Method of manufacturing coated rolls

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a roll coated with an absorbent, compressible material and used to support strip metal includes the steps of selecting a roll body having a rigid, cylindrical outer surface, attaching a leading end of a line to the outer surface, selecting a first elongate strip of compressible material, forming the strip into a V-shape, placing the line along the crotch of the V-shape, winding the line and the strip onto the outer surface such that the longitudinal edges of the strip extend in a substantially radial direction, and finally attaching the trailing end of the line to the roll body. In a preferred embodiment, the line is wound in a helical path from one end of the body to the other, and, simultaneously, the windings of the line and strip material are urged sidewardly in an axial direction to compress the strip to form a continuous surface. In other preferred embodiments, a second strip of compressible, absorbent material is inserted between the segments of the V-shape of the first strip as it is wound onto the roll, or in between successive windings of the first strip. Also, the first strip may be made of a thin, strong web and a second strip used which is made of a soft, absorbent material and is inserted along the fold of the first strip. The method contemplates using strips made of porous, material such as a felt of wool, cotton, plastic fiber, or the like.