Patents by Inventor Antti Komulainen

Antti Komulainen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8444824
    Abstract: A paper or board machine having a machine dryer section with a drying group with single-wire draw. A drying wire (F) presses the web (W) on a drying cylinder (10) against heated cylinder surfaces, and the web (W) remains at the side of the outside curve of reversing cylinders (11) situated between drying cylinders (10). For enhancing runnability of the web (W), a runnability component (20) is in a pocket space (T) confined by two adjacent drying cylinders (10) and a reversing cylinder (11) situated between them and by the drying wire (F). The web (W) passes from the drying cylinder (10) to the reversing cylinder (11) as a short transfer of 80-400 mm, where a negative pressure effect produced by the runnability component (20) is applied and confined by seals of the runnability component (20) against the surfaces of the drying cylinder (10) and reversing cylinder (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 8011115
    Abstract: A fiber-web machine dryer section has a drying group with single-wire draw so the drying wire (F) presses the web (W) against heated cylinder surfaces with the web (W) at the side of the outside curve of reversing cylinders (11) situated between drying cylinders (10, 12). A pocket space (T) is formed between two adjacent drying cylinders (10) and a reversing cylinder (11) situated between them, and the drying wire (F). A negative pressure component (20) placed in the pocket space (T) creates a pressure difference over the drying wire (F) and the web (W) for attaching the web (W) to the drying wire (F) so the cross-direction shrinkage of the web (W) is controllable. The wire tension (F) is maintained at a level help control cross-direction shrinkage of the web. The pocket space (T) is sealed by sealing members (25, 26) to maintain negative pressure in the pocket space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Pasi Kekko, Markku Lummila
  • Publication number: 20110162230
    Abstract: A paper or board machine having a machine dryer section with a drying group with single-wire draw. A drying wire (F) presses the web (W) on a drying cylinder (10) against heated cylinder surfaces, and the web (W) remains at the side of the outside curve of reversing cylinders (11) situated between drying cylinders (10). For enhancing runnability of the web (W), a runnability component (20) is in a pocket space (T) confined by two adjacent drying cylinders (10) and a reversing cylinder (11) situated between them and by the drying wire (F). The web (W) passes from the drying cylinder (10) to the reversing cylinder (11) as a short transfer of 80-400 mm, where a negative pressure effect produced by the runnability component (20) is applied and confined by seals of the runnability component (20) against the surfaces of the drying cylinder (10) and reversing cylinder (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 7536806
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for improving runnability, and dryer section length, by using a vertical impingement dryer before a first dryer cylinder of a group of dryer cylinders. After a pressing section, the web is dried with a pre-impingement dryer, closely followed by a vertical impingement dryer, which is closely following by the first dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer and vertical impingement dryer of the first dryer cylinder to have a drying temperature of approximately 80° C. with no undesirable sticking to the dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer can be arranged to dry a first side of the web, and a vertical impingement dryer after the first dryer cylinder is arranged to dry a second side of the web. The impingement drying takes place directly against the web without an intervening fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen, Markku Lummila, Michael Odell, Martti Salminen, Riikka Antikainen, Petter Honkalampi
  • Publication number: 20090025249
    Abstract: A fiber-web machine dryer section has a drying group with single-wire draw. A drying wire (F) presses the web (W) on a drying cylinder (10) against heated cylinder surfaces, and the web (W) remains at the side of the outside curve of reversing cylinders (11) situated between drying cylinders (10). For enhancing runnability of the web (W), a runnability component (20) is in a pocket space (T) confined by two adjacent drying cylinders (10) and a reversing cylinder (11) situated between them and by the drying wire (F). The web (W) passes from the drying cylinder (10) to the reversing cylinder (11) as a short transfer of 80-400 mm, where a negative pressure effect produced by the runnability component (20) is applied and confined by seals of the runnability component (20) against the surfaces of the drying cylinder (10) and reversing cylinder (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen
  • Publication number: 20090019723
    Abstract: A fiber-web machine dryer section has a drying group with single-wire draw so the drying wire (F) presses the web (W) against heated cylinder surfaces with the web (W) at the side of the outside curve of reversing cylinders (11) situated between drying cylinders (10, 12). A pocket space (T) is formed between two adjacent drying cylinders (10) and a reversing cylinder (11) situated between them, and the drying wire (F). A negative pressure component (20) placed in the pocket space (T) creates a pressure difference over the drying wire (F) and the web (W) for attaching the web (W) to the drying wire (F) so the cross-direction shrinkage of the web (W) is controllable. The wire tension (F) is maintained at a level help control cross-direction shrinkage of the web. The pocket space (T) is sealed by sealing members (25, 26) to maintain negative pressure in the pocket space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Pasi Kekko, Markku Lummila
  • Patent number: 7422662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement (7) against a moving fabric (4b) in a paper machine or the like. The sealing arrangement includes a stiff sealing element (9) placed on the fabric's (4b) side on the entire width in connection with a paper sheet (4a) supported by the fabric (4b). The sealing element has been arranged on a support so that the location of the sealing element with respect to the fabric (4b) can be adjusted nearer to or, correspondingly, further from the fabric. As a sealing element there is at least a single-chambered labyrinth sealing (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Juha Leimu, Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Matti Kurki, Martti Salminen, Reijo Jokinen
  • Publication number: 20080178487
    Abstract: An arrangement in connection with the press and dryer section of a web-forming machine includes first and second devices for transporting the web. The second device includes a dryer wire and a roll arranged to support it. In the arrangement there is an open gap between the first and second devices, across which the web is arranged to be transferred, so that the web and the dryer wire form a closing throat. The arrangement further includes a deflector before the open gap in the direction of travel of the dryer wire, which is arranged close to the dryer wire, in order to restrict the air layer travelling with the dryer wire, and thus to prevent the formation of an excess pressure in the closing throat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Matti Kurki, Juhani Vestola
  • Publication number: 20070084078
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for improving runnability, and dryer section length, by using a vertical impingement dryer before a first dryer cylinder of a group of dryer cylinders. After a pressing section, the web is dried with a pre-impingement dryer, closely followed by a vertical impingement dryer, which is closely following by the first dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer and vertical impingement dryer of the first dryer cylinder to have a drying temperature of approximately 80° C. with no undesirable sticking to the dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer can be arranged to dry a first side of the web, and a vertical impingement dryer after the first dryer cylinder is arranged to dry a second side of the web. The impingement drying takes place directly against the web without an intervening fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen, Markku Lummila, Michael Odell, Martti Salminen, Riikka Antikainen, Petter Honkalampi
  • Patent number: 7155356
    Abstract: A method of controlling the quality and/or condition of a fibre web in a process for manufacturing and/or finishing the fibre web, which includes, monitoring the fibre web with at least one optical spectrum separating measurement device, determining a quality variable of the fibre web, measuring electromagnetic radiation reflected from the fibre web using an optical spectrum separating measurement device synchronously with a movement of the fibre web, and measurements in the form of spectral data, generating a continuous quality variable chart, dividing the continuous quality variable chart into successive matched partial charts having a cycle length, detecting deviations and/or discontinuities of the quality variable from the successive matched partial charts, and detecting malfunctioning of a rotating/moving means using the detected deviations and/or discontinuities of the quality variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventors: Markku Mantyla, Matti Kukkurainen, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 7036242
    Abstract: An apparatus for a dryer section of a paper or board machine has a drying group (R) and an impingement drying unit (10) which is placed above and/or below a row (DSR) of drying cylinders (3). A drying fabric (1) supported paper or board web (2) is conducted past the impingement drying unit (10) having at least one impingement surface (IP1, IP2) the side profile of which is straight, changeably curved in its radius of curvature, in the shape of a broken line or a selectable combination of these, and that the impingement surface or a tangent line to the impingement surface or a line passing via the beginning and the end of the impingement surface or an extension of the line forms on the impingement side an angle with a horizontal plane parallel to the machine level, which angle is ?120°, advantageously 120°–60°, most advantageously about 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Matti Kurki, Martti Salminen, Kari Juppi, Juha Kaihovirta, Antti Kuhasalo
  • Publication number: 20060070258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement (7) against a moving fabric (4b) in a paper machine or the like. The sealing arrangement includes a stiff sealing element (9) placed on the fabric's (4b) side on the entire width in connection with a paper sheet (4a) supported by the fabric (4b). The sealing element has been arranged on a support so that the location of the sealing element with respect to the fabric (4b) can be adjusted nearer to or, correspondingly, further from the fabric. As a sealing element there is at least a single-chambered labyrinth sealing (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Juha Leimu, Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Matti Kurki, Martti Salminen, Reijo Jokinen
  • Patent number: 7017279
    Abstract: A method of blowing drying gas against a paper web, and an impingement dryer of a paper machine. Drying gas is blown with an impingement dryer comprising several profiling chambers in the cross-direction of a paper machine, the cross-profile of the paper web being controlled with the drying gas blown from the profiling chambers. Each profiling chamber blows drying gas to its own effect range. The impingement dryer further comprises a return air chamber and return air ducts such that drying gas blown against the paper web from the profiling chambers is returned into the return air chamber through the return air ducts in such a way that some of the effect of the drying gas blown from the profiling chamber is at least partly prevented from reaching the effective area of the adjacent profiling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Automation OY
    Inventors: Jari Almi, Jarkko Veijola, Jarkko Nurmi, Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi
  • Patent number: 6942758
    Abstract: A method and equipment for tail threading in a paper machine in which tail threading is carried out in stages: the web is guided to the broke treatment at a selected dryer, a cut is formed in the web to separate a narrow tail from the rest of the web, i.e. the broke web, prior to the dryer, the edge opposite to the cut of the broke web is turned away from the cutting point to form an open draw between the tail and the broke web, the tail is guided from the selected dryer to the following section while the broke web is transferred further to the broke treatment, while travelling in a controlled manner, the tail is widened to the full width and the broke web is simultaneously reduced away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Osmo Jääskeläinen, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 6916404
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for web threading in a drying section of a paper machine or the like. A leader (24) and a so called run-down strip are formed by cutting in the web coming to the drying cylinder in the drying section. An underpressure box (18) is arranged at the opening gap between the drying cylinder (14) and the drying wire, on that side of the wire which is away from the web, whereby this box can direct against the web an underpressure which is controllable in the machine's cross direction. The underpressure box creates an underpressure region (34?) between the leader and the underpressure box, the region having an underpressure p1 at the detachment point, i.e. in the area where the wire is detached from said drying cylinder (14), which underpressure is sufficient to detach the leader from said drying cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Jorma Laapotti, Reijo Jokinen, Matti Kurki, Juha Lipponen, Markku Lyytinen, Samppa J. Salminen
  • Patent number: 6910282
    Abstract: A web (16) running from an opening nip (K1) between a cylinder (10) and a supporting fabric (18) toward a roll (14), is supported by a negative pressure created by a blow box (30). In an intensified negative pressure region (34?), i.e. close to the disengaging point (40) between the supporting fabric and the cylinder, the pressure is greater than at a distance from this disengaging point. The negative pressure is controlled according to parameters which act on the runability of the web and which can be varied, such as web velocity, web solid contents, pulp composition, paper or paper board quality, web grammage, a characteristic of the web, such as porosity, traction acting in the web, or web tension, cylinder temperature, and/or the running situation, such as a web break, a threading situation, or a normal run, so the desired runability is maintained between the cylinder and the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Reijo Jokinen, Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi
  • Patent number: 6849159
    Abstract: The invention concerns an equipment and a method in the transfer of a paper/board web in a paper or board machine. In an embodiment of the invention, the dryer section comprises at least one group of drying cylinders in which, instead of a conventional wire draw, a transfer belt (H100) is employed, to which the web (W) is affixed by effect of adhesion and which transfer belt is passed over drying cylinders (K1, K2, . . . ) and reversing rolls (E1, E2, . . . ) and further in said group (RI) of drying cylinders in the dryer section. The invention also concerns a method in the transfer of the web (W) in the dryer section (K) of a paper/board machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Heikki Ilvespää , Juhani Vestola, Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 6849851
    Abstract: A method in the process of manufacturing and/or finishing a fiber web (11), in which method the Continuous and moving web (11), and/or a moving device (16, 17) related to the processing of the web (11), is monitored by one or more thermal cameras (10) of the infrared range or a corresponding detector/detectors for the purpose of controlling the quality or condition. A substantially continuous two-dimensional thermal image or continuous thermal chart (20) of an object (11, 16, 17) being monitored and in a propagating and/or rotating movement is formed by said detector/detectors in a time-resolved manner and in synchronization with the movement of the object (11, 16, 17) in the direction of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Paper Automation Oy
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Kari Juppi, Pertti Aimonen
  • Publication number: 20050021262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in the process of manufacturing and/or finishing a fibre web, in which method said continuous and moving web, and/or a moving means related to the processing of the web, is monitored by at least one optical spectrum separating measurement device to determine at least one quality variable of said object for the purpose of controlling the quality or condition. According to the invention, spectral data is collected in synchronization with the movement from the object which is being examined and is in a progressive and/or rotating movement, by measuring electromagnetic radiation, which has been transmitted, reflected, or otherwise emitted by the object, in a temporally and spatially resolved manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Markku Mantyla, Matti Kukkurainen, Antti Komulainen
  • Patent number: 6793773
    Abstract: A paper web (w) is passed from the press section (10) to the drying section in a paper machine. The drying section has at least one transfer suction roll (16) for passing the web in a closed draw from the transport belt (12) of the press section to the drying wire (F) of the first cylinder drying group (14). The cylinder drying group has at least one vacuum box (30) stabilising the travel of the web. A high negative pressure is maintained in the transfer suction roll, this pressure being between −35 kPa and −80 kPa in order to attach the web to the drying wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen