Endless belt changing apparatus and method
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsFrank Stephen Hada, Robert Eugene Krautkramer, Mark John Hassman, Robert James Seymour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to methods and an apparatus useful to installing and removing endless belts in a conveyor system and more preferably continuous fabrics, belts, felts and webs used in the papermaking process. According to the present invention a pair of guide rolls to move a first continuous fabric from a first fabric position to a second fabric position and a second fabric from the second fabric position to the first fabric position, passing the fabrics over one another as the position of the fabrics are exchanged. The movement of the first and second fabrics may be done at the same time so as to further enhance the efficiency of changing fabrics.
Claims20
An apparatus for replacing a first endless belt on a machine with a second endless belt, the first endless belt supported by a drive roll, a support roll and a guide roll, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a first drive roll adapted for driving a second endless belt,
- b. a first guide roll adapted for guiding a second endless belt and aligned out of plane with the machine guide roll, the first guide roll rotating about a first axis and movable about a second axis transverse to the first axis;
- c. a drive means for effecting the movement of the first guide roll;
- and
- d. a support roll for supporting a second endless belt.
A method of installing an endless belt on a machine comprising the steps of providing a machine having a first and a second machine rotatable roll;
- providing an apparatus comprising an endless belt supported by a drive roll, a guide roll and a support roll;
- rotating the fabric in a first direction;
- angling the guide roll to apply a first force to the fabric along a first axis, whereby the endless belt is moved from the drive and support rolls to the first and the second machine rolls.
A method of changing a fabric comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first fabric and a second fabric in a spaced apart relation to one another;
- b. rotating the first and the second fabric in the same direction;
- c. applying a first force to the first fabric along a first axis;
- and
- d. applying a second force to the second fabric along a second axis, wherein the first and second axis are different.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.