With Classifying, Separating Or Screening Of Pulp (solids From Solids) Patents (Class 162/55)
  • Patent number: 6024227
    Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Inc.
    Inventors: Vic L. Bilodeau, R. Fred Chasse, James R. Prough, C. Bertil Stromberg, Craig A. Walley
  • Patent number: 6024834
    Abstract: A process for fractionating cellulosic fibers that is effective to result in cellulosic fibers that exhibit desired properties such as fiber length and fiber coarseness values. The fractionating process is quite efficient and has been found to produce cellulosic fibers that are more homogeneous in their properties as compared to the starting mixture of cellulosic fibers. Also disclosed is a handsheet prepared from the fractionated cellulosic fibers for use in disposable absorbent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ellis Horton, Jr., Kristin Ann Goerg-Wood, Jacek Dutkiewicz, Sheng-Hsin Hu
  • Patent number: 6010594
    Abstract: Kraft pulp is bleached to an acceptable brightness (e.g. 86 ISO or more) without using chlorinated organic compounds, yet the strength of the produced pulp remains commercially acceptable. In the manufacture of pulp, the pulp which is cooked and oxygen delignified to a kappa number of 14 or less, and then is bleached with ozone at a medium consistency. After the ozone treatment, heavy metals are removed from the pulp, and then the pulp is led to oxygen and/or peroxide treatment, which is followed by a second ozone bleaching stage. The sequence (ZT) (EOP) (ZP) is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Kaj Henricson, Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 6003683
    Abstract: Hydrocyclone cleaning systems and methods remove contaminants from a suspension of papermaking stock. A subsystem 10 employs forward cleaners for removing heavy contaminants while a subsystem 12 is fed directly from subsystem 10 and removes lightweight contaminants. The subsystem 12 also includes a through-flow cleaner which receives the rejects flow from a primary reverse flow cleaner and both systems are connected to a common surge tank arrangement. Both subsystems operate at low consistencies or high efficiency while the primary through-flow cleaner of subsystem 12 provides a system output having a consistency approximately twice as high as that of the input so that the overall operation operates both as a stock cleaner and a stock thickener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Thermo Black Clawson Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher E. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5968315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for screening a fibre suspension such as papermaking stock in a pressurized screen especially in connection with pumping the liquid. The invention also relates to the use of the apparatus in a process for the production of paper or board. The apparatus comprises a generally tubular housing (12) and a perforated screen-drum (22) inside the housing. The housing (12) and screen-drum (22) define between themselves a generally annular screening zone (30). The screen-drum (22) surrounds a tubular accept channel (32). The apparatus further comprises a stock inlet (14), outlet (19) for accept, and outlet (17) for reject. The screen-drum (22) is rotatable within the housing (12) and conducts are provided for introducing diluting fluid into the annular screening zone (30) at a plurality of locations along its axial extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: POM Technology OY AB
    Inventor: Paul Olof Meinander
  • Patent number: 5951822
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which utilizes the "non-papermaking" portion of waste paper to produce a highly absorbent, essentially fiber-free granule which can be used, for example, as an agricultural chemical carrier. The process maximizes the amount of long (papermaking) fiber sent to the paper machine.The waste paper is broken up in a hydropulper, and the pulp stock is screened so that papermaking fibers are retained and sent forward to the papermaking process, and the solid material in the reject stream, such as kaolin clay and inorganic materials pass through a flotation clarifier to separate the solids. The slurry is then dewatered by means of a belt press to form a filter cake. The filter cake then enters a pin mixer where it is broken up into individual granules. The granules are then dried to a solids content of greater than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5942336
    Abstract: A method for recycling contaminated flush water from a wet electrostatic precipitator emission control system in a wood panel fabrication process. The recycled flush water containing solid byproducts from the emission control system is combined with wood products in a wood panel fabrication mix in a predetermined ratio of flush water to wood products, resulting in a finished wood panel having improved internal bond strengths and formaldehyde scavenging capacity without the need for excess binding resins and formaldehyde scavengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: Blaine F. Sorenson, Gary A. Raemhild
  • Patent number: 5925249
    Abstract: Apparatus for screening pulp suspensions containing heavy impurities is disclosed including a casing with an inlet for the pulp suspension at the lower end of the casing, a stationary screen mounted within the casing, a rotor mounted for rotation within the stationary screen thus forming a screening zone between the rotor and the stationary screen, with the inlet disposed within the rotor, the rotor including at least one opening adjacent to its upper end for transferring the pulp into the screening zone and a chamber for the heavy impurities disposed adjacent to either the upper or lower end of the casing, the rotor including strips or grooves for moving heavy impurities from the inner surface of the rotor to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator Industries AB
    Inventor: Borje Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 5900123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for distributing liquid, especially washing liquid for washing paper pulp, in a diffuser having at least one screen plate (1), comprising an apparatus for supplying the washing liquid and at least one elongated nozzle (2, 5) which can be connected to the apparatus and which extends down in front of the screen plate and is arranged to supply the liquid. The nozzle is provided with openings (7 to 12) for washing liquid which open out at different predetermined levels, and whose location is designed to provide an even distribution of washing liquid along the height of the screen plate. A channel (13 to 18) for supplying washing liquid can be arranged to each opening (7 to 12) in the nozzle (2, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Fulping AB
    Inventor: Lennart Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 5882475
    Abstract: Rejects from a conventional first set of cleaners from a system feeding recycled cellulosic fiber slurry to a paper machine or rejects from the paper machine approach system cleaners are fractionated to produce a first, fine fraction, stream and a second, coarse fraction, stream containing most of the fiber and larger solids. The second stream is acted upon by a disperser, deflaker, or like mechanical agitating device, to disrupt the fiber flocs and reduce the size of solids to produce a third stream containing few or no fiber flocs and no large particles. The third stream may be diluted and cleaned in a second set of cleaners, and then is returned to the first set of cleaners (e.g. to the inlet of the first stage or between the first and second stages). Ink, and other fine undesirable particles may be removed from the first stream via flotation or cleaning, and the cleaned stream may also be returned to the first set of cleaners if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Inc.
    Inventors: Pentti A. Vikio, Andrew J. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 5879510
    Abstract: A chemimechanical pulp for use in the manufacture of paper or paperboard products where a high drainability, bulky pulp is desired. The pulp has a long fiber content of between 60 and 75%, a fine-material content of at most 14%, a shive content of less than 0.5%, is refined to a freeness of 600 ml CSF at the lowest, and has a tensile index of at least 10 kNm/kg. A method for producing such a pulp comprises: a) impregnating chips with a lignin softening chemical; b) preheating the chips; c) refining the chips to papermaking pulp; wherein the chips are impregnated and heated over a total time period of at most 4 minutes; a) using a hot impregnating liquid having a temperature of at least 130.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Tjell-Ake Hagglund, Ingela Ekebro, Hans Hoglund, Roland Back
  • Patent number: 5876559
    Abstract: Deinking of impact and nonimpact printed paper is accomplished by repulping the printed paper in an alkali aqueous medium containing a deinking composition comprising one or more nonionic surfactants and/or alkanols. The presence of the deinking composition causes ink particles to agglomerate, which are removed from the aqueous medium by size and density separation. The invention provides an agglomeration method with high ink removal from all types of impact and nonimpact printed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Narendra R. Srivatsa, Richard R. Wesolowski
  • Patent number: 5861052
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for pumping a fluid mixture of a gas and a liquid and for separating said gas and liquid from each other, said apparatus having a fluid inlet (14) at one end (18) and at the opposite end (22) a pump housing (16) with a liquid outlet (28) and, between said inlet (14) and said pump housing (16), a hollow elongated gas separation part (30) of an essentially circular cross section with a generally central outlet (26) for separated gas. Said gas separation part (30) is provided by a hollow rotor (12) between said inlet (14) and said pump housing (16), the inner wall of said rotor (12) providing a large rotatable gas separation surface (32). The diameter of said rotor (12) increases at said opposite end (22) of the apparatus to form a larger diameter pumping zone (17) extending into said pump housing (16). Said rotor (12) is provided with a blade wheel (24) extending into said pump housing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: POM Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Paul Olof Meinander
  • Patent number: 5851349
    Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for deinking waste paper which contains nonimpact printed papers printed with xerographic and laser inks by repulping the waste paper to form a slurry in the presence of an agglomeration agent and magnetite and subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field to remove the agglomerated ink particles, whereby the improvement comprises replacement of a portion of the agglomeration agent with a copolymer of styrene and acrylic monomers which copolymer is further characterized by having a Ring and Ball softening point of 70.degree.-105.degree. C. and an number average molecular weight of 2,000 to 10,000. The magnetic treatment preferably is conducted at ambient or greater temperature, at neutral to alkaline pH, and at a low pulp consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Nipun Marwah, G. Frederick Hutter
  • Patent number: 5849149
    Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for deinking waste paper which contains nonimpact printed papers printed with xerographic and laser inks by repulping the waste paper to form a slurry in the presence of an agglomeration agent and magnetite and subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field to remove the agglomerated ink particles, whereby the improvement comprises replacement of a portion of the agglomeration agent with a copolymer of styrene and acrylic monomers which copolymer is further characterized by having a Ring and Ball softening point of 70.degree.-105.degree. C. and an number average molecular weight of 2,000 to 10,000. The magnetic treatment preferably is conducted at ambient or greater temperature, at neutral to alkaline pH, and at a low pulp consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Nipun Marwah, G. Frederick Hutter
  • Patent number: 5814187
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a pulp slurry of waste paper including long fibers, short fibers and large and fine impurities includes the step of spraying the slurry through a gaseous medium upon a screen to separate long fibers and large impurities from small fibers and fine impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Celleco AB
    Inventor: Roland Fjallstrom
  • Patent number: 5810172
    Abstract: A method for recycling contaminated flush water from a wet electrostatic precipitator emission control system in a wood panel fabrication process. The recycled flush water containing solid byproducts from the emission control system is combined with wood products in a wood panel fabrication mix in a predetermined ratio of flush water to wood products, resulting in a finished wood panel having improved internal bond strengths and formaldehyde scavenging capacity without the need for excess binding resins and formaldehyde scavengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventors: Blaine F. Sorenson, Gary A. Raemhild
  • Patent number: 5799798
    Abstract: A screen cylinder is adapted to be used with a stirring unit for screening high consistency pulp to be received in the screen cylinder. The screen cylinder includes a plurality of parallel supporting plates, each of which is formed with a plurality of transversely and spacedly arranged mounting grooves. The mounting grooves on one of the supporting plates is aligned with the mounting grooves on an adjacent one of the supporting plates. Each of a plurality of parallel elongated bars has a longitudinal constricted mounting portion to be tightly gripped by the supporting plates in the mounting grooves. Each elongated bar further has a longitudinal head portion on one end of the constricted mounting portion and a pair of longitudinal ribs which extend respectively from opposite sides of the head portion adjacent to the constricted mounting portion. The head portion has a flat end face and an opposite pair of concave side faces which extend inwardly from the end face to a respective one of the longitudinal ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Chao-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 5776304
    Abstract: Recycled fiber pulp from a vortex cleaning plant (e.g. connected to the short circulation of a paper machine) effects the recovery and return of fillers in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant, in an efficient and economical manner. The loss of filler in the recycled fiber pulp discharged from the vortex cleaning plant is decreased by treating a concentrated fraction of the rejects from the vortex cleaning plant with a mixer/disperser for dispersing the filler in the recycled fiber pulp, and returning as much usable filler as possible back to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Oy
    Inventor: Pentti Vikio
  • Patent number: 5762758
    Abstract: A method of papermaking having zero liquid discharge. A cellulosic pulp composed of recycled materials is initially cleaned to remove contaminants and foreign material, and the clean pulp is then washed to remove dissolved solids and pulping chemicals, and the washed pulp is then utilized in the papermaking process. The contaminants are separated from the liquid residue resulting from the pulp cleaning operation, preferably by floatation clarification, and the effluent from the clarification is evaporated to produce steam or water vapor along with an evaporated residue. The evaporated residue is combined with the suspended solids that were removed from the liquid residue and the combined residue is then subjected to a mechanical dewatering operation to reduce the water content so that the dewatered material can then be either landfilled or incinerated. The condensate from the evaporation can be combined with fresh makeup water and used in the papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5735472
    Abstract: Method for separating paper fibers and contaminants for mixtures containing water, fibers, contaminants, paper or cardboard pellets, wherein the mixture is subjected firstly to a screening, secondly to a mashing and then thirdly to a further screening with addition of water, subsequent to which the pulp retained by the screen is evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: E & M Lamort
    Inventors: Alain Serres, Roland Fejoz
  • Patent number: 5733413
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decontaminating aqueous paper pulp comprising a decontaminating cell. The decontaminating cell has an upper light contaminate collection hood and/or a lower heavy contaminate collection trough. Paper pulp is provided to the cell under a pulp head sufficient to purge the contaminates therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Southeast Paper Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: J. Alan Lawson
  • Patent number: 5733412
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decolorizing paper pulp containing colored fibers. The paper is first pulped and subjected to fine screening. The screened pulp is then dispersed at a temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. and a pressure exceeding one atmosphere absolute pressure. Prior to the dispersing step a first agent (a reducing agent or oxidizing agent) is introduced to the pulp. A second agent is introduced to said pulp after introduction of the first agent. The second agent is an oxidizing agent when the first agent is a reducing agent, and a reducing agent when the first agent is an oxidizing agent. Finally, the dispersed pulp is recovered after the colored fibers are decolorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Markham, Linda A. Beltz
  • Patent number: 5728262
    Abstract: An asymmetric hydrocyclone is modified and controlled so as to effectively remove contaminants of substantially neutral buoyancy from a paper cellulosic pulp. More specifically, a method includes prepositioning a substantially frusto-conically-shaped separation chamber of the hydrocyclone at an oblique angle to a vertical axis, and introducing a cellulosic pulp through an inlet and into the separation chamber for separation processing. As is known, the pulp composition forms a downwardly-directed helical path, which in turn establishes an opposingly directed, upward helical air core. Centrifugal forces motivate heavier particles toward the sidewalls of the separation chamber and lighter particles are urged toward the air core, with particles of substantially neutral buoyancy circumferentially collected in an intermediate region, but in relatively close proximity to the air core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventors: Charles S. Moss, Randolph S. Butler
  • Patent number: 5714040
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recovering fiber from printed wastepaper by loading the wastepaper and water into a continuous batch fiber recovery apparatus. The wastepaper and water are agitated within the apparatus to form a pulp fiber slurry while introducing a deinking/agglomerating composition at predetermined time intervals to cause the ink particles associated with the printed wastepaper to separate from the paper and agglomerate to form large ink particles. The agglomerated ink particles are then removed from the pulp fiber slurry using separation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Pellerin Milnor Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Harris Poy, Christopher Mark Kulakowski, Daniel Brian Mulligan
  • Patent number: 5707488
    Abstract: A process for cleaning recycled pulp includes an upright cylindrical vessel having an upright cylindrical screen member open at its top and bottom ends and having a perforated screen wall which is centered on a vertical axis in the vessel. A plurality of upright, elongated blades are mounted for rotation on the vertical axis in close proximity to the screen wall. A pulp slurry entrained with pressurized air is introduced under pressure into an inlet in the bottom of the vessel. The rotating blades clear the screen wall while creating a rising vortex of air bubbles produced by the pressurized air for carrying ink and/or contaminant particles upwardly through the inner volume of the screen member. An "accepts" outlet at the center of the vessel draws off pulp in suspension that has been passed through the screen wall. A "rejects" outlet at the top of the vessel draws off ink and contaminant particles carried by the air bubbles in the upwardly-moving vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Markham
  • Patent number: 5707489
    Abstract: A method of processing recycled paper which contains such a high amount of wax, hot melts or stickies that they would be expected to cause a stoppage of the paper-manufacturing machine. The paper to be recycled is pulped in a pulper and passed on to respective subsequent stages which include a despecker, grader and hydrocyclone. Pulping takes place at a temperature of at least 60.degree. C., and at the same time subjects the paper to a high shear action. The processing line includes a pulp-thickening stage, preferably after the processing stages mentioned, in order to separate off a very high proportion of the wax, hot melts and stickies finely dispersed in the pulper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: J.M. Voith GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Von Grumbkow, Helmut Konecsny
  • Patent number: 5688369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for feeding out fiber pulp over an overflow rim (2) at the upper end of a cylindrical container (1), through which the pulp, which is suspended in liquid, is being fed continuously from the bottom and upwards. The distinguishing features are that the pulp is diluted at a level below the upper surface of the pulp by means of a multiplicity of diluting nozzles (15A-D), which extend downwards in the pulp and which are rotated around the vertical center line (12) of the container, and that the pulp, which has been fed upwards through the container, and the diluting liquid are mixed with each other to form an essentially homogeneous suspension with the aid of rotating scraper elements (14A-D) which extend downwards in the surface layer of the suspension and, at the same time as they are homogenizing the mixture, feed the suspension outwards towards, and finally over, the overflow rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Lars Landmark, Mikael Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5681429
    Abstract: A device for use in a pulping process comprises first and second pulping units for processing feed material. A flow path connects the first pulping unit to the second pulping unit for transporting material between the units. The second pulping unit has devices for separating pulped material into a first material component comprising waste matter collected at the bottom of the second pulping unit, a second material component comprising sieved pulped material and third material component comprising unsieved pulped material. The second and third material component are separated from the first material component and are transported as a unitary flow to a primary space. Mixing and sieving devices are located in the primary space for separating the second material component from the first material component. The second material component comprises material which passes the sieving device and the third material component comprises material which does not pass the sieving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Machinery Inc.
    Inventor: Timo Vuorinen
  • Patent number: 5672245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuous cooking of chemical pulp, in which the chips are fed into a chip chute (3), which is arranged on top of a high pressure feeder (4) for passing the chips into a downstream, pressurized continuous digester housing comprising a vertical, elongate digester (5) into which the chips are fed at the top and from which the cooked pulp is fed out at the bottom, in order thereafter to be defibred and washed, after which the defibred pulp is screened, and an accepted flow of pulp is obtained which is fed onwards for continued treatment, and a reject flow is obtained which consists principally of knots, which reject flow is thus separatedoff from the pulp flow, the reject flow, which consists principally of knots, being returned to the chip chute (3), preferably after concentration and washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Technologies Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Elisabeth Andtbacka, Stig Andtbacka, Anders Bergqvist
  • Patent number: 5639346
    Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for removing "stickies" from waste paper which contains hot-melt and pressure-sensitive adhesives and lattices to produce high quality (high brightness, little to no dirt content) pulp with little or no fiber loss. The process involves attachment of sticky particles in the waste paper pulp to a magnetic carrier material with the help of an agglomeration agent followed by removal of the attached sticky particles by magnetic separation. The magnetic treatment preferably is conducted at ambient or greater temperature, at neutral to alkaline pH, and at a low pulp consistency. Agglomeration and magnetite addition, followed by exposure of the repulped waste paper to a magnetic field provides near complete sticky removal over exposure to the magnetic field without such pre-treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Nipun Marwah, Allen A. Gold
  • Patent number: 5626718
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for increasing the retention on a washing/thickening device in an aqueous papermaking system. The method generally comprises adding to the furnish solids of the system an effective amount of a cationic polyacrylamide polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Betz Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Irenee J. Philippe, Frank J. Sutman, Thomas E. Taggart, Mary B. K. Letscher, Michael A. Schuster, John C. Harrington, IV
  • Patent number: 5601690
    Abstract: A method for screening fibrous stock slurry having a rotor impeller and a screen, in which accepts quality and throughput may be adjusted without stopping the screening process by relative displacement of the clearance between the rotor and the screen plate. In one version, this relative displacement is accomplished by axial displacement of frusto-conical portions of the bladed rotor and screen. The relative axial displacement changes the degree of pulp disturbance in a primary screening zone, thus causing throughput and accepts quality to change accordingly. The primary screening zone may be between the rotor impeller and the screen, or it may be on the other side of the screen, in which case the blades on the screen are designed to permit a portion of the pulp slurry to flow through the screen into a region between the rotor impeller and the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Gauld Equipment Company
    Inventors: W. Thomas Gauld, Ronald Visser, Arthur V. Jepsen
  • Patent number: 5593542
    Abstract: A method for recovering fiber useful for papermaking from an effluent stream includes a primary process for treating an effluent stream to separate usable fiber from contrary matter, and secondary operations, supplementing the primary process, to treat the contrary matter rejected by the primary process to recover usable fibers contained in the reject matter. In addition, the secondary processing steps separate the reject material into organic and inorganic fractions, which may be usable in other processes. The method of the invention does not require the addition of water as do conventional processes, simplifies handling, disposal, and reduces the costs of disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest P. Wolfer, Brent Willemsen, Venkat B. Maroju, Andres Martiny
  • Patent number: 5582685
    Abstract: Cellulosic pulps of selected fiber morphology are disclosed having a coarseness less than a threshold coarseness level. The threshold coarseness level is a function of average fiber length. The cellulosic pulps are especially useful for producing paper structures such as tissue paper. A method for producing the cellulosic pulps is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Vinson
  • Patent number: 5580446
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning recycled pulp includes an upright cylindrical vessel having an upright cylindrical screen member open at its top and bottom ends and having a perforated screen wall which is centered on a vertical axis in the vessel. A plurality of upright, elongated blades are mounted for rotation on the vertical axis in close proximity to the screen wall. A pulp slurry entrained with pressurized air is introduced under pressure into an inlet in the bottom of the vessel. The rotating blades clear the screen wall while creating a rising vortex of air bubbles produced by the pressurized air for carrying ink and/or contaminant particles upwardly through the inner volume of the screen member. An "accepts" outlet at the center of the vessel draws off pulp in suspension that has been passed through the screen wall. A "rejects" outlet at the top of the vessel draws off ink and contaminant particles carried by the air bubbles in the upwardly-moving vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Markham
  • Patent number: 5554258
    Abstract: An improved process for bleaching pulps is disclosed in which the unbleached pulp is subject to flotation before bleaching and, if necessary, the circulating water is also purified of interfering compounds by flotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans U. Suess, Norbert Nimmerfroh, Ralf Grimmer
  • Patent number: 5547083
    Abstract: An apparatus for screening and thickening cellulose pulp keeps cleaner than conventional apparatus. Pulse members in accordance with the prior art are constructed so that when the capacity of the screening apparatus is increased, for example by using greater pressure differences or the cleanliness of the accept is increased by decreasing the size of the perforations or slots, a situation is created in which the screen cylinder tends to clog. The pulse member of the present screening apparatus subjects the screen cylinder or screen surface to a pulse cleaning action so that there is a minimal possibility to allow the pressure effect to "escape" past the area being cleaned. The higher the consistency of the fiber matting is or the worse the screen surface is clogged, the stronger the pulse cleaning of the screen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Alajaaski, Kalevi Laakso, Antero Laine, Risto Ljokkoi
  • Patent number: 5542542
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for continuously sampling a process stream, or reservoir of aqueous cellulosic pulp and detecting oversize contaminants in the sampled stream. This serves the overall objective of estimating the level of contamination in the process stream or reservoir during a given period of production; the method may include the following stages: 1) a continuous sample stream is drawn from the process or main stream, 2) the stream is passed through a centrifugal device which divides the sampled stream according to density, 3) the stream with the higher level of contaminants from the centrifugal device is passed to a screen which isolates the contaminants, and 4) the contaminants are flushed from the screen so that they can be quantified; these measurements are used to assess the purity of the material being produced. One useful application of this invention is to assess the presence of trace amounts of plastic contaminants in the production of the cellulosic pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada
    Inventors: John D. Hoffmann, Robert W. Gooding, Norman Roberts, Robert S. Hart
  • Patent number: 5538632
    Abstract: A pressurized dynamic pulp washer including an annular hollow housing in which the stock is driven axially along a plurality of stationary, annular, coaxial wash filters in axially reversible directions, with an annular rotatable shell between the wash filters to urge liquid through openings in the filters, to generate axial, radial and circumferential velocities in the slurry to create localized pulses in the slurry to urge liquid through the filters with wash liquid being introduced to replace liquid filtered from the fibers in the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Gero, Goda Rangamannar, Luigi Silveri
  • Patent number: 5536367
    Abstract: A pulp digester having a number of screening/cleaning units mounted within the digester. Each unit has a screen member and a cleaning propeller which is mounted adjacent the inner surface of the screen member. There is for each unit a hydraulic motor which is positioned entirely within the digester housing, and which rotates the propeller. Hydraulic lines extends through sealed openings in the digester wall and power is supplied from an exterior hydraulic pump which is controlled by a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Reijo K. Salminen
  • Patent number: 5527426
    Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for deinking waste paper which contains laser, electrostatic, and other non-impact printing toners/inks to produce high quality (high brightness, little to no dirt content) pulp with little or no fiber loss. The process involves attachment of ink particles in the waste paper pulp to a magnetic carrier material with the help of an agglomeration agent followed by removal of the attached ink particles by magnetic separation. The magnetic treatment preferably is conducted at ambient or greater temperature, at neutral to alkaline pH, and at a low pulp consistency. Agglomeration and magnetite addition, followed by exposure of the repulped waste paper to a magnetic field provides near complete ink removal over exposure to the magnetic field without such pretreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Nipun Marwah, Allen A. Gold
  • Patent number: 5518580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing printed waste paper, in particular waste paper containing at least 80% newsprint or magazine paper by digestion, various cleaning steps, flotation or washing and disintegrating, the latter with a high consistency of at least 20%, and possibly bleaching. The invention is characterized by the fact that a final second disintegrating step, arranged possibly before a bleaching step, with treatment of the waste paper under strong kneading action of individual bar-shaped or block-shaped kneading elements of both the stator and the rotor of the disintegrating machine which are arranged in a kneading chamber thereof which is delimited by two concentric cylindrical surfaces, at temperatures between 20.degree. and 110.degree. C., and preferably 38.degree. to 65.degree. C., and with a specific power consumption of between 30 and 100, and preferably 80, kilowatt hours/ton oven-dried pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: J.M. Voith GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Ortner, Hans-Dieter Dorflinger
  • Patent number: 5512133
    Abstract: A method for producing substantially ink-free pulp from recycle printed paper comprising first pulping the recycle paper in a hydrapulper with at least water and an agglomerating agent thereby producing a pulp. Ink particle agglomerates in the pulp are then removed by screening the pulp through at least one screen and by cleaning the pulp in a cyclone cleaner. Pulp together with small ink particles that escape the prior separation stages is then conducted from the cyclone cleaner through a standpipe at a consistency of about or less than 1% where particles of ink associate with small air bubbles and are elevated to the surface of the pulp where they accumulate as a froth which may be removed by overflowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Markham
  • Patent number: 5503710
    Abstract: An improved duplex linerboard is formed from old corrugated containers (OCC) by first repulping the OCC and screening it to provide a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. NaHSO.sub.3 or H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is applied to the fine fraction and the fine fraction produce a chemically treated fine fraction which is then refined. Coarse fraction is separately refined and the refined coarse fraction pulp is then used to form the bottom ply of a multi-ply board and the refined fine fraction pulp used to form the top ply of the multiply board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: MacMillan Bloedel Limited
    Inventor: Arbeit J. Horng
  • Patent number: 5503712
    Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignees: James River Corporation of Virginia, Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Brown
  • Patent number: 5500084
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous production of cellulosic pulp for use in a papermaking process. The apparatus includes a vessel containing a pulping liquor and the vessel consists of a first impregnation zone and a second attrition zone. Wood chips are continuously fed into the upper end of the first zone and are subject to gentle agitation to impregnate the chips with the liquor. The impregnated chips then flow into the second zone where they are heated to a low temperature of 80.degree. to 120.degree. C. and subjected to more severe agitation to break down the chips and liberate the individual fibers. The liquid level in the first zone is higher than in the second zone, causing the liquid to flow upwardly in the second zone with the cooking liquor and the liberated fibers being continuously discharged from the upper end of the second zone, while larger wood chips are retained in the second zone for further attrition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5496439
    Abstract: An improved method of processing baled waste material containing waste paper having fibers contaminated to various degrees for recovering usable cellulosic fiber pulp from the bale in which the bale contents are impregnated with a fiber swelling and debonding fluid by enclosing the bale within a closed chamber and subjecting the chamber and contained bale to multiple pressure environmental conditions, that preferably includes a vacuum, while submerging the bale in the debonding fluid. The impregnated bale contents are allowed to soak for a sufficient period that the lesser degree contaminated fibers become swollen after which the bale is subjected to a sufficiently low degree of pulping agitation as initiates separation of the swollen fibers without significant damage to the fibers and which does not significantly decrease the sheet size of higher degree contaminated bonded fibers and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventors: Willard E. Carlson, Ivar H. Stockel
  • Patent number: RE36033
    Abstract: A process for the comminution, in particular defibrillation, and reaction of fibrous materials having a high dry solids content with the addition of a circulating medium, preferably a carrier gas and/or reaction agent, as well as optionally of chemicals. The invention is mainly characterized in that the circulating medium is recycled after leaving the comminuting device, by changing its temperature, and is then recycled to the comminuting device. Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fibrous materials and liquid reaction agent are separated from the carrier gas and reaction agent vapors, which are then recycled back to comminuting device. A plant for carrying out this process is mainly characterized in that the comminuting device and route for recycling and treatment of the circulating medium form a closed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Andritz Actiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johannes Kappel
  • Patent number: RE36424
    Abstract: A waste paper recycling process relates to the treatment of a mixture of waste paper containing non-cellulosic contraries and printing inks, in order to release the contraries from the fibers and further to separate them from the stock in order to produce re-usable pulp for the production of paper and board.The invention has to do with new and useful improvements in methods for first removing the non-ink contraries from the fibrous mass and second releasing and then removing the ink particles from the said fibrous mass.The invention is directed to the treatment of the fiber slurry produced during the ink separation stage, after the ink releasing stage has been applied. One aim of the process is to allow both the use of the fibers and the mineral fillers contained in that slurry, for pulp and board making, and the use the solids-free water contained in the same slurry as the washing liquid in the previous ink-separation treatment, thus closing the fibers and the water circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Clement