Method and device for installing a belt onto a long nip press or shoe calender

Abstract

A method and device for installing a belt onto a long nip press or calender of the shoe type. The belt to be installed has a number of opposing flaps on each edge for securing the belt to the press. The flaps are inserted and passed through corresponding slots spaced around the rotating head ends of the press. Positioning wedge devices are slid into position on each flap and locking pins are inserted into holes in the flaps. The wedge devices effectively lock the flaps in place by securing the locking pins. The devices precisely align and tension the flaps on the press, thereby ensuring a proper installation of the belt. Once the flaps are secured to the press, the positioning devices and locking pins are removed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of installing a belt onto a long nip press; the belt having a plurality of opposing flaps on each edge for securing the belt to the press; the press having a corresponding plurality of slots spaced around rotating head ends of the press; comprising the steps of: 
 passing the flaps of the belt through the corresponding slots on the rotating head ends of the press;    sliding positioning wedge devices over the flaps; and    inserting a locking pin through a hole in each flap; the positioning wedge devices locking into position on the locking pins and precisely aligning and tensioning the flaps on the press, thereby ensuring even installation of the belt.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 securing the flaps to the press; and    removing the positioning wedge devices and locking pins from the flaps.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning wedge device has a wedge shaped body having a device flap slot which allows the device to slide over the flap such that the flap passes through the device flap slot; the wedge device having a concave recess in an angled top surface for securing the locking pin inserted into each flap.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the long nip press is a shoe press or a shoe calender.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the belt has twelve (12) opposing flaps on each edge.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hole in each flap has a grommet.  
     
     
         7 . A device for installing a belt onto a long nip press, comprising: 
 a wedge shaped body having an angled top surface, a flat bottom surface, a point end, a vertical end surface, and wedge shaped front and back surfaces; the angled top surface connecting with the flat bottom surface at the point end;    a device flap slot extending from the angled top surface through to the flat bottom surface and extending from the point end into the wedge shaped body for a distance at least equal to a width of each of a plurality of opposing flaps on each edge of the belt; and    a concave recess in the angled top surface for securing a locking pin inserted into each flap; the concave recess located a predetermined distance from the flat bottom surface.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , whereby the device is slid over the flap such that the flap passes through the device flap slot and the inserted locking pin is secured in the concave recess of the angled top surface.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , whereby the secured locking pin is positioned at the predetermined distance from the rotating head ends of the press so that the flap is properly tensioned for installation.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of the devices are used corresponding to said plurality of flaps.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the device is removed once the flap is secured to the press; the device being reusable.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the long nip press is a shoe calender.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the belt has twelve (12) opposing flaps on each edge.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the hole in each flap has a grommet.