Extended process roll nip
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorMario Castillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process roller is provided including an inner core and a roller cover structure adapted to be mounted on the inner core for rotation with the inner core, the roller cover structure defining an outer surface adapted to mate with at least one of a belt or a mating roller such that a nip receives at least one of a wet web or a fibrous structure, in which the roller cover structure includes an inner ring positioned about the inner core and an outer ring positioned about the outer ring, where the outer ring has a higher hardness than the inner ring and the inner ring and outer ring are formed from a rubber. Also disclosed is an apparatus that includes the corresponding process roller and a method for joining a first fibrous structure to a second fibrous structure using the corresponding apparatus.
Claims21
A process roller comprising:
- an inner core;
- a roller cover structure adapted to be mounted on the inner core for rotation with the inner core, the roller cover structure defining an outer surface adapted to mate with at least one of a belt or a mating roller such that a nip receives at least one of a wet web or a fibrous structure, the roller cover structure comprising:
- an inner ring positioned about the inner core;
- and
- an outer ring positioned about the inner ring, wherein an outer surface of the outer ring defines the outer surface of the roller cover structure,
- wherein a ratio between a Pusey & Jones (P&J) hardness value of the inner ring to the P&J hardness value of the outer ring is about 2:1 to about 28:1;
- wherein the inner ring is thicker than the outer ring such that a thickness ratio between the inner ring and the outer ring is about 2:1 to about 10:1;
- wherein the P&J hardness ratio and the thickness ratio are selected to increase a width of the nip, wherein the width of the nip is measured based on a constant force of 1500 lbf applied for one second to the process roller;
- wherein the inner ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 1.25 inches, and wherein the outer ring has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches, and wherein the thickness ratio between the inner ring and the outer ring is from about 3:1 to about 5:1;
- and
- wherein the inner ring and outer ring are formed from a rubber.
An apparatus comprising:
- one of a mating roller or a belt;
- and
- a process roller comprising:
- an inner core;
- a roller cover structure adapted to be mounted on the inner core for rotation with the inner core, the roller cover structure defining an outer surface adapted to mate with an outer surface of the one of the mating roller or the belt to define a nip to receive one or more of a wet web or a fibrous structure, the roller cover structure comprising:
- an inner ring positioned about the inner core;
- and
- an outer ring positioned about the inner ring, wherein an outer surface of the outer ring defines the outer surface of the roller cover structure,
- wherein the outer ring has a lower Pusey & Jones (P&J) hardness value than the inner ring and wherein the inner ring has a greater thickness than the outer ring so to increase a width of the nip, wherein the width of the nip is measured based on a constant force of 1500 lbf applied for one second to the process roller;
- and
- wherein the inner ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 1.25 inches, and wherein the outer ring has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches, and wherein the thickness ratio between the inner ring and the outer ring is from about 3:1 to about 5:1.
A process for joining a first fibrous structure to a second fibrous structure, the process comprising;
- providing one of a mating roller or a belt and a process roller, wherein the one of the mating roller or the belt and the process roller are in engagement with one another to define a nip therebetween, wherein the process roller comprises:
- an inner core;
- a roller cover structure adapted to be mounted on the inner core for rotation with the inner core, the roller cover structure comprising:
- an inner ring positioned about the inner core;
- and an outer ring positioned about the inner ring, wherein the outer ring has a lower Pusey & Jones (P&J) hardness value than the inner ring and wherein the inner ring has a greater thickness than the outer ring;
- applying adhesive to a first surface of the first fibrous structure;
- passing the first and second fibrous structures through the nip concurrently with the first surface of the first fibrous structure in engagement with the second fibrous structure so to press the first and second fibrous structures together;
- wherein the lower P&J hardness value of the outer ring and the greater thickness of the inner ring are selected to increase a width of the nip, wherein the width of the nip is measured based on a constant force of 1500 lbf applied for one second to the process roller;
- and
- wherein the inner ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 1.25 inches, and wherein the outer ring has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches, and wherein the thickness ratio between the inner ring and the outer ring is from about 3:1 to about 5:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.