Abstract: A process and mechanism for the dry screen forming of fibers to attain a dispersion in air of substantially individual fibers from which a fibrous sheet is formed. Fibrous nits, pills and flocs are removed from the dispersion by rolling the nits, pills and the like into elongated shapes as they pass a fiber screening member and carrying the elongated fibrous bodies from the dispersion of fibers and away from the sheet forming area for the fibers. The mechanism includes a fiber screening member, a fiber receiving member on which the sheet is formed and a foraminous member which rolls the nits, pills and the like between it and the fiber screening member as the air dispersion of fibers passes toward the fiber receiving member.

Abstract: A heated roll member especially adapted to provide a uniform temperature surface for embossing or calendering low basis weight cellulose or polymeric webs. The roll member comprises outer and inner shells with an annular chamber therebetween and apertures in the inner shell which introduce fluid into or remove fluid from the annular chamber. Specially constructed apertures, each provided with a flow diverting means, produce fully turbulent flow in a heated fluid moving axially within the annular chamber. A controlled level of turbulence in the fluid is initiated at the aperture and is maintained throughout the annular chamber, such that "hot" or "cold" areas do not develop on the surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: A method for separating fibers from a stack of pulp sheets. The stack of pulp sheets is fed slowly and continuously to the fiberizing means of fiberizing apparatus and in shingled relation so that the tails of individual sheets are presented singly to the fiberizing means. The fiberizing apparatus may be conventional hammermill or pulp picking equipment and suitably includes an output screen to limit the size of unfiberized particles which may pass from the fiberizer.