Papermaking method
A papermaker includes a mesh having a plurality of protrusions used to screen water and fiber that has not been broken down from a pulp is also used to web the pulp into a pulp web, such that a plurality of holes is formed to extend through the pulp web. After squeezing and drying steps, a paper with a plurality of voids is formed. The voids are formed without subsequent cutting process, such that the amount of pulp used for making the paper is reduced, and the cost and labor are reduced. Alternatively, when a pulp is webbed by a conventional mesh into a pulp web, a mold having a plurality of protrusions may be used to press the pulp web, so as to form the voids in the pulp web. Thereby, voids are formed simultaneously with the paper.
The present invention relates in general to a papermaking method, and more particular, to a method of forming voids in various shapes during the papermaking process, such that the pulp used for making this type of paper is reduced.
The contemporary papermaking process includes the steps of de-barking, chipping, digesting, rinsing, bleaching, and rinsing to obtain a pulp. The fibers that have not been broken down and other residues are then removed by a screening process. The screened pulp flows from the head of a papermaking machine into a moving belt of metal or plastic mesh to evenly form a paper web. The paper web is subjected to a squeezing process to remove water contained therein. After the squeezing process, drying and other subsequent processes are further performed to obtain newly made paper as shown in
The newly made paper can be used as wrapping paper or processed to form the carrying bag as shown in
To provide aesthetic effect, some merchants will add some cutworks on the paper or puncture the paper with voids in various shapes. The voids also provide air circulation and visibility of the articles contained therein. However, it is very laborious and costly for making this type of paper, and the pulp used for making this type of paper is not reduced. Further, additional process is required for recycling of the cutaway portion of the paper.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a method of forming voids in various shapes during the papermaking process, such that the pulp used for making this type of paper is reduced. In addition, the labor and cost for forming voids are reduced.
The present invention provides a papermaker including a mesh having a plurality of protrusions used to screen water and fiber that has not been broken down from a pulp is also used to web the pulp into a pulp web, such that a plurality of holes is formed to extend through the pulp web. After squeezing and drying steps, a paper with a plurality of voids is formed. The voids are formed without subsequent cutting process, such that the amount of pulp used for making the paper is reduced, and the cost and labor are reduced. Alternatively, when a pulp is webbed by a conventional mesh into a pulp web, a mold having a plurality of protrusions may be used to press the pulp web, so as to form the voids in the pulp web. Thereby, voids are formed simultaneously with the paper.
These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings therein:
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to
The papermaking method includes the steps of obtaining wood log 1, debarking 2, chipping 3, digesting 4, rinsing 5, bleaching 6, cleaning 7 and beating 8. After the above steps, additives are mixed with the pulp, and a screening step 10 is performed to screen water and fiber that has not been broken down. A mesh is then used to form a paper web. The paper web is then conveyed between two rollers for squeezing out the remaining water and to increase the density and strength of the paper in step 11. After the squeezing step 11, water remaining in the paper is still high, a drying step 12 is then performed to remove the remaining water. Thereby, the paper is made.
In the above process, the mesh 10 used for webbing includes a plurality of protrusions 13 as shown in
It is appreciated that the protrusions 14 of the mesh 10, the protrusions 17 of the mold 16 and the holes 18 of the mesh 10 are not limited to a specific shape. Various shapes (as shown in
While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
Claims
1. A papermaking process, comprising:
- providing a pulp;
- using a mesh for screening the pulp and webbing the pulp into a pulp web; and
- forming a plurality of voids in the pulp web.
2. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the voids includes using a mesh having a plurality of protrusions formed thereon to screening and webbing the pulp.
3. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the voids includes using a mesh having a plurality of holes through which portions of the pulp are filtered.
4. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of forming the voids includes using a mold that includes a plurality of protrusions to press on the pulp web.
5. The process of claim 5, further comprising squeezing water from the pulp web and drying the pulp web after the step of forming the voids.
6. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of providing the pulp comprises the steps of:
- obtaining a wood log;
- debarking the wood log;
- chipping the debarked wood log;
- digesting the debarked wood log;
- rinsing the digested wood log;
- bleaching the rinsed wood log;
- cleaning the bleached wood log; and
- beating the bleached wood log into the pulp.
7. The process of claim 10, further comprising a step of rinsing the wood log before the beating step.
8. The process of claim 10, further comprising a step of mixing the pulp with additives.
9. A papermaker, comprising:
- a mesh for webbing a pulp into a pulp web having a plurality of voids therein.
10. The papermaker further of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a plurality of protrusions formed thereon.
11. The papermaker of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a plurality of holes extending therethrough.
12. A papermaker, comprising:
- a mesh for webbing a pulp into a pulp web; and
- a mold for pressing the pulp web to form a plurality of voids in the pulp web.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 26, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2005
Inventors: Chien-Chiu Lee (Taipei City), Yao-Ching Huang (Taipei City)
Application Number: 10/831,313