Abstract: The fabric cleaning system for cleaning a fabric such as the wire on a paper machine includes a cleaning station through which the fabric continuously passes. In the station cleaning fluid is directed onto a surface of the fabric, contacts the fabric to remove at least some of the debris and is collected in a collecting chamber. The dirty fluid is cleaned of debris in a cleaner such as a screen and is then returned and re-used to clean the fabric. Preferably the cleaning fluid is applied to the fabric through slots with their outlet openings adjacent the fabric and formed by tapered passages that diminish in height in the direction of the travel of the fabric. Preferably the slots extend the full width of the fabric.

Abstract: A papermaking machine having a forming wire, a headbox and a forming board is disclosed. The headbox includes a lower slice having an apron positioned substantially in alignment with and closely adjacent the forming board such that as the forming wire travels over the the forming board the jet of paper stock leaving the headbox is laid onto the wire at the board at substantially zero angle of impingement. The forming board further includes a lead-in blade over which the wire travels. The blade acts to deflect fluid, normally pumped by the wire along its path of travel, away from the underside to the jet of paper stock prior to this jet reaching the forming board.

Abstract: A twin wire paper former incorporating a forming shoe having a curved solid forming surface across which the forming wires pass with one of the wires in direct contact therewith and the other sandwiching the stock from which the paper is to be formed therebetween. The tension in the other wire drives water from the stock contained between the two wires, out through the other wire, and the shoe is vibrated thereby to reduce the friction between the wire contacting the shoe, to reduce wear of the contacting wire and to improve drainage.

Abstract: A stock delivery system is provided having a rectangular sectioned distributor of substantially square section connected in stock supplying relation to a headbox having an apertured distributor place, a mixing chamber receiving stock therein connecting by way of a throttle plate to a multi-tier diffuser section comprising cylindrical tubes that diverge to a square section. A parallel flow section of predetermined length connects to a tapered nozzle section. The structural elements of the apparatus, including the support beam, a portion of the diffuser section, and the roof section are connected in liquid transfer relation to permit the passage of liquid a controlled temperature therethrough. Also, the slice is provided with liquid containment capability, and also includes a segmented extension chamber to permit substantially unrestricted later expansion or contraction of the slice under changing thermal conditions.

Abstract: A whitewater system is provided for handling at high velocity the large quantities of water that are circulated in the high speed forming of pulp using a wire and forming wheel. Use of a centrifugal collector to transfer water from within a forming loop at velocities approaching that of wire speed permits the water to be partially deaerated automatically, so that return as white water to the pulping system is facilitated.