Apparatus for calendering continuously produced articles using at least one calender roll

Abstract

Apparatus for calendering continuously produced articles includes a at least one calender roll and a drive having a driveshaft which is constructed in the form of a cardan shaft and operatively connected to the at least one calender roll for rotating the at least one calender roll. In order to maintain the at least one calender roll at a desired temperature, a fluid passageway means is provided for circulation of a temperature control medium. The temperature control medium is hereby introduced into the driveshaft via a rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough which is constructed for distribution of the temperature control medium. The rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough has a first fluid passageway for providing a passageway to the driveshaft, and a second fluid passageway for providing a passageway for discharge of the temperature control medium.

1 . Apparatus for calendering continuously produced articles, comprising: 
 at least one calender roll;    a drive having a driveshaft constructed as a cardan shaft and operatively connected to the at least one calender roll for rotating the at least one calender roll; and    a rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough having fluid passageway means for circulation of a temperature control medium to maintain the at least one calender roll at a desired temperature, said rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough having a first fluid passageway for providing a passageway to the driveshaft for introduction of temperature control medium into the driveshaft, and a second fluid passageway for providing a passageway for discharge of the temperature control medium from the rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with temperature control medium in the driveshaft.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary hollow-shaft feedthrough has an annular gap for distribution of the temperature control medium.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annular gap is in fluid communication with the first passageway.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the driveshaft is constructed to allow temperature control medium to flow into an interior of the at least one calender roll.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid passageway means includes a first conduit which extends, at least in part, within at least one member selected from the group consisting of the driveshaft and the at least one calender roll, said first conduit being in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first conduit is arranged in concentric relationship to a rotation axis of the at least one member.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the driveshaft is constructed to allow discharge of temperature control medium from the interior of the at least one calender roll.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid passageway means includes a second conduit which extends, at least in part, within at least one member selected from the group consisting of the driveshaft and the at least one calender roll, said second conduit being in fluid communication with the second passageway.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second conduit is arranged in concentric relationship to a rotation axis of the at least one member.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway means includes a first conduit in fluid communication with the first passageway, and a second conduit in fluid communication with the second passageway, said second conduit disposed in concentric surrounding relationship to the first conduit.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second conduits form a unitary structure in the form of a double pipe.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pump for transport of the temperature control medium.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one calender roll is equipped with a changeable sleeve.