Active web spreading and stabilization shower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016168792-A1
Application number	US-201514948721-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for reducing, preventing, or eliminating wrinkles in a paper sheet during papermaking. The systems may include a dryer configured to dry a continuous paper sheet having a travel direction. The system may also include at least one roll configured to receive the dried continuous paper sheet. The systems may also include an air spreader located downstream of the dryer and upstream of the at least one roll. The at least one roll may include one or more calendering rolls. The air spreader may include a plurality of nozzles configured to expel a gas toward the dried sheet. The nozzles may be oriented in a direction at least partially opposed to the travel direction of the dried sheet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for reducing wrinkles in a paper sheet during papermaking, comprising:
a dryer configured to dry a continuous paper sheet having a travel direction; at least one roll configured to receive the dried continuous paper sheet; and an air spreader located downstream of the dryer and upstream of the at least one roll, the air spreader comprising a plurality of nozzles configured to expel a gas toward the dried sheet, wherein the nozzles are oriented in a direction at least partially opposed to the travel direction of the dried sheet.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a positioning component configured to change a position of the air spreader.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the positioning component is further configured to move the position of the air spreader between a resting position and a working position, the working position being closer to the sheet than the resting position.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a control unit configured to pressurize the air spreader when the air spreader is in the working position, and to depressurize the air spreader when the air spreader is in the resting position.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air spreader is configured to expel the gas toward the sheet at a direction and a velocity sufficient to reduce wrinkles in the sheet.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the air spreader is configured to expel the gas toward the sheet at a direction and a velocity sufficient to increase tension within the sheet.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles comprises a metal tube extending from a base portion of the air spreader.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles is configured to expel a cone-shaped stream of gas toward the sheet.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a dust collector configured to collect dust removed from the dried sheet by the air spreader.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roll is a calendering roll.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roll is a winding roll.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roll is a calendering roll followed by a winding roll.

13 . A method for reducing wrinkles in a paper web during papermaking, the method comprising:
drying a continuous paper web having a travel direction using a dryer; providing a foil along a portion of a first side of the dried paper web; expelling a gas toward a second side of the dried paper web via an air spreader, the air spreader comprising a plurality of nozzles oriented in a direction at least partially opposed to the travel direction of the dried paper web; and subsequently contacting the dried paper web with at least one roll.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one roll is a calendaring roll.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one roll is a winding roll.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising positioning the air spreader using a moveable positioning component.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising rotating the air spreader between a resting position and a working position, wherein the working position is closer to the dried paper web than the resting position.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising pressurizing the air spreader when the air spreader in the working position, and depressurizing the air spreader when the air spreader is in the resting position.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein expelling gas toward the dried paper web comprises expelling the gas at a direction and velocity sufficient to reduce wrinkles in the dried paper web.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein expelling gas toward the dried paper web comprises expelling gas at a direction and velocity sufficient to increase tension within the dried paper web.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles comprises a metal tube extending from a base portion of the air spreader.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles expels a cone-shaped stream of gas.

23 . A system for stabilizing a web, comprising:
a web having a travel direction, the web having a first side and a second side; a foil disposed along a portion of the first side of the web; an air spreader located in proximity to the second side of the web, the air spreader comprising a plurality of nozzles configured to expel a gas toward the second side of the web in a direction at least partially opposed to the travel direction.

24 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising a dryer located upstream of the air spreader and configured to dry the web.

25 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising at least one calendering roll downstream of the air spreader.

26 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising at least one winding roll downstream of the air spreader.

27 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the air spreader is attached to a positioning component configured to change a position of the air spreader.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the positioning component is rotatable such that the air spreader can be moved between a resting position and a working position, the working position being closer to the web than the resting position.

29 . The system of claim 28 , further comprising a control unit configured to pressurize the air spreader when the air spreader is in the working position, and to depressurize the air spreader when the air spreader is in the resting position.

30 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the air spreader is configured to expel the gas toward the second side of the web at a direction and a velocity sufficient to reduce wrinkles from the web.

31 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the air spreader is configured to expel the gas toward the second side of the web at a direction and a velocity sufficient to increase tension within the web.

32 . The system of claim 23 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles comprises a metal tube extending from a base portion of the air spreader.

33 . The system of claim 23 , wherein each nozzle in the plurality of nozzles is configured to expel a cone-shaped stream of gas.

Assignees

• Georgia Pacific Consumer Prod

Inventors

• Raines David Drew
• Henderson Kenneth C
• Jelks Anthony C

Classifications

• B65H2406/122

  Nozzles · CPC title

• D21G1/00

  Calenders (if restricted to the treatment of particular materials see the relevant class, e.g. B29C43/24, D06); Smoothing apparatus · CPC title

• B65H2801/84

  Paper-making machines · CPC title

• D21G1/0073

  Accessories for calenders · CPC title

• D21F11/14

  Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper · CPC title