Sheet, Web, Or Strand Patents (Class 34/444)
  • Publication number: 20020116838
    Abstract: Impinging stream dryer and process for drying a fibrous material web that includes an air-permeable, endlessly circulating support belt structured and arranged to support a side of the fibrous material web, a device for impinging an opposite side of the fibrous material web with an impinging stream, and a belt cooling device arranged to cool at least an edge zone of said support belt that is directly impinged with the impinging stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: VOITH PAPER PATENT GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kahl, Markus Oechsle, Roland Mayer
  • Patent number: 6434856
    Abstract: A micropore drying apparatus having a variable wet flow resistance. The flow resistance preferably decreases in the machine direction. The micropore drying apparatus may comprise a single integral unit having an decreasing wet flow resistance from the beginning to the end of the unit. Alternatively, the micropore drying apparatus may comprise a plurality of discrete units, each unit having a successively lesser flow resistance than that of the preceding unit. Alternatively, a hybrid arrangement may be used wherein each discrete unit has a successively decreasing flow resistance within that unit. The micropore drying apparatus may comprise one or more micropore drying media. The micropore drying media have pores which allow air flow therethrough. The pores are disposed in a grid, to form a field of pores. The decreasing flow resistance may preferably be provided by adjusting one or more of said pores, which affect the flow resistance through a single pore or through the entire field of the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Ensign, Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr., Paul Dennis Trokhan, Osman Polat
  • Patent number: 6427359
    Abstract: Workpieces requiring low levels of contamination, such as semiconductor wafers, are loaded into a workpiece support or holder within a process chamber. The process chamber has a drain opening, slot or edge. The chamber is closed via a door. A process or rinsing liquid is introduced into the chamber. The liquid rises to a level so that the workpieces are immersed in the liquid. The chamber slowly pivots or rotates to move the drain opening down to the level of the liquid. The liquid drains out through the drain opening. The drain opening is kept near the surface of the liquid to drain off liquid at a uniform rate. An organic solvent vapor is introduced above the liquid to reduce or prevent droplets of liquid from remaining on the workpieces as the liquid drains off. An outer chamber may be provided around the process chamber to provide increased control of the process environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Scranton, Eric Bergman, Eric Lund, Gil Lund
  • Publication number: 20020100186
    Abstract: The device (10) and method are used for ventilating an offset pocket space (12) located in a drying section of a papermaking machine by injecting air from a heated dry air supply inlet (11). The offset pocket space (12) is situated between a set of three axially-parallel drying cylinders (20) over which consecutively runs a paper web (14). A first and a third of these cylinders (20) are vertically spaced from a second one. The paper web (14) is pressed against the first and the third cylinder (20) by a felt (16) which further runs around a felt roll (26) having a rotation axis parallel to that of the cylinders (20). The felt roll (26) is disposed between the three cylinders (20) in an offset position which is closer to the first cylinder (20) than the third cylinder (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Remi Turcotte, Dominique Thifault
  • Publication number: 20020095816
    Abstract: A system for high-pressure drying of semiconductor wafers includes the insertion of a wafer into an open vessel, the immersion of the wafer in a liquid, pressure-sealing of the vessel, pressurization of the vessel with an inert gas, and then the controlled draining of the liquid using a moveable drain that extracts water from a depth maintained just below the gas-liquid interface. Thereafter, the pressure may be reduced in the vessel and the dry and clean wafer may be removed. The high pressure suppresses the boiling point of liquids, thus allowing higher temperatures to be used to optimize reactivity. Megasonic waves are used with pressurized fluid to enhance cleaning performance. Supercritical substances are provided in a sealed vessel containing a wafer to promote cleaning and other treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Ian Sharp, Craig P. Meuchel, H. Frederick Woods
  • Publication number: 20020092198
    Abstract: Integrated web dryer and regenerative heat exchanger, as well as a method of drying a web of material using the same. The apparatus and method of the present invention provides for the heating of air and the converting of VOCs to harmless gases in a fully integrated manner via the inclusion of a regenerative combustion device as an integral element of the drying apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Bria, Alan D. Fiers, Andreas C.H. Ruhl
  • Patent number: 6418639
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device in the dryer section of a paper/board machine. In the dryer section a normal single-wire draw is applied at least partly, in which method the web (W) is passed through the dryer group on support of a drying wire (H). The drying wire (H) presses the web (W) on the drying cylinders (Kn, Kn+1 . . . ) against the heated cylinder faces, and on the reversing cylinders or rolls (Sn, Sn+1 . . . ) between the drying cylinders (10) the web (W) remains at the side of the outside curve. There is one integrated device, through which a support suction and/or blowing is produced in order to improve the runability of the web (W) and to keep the web (W) in contact with the face of the wire, and through which same device, additionally, impingement blowing is produced in order to dry the web (W) and/or to control its tendency of curling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Raimo Virta, Pekka Saarikivi, Juha Kaihovirta, Kari Juppi, Nenad Milosavljevic
  • Patent number: 6418638
    Abstract: A control system and method for a dryer used to dry a line of gypsum boards. The control system automates control of the dryer by measuring the amount of water used at the mixer to produce board segments and determining a desired amount of water to be evaporated for each board segment based on the measured value. The desired amount of water to be evaporated for each board segment is tracked through the production line and the total evaporation load of each dryer zone is continuously calculated based on the board segments located in the dryer zone at a given time. The dryer zone differential temperature is adjusted according to the calculated evaporation load. When a board is rejected from the board line, the desired amounts of water to be evaporated of its corresponding board segments are set to zero, thus signifying a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Westroc, Inc.
    Inventors: John Forster, Stephen Dennis, Jean-Louis Mongrolle
  • Patent number: 6412192
    Abstract: The device (10) and method are used for ventilating an offset pocket space (12) located in a drying section of a papermaking machine by injecting air from at least one heated dry air supply inlet (11). The offset pocket space (12) is situated between three axially-parallel drying cylinders (20) over which consecutively runs a paper web (14). A first and a third of these cylinders (20) are vertically spaced from a second one. The paper web (14) is pressed against the first and the third cylinder (20) by a felt (16) which further runs around a felt roll (26) having a rotation axis parallel to that of the cylinders (20). The felt roll (26) is disposed between the three cylinders (20) in an offset position which is closer to the first cylinder (20) than the third cylinder (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Enerquin Air Inc.
    Inventors: Normand Boucher, Jean Desharnais, Dominique Thifault, Rémi Turcotte
  • Patent number: 6408539
    Abstract: A method of continuos thermal treatment of a textile product web has the steps of bringing a product web in contact with a treatment gas guided in a circulating process, introducing a product web into a steam portion having one or several steam stages in which heat steam is used as a treatment gas, introducing the product web into a steam-air portion which has one or several stages and hot steam and heated air as a treatment gas, passing the product web first through the steam portion and subsequently through the steam air portion, providing an exchange of the treatment gas between the steam stages and the stages, adjusting a relative moisture of the hot steam of the steam stages of the steam portion to the value zero, and performing the adjusting by measuring relative moistures of a first and a last steam stages and changing discharge gas quantities of the first or second steam stages and one further stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Babcock-Textilmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Marc-Aurel Voth, Andreas Stroehrmann
  • Publication number: 20020073576
    Abstract: A cleaning processing apparatus of wafers W held by a rotor capable of holding a plurality of wafers W, which is one embodiment of the liquid processing apparatus of the present invention, comprises an outside chamber, an inside chamber arranged slidable between a process position and a retreat position, and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the inside chamber in the retreat position. The cleaning mechanism includes a cylindrical body arranged in the inside chamber so as to form a substantially cylindrical cleaning processing space between the inside chamber and the cylindrical body, a cleaning liquid spurting nozzle for spurting a cleaning liquid into the cleaning processing space, and a gas supply nozzle for supplying a predetermined drying gas into the cleaning processing space so as to make it possible to clean and dry the inside chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Yuji Kamikawa, Taichi Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20020069551
    Abstract: A method of drying a paper web is provided. The method utilizes a dryer, such as a through-dryer, having a first dryer section and a second dryer section. Within the first dryer section, a relatively wet paper web is dried at an elevated temperature, such as between about 400° F. to about 500° F. After being dried by the first dryer section, the web is relatively dry and is further dried by the second dryer section at a reduced temperature, such as between about 300° F. to about 400° F. A variety of control techniques can also be utilized to control the temperature of each dryer section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Russell F. Ross, Jark C. Lau
  • Patent number: 6397493
    Abstract: An apparatus for at least one of producing and treating a material web is provided including at least one wire; an outer sealing belt, which is wider than said at least one wire, comprising a pair of lateral edge regions; at least one heatable unit, having an outer cylindrical surface, wherein said at least one wire and said outer sealing belt are at least partially wrapped around said at least one heatable unit; an overpressure cap arranged to form a pressure chamber containing a medium under pressure, said medium under pressure exerting a pressure on said at least one heatable unit; and at least one of: (a) a seal formed between said lateral edge regions and said heatable unit; and (b) a seal formed between end faces of said overpressure cap and an opposing wall to seal said pressure chamber from an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Halmschlager, Walter Holzer, Manfred Gloser, Peter Haslinger
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20020043004
    Abstract: Method and device for moisture profiling of fibrous material web to be dried in machines for manufacturing and/or refining of fibrous material web. Method includes subjecting fibrous material web to electromagnetic waves in the form of high-frequency waves. Device includes a fibrous material web support that supports travel of fibrous material web and a rotating cylinder. Rotating cylinder receives fibrous material web from fibrous material web support, and fibrous material web support is arranged outside fibrous material web in relation to the surface of the rotating cylinder. At least one electromagnetic wave transmitter is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: VOITH SULZER PAPIERTECHNIK PATENT
    Inventors: Robert Wolf, Markus Oechsle, Wolfgang Mayer, Roland Mayer, Frank Wegehaupt
  • Publication number: 20020000050
    Abstract: Articles to be dried are fed in a drying chamber to a first carrier element which is moved incrementally in a vertical direction. A subsequent second carrier element with a further article to be dried is then stacked underneath the first carrier element, with the stack of carrier elements is moved incrementally in vertical direction. Each carrier element with provided with a transport mechanism for receiving articles to be dried and discharging dried articles, whereby an aeration system circulates warm drying air through the drying chamber. The carrier elements are stacked on one another, whereby a lifting device is configured for moving the stack in vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Ekhard Goldack
  • Publication number: 20010052193
    Abstract: Fabrics containing rayon fibers may exhibit, after the fabric has been aqueous laundered at least one time, changes in dimension in length and in width of less than about 5% each, a durable press value of at least about 2.5, and a water absorbency time of less than about 100 seconds. Fabrics containing rayon fibers may also exhibit, after the fabric has been aqueous laundered at least one time, changes in dimension in length and in width of less than about 8% each, a durable press value of at least about 3.5, and a water absorbency time of less than about 100 second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: George L. Payet, Michelle F. Mellea
  • Patent number: 6322667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of treating paper products in order to enhance various properties thereof, and more specifically, including the step of treating the paper with superheated steam. In a method of treating paper during a papermaking process from wood pulp, the step of drying the paper in superheated steam in order to improve certain physical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: McGill University
    Inventors: James M. McCall, W. J. Murray Douglas
  • Publication number: 20010037586
    Abstract: An apparatus for agitating a workpiece in a high pressure environment comprises a workpiece holder, a bearing, a pressure chamber housing, and a nozzle. The workpiece holder couples to the pressure chamber housing via the bearing. The nozzle couples to the pressure chamber housing. The workpiece holder comprises protrusions and a region for holding the workpiece. In operation a fluid exits the nozzle and impinges the protrusions of the workpiece holder causing the workpiece holder to rotate, which agitates the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas R. Sutton, Robert Koch
  • Patent number: 6311410
    Abstract: A method and device for drying a coated web. The coated web is first conveyed through a web heating unit (10, 32, 40), in which the temperature of the coated web is raised, typically to drying temperature, by directing jets of heating air at the coated web, the humidity a1 of the said heating air jets being higher than the humidity a2 of the drying air jets. After this the coated web is conveyed through at least one air dryer (34, 36, 38; 42, 44, 46), in which drying air jets are directed at the coated web for drying the coated web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Pertti Heikkila, Kari Juppi, Pasi Rajala
  • Patent number: 6308436
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for removing water from a fibrous web are disclosed. The process comprises providing a fibrous web having a moisture content from about 10% to about 90%; providing an oscillatory flow-reversing impingement gas having frequency of from 15 Hz to 1500 Hz; providing a gas-distributing system comprising a plurality of discharge outlets designed to emit the oscillatory flow-reversing impingement gas onto the web; and impinging the oscillatory flow-reversing gas onto the web through the plurality of discharge outlets, thereby removing moisture from the web. The apparatus comprises a web support designed to receive a fibrous web thereon and to carry it in a machine direction; at least one pulse generator designed to produce oscillatory flow-reversing air or gas; and at least one gas-distributing system in fluid communication with the pulse generator for delivering the oscillatory flow-reversing air or gas to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Gordon Keith Stipp
  • Publication number: 20010032396
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate processing apparatus and method which can prevent accidents in advance so as to ensure safety against interruption of operations of the apparatus and leakage of processing substances. In a substrate processing method in which wafers W are processed are processed by feeding an ozone gas 5 to the wafers W loaded in a processing vessel 2 while an interior atmosphere in the processing vessel is being exhausted to be passed through an ozone killer 10, the ozone gas 5is fed under the conditions that the processing vessel 2 is tightly closed, and the ozone killer in its normal state. When the processing is interrupted, an interior atmosphere in the processing vessel 2 is forcedly exhausted. When the gas leaks, the interior atmosphere and a peripheral atmosphere of the processing vessel 2 are forcedly exhausted while the feed of the ozone gas 5 is paused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Takayuki Toshima, Tadashi Iino
  • Publication number: 20010017253
    Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing fibrous insulation includes a porous conveyor mounted for transporting fibrous material in a machine direction in the form of pack. A pack lift blower is positioned beneath the porous conveyor, in a direction transverse to the machine direction, to direct gases upwardly through the porous conveyor to fluff the fibers within the pack. The pack lift blower has a nozzle that is readily removable and replaceable for cleaning without requiring interruption in the motion of the conveyor. The nozzle may also include slots which allow the passage of air and a reciprocal member which cleans the slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Mayur M. Patel, Timothy A. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6230422
    Abstract: A method and apparatus achieve a more sustainable lift of a wet or heavy pulp web from a pulp machine to the topmost drying level of a pulp drying, allowing the speed of production to be increased and runnability problems to be minimized. The pulp web is lifted from the last press of the pulp machine to the topmost of the drying levels of the pulp dryer by supporting the web on a support wire. The pulp may be passed through the topmost drying level, and one or two other levels, also supported by a support wire, but in subsequent levels the pulp web is preferably supported only by an air cushion. In each level drying gas is blown toward the pulp web (preferably from both above and below the web) to effect drying, and the web passes around turning rolls between each drying level to enter the next, lower, drying level. The support wire may be of metal or plastic, and has a texture significantly coarser than the texture of wires commonly used in pulp machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Paavo Sairanen
  • Patent number: 6161967
    Abstract: A photographic light-sensitive material conveying apparatus for conveying a photographic light-sensitive material in a dryer chamber has a hollow guide member fixedly mounted in the dryer chamber for shifting the conveying direction of the photographic light-sensitive material. An air suction duct is connected to the inner space of the guide member. A plurality of perforations are formed in the guide member for communication between the inner space of the guide member and the interior of the dryer chamber. A conveyor belt has air permeability and is provided over the guide member for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, wherein the conveyor belt can slidingly run on and along the outer side of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Sugata, Kenji Todoki
  • Patent number: 6139645
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement is provided for treating substrates, such as, for example, silicon wafers (1), in which the latter are immersed for some time in a bath (2) containing a liquid (1) and are then taken therefrom so slowly that practically the whole quantity of liquid remains in the bath (2). According to the invention, the substrates (1) are brought from the liquid (3) directly into contact with a vapor not condensing thereon via leads (17) with outlet nozzles (18). The vapor is of a substance miscible with the liquid (3), which, when mixed therewith, yields a mixture having a surface tension lower than that of the liquid. It has been found that no drying marks with organic or metallic residues or other contaminations then remain on the substrates (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Adriaan F. M. Leenaars, Jacques J. Van Oekel
  • Patent number: 6134809
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for removing water from a fibrous web are disclosed. The process comprises providing a fibrous web having a moisture content from about 10% to about 90%; providing an oscillatory flow-reversing impingement gas having frequency of from 15 Hz to 1500 Hz; providing a gas-distributing system comprising a plurality of discharge outlets designed to emit the oscillatory flow-reversing impingement gas onto the web; and impinging the oscillatory flow-reversing gas onto the web through the plurality of discharge outlets, thereby removing moisture from the web. The apparatus comprises a web support designed to receive a fibrous web thereon and to carry it in a machine direction; at least one pulse generator designed to produce oscillatory flow-reversing air or gas; and at least one gas-distributing system in fluid communication with the pulse generator for delivering the oscillatory flow-reversing air or gas to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Gordon Keith Stipp
  • Patent number: 6014818
    Abstract: Apparatus for drying a pulp web includes a plurality of jet boxes, arranged vertically in piles parallel with each other, and provided with openings through which heated air, introduced into the jet boxes, can stream out. The pulp web is conducted in an essentially vertical direction between the piles of adjacent jet boxes and around upper and lower turning rolls for bringing the pulp web upwards and downwards through the apparatus; heating air streaming out of holes in the jet boxes towards the progressing pulp web; irradiating essentially all that portion of the pulp web which momentarily is between the upper and the lower turning rolls, on both sides with the heated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Sture Kristrom
  • Patent number: 6009635
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a generic method for producing void and gas occlusion free materials, as well as apparatuses for batch and continuous production of same. This generic method can be utilized in the production of a wide variety of polymeric compounds and composites and specifically encompasses the two ends of the polymeric composite spectrum, that is, polymer concretes on the one hand, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites on the other. The composite materials of the present invention are characterized by visual count as being void and gas occlusion free to the level of 1 micron at 1250.times. magnification. Concomitantly, the invention produces useful polymer concrete materials which exhibit substantially improved integrity for easy machining at high speeds, and high dielectric and mechanical strength, as compared with composite materials produced by conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tecminomet S.A.
    Inventors: Victor H. Vidaurre, Jorge L. Dufeu, Wilfredo G. Bendek
  • Patent number: 5974690
    Abstract: A disposable, adhesive air filter for use with hand held hair dryers. The filter is used in connection with the air vent openings of the hair dryer and may be applied retroactively onto such dryers. The filter may come in a roll or sheet and may be cut by the user to fit the size of his/her hair dryer. The filter should have adhesive on both sides and will be provided with a removable layer, e.g. a peel off layer, in order for the consumer to attach the filter to air vent holes on the hair dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Billie Jack Canada
  • Patent number: 5966836
    Abstract: A dryer (10, 200) is provided for use in drying freshly printed substrates such as corrugated sheets (14). A plurality of infrared heating lamps (28) are positioned below the travel path (16) of the corrugated sheets (14) and the heat lamps are physically separated from the corrugated sheets by glass panels (108, 110). Provisions are made for cooling the heat lamps by air flow. A plurality of air bars (40) are also provided with pressurized air to discharge air through ports (42) in the upper surfaces thereof for discharge against the corrugated sheet. Air discharged against the corrugated sheet and used to cool the heat lamps is collected and removed by a vacuum pump (48). This pump (48) is also used to remove moisture laden air which has been dislodged from the sheets by the combination of infrared heat and high pressure air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Howard W. DeMoore
    Inventors: Benito Valdez, III, Paul D. Copenhaver, John A. Aylor, Howard C. Secor
  • Patent number: 5943747
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous drying and shrinking of textile knitted or woven good incorporates at least one drying station that includes several oppositely disposed and oppositely hot-air nozzles which are offset relative to each other and directed into a through-channel defined thereby. At least upper and lower endless rotating, porous guide belts limit the channel above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Kurt Muller
  • Patent number: 5942322
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying an embryonic web. The apparatus comprises a micropore medium having pores therethrough. The pores are the limiting orifice in the air flow used in the drying process. The micropore medium has a surface oriented towards and preferably contacting the web to be dried. This surface has a relatively low surface energy, and preferably a surface energy of less than 46 dynes per centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Ensign, Paul Dennis Trokhan, Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5925407
    Abstract: A method for drying a surface-treated paper web or equivalent in an after-dryer of a paper machine in which the paper web is first finished in a finishing section, e.g., surface-sized or coated, by a finishing device and then dried. In the after-dryer, the paper web is dried in at least one dryer group employing a normal single-wire draw and, in connection with or after the drying, the paper web is treated by at least one device in order to compensate for a tendency of curling of the paper web. The after-dryer is arranged after the finishing device and includes at least one dryer group that applies a normal single-wire draw so as to dry the paper web and one or more devices for compensating for a tendency of curling of the paper web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Kauko Antero Ostman
  • Patent number: 5912072
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a cellulosic fibrous structure. The apparatus comprises a micropore medium having pores therethrough. The pores are the limiting orifice in the air flow used in the drying process. The micropore medium has a relatively low pressure drop therethrough. This relatively low pressure drop advantageously reduces the energy costs used in drying, and/or allows for greater drying to be obtained at constant energy costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paul Dennis Trokhan, Donald Eugene Ensign, Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5813139
    Abstract: A method for facilitating the drying of carpet More specifically, the present invention relates to using a coiled corkscrew-like device to lift and hold wet wall-to-wall carpeting and padding off of the floor so that air may be blown under the carpet to dry the carpet. The present invention includes a coiled rod, a handle, and a mounting washer. The handle and the rod are welded to opposing sides of the mounting washer. The rod is made from 3/16 of an inch diameter stainless steel and is sharpened to a needle point at the terminal end. The sharpened end of the device is used to puncture a small hole in the carpet. The handle is then rotated about the axis of the coiled rod which raises the carpet off of the floor. Once all of the carpet has been lifted from the floor, one side of the carpet is opened and an air blower is installed to blow air under the carpet. The device is capable of lifting approximately nine square yards of carpeting and padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Ryan C. Lillicotch
  • Patent number: 5797197
    Abstract: A mobile carpet dryer that includes a blower unit that forces heated air onto the carpet. The dryer further includes a vacuum unit that draws water out of the carpet to greatly speed the drying process. The blower unit and the vacuum unit are mounted in a wheeled housing to provide easy portability of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Marcelino G. Alday
  • Patent number: 5768799
    Abstract: A process for the protective or decorative coating of a continuously moving metal sheet, in which the sheet, after having received its coating, is heated by electromagnetic induction in a tunnel oven in order to evaporate the solvents and to cure the coating. The solvents are continuously extracted from the chamber of the oven, wherein a gas at a temperature greater than the dew point of the solvents is injected into the oven and which is gastight and thermally insulated in order to keep the hot internal walls above this dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Stein Heurtey
    Inventors: Didier Delaunay, Hugues Amaury Jean Vialla
  • Patent number: 5756156
    Abstract: A method for producing surface-treated paper, in particular of fine paper, and a dry end of a paper machine that makes use of the method. A paper web that has been dewatered by pressing is dried in the forward dryer section, in which drying energy is applied to the paper web over the entire length of the forward dryer section asymmetrically in the z-direction from the side of the bottom face of the web. This step is carried out by a number of successive groups with single-wire draw that are open downward. In this manner, shrinkage of the web both in the machine direction and in the cross direction is reduced or at least partially prevented, which shrinkage tends to take place when the dry solids content becomes higher. Paper broke is removed from underneath the drying groups that are open downward substantially by the force of gravity onto the broke conveyor placed underneath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Seppo Elijoki, Heikki Ilvespaa, Antti Kuhasalo, Reima Kerttula
  • Patent number: 5647144
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for the non-contact drying of a web of material. The apparatus includes air flotation nozzles for floating the web, and direct air impingement nozzles for enhanced drying of the web. A plurality of air flotation nozzles or air bars are mounted in one or more sections of a dryer enclosure in air-receiving communication with headers, preferably both above and below the web for the contactless convection drying of the web. In conjunction with these air flotation nozzles, one or more sections of the dryer also includes direct impingement nozzles such as hole-array bars or slot bars. The drying surface of the web is thus heated by both air issuing from the air flotation nozzles and from the direct impingement nozzles. As a result, the dryer has a high rate of drying in a small, enclosed space while maintaining a comfortable working environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bria, Jeffrey D. Quass
  • Patent number: 5638610
    Abstract: In the case of a heat setting chamber for the continuous heat setting of yarns, entry and exit openings are provided, through which transport belts are fed and onto which transport belts the yarns are placed in loops. In the area of the entry and exit openings, ventilation seals are provided, on which the heat setting medium flows against the loops from underneath. The mouths of extractor vents are arranged vertically over the ventilation seals. The heat setting medium can thus penetrate the yarn loops in the area of the entry and exit openings simultaneously from above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Michael Horauf Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Resch
  • Patent number: 5588223
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for restrained paper drying in order to produce high performance paper with enhanced stiffness and, in the process, substantially improve paper properties and reduce fiber usage. The paper web is held in a restrained position on a fabric by air suction imposed from beneath the web and is of sufficient application to prevent shrinkage of the web. The web is simultaneously dried by high velocity, high temperature air or superheated steam. For improved finish properties, the wet paper web may be pressed onto a polished heated metal cylinder with restraint being imposed by gluing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh G. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5584126
    Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Ensign, Michael G. Stelljes, Jr., Paul D. Trokhan
  • Patent number: 5555644
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating the danger of inadvertent failure of a weight-bearing retraction system, such as a dryer hood retraction system. A load lifted using a fluid cylinder can be easily locked in place against gravity by using a double rod ended cylinder, where the rod end not exerting the force is permitted to move through a clearance hole while the load is being lifted, and is then blocked to prevent the return motion until the load is to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Rodney Voegtline
  • Patent number: 5528839
    Abstract: Flotation drying apparatus for the staged (indirect) heating of solvent laden air recirculating within a drying enclosure, and a method of optimally controlling and directing solvent laden recirculation air such that condensation and sapping of solvent and various solvent-based by-products may be effectively reduced or eliminated. In addition to the reduction of condensate, a greater and more uniform mixing of the atmosphere within the drying enclosure is achieved, thereby enhancing safety and the drying process as pockets of high concentration solvent vapors are reduced. Air from outside the dryer enclosure is heated within the dryer enclosure, and is mixed with solvent-laden air. The mixed air is recirculated to the first drying zone of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Paul G. Seidl
  • Patent number: 5470436
    Abstract: The specification discloses an improved method for drying a paper or paperboard web emerging from the press section of a papermaking machine as it traverses a dryer unit. The method comprises continuously rewetting the web across its width during the initial web drying stage when the web has a solids content of no more than about 65 wt. %. The method improves the water removal rate and decreases the shrinkage rate of the web during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Dinkar G. Wagle, Raymond A. Volpe