a pressing roller associated with the application roller and defining therewith a pressing gap in which a uniform layer of material is formed on the application roller; and means for feeding material to be treated to the pressing gap bounded by the pressing and application rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the pressing roller comprises a stationary carrier; a shell rotatable about the carrier; a series of hydrostatic support elements in the carrier and arranged to support the shell along the pressing gap bounded by the pressing and application rollers; and pressure duct means for feeding pressure medium to the hydrostatic support elements, whereby the pressing roller serves as a deflection compensating roller with respect to the application roller and thereby maintains the gap between these rollers constant over its entire length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including drive means for rotating the application and pressing rollers at different circumferential speeds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 and 4 including a take-off roller associated with the treatment roller to define a take-off gap located behind the last heat-conducting line in the direction of shell rotation and wherein treated material is removed from the shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus las defined in claim 10 including a series of hydrostatic support elements in the carrier and arranged to support the shell along the take-off gap; and pressure duct means in the carrier for feeding pressure medium to the hydrostatic support elements, whereby the treatment roller serves as a deflection compensating roller with respect to the take-off roller and thereby maintains the take-off gap constant over its entire length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 or 4 including radiation means for directing radiant energy toward the outside surface of the layer of material on the shell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 or 4 including a cowling which coacts with the shell to define a chamber for receiving and conveying away gasses associated with the thermal treatment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 or 4 in which the shell is thin-walled or elastic; and including a clamping roller which is parallel with the carrier and engages the inner surface of the shell, the clamping roller being mounted for adjustment in the radial direction and serving to clamp the shell in the circumferential direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including means for driving the clamping roller; and wherein the clamping roller rotates the shell about the carrier.