Patent ID: 6402890
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
A method for operating a shoe press unit having a beam, a shoe element movably supported on the beam and having a pressing surface, a flexible belt arranged to slide over the pressing surface of the shoe element, and a pressing unit operable to urge the shoe element in a pressing direction away from the beam, the method comprising:supplying oil between the belt and the pressing surface of the shoe element for lubricating therebetween, excess oil being expelled under pressure from between the belt and the shoe element at an upstream edge region of the shoe element such that the excess oil exits from between the belt and shoe element with an initial kinetic energy; capturing the excess oil expelled from between the belt and the shoe element with an oil evacuation arrangement formed separately from the shoe element and affixed to the shoe element such that the shoe element and oil evacuation arrangement move together as a unit, the oil evacuation arrangement including an evacuation duct fixed relative to the shoe element for evacuating excess oil expelled from between the belt and shoe element; and passing the oil evacuated through the duct into an outlet pipe fixed relative to the beam, and providing a movable coupling between the duct and the outlet pipe such that the duct can move in at least the pressing direction relative to the outlet pipe as the shoe element is moved back and forth by the pressing unit.