Self-loading, controlled deflection roll

Abstract

A self-loading, controlled deflection roll for forming a pressure nip with another roll has at least one support shoe, and preferably two opposed support shoes, mounted in a stationary support shaft for controlling the deflection of the roll shell in the direction of the nip. At either end of the controlled deflection roll, a pair of opposed guide shoes are pivotally disposed on the stationary support shaft to apply pressure against the roll shell to stabilize the position of the roll shell relative to the stationary shaft. At least one guide shoe at either end of the roll is equipped with a compensating piston to permit its face surface to move radially outwardly relative to the guide shoe support on the stationary shaft. Also, at least one of the guide shoes at either end of the roll is pivotally supported on the stationary shaft to allow rotational movement of its guide shoe about an axis in a plane substantially parallel with a nip plane through the nip and the longitudinal axis of the roll. The guide shoes provide equal stabilization forces at substantially right angles to the plane of the nip regardless of the relative translational position of the roll shell disposed about the stationary shaft.