Patent ID: 6250222
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G03D

Abstract:
An apparatus for the continuous treatment of sheet material, comprising:a housing defining a treatment cell having a sheet material entrance, a sheet material exit, and a sheet material path, said sheet material path being defined by said sheet material entrance and said sheet material exit and extending through said treatment cell;a plurality of path-defining rollers closing each said sheet material entrance and said sheet material exit and defining a nip at each said sheet material entrance and said sheet material exit through which said sheet material path extends, each said path-defining roller comprising a drive roller;rotatable sealing means for sealing each said drive roller to said housing;means for establishing a reduced pressure within said treatment cell;a drum surface constituting a reaction surface, said drum surface being in contact with said plurality of path-defining rollers; andmeans for lifting said housing, including said drive rollers and said rotatable sealing means, away from said drum surface when not in use.