Method of making a bearing blanket

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the curing step further includes: curing the elastomeric polymer after the wrapping step and prior to removing the resultant blanket from the mandrel, such that the central portion attains a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity of the edges.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wrapping step includes the substeps of: rotating the mandrel; wrapping the reinforcing mat around the rotating mandrel, such that the reinforcing mat attains a cross machine direction width, which is equal to the width of the central portion together with the width of the first and second lateral edges; applying a release agent circumferentially around the first and second lateral edges; applying the elastomeric polymer around the release agent and the reinforcing mat such that the uncured elastomeric polymer is applied along the cross machine direction width of the central portion together with the lateral edges; the method further including the step of: cutting away the reinforcing mat in the vicinity of the first and second edges of the blanket after the step of removing the blanket from the mandrel, and before the folding step, such that the resultant blanket includes a central portion having a reinforcing mat covered with cured elastomeric polymer, the blanket also having lateral edges of cured elastomeric polymer so that the central portion has a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity of the edges thereby permitting folding of the edges of the blanket radially inwardly for inhibiting escape of lubricating oil from the extended nip press past the urethane edges.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the reinforcing mat is woven.

Claim 6

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the reinforcing mat is nonwoven.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the wrapping step includes the substeps of: wrapping a woven inner layer around the mandrel; wrapping a non-woven outer layer around the woven inner layer.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the reinforcing mat is wound spirally around the mandrel.

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the release agent is a liquid applied to the edges of the mat for facilitating the step of cutting away the mat in the vicinity of the edges of the resultant blanket.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the release agent is a solid tape applied circumferentially around the first and second edges, in order to facilitate the step of cutting away the mat in the vicinity of the edges of the resultant blanket.

Claim 11

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cured elastomeric polymer has a hardness within the range 10 to 35 P and J.

Claim 12

A method as set forth in claim 3, further including the step of: grinding away circumferentially the cured elastomeric polymer in the vicinity of the edges of the resultant blanket prior to the step of folding the edges radially inwardly and subsequent to the cutting away step, so that folding of the edges radially inwardly is facilitated.

Claim 13

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of applying the uncured elastomeric polymer further includes the substeps of applying a thicker coating of uncured elastomeric polymer along the central portion compared with the thickness of the uncured elastomeric polymer applied in the vicinity of the edges, so that the step of folding the first and second edges of the blanket radially inwardly is facilitated.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 3, further including the step of inflating the resultant blanket after the step of folding the first and second edges of the blanket radially inwardly, such that wrinkling of the edges is minimized.

Claim 15

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of applying the uncured elastomeric polymer includes applying an elastomeric polymer having a lower modulus of elasticity in the vicinity of the edges compared with the modulus of elasticity of the uncured elastomeric polymer applied along the central portion, thereby improving the flexibility of the edges of the blanket.

Claim 16

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of applying the uncured elastomeric polymer further includes the substeps of: applying an initial layer of uncured elastomeric polymer along the entire width of the mat; applying a further coating of uncured elastomeric polymer along the respective edges, the further coating having a coefficient of thermal and/or chemical shrinkage different from the coefficient of thermal and/or chemical shrinkage of the initial layer, such that following the cutting step, the resultant elastomeric polymer edges barrel inwardly in order to further inhibit the escape of lubricant past the edges of the resultant blanket.

Claim 17

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing mat is woven.

Claim 18

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing nonwoven.

Claim 19

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing mat includes: an inner woven layer; an outer non-woven layer.

Claim 20

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wrapping step is preceded by the step of: applying a release agent to the mandrel in the vicinity of the lateral edges of the resultant blanket; the wrapping step including the substeps of: wrapping the reinforcing mat around the mandrel in the vicinity of the central portion; applying the uncured elastomeric polymer circumferentially around the release agent in the vicinity of the edges, and around the reinforcing mat along the central portion.

Claim 21

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric polymer is urethane.