Patent USRE28459E successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
USRE28459E
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transpiration drying and embossing of wet paper webs
Assignee: —
•
Filing: 1972-12-07
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Granted: 1975-07-01
•
Expires: 1992-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for drying a wet paper web by passing gaseous fluid such as air which may be at an elevated temperature, up to about 1500* F., through the web while it is supported upon a foraminous surface. The arrangement of the apparatus whereby the heated air passes through the web prior to passing through the foraminous surface enables the use of higher temperatures than heretofore possible. A method and apparatus for embossing the wet paper webs during drying are also disclosed along with the new products formed by the method and apparatus. The embossing is accomplished in one of several different ways, which involve rearranging the fibers in the web before the web is dried and interfiber bonds are formed. The rearranging may be done by a fluid pressure differential through the web while it is supported on a contoured foraminous surface such as a woven wire, by fluid flow at high speeds through the web, or by mechanical pressure against the web. In some embodiments, holes may be formed in the web during embossing by subjecting the web to sufficient fiber rearrangement in spaced localized areas to form breaks or create apertures. Paper web products are formed which have raised contoured portions in which substantially all of the bonds between fibers are intact so that the raised contoured portions passes substantial stiffness and permanency.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:00
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B13/00; F26B13/10; F26B13/14; F26B13/16; D; D21; D21F; D21F5/00; D21F5/18; D21F5/182; F26B13/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for drying a substantially continuous wet web of paper fibers issuing at high speed from a papermaking machine, including the steps of pressing the web into contact with a foraminous surface, advancing said web into a drying zone while supporting it on said foraminous surface, contacting the surface of said supported web most remote from said foraminous surface with a gaseous fluid under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, creating a pressure drop and a flow of gaseous fluid through the web from the surface most remote from said foraminous surface to the surface adjacent said foraminous surface, advancing said web out of said drying zone, and withdrawing said web from said foraminous supporting surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for drying a substantially continuous wet web of paper fibers issuing at high speed from a papermaking machine, including the steps of pressing the web into contact with a foraminous surface, advancing said web into a drying zone while supporting it on said foraminous surface, contacting the surface of said supported web most remote from said foraminous surface with a gaseous fluid under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, creating a pressure drop and a flow of gaseous fluid through the web from the surface most remote from said foraminous surface to the surface adjacent said foraminous surface, advancing said web out of said drying zone, and withdrawing said web from said foraminous supporting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said gaseous fluis is air at a temperature of up to about 1,500* F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said gaseous fluid is air at a temperature of from about 300* F. to about 800* F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of reducing the pressure of the surrounding gaseous fluid at the surface of said web adjacent said foraminous surface to a value lower than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said foraminous surface contains a plurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern, and including the step of forcing the cellulosic fibers in portions of wet web covering said openings in said foraminous surface to shift their positions relative to one another and to the remainder of said web so that said web portions are forced generally toward and into said openings at least partiaLly out of the plane of said web and into the plane of said foraminous surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein a web is momentarily subjected within said drying zone to a stream of fluid across at least a portion of its width which causes said fibers to shift their positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said cellulosic fibers are re-arranged to form apertures of a larger size than the interstices between the cellulosic fibers of the wet paper web, said apertures being located generally at the outermost extremities of said seb portions which are forced generally toward and into said openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said forcing step is at least partially performed prior to the advance of said supported web into said drying zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
An embossed cellulosic fiber web having a basis weight in the tissue or towel product range, comprising a generally flat sheet defined by randomly interwoven cellulosic fibers between two parallel planes, said fibers being bonded together at randomly spaced points throughout the paper matrix where they contact one another by the bonding process associated with papermaking, said sheet having regularly spaced portions thereof extending beyond at least one of said planes from the space between said planes, said portions representing raised contoured portions of said sheet, and being spaced to have a concentration of from 36 to 760 per square inch of sheet, substantially all of the bonds between the fibers in said raised contoured portions being intact, whereby said raised contoured portions of said sheet possess substantial stiffness and permanency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
An embossed cellulosic fiber web having a basis weight in the tissue or towel product range, comprising a generally flat sheet defined by randomly interwoven cellulosic fibers between two parallel planes, said fibers being bonded together at randomly spaced points throughout the paper matrix where they contact one another by the bonding process associated with papermaking, said sheet having regularly spaced portions thereof extending beyond at least one of said planes from the space between said planes, said portions representing raised contoured portions of said sheet, and being spaced to have a concentration of from 36 to 760 per square inch of sheet, substantially all of the bonds between the fibers in said raised contoured portions being intact, whereby said raised contoured portions of said sheet possess substantial stiffness and permanency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An embossed cellulosic fiber web according to claim 9, wherein said raised contoured portions of said sheet terminate at their outermost extremities in an annular edge defining an opening through said web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
A drying unit for a papermaking machine, comprising a moveable endless foraminous surface upon which a paper web to be dried is fed so as to leave one surface of said web exposed, hood means disposed adjacent at least a portion of said surface contacted by said paper web and adapted to substantially enclose said portion so as to form a drying zone, supply means for introducing gaseous fluid under pressure into said hood means, and vacuum bias means disposed adjacent said foraminous surface opposite the portion thereof contacted by said web and enclosed by said hood means, said vacuum bias means being adapted to draw gaseous fluid through said web while it is in contact with and supported by said surface in order to effect drying of said web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A drying unit for a papermaking machine, comprising a moveable endless foraminous surface upon which a paper web to be dried is fed so as to leave one surface of said web exposed, hood means disposed adjacent at least a portion of said surface contacted by said paper web and adapted to substantially enclose said portion so as to form a drying zone, supply means for introducing gaseous fluid under pressure into said hood means, and vacuum bias means disposed adjacent said foraminous surface opposite the portion thereof contacted by said web and enclosed by said hood means, said vacuum bias means being adapted to draw gaseous fluid through said web while it is in contact with and supported by said surface in order to effect drying of said web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, including first means contacting the exposed surface of said web and adapted to press the web into contacting engagement with said surface along an initial line of contact between said web and said surface, and second means contacting the exposed surface of said web and adapted to press the web into contacting engagement with said surface along a second line of contact adjacent the removal point of said web, said second line being separated from said initial line by said drying zone in which the pressure hood and the vacuum bias means cooperate to create a pressure drop through the web so as to cause removal of moisture therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, wherein said supply means include means for heating said gaseous fluid prior to its introduction into said hood means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, wherein said moveable endless foraminous surface is a foraminous cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about its central axis and said vacuum bias means are disposed on the interior of said shell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
A drying unit according to claim 14, wherein said moveable endless foraminous surface is a foraminous cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about its central axis and said vacuum bias means are disposed on the exterior of said shell adjacent the surface thereof, and arranged to operate through the openings in successive transverse segments of said shell during rotation thereof, which successive transverse segments have previously supported the web in the drying zone and have passed, during rotation, out of contact with said web.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drying unit according to claim 14, including an endless flexible foraminous belt entrained over said cylindrical shell in at least partial wrapping engagement therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drying unit according to claim 15, including an endless flexible foraminous belt entrained over said cylindrical shell in at least partial wrapping engagement therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, wherein said moveable endless foraminous surface is an endless flexible foraminous belt entrained about a foraminous cylindrical shell mounted for rotation about its central axis, said vacuum bias means are disposed on the exterior of said shell adjacent the surface thereof, said supply means include means for heating said gaseous fluid prior to its introduction into said hood means, and including a plurality of cylindrical rolls rotatably mounted and disposed in spaced apart relation adjacent said shell, said endless flexible foraminous belt being entrained about said cylindrical shell and said cylindrical rolls in at least partial wrapping engagement therewith, means operably connected to said belt for moving it through an endless path over said rolls and said shell.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, wherein said foraminous surface has openings therein arranged in a predetermined pattern and said unit includes means to force the cellulosic fibers in portions of said web covering said openings to shift their positions relative to one another prior to movement of said web through said drying zone so that said web portions are forced generally toward and into said openings at least partially out of the plane of said web and into the plane of said foraminous surface so as to form raised contoured portions in said web portions having substantial stiffness and permanency.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A drying unit according to claim 19, wherein said means include means to exert fluid pressure momentarily upon said web to cause the fibers thereof to shift their positions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drying unit according to claim 19, wherein said means are arranged to operate upon said web prior to movement of said web into said drying zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
A drying unit according to claim 19, wherein said foraminous surface has a plurality of upstanding, projections in the portions thereof between said openings, and said fiber forcing means are adapted to force the fibers in portions of said web covering said projections to shift their positions relative to one another so that said web portions are forced upwardly out of the plane of said web and above the plane of said foraminous surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a drying unit for a papermaking machine, having a movable endless foraminous carrying member having an undulating upper surface which is adapted to carry a wet paper web through a drying region, and drying means for passing a gaseous fluid through said web within said drying region for removing moisture from said web, the improvement comprising embossing means for initially simultaneously directing gaseous fluid at high velocity toward the side of said web spaced from said carrying member and applying a high vacuum to the side of said carrying member and spaced from said web, whereby said web is pressed into conformity with said undulating upper surface and retains its resulting shape when dried.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a drying unit for a papermaking machine, having a movable endless foraminous carrying member having an undulating upper surface which is adapted to carry a wet paper web through a drying region, and drying means for passing a gaseous fluid through said web within said drying region for removing moisture from said web, the improvement comprising embossing means for initially simultaneously directing gaseous fluid at high velocity toward the side of said web spaced from said carrying member and applying a high vacuum to the side of said carrying member and spaced from said web, whereby said web is pressed into conformity with said undulating upper surface and retains its resulting shape when dried.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
The improvement in a drying unit for a papermaking machine according to claim 23, wherein said embossing means include a nozzle disposed adjacent to but spaced from the side of said carrying member, said nozzle being adapted to direct a gaseous fluid at high velocity against successive transverse segments of said web as it is carried on said foraminous carrying member toward said drying region, a vacuum box disposed adjacent the opposite side of said carrying member and opposite said nozzle, said vacuum box being adapted to receive and remove substantially all of the gaseous fluid emitted by said nozzle which passes through said web.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement in a drying unit for a papermaking machine according to claim 24, wherein siad gaseous fluid is air at an elevated temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement in a drying unit for a papermaking machine according to claim 24, wherein said gaseous fluid is steam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement in a drying unit for a papermaking machine according to claim 24, wherein said moveable endless foraminous carrying member comprises a woven wire cloth.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a method for drying a wet paper web, in which the wet paper web is carried through a drying region upon a movable endless foraminous carrying member having an undulating upper surface while a gaseous fluid is passed through said web to remove moisture therefrom, the improvement comprising simultaneously directing gaseous fluid at high velocity against the side of said web spaced from said carrying member and creating a high vacuum adjacent the side of said carrying member spaced from said web, wherein said web is pressed into conformity with said undulting upper surface and retains its resulting shape when dried.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a method for drying a wet paper web, in which the wet paper web is carried through a drying region upon a movable endless foraminous carrying member having an undulating upper surface while a gaseous fluid is passed through said web to remove moisture therefrom, the improvement comprising simultaneously directing gaseous fluid at high velocity against the side of said web spaced from said carrying member and creating a high vacuum adjacent the side of said carrying member spaced from said web, wherein said web is pressed into conformity with said undulting upper surface and retains its resulting shape when dried.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement in a method for drying a wet paper web according to claim 28, wherein said high vacuum is created adjacent the side of said carrying member spaced from said web in a position substantially opposite the position toward which the gaseous fluid is directed, so that substantially all of the gaseous fluid directed against successive transverse segments of said web and passing through said web is received and withdrawn by said vacuum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
130 words
A drying unit for a papermaking machine, comprising: a movable endless foraminous carrying member, means for pressing into contacting engagement with a portion of the surface of said carrying member a wet paper to be dried while leaving one surface of said web exposed, hood means disposed adjacent at least a portion of the surface of said carrying member contacted by said paper web, said hood means being adapted to substantially enclose said portion so as to form a drying zone, supply means for introducing gaseous fluid into said hood means, and vacuum bias means adapted to draw said gaseous fluid successively through said paper web and said foraminous carrying member while said paper web is in contact with and supported by said surface so as to dry said web.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
130 words
A drying unit for a papermaking machine, comprising: a movable endless foraminous carrying member, means for pressing into contacting engagement with a portion of the surface of said carrying member a wet paper to be dried while leaving one surface of said web exposed, hood means disposed adjacent at least a portion of the surface of said carrying member contacted by said paper web, said hood means being adapted to substantially enclose said portion so as to form a drying zone, supply means for introducing gaseous fluid into said hood means, and vacuum bias means adapted to draw said gaseous fluid successively through said paper web and said foraminous carrying member while said paper web is in contact with and supported by said surface so as to dry said web.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A drying unit according to claim 30, wherein said carrying member is a foraminous cylindrical shell.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A drying unit according to claim 30, wherein said carrying member is a foraminous woven wire belt.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A drying unit according to claim 30, wherein said carrying member is a foraminous woven wire belt entrained over a foraminous cylindrical shell.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drying unit according to claim 30, wherein said vacuum bias means are disposed adjacent the portion of said carrying member supporting said web, and opposite the surface of said carrying member contacted by said web.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drying unit according to claim 31, wherein said vacuum bias means are adapted to act through portions of said foraminous shell which have passed out of contact with said web.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drying unit according to claim 33, wherein said vacuum bias means are adapted to act through portions of said cylindrical shell which have passed out of contact with portions of the wire supporting said web.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drying unit according to claim 11, wherein said movable endless foraminous surface is an endless flexible foraminous belt entrained over a foraminous cylindrical shell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |