Patents Examined by Karen M. Hastings
  • Patent number: 6277244
    Abstract: A machine for producing a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, includes a pick-up suction roll disposed between a wire section and a press section and wound around by an air-permeable endless belt. In the vicinity of the pick-up suction roll, the material web is taken from a wire belt by the endless belt in order to then be supplied to a first press of the press section. In this regard, the width of the material web can be adjusted by adjustable size cutting elements provided in the vicinity of the wire belt and the suction width of the pick-up suction roll 14 can be adjusted by adjustable sizing strips associated therewith. An adjustment system is provided for a preferably simultaneous, at least essentially synchronous motor-induced adjustment of the size cutting elements and sizing strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Meschenmoser
  • Patent number: 6267846
    Abstract: Twin wire former and method for manufacturing a fibrous material web from a fibrous suspension using same. The twin wire former comprises a movable bottom wire belt and a movable top wire belt converging at a twin wire zone. The twin wire zone has a first section, a second section and an end section. A rotating forming roller is disposed at the first section of the twin wire zone, and the to wire and the bottom wire form a wedge-shaped inlet gap at the first section of the twin wire zone. The inlet gap is adapted to receive the fibrous suspension from a headbox. The bottom wire belt and the top wire belt are adapted to form the fibrous web therebetween at the second section of the twin wire zone, and the second section of the twin wire zone has at least one drainage element. A separating device is disposed at the end of the twin wire zone and is adapted to separate one wire belt from another the wire belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Halmschlager, Volker Schmidt-Rohr, Helmut Tausel, Franz Stelzhammer, Erich Brunnauer, Alexander Wassermann, Günther Prinz, James Ronning
  • Patent number: 6261418
    Abstract: Headbox for a paper-making machine including a nozzle extending transversely to the machine running direction across the machine width. The nozzle has a lower and an upper continuous wall each extending across the machine width. The lower nozzle wall is supported by several separate supporting elements distributed across the machine width on a foundation. The supporting elements are non-rigid or flexible plates to permit bending in a direction transversely to the machine running direction. Alternatively or additionally, a swivelable or pivotable upper nozzle wall is connected by several separate supporting members distributed across the machine width to a transverse bar attached above a swivel axis. The supporting members are non-rigid or flexible plates to permit bending transversely to the machine running direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Gunter Stotz, Thomas Merath, Klaus Lehleiter, Christoph Link, Josef Frey, Eckart Krägeloch, Thomas Dietz, Simon Juhas, Jürgen Banning
  • Patent number: 6254727
    Abstract: A twin-wire former adapted to form a web of fibrous material is provided. First and second endless circulating wire bands define a twin-wire zone therebetween, and form the web of fibrous material therebetween. The first and second wire bands run over a forming roll in the twin-wire zone, where the first wire band contacts the forming roll. A reel-off point is defined as the point at which the first and second wire bands disengage from the forming roll. At least one support device extends crosswise over the second wire band. The support device is a hinged foil skimmer, and is disposed in a region of the reel-off point, and contacts the second wire band. Movement of the second wire band relative to the at least one supporting device creates an area of reduced air pressure therebetween. The method includes moving the first and second wire bands adjacent a forming roll such that the first wire band contacts the forming roll. The first and second wire bands disengage from the forming roll at a reel-off point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Moser
  • Patent number: 6248214
    Abstract: Headbox for a paper machine having a feed part, a central part extending across the machine width, and a nozzle. The nozzle extends across the machine width and has at least one continuous wall that runs across the machine width transverse to the lengthwise flow. For absorbing and discharging nozzle expansion forces in a sectional manner, several separate individual support devices distributed across the machine width for influencing the nozzle aperture are attached to the at least one, preferably continuous wall. The resulting lines of force of each support device remain at least substantially in a plane lying perpendicular to the direction of the machine width and in the flow direction, and the corresponding supporting forces individually, at least substantially, are directed to and absorbed in the central part in the plane of the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Gunter Stotz, Thomas Merath, Klans Lehletter, Christoph Link, Josef Frey
  • Patent number: 6235158
    Abstract: A wet section (10) of a paper or cardboard machine and a process for the manufacture of a fibrous material web are suggested. The wet section (10) exhibits a double-screen segment (US), in which two screens (16, 18) are guided about parallel to one another and into which a fibrous material suspension (27) is introduced. The double-screen segment (US) is looped around a roll (22). The means (30, 32, 38) for the immobilization of the fibrous material suspension in the double-screen segment (US) are provided on the roll (22), for the formation of the fibrous material web. Moreover, the wet section exhibits means (32, 34, 36; 34, 36, 66) for further draining of the fibrous material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Dahl, Gerhard Kotitschke, Volker Schmidt-Rohr, Wilfried Kraft, Hans-Jürgen Wulz, Klaus Esslinger, Wolfgang Mayer, Andreas Meschenmoser, Gunther Mohrhardt
  • Patent number: 6228220
    Abstract: An air press for noncompressively dewatering a wet web to consistency levels not previously thought possible at industrially useful speeds without thermal dewatering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Stephen Hada, Michael Alan Hermans, Brian Wade Isenhart, Lowell Everett Thoms, Charles Robert Tomsovic
  • Patent number: 6221214
    Abstract: A wet section of a machine for producing a fibrous material web that includes at least one press. The press includes a nip through which the fibrous material web is guided. The fibrous material web is preformed in a web forming zone. At least one press is an elongated nip press that is elongated in direction of the web travel. This nip is positioned in a region where the dry matter content of the preformed fibrous material web that comes into the nip is less than or equal to about 15% and, preferably is less than or equal to about 12%. A method for treating a fibrous material web in a wet section of a machine for producing the fibrous material web. The wet section includes at least one press including an elongated nip, at least one press and the elongated nip are elongated in a web travel direction. Further, the elongated nip is positioned in a region of the machine where the dry matter content of the fibrous material web, as it enters the elongated nip, is less than or equal to about 15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kotitschke, Wolfgang Mayer, Klaus Esslinger, Andreas Meschenmoser, Günther Morhardt
  • Patent number: 6214167
    Abstract: Twin-wire former for producing a fibrous material web from a fibrous suspension and process for separating upper and lower wires of the twin-wire former. The twin-wire former includes a twin-wire zone composed of a lower wire and an upper wire and a plurality of rolls including an inlet roll and an outlet roll. The upper wire is guidable over the plurality of rolls, the inlet roll guides the upper wire to the twin-wire zone, and the outlet roll guides the upper wire toward the inlet roll. A wedge-shaped inlet zone is formed between the upper wire and the lower wire and has an adjustable inlet wedge angle. An upper wire subassembly includes a drainage box adapted to receive suspension water that flows upwardly through the upper wire, and further includes a pivotable common support device, to which the drainage box and the inlet roll are mounted. A stroke device is coupled to the pivotable common support device to lift the pivotable common support device around a first horizontal axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Halmschlager, Franz Stelzhammer, Alexander Wassermann, Jürgen Banning, Werner Leitenberger, Thomas Elenz
  • Patent number: 6214169
    Abstract: Sheet formation system and method for reducing wavy edges in a fourdrinier machine. The system includes a headbox having a nozzle bring adapted to produce a pulp suspension jet across a width of the machine, at least one rotating screen positioned to receive the pulp suspension jet, and at least two deckle plates adjacent to the screen. The deckle plates may be adjustably positionable such that a distance between the deckle plates and a centerline of the screen is adjustable in a machine direction over a substantial portion of a length of the side shields. The method includes directing a pulp suspension jet onto the rotating shield between the deckle plates to form a web sheet, moving the web sheet in a machine direction, and adjusting a distance between the deckle plates as the web sheet is moved in the machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ruf, Thomas Dietz, Konstantin Fenkl
  • Patent number: 6210534
    Abstract: A paper-making machine for making a fiber web, includes a wire for carrying the fiber web. A trim squirt includes a nozzle cutter and an accumulator tank. The nozzle cutter is directed toward and transverse to the wire. The accumulator tank includes an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid and an outlet fluidly connected with the nozzle cutter. The tank is structured and arranged to define an air attenuation pad therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin X. Graf
  • Patent number: 6210530
    Abstract: Press section of a machine for producing a fibrous web and process for pressing a fibrous web. The press section may include at least two shoe press units including at least one press shoe and a revolving flexible press belt, a counterpart face, at least two nips having a length extended in a web travel direction and formed by each at least one press shoe pressing the revolving flexible press belt against the counterpart face. A length of the extended nip may be at least substantially the same as a length of the at least press shoe length, measured in the web travel direction, forming the extended nip and at least one of the shoe press units having press shoe length different from the other shoe press units, whereby various extended nip length are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Loser, Joachim Henssler, Karl Steiner, Josef Müellner
  • Patent number: 6207018
    Abstract: Process for controlling and consistency-controlled headbox for a paper machine with a common feed line for a pulp slurry, a plurality of feed line sections into which the common feed line branches, and a system for influencing the composition of the slurry flows in each of the plurality of feed line sections. At least one pulp consistency sensor is provided for sectional pulp consistency control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Münch, Ulrich Begemann
  • Patent number: 6207021
    Abstract: Creping blade for the detachment of a travelling paper web from a dryer cylinder, said blade having an edge or tip section engaging said cylinder and being constantly hit by the traveling web during its detachment from the cylinder. The invention resides in the improvement of said edge or tip section being provided with a wear-resistant coating on a first part of said edge section hit by the web, the other part of said edge section engaging the cylinder being uncoated or coated with a non-wear-resistant material so that said other part is subjected to sliding wear. A recess is located in the side surface so that the wear land surface that contacts the cylinder remains essentially constant throughout the operative cycle of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: BTG Eclepens S.A.
    Inventors: Tore Eriksson, Silvano Freti
  • Patent number: 6207019
    Abstract: A calender hood for a paper machine having a dryer section and a calender section the hood extending along a portion of the paper path from the dryer section through the calender section to restrict movement of the ambient air into the region between the surface of the paper sheet and the calender hood and thereby reduce heat losses to the ambient air by the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Abitibi-Price, Inc.
    Inventors: Jake Zwart, Derek A. Twitchen
  • Patent number: 6197156
    Abstract: A press section of a paper machine, in particular for printing paper qualities whose grammage is in the range of about 40 g/m2 to about 80 g/m2 is disclosed. The press section comprises a pick-up roll having a suction zone on which a paper web is detached at a pick-up point from a forming wire and is passed on the pick-up felt into a first press nip in the press section. In the first press nip, the pick-up felt acts as a press fabric. The press section further includes an extended nip placed after the first press nip. Into this extended nip, the web is passed as a closed draw on support of a fabric face or roll face. The first nip in the press section is a roll nip with relatively low load and acts as a front nip. In the area of the first press nip, almost or approximately one half of the total amount of the water contained in the web entering into the front nip is removed from the web. The extended nip, which is the second press nip in the press section, is formed against a smooth-faced back-up roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Antti Ilmarinen
  • Patent number: 6197159
    Abstract: In a paper making machine for manufacturing a material web (10), such as in particular a paper or cardboard web, the material web (10) to be manufactured is transferred on the surface of a transfer means (24) to a take-off position (30) in the region of which a preferably air-permeable belt (32) having an at least substantially open surface is guided over a take-off roll (34) or the like and takes off the material web (10) from the surface of the transfer means (24). A pressing gap (36) extended in the web running direction (L) is formed at the take-off position (30) with the surface of the transfer means (24, 60) facing the material web (10) being deflected in the region of the extended pressing gap, while forming an at least substantially concave depression (38), and also being pressed by a pressing force intentionally generated in the region of this deflection against the take-off roll (34) in order to thereby assist the take-off of the material web (10) from the surface of the transfer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Meinecke, Helmut Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6197161
    Abstract: A headbox for a paper-making machine includes a plurality of side walls and an apron. A nozzle blade is connected to one of the side walls. The nozzle blade and the apron define a discharge nozzle therebetween. A profile bar is rigidly connected to an end of the nozzle blade. A slice lip is rigidly and removably attached to the profile bar and/or nozzle blade. The slice lip and the apron define a discharge outlet therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin X. Graf, Dale A. Haltinner, James A. Eng, Frank Stilen
  • Patent number: 6183602
    Abstract: In order to render a twin wire former for a paper machine more applicable to an appropriate dewatering pressure state with respect to widely used paper formation conditions, there is provided a dewatering device including a plurality of dewatering blades that face a gap for paper formation through the wires constituting closed loops. The dewatering blades comprise a pressure adjustment unit for operating the dewatering blades in a direction close to or away from a wire and an angle adjustment unit for swinging the dewatering blades in a wire running direction, which are operationally associated with each other. The angle formed between an active plane of the dewatering blades and the wires is externally adjustable by the angle adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwata, Makio Hasuike, Kazuhiro Naito, Masanobu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6179965
    Abstract: Hollow synthetic monofilament yarns are used in the construction of a base fabric for a papermakers wet felt. The synthetic hollow monofilament yarns have selected interior void, compressibility and resiliency characteristics and are interwoven with other yarns to form a woven base fabric with the hollow monofilament yarns predominating, on at least the paper carrying side of the base fabric. The weaving and finishing of the base fabric results in the hollow monofilament yarns retaining a substantially unflattened cross-section. Accordingly, substantially unflattened portions of the hollow monofilament yarns predominate the paper carrying side of the base fabric thereby providing a cushioning surface which is compressibly resilient to assist in the dewatering of the aqueous paper web as it is transported through a press nip during the manufacture of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Cunnane, III, H. Thomas Sanders