Sealing strip temperature monitoring system and assembly thereof

Abstract

An assembly includes a seal strip having an upper wear surface and an opposing lower surface, the seal strip configured to provide a seal for a suction roller, the seal strip including a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip holder in which the sealing strip resides and which is movable relative to the sealing strip holder; and a temperature monitoring system. The temperature monitoring system comprises: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity; the temperature sensor is connected with the heat conduction rod and used for sensing the temperature in the heat conduction rod; and a controller operatively connected with the temperature sensor, the controller configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of the upper surface of the sealing strip.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 375,587, filed on September 14, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to papermaking and, more particularly, to suction rolls and equipment within a papermaking machine. Background Art

[0003] Papermaking inherently requires the removal of water at many points in the production process. Generally, paper pulp (a slurry of water and wood and other fibers) floats on top of a felt (in the form of a wide band) that acts as a carrier for the wet pulp before the actual paper sheet is formed. The felt is used to carry the pulp in the wet section of the paper machine until enough water has been removed from the pulp to allow the paper sheet to be processed without the additional support added by the felt.

[0004] Typically, on the wet end of a paper machine, the first water removal is accomplished using a suction roll in the press section (whether couch roll, pick-up roll, or press suction roll) in conjunction with a standard press roll without holes (or against a Yankee dryer in a tissue paper machine) that is aligned with the suction roll. The felt carrier is pressed between these two rolls.

[0005] The main components of the suction roll 10 include a hollow shell 12 ( Figure 1 ), the hollow shell 12 has tens of thousands of holes drilled radially around the circumference of the roll in a prescribed pattern. The size of these holes is measured (ranging from less than 1 / 8" to nearly 1 / 4") and are designed for the specific paper material to be processed. It is these holes that form the "drain" for water removal. This drainage section can typically range from about 20% to 45% of the surface area of ​​the drive roll. The suction roll shell is driven by a drive system that rotates the shell around a fixed core called a suction box.

[0006] Suction box 20( Figure 2 ) can be thought of as a conventional long rectangular box with no cover on the top and ports on the ends, bottom or sides. The ends of the box (particularly the drive end) typically have guide bearings whose inner races are guide bushings or bearings that slide fit onto the journals on the suction box and whose outer races are pressed onto the rotating shell. The suction box 20 is connected to a suction source (e.g., a vacuum pump). An exemplary suction box and housing are shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,358,370 to Huttunen, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0007] In order to utilize the holes in the shell, it is necessary to use these ports on the inside of the suction roll shell to create a vacuum zone 30 in the area just below the pulp being processed. This is achieved by the suction box 20 using slotted retainers 32 that hold the seal along the long axis of the suction box on both sides. Figure 2 A slotted retainer 32 is shown, and Figure 3 and Figure 4 Two seals 34, 34' are shown, which are in the form of strips (hereinafter referred to as "sealing strips"). In addition to these long seals, there are two shorter seals (called end deckles) on the short ends (called the operating end and the drive end), which can have some axial adjustment to accommodate various sheet widths as required.

[0008] The sealing strips 34, 34' are typically made of rubberized polymerized graphite and are maintained in near contact with the inner surface of the housing 12 during operation (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 ). A constant vacuum is drawn between the sealing strips 34, 34'. This allows a vacuum zone 30 to be created beneath the sheet 40 as it passes over the roller 10. The sealing strips 34, 34' are biased upward toward the suction roll shell 12 by the load tube 142, which is a sealed hose that extends beneath the entire length of the sealing strips 34, 34'. The pressure in the load tube 142 causes the load tube 142 to expand (much like air in a balloon) and lift the sealing strips 34, 34' toward the inner surface of the shell 12. This effect, along with the help of the system vacuum from the suction box 20 and the previously mentioned laminar flow of lubricating water, forms a seal between the edge of the sealing strip 34 and the interior of the shell 12.

[0009] In actual application, in a properly functioning suction roll, the sealing strips 34, 34' never directly contact the interior of the suction roll shell 12. If the sealing strips 34, 34' did contact the shell 12, they would wear away and would quickly lose their sealing ability. In order to eliminate or significantly reduce this wear and provide a seal, water is applied along the length of the sealing strips 34, 34', using the water flowing through the spray nozzles 24 to form a lubricating spray (see Figure 2 ). This spray utilizes laminar water flow between the sealing surface and the inner surface of the housing 12 to keep the sealing strips 34, 34' lubricated.

[0010] The amount of water used for lubrication should be properly measured so that the right amount of lubrication is applied to keep the seals 34, 34' lubricated, but not so much that it becomes a problem for the pulp being processed or wastes water. Additionally, process water used in paper mills may contain chemicals and significant amounts of particles that may clog the lubrication spray nozzles 24 during normal operation. Since these nozzles 24 are located inside the rotating shell 12, they are not visible to the paper machine operator.

[0011] Sealing strips are typically replaced periodically after a certain degree of wear occurs. However, because the sealing strip inside the suction roll is not visible to the operator of the papermaking equipment or anyone trying to view the sealing strip, many conditions inside the operating suction roll, including the sealing strip temperature, are unknown. Some conditions, such as an increase in the temperature of the surface of the sealing strip, may indicate improper operation or inefficiency. As such, a reliable method of detecting the sealing strip temperature may be desired to notify the operator of the papermaking equipment that maintenance of the equipment is required before a failure occurs. Summary of the invention

[0012] As a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to an assembly, the assembly comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposite lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to a suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip retainer in which the sealing strip resides and is movable relative to the sealing strip retainer; and a temperature monitoring system. The temperature monitoring system comprises: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the thermally conductive rod for sensing a temperature in the thermally conductive rod; and a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of an upper surface of the sealing strip.

[0013] As a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to an assembly comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposite lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to a suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip holder in which the sealing strip resides and is movable relative to the sealing strip holder; and a temperature monitoring system. The temperature system comprises: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity at least 50 to 1,000 times higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the thermally conductive rod for sensing a temperature in the thermally conductive rod; and a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of an upper surface of the sealing strip.

[0014] As a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to an assembly, the assembly comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposite lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to a suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip retainer in which the sealing strip resides and is movable relative to the sealing strip retainer; and a temperature monitoring system. The temperature system comprises: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip and extending between the upper wear surface and the lower surface of the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the thermally conductive rod for sensing a temperature in the thermally conductive rod; and a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of the upper surface of the sealing strip. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective end view of a typical paper machine suction roll.

[0016] Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective end view of the suction box area of ​​a typical suction roll.

[0017] Figure 3 is an end view of the suction box area and sealing strip of a conventional suction roll.

[0018] Figure 4 is an end view of the suction box area and sealing strip of another conventional suction roll.

[0019] Figure 5 is a schematic end view of a sealing strip and temperature monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An enlarged partial perspective view of the sealing strip and temperature monitoring system.

[0021] Figure 7 It is a graphic Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the electronic components of the temperature monitoring system.

[0022] Figure 8 It is a graphic Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement of the electronic components of a temperature monitoring system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter, wherein embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, the present invention may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the accompanying drawings, the same numbers always refer to the same elements. For clarity, the thickness and size of some components may be exaggerated.

[0024] In addition, for ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "below", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as illustrated in the figure. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientations depicted in the accompanying drawings, spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, the elements described as being "below" or "below" other elements or features will be oriented to be "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "below" may include both the orientations of above and below. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0025] Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and / or clarity.

[0026] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Figures 5 to 8 1 and 2. The sealing strip 100 and the accompanying temperature monitoring system 120 are shown in FIG. Apart from the accommodation for the temperature monitoring system 120 described below, the sealing strip 100 is of conventional design: it is elongated and has a substantially constant cross-section (in Figure 5100); it resides within a channel-shaped holder 102 and is supported by a load tube 104 against a lower surface 106 of the sealing strip 100; a load cell 104 contacts the lower surface 106 and biases the sealing strip 100 upward (i.e., toward the housing of the suction roll) so that an upper surface 105 of the sealing strip 100 (i.e., its wear surface) faces the housing and helps to seal therewith; and it is formed of a polymeric material such as rubber (which may be filled with a filler such as graphite).

[0027] The temperature monitoring system 120 includes one or more temperature sensors 122 located near or below the lower surface of the sealing strip 100. The temperature sensors 122 may be of conventional construction; exemplary temperature sensors include thermocouples, thermistors, and thermopiles. The temperature sensors 122 are coupled to a processor 150 (see also Figure 7 and Figure 8 ) is operatively connected to the processor 150, which receives signals from the temperature sensor 122 and converts these signals into monitoring data.

[0028] Although only a single temperature sensor 122 is illustrated herein, in some embodiments, the temperature monitoring system 120 includes temperature sensors 122 at different locations along the length of the sealing strip 100. For example, five temperature sensors 122 may be deployed in the sealing strip 100: one at or near each end of the sealing strip 100; one in the middle of the sealing strip 100; and one at each "quarter" location along the length of the sealing strip 100. Such a dispersion may provide temperature data from different locations along the upper surface of the sealing strip 100, which may help a technician identify specific problem areas.

[0029] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the temperature monitoring system 120 further includes one or more heat conducting rods 124, each of which is associated with a corresponding temperature sensor 122. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the heat conductive rod 124 includes a material that conducts heat more easily than the material used in the sealing strip 100. As a result, the heat conductive rod 124 transfers heat faster than the remaining material of the sealing strip 100, thereby enabling the temperature sensor 122 to detect temperature changes at the surface of the sealing strip 100 more quickly and accurately.

[0030] like Figure 5 and Figure 6, in some embodiments, the thermally conductive rod 124 extends through the entire height of the sealing strip 100; that is, the thermally conductive rod 124 is exposed on both the upper (wear) surface 105 and the lower surface 106 of the sealing strip 100. The exposure at the upper surface 105 of the sealing strip 100 can enable the thermally conductive rod 124 to provide particularly accurate temperature data from the upper surface. When the temperature sensor 122 is mounted on the exterior of the sealing strip 100, the exposure at the lower surface 106 of the sealing strip 100 can enable a simple connection to the temperature sensor 122, which in turn can enable the temperature sensor 122 to more easily communicate with the processor 150 (see Figure 7 and Figure 8 ) connection (hardwired or wirelessly). However, in other embodiments, the thermally conductive rod 124 may not extend to either or both of the wear surface 105 and the lower surface 106.

[0031] There may be limitations in selecting materials for the sealing strip 100 and the thermally conductive rod 124. On the one hand, the distance between the wear surface 105 of the sealing strip 100 and the temperature sensor 122 may affect the selection of materials; the greater the distance over which heat needs to be conducted between the wear surface 105 and the temperature sensor 122, the more desirable a material with a higher thermal conductivity may be. On the other hand, some similarity between the materials of the sealing strip 100 and the thermally conductive rod 124 may be desirable because (a) materials with somewhat similar hardness may prevent wear or damage to the surface of a roller that mates with the sealing strip 100, and (b) if the material of the thermally conductive rod 124 produces a significantly higher degree of friction than the material of the sealing strip 100, the heat generated by such friction may result in inaccurate temperature readings. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive rod 124 may be formed of a material having a thermal conductivity between about 50 times and 1,000 times the thermal conductivity of the material of the sealing strip 100.

[0032] As an example, if the sealing strip 100 is formed of rubber impregnated with graphite (which is a typical sealing strip configuration), the thermally conductive rod 124 may be formed of graphene. The thermal conductivity of graphene is approximately 4000 Wm -1 K -1 , while graphite filled rubber can have about 10 to 20 Wm -1 K -1 As a result, heat is conducted more easily within graphene than in graphite-filled rubber.

[0033] In some embodiments, and as Figure 6 , the thermally conductive rod 124 is formed of a tightly coiled graphene sheet. In such an embodiment, epoxy or another adhesive / potting compound may be used to fill any gaps between the layers of the coiled graphene sheet and / or provide a seal that prevents moisture from the papermaking process from penetrating into the space occupied by the thermally conductive rod 124.

[0034] In some embodiments, the thickness of the graphene sheet is between about 300 μm and 200 μm (typically about 25 μm), and / or the diameter of the thermally conductive rod 124 formed from the graphene sheet is between about ⅛ inch and ½ inch.

[0035] Other exemplary materials for the thermally conductive rod 124 include carbon nanotubes, metals such as copper, silver, and aluminum, and polymeric materials filled with such materials.

[0036] In operation of the paper machine, the rotation of the suction roll 10 relative to the sealing strip 100 generates heat. This heat diffuses downward toward the base of the sealing strip 100, decreasing in intensity with distance. The heat is transferred throughout the sealing strip 100, including to and through the heat conducting rods 124 to the temperature sensors 122. Based on this information, an array of temperatures is determined for the sealing strip 100 at different points along the surface of the sealing strip 100, which can be used to assess potential wear of the surface of the sealing strip 100.

[0037] Exemplary electronic components of the temperature monitoring system 120 are shown in FIG. Figure 7 100. These components may include a processor 150 and a driver circuit 152, which are used to interface with the sensor 122. A communication driver 154 acts as a bridge between the processor 150 and a main communication module 160 mounted remotely from the seal 100. A voltage regulation section 156 allows the proper voltage to be supplied to the system. The main communication module 160 allows wireless communication between the system and an operator display 162.

[0038] Figure 8 An alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 1 . In this configuration, the temperature sensor 122 is connected to the display 162' via a single processor 150'. The processor 150 is then connected to the remote operator display 162' and is also connected to the voltage regulator 156'. This arrangement processes the analog signal directly, thereby eliminating the need for Figure 7 Some of the modules shown in the are required.

[0039] With respect to the electronic devices and microcontrollers discussed above, embodiments of the inventive concept may be implemented in hardware and / or in software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.). In addition, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept may take the form of a computer program product including a non-transitory computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having a computer-usable or computer-readable program code implemented in the medium for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, or transport a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus.

[0040] The computer usable or computer readable medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or apparatus. More specific examples of computer readable media (a non-exhaustive list) would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more conductors, a portable computer floppy disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer usable or computer readable medium may even be paper or another suitable medium on which the program is printed, as the program may be captured electronically, for example, via optical scanning of paper or other media, and then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0041] Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are described herein with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams and the combination of blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions and / or hardware operations. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that instructions executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device create a device and / or circuit for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0042] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operating steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device, thereby producing a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks of one or more flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0043] In some embodiments, the controller may be connected (hardwired or wirelessly) to or associated with a display device (e.g., a monitor, tablet, smart phone, laptop, etc.) that may generate one or more visual displays of temperature, wear, and / or lubrication parameters of the system. Additionally, in some embodiments, the controller is configured to make recommendations regarding the amount of lubrication based on a "wear" signal and / or a temperature signal from a temperature sensor within the seal. The controller may also be configured to provide a warning or alarm (visual, audible, or other) to signal that a threshold parameter (e.g., a threshold temperature or wear level) has been reached so that the parameter of interest can be processed.

[0044] It should also be noted that the temperature monitoring system 120 may use different components to perform different functions. For example, the load tube 104 may be replaced with other components (e.g., springs, resilient pads, etc.) that bias the sealing strip 100 toward the housing of the suction roll. The sealing strip retainer 102 may use different configurations. Other variations may also be used.

[0045] Additionally, in some embodiments, the sealing strip 100 may also include a wear monitoring system that measures the extent of wear experienced by the sealing strip. Exemplary wear monitoring systems are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018 / 0313035 to Reaves et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017 / 0254019 to Keinberger et al., and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022 / 0145538 to Kilbourne et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0046] The foregoing is an explanation of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Therefore, all of these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. The present invention is defined by the following claims, and the equivalents of the claims are included therein.

Claims

1. A component comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposing lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to the suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip holder, the sealing strip residing in the sealing strip holder and being movable relative to the sealing strip holder; as well as A temperature monitoring system, the temperature monitoring system comprising: a heat conducting rod, the heat conducting rod being at least partially embedded in the sealing strip, the heat conducting rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the heat conducting rod and used to sense the temperature in the heat conducting rod, and A controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of the upper surface of the sealing strip.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein The thermally conductive rod extends to the wear surface of the sealing strip.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The heat conductive rod extends to the lower surface of the sealing strip.

4. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The heat conducting rod includes graphene.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The thermally conductive rod includes a coiled graphene sheet.

6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The sealing strip comprises graphite impregnated rubber.

7. A suction roller comprising: a cylindrical housing having an interior cavity and a plurality of through holes; a suction box positioned in the cavity of the housing; as well as a suction source operatively connected to the suction box; as well as The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing strip and the sealing strip retainer are installed in the suction box so that the upper surface of the sealing strip faces the inner surface of the housing.

8. A component comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposing lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to the suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip holder, the sealing strip residing in the sealing strip holder and being movable relative to the sealing strip holder; as well as A temperature monitoring system, the temperature monitoring system comprising: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity at least 50 to 1,000 times higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the heat conducting rod and used to sense the temperature in the heat conducting rod, and A controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of the upper surface of the sealing strip.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The thermally conductive rod extends to the wear surface of the sealing strip.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The heat conductive rod extends to the lower surface of the sealing strip.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein The heat conducting rod includes graphene.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein The thermally conductive rod includes a coiled graphene sheet.

13. An assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein The sealing strip comprises graphite impregnated rubber.

14. A suction roller comprising: a cylindrical housing having an interior cavity and a plurality of through holes; a suction box positioned in the cavity of the housing; as well as a suction source operatively connected to the suction box; as well as The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sealing strip and the sealing strip retainer are installed in the suction box so that the upper surface of the sealing strip faces the inner surface of the housing.

15. A component comprising: a sealing strip having an upper wear surface and an opposing lower surface, the sealing strip being configured to provide a seal to the suction roll, the sealing strip comprising a first material having a first thermal conductivity; a sealing strip holder, the sealing strip residing in the sealing strip holder and being movable relative to the sealing strip holder; as well as A temperature monitoring system, the temperature monitoring system comprising: a thermally conductive rod at least partially embedded in the sealing strip and extending between the upper wear surface and the lower surface of the sealing strip, the thermally conductive rod comprising a second material, wherein the second material has a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity; a temperature sensor connected to the heat conducting rod and used to sense the temperature in the heat conducting rod, and A controller is operatively connected to the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and process the signal to indicate a temperature of the upper surface of the sealing strip.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein: The heat conducting rod includes graphene.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein: The thermally conductive rod includes a coiled graphene sheet.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein: The sealing strip comprises graphite impregnated rubber.

19. A suction roller comprising: a cylindrical housing having an interior cavity and a plurality of through holes; a suction box positioned in the cavity of the housing; as well as a suction source operatively connected to the suction box; as well as The assembly of claim 15, wherein the sealing strip and sealing strip retainer are installed in the suction box so that the upper surface of the sealing strip faces the inner surface of the housing.

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