The present invention relates to a machine for manufacturing a web of soft crepe paper, comprising
The invention also relates to a press section in a machine for manufacturing a web of soft crepe paper, comprising
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,776 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,010 describe conventional machines with two presses, in both of which the drying cylinder acts as a counter roll and the first press has a suction press roll that can be crowned. To avoid running problems, the press felt must be conveyed out in a side loop between the two press nips. The web reaches the first press nip with a dry-solids content of about 10–15 percent. In a modified second embodiment of the machine in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,776, the second press roll is disconnected and the web-carrying forming wire is extended to the first suction press roll while an open belt of wire type is substituted for the press felt to enclose the web between it and the forming wire, creating a sandwich construction that can be provided with airflow-generating means. Suction boxes can be arranged upstream of the sandwich construction in the loop of the forming wire. The known machine can thereby be modified from one operational embodiment to another that provides a higher dry-solids content, and thereby be adapted to different market needs. Thus, in the second embodiment, which is of a relatively complicated construction, the suction press roll is used in combination with an open belt and not solely with a press felt, and the suction means, located upstream of the suction press roll, are not arranged in a press-felt loop running through the press nip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,461 describes a soft crepe paper machine having a pick-up suction roll and a press section with double press nips against a suction press roll, where the web is compressed in the first press nip before reaching the second press nip against the drying cylinder. Pressing the web in two press nips detrimentally affects the bulk of the paper.
So-called through-air drying can be used to increase the dry-solids content of the web before the drying cylinder. The increased dry-solids content allows the nip pressure to be reduced substantially in the subsequent press nip, in comparison with a conventional soft crepe paper machine, so that a desired high bulk is obtained. However, a through-air dryer represents high capital expenditure and requires additional space in the machine line. Furthermore, it has high running costs, as hot air is utilized.
In accordance with another technique for obtaining an increased dry-solids content before the press nip, a suction device is utilized and the pressing then takes place in an extended shoe press nip. A machine constructed in accordance with this technique is described in EP 0 926 296, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,160. The press is a shoe press formed by a shoe press roll and a drying cylinder as the counter roll. The suction device is shown in the patent specification as a suction roll arranged before the extended shoe press nip at a distance from the drying cylinder. The suction roll enables the dry-solids content of the web to be increased to a high level before the press nip. Such an increased dry-solids content before the press nip is thus advantageous, as it becomes possible thereby to reduce the compression pressure in the press nip so that a substantially increased bulk can be obtained since the web is compressed to a lesser extent. However, a shoe press roll is a relatively complicated construction, entailing high capital expenditure and requiring special operational control.
Machines with similar shoe presses are described in EP 0 851 059 and EP 0 854 229, although, in both cases, a suction roll in the specified position before the shoe press nip is lacking.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a soft crepe paper machine having a simpler press section, which results in reduced capital expenditure and enables a paper web with high bulk to be manufactured in a simpler and more cost effective way than has heretofore been possible, as well as enabling the user of the soft crepe paper machine to choose press elements in accordance with his specific needs.
The machine and press section in accordance with the invention are characterized in that the first press element that forms the press nip with the drying cylinder is selected from the group consisting of a solid press roll, a suction press roll, and a variable crown press roll. Advantageously, the machine and press section have only one press nip so that the bulk of the paper is not detrimentally affected.
In one embodiment, the first press element comprises a variable crown press roll operable to control a crown curve of a shell of the press roll independently in at least two zones of the press roll. For instance, the variable crown press roll can include a plurality of press members distributed within the shell along a length thereof for exerting radially outward forces on the shell, the press members being arranged in two outer groups and at least one inner group between the two outer groups, each group of press members being controlled independently of the other groups so as to form a plurality of zones of the shell in each of which the crown curve of the shell is independently adjustable, whereby a compression pressure profile imparted to the web in the press nip is controlled by the variable crown press roll.
Advantageously, the press felt passes around the suction device with a wrap angle thereabout of at least about 100°, and more preferably at least about 110°. This increases the residence time of the web in the suction zone and thereby leads to increased dry solids content of the web before reaching the drying cylinder.
The former in one embodiment forms the web on the felt. In an alternative embodiment, the former includes an inner web-carrying clothing on which the web is formed, the clothing carrying the web to a transfer point at which the web is transferred from the clothing onto the felt.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
a is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the end portions of a variable crown press roll in the press section in accordance with
a is a longitudinal sectional view of a zone-controllable, variable crown press roll in the press section in accordance with
The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The press section comprises a roll press 11, consisting of a first press roll 12 and a second press roll 13, which press rolls 12, 13 define a press nip between them. It is preferable for the press section to have only one press, i.e. roll press, as shown in the drawings, so that no additional press nip is formed against the second press roll 13 or against the first press roll 12 or defined by any two other press elements. Further, the press section has a press felt 14, running through the press nip and in a loop around a plurality of rolls 15, arranged to move, guide, align and stretch the press felt 14. Devices (not shown) for cleaning the press felt 14 are located after the press nip. In the loop of the press felt 14, there is a suction device 16, which, in the embodiment shown, consists of a suction roll that is arranged just before the press nip and from which the press felt 14 carries the web 9 so that the side of the web 9 facing away from the felt is free from contact with any structural element before the press nip. The suction device 16, which has a curved suction zone 3, is so arranged in relation to the nearest upstream guide roll 15 and the downstream press roll 12 that the press felt 14 has a high wrap around the suction device 16, i.e. the press felt 14 and the paper web 9 carried by the same change direction at a large angle over the suction zone 3. The wrap angle should be at least 100°, preferably at least 110°. In experiments performed with a suction roll, the wrap angle has been about 140°. The suction zone 3 encloses a sector angle corresponding to said wrap angle and extends within the same. The large wrap angle contributes to increased dewatering. The suction device 16 is arranged to provide the paper web 9 with a dry-solids content of at least 15 percent, preferably at least 20 percent and most preferably at least 25 percent.
The drying section 2 comprises a crowned drying cylinder 17 having a relatively large diameter and a polished envelope surface. The drying cylinder 17, which preferably consists of a Yankee cylinder, is covered by a hood 18, in which hot air is blown at high speed against the paper web 9. The paper web is creped away from the drying cylinder 17 with the aid of a crepe doctor 19 to obtain desired creping, whereupon the finished creped paper web 9 is reeled onto a reel (not shown). The drying cylinder 17 also forms said second press roll 13 in the roll press 11 of the drying section 2. Said suction roll 16 is arranged at a distance from the drying cylinder 17 so that no press nip is formed between them and so that the web 9 does not come into contact with the envelope surface of the drying cylinder 17 until it reaches the press nip or immediately before.
In the paper machines in accordance with
In the paper machines in accordance with
In the paper machine in accordance with
In the paper machine in accordance with
In the paper machine in accordance with
In the paper machine in accordance with
The drying cylinder 13 is crowned in at least the embodiments in accordance with
In all cases, the press roll 12 is driven and its shell 22 comprises an outer layer of a rubber material or a rubber-like material. Alternatively, other materials could be used for this outer layer, as long as such materials do not cause damage to the surface of the drying cylinder in case of direct contact with the surface. The thickness and softness of the rubber layer is chosen as needed. A certain compression of the rubber layer occurs in the press nip so that it is extended somewhat in the direction of movement of the web. It should thus be understood that the thickness and softness of the outer layer determine the length of the extended press nip at a given compression pressure. The linear load, which corresponds to the impulse of pressure, is a function of compression pressure, pressing time and machine speed. If the compression pressure is increased, the pressing time will increase as well, since the rubber layer of the shell is compressed further so that the press nip becomes longer.
Each one of the described roll presses is of a substantially simpler construction than the known shoe press in accordance with EP 0 926 296, which results in reduced capital expenditure and enables the manufacture of a soft crepe paper with a bulk substantially as high as with the said known shoe press, but in a simpler and more cost effective way. Furthermore, the user has the advantageous opportunity of choosing, out of the alternatives, the press roll that is most suited to the specific needs of the user as regards whether the same grade is to be produced for a longer period of time (suitably press roll 12a or 12b) or different grades are to be produced alternatingly in smaller series (suitably press roll 12c or 12d).
In a further embodiment (not shown) the first press element is a press roll having at least two of the properties of the four press rolls 12a to 12d described above, such as, for instance, a variable crown suction press roll.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
This application is a continuation of International Patent Application PCT/SE01/01027 filed on May 11, 2001, which claims the benefit of 60/212,119, filed Jun. 16, 2000, which designated inter alia the United States and was published in English under PCT Article 21(2).
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Number | Date | Country |
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0 851 059 | Jul 1998 | EP |
0 854 229 | Jul 1998 | EP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030121626 A1 | Jul 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60212119 | Jun 2000 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/SE01/01027 | May 2001 | US |
Child | 10299106 | US |