Elastic roller for a pressing apparatus

The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of providing said cavity just below the roller surface.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of providing said raised portion in the shape of a circumferential ring.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of using at least one of the following design variables for keeping the roller end surface flat:

• the size of said cavity, the shape of said cavity, the size of said raised portion, the shape of said raised portion, the location of said cavity in said elastic roller, the location of said cavity relative to said raised portion, the composition of the elastic roller material, the pressure in the cavity, and the shape of the edge of the roller.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of providing said raised portion over the center of said cavity.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of using a Finite Element Analysis for defining the respective elastic roller parameters.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said elastic roller is a rubber roller.

An elastic roller for a pressing apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers to define at least one chamber therebetween, wherein said elastic roller comprises at least one cavity below its surface in the region of at least one of its ends for cooperation with at least one raised portion provided on said elastic roller in the region of the roller end or on a counter roller.

The elastic roller of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cavity is disposed just below the roller surface.

The elastic roller of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said raised portion is provided in the shape of a circumferential ring.

The elastic roller of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said raised portion is provided over the center of said cavity.

The elastic roller of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of said elastic roller is closed off by a sealing arrangement.

The elastic roller of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said elastic roller is a rubber roller.

A pressing apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers to define at least one chamber therebetween, at least one of said rollers being an elastic roller, wherein said elastic roller comprises at least one cavity below its surface in the region of at least one of its ends for cooperation with at least one raised portion provided on said elastic roller in the region of the roller end or on a counter roller.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cavity is disposed just below the roller surface.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said raised portion is provided in the shape of a circumferential ring.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said raised portion is provided over the center of said cavity.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of said elastic roller is closed off by a sealing arrangement.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said elastic roller is a rubber roller.

The pressing apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said counter roller is a steel roller.