Abstract: The dryer of this invention employs a vacuum chamber interposed below and between first and second heated dryer rolls. The vacuum chamber has two sides and a top which overlies two grooved reversing rolls. The vacuum chamber controls all flow of air in the gap between and below the dryer rolls. The dryer-fabric-backed paper web passes from the first dryer roll around the reversing rolls and up to the second dryer roll. The dryer fabric seals the vacuum chamber, and air is drawn therefrom. The provision of the grooved rolls permits a greater wrap of the felt around the dryers and the application of vacuum to hold the web against the felt during movement of the web between the dryers and the grooved rolls and between the grooved rolls.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus is disclosed for transferring a web from a drying section to a calender. The apparatus includes a looped felt for supporting the web thereon from the drying section. A lead-out roll is disposed upstream relative to the calender for guiding the felt such that the felt is disposed between the lead-out roll and the web. A full width web blowing device connected to a source of pressurized air is disposed adjacent to the lead-out roll for selectively blowing the web off of the felt. A movable sheet transfer roll is disposed in the vicinity of the lead-out roll, the transfer roll being movable from a first position to a second position adjacent to the lead-out roll. The arrangement is such that when the transfer roll is disposed in the second position thereof, the blowing device blows the full width web off of the felt and onto the transfer roll for subsequent guidance thereof to the calender.

Abstract: A process for the production of an edible food supplement preservative from a rootcrop by processing such rootcrop into dry powder, the process steps including, placing the rootcrop in a closable vessel, subjecting the rootcrop to chopping or cutting while the vessel is evacuated, effecting a primary drying followed by the injection of an inert gas thereinto, crushing the rootcrop, spraying a synergist onto the crushed mass, spraying a drying distillation liquid thereonto, effecting a secondary drying of the resulting mass and mixing the dried mass to a dispersed state.

Abstract: A backing bar assembly has a plurality of positively positionable backing bar units which are retained within an inverted U-shaped housing by semi-cylindrical lifters which are adjusted by adjustment screws connected to the housing. Each backing bar unit has concave end surfaces which face the adjacent backing bar units. A pair of backing bar units is engaged by the semi-cylindrical convex surfaces of a lifter and may thus be vertically positioned by rotation of the adjustment screw. By adjusting two backing bar units at a single screw, dramatic discontinuities between backing bar units are avoided. An inflatable resilient seal is engaged by all the backing bar units and extends between the units and the blade to transmit force to the blade to retain it in a desired position.

Abstract: A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The apparatus includes a truck chassis and a body for receiving and dispensing the materials. The body has a first and a second end and a first and second side. The body is secured to the chassis and a tailgate is secured to the first end of the body. A first and second conveyor are disposed within the body and extend between the first and second ends thereof for conveying the materials along the body. The tailgate defines a first and a second opening which co-operate respectively with the first and the second conveyor for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from at least one of the openings is permitted. A sloping guide extends between the conveyors for guiding the materials towards the conveyors.

Abstract: A vacuum/blowing sheave on the end of the lower calender roll of a papermaking machine threads a tissue web tail from a Yankee dryer to a take-up reel through the calender. The sheave is positioned adjacent to the outlet of the threader tube from the Yankee dryer, where the vacuum portion of the sheave picks up the tail and transports it towards the take-up reel. Upon transiting the closed nip of the calender, the tail is blown by a short blowing section on the sheave into the tube threader which leads to the take-up reel.

Abstract: A hydraulic crown support system employs a stationary cross head mounted within a cylinder or beneath an extended nip shoe. Individual hydraulic pistons are disposed along the stationary cross head, which, under the force of hydraulic pressure, support the inner wall of a roll or an extended nip shoe. The displacement of the support cylinders is controlled through one or more adjustable ports formed in the sidewall of the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders which support the roll or extended nip shoe. With a piston which extends from one end of the stationary cross head to the other, some tilting from one side to the other of the cross head can be achieved by the adjustment of the pressure ports, thus compensating for misalignment in the vertical direction between an extended nip or crown-controlled roll.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a motor control system comprising an adjustable frequency driver coupled between the motor and a power supply, a programmable controller coupled to the driver and operative to control the driver, a set of control signals coupled to the programmable controller, and a set of selectable speed signals coupled to the programmable controller, the programmable controller being programmed to select one of the speed signals and causing same to be transmitted to the driver for controlling the speed of the motor in accordance with the control signals.

Abstract: An extended nip press apparatus is disclosed for removing water from a web. The apparatus includes a rotatable backing roll and an elongate shoe which cooperate with the backing roll for defining therebetween an extended nip for the passage therethrough of the web. The shoe defines a concave surface. A bearing blanket is movably disposed between the backing roll and the concave surface. The arrangement is such that the web is supported by the blanket with the web being disposed between the blanket and the backing roll. A lubricant is supplied between the concave surface and the blanket such that the blanket is slidingly supported by the concave surface during passage of the blanket through the extended nip. The concave surface encompasses a pocket defined by the shoe.

Abstract: An extended nip press has a heated backing roll, on the surface of which a paper web is preheated before it passes through the extended nip. The paper web is restrained on the surface of the backing roll to achieve post-pressing drying. During a portion of the post-pressing drying, the extended nip press may be arranged so that the paper web is not backed by the pressing/drying felt, thus allowing free venting from the web to occur. In some cases, this zone will be augmented by a vacuum assist unit to draw steam away. This high temperature press is capable of outgoing dryness in the range of sixty-five percent versus fifty percent for conventional technology. This combination of high temperature pressing and drying can be expected to improve the maximum strength of the web by approximately 20 percent or more over conventional pressing methods. Two high temperature press dryers of this invention may be combined to achieve outgoing dryness of approximately seventy percent.

Abstract: A spreader apparatus is disclosed for spreading manure. The apparatus includes a container which defines an opening for the reception therein of the manure. The container also defines an outlet for the discharge therethrough of the manure. A rotatable feed auger is disposed within and co-operates with the container for feeding the manure through the container. The feed auger has an axis of rotation which extends through the container. A rotatable discharge auger is disposed within the container and co-operates with the container and the feed auger for moving the manure towards the outlet. The discharge auger has a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and parallel to and laterally below the axis of rotation of the feed auger.

Abstract: A multi-ply web forming apparatus is disclosed for forming a top ply on a base ply. The former includes a looped lower forming wire for receiving the base ply thereon and a top looped forming wire cooperating with and disposed above the lower wire for defining therebetween a generally horizontally disposed forming section having a first and a second end. A turning bar defines a curved surface for guiding the lower wire. A secondary headbox ejects stock towards and onto the base ply. A curved dewatering shoe is disposed beneath the lower wire such that a portion of water from the top ply is ejected through the top wire. A vacuum slot collects a portion of water upwardly away from the top wire. An inverted vacuum box is disposed downstream relative to the vacuum slot and a plurality of dewatering blades disposed between a curved face of the vacuum box and the top wire guide the top wire therepast.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus is disclosed for exercising a user thereof. The apparatus includes a frame and an elongate beam having a first and a second end. The beam is pivotally secured to the frame about a first pivotal axis disposed between the first and the second end of the beam. A user operated arrangement having a first and a second extremity is connected to the beam between the first end of the beam and the first pivotal axis. The arrangement is such that in use of the apparatus, when the user is exercising, the user exerts a variable force through the user operated arrangement, the variable force being transmitted to the beam for pivoting the beam about the first pivotal axis. Weights are pivotally secured to the frame such that in use of the apparatus, movement of the weights from a first to a second disposition thereof is permitted.

Abstract: A single tier drying section is disclosed for drying a web. The drying section includes a dryer and a felt guided about the dryer such that the web is disposed between the dryer and the felt for drying a first side of the web. A further dryer is disposed downstream relative to the dryer and a further felt is guided about the further dryer such that the web is disposed between the further dryer and the further felt for drying a second side of the web. A dryer transfer mechanism is used for transferring the web from the dryer to the further dryer.

Abstract: A swivel coupling device is disclosed which includes a first portion having a first and a second end. The first portion includes a tubular extension which defines a cylindrical outer surface having an annular recess therein. An O-ring co-operates with and is partially disposed within the recess. A hexagon member is disposed between the extension and the second end of the first portion for selectively inhibiting rotational movement of the first portion. A collar is disposed between the recess and the hexagonal member. The collar and the hexagonal member define therebetween an annular groove. An open sided washer co-operates with the annular groove. A second portion has a first and a second extremity and defines a bore and a counter bore. The bore extends from the first extremity to the counter bore and the counter bore extends from the bore to the second extremity. A cylindrical insert is disposed within the counter bore.

Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing materials. The apparatus includes a container which defines an opening for the reception therein of the materials. The container also defines an outlet for the discharge therethrough of the materials. A rotatable feed auger is disposed within and co-operates with the container for feeding the materials through the container. The feed auger has an axis of rotation which extends through the container. A rotatable mixing auger is disposed within the container and co-operates with the container and the feed auger for mixing the materials within the container. The mixing auger has a further axis of rotation which extends through the container. The further axis of rotation is disposed spaced and parallel relative to the axis of rotation of the feed auger. The container also includes a base which has a first portion which co-operates with the feed auger and a second portion which co-operates with the mixing auger.

Abstract: A spreader apparatus is disclosed for spreading manure. The apparatus includes a container which defines an opening for the reception therein of the manure. The container has a first and a second end zone with the first end zone defining an outlet for the discharge therethrough of the manure. A rotatable feed device is disposed within and co-operates with the container for feeding the manure through the container. The feed device has an axis of rotation which extends through the end zones of the container. A rotatable discharge device is disposed within the container and co-operates with the container and the feed device for moving the manure towards the outlet. The discharge device has a further axis of rotation which is disposed spaced and parallel to and laterally below the axis of rotation of the feed device. The arrangement is such that when the feed and discharge devices are rotating, all of the manure within the container is fed at a substantially constant rate towards the outlet.

Abstract: A process for dry pulverization of food raw materials, charactrized by the process steps, which comprisesplacing the food raw material in a closed vessel,evacuating the vessel to a vacuum andeffecting therein the processing operations, which comprises cutting the raw material, drying the so-disintegrated material and crushing the dried and disintegrated mass into powder, successively.

Abstract: A curved suction box apparatus is disclosed for guiding a web towards a nip of a nip press. The apparatus includes an initial shoe which is disposed upstream relative to the nip, the shoe defining a convex surface for guiding the web. A box is disposed downstream relative to the initial shoe for guiding the web from the initial shoe. The box is connected to a partial vacuum.

Abstract: A sheet break detector apparatus is disclosed for detecting a break in a sheet disposed contiguously between an upstream and a downstream felt of a paper machine dryer section. The detector apparatus includes an infrared light emitter disposed adjacent to the sheet disposed between the felts for emitting a beam of infrared light towards the sheet moving contiguously between the felts. An infrared light receiver is disposed on an opposite side of the felts relative to the emitter for receiving the beam in the absence of the sheet, the beam being blocked by the presence of the sheet while the felts permit the passage therethrough of the beam. A transmitter is connected to the receiver for transmitting a signal from the receiver in the absence of the sheet. An alarm is connected to the transmitter such that in the event of sheet break, the beam of light is received by the receiver and the signal is transmitted to the alarm so that an alarm signal is generated, indicating that a sheet break has occurred.