KR20070114297A - Method and apparatus for applying a material to a wide high-speed web - Google Patents

Abstract

A high-speed apparatus (2) for applying material to cigarette paper during manufacture uses at least two independently operable, moving orifice devices (10,10'), each positioned to deposit horizontal bands of material on a paper web (22) at the dry end of a Fourdrinier wire (6). The resulting web may be cut into multiple webs, each web having a width corresponding to the effective width of a moving orifice device. The apparatus can simultaneously produce both banded and unhanded paper for wrapping tobacco during cigarette manufacturing.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A MATERIAL TO A WIDE HIGH-SPEED WEB}

The present invention preferably relates to an apparatus and method for applying a predetermined pattern of add-on material to a base web in the form of a band, in particular a cigarette having a banded region of the additional material. A high speed device and method for manufacturing paper.

Existing paper making machinery does not have the same proportions, sizes, drive speeds, etc. To use such machines for making banded tobacco paper, the band applying device must fit within existing physical arrangements to avoid significant additional financial investment. In addition, there are cases where a tobacco paper machine needs to produce not only banded paper but also unbanded paper. The moving hole device applies the additional material to the web, the applicator offset angle is smaller for wider machines, and the applicator is required to operate at a speed that may be a multiple of the nominal wire speed of the paper making machine. . The paper making machine operates at speeds of more than 7.5 m / s (1500 ft./min), and the speed requirements for the applicator can cause uneven band widths and uneven band spacing. In addition, paper inspection techniques for current banded paper typically occur after the paper making operation is completed.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for the high speed production of a web with banded regions of additional material, more specifically tobacco paper having stripes of additional cellulosic material. The method includes preparing a first slurry of liquid and fibrous material and transferring the slurry to a moving wire of a paper making machine; And distilling liquid from the first slurry to form a vegetable web running at a first nominal linear velocity. A second slurry of additional material is prepared and delivered to at least one of the plurality of dispensing devices, each of which has a moving belt having one or more orifices. The belt moves so that the velocity component in the direction of web movement is substantially equal to the nominal linear velocity of the web. The second slurry is deposited in transverse stripes on the web through the hole (s), the length of each stripe corresponding to the width of the associated dispensing device projected in the transverse dimension of the web. After drying, the web can be split or split into two or more narrower webs for later use. The transverse stripes of the dry web can be visually inspected to evaluate the width and spacing characteristics so that the operation of the dispensing devices can be dynamically adjusted to provide a uniform width and spacing of the transverse stripes on the web.

The disclosed device includes at least two applicators for applying a pattern of additional material to the web made by a paper making machine. Each applicator is positioned at an angle in the direction of web movement, with each applicator covering a corresponding portion of the web width. Each applicator includes a continuous belt that can be moved to coordinate the communication between the top of the web and the additional material reservoir. The continuous belt of the applicator is operable such that a component of its velocity parallel to the web surface in the direction of the web movement corresponds to a linear velocity of the web movement, with each hole depositing a transverse stripe on the web. The apparatus further includes means for selectively operating each of the applicators such that stripes of the pattern can be applied to the full width or a portion of the width of the web.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a paper making machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of a paper constructed in accordance with an apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the invention.

3 is a perspective view of a cigarette composed of the paper of FIG.

4 is a side view of a moving hole applicator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exploded perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tracking control system of the applicator as viewed from the direction of both arrows B-B in FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the chamber box taken at line VII-VII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the endless belt of the applicator shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

9 is a partial detailed cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the chamber box of the applicator of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment is a tobacco paper making machine 2 operable to produce a banded paper 3 (see FIG. 2) with bands 5 of uniform width spaced apart from each other. It includes. Such banded paper 3 can be used for the manufacture of a cigarette (see FIG. 3) comprising areas in which the bands 5 are designed to drag the cigarette on their own. The paper making machine 2 (FIG. 1) preferably comprises a head box 4 operably located at one end of the Fourdrinier wire 6, wherein a feedstock slurry is prepared and the head It is delivered to a source of feedstock slurry, such as a run tank 8 in communication with the box 4. The machine 2 also includes at least two dispensing devices such as moving hole applicators 10, 10 ′ in exchange with a source of prepared additional slurry, such as a day tank 12.

The head box 4 may be one typically used in the paper making industry to lower cellulosic pulp on the wire wire 6. In a typical environment, the head box 4 is in flow connection with the drive tank 8 via a plurality of conduits 14. Preferably, the feedstock from the drive tank 8 constitutes purified cellulose pulp, such as refined flax or wood pulp, as is common practice in the tobacco paper manufacturing industry. The pulp typically constitutes a mixture of adducts comprising water, fibers and fillers such as chalk.

The mesh wire 6 moves in the longitudinal direction, has a width transverse to the longitudinal direction and generally operates at a constant nominal linear speed. The first slurry from the drive tank 8 is transferred through the head box 4 to the moving wire 6.

The long wire 6 carries slurry pulp laid from the head box 4 along the path in the general direction of the arrow 16 in FIG. 1. As the wire 6 proceeds, liquid water exits the pulp through the wire 6 under the influence of gravity to form a fibrous web. As practice established in the field of tobacco paper manufacturing, a vacuum box 18 may be provided at some locations along the mesh wire 6 to assist in removing water from the slurry. At some point along the mesh wire 6, sufficient water is drained or removed from the base web pulp to establish what is commonly referred to as drying line 20. In the drying line 20, the properties of the slurry change from one of the smeared, wet appearances to a surface appearance that is more closely approximating the appearance of the finished base web (but wet). In the approximate drying line 20, the moisture content of the pulp material is approximately 85-90% and may vary depending on operating conditions and the like. The surface of the web 22 is generally planar and supported by the mesh wire 6.

Downstream of the drying line 20, the base web 22 is separated from the mesh wire 6 in a couch roll 24. From there the long wire 6 continues on the return loop of its endless path. The base web 22 extends beyond the couch roll 24 to further dry and press the base web 22 and to surface treat the desired final moisture content and properties. Continue through the remainder of the paper making system including the drying section 27. Such drying apparatuses are well known in the art of paper making and may include drying felts 26 and the like.

At the very end of the paper making machine, suitable conventional reel devices 28, 29 are provided to collect the paper into spools for further processing or use. Such reel devices 28, 29 are well known in the paper making art.

During the paper making process, it is sometimes desirable to apply a pattern to the web before it is dried, such that the pattern becomes part of the paper web itself, rather than being surface treated, such as for example printing. The preferred pattern includes a plurality of evenly spaced, transverse bands on the base web. The bands may comprise, for example, an add-on material useful for affecting the flammability of the resulting paper web. The materials used to achieve the cigarette dragging off themselves are candidates for such patterns.

The paper making equipment currently used for tobacco production is different in many ways. The paper making apparatus, if only a few, is mentioned, the transverse width of the mesh wire 6, the nominal speed of the mesh wire 6, the longitudinal direction between the headbox 4 and the couch roll 24. Space and the longitudinal space between the drying line 20 and the couch roll 24. For example, the paper making apparatus can have a wire width ranging from less than 3 meters to more than 5 meters. Similarly, machines may have wire meshes that operate at linear speeds higher than 450 m / s (1500 ft./s) from linear speeds lower than 120 m / s (400 ft./s). For this technical purpose, widths above 3 meters are considered wide and linear speeds above 150 m / s (500 ft./min) are considered high speed.

The apparatus and process for applying a pattern of additional material to the web at the wet end of a paper making machine is preferably one that can be adapted to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of existing machinery. In order to apply additional material to a wide, high speed paper making machine, a plurality of dispensing devices are used that apply a pattern of bands to an area across the base web. Each of the dispensing devices is characterized by a moving hole applicator for the additional material described in US 5 997 691, issued December 12, 1999, to Gautam et al., Incorporated herein by reference. Can be integrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, two or more applicators, such as the moving hole applicators 10, 10 ′, apply the drying line 20 and the couch roll () to apply separate patterns of additional material to the web 22. 24) is provided between. Each applicator is operable to apply the pattern to a corresponding portion of the width of the web. The applicators 10, 10 ′ may be parallel to each other and may be offset as shown. The applicators 10, 10 ′ may also be offset from each other in the longitudinal direction along the reticulated wire which is necessary to accommodate the obstructions present in position for the paper making machine. The applicators 10, 10 ′ can be positioned at the same or different angles with respect to the longitudinal direction of the machine, if desired.

The required length of such moving hole applicators 10, 10 'is (i) the width of the web, (ii) the longitudinal speed of the paper making machine, and (iii) the length of the web running along the mesh wire. As a function of direction and angle between the applicators, using a plurality of applicators reduces the required physical length along the mesh wire by the reciprocal of the number of applicators used. Thus, multiple applicators can be used to remove the limitations that may be imposed by the aforementioned physical properties of paper making machines.

The applicator offset angle may be defined as a sharp angle between the longitudinal direction of the movement of the mesh wire and the angled direction of the movement of the belt of the moving hole device. Alternatively, the applicator offset angle may be defined as the complement of the sharp angle between the longitudinal direction of the machine and the plane in which the edge of the moving hole belt operates. For low values of the applicator offset angle, the linear velocity of the moving hole belt is multiplied by the nominal linear velocity of the mesh wire. For example, at an applicator offset angle of 30 °, the belt speed is twice the nominal linear wire speed. For an applicator offset angle of about 19.5 °, the belt speed is three times the nominal linear wire speed. In addition, for an applicator angle of about 14.5 °, the belt speed is four times the nominal linear wire speed. The high speed paper making machinery operates at a nominal linear speed of 420 m / s to 450 m / s (1400 ft./s to 1500 ft./s). At the required band velocity for low applicator offset angles, the hydrodynamic properties of the additional material and the physical limits of the applicator operation can be combined to cause insufficient uniformity or splatter of the deposited pattern. Multiple applicators 10, 10 'allow the applicator offset angle for each applicator to increase to reduce the belt speed to an acceptable level to avoid splatters and to ensure that the deposited pattern is uniform May be employed.

In addition, when the applicators 10, 10 'are selectively operable, i.e., they can be used separately, or can be turned off at the same time, the paper making operation creates a banded pattern across the web or It is possible to create a pattern banded to only a portion of the web or to create an unbanded paper across the web. For example, if both banded and unbanded paper are needed at the same time for tobacco production, the paper making machine 2 may operate one of the two applicators 10, 10 'and the other one. Can be operated in a rest condition. In this way, half of the resulting tobacco wrap product may be banded and the other half may not be banded.

Details of the moving hole applicator 10 will now be described. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the details of each additional moving hole applicator 10 ′ are substantially the same, with the possible exception of length. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, additional slurry from the day tank 12 is delivered to the moving hole applicator 10. Preferably, the moving hole applicator 10 comprises an elongated chamber box 30 which will serve as a reservoir of additional slurry in an oblique manner across the path 16 of the mesh wire 6. The reservoir receives additional slurry from the day tank 12. The moving hole applicator 10 is also an endless continuous perforated steel belt 32 having a path from the downstream end of the applicator towards the drive wheel 34, a guide at the apex of the moving hole applicator 10. Wheel 36 and a follower wheel 38 opposite the upstream end of the chamber box 30, ie opposite the drive wheel 34. Upstream and downstream are observed relative to the movement of the wire 6 and web 22.

The endless belt 32 moves through the bottom of the chamber box 30 as it leaves the chamber box 30, and the belt 32 moves through the cleaning box 42. Next, the belt 32 moves towards the drive wheel 34 and continues along the rest of the circumlocution.

The belt 32 (see FIG. 8) preferably has a plurality of holes evenly spaced along its length. As each through hole or hole 44 (FIG. 8) of the belt 32 passes through the bottom of the chamber box 30, the hole 44 is formed of an additional slurry provided in the chamber box 30. Works with the store. At that time, as the hole 44 crosses the length of the chamber box 30, a stream of additional slurry 40 (FIG. 4) exits the hole 44. The exiting stream 40 is applied to the base web 22 passing underneath the moving hole applicator 10 to create or deliver a transverse band of additional material on the base web 22. The operating speed of the belt 32 varies from one layout to another, and as an example, the belt 32 is oriented with the chamber box 30 at an offset angle of 27 ° with respect to the direction of the wire. And when the wire runs at a speed of approximately 500 feet per minute, it is driven at a speed of about 1111 feet per minute. The spacing of the holes 44 disposed along the belt 32 and the operating speed of the belt 32 are such that a plurality of streams 40, 40 ′ may be applied to the chamber box 30 during operation of the moving hole applicator. It is selected to be discharged simultaneously from below. Each stream 40 of additional material is due to the orienting of the moving hole applicator to the path 16 of the base web 22 and the relative speed of the mesh wire 6 and the endless belt 32. Will create a band of additional material on the base web 22, the band having a length corresponding to the operating length of the moving hole applicator 10. The operating length is the length in the transverse direction of the wire 6 that allows the hole 44 to deposit additional material. At this speed and angle, the moving hole applicator 10 repeatedly repeats a transverse band of additional material oriented uniformly from each other along the web 22 and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal edge of the base web 22. Will be deposited or produced. In combination, the plurality of applicators 10, 10 ′ are operable to deposit aligned or offset bands substantially across the substantially full width of the mesh wire 6. If desired, the angle and / or relative speed may be varied to produce bands angled to be inclined to the edge of the base web 22.

After the belt 32 is removed from the chamber box 30, portions of the belt 32 close to each hole 44 wash the additional slurry entrained in the cleaning station 42. Next, the belt 32 and each associated hole follow the circuit of the endless belt 32 to reenter the chamber box 30 to repeat the application of the band on the base web 22. .

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the moving hole applicator 10 is preferably positioned to obliquely cross the mesh wire 6 at a downstream position of the drying line 20, the base web 22. ) Is a state in which the local mass of the base web slurry allows the additive material to be accepted without being too thinly dispersed. The applicator 10 allows the streams 40, 40 ′ of additional material exiting the aperture 44 to fall through the same distance between the applicator 10 and the planar top surface of the web 22. It is arranged uniformly on the web 22. At that location of the applicator 10, the base web 22 allows the additive slurry to pass (or establish hydrogen bonds) to an appropriate degree to bind and integrate the additive material into the base web 22. Maintain sufficient moisture content (approximately 85-90%).

Preferably, the vacuum box 19 located directly below the chamber box 30 of the moving hole applicator 10 facilitates the coupling / integration of the base web 22 and the additional slurry as well as the long mesh type. It extends coextensively with the applicator providing local support for the wire 6. The vacuum box 19 is constructed according to a design that is commonly used in the paper making industry (such as that of the vacuum box 18). The vacuum box 19 operates at a relatively suitable vacuum level, preferably about 60 inches of water or less. Optionally, additional vacuum boxes 18 ′ may be located downstream of the moving hole applicator 10 to remove additional quantities of water that the additional slurry can contribute. It has been found that much of the removal of water from the additive material occurs in the couch roll 24 where a vacuum of approximately 560 mm to 640 mm (22 to 25 inches) mercury is applied.

The moving hole applicator 10 preferably has the bottom of the chamber box 30 approximately 1 to about so that the moving hole applicator 10 can be lowered to a desired position on the mesh wire 6. It is supported in its position across the mesh wire 6 in a suitable conventional manner so as to clear the base web 22 on the mesh wire 6 smaller than 2 inches, preferably less than 40 mm (1.5 inches).

Preferably, the chamber box 30 has a length selected such that the chamber box 30 covers a portion of the width of the web 22, measured across the paper making machine. The plurality of applicators 10, 10 ′ are arranged such that adjacent ends of their respective chamber boxes 30 lie on a common longitudinal line in the web 22, so that the adjacent applicators 10, 10 ′ of the applicators 10, 10 ′ are positioned. The crossing bands do not overlap. The applicators 10, 10 ′ are also arranged such that the outermost end of the applicator adjacent the corresponding web edge extends beyond the edge of the base web 22. When there are three or more applicators, the corners of the outermost applicators have an overlapping relationship with the web edges. Each internal applicator may or may not overlap in the transverse direction across the base web. Over-extension of the chamber box 30 at the edge of the web causes the distal end of the chamber box 30 as the stream 40 deposits additional material across the base web 22. It is ensured that all fluid discontinuities present or occurring in the air do not affect the discharge stream 40. With such an arrangement, false sprays emitted from the ends of the chamber box 30 occur over the edge portions of the base web 22 that are trimmed at or near the couch roll 24. Likewise, overlapping or non-overlapping of the bands across the base web can be trimmed to provide a continuous reel of uniformly banded paper.

Vertical support framework for the moving hole applicators 10, 10 ′ is used to adjust the applicator offset angle for the applicator 10, 10 ′ relative to the wire mesh 6. It may be pivotal to other. In practice, however, it is only desirable to fix the vertical support structure and to adjust the speed of the endless belt 32 in response to changes in the operating conditions of the paper making machine 2.

The chamber box 30 receives additional material from the day tank 12 at spaced locations along the chamber box 30. The reservoir of the chamber box 30 may also comprise a plurality of linearly arranged compartments through which the endless belt 32 passes. Preferably other flow disturbances along the length of the chamber box 30 and the pumping operation of the belt 22 are continuously and locally compensated to achieve the desired pressure uniformity through the length of the chamber box 30. Preferably, a uniform pressure is maintained along the length of the chamber box 30 by the interaction of the flow distribution system 60, the pressure monitoring system 62, and the programmable logic controller (PLC) 64. Main cure pulp 15 transfers additional slurry from the day tank 12 to the flow distribution system 60.

Details on how the controller starts and maintain a uniform pressure along the chamber box 30 are known for example by US 5 997 691.

A selectable speed motor drives the drive wheel 34 and is operably connected to the drive wheel by a suitable conventional drive belt. Preferably, the motor is supported by the structure of the moving hole applicator 10, where both the motor and the drive belt can find a way to the system for driving the drive wheel 34, or a drive wheel It is encased in a housing to capture all external material, such as slurry bits, that may come out of the system driving 34.

The drive wheel 34 is advantageously located at the downstream end of the chamber box 30 along the path of the belt 32 such that the belt 32 is pulled through the chamber box 30. . A significant degree of directional stability is achieved by the tight fit between the elongated chamber box 30 and the belt 32 through the length of the box 30. However, accurate control of the tracking of the belt 32 around its path circuitry is achieved by the placement of the infrared proximity sensor 54 at a position near the guide wheel 36. The infrared proximity sensor 54 comprises an emitter 56 and a sensor 58 arranged with respect to one of the edges of the belt 32, wherein the belt 32 is laterally out of the intended course. In this case, the signal from the sensor acts by a relative increase or decrease in interference with the emitter beam at the edges. The controller 59 communicates with the sensor 58, interprets the change in the signal from the sensor 58, and advances the edge of the belt 32 appropriately relative to the beam of the emitter 56. Adjust the yaw of the guide wheel 36 with respect to the vertical axis to return to the fixed position.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the guide wheel 36 is laterally pivoted about a vertical axis at a pivot connection 57 by controlled actuation of a pneumatic actuator 61. It rotates around the arrange | positioned mandrel 36a. The actuator 61 is operably connected to a free end portion 36b of the mandrel 36a and responds to a signal received from the controller 59. Preferably, both the pivot connection 57 and the actuator 61 are fixed relative to the general structure of the applicator 10 during operation of the applicator 10. And, a connection 54a is provided between the sensor 54 and the unfixed end of the mandrel 36a so that the sensor 54 rotates as the yaw of the guide wheel 36 is adjusted. The connection 54a ensures that the sensor 54 remains close to the edge of the belt 32 as the guide wheel 36 experiences adjustment.

Preferably, the actuator 61 and the pivot connection 57 are attached to a plate 39a that is vertically deployable along the fixed vertical guides 39b and 39c. Preferably, a vertical bias is applied to the plate 39a to keep the guide wheel 36 in an operable position and to divide the tension in the endless belt 32.

Along the circulation path of the endless belt 32, from the drive wheel 34 on the guide wheel 36 to the follower wheel 38, the belt 32 comprises: outer housings 68, 68 ′, and It is enclosed by a plurality of housings including a controller 59 of the tracking system 55 and a central housing 70 surrounding the infrared proximity sensor 54. The outer housings 68, 68 ′ and the central housing 70 allow flashing of the wrong slurry on the base web 22 as the belt 32 traverses the return portion of the circuit. prevent.

4, various other components (such as wheels 34, 36, 38, chamber box 30, cleaning box 42 and motor 52) of the housing 70 and the applicator 10. Are supported from or by the planar frame member 72. The flat frame member 72 itself is attached to a cross member (I beam, box beam, etc.) at hold-points 73 and 73 'and the cross member is supported by the vertical support structure. Alternatively, an I beam member or a box beam member can be used as a substitute for the frame member 72, and the chamber box 30 and other devices are supported by the beam member.

Referring to FIG. 5, in both support arrangements, the chamber box 30 preferably makes vertical and horizontal adjustments (along the arrows y and x in FIG. 5, respectively) of the end of the chamber box 30. By allowing two or more spaced apart adjustable mounts 77a, 77b, the chamber box 30 can be accurately leveled and angled precisely relative to the mesh wire, Suspended from the support member so that 30 can be accurately arranged on the belt 32 to minimize rubbing.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the chamber box 30 includes slotted base plates 78 as well as first and second wear strips 79, 80 at its bottom 76. The second wear strip (79, 80) is the base plate to define a pair of opposing, elongated slots (81, 82) for slidingly receiving the corner portion of the endless belt (32) Cooperate with 78). Preferably, the elongated slots 81, 82 are formed along the central bottom of the base plate 78, but alternatively may be formed at least partially or entirely within the wear strips 79, 80. Can be.

The central slot 84 in the base plate 78 terminates within the confines of the chamber box 30 adjacent the ends 50, 50 ′ of the chamber box 30. Preferably, each end of the center slot 84 is scalloped to avoid accumulation of slurry solids at those locations. The width of the center slot 84 is selected to minimize the exposure of the fluid to the pumping action of the belt 32 in the chamber box 30. In a preferred embodiment, the slot is approximately 10 mm (3/8 inch) wide, while the diameter of the holes 44 in the endless belt 32 is preferably 2.4 mm (3/32 inch).

Each wear strip 79, 80 extends co-extensively with the base plate 78 along the corresponding opposite side of the bottom 76 of the slurry box 30. A long shim 86 and a plurality of spaced apart fasteners (preferably bolts) allow the wear strips 79, 80 to be adjacent to the base plate 78, Add to the overlapping part. However, the holes 44 can have any desirable configuration, such as a symmetrical or asymmetric non-circular opening.

Tolerance between the slots 81 and 82 and the respective corner portions of the belt 32 should be minimized to facilitate sealing of the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30. However, the fit between the belt 32 and the slots 81, 82 should not be strong enough to promote engagement of the endless belt 32 in the slots 81, 82. In a preferred embodiment, the slots 81, 82 are configured to exhibit a total tolerance of 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) in the width-wise direction across the endless belt 32. When such offset considerations are satisfied. In a direction perpendicular to the plane of the belt, the belt preferably has a thickness of 0.508 mm (0.020 inches), while the slots 81 and 82 are 0.58 mm (0.023 inches) deep. These relationships achieve the desired balance of the need and the proper sealing for easy passage of the belt 32 through the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30.

Preferably, the wear strips 79, 80 are constructed from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or Darron.

Included within the scope of the chamber box 30 is an inclined insert, which fills a corner defined between each of the vertical walls 91, 92 and the base plate 78 of the chamber box 30 and extends along the corner. (insert) (89, 90). The inserts preferably incline 45 degrees from the vertical walls 91, 92 towards the center slot 84 of the base plate 78. This arrangement allows the solid contents of the slurry to accumulate and clog the holes 44 of the endless belt 32 and the chamber box 30 of the fluid within the range of the chamber box 30. Avoid congestion

Near the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30, a pressure part 94 spaced apart from the plurality of spaces communicates with the pressure monitoring system 62 and the interior of the slurry box 30.

Along the upper portion of the chamber box 30, feed ports 96 spaced apart from a plurality of spaces are located along the vertical wall 91. The feed port 96 communicates the flow distribution system 60 with the interior of the slurry box 30. Preferably, the feed port 96 is located close to the lead plate 31 of the chamber box 30. The flow distribution system 60 has been described with reference to FIG. 1.

The feed port 96 is vertically spaced apart at a distance h from above the position where the endless belt 32 traverses through the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30. The feed port 96 introduces a slurry into the chamber box 30 in a substantially horizontal direction. The horizontal orientation and vertical placement of the ports 96 cushions the vertical velocity component in the fluid at or near the region of the endless belt 32 at the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30. The arrangement also separates the outlet flows 40 through the holes 44 from inlet flows in the feed ports 96.

In a preferred embodiment, the height h is usually 8 inches or more. However, the vertical distance h between the feed ports 96 and the endless belt 32 may be as small as 6 inches. If h becomes larger, the interaction and interference between the fluid state at the feed port 96 and the fluid adjacent to the endless belt 32 is small.

In a preferred embodiment, twelve feed ports 96 are used, but the applicator is operable with as few ports as six inlet feed ports 96. Although not preferred, the applicator is expected to function with four inlet feed ports 96. The number of feed ports 96 depends on the portion of the web that a particular applicator should cover. The preferred spacing between the feed ports 96 is approximately 12 inches, preferably not more than approximately 0.6 m (24 inches), although it is possible to operate with greater space.

Referring now to FIG. 8, each hole 44 along the endless belt 32 includes an inclined portion 45 adjacent the side 44 of the endless belt towards the chamber box 30. With such an arrangement, the solid contents of the slurry are not allowed to collect at or near the holes 44 during operation of the applicator 10. More specifically, the slurry fiber deflects the jet of the discharged slurry and is not allowed to gather near the hole. Thus, the inclined portion 45 of the holes 44 promotes steady delivery of the slurry from the applicator 10 and reduces malfunctions and maintenance.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in an alternative embodiment of the chamber box 30 ′, the vertical walls 91 ′, 92 ′, the base plate 78 ′ and the inclined inclined element 89 ′, 90 ') cooperate with a retractable retractable armature 100 supporting the long wear strip 102 at its operable distal end. The long wear strip 102 extends the length of the chamber box 30 'and is spaced along each side of the chamber 30' by a plurality of retractable reinforcements 100, 101. Supported from a remote location. In this embodiment, the wear strips 79 ′ and 80 ′ are mounted thereon and may retract with each of the reinforcements 100 and 101. In FIG. 9, the reinforcement 100 along one side of the chamber box 30 is shown in a retracted position, while the reinforcement 101 along the opposite side of the chamber box 30 ′ is defined by each wear strip ( 90 'is shown in the engaged position, biased relative to the base plate 78'. In actual operation, the stiffeners 100, 101 are pivoted simultaneously between the retracted position and the engaged position.

Each retractable reinforcement 100, 101 is provided with the wear strips 89 ′, 90 ′ from the engaged position in which the wear strips 89 ′, 90 ′ are guided against the base plate 78 ′. One or a pair, preferably providing support for the actuator mechanism 107 for moving the retractable stiffeners 100, 101 to a retracted position, leaving space from the base plate 78 ′. It is mounted to pivot on the vertical flange 106 of.

The actuator mechanism 107 is preferably an air cylinder 108 operatively connected to the pivot arms 109, 110 of the stiffeners 100, 101, respectively. Other mechanical biases may be selected, as one of ordinary skill in the art can readily derive after reading this specification.

Elastomeric sealing between the base plate 78 'and the bottom of the walls 91', 92 'of the chamber box to create a fluid tight seal near the entire circumference of the base plate 78'. 104 is provided.

In operation, both the reinforcements 100 and 101 along both sides of the chamber box 30 'are pivoted simultaneously such that the wear strips 79' and 80 'move as a unit between their moving and engaged positions. do. The retractable reinforcement 100, 101 facilitates quick and quick care, repair and / or replacement of the endless belt 32 ′, wear strips 79 ′, 80 ′ and base plate 78 ′.

As discussed above, after the web 22 leaves the couch roll 24 (see FIG. 1), the web is removed from additional moisture and the dryer section in which the cellulose fiber web is dried to the desired moisture content level. Proceed through 27. Visual inspection means for inspecting the transverse bands of additional material and evaluating the uniformity of the spacing between the adjacent bands or lines and the uniformity of the band width as the web 22 leaves the dryer section 27. Pass 120. In order to validate the visual inspection, the visual inspection system is arranged in a linear arrangement on the web 22 and is provided with a plurality of suitable conventional cameras facing down at the upper surface of the web in the housing 122. Can include them. The cameras may be evenly spaced apart from each other such that the camera position is an indicator of the transverse position on the web, ie the longitudinal region of the web. In addition, the field of view of adjacent cameras may be slightly overlapped to ensure that the entire width of the web should be visually inspected. For example, 16 cameras can be placed in the array.

The visual inspection system 120 transmits and receives the inspection signal via the appropriate conventional cable means 124 to the PLCs 64, 64 'of the applicators. The longitudinal regions of the web monitored by the camera of the visual inspection system 120 correspond to the regions of the applicators 10, 10 ′ supplied by the feed port 96. Thus, if a line width non-uniformity is detected in a portion of the line, the PLC may adjust the additional material supplied to the feed port 96 corresponding to the longitudinal region of the web where the band-width non-uniformity is detected. The feedback signal from the inspection system 120 is used. Adjustments at the feed port 96 occur dynamically, i.e., while the paper is being manufactured, it avoids mass production of defective paper that must be discarded or reprocessed. In addition, the dynamic feedback adjustment and control can avoid the need for post-production inspection of the paper.

If band spacing irregularities are detected by the visual inspection system 120, the feedback signal is employed to appropriately adjust the linear velocity of the moving hole belt 32 of the appropriate applicator 10, 10 ′. In that way, the band spacing of the transverse bands on the web can be dynamically adjusted to remain within the design tolerance for spacing between the bands. Again, the dynamic feedback adjustment and control over band spacing provided by the visual inspection system can be used to avoid post-manufacture inspection of the manufactured paper.

After passing through the visual inspection system 120, the web enters a splitter 125 for dividing the web 22 into two or more longitudinal web portions 130, 132. The splitter 125 may, for example, have an appropriate number of splitting disks 126 positioned transversely across the web 22 to cut the web into the desired longitudinal portions 130, 132. It may include. The splitting disc 126 may engage an anvil roll 128 such that the disc 126 and the roll 128 are such that the web is the disc 126 and the anvil 128. As it passes through, it cooperates to cover the web at the location of the disk 126.

While one splitting disk 126 is depicted, the arrangement will be suitable for installation with two (2) moving hole applicators 10, 10 '. For example, if three applicators are used, it would be desirable to divide the web 22 into three longitudinal portions. In that example, the two splitting disks 126 will be used with the same anvil roll 128, which disks are spaced from each other to provide the desired width for the web portions.

Downstream of the splitter 125, the individual web portions 130, 132 are collected by corresponding reeling devices 28, 29. Here again, while only two reeling devices are shown, one will be provided for each longitudinal web portion in applications where the original web 22 is divided into two or more portions.

In manufacturing scenarios where both banded and unbanded paper are needed, a paper making machine may be operated in which one of the applicators 10, 10 'is deactivated. As a result, one longitudinal portion 132 of the web may be banded and collected while the other longitudinal portion 130 of the web is simultaneously collected without being banded. This ability increases the manufacturing fluidity of the paper making apparatus.

A general method of making patterned paper according to the disclosure herein has been described with the foregoing description of the device. In addition, the operation of the paper making machine and the method according to the preferred embodiment usually use flax feedstock. Nevertheless, the apparatus and related methods are readily applicable to other feedstocks such as hardwood and softwood pulp, eucalyptus pulp and other types of pulp used in the papermaking industry. . The replacement pulp may have properties different from flax, such as differences in average fiber length, which may require adjustment of the degree of purification in the preparation of some pulp and base sheet slurry. Regardless of what type of pulp is used, the additional slurry is intended to avoid fiber build-up at or near the hole 44 of the belt, which avoids jetting deflection at the hole 44. It must be handled sufficiently.

As the hole 44 passes along the bottom of the chamber box 30, the flow of fluid stream 40 exiting each hole 44 is proportional to the pressure differential across the hole 44. Therefore, it is desirable that a fluid pressure is formed and kept as uniform as possible along the entire path of each hole 44 along the bottom 76 of the chamber box 30.

A new high speed method and apparatus for applying a material to a web has been described herein. Numerous variations, modifications, substitutions, and equivalents that exist for the various features of the invention mentioned in the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, all such changes, modifications, substitutions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as described within the appended claims are to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims (17)

A method of manufacturing a web having an application pattern of additional materials, The method, Preparing a first slurry of liquid and fibrous material; Delivering the first slurry to a moving wire having a longitudinal direction, a wire width across the longitudinal direction, and a nominal linear velocity; Withdrawing the liquid from the first slurry through the moving wire to form a fibrous web; Preparing a second slurry of additional material; A plurality of dispensing devices, each device having a continuous belt having a plurality of spaced apart holes, a reservoir and a main belt inclined relative to the longitudinal direction such that each dispensing device covers a corresponding portion of the wire width; Operating at least one of them; Delivering the additional slurry to a reservoir of at least one dispensing device; Moving the continuous belt at a nominal band velocity having a velocity component in the longitudinal direction that is substantially equal to the nominal linear velocity; And Depositing transverse bands of said additional slurry onto said fibrous web through said holes, Wherein the length of each transverse band is no greater than the portion of the wire width corresponding to the dispensing device. The method of claim 1, Delivering said additional slurry to said reservoir of each dispensing device; And Depositing transverse bands of additional slurry in a plurality of longitudinally extending regions parallel to each other and extending substantially across the wire width. The method of claim 1, Dividing the web into at least two (2) narrow webs; Wherein each of the narrow webs has a width corresponding to the distribution device in which the transverse stripes are deposited. The method of claim 3, Independently reeling each of the narrow webs for later use. The method of claim 1, Visually inspecting the transverse stripes on the web to determine width and spacing characteristics; And Dynamically adjusting at least one operation of the dispensing devices in response to the visually inspecting to provide a uniform spacing and uniform width of the transverse stripes on the web. Way. The method of claim 1, Supplying said additional slurry to a plurality of linearly arranged compartments in said reservoir; And And sequentially advancing at least one hole through the plurality of linearly arranged sections. The method of claim 6, Visually inspecting the transverse stripes on the web to determine width and spacing characteristics as a function of position in the transverse direction on the web; And And dynamically adjusting the pressure within each compartment of the dispensing devices in response to the visually inspecting to provide a uniform spacing and uniform width of the transverse stripes on the web. Web manufacturing method. The method of claim 1, And said first slurry and said additional material are materials of tobacco paper. The method of claim 1, Wherein the wire has a width of at least 3 meters and its linear speed is at least 2.5 m / s (500 ft./min). An apparatus for manufacturing a web having an applied pattern of additional materials, The device, A long wire that moves longitudinally at a nominal linear speed and is operable to prepare a continuous web of fibrous material having a width transverse to said longitudinal direction and a generally flat surface; The flat at belt speed, each of which is operable to deposit a stream of additional material on the generally flat surface of the web, each having a reservoir for the additional material, a major length, and at least one hole; At least two dispensing devices having a continuous belt operable to move between the surface and the reservoir such that when the aperture is aligned with the reservoir, a stream of additional material is deposited on the generally flat surface ; And A control system for selectively driving each of said distribution devices, Each dispensing device is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction such that each dispensing device covers a corresponding portion of the web width, Said belt speed having a longitudinal component generally parallel to said longitudinal direction and a transverse component generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, said longitudinal component being substantially equal to said nominal linear velocity. Device. The method of claim 10, Each dispensing device covers a portion of the width of the web, each dispensing device depositing a plurality of generally horizontal bands of additional material on the surface of the web. The method of claim 10, And a cutting device for longitudinally dividing the web into parallel narrow webs, each narrow web having a width corresponding to a banded area formed by each dispensing device. The method of claim 10, A drying system operable to dry the web and located downstream of the dispensing apparatus; A visual inspection system operable to determine the width of the bands of additional material and operatively connected with the dispensing devices and located downstream of the drying system; And And a control system responsive to the visual inspection system to adjust supply of additional material to the dispensing devices to provide a uniform width and / or thickness to the bands. The method of claim 10, A drying system operable to dry the web and located downstream of the dispensing devices; A visual inspection system operable to determine the spacing between bands of additional material and located downstream of the drying system and operatively connected to the dispensing devices; And And a control system responsive to the visual inspection system to adjust the motion of the distributor belt speed to provide uniformly spaced bands. The method of claim 10, A drying system operable to dry the web and located downstream of the dispensing device; A visual inspection system operable to determine the spacing and uniformity of the bands of additional material and located downstream of the drying system and operably connected to the dispensing devices; And And a control system responsive to the visual inspection system to adjust the operation of the dispensing devices to provide a uniform width and spacing to the bands. 11. A web manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the dispensing devices are parallel to each other and laterally offset. Said device is a tobacco paper making machine.

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