Abstract: An extended nip press for papermaking machine extracts water from a web of paper on a forming felt passing over a backing roll employing electromagnetic repulsion forces. In one embodiment, a belt is formed with permanent magnets which have thickness oriented poles and a like pole is provided external to the belt surface in non-contacting relation to provide a repulsion force to the belt which is transmitted by the belt to the felt and the paper. In another embodiment, the belt is formed of current-carrying nonferrous material and a repulsion force is formed by inducing current to flow in the belt by causing current to flow in an adjacent coil in non-contacting relation to the belt. In either embodiment, air pressure housing may be positioned over the electromagnet or conductor, to cool the electromagnet and to apply an air pressure force against the belt in the same direction as that of the induced or repulsion force.

Abstract: All of the essential operating parts for adding a top former assembly to a new Fourdrinier paper machine or for converting an existing Fourdrinier paper machine into a top former are carried by a supplemental frame assembly which can be mounted on the main Fourdrinier frame with minimal modification of the latter except the addition of simple parts for securing the supplemental frame assembly on top of the main frame. The primary operating parts of the top wire assembly are a hollow foraminous roll and a top wire deflector which cooperate to collect and deliver liquid expressed through the top wire into a receptacle that is carried by the supplemental frame assembly, and special provision is made for utilizing the top wire deflector to correct for irregularities in the cross machine profile of the paper sheet as it is being formed. Provision is also made for operating the resulting top former in roll former mode, blade former mode, or a combination roll and blade former modes.

Abstract: All of the essential operating parts for converting an existing Fourdrinier paper machine into a top former are carried by a supplemental frame assembly which can be mounted on the main Fourdrinier frame with no modification of the latter except the addition of a pair of pivotal mountings and a pair of adjusting jacks for the supplemental frame assembly. The primary operating parts of the top wire assembly are a hollow foraminous roll and a top deflector which cooperate to collect and deliver liquid extruded through the top wire into a receptacle which is carried by the supplemental frame assembly. Provision is also made for operating the resulting top former in roll formation mode, blade formation mode, or a combination roll and blade formation mode.

Abstract: Apparatus for the purpose of enabling a paper mill to determine the extent to which the performance and/or the product of an existing Fourdrinier paper machine in the mill will be improved by its conversion into a top former machine comprises a fractional version of top forming apparatus which can be readily combined with an existing Fourdrinier machine in such manner that a minor portion of the forming width of the machine will be converted to top forming operation. The apparatus makes it possible to produce, on an existing Fourdriner machine, a sheet of which a small integral portion is formed by drainage through both the primary wire and a top wire, while the remainder of the sheet continues to be produced in the same manner as before the top wire testing.

Abstract: In a horizontal twin-wire paper machine, the paper sheet is initially formed in a wedge-shaped zone defined by generally horizontal runs of the primary wire and top wire which are brought into converging relation by cooperating sets of deflectors which support both runs against relative displacement by the stock therebetween and thereby cause liquid to be expressed through both of the wire runs throughout the wedge zone. The converged wires with the newly formed sheet therebetween then travel partially around one or more imperforate forming rolls, after which the top wire is guided away, and the sheet continues its travel on the primary wire. A major feature is the ease and simplicity with which the structure for supporting the top wire and the elements for defining the wedge zone can be added to an existing Fourdrinier machine to convert it to a twin-wire machine.