Abstract: A sampler is disclosed for a flow of particulate material on a conveyor system which has at least one transfer point from a first conveyor to a second conveyor. The sampler has a sample bucket with a hinged bottom and a traveling rig which mounts the sample bucket to a fixed linear track spaced from the second conveyor. An electric motor drives a gear which engages with the track to move the traveling rig and bucket along the track from a first position over a sample collector to a second position aligned with the material flow from the first conveyor. The collector has two conduits. The first conduit leads to a sample repository and the second conduit leads to a conveyor for returning samples material to the material flow. An actuator-linkage assembly acts to move the sample bucket which is aligned with the material flow from a raised position where the bucket does not intercept the flow to a lowered position where substantially all the flow of material from the first conveyor is intercepted by the bucket.

Abstract: A high pressure water jet is used in conjunction with a relatively low power laser to produce a smooth cut in a traveling web. The cutting procedures produces a relatively small amount of fiber dust in the atmosphere surrounding the cutting operation. The water jet severs the traveling web into separate parts, and the laser is directed to the severed edges to burn away the protruding ends of the paper fibers to produce a uniform, smooth cut in both severed edges. A trough is disposed on the side of the web opposite the water jet and laser to receive and collect the water severing the web and the fiber dust, and to diffuse the laser beam emissions.

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 paper forming apparatus has a lower looped forming wire disposed for a portion of its travel over a curved apron board. The paths of forming wire travel upstream and downstream of the apron board diverge. Such divergence allows a secondary headbox to be brought into such a juxtaposition with the forming wire coming off the apron board as to permit the stock stream to impinge the forming wire both at a low angle and at a short distance to enhance formation of an additional web ply over a previously formed web ply. In one embodiment, an upper looped forming wire is brought into co-running engagement with the lower forming wire over the downwardly extending downstream path of travel.

Abstract: A blanket is disclosed for an extended nip press. The blanket includes a woven base having a first plurality of filaments which are disposed in a machine direction. The first plurality of filaments have a modulus of elasticity which permits flexing of the blanket during movement of the blanket through the extended nip press. The base also includes a second plurality of filaments woven together with the first plurality of filaments and disposed in a cross-machine direction. The second plurality of filaments have a modulus of elasticity which is higher than the modulus of elasticity of the first plurality of filaments for inhibiting flexing of the blanket in a cross-machine direction. Thermo-setting resin is applied to the base such that the resin is reinforced by the base. The resin defines a plurality of vents for permitting the escape of water in the liquid and vapor phase away from the extended nip press during use thereof.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus for permitting axial rotational and angular movement of a doctor journal of a papermaking machine, includes a housing which defines a cylindrical bore for the reception therein of the doctor journal. An annular bearing ring defines an inner and an outer surface with the outer surface being cylindrical and having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore such that when the ring is disposed within the bore, axial sliding of the bearing ring within the bore is permitted. A sleeve is disposed within the bearing ring with the sleeve defining an internal channel for supporting the doctor journal. The sleeve also defines an external face which closely conforms to the inner surface of the bearing ring such that angular movement of the sleeve within the bearing ring is permitted while axial movement of the sleeve relative to the bearing ring is inhibited.

Abstract: A self-loading controlled deflection roll for forming a pressure nip with another roll has at least one support shoe mounted in a stationary support shaft for controlling the deflection of the roll shell in the direction of the nip. At either end of the controlled deflection roll, a pair of opposed guide shoes are slidably mounted on the stationary support shaft to apply pressure against the roll shell to stabilize the position of the roll shell relative to the stationary shaft. At least one guide shoe on either end of the roll is equipped with a compensating piston to permit its face surface to move radially outwardly relative to the guide shoe support on the stationary shaft. The guide shoes slidably reciprocate in planes parallel to the plane of the nip through the longitudinal axis of the roll and provide opposed, equal stabilization forces at substantially right angles to the plane of the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in a batch digesting process to quantitatively displace fluids in the digester by pumping into the digester under pressure a first volume of displacing fluid at the upper end and a second volume of displacing fluid at the lower end of the digester. Displaced fluids are collected and removed from the digester near the midline between the top and the bottom of the digester.

Abstract: A batch process and mechanism for cooking fibrous paper pulb including a digester wherein the pulp is cooked under elevated temperatures and pressures for a predetermined time, a discharge line leading from the lower end of the digester to a blow tank, a valve in the discharge line and cycling means connected to the valve cyclically opening and closing the valve while the contents are emptied from the digester.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive device, such as a piezoelectric strip or plurality of piezoelectric crystals, is or are arrayed along the surface of a roll, preferably in a spiral pattern, extending for one revolution of the roll which is nipped with another roll. The nip pressure between the rolls, with or without a paper web passing through the nip, produces a signal by the piezoelectric device indicative of irregularities along the nip. These irregularities, which can be indicative of variations in the web caliper, roll surface, hardness and other parameters of roll or web quality, are then passed to a monitor for continuous read-out of the irregularities or non-uniformities along the face of the roll. Other apparatus, such as a signal conditioner and a signal encoder, can be provided for processing the signals determining the exact axial location along the roll surface of the pressure sensitive device passing through the nip at any given time.

Abstract: A refiner plate for a pulp refiner in which a sub-groove is provided in the refiner grooves, the sub-groove extending inwardly in the plate from the bottom of the refiner groove. The refiner plate is useful for shortening long fibers in a pulp slurry without treating short fibers present in the slurry.

Abstract: A heated extended nip press apparatus and method are disclosed for pressing water from a formed web. The apparatus includes a frame and a backing roll rotatably supported by the press frame. A press device is connected to the press frame and movable relative to the backing roll. The press device cooperates with the backing roll for defining therebetween n extended nip for the passage therethrough of the web. An endless looped blanket extends through the extended nip such that the web is disposed between the blanket and the backing roll. Additionally, the press device includes an arrangement for selectively changing the pressure applied on the blanket along a machine direction relative to a further pressure applied for moving the press device relative to the backing roll such that optimum web properties are obtained and delamination of the pressed web is inhibited.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for removing ash from repulped wastepaper which contains ash together with cellulosic fibers. The apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of rolls which are rotatably secured to the frame, such that the axes of rotation of the rolls are spaced and parallel to each other. The plurality of rolls include an upstream roll and a downstream roll having a cylindrical outer surface. A porous belt is supported by and extends around the plurality of rolls to define an endless loop. The belt moves between the upstream and downstream rolls for defining a screening portion. A headbox is disposed within the endless loop, and adjacent to the screening portion for ejecting the repulped wastepaper through the screening portion. A drainage device is disposed on the opposite side of the screening portion relative to the headbox for receiving ash passing through the screening portion.

Abstract: An improved efficiency screen plate for screening pulp in a pressure screening apparatus is disclosed wherein various design parameters are established which increase screen performance, particularly in screening medium consistency pulp. The basket is formed of thin, sheet-like material formed without machining into an undulating pattern. Undulation frequencies, slot location, turbulence bar frequency, and turbulence bar height are established for increasing screen performance.

Abstract: A paper pulp screening apparatus wherein a modular cylindrically-shaped screen plate is formed of a thin material of uniform thickness bent to form an undulating shape to increase the screening area, and the screen plate is supported by cylindrical-backing members to give the plate strength, with the plate being formed into various complex shapes. Manufacturing methods for forming the undulating shapes are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transferring a threading tail of a web from a press section to a dryer section of a papermaking machine. The apparatus includes a press roll for releasably supporting the web and a doctor blade which cooperates with the press roll. A tail cutting device is disposed upstream relative to the blade for cutting the tail from the web. A lead-in roll is disposed adjacent to the press roll. The lead-in roll includes a suction tail box which cooperates with the tail. A device moves the lead-in roll from a first to a second location with the first location being in close proximity to the press roll such that when the tail box is connected to a source of vacuum, the tail is drawn away from the press roll onto a dryer felt extending around the lead-in roll. The second location is spaced from the press roll such that an open draw is established between the press roll and the lead-in roll.

Abstract: A wood particle screen particularly useful for separating fines from wood chips in which a bed of flexible foraminous material having holes therein sized to permit fines to pass therethrough is flexibly mounted for receiving a flow of wood chips and fines thereon. Beater rolls are disposed beneath the screening bed, each including a plurality of spaced beater bars so positioned as to contact the bottom of the screening bed as the bars rotate through the uppermost position of the rolls.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a paper web having a low tensile ratio. The method includes the steps of ejecting stock substantially horizontally from a headbox, and receiving the rejected stock onto a substantially horizontally disposed looped first wire, moving at substantially the same speed and the same direction as the ejected stock. The arrangement is such that a first portion of water is removed from the ejected stock downwardly through the first wire during passage of the ejected stock through an initial dewatering zone. The partially dewatered stock is sandwiched between the first wire and a looped second wire, the wires defining therebetween a secondary dewatering zone for further dewatering the ejected stock. A second and third portion of water are removed downwardly and upwardly, respectively, through the first and second wires during movement of the ejected stock past a curved shoe.