Cross-machine direction actuators for machine clothing

Abstract

A method for affecting moisture content of a sheet of paper includes providing a moisture measuring device disposed in a papermaking machine to measure the moisture content of a sheet of paper and create a moisture profile of the sheet of paper, determining the moisture profile of the sheet of paper, and providing a water-spraying device to spray water on a press felt that contacts the sheet of paper during manufacturing. The method further includes selecting one or more zones on the press felt on which to spray water based on the moisture profile of the sheet of paper, and acting on the press felt by spraying water in the one or more selected zones on the press felt to affect the moisture content of the sheet of paper that contacts the press felt after the water has been sprayed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative top view schematic diagram of a papermaking machine, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative side view of a paper sheet disposed between two press felts, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative side view schematic diagram of a press section of a papermaking machine, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is an illustrative top view schematic diagram of a papermaking machine employing a moisture measuring device, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is an illustrative side view of a paper sheet disposed between two press felts, according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative side view schematic diagram of a press section of a papermaking machine employing a water-spraying device for wetting press felt, according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative top view schematic diagram of a cross-machine direction water spraying device, according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for affecting moisture content of a sheet of paper during manufacturing by a papermaking machine by acting upon a press felt that contacts the sheet of paper during manufacturing, the method comprising: providing a moisture measuring device disposed in the papermaking machine to measure the moisture content of a first section of the sheet of paper and create a moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper;determining the moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper;providing a water-spraying device to spray water on the press felt;selecting one or more zones on the press felt in which to spray water based on the moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper; andacting on the press felt by spraying water in the one or more selected zones on the press felt to affect the moisture content of a subsequent section of the sheet of paper that contacts the press felt after the water has been sprayed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a vacuum device for removing water from the press felt by suction.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising selecting one or more other zones on the press felt from which to remove water based on the moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising acting on the press felt by removing water from the one or more other selected zones on the press felt to affect the moisture content of the subsequent section of the sheet of paper that contacts the press felt.[RM1]

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising washing and drying the press felt before spraying water in the one or more selected zones on the press felt.

6. A system for affecting moisture content of a sheet of paper during manufacturing by acting on a press felt that contacts the sheet of paper during manufacturing, the system comprising: a papermaking device comprising: a moisture measuring device to determine the moisture content of a first section of the sheet of paper and create a moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper;a water-spraying device to spray water on the press felt; anda zone selecting means for selecting one or more zones on the press felt in which to spray water based on the moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a vacuum device for removing water from the press felt by suction.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising another zone selecting means for selecting one or more other zones on the press felt from which to remove water based on the moisture profile of the first section of sheet of paper.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a control unit for controlling the papermaking device.

10. A papermaking machine comprising: a moisture measuring device to determine the moisture content of a first section of a sheet of paper and create a moisture profile of the first section of the sheet of paper;a water-spraying device to spray water on a press felt; anda zone selecting means for selecting one or more zones on the press felt in which to spray water based on the determined moisture content of the first section of the sheet of paper.

11. A method for affecting a particular characteristic of a non-woven sheet of material during manufacturing by a sheet-making machine by acting upon a machine clothing that contacts the sheet of material during manufacturing, the method comprising: providing a characteristic measuring device disposed in the sheet-making machine to measure the particular characteristic of the sheet of material and create a profile of the sheet of material;determining the particular characteristic of the sheet of material;providing a means to affect the machine clothing;selecting one or more zones on the machine clothing to affect the machine clothing based on the particular characteristic profile of the sheet of material; andacting on the machine clothing in the one or more selected zones to affect the particular characteristic of the sheet of material.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the material comprises paper, board, plastic film, Mylar, textiles, or rubber.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the particular characteristic comprises water content.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the particular characteristic comprises material thickness.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the particular characteristic comprises material weight

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the particular characteristic comprises optical properties.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the particular characteristic comprises surface properties.