High Release Nip Roll Assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a high release nip roll assembly comprising a nip roll with a covering comprising a high release material. The release properties of the nip roll material can permit intermittent contact without the coating adhering to the surface of the roller and wrapping the nip. Also disclosed is a high release nip roll belt made of a high release material on the top and bottom surfaces of the belt. The belt can be positioned at each end of a nip roll so that areas of the nip roll typically vulnerable to molten thermoplastic material contact are protected by a belt. Also disclosed is a belt making apparatus. Also disclosed is a frame assembly for moving a belt longitudinally along a nip roll. Also disclosed is a rope guide assembly for threading a belt in relation to a nip roll and at least at least one belt roller. Also disclosed is a jig for joining a leading section of a belt and a trailing section of a belt.

1 . A high release be comprising a first tape and a second tape, each tape having a high release side and an adhesive side, wherein the adhesive side of each tape is joined to the adhesive side of the other tape, with the side edges of the tapes aligned so that top and bottom surfaces of the belt comprise the high release side of each tape, the belt comprising a leading section add-wherein a portion of the first tape has been removed at the leading section, thereby exposing a portion of the adhesive side of the second tape at the leading section. the belt comprising a trailing section add-wherein a portion of the second tape has been removed at the trailing section, thereby exposing a portion of the adhesive side of the first tape at the trailing section, wherein the portion of the exposed adhesive side of the first tape at the trailing section is adhered to the portion of the exposed adhesive side of the second tape at the leading section to form a closed belt and wherein a portion of the belt is positioned on a nip roll to protect the nip roll at a location that otherwise would be vulnerable to molten thermoplastic material, the nip roll having a high release material cover. 
     
     
         2 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein the high release side of each tape comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         3 . A belt making apparatus for producing the high release belt of  claim 1 , the belt making apparatus comprising a wind-up drum, a first tape roll having the first tape, and a second tape roll having the second tape, the wind-up drum defining a slot, the wind-up drum comprising a first clamp and a second clamp inside the wind-up drum, wherein the first tape from the first tape roll is fed into the slot and clamped by the first clamp and the second tape from the second tape roll is fed into the slot and clamped by the second clamp, wherein the wind-up drum can be rotated and the adhesive side of the first tape adheres to the adhesive side of the second tape as the first tape and the second tape are wound around the outside of the wind-up drum. 
     
     
         4 . The belt making apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wind-up drum is rotated by rotating a wheel connected to the wind-up drum. 
     
     
         5 . A jig for joining the leading section and the trailing section of the high release belt of  claim 1 , the jig comprising a top surface, the top surface defining a channel having a predetermined belt width, a leading section belt clip on one side of the surface and a trailing section belt clip on the other side of the top surface, wherein the leading section of the belt is clipped to the jig by the leading section belt clip and laid within the channel and the trailing section of the belt is clipped to the jig by the trailing section belt clip, wherein the adhesive side of the second tape of the leading section of the belt is exposed and the adhesive side of the first tape of the trailing section of the belt is exposed to, aligned with, and adhered to the adhesive side of the second tape of the leading section of the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the top surface defining the channel is a curved arc.