Apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp

Apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp comprising first and second rotatable press rolls having permeable outer surfaces, a casing comprising a vat in which said first and second rotatable press rolls are installed, thereby forming a gap between said vat and said permeable outer surfaces of said first and second rotatable press rolls, said first and second rotatable press rolls being juxtaposed with each other to define a press nip therebetween in which said pulp is pressed, feed means for feeding said pulp to said gap in the direction of rotation of said first and second rotatable press rolls towards said press nip, said vat partially enclosing said permeable outer surfaces of said first and second rotatable press rolls and comprising a first side vat segment partially enclosing said permeable outer surface of said first rotatable press roll and a second side vat segment partially enclosing said permeable outer surface of said second rotatable press roll, said casing comprising a first side casing member including said first side vat segment and a second side casing member including said second side vat segment, said first side casing member being pivotable about an axis of rotation and movable between a closed position and an open position for providing access to said first rotatable press roll in said open position, a first pulp distribution device for distributing pulp onto said first rotatable press roll and a second pulp distribution device for distributing pulp onto said second rotatable press roll, at least said first pulp distribution device being mounted on said first side casing member whereby said first pulp distribution device is moved away from said first rotatable press roll together with said first side casing member when said first side casing member is moved from its closed position to its open position.