Floating Web Patents (Class 226/97.3)
  • Patent number: 6511015
    Abstract: A method and a device for stabilizing the web run in a paper machine or the like having a blow suction module (12) mounted above and/or below the web. The blow suction module comprises a blow nozzle unit (14) extending across the web, through which gas, such as air or combustion gas, is blown against the web (10) from the blow nozzle unit, and a first air discharge unit (18) arranged on the front side of the blow nozzle unit, and a second air discharge unit (22) arranged on the back side of the blow nozzle unit, which remove air or gas from between the web and the blow suction module. The blow suction module is asymmetric regarding the first and second air discharge units, so that more air or gas is discharged via the first air discharge unit than via the second air discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Pertti Heikkilä, Olli Huhtala, Heli Kankare, Richard Solin
  • Patent number: 6505792
    Abstract: Air turn for supporting and optionally drying a web, comprising an arcuate surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein. Pressurized gas is supplied to the air turn plenum, and exits through the plurality of apertures to form a cushion of air to float the web. Turn angles of about 90° to about 300° with no contact to the web are achievable with the apparatus of the present invention. The unique semi-circular design allows for non-contact flotation and turning of a tensioned web with low pressure requirements, reduced air spillage and reduced noise level. Multi-chamber turns can be used with each section having independently controlled pressurized gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: MegTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Rocheleau, Donn DeNamur
  • Patent number: 6502735
    Abstract: A device (100) for the suspension guidance of a travelling paper or paper-like web (B) by air and which is especially useful for deflecting a damp travelling paper web. The device has a plurality of air ducts (13) extending over the width of the web and bounded by wall surfaces (14). Each air duct (13) has a nozzle arrangement (22,22′) communicating with a pressure chamber (10) to which compressed air is applied. In the air ducts (13) there are also air inlet apertures (26) which are not in fluid connection with the pressure chamber (10) but communicate through an intake duct (27) with an intake chamber (17) in which ambient pressure prevails and which has an inlet (19) for the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Kreiger GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Kurt F. Krieger
  • Patent number: 6461671
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating a moving paper web, in which the web to be coated is first guided to a coating station correctly aligned and a first side of the web is coated with a coat layer. Next, the web is guided upwards from the coating station and the first coat layer is dried using non-contact dryers. From the dryers the web is guided to the next coating station correctly aligned, and the second side of the web is coated with a coat layer, the web is guided upwards from the coating station and the coat layer on the second side of the web is dried using non-contact dryers. When the web is directed from the coating station through the dryers, it is guided non-contactingly by means of air jets such that the web is first non-contactingly turned in the machine direction during drying and next, similarly during drying, towards the level of the coating stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Kinnune, Vilho Nissinen
  • Patent number: 6454903
    Abstract: An apparatus transfers a lead strip of a paper web, in particular the beginning of a still wet lead strip or tail, from a press roll of a paper-making machine to a following section of that machine. An air jet device peels off the beginning of the tail from the press roll and transfers it across a paper roll to an infeed area of a felt which guides the web into the following section. On an infeed area of the felt, an air cushion is created by an air table having a plurality of tiny holes delivering air from a low pressure plenum to the air cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Leif Mohrsen, Allan Broom
  • Patent number: 6443389
    Abstract: An air-bearing apparatus for aiding in conveying a web is taught comprising a central web support housing including a cylindrical surface and two sides. There is an end cap positioned adjacent each of the two sides, the end caps and the central web support housing defining at least one plenum therein. The central web support housing is provided with a plurality of bores extending from the at least one plenum to the cylindrical surface, the plurality of bores forming at least one row of air jet orifices in the cylindrical surface wherein each bore is directed approximately parallel to a cylindrical axis of the central web support housing with adjacent bores being oppositely directed, the at least one row of air jet orifices extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical surface over which the web travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 6428246
    Abstract: A system and method for conveying and dispensing packing material, such as a chain of linked air bags which includes a pressurized pathway and an elongated hopper that conveys and dispenses the air bags. The hopper includes a plurality of air jets that transfer the bags between each jet to a remote end of the hopper, and a series of dispensing ports so the bags may be accessed by several users. The hopper further includes a venting and display surfaces throughout its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventor: Grady F. Landrum
  • Patent number: 6425512
    Abstract: A process of transporting at least a portion of a web from a first structure to a second structure via an apparatus that includes at least two pulleys located at spaced locations from each other, an air-pervious endless belt positioned to run from the first structure to the second structure, an underpressure source arranged to produce an underpressure adjacent to the run of the endless belt, a nose shoe disposed beyond the second pulley and spaced from the second pulley, thereby defining an opening. The nose shoe has an inlet and air jet outlet positioned adjacent the second pulley. A guiding tray is arranged beyond the nose shoe having an upstream section positioned adjacent the nose shoe, and the upstream section includes an air slot, which extends cross-wise to a web travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Tony Hill, Leif Mohrsen
  • Patent number: 6394331
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for separating and transferring a leader strip to be threaded into a machine for at least one of producing and treating a material web. The apparatus includes a separating device positioned to perform a separation process, a transfer device positioned to transfer the leader strip to a subsequent device of the machine after the separation process, and a common plate positioned to guide the transfer strip prior to the separation process. The transfer device is positioned upstream, relative to a strip travel direction, from the separating device. The process includes guiding a transfer strip over a common plate, separating the transfer strip with a separating device, and transferring the transfer strip to a subsequent device of the machine after the separating with a transfer device. The transfer device is positioned upstream, relative to a strip travel direction, from the separating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Haider
  • Patent number: 6375801
    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 creping blade and the reel for a lightweight, low modulus tissue sheet that is characteristic of a high-quality, soft tissue basesheet. 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 creping 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Percival John McGary, Scott A. Baum, Paul Douglas Beuther, Robert Paul Guarnotta, Richard Martin Urquhart
  • Patent number: 6328852
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Percival John McGary, Scott A. Baum, Paul Douglas Beuther, Robert Paul Guarnotta, Richard Martin Urquhart
  • Patent number: 6325896
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a fast-running, ready-dried fibrous web from a first location to another with minimal undesirable motion is described. The apparatus includes an air foil defining a web support surface which extends substantially continuously from a first processing location to a second processing location, and includes at least two air supply channels extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of web travel across the air foil for providing flows of pressurized air between the foil and the web being, processed in the general direction of web travel. In this way, a layer of reduced static pressure is provided which stabilizes the web against undesirable motion, while the build up of dust is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet-Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Lars-Magnus Hultcrantz, Å. Tomas Eklund, Robert D. Olsson
  • Patent number: 6250581
    Abstract: Web winding device for winding a material web into a winding roll. The device comprises a rotatably driven first support roller having a circumferential shell and opposed ends, the shell having an outer surface, an inner surface and further having a plurality of shell openings therethrough. A second support roller is also provided. An end face is disposed at one of the opposed ends of the first support roller and a plurality of conduits are axially disposed within the first support roller and axially extend to the end face section, at least one of the plurality of shell openings communicating with each the conduit. A winding bed area is defined by the first and the second support roller, and adapted to support the winding roll. A suction device is mounted to the end face and provides suction to a portion of the surface of the shell. The suction device is fixed relative to the rotation of said first support roller. A pressurization device may also be used to pressurize the winding bed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Cramer
  • Patent number: 6251477
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating a moving paper web, in which the web (2) to be coated is first guided to a coating station (7) correctly aligned and a first side of the web (2) is coated with a coat layer. Next, the web (2) is guided upwards from the coating station (7) and the first coat layer is dried using non-contact dryers (8, 9). From the dryers the web (2) is guided to the next coating station (14) correctly aligned, and the second side of the web (2) is coated with a coat layer, the web (2) is guided upwards from the coating station (14) and the coat layer on the second side of the web (2) is dried using non-contact dryers (8, 9). When the web is directed from the coating station (7) through the dryers (8, 9), it (2) is guided non-contactingly by means of air jets such that the web (2) is first non-contactingly turned in the machine direction during drying and next, similarly during drying, towards the level of the coating stations (7, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Kinnunen, Vilho Nissinen
  • Patent number: 6228216
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Richard J. Kamps