Abstract: A vacuum roll apparatus is disclosed for transferring a web supported on a dryer felt from a first to a second drying cylinder of a dryer section. The apparatus includes a rotatable perforate shell having a first and a second end, the shell defining a cavity which extends from the first to the second end of the shell. The arrangement is such that the dryer felt extends from the first dryer around the perforate shell to the second dryer with the web extending contiguously with the dryer felt, and the dryer felt being disposed between the shell and the web. At least one fin is rigidly secured to the shell and is disposed within the cavity such that when the shell is rotated, the fin generates a flow of air through the perforate shell towards the cavity for drawing the web into close conformity with the dryer felt during movement thereof around the vacuum roll apparatus so that the web is restrained against cross-machine directional shrinkage.

Abstract: A single tier drying section apparatus is disclosed for drying a web of paper. The drying section includes a first and a second dryer which are disposed in a single tier for drying the web. A vacuum roll is disposed closely adjacent to and between the first and second dryers for guiding the web from the first to the second dryer. The vacuum roll includes a rotatable roll shell having a first and a second end. The shell defines an outer surface and an internal chamber which extends between the first and the second end of the shell. The shell defines a plurality of channels with each channel extending from the chamber to the outer surface such that the chamber is disposed in fluid communication with the outer surface. A vane mechanism is disposed within the chamber for evacuating the chamber. The arrangement is such that a flow of air flows towards the chamber through the plurality of channels for drawing the web into close conformity with the dryer felt when the web extends around the vacuum roll.

Abstract: A vacuum roll apparatus is disclosed for transferring a web supported on a dryer felt from a first to a second drying cylinder of a dryer section. The apparatus includes a rotatable perforate shell having a first and a second end, the shell defining a cavity which extends from the first to the second end of the shell. The arrangement is such that the dryer felt extends from the first dryer around the perforate shell to the second dryer with the web extending contiguously with the dryer felt, and the dryer felt being disposed between the shell and the web. At least one fin is rigidly secured to the shell and is disposed within the cavity such that when the shell is rotated, the fin generates a flow of air through the perforate shell towards the cavity for drawing the web into close conformity with the dryer felt during movement thereof around the vacuum roll apparatus so that the web is restrained against cross-machine directional shrinkage.