Abstract: Coating is applied from a coating application chamber to a moving web or backing roll by a rotating premetering rod, a curved or straight wedge, or a premetering blade which is urged against the moving substrate by a plurality of profiling mechanisms which are spaced from one another in the cross machine direction to control the cross machine direction profile of the applied coating to avoid coating streaks. The profiling mechanisms may be hydraulic actuators, machine screws or thermal expansion driven pistons. Cross machine profiling of the premetering device allows control with minimum pressure on the web. Adjustments to the premetering device are only made where necessary to correct nonuniform coating application where detected.

Abstract: Two coating supply tubes extend parallel to one another and run the full width of a moving substrate in the cross machine direction. Coating is supplied separately to each supply tube from opposite ends. The supply tubes discharge coating through spaced metering holes into an application chamber defined between a sidewall mounted to each supply tube. The counterflow arrangement of the coating supply tubes results in the fall off of coating pressure in one tube being canceled out by the increased pressure in the other tube. The fall off may be further counteracted by varying the spacing between metering holes the greater the distance from the coating inlet, by varying the diameter of the metering holes, or both. The tendency of the heated coating to cause a temperature gradient may be counteracted by cantilevering the applicator head on arms from a support beam through which a temperature-controlling fluid is circulated.

Abstract: A headbox having a tube bank composed of a multiplicity of tubes arranged in machine direction rows of superpositioned tubes. The tubes extend from an unitary outlet wall of the headbox and are supplied by a single header or manifold. The tubes extend to the inlet of a single nozzle which is formed with an upper planar wall which converges toward a lower planar wall. The converging walls of the nozzle define two radially extending planes which converge at an imaginary centerline which extends in the cross-machine direction. The individual rows of tubes each lie along a radial plane which extends through the centerline. The radial planes defined by each tube row will preferably be evenly spaced in angle between the nozzle walls. The injection ends of the tubes lie on a defined cylindrical surface extending between the nozzle walls and extending the width of the headbox in the cross machine direction.

Abstract: A doctor blade structural support has the form of a hollow structural member of roughly triangular cross-section, one side of the triangular cross-section being substantially tangent to the surface of the dryer roll. A quantity of water is disposed within the hollow structural member and resides on the inside surface of the structural member adjacent to the heated dryer roll surface. The interior of the doctor support structure is sealed from the atmosphere and is evacuated so that the interior of the structure contains only water and water vapor. Heat radiating from the dryer roll surface to the doctor support structure causes water disposed on the inside surface adjacent to the dryer roll to evaporate, thus raising the internal vapor pressure in the sealed interior of the doctor support structure. The water vapor continuously condenses on the inside surfaces of the support structure which are not exposed to radiant heating from the dryer roll.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a crescent former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll. A second upper fabric or transfer fabric operating at a lower speed then the first can be used to form a rush transfer between the forming fabrics and the Yankee dryer which increases web bulk and absorbency. Instead of a second fabric, a vacuum pressure roll may perform the rush transfer between the lower forming fabric and the Yankee dryer.

Abstract: A support drum assembly is provided for a torque, nip and web tension type of reel. The support drum assembly includes an actuating mechanism disposed at one end of the support drum which enables one end of the drum to be raised or lowered with respect to the other end of the drum for adjusting the amount of backlash while the machine is in operation. The support drum assembly includes a cross shaft linkage which will allow at least two different backlash settings to be used at any time during the machine operation.

Abstract: An improved process is described for oxygen delignification of medium consistency pulp slurry which teaches control parameters and their resultant effect on final product characteristics. Specifically, a process is described wherein pulp slurries of from approximately eight percent to sixteen percent consistency, are heated to a temperature of at least 170.degree. F. and impregnated oxygen gas and alkali to bring the slurry to a pH of from approximately 11-12.5. The slurry is mixed in a high shear mixer, for agitating mixing therein, under pressure of from approximately 20-180 psig for a first reaction time of typically 5 minutes. Additional alkali is added to the slurry to return the pH to at least 11, preferably at least 12, and the residual alkali concentration to at least 4.0 gpl at the end of the first reaction time. The temperature of the slurry is raised to at least 170.degree. F. followed by mixing for a second reaction time of typically 55 additional minutes.

Abstract: A press-to-dryer apparatus is disclosed for pressing and drying a web of paper. The apparatus includes a press for pressing the web of paper and a dryer disposed downstream relative to the press for drying the web. The dryer includes an unfelted drying cylinder disposed immediately downstream relative to the press. The arrangement is such that the web extends from the press to and around the drying cylinder. The dryer also includes a heater which cooperates with the unfelted drying cylinder such that the web is disposed between the drying cylinder and the heater for heating and drying the web. The dryer also includes a single-tier drying section which is disposed downstream relative to the unfelted drying cylinder for completing the drying of the web.

Abstract: A coater head for contacting a liquid coating material with a traveling web of paper or fabric. The coater head includes at least two chambers and an extended outflow bubble to increase the zone of contact between coating liquid and the traveling web. Improved, coating quality also results from controlled flow characteristics through the coater head having a feed zone length-to-depth ratio of four or more.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for assisting in the release of a web from contact with the heated surface. The apparatus includes a material which is urged into contact with the heated surface upstream relative to the contact of the web to the heated surface. The material is devoid of metallic content and the arrangement is such that when the web contacts the heated surface downstream relative to the material, thermal energy is transferred from the surface to the web. The web is released from the heated surface subsequent to the transfer of the heat, such release being facilitated by the material being urged against the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in a displacement batch digesting process is provided which reduces the amount of equipment required to carry out an efficient displacement batch digestion process. Specifically, an apparatus and method are disclosed which eliminates the need for separate warm fill pumps, hot fill pumps and further which consolidates the cool pad pump, displacement pump and dilution pump functions into a single booster pump. Still further, the recirculation pump and discharge pump functions are consolidated into a single pump.

Abstract: The bonding of an elastomeric cover to a metal roll is tested by transmitting audible frequency waves through the compliant roll cover and receiving the waves at a transducer mounted to the underlying steel roll. The resulting signal may be analyzed by a technician listing to the audio frequencies transmitted. The audio range of frequencies employed may be about 5000 Hz. The elastomeric material such as rubber does not transmit sound without considerable loss of amplitude, whereas sound travels at high speed through steel with little attenuation. A sound transmitter is spirally scanned along the rubber-covered surface of the roll, transmitting into the steel roll directly beneath the sound transmitter and throughout the roll. Sound is detected at a transducer mounted at the roll ends. Any failure or significant variation in the roll/cover bond is detected by the effect on the quality of sound transmitted through the rubber steel interface.

Abstract: A slice lip apparatus is disclosed for guiding a flow of stock from a headbox so that the stock flows between a first and a second wire of a former. The apparatus includes a lip which is disposed adjacent to the first wire. A movable lip is spaced relative to the lip so that the lips defined therebetween a slice for the passage therethrough of the flow of stock. An adjustable guide shoe is disposed adjacent to the movable lip for guiding the second wire. A linkage extends between the movable lip and the adjustable guide shoe. The arrangement is such that when the movable lip is selectively moved relative to the lip, such selective movement generates a corresponding movement of the adjustable guide shoe relative to the first wire.

Abstract: An adjustable blade apparatus including an operative surface which cooperates with a forming wire of a forming section. The apparatus includes a stationary support which extends in a cross machine direction relative to the forming wire. The support defines a guide rail having a front and a back end. The front end is disposed at a different elevation relative to the back end. The arrangement is such that the guide rail slopes in a cross machine direction. A blade defines the operative surface and the blade cooperates with the guide rail such that the blade is adjustably supported by the support. The arrangement is such that relative cross machine directional movement between the guide rail and the blade adjust the elevation of the operative surface relative to the wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning the forming fabric used on a papermaking machine includes a chamber surrounding a span of the forming fabric on either side thereof. A source of sub-atmospheric air pressure is connected to the chamber for removing water mist surrounding the fabric. Mounted within the chamber is a pair of high pressure-low volume water impingement showers in substantially opposed array for directing jets of relatively high pressure water against the forming fabric as the forming fabric passes through the chamber via slots on either end thereof. In a preferred embodiment, downstream of the pair of high pressure needle showers is a second shower apparatus comprising a relatively low pressure-high volume flooding water shower to direct a water spray against the inner side of the looped forming fabric to flood the interstices of the forming fabric with water to wash out pulp fibers therefrom.

Abstract: A system to achieve an improved winding structure while winding webs (1, 1', 1" . . . ), especially paper webs, to obtain at least one wound web roll (5, 5', 5" . . . ) on a winding machine, comprises sensors 8A, 9A for determining torque load 8 and rider roll nip load 9, respectively, in order to change the tension remaining in the wound web. The winding machine is of a supporting drum type with at least two supporting drums (2, 3), at least one of these supporting drums preferably has elastic flexible surface (2', 3'). The torque and nip loads 8, 9, respectively, for changing the tension remaining in the wound web roll operate such that the tension of the web (1, 1', 1" . . . ) first decreases at increasing web roll diameter of said at least one web roll (5, 5', 5" . . .) during an initial winding phase, then stays approximately at the same level and, after winding further, decreases further at increasing wound web roll diameter during a final winding phase.

Abstract: A four nip calender apparatus mounted on a single frame. The apparatus includes a first vertical calender mounted on the frame wherein the web passes through a first nip formed by a first calender roll and a second calender roll. The apparatus also includes a horizontal calender configuration providing two nips. The horizontal, three-roll arrangement is mounted on the frame and has a center roll and a pair of rolls positioned on opposite sides of the center roll which, with the center roll, provide the second and third nips. The apparatus also includes a fourth nip provided by a second vertical calender mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A separating device for winding devices for material webs, particularly of paper or the like, which are longitudinally divided into several partial webs, with at least two rolls (1, 2) being essentially parallel to each other and flexed, or bowed, essentially in the same direction, with a stand (10) for the pivotable arrangement of the rolls about a common swivelling axis, with a support frame (9) for the rotatable mounting arrangement of the rolls about their respective axis of rotation and for the horizontal sweep of the rolls with respect to the stand (10) about the common swivelling axis, whereby at least one transmission pair (3, 5, 8; 8, 6, 4) for the simultaneous, automatic angular movement of the deflection line of the flexed rolls during the turning about a horizontal axis of the support frame with respect to the stand is provided in such a way, that the transmissions, or angular movement of the deflection lines, all the two rolls (1, 2) are necessarily operated by the turning movement.

Abstract: A roll for selective use as either a support drum or as a rider roll in a winder for winding a traveling paper web into a relatively large diameter wound web roll has a body with an outer, elastomeric cover. The elastomeric cover includes a pattern, open to the surface, arranged such that the percent of volumetric void for a unit of cover volume is such that the effective hardness of the cover ranges between about 30 Shore “A” to about 55 Shore “A” where the roll is a support drum, and between about 40 Shore “A” to about 65 Shore “A” when the roll is a rider roll. In addition, the elastomeric material has an absolute hardness of about 65 Shore “A”, or less, for a support drum, and about 75 Shore “A”, or less, for a rider roll, and a Poisson's ratio of between about 0.47 to about 0.499.

Abstract: The top and bottom felts at the web transfer between two dryer sections in a single tier papermaking dryer are spaced by pivoting the vacuum roll over which the felt and web move. The vacuum roll is mounted to two pivot arms which are driven by inflatable air rides to alternately incline the roll toward the downstream felt, forming a sandwich of the two felts and the web, and to a spaced position. The short motion of the vacuum roll allows standard felt stretchers to be used, and permits rapid adjustment of the felt spacing.