Stepped calander

Abstract

A calender is disclosed comprising at least two calender nips formed by at least two stacked rolls ( 8, 9; 14, 15 ) so disposed mutually in regard to each other that in the successive pairs of rolls the distance between the center axes of the lower rolls ( 8, 14 ) of the roll pairs is smaller than the distance between the center axes of the respective upper rolls ( 9, 15 ), whereby the rolls ( 8, 9; 14, 15 ) as seen from their ends are staggered in a Vangled configuration so as to leave space therebetween for changing the rolls. The invention provides a very compact calender construction by way of having the pairs of rolls ( 8, 9; 14, 15 ) staggered in regard to the vertical plane so as to locate the rolls at different height levels.

1 . A calender comprising: 
 at least two calender nips formed by at least two rolls pairwise stacked above one another and so disposed mutually in regard to each other that in the successive pairs of rolls the distance between the center axes of the lower rolls of the roll pairs is smaller than the distance between the center axes of the respective upper rolls, whereby the rolls as seen from their ends are staggered in a V-angled configuration so as to leave space therebetween for changing the rolls,    wherein said pairs of rolls are stairwise offset staggered on a frame so as to locate the rolls at different height levels.    
   
   
       2 . The calender of  claim 1 , wherein each roll pair of a calender nip comprises at least one soft roll and at least one heated hard roll.  
   
   
       3 . The calender of  claim 1 , wherein the upper roll pair is entirely situated above the lower roll pair.  
   
   
       4 . The calender of  claim 1 , wherein at least the lower roll of the upper roll pair is situated at least partially below a top level of the upper roll of the lower roll pair.  
   
   
       5 . The calender of  claim 1 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       6 . The calender of  claim 2 , wherein the upper roll pair is entirely situated above the lower roll pair.  
   
   
       7 . The calender of  claim 2 , wherein at least the lower roll of the upper roll pair is situated at least partially below a top level of the upper roll of the lower roll pair.  
   
   
       8 . The calender of  claim 2 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       9 . The calender of  claim 3 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       10 . The calender of  claim 4 ,_further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       11 . The calender of  claim 5 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       12 . The calender of  claim 6 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       13 . The calender of  claim 7 , further comprising, immediately upstream in front of at least one pair of rolls, a moisturizing/steaming device.  
   
   
       14 . The calender of  claim 1 , wherein a line drawn through the center axes of the upper and lower roll of each pair of rolls is inclined by 15° in regard to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       15 . The calender of  claim 2 , wherein a line drawn through the center axes of the upper and lower roll of each pair of rolls is inclined by 15° in regard to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       16 . The calender of  claim 3 , wherein a line drawn through the center axes of the upper and lower roll of each pair of rolls is inclined by 15° in regard to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       17 . The calender of  claim 4 , wherein a line drawn through the center axes of the upper and lower roll of each pair of rolls is inclined by 15° in regard to a vertical plane.