Calender for the treatment of web-like materials

A calender for the treatment of web-like material, comprising:

• a fixed structure adapted to support two heated rollers reciprocally arranged so as to form a nip traversable by web-like materials, wherein each roller has a right pin and a left pin provided with bearings, wherein each roller is shaped to be connected to said fixed structure, to a drive unit and to a heating system adapted to bring its outer surface to a predetermined operating temperature, the calender further comprising automatic means for hooking the rollers to said fixed structure and respectively releasing the rollers from the structure itself, automatic means for engaging the rollers to said drive unit and respectively for disengaging the rollers from the drive unit, and automatic means for connecting the rollers to said heating system and respectively disconnecting them from the latter, in that said automatic means are controlled by a programmable control unit, and in that each of said rollers has an engaging surface shaped to be engaged by mechanical means for moving the rollers which move the rollers between the calender and one or more waiting or parking stations while the rollers are at a temperature comprised between 50° C. and 200° C. after having been released from said structure, disconnected from said drive unit and disconnected from said heating system by said automatic means controlled by the programmable control unit.

A method for the treatment of web-like materials, wherein a fixed structure supports two heated rollers reciprocally arranged so as to form a nip traversable by web-like materials, wherein each roller has a right pin and a left pin provided with bearings, wherein each roller is shaped to be connected to said fixed structure, to a drive unit and to a heating system adapted to bring its outer surface to a predetermined operating temperature, the method comprising the activation of automatic means for hooking the rollers to said fixed structure and respectively releasing the rollers from the structure itself, the activation of automatic means for engaging the rollers to said drive unit and respectively for disengaging the rollers from the drive unit, and the activation of automatic means for connecting the rollers to said heating system and respectively disconnecting them from the latter, in that said automatic means are controlled by a programmable control unit, and in that on each of said rollers an engaging surface is placed which is engaged by mechanical means for moving the rollers which move the rollers between the calender and one or more waiting or parking stations while the rollers are at a temperature comprised between 50° C. and 200° C. after having been released from said structure, disconnected from said drive unit and disconnected from said heating system by said automatic means controlled by the programmable control unit.