Abstract: A multiplayer composite doctor blade has a side edge configured for application to the surface of a rotating roll in a paper making machine. The doctor blade has an inner core and intermediate layers preferably enclosed by outer layers. The inner core is predominantly polymeric material. The intermediate layers on opposite sides of the core include reinforcing fibers. The side edge of the doctor blade has an abrasiveness as measured by ASTM test method D5181-91 of between about 4.0 to 5.0.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a twin wire former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll.

Abstract: A creped tissue paper is made by creping a tissue paper from a drying cylinder with a creping doctor, receiving the creped web on a carrying fabric, carrying the creped web on the carrying fabric through a compression nip that compresses the web to substantially reduce its thickness and improve softness of the web, and carrying the creped, compressed web on the carrying fabric or a subsequent fabric to a reel-up.

Abstract: A former for producing a tissue web and a process of making a tissue web using the former. The former includes a forming element, an inner dewatering belt, and an outer dewatering belt. The inner and outer belts converge to form a stock inlet nip. The inner and outer belts are guided over the forming element and thereafter separating from one another in the area of a separation point. At least one suction element is positioned adjacent the inner belt on a side which is opposite the outer belt. Alternatively, a conditioning device is positioned adjacent the outer belt. The process includes forming the tissue web in the area of the forming element, guiding the inner and outer belts around the forming element, and separating the inner and outer belts in the area of the separation point. Alternatively, the process includes conditioning the outer belt.

Abstract: A creped tissue paper is made by creping a tissue paper from a drying cylinder with a creping doctor, receiving the creped web on a carrying fabric, carrying the creped web on the carrying fabric through a compression nip that compresses the web to substantially reduce its thickness and improve softness of the web, and carrying the creped, compressed web on the carrying fabric or a subsequent fabric to a reel-up.

Abstract: A creped tissue paper is made by creping a tissue paper from a drying cylinder with a creping doctor, receiving the creped web on a carrying fabric, carrying the creped web on the carrying fabric through a compression nip that compresses the web to substantially reduce its thickness and improve softness of the web, and carrying the creped, compressed web on the carrying fabric or a subsequent fabric to a reel-up.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a twin wire former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll.

Abstract: A creping blade for creping a cellulosic web from a rotatable cylinder in a creping process includes first and second side faces. The first side face is at least substantially opposite to the second side file. The blade also includes an upper surface adjacent to the first and second side faces. A plurality of notches is provided along the upper surface. Each of the notches has a bottom portion and an open end defined by at least a portion of the upper surface. The notches are configured to increase the caliper of the cellulosic web when the creping blade crepes the cellulosic web from an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder. Creped paper and improved methods of manufacturing paper are also provided.

Abstract: Device for producing a paper having a three dimensional pattern which has been given the paper web in connection with drying the paper web. The device comprises at least one press nip (12) comprising a rotatable heated roll (13) and a counter means (11,14), at which either the heated roll (13) along its periphery alternatively a member surrounding the roll or a patterned wire, band or belt is provided with said three dimensional pattern, and wherein the wet paper web (10) is intended to pass through said press nip (12) and is given said pattern A detaching roll (16) is arranged at a certain distance from the press nip (12) for taking off the paper web from the heated roll (13), and creping means (17) are arranged for creping the paper from said detaching roll (16).

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a continuously advancing paper web from a dryer to a reel section is provided. The system includes a first fabric defining a first moving conveyor. The first fabric may be a permeable fabric, which is positioned downstream from the dryer. A second fabric, which may also be permeable and defines a second moving conveyor, is also included. The first moving conveyor overlaps the second moving conveyor for a predetermined distance, and the first and second moving conveyors are configured to receive the paper web between the conveyors. A vacuum device is rotatably disposed against the first moving conveyor, and the dryer and the vacuum device are disposed relative to each other to form an open draw. The vacuum device is configured to produce a vacuum to attract the web to the first fabric for transferring the advancing web into the predetermined distance where the first and second conveyors overlap.

Abstract: A method for directly forming and finishing a web product is provided. The method includes forming a web on a forming apparatus, continuously transferring the formed web to a conveyor, performing a converting step on the web as the web is continuously supported and advanced on the conveyor, and finishing the web into a product substantially ready for packaging. A system for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A creping blade for creping a cellulosic web from a rotatable cylinder in a creping process includes first and second side faces. The first side face is at least substantially opposite to the second side face. The blade also includes an upper surface that is not orthogonal to at least one of the first and second side faces. Also included are a plurality of notches. Each of the notches has a bottom portion and an open end. The bottom portion is at least substantially parallel to the upper surface and the open end is defined by at least a portion of the upper surface. The notches are configured to increase the caliper of the cellulosic web when the creping blade crepes the cellulosic web from an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder. Also provided are systems and methods for creping a cellulosic web and creped paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web comprises a working surface designed to receive a foreshortened web thereon, a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the web thereby relaxing the crepe in the selected portions, and a means for retaining the crepe in the rest of the web. A preferred apparatus comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, at least one of which having expansion conduits therethrough, the web being impressed between the surfaces. A temperature differential is created between the two opposite surfaces, sufficient to drive the moisture added to the selected portions therethrough, thus relaxing the crepe in the selected portions which expand into the expansion conduits, while the crepe is retained in the rest of the web impressed between the two surfaces.

Abstract: An arrangement for doctoring a belt or a soft roll surfacing in a paper or board machine includes a doctor set in connection with a surface with a doctor blade fitted in it for doctoring the surface. The doctor blade is at least partly of a material, the hardness of which is essentially equal to or less than the hardness of the material of the surface, in order to prevent the doctor blade from cutting into the surface. The material is arranged to form a layer extending over the entire width of the doctor blade, and the thickness of which throughout is at least half of the thickness of the doctor blade. A support construction is arranged in the doctor blade, which together with the layer is arranged to form the doctor blade.

Abstract: A multilayer composite doctor blade has a side edge configured for application to the surface of a rotating roll in a paper making machine. The doctor blade has an inner core and intermediate layers. The doctor blade may also include outer layers. The inner core is predominantly polymeric material. The intermediate layers on opposite sides of the core include reinforcing fibers. The side edge of the doctor blade has an abrasiveness as measured by ASTM test method D5181-91 of between about 4.0 to 5.0.

Abstract: In a paper machine having a roll rotating about an axis extending in a cross machine direction, and having a doctor blade applied to the roll surface by a blade holder parallel to the axis and carried on a doctor back, an apparatus is provided for accommodating relative movement between the blade holder and the doctor back in the cross machine direction during mounting and removal of the blade holder. The apparatus comprises a rail fixed to the doctor back and extending longitudinally in the cross machine direction. A groove extends along the length of the guide rail. The groove has a bottom, a width measured between confronting sides, and a top defined by ledges projecting inwardly from the sides, with inner edges spaced one from the other to define a slot that underlies the blade holder and has a width narrower than the width of the groove. A plurality of shafts are spaced along the length of the blade holder and project downwardly through the slot and into the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus for doctoring a roll surface including a pivot bar adapted to be mounted on a doctor back and which the pivot bar defines an upwardly projecting fulcrum. A first shelf projects forwardly beyond the fulcrum and a top plate pivotally supported on and projecting forwardly beyond the fulcrum overlies the first shelf. The top platen is held downwardly against the fulcrum. Blade support members are carried by and cooperate with the top plate to define forwardly open slots, which slots are configured and dimensioned to receive a rear edge of a forwardly projecting doctor blade. The blade support members have rearwardly projecting second shelves underlying the first shelf and a loading mechanism is interposed between the first and second shelves for pivoting the top plate on the fulcrum in a direction urging the doctor blade against the roll surface.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a crescent former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll. A second upper fabric or transfer fabric operating at a lower speed then the first can be used to form a rush transfer between the forming fabrics and the Yankee dryer which increases web bulk and absorbency. Instead of a second fabric, a vacuum pressure roll may perform the rush transfer between the lower forming fabric and the Yankee dryer.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for imprinting a web. A yankee drum and pressure roll are juxtaposed to form a nip. An imprinting member, such as through air drying belt or other patterning belt is interposed in the nip. A felt is also interposed in the nip, contacting the backside of the imprinting member. The imprinting member carries a paper web. The paper web is imprinted in the nip and simultaneously transferred to the yankee drying drum. The nip may be formed with a vacuum roll juxtaposed with the felt. The vacuum roll may remove water from the felt and hence the web.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web comprises a working surface designed to receive a foreshortened web thereon, a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the web thereby relaxing the crepe in the selected portions, and a means for retaining the crepe in the rest of the web. A preferred apparatus comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, at least one of which having expansion conduits therethrough, the web being impressed between the surfaces. A temperature differential is created between the two opposite surfaces, sufficient to drive the moisture added to the selected portions therethrough, thus relaxing the crepe in the selected portions which expand into the expansion conduits, while the crepe is retained in the rest of the web impressed between the two surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus clamping at least one paper or non-woven sheet and including two cylinders which run substantially tangent to one another. At least one of the cylinders has on its surface and in a zone that makes contact with the sheet a clamping band having first salient elements. The interaction of the two cylinders in the presence or absence of the sheet subtends an active surface during the rotation of the cylinders. In the invention, at least one of the cylinders has on its surface and in a zone (nip) that makes contact with the other cylinder by means or not of the sheet a load compensating band having second salient elements. This band is selected so that the variation of the consecutive instantaneous active surfaces of the clamping band and of the load compensating band is less than the variation of the consecutive instantaneous active surfaces of the clamping band alone.

Abstract: Method of producing a paper having a three-dimensional pattern of alternating raised and recessed portions, which has been provided in connection with impulse drying, at which the wet paper web (10) is passed through at least one press nip (12) comprising a rotatable roll (13) which is heated and that the paper web during the passage through the press nip is given a three-dimensional pattern of alternating raised and recessed portions either by means of a patterned wire, band or belt and/or by a pattern on the heated roll (13) and where said pattern is pressed into the paper web against a counter means (11, 14). The wet paper web before said press nip is exerted to a creping- or other compacting procedure which foreshortens the length of the paper web. The invention also refers to a paper produced by the method, said paper having a high extensibility.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a hardcover book, a laminated sheet is fed to the inner book spine with a wide roll machine, and the sheet consists of a paper-laminated gauze. The laminate is subsequently treated and has a flat fine creping with a lengthwise elasticity of 5-15%. The end of the laminate sheet is fed to the inner book (12) perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the inner book spine and pressed onto the glued inner book spine followed by the 10 mm overlaps to either side. The joint material (36) that is applied is elastic perpendicular to the inner book spine. The inner book can then be trimmed and rounded, and the joint (36) stretches without losing stability or tearing.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a nonwoven web in a wet papermaking process to a fabric is disclosed. The system includes a vacuum shoe that operates in conjunction with a transfer shoe. The vacuum shoe is contacted against a carrier fabric which is designed to receive the nonwoven web. The transfer shoe, on the other hand, is configured to contact a transfer fabric from which the web is transferred. The transfer shoe includes an air nozzle which contacts the nonwoven web with a pressurized gas as the web is drawn towards the vacuum shoe. The system of the present invention is particularly well suited to processing lower basis weight webs and can be used in rush transfer processes.

Abstract: In manufacturing a moving web, such as a tissue sheet, the web is transported at very high speeds, often in an unsupported manner, which can result in unstable operations regarding handling and winding of the web. This is particularly true in the region between the creeping blade and the reel for a lightweight, low modulus tissue sheet that is characteristic of a high-quality, soft tissue base sheet. To provide an improved means of controlling the tissue web during manufacture and to improve the manufacturing rate, an apparatus and method of stabilizing the moving web that incorporates a creeping blade foil, one or more aerodynamic sheet stabilizing foils, and a roll foil in a specific relationship to each other is disclosed. This method has been shown to improve the stability of a moving tissue web, allow for a higher rate of operation, and enable the production of softer tissue basesheets.

Abstract: A method of dividing a formed paper web into at least two partial-width webs during production of creped paper in a paper machine having a cylinder with an adhesive coating to which the web adheres. The web is divided in conjunction with the cylinder by one partial-width web being detached by scraping from the outer surface at a first web-detaching point while the other partial-width web, still adhered to the outer surface, accompanies this surface to a second web-detaching point situated downstream, to be detached by scraping from the outer surface, at least one partial-width web being creped off. The invention also relates to a apparatus and a paper machine including such a apparatus having doctor blades forming the web-detaching points.

Abstract: A paper machine for manufacturing a structured soft paper web are described, which machine has a wet section, a press section, a drying section and a web-carrying clothing running around a suction device close to a smooth impermeable belt in the press section for the creation of a transfer point. In accordance with the invention, structuring means for structuring the web are arranged between the press section and the drying section.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web includes a working surface designed to receive a foreshortened web thereon, a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the web thereby relaxing the crepe in the selected portions, and a means for retaining the crepe in the rest of the web. A preferred apparatus includes a pair of opposite surfaces, at least one of which having expansion conduits therethrough, the web being impressed between the surfaces. A temperature differential is created between the two opposite surfaces, sufficient to drive the moisture added to the selected portions therethrough, thus relaxing the crepe in the selected portions which expand into the expansion conduits, while the crepe is retained in the rest of the web impressed between the two surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a paper machine in threading of paper web, in which method a narrower tail (T) is separated from the edge of the paper web and transferred to threading guiding means arranged in connection with the moving parts of a machine conveying the paper web. Before transferring the tail (T) to the threading devices, its free length is shortened, for example by crinkling, wherein its tensile stretch is increased and bending stiffness reduced.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a crescent former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll. A second upper fabric or transfer fabric operating at a lower speed then the first can be used to form a rush transfer between the forming fabrics and the Yankee dryer which increases web bulk and absorbency. Instead of a second fabric, a vacuum pressure roll may perform the rush transfer between the lower forming fabric and the Yankee dryer.

Abstract: A gas stream directed at a velocity against a cellulosic web in a papermaking machine can act to transfer the web from a transport web moving at a first speed to a transport web moving at a second slower speed. The transport webs apply a linear velocity to each to the cellulosic web on the transport web. The gas stream in the form of an air knife can be directed through the first fabric against the web and can transfer the web from the first fabric to the second fabric. The difference in velocity between the first transport web and the second, increases bulk, introduces a surface finish or otherwise modifies the character of the cellulosic web.

Abstract: A creping doctor blade and method of forming such blade including a thin flexible generally planar creping member having an elongated flexible, substantially prismatic body having a relieved substantially planar engagement surface adapted to bear against the drying cylinder. A rake face of the creping doctor blade extends generally outwardly relative to a surface of the rotatable drying cylinder when the creping blade engages the cylinder and the length of the substantially planar engagement surface is generally equivalent to the width of the drying cylinder with the width of the substantially planar engagement surface being selected so as to correspond to the wear pad dimension of a conventional blade used in the same processes and is generally in a range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.020 inches with the relief face of the blade adjacent to the rotatable drying cylinder having an elongated depression having a depth of at least about 0.

Abstract: An integral outboard bearing support for a gear reducer on a papermaking machine oscillating doctor. The bearing support rotatably supports a distal end of the gear reducer's drive shaft to reduce deflection and fatigue. The outboard support also aligns internal bearing supports with the outboard support to optimize performance by preventing current reducer shaft and support bearing failures.

Abstract: A web support foil positioned adjacent to a Yankee dryer above a creping doctor. The foil supports the web as it leaves the dryer. Mounted to the top of the foil is an adjustable air deflector which is positioned tangent to the Yankee dryer. The air deflector blocks air moving along the web. A slotted opening draws air from a leading-edge pocket collecting fibers which are broken loose during the creping action. The web is held against the bottom side of the foil by one or more air jets which are directed over the bottom surface on the foil. The jets of air function as coanda air jets and prevent the web from sticking to the bottom surface of the foil while creating a Bernoulli effect which holds the web against the bottom of the foil.

Abstract: Creping doctor blades useful for making soft tissues are substantially improved by ion nitriding the surface(s) of the doctor blade to produce a hardened surface while retaining the resilient interior of the non-treated blade. The resulting blades have approximately a three-fold increase in blade life.

Abstract: Creping doctor blades useful for making soft tissues are substantially improved by ion nitriding the surface(s) of the doctor blade to produce a hardened surface while retaining the resilient interior of the non-treated blade. The resulting blades have approximately a three-fold increase in blade life.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate. The process includes the steps of: 1) providing at least two superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material; 2) passing the superposed plies through a crimp roll arrangement including a rotating crimp element and a rotating anvil element; and 3) applying a pressure load against the rotating elements sufficient to crimp bond the fibrous cellulosic material plies into a laminate. The crimp element has protruding members configured in a discontinuous pattern aligned on an axis that is parallel to the cross-machine direction to provide a substantially continuous uniform area of localized surface contacts between the rotating crimp and anvil elements across the width of the plies. Also disclosed is an overall crimp-bonded fibrous cellulosic laminate and an apparatus for crimp-bonding multiple superposed plies of a fibrous cellulosic material.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drive roll for advancing the web, a smooth-surfaced primary member to press the web against the drive roll, and a generally-stationary retarder downstream of the primary member to engage and retard the web before the web has left the drive roll. The retarder surface has a large multiplicity of parallel ridges and grooves set on a diagonal, and effective to cause longitudinal compression of the web and to cause the web to flow at an angle to the original direction of drive. The retarder surface also has a reorienting retarding surface, effective after the web advances incrementally at the angle, to effect further compression and to reorient the travel of the web to be generally parallel to the original direction of drive.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drive roll for advancing the web, a smooth-surfaced primary member to press the web against the drive roll, and a generally-stationary retarder downstream of the primary member to engage and retard the web before the web has left the drive roll. The retarder surface has a large multiplicity of parallel ridges and grooves set on a diagonal, and effective to cause longitudinal compression of the web and to cause the web to flow at an angle to the original direction of drive. The retarder surface also has a reorienting retarding surface, effective after the web advances incrementally at the angle, to effect further compression and to reorient the travel of the web to be generally parallel to the original direction of drive.

Abstract: A laminate of creped tissue paper, which is wet-strength-treated and which has the required qualities for tablecloths, such as drape, heaviness, softness and tensile strength. The laminate is formed by applying an adhesive to a first tissue paper in patterns to form a first web. The first web is then laminated to another tissue paper web by means of a water-based adhesive compound containing a dispersion of the adhesive mixed with a large amount of filler. The filler makes the adhesive only penetrate to a limited depth into the respective surface layers of the webs that are directed towards each other.

Abstract: The operating speed of a microcreping process and the crossdeckle product uniformity can be significantly improved by tempering the primary blade at temperatures of about 850.degree. F. or greater.

Abstract: A web treating machine and method employing a web-gripping drive surface, a primary member that presses the web against the drive surface, and a stationary retarding surface, supported by a sheet form member, that retards the web before it leaves the drive surface, has the following of features. The sheet form support member is elastically deflectable. A tip deflector applies deflecting pressure on the downstream end of the support member to deflect the support member toward the drive member. A cavity stabilizer, in the form of a second sheet form member, extends in face-to-face reinforcing relationship over the initial portion of the support member in the region immediately downstream of the primary member, the portion of the support member extending between the cavity stabilizer and the tip deflector being relatively unreinforced. The cavity stabilization and tip deflection is obtained by deflection of various spring members, in one instance an advantageous gull-wing form being achieved.

Abstract: A machine and process for a web of material employing two side-by-side sets of spaced apart driven disks adapted to rotate respectively in opposite directions about two spaced apart parallel axes, the axes being sufficiently close that peripheral margins of the disks of one set run between the peripheral margins of the disks of the other set in a mated relationship, the sets of disks mutually defining a series of web driving regions spaced apart in a direction parallel with the axes, with successive web driving regions, offset from one another, open channels between said disks providing, with the driving regions, a width-wise continuous, non-linear cross-section corridor through which the web passes, the driving regions adapted to impart to a web led lengthwise into the corridor, crosswise tension in the web, pulling the web about the edges of the disks, the tension enabling the disks to apply forward driving force to the web and retarding means closely disposed to the driving regions located to apply retardi

Abstract: A microcreping process is improved by using a razor sharp retarder blade positioned such that its razor edge is overlapped by either the primary blade or a back-up blade, whichever extends the furthest downstream. Preferably, pressure is applied to the primary blade through one or more back-up blades arranged in a stepwise configuration.

Abstract: A machine and method for treating a web by longitudinal compressive action, by pressing a web against a driven roll to drive it into a treatment cavity bounded by the roll and an overlying surface, followed by application of retarding forces by extrusion in which the extrusion orifice is arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the roll at the web-drive point, and in which resilient self-adjustment of the extrusion orifice is achieved by employing a plate-form member parallel to the web which is resiliently urged toward the drive nip in the direction of extent of the plate-form member.

Abstract: A machine and method for longitudinally compressing a web under the influence of driving forces provided at a nip line defined by spaced-apart pairs of matched rotating disks and under the influence of retarding forces provided by sets of retarding fingers inserted in the spaces between the disks.

Abstract: A bulky, embossed, fibrous web material having a basis weight in the range of 5 to 50 lbs./ream and geometric means tensile strength (TS) (kg/3" width), apparent bulk (AB) (cal. pts./lb. ream), and oil holding capacity (OH) (ml/gm fiber) substantially satisfying, in absolute values, the relationships (0.27 BW-1) TS>(0.17 BW-1), AB>[0.7-(TS.div.20)], and OH 0.063TS.sup.2 -1.13TS+8.6. The invention includes an apparatus and a method of manufacturing the product comprising wet pressing a fibrous web to about 30% to 50% solids, conveying the web to a transfer position proximate the three-dimensional surface of an embossing fabric moving at a speed less than that of the web at the transfer position, and applying a vacuum to the web through the embossing fabric to transfer and conform the web to the three-dimensional surface of the fabric, the vacuum magnitude being in the range of 1 to 20 inches Hg.

Abstract: A sheet of fibrous web material having opposite smooth surfaces, an apparent bulk in the range of about 0.10 to about 0.20 caliper pts/lb ream and a machine direction stretch of at least 8%, wherein surface undulations on the opposite smooth surfaces of the sheet have an amplitude variance of less than 0.0002 inch. The invention includes an apparatus and a method of manufacturing the product comprising partially dewatering a wet fibrous web to about 30% to 50% solids, conveying the web to a compression nip defined by a smooth-surfaced roll and a smooth-surfaced fabric material, moving the fabric material at a speed of about 10% to 20% less than the surface speed of the smooth-surfaced roll, compressing the web in the nip with a compression force of less than 15 lbs/linear inch, with an average pressure of less than about 50 psi in the compression nip, and drying the web. The dried web has an apparent bulk less than 0.20 caliper pts/lb ream.

Abstract: Microcreping apparatus has an assembly of superposed sheet members which are pressed by presser means against a surface of a material being treated to compress the material against the surface of a drive roll preliminary to engagement of the material with a retarding means. The sheet member assembly is supported as a cantilever by holder means to which at least the primary and outer sheet members of the assembly are connected by a plurality of pins on the holder means received in slots in the connected superposed sheet members spaced inwardly across the path of travel of the material adjacent the rearward edge of the sheet members. The slots extend transversely of the direction of travel of the material and have sufficient clearance from the pins to permit movement thereof relative to the pins corresponding to local expansion or contraction of the respective sheet members under heating and cooling respectively.

Abstract: A paper web drying apparatus having a throughdrying drum wherein heated air is supplied beneath a hood around a portion of the periphery of the drum through which the air may pass, the hollow interior of the drum being connected to exhaust means, the hood distributing heated air to the surface of the web, the improvement according to the invention comprises dividing the hood into at least two separate sections, the section adjacent the web inlet having a series of nozzles connected to a source of heated air and interspersed air ducts or the like connected to air exhaust means, the section adjacent the web outlet being connected to a source of heated air but not to exhaust means. This enables impingement drying to take place adjacent the web inlet, impingement and throughdrying to take place at a point further along the arc of travel of the web beneath the web and only throughdrying to take place during the final portion of the web travel.