Abstract: The invention relates to cellulose fluff pulp products that are debondable into fluff with markedly lower energy input, to a process for making the products, and to absorbent products using the fluff. Most of the pulp products show no reduction in liquid absorbency rate from that of untreated fiber and significantly higher rates than pulps treated with the usual debonding agents. The products are made by adhering fine non-cellulosic particles to the fiber surfaces using a retention aid. The fiber is preferably treated with the retention aid in an aqueous suspension for a sufficient time so that the retention aid is substantively bonded with little or none left free in the water. The fine particulate additive is then added and becomes attached and uniformly distributed over the fiber surfaces with very little particle agglomeration occurring. The fiber is most usually not refined or only very lightly refined before sheeting.

Abstract: A headbox of a paper machine for distributing stock suspension over the machine width of the paper machine onto a forming or wire section includes a headbox nozzle that extends over the machine width and that has spaced apart top and bottom lips that gradually converge from the stock nozzle inlet toward the nozzle outlet. At least one baffle that extends over the machine width is located in the nozzle between the lips and spaced therefrom. The length of the baffle in the flow direction of the stock suspension is less than twice the maximum spacing or height between the top and bottom lips of the headbox nozzle, which is the spacing between them at the tallest space, typically at the upstream entrance end of the nozzle. In addition, the length of the baffle is at most less than 50% the length of the nozzle. The baffle tapers narrower in height in the flow direction, and the angle of divergence of the top and bottom surfaces of the baffle is less than 5.degree.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cigarette paper having a low total filler content, 20% by weight of the paper or less, a proportion of the filler being a filler capable of effecting visible sidestream smoke reduction. The basis weight of tbh paper is about 30 g m.sup.-2 or more.Smoking articles made with such papers provide a synergistic sidestream smoke component reduction when compared with control cigarettes. Papers according to thee invention with the addition of various burn additives are also described.

Abstract: An extended nip press is provided having an advantageous nip press shoe which generates less heat than conventional press shoes. The nip press shoe includes an inrunning land surface which may be planar or convex. At least one lubrication pocket is downstream of the inrunning land surface and defines a cavity for supporting lubricant to create a hydrostatic lubrication region with a flexible jacket. The pocket has a bottom surface which converges towards the flexible jacket in a downstream direction. The press shoe further includes an outrunning land surface downstream of the lubrication pocket for engaging the flexible jacket against the opposite convex press element at a downstream end of the extended nip press. The outrunning land surface has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the convex press element, and is planar in one embodiment, to create an attenuated hydrodynamic lubrication region with the flexible jacket.

Abstract: Apparatus for influencing a cross-sectional profile of a headbox having an inner chamber and process for determining a width and position for the sections of the headbox. The apparatus includes a device for distributing fluid that extends across a machine width, at least one connection opening extending across the machine width between the fluid distribution device and the inner chamber of the headbox, and a plurality of elements being one of continuously and discretely adjustably positionable within the fluid distributing device to section the fluid distributing device across the machine width. The process includes measuring a profile of a selected characteristic of the pulp suspension in the headbox that is dependent on its position; forming intersecting points of the profile of the characteristic with a uniform sectioning of the size of the characteristic under consideration; and determining the position and width of the sections.

Abstract: A tobacco filter with a circumferential length of 17 to 27 mm is prepared by creping or embossing, with a roller of a temperature not lower than 100.degree. C., a sheet-like material comprising not less than 20% by weight of a cellulose ester component and having a web structure with a basis weight of 20 to 35 g/m.sup.2 and a density of 0.25 to 0.45 g/cm.sup.3, and wrapping up the creped or embossed material into a rod form. The cellulose ester component includes e.g. a cellulose ester short staple, a fibrillated fiber, an esterified fiber and a fiber coated with a cellulose ester. This tobacco filter shows a pressure drop of 200 to 500 mm WG, a firmness of 88% or more and a cross-sectional porosity of 2% or less provided that it has a circumferential length of 24.5 mm and a length of 10 cm.

Abstract: An efficient, low cost method and apparatus for controlling fiber deposition in a fiber reinforced preform is provided. In the method, a main screen is placed in a tank filled with liquid. The main screen has a major surface, upright side walls and a plurality of openings formed therein. Reinforcing fibers are added to the liquid to create a slurry. The main screen is raised through the slurry to a level beneath the top of the slurry, thereby causing the reinforcing fibers to be deposited on the main screen. A retainer screen is inserted into the slurry so that the reinforcing fibers are sandwiched between the main screen and the retainer screen. Both the main screen and retainer screen are raised out of the tank effectively forming a preform with minimal deformation. An alternative embodiment includes a bubbler zone control device for mixing the slurry. The tank is divided into separate areas or zones whereby the supply of fluid to each bubbler zone is controlled.

Abstract: A cigarette identifier system comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector located across an opening of a cigarette receiver, wherein the sensor registers changes in the transmission of the infrared beam across the opening so as to detect the differences in transmissivity of dense and less dense and portions of an inserted cigarette.

Abstract: A method for reducing the consumption of fresh water and energy in a paper mill in which fresh water is passed into the paper mill for various needs, and a cooling tower is utilized for cooling water heated in the papermaking process. All fresh waters or a substantial proportion of the fresh waters of the paper mill are introduced into the process through the water system of the cooling tower. The cooling tower includes at least one inlet for passing the water to be cooled into the cooling tower, nozzles for discharging the water that was passed in and that is to be cooled onto heat transfer faces, filler pieces and/or filler plates, which disperse the water to be cooled so as to increase the contact area between the water and the cooling air, at least one outlet for passing the cooled water out of the cooling tower, and blowers for blowing the cooling air through the cooling tower.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing a continuous material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, with at least one perforated cylinder sleeve and a suction roll exhibiting a manhole around which the material web is guided preferably with the aid of a transport band, whereby the interior of the suction roll can be put under a vacuum and is subdivided into at least two sections by a partition wall that is arranged essentially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the suction roll, wherein the partition wall is subdivided into sections and/or is manufactured of a flexible material and can thereby be inserted through the manhole and into the roll interior.

Abstract: The present invention relates to paper interleavers for sheet metal and, in particular, to a paper interleaver containing catalytically crosslinked polysiloxane capable of withstanding temperatures approaching 200.degree. C. for prolonged periods of time.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for controlling the basis weight of paper produced in a papermaking machine are provided. In the papermaking process, a major portion of the paper stock flows through a first line that is controlled by a thick stock valve and a minor portion of the stock flow from the stuff box to the headbox is diverted through a second line that is regulated by a second valve (e.g., vernier valve). The thick stock valve is controlled by the dry end basis weight and the second valve responsive to measurements of the basis weight of the wet stock at the wire. The second line and control valve along with the wet end basis weight measurements form a fine control loop with fast response time whereas the first line and control valve that is responsive to dry end basis weight measurements form a course control loop. The dual control loops enable fast and actual basis weight control.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing paper and paperboard that includes the steps of preflocculating granular starch with an aqueous solution containing cellulosic fibers and a flocculant prior to the introduction of the preflocculated mixture to either the white water, thick stock or thin stock. By preflocculating the starch in the presence of cellulosic fibers, improved formation is provided without compromising retention of the starch in the formed mat and distribution of the starch in the Z-direction is improved which improves the strength properties of the paper and paperboard.

Abstract: A calender is provided for calendering a fibrous web wherein the moisture profile of the web can be controlled. The calender includes a plurality of rolls wherein at least one of the rolls comprises a profiling roll. The profiling roll has a plurality of profiling zones extending in a cross-machine direction to define a profiling nip. The roll is independently expandable in each of the zones, such as by an internal pressurized shoe arrangement, so that the pressure in the profiling nip can be varied in the cross-machine direction. A waterbox is positioned adjacent to the profiling nip and water is carried directly into the profiling nip where at least a portion of the water is transferred to the web such that the moisture profile of the web can be varied in the cross-machine direction by varying the nip pressure in the respective profiling zones.

Abstract: A method for producing watermarks or patterns in paper and cardboard which can be performed during a process for manufacturing the paper or cardboard comprises the following steps: preparing a primary fibrous mix of cotton cellulose based on alpha-cellulose with the addition of sulfate cellulose; preparing a secondary fibrous mix which has substantially the same composition as the primary mix but to which an adapted dye and/or pigment has been added; spreading the resulting fluid mix on a moving formation board of a paper manufacturing plant, so as to obtain a layer of very moist cellulose pulp designed to be dehumidified and stabilized along a preset path on the formation table; applying a jet or jets of secondary fibrous mix to the relatively fluid layer of primary fibrous mix so as to produce a recess as a consequence of the lateral displacement, with respect to each jet, occurring in the layer of primary fibrous mix, the recess being filled with the secondary fibrous mix by the respective jet; and amalgam

Abstract: This invention relates to calendering systems. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of hard and soft nips acting on a heated roll to provide excellent smoothness without gloss mottle.

Abstract: Cellulose is effectively oxidized with nitrogen dioxide in a hydrofluoroether solvent.

Abstract: A tobacco water pipe for smoking loose leaf tobacco, the tobacco water pipe having a base and an elongated tube, the elongated tube being removably interlocked to the base of the tobacco water pipe. To removably interlock the base and the elongated tube, the base of the water pipe has a seat member which is at least partially embedded into the base of the tobacco water pipe and the elongated tube has a sleeve member which is affixed to the lower most portion of the elongated tube. The seat member of the base is configured to receive the sleeve member of the elongated tube. The sleeve member alone, or in connection with a collar member, is designed to interlock with the seat member, securely fastening the elongated tube to the base of the tobacco water pipe.

Abstract: A filter assembly machine wherein a succession of tobacco articles, each defined by at least one cigarette portion aligned with a respective filter, and a succession of respective gummed strips are fed by a conveyor drum to a first and a second rolling wheel rotating about respective axes and having a number of peripheral axial cavities, each of which houses a respective roller defining, with the cavity, a rolling channel; the tobacco articles, once rolled to connect the cigarette portions and filters by means of respective strips, are transferred from the first and second rolling wheel to an output drum by means of conveyors having seats on the end of respective ribs engageable between pairs of adjacent rollers.