Claims
- 1. An apparatus for imprinting, drying, and reeling, a fibrous web, comprising:a hot press including: a pair of press members forming a nip therebetween for passage of the web therethrough; at least one clothing arranged to pass through the nip of the press with one side of the web in contact with a surface of the at least one clothing; a heat transfer device defining a heatable surface the heat transfer device being arranged to pass through the nip of the press with the opposite side of the web in contact with the heatable surface; and a heating device operable to heat the heat transfer device such that the heat transfer device heats and dries the web during contact therewith; and a reel-up including a rotatable reel spool onto which the web is reeled to form a finished roll of web material; wherein at least one of the clothing surface and the heatable surface comprises an imprinting surface for imparting a textured surface to the side of the web in contact therewith, and wherein the heat transfer device is arranged to support the web between the press and the reel spool.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first of the press members comprises a surface winding drum having a generally cylindrical outer surface and being rotatable about a central axis thereof, and wherein the heat transfer device and the surface winding drum comprise one and the same member, the generally cylindrical outer surface of the surface winding drum comprising the heatable surface that is heated by the heating device, and the reel spool of the reel-up being disposed proximate the surface winding drum for receiving the web therefrom after the web's passage through the nip.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical outer surface of the surface winding drum comprises an imprinting surface for imprinting the side of the web in contact therewith.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the side of the web in contact therewith as the web and imprinting fabric pass through the nip, whereby both sides of the web are imprinted in the hot press.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one clothing includes an absorbent fabric for absorbing water pressed from the web as the web and absorbent fabric pass through the nip.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical surface of the surface winding drum is smooth and wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the side of the web in contact therewith as the web and imprinting fabric pass through the nip, whereby only one side of the web is imprinted in the hot press.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heating device includes at least a first heater disposed proximate the outer surface of the surface winding drum for heating said surface ahead of the nip.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heating device further includes at least a second heater disposed proximate the outer surface of the surface winding drum after the nip for heating the web carried on said surface.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first of the press members comprises a generally cylindrical roll rotatable about a central axis thereof, and wherein the heat transfer device is formed separately from the rotatable roll and is configured as a closed loop loosely encircling the rotatable roll, the roll frictionally engaging the heat transfer device at the nip so as to rotatably drive the heat transfer device.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a substantially rigid sleeve.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sleeve forms a nip with the reel spool about which the web is reeled in the reel-up.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an outer surface of the sleeve that contacts the web comprises an imprinting surface for imprinting the web.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting, fabric in contact with the web in the nip for imprinting the web.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an outer surface of the sleeve that contacts the web is smooth, and wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the web.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a flexible belt looped about the rotatable roll and about at least one additional guide roll.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an outer surface of the belt that contacts the web comprises an imprinting surface for imprinting the web.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web in the nip for imprinting the web.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an outer surface of the belt that contacts the web is smooth, and wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the web.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a blowing device disposed proximate the reel-up for blowing a gaseous fluid against the web to aid in separating the web from the belt so that the web can be wound onto the reel spool.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the belt is permeable and the blowing device is disposed inside the loop of the belt.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first of the press members comprises a generally cylindrical roll rotatable about a central axis thereof and a substantially rigid sleeve loosely encircling the rotatable roll, and wherein the heat transfer device comprises a flexible belt looped about the sleeve and about at least one additional guide roll, the rotatable roll frictionally engaging the sleeve at the nip to rotatably drive the sleeve and the sleeve frictionally engaging the belt to rotatably drive the belt.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein an outer surface of the belt in contact with the web comprises an imprinting surface for imprinting the web.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the web.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein an outer surface of the belt in contact with the web is smooth, and the at least one clothing includes an imprinting fabric in contact with the web for imprinting the web.
- 25. A method for imprinting, drying, and reeling, a fibrous web, comprising:passing the web through a nip defined between a pair of press members with one side of the web in contact with a surface of a clothing that also passes through the nip; passing a heat transfer device through the nip along with the web and clothing, the heat transfer device defining a heatable surface in contact with the opposite side of the web during the web's passage through the nip, at least one of the surface of the clothing and the heatable surface of the heat transfer device comprising an imprinting, surface for imprinting, the web when the web is pressed in the nip; heating the heat transfer device such that the heat transfer device heats and dries the web during, contact therewith; supporting, the web on the heat transfer device as the heat transfer device passes through the nip and travels a path from the nip to a rotatable reel spool onto which the web is reeled to form a finished roll of web material; and transferring, the web from the heat transfer device onto the reel spool at a location proximate thereto.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein reeling of the web is performed with the reel spool against the heat transfer device such that the web is transferred directly from the heat transfer device onto the reel spool.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9902351 |
Jun 1999 |
SE |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/141,682, filed Jun. 30, 1999, and Swedish Patent Application No. 9902351-7, filed Jun. 17, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
DE 42 16 264 |
Nov 1993 |
DE |
9323614 |
Nov 1993 |
WO |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/141682 |
Jun 1999 |
US |