May 10, 1938. KUTTER 2,116,763

PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1905 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 no 1 mm I lllllllll ll s\ k fi a L W flu A a ".0". Mm" K 3.

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H. L. KUTTER PAPER MAKING MACHINE Flled July 16, 1935 liilirilllii illililil Q L MM'QM I... III.

mm a Patented May 10, 1938 PAPER MAKING MACHINE Herman L. Kutter, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Blaek-Olawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio,

a corporation oi Ohio Application July 1c, 1935, Serial No. 31,641

6 Claims.

ratus.

. One object of the invention is the provision of a paper pulp stock tank, or mix box, having provision for thoroughly intermixing the stock supplied thereto and providing uniformity of the product which is supplied to the stuff pipe which carries the stock to a paper forming screen or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mix box having baffle means which give abrupt changes in direction of flow of the pulp stock in its passagethrough the mixbox, and which is so arranged as to withdraw the air from the stock before the stock travels to the stuff pipe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mix box having an air collector provided at a low point and adjacent the end of'the stud pipe or outlet passage, the air collector being so arranged as to cause a stock flow approximately horizontally as the stock moves to the stuff pipe,

so that air is extracted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a paper making apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the paper making apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Ill generally represents a cylinder mold, of any suitable construction, and preferably embodying a rotatable forming screen ll arranged so that its greater portion is submerged in paper pulp stock contained in the vat l2. The stock flows to the vat through a supply passage or stufi pipe I! which leads to a feed hopper I provided under the vat, in communication at its larger end with the stock supply compartment IS. The stock flows from the compartment l5, which has a width This invention relates to paper making appa- The mix box is supplied with paper pulp stock through a suitable supply pipe 25, and is adapted to thoroughly mix the comparatively thick pulp stock received through the pipe 25 and the white water which is returned through the pipe 22, and for supplying the mixed stock to the supply pipe l3.

In the usual mix box construction that has been previously used, the stock flows from the top of the mix box direct to the outlet pipe. In doing so the stock velocity increases as it flows downwardly and the stock carries with it considerable air which cannot be eliminated due to the increasing speed of flow of the stock. Furthermore, in the usual form of mix box, there has been considerable trouble because of poor distribution of the stock and white water. The result has been that the sheet does not form level in the vat, due in part to the incomplete mixing of the white water and the thicker stock supplied to the mix box, and also due to the'presence of air in the stockwhich causes considerable commotion in the cylinder mold. The air bubbles present in the stock at the time, the stock is deposited on the forming screen will produce an ranged the commotion produced by the air in the stock will be sufllciently violent to throw or spatter some of the stock all the way up to the sheet on the bottom side of the felt asthe stock rises in the supply compartment 15.

In accordance with the present invention the mix box is so arranged as to effectively intermix the white water and the thicker stock supplied to it, and also arranged to withdraw air from the stock before the stock passes into the stud pipe it. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the mix box preferably comprises a chamber having a plurality of ballles 21 and 28 which effectively divide the mix box into a receiving compartment 29, an intermediate compartment 30 and a supply compartment 3!. Compartments 29 and 30 are in communication with one another at a low point, and compartments 30 and II communicate with one another near their upper ends so that the stock is compelled to flow downwardly through the compartment 29, upwardly through compartment 30 and downwardly through compartment 3|. The abrupt changes in direction of the stock flow, and especially at the point where the stock flows over the partition 28, provides for the release of some contained air, and is also eflective in intermixing the stock.

To provide for more effective discharge of air and more effective intermixing of the stock, the mix box is provided, just above the discharge opening 33, with a wall or partition 34, serving as an air collector and also serving, as will be later described, to divide the flow from the main body of stock in the mix box into a number of diil'erent rapidly moving streams flowing towards one another and intersecting and striking one another to provide for thorough intermixlng of stock. It is preferably dome-like in shap'e, having its lower side open and spaced some little distance above the bottom of the mix box by arms or brackets 35 which support the dome in place. Extending upwardly from the top of the air collector 34 is a vent pipe 31, placing the space just below the dome 34 in communication with the outside air at a point above the stock level 33. At

the top of the pipe 31 there is preferably an 'indicating means to show the operator that the device is in Operating condition and that the air is being eliminated. Such a device may comprise a light ball 33 placed at the top of the pipe 31, and sufllciently light in weight to be displaced by the air flowing up through the pipe 31.

The air collector or dome 34 operates to deflect the stock which moves downwardly in the compartment 3i of the mix box, so that the stock is caused to move out toward the walls of the mix box, the flow then changing abruptly in direction and passing under the dome 34 in an approximately horizontal direction as it flows inwardly toward the center of the opening 33 from all directions. This action produces a very thorough intermixing of the stock so as to supply a uniform product to the stuff pipe l3. As the stock flows toward the center of the mix box outlet 33, there is a liberation and collection of air just be- 1 fore the stock flows into the stuff pipe, the air being eliminated through the air pipe 31, producing a bobbingmovement of the ball 39 which 'thus gives an indication to the operator that the device is properly functioning.

The air pipe 31 is preferably employed in conjunction with the wall 34, so as to provide for the removal of air that is liberated at a point just below the wall 34 where the stock is instantaneously almost at rest before starting its downward travel into the stuff pipe I 3. However, even if the air pipe 31 were not present, the wall 34 would be effective in giving a very thorough intermixlng of the stock because it serves to divide the main body of stock just above it 'intowhat may be considered a great number of streams flowing radially towards one another in all directions just below the wall 34 and just before entering the stuflf pipe i3. These intersecting streams serve to prevent or interrupt any possible stratification and breakup the flowing stock and provide for thorough intermixing of diiferent portions with one another.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to'be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1. In paper making apparatus, a mix box for paper pulp stock comprising a receiving compartment, an intermediate compartment communicating at a low point with a low point of said receiving compartment, and a supply compartment communicating at its upper end with an upper portion of said intermediate compartment, and a stuif pipe for supplying the stock to a forming screen, said stuif pipe extending from the lower end of said supply compartment, and an air withdrawal device in said mix box adjacent the end of said stuff pipe.

2. In paper making apparatus, a mix box, a forming screen, and a stuff pipe extending from said mix box for supplying paper pulp stock to the forming screen, said mix box having baille means producing an abrupt change in the direction of flow and providing for downward movement of the stock toward the stuff pipe, and means at a low point in the mix box for collecting air from the stock as the stock travels toward the stufl' pipe.

3. In paper making apparatus, a mix box for paper pulp stock, said mix box having a stuff pipe extending from a low point thereof, and an air collector having its lower side open and located adjacent to and above the stuff pipe end but well below the stock level in the mix box, and means venting said air collector for the discharge of air therefrom.

4. In-paper making apparatus, a stuif pipe, a mix box for supplying paper pulp stock to said stufl pipe, means for supplying paper pulp stock to said mix box, means for returning white water to the mix box, and means in said mix box for collecting and eliminating air from the stock below the stock level and just before the stock passes into the stufi pipe.

5. In paper making apparatus, a mix box for paper pulp stock, said box having an outlet passage at a bottom portion thereof, and means closely adjacent said outlet opening forming a baflle for abruptly changing the direction of stock flow just preceding the entrance of the stock into the opening, said baille having a downwardly facing chamber providing for the withdrawal of air from the stock at that point.

6. In paper making apparatus, a mix box for paper pulp stock, said box having a discharge opening and having baiile means for abruptly changing the direction of flow of stock through the mix box and providing for downward flow of stock toward the discharge opening, an air collecting chamber having a downwardly facing air inlet opening adapted to receive air from the stock and located near the bottom of the mix box and in the path of movement of the stock flowing downwardly'and toward the discharge opening, and means for relieving air from said chamber.