Apparatus and method for enhancing heating uniformity for setting adhesive in corrugated paperboard manufacturing

摘要

An apparatus and method is disclosed for slidably contacting and pressing upon the back side of a conveyor to urge an advancing corrugated paperboard sheet into substantially uniform contact with adjacent laterally extending heating surfaces irrespective of any thermally induced deflection or bowing thereof. A plurality of heating chests arranged in side-by-side relation define the series of laterally extending heating surfaces. A conveyor belt is positioned opposite the series of heating surfaces for advancing the corrugated paperboard sheet longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel. A plurality of contact assemblies provides the sliding contact with the conveyor belt. Each contact assembly, in turn, preferably includes a plurality of contact shoes arranged in side-by-side relation and carried by a laterally extending supporting frame. The contact shoes have contact surfaces slidably contacting the back side of the conveyor belt. Respective compressed springs urge the contact surfaces of the contact shoes against the conveyor belt even in the presence of any thermally induced bowing and without causing edge crushing. The contact shoes are mounted so that each is independently movable along a path of travel into and outward from the back side of the conveyor belt and so that each is laterally pivotable with respect to its imaginary longitudinal centerline.