Patents Examined by Karen M. Hastings
  • Patent number: 6361658
    Abstract: Press section for drainage of a fibrous material web that includes a shoe press roll, a cylindrical counter roll, at least one nip, a first nip of the at least one nip formed by the shoe press roll and the cylindrical counter roll, and at least one press felt. The at least one press felt is disposed on each side of the fibrous material web. The at least one press felt travels through a last nip of the at least one nip where the at least one press felt is separated from the fibrous material web and conveyed away after leaving the last nip. The drainage capacity and the reliable guidance of the fibrous material web are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Steiner, Albrecht Meinecke
  • Patent number: 6355143
    Abstract: A shoe press unit comprises a support beam, a shoe element movably supported on the beam, a pressing unit arranged between the beam and the shoe element for urging the shoe element away from the beam and toward a counter element, and a flexible belt that is arranged to slide over the pressing surface of the shoe element. An oil evacuation arrangement formed separately from the shoe element is affixed to the shoe element proximate an upstream edge region thereof. The oil evacuation arrangement has an inlet opening located such that a major portion of the excess oil expelled from between the belt and the shoe element passes through the inlet opening with a kinetic energy that is substantially undiminished from the initial kinetic energy of the oil as it exits from between the belt and the pressing surface of the shoe element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Valmet-Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Malin Kilian, Lars Gustavsson, Jonas Eriksson, Jorma Snellman, Antti Ilmarinen, Erik Brox, Christer Malmros
  • Patent number: 6346171
    Abstract: Described is a machine for manufacturing a continuous web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, the machine having a number of rolls that may include press rolls, drying cylinders, suction rolls, or the like. At least one transport belt is guided with the web around the rolls and is characterized by the fact that a metallic screen is guided between the web and the respective roll surface. The metallic screen may be formed of metal, formed as a metallized drying screen, or formed from metal and synthetic threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Tri Chau Huu, Markus Oechsle, Robert Wolf, Wolfgang Mayer, Karlheinz Straub
  • Patent number: 6334932
    Abstract: A press arrangement and process for treatment of a fibrous material web. The press arrangement includes a press shoe unit, a press suction roll, at least one first press nip elongated in a web travel direction, the first press nip being formed between the shoe press unit and the press suction roll, the press suction roll being arranged as a web pick-up roll, at least one second press nip elongated in the web travel direction and positioned downstream of the first press nip relative to the web travel direction, at least first and second felts being arranged to be guided through the at least one first press nip, the first felt being arranged to loop around the press suction roll to pick-up the web from a screen belt whereby the web is transferred from the screen belt to the first felt, wherein the web is guided to the first press nip by the first felt and the web is guided through the first press nip between the first and second felts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Meschenmoser
  • Patent number: 6332955
    Abstract: A press arrangement and method for the treatment of a fibrous material web (10) which includes a lower shoe press roll (20), with which two upper press rolls (22, 24) are associated, with which the shoe press roll (20) forms in each case a press nip (S1 or S2) elongated in the direction of travel of the web (L). The first elongated press nip (S1) viewed in the direction of travel of the web (L) is double felted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Meschenmoser
  • Patent number: 6325897
    Abstract: The problem of this invention is to inhibit the infiltration of a lubricating oil supplied to the contact area of the shoe with the belt into the high molecular weight elastic member, and to offer a shoe press belt which has an excellent performance improving durability of the friction surface, preventing flaking off phenomena, cracks, and breakage; and its manufacturing method. An endless shoe press belt the inner portion 1a of which is adapted to contact a shoe S of a papermaking machine, said inner portion 1a being composed of a high molecular weight elastic material, characterized in that the surface of said inner portion is provided with a protective oil 3 comprising an oil the viscosity of which is higher than that of a lubricating oil J supplied to the contact area of said inner portion with said shoe, or a paste-like oil having a certain consistency. It effectively prevents infiltration of the lubricating oil into the surface of the inner portion of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishino, Kenji Inoue, Tsutomu Ishii, Masatoshi Kono
  • Patent number: 6325894
    Abstract: Press section and method of using the same for drainage of a fibrous material web that includes a shoe press roll, a cylindrical counter roll, at least one nip, a first nip of the at least one nip formed by the shoe press roll and the cylindrical counter roll, and at least one press felt. The at least one press felt is disposed on each side of the fibrous material web. The at least one press felt travels through a last nip of the at least one nip where the at least one press felt is separated from the fibrous material web and conveyed away after leaving the last nip. The drainage capacity and the reliable guidance of the fibrous material web are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Steiner, Albrecht Meinecke
  • Patent number: 6322669
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for preventing rewetting of a web in a paper machine. In the method, a web supported by a wire is passed by at least two vacuum boxes/chambers after the last suction roll or equivalent in a web former such that, in the running direction of the web, by means of a first vacuum box/chamber and by means of a second vacuum box/chamber the transport of moisture from the wire back into the web is prevented. In the arrangement at least two vacuum boxes/chambers are arranged after the last suction roll or equivalent in a web former, and the web and wire are arranged to be dewatered by means of a first vacuum box/chamber and the transport of moisture from wire back into the web is prevented by means of a second vacuum box/chamber, the vacuum generated in first vacuum box/chamber being higher than the vacuum generated in the second vacuum box/chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Antti Leinonen
  • Patent number: 6319366
    Abstract: The invention refers to a headbox device for feeding a pulp suspension to a dewatering installation, particularly for a tissue machine. It is mainly characterized by an eccentric shaft being provided to set the slice gap between a minimum and a maximum height. It also includes a wedge shaped steel lamella tip attached under pre-stress by a tie/rod to a headbox partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: ANDRITZ-Patentverwaltungs-Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Wilhelm Mausser, Manfred Schmid, Walter Writzl, Rudolf Greimel, Harald Weigant
  • Patent number: 6319363
    Abstract: A sheet forming system of a paper or cardboard machine. A headbox includes a headbox nozzle with to laterally extending side panels and first and second nozzle walls extending along a width of the machine. First and second screens converge in a region adjacent the headbox nozzle. At least two guide mechanisms, each having a guide surface, guide the first and second screens in the region. At least one support mechanism supports at least a portion of one of the first and second nozzle walls against said guide surface of at least one of said at least two guide mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ruf, Peter Mirsberger, Holger Humberg
  • Patent number: 6309512
    Abstract: A press section in a machine for manufacturing a web of fibrous material, comprising a shoe press with extended press nip, the shoe press having a counter roll with a cylindrical press body; a press shoe with a concave surface for cooperation with the press body; an impermeable belt running through the press nip in sliding contact with the press shoe; a clothing running in a loop around guide rolls and through the press nip in contact with the web, and being capable of receiving and carrying liquid along with it; a movable heat transfer means for continuous transfer of heat to the web in the extended press nip; and a heat source for heating the heat transfer means. According to the invention the counter roll comprises a sleeve that forms the heat transfer means and encloses the press body. The invention also relates to a shoe press, a press section with a roll press, and treatment sections with roll and shoe calendars with sleeves of the type described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Jan Martin Bengtsson, Erik Brox, Leif Erik Helgesson, Kjell Sune Evald Jansson, Anna Malin Katarina Kilian, Jan Wilhelm Nicander, Nils-Erik Säfman, Kenth Roger Törnqvist
  • Patent number: 6306257
    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 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Metso Paper, Inc., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Stephen Hada, Michael Alan Hermans, Charles Robert Tomsovic, David Vincent Lange, Roger Allen Kanitz, Richard D. Hauser, Patrick William Murry, Doug A. Rounds, Robert Lawrence Clarke, Brian Wade Isenhart, Lowell Everett Thoms
  • Patent number: 6306258
    Abstract: A pressurized box is positioned opposite a vacuum box. The pressurized box has a leading cross machine direction baffle with a ceramic shoe which engages a forming fabric, and a trailing cross machine direction baffle of similar construction. Two end deckles complete the pressurized box. The leading cross machine direction baffle presses against a resilient seal which causes a web contained between upper and lower forming fabrics to wrap about the baffle shoe a few degrees forming an effective end seal which does not allow air to bypass the baffle. The trailing cross machine direction baffle is positioned over a vacuum box which prevents air from leaking around the trailing baffle. A vacuum box draws air through the forming fabrics and the web, from the pressurized box increasing the total pressure gradient across the web to 20 to 30 psi or more. The pressure box and opposed vacuum box form an air press. The pressure box is positioned and held against the forming fabrics by opposing air tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Metso Paper, Inc., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David V. Lange, Roger A. Kanitz, Richard D. Hauser, Patrick W. Murry, Doug A. Rounds, Robert L. Clarke, Frank S. Hada, Michael A. Hermans, Charles R. Tomsovic
  • Patent number: 6294051
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a thin fibrous mat, such as a tissue sheet, with improved edge strength is disclosed. The apparatus includes a headbox having a top, a bottom, a pair of lateral sides, a back with an inlet formed therein and a front with an outlet formed therein. A first conduit is connected to the inlet of the headbox and flow therethrough is regulated to convey a first aqueous slurry at a desired flow rate into the headbox. The first aqueous slurry has a predetermined fiber consistency. A second conduit is connected to one of the lateral sides of the headbox and a second aqueous slurry is directed therethrough into the headbox at a different flow rate than through the first conduit. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for drying or draining water from the aqueous slurry exiting the outlet to form a thin fibrous mat. The thin fibrous mat has increased strength adjacent to an edge located downstream from the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Urquhart, Paul Douglas Beuther
  • Patent number: 6294052
    Abstract: Embodiments of a new press section for paper manufacturing are disclosed, each having a combination of rolls which form at least two press nips, with one roll of each combination being common to two press nips. Also, said embodiments further include two continuous-loop belts, one made of absorbent felt material, the other of plastic sheet, both disposed in a manner to enhance the evacuation of water from a web of wet paper fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jose J. Garcia B.
  • Patent number: 6287420
    Abstract: A multi-ply fiber web forming apparatus includes a lower forming fabric defining a lower forming fabric run. A first headbox is positioned above the lower forming fabric for discharging a fiber suspension onto the lower forming fabric. An upper forming fabric defines an upper forming fabric run. A second headbox is positioned above the upper forming fabric for discharging a fiber suspension onto the upper forming fabric. A wet forming box is positioned below the lower forming fabric for applying a liquid to the lower forming fabric. A transfer roll is positioned above the upper forming fabric. The transfer roll and the wet forming box are positioned in close opposing relationship to each other, whereby each of the lower forming fabric and the upper forming fabric pass therebetween in a transfer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin X. Graf
  • Patent number: 6284103
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suction roll shell for use in a paper-making machine utilizes a mandrel with a length and a cross-sectional area corresponding to the shell. The mandrel has a plurality of generally radially extending holes. A plurality of pins are placed in the holes, with each pin extending radially outward from the shell a distance greater than a desired thickness of the shell. At least one elongate fiber is wound around the mandrel to form the shell with the desired thickness. The pins are removed from the mandrel and the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Eng, Peter T. Hunnicutt, Edwin X. Graf
  • Patent number: 6284102
    Abstract: A shoe press belt capable of improving flexibility in bending in the axial direction of and of inhibiting cracks in the belt where it contacts the ends of a shoe has first resin layer formed on a mandrel, a base material layer formed on the outer periphery of the first resin layer, and a second resin layer including the base material layer. The base material layer is a composite layer including an inner layer in which one or more yarn strands are wound spirally on the first resin layer in the circumferential direction, a middle layer in which a yarn strand is arranged on the inner layer generally parallel to the axial direction of the mandrel, and an outer layer in which at least one yarn strand is wound spirally on the middle layer in the circumferential direction in such a way that it does not overlap the yarn of the inner layer and crimps the yarn of the middle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Inoue, Harushige Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6280574
    Abstract: The moisture application system of the present invention comprises in combination a first means for applying liquid to a paper web and a second means in contact with the web for scraping off excess liquid and spreading the liquid uniformly across the paper web. The moisture application system of the present invention is particularly useful when combined with a machine calender for finishing a paper web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Donald G. Bauer
  • Patent number: 6277245
    Abstract: A dandy pan for use with a dandy roll in the manufacturing of paper material. The construction of the dandy pan provides for reduced cracking in the surface of the dandy pan. The dandy pan includes a base portion and a top portion attached to the base portion to define an area through which steam is circulated to heat the dandy pan. A plurality of ribs are disposed in the base portion within the area. Each of the plurality of ribs is secured to the top portion by at least one weld. A spacing of the ribs of equal to or less than approximately nine inches reduces stresses on the top portion of the dandy pan. In a preferred embodiment, the ribs are spaced approximately eight inches apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gopal Alankar, Thomas A. Lemen, Heather J. T. Lieb