US2487647A

US2487647A - Heating system for corrugating machines

Info

Publication number: US2487647A
Application number: US631128A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Goettsch
Original assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Current assignee: Samuel M Langston Co
Priority date: 1945-11-27
Filing date: 1945-11-27
Publication date: 1949-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-08

Description

W. J. @@zf' HEATING SYSTEM FOR CORRUGATING MACHINES Filed, Nov'. 27', 1945 NW., "p m13@ .IHMW/ Aatented ov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES iiATENT OFFICE HEATING SYSTEM FOR CORRUGATING MACHINES Walter J. Goettsch, Kenilworth, Ill., assignor to Samuel M. Langston Co., a corporation of New Jersey 14 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to apparatus for the manufacture of corrugated board, and involves a new system of moistening, heating and drying the constituent sheets as they are advanced through the machine and assembled to form a final product.

. In the manufacture of double faced corrugated paper from sheets of continuously advancing paper, the successive steps usually employed are to heat and moisten one of the sheets; pass it between heated corrugating rollers; apply adhesive to the crown of the produced corrugations; pass the corrugated sheet and a plain facing sheet between a smooth heated roller and one of the corrugating rollers, and under pressure to form a single corrugated sheet; apply adhesive to the opposite side of the corrugated sheet at the crowns of the corrugations; bring a second facing sheet into engagement with the adhesive-coated crowns; draw the assembly of three sheets under pressure over heated plates by the action of endless conveyor belts which apply pressure as well as traction; and deliver the stiff double faced corrugated sheet thus produced, to a suitable cut-off mechanism which cuts it into sections of the required length.

In a high speed apparatus of this type there are usually employed from 25 to 40 heated units, such as drums, rollers and plates, and steam is usually employed as the heating medium. The heating to be efficient should utilize the latent heat of steam, and the steam should be kept under such pressure in the several units as to give the desired heating temperature. The collection or retention of non-condensable gases in the system should be prevented, so far as possible, because they act as insulators and impair the ability of the steam to give up its heat. Therefore, such gases should be vented from o1' swept out of the units in which they might otherwise collect, and in such a manner as to prevent the simultaneous venting of any steam which might otheru wise be utilized in heating the units, or some of lthe materials entering the units.

In some constructions groups of units, such as the three main rollers of the singlefacer, and separate groups of plates of the doublefacer, have been connected for the flow of steam therethrough in series, but in such an arrangement the steam flow and the heating effect will be 2 progressively less in the units of each group due to steam condensation in each, and due also to the intermittent action of the traps.

In some constructions the several units have been connected in parallel between a steam supply pipe and a common return line, and with a trap at the outlet of each common return line. With this arangement there is difliculty in obtaining the proper steam flow in each unit to give the heat there required, a liability of shortcircuiting some units, a low rate of flow in each unit, and a wasteful discharge of steam to the return line from many of the units.

In order to facilitate the proper corrugating of the paper in the singlefacer, it is desirable to moisten and heat it before it is corrugated, and for this purpose it has been common practice to deliver steam against the paper before it enters between the corrugating rollers. It is usual practice to deliver such steam directly from the main line to properly positioned nozzles, commonly known as showers.

Among the objects of the present invention are vto overcome various objections to prior procedures, more effectively utilize the steam employed, better distribute the heating in accordance with the needs of the various units of the apparatus, avoid the necessity for traps through which steam or gases flow, prevent the loss of steam with vented gases, and provide a system in which all of the steam delivered is utilized. Other objects and advantages will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be apparent from a study of the apparatus illustrated.

In my improved system I need not employ any steam return line, and need not vent any noncondensable gases from the system along the line of steam flow. The steam is delivered through all of the units to be heated, with the different types of units connected in series, and condensate is trapped and withdrawn from the steam line after leaving each unit, or each small series of units. The units are connected in such order that the ones to be heated to the highest temperature receive the steam first, and the ones requiring the least heat receive it last. The residual steam, after leaving the last unit, is discharged to the atmosphere through nozzles, commonly known as showers, for moistening and heating one or more of the sheets to be incor- QJ porated in the product, and al1 of the non-condensable gases are discharged from the system and into the atmosphere with the steam used for such moistening and heating.

Thus all of the steam delivered from the boilers is used up in the system, there is a high rate of flow through the entire system, the non-con densable gases are prevented from collecting in any of the units, and the condensate from the several units may ow back for re-use in the boiler, and without impeding the delivery of steam to the units. y

My improved system is very economical in the use of steam, as it requires only a small number of pounds oi steam per 1000 square feet of product produced. It permits of the operationof the machine at very high speed, and theproduction of corrugated board in which the tendency to subsequent warpage is greatlyfreducedue to `the controlled and eilicient heatingof 'the fuiiits, and prevents the collection of any non-condensable gases in any of the units, bythe sweeping action of the rapid flow oi steam therethrough.A

Broadly considered, my improved systeminvolves delivering the high pressure steam through `the :rollers of the singlefacer, then through the against the sheet or sheets to beprocessed, before the latter pass lbetween the corrugating rollers,

or in some cases against Ithe facing sheets before these enter the ina-chine, and where such facing vsheets 'may require such =`treatment. condensate formed in 'the several 'units 'is trapped at a plurality of .points'alor'izg-theflina sothat it does not interfere with the rapid Vflow of steam 'through the system.

As specific-features, `the steam may be passed thrughthe rollers of thesinglefa'cer inparallel;

may be passed in 4.parallel through the ,-.p'lates'of successive groups, but through the groups 'in series; andthe s'teaxn,^after leaving'the doublefacer. -may be heated 'if 'necessary before being sprayed against the sheet t` be corrugated.

In the accompanying drawing th'e Ina-in por-- tionsof Va machine 'for making double faced corfru'gated'board are :shown diagrammatically, Ahut where Ithere areemployed aplura'lity of similar units, only vonefor a fewof such units are shown.

It applies particularly tothe'pl'ates of the doublevfacer, and-on the drawing the lines x-x, y--y and z-'e indicate places from which parts'of the machine are omitted. It alsoapplies to the single- .facers 'where tw`o `or more lare employed in mak- -ing a product having two or more corrugated sheets with intermediate'plain'sheets and outside facing sheets.

The .parts of the machine which are of conventional 4fori-n andthe function thereof will be described rstfahd 4without reference to vmy improved system.

The singlefacer includes apair of heated drums I!) and yI I, a 'pressure 4roller I`2, a'pair of corru- Vgating rollers I3 Aand I4, and in some cases -a heated drum I5.. vThe lfacer sheet A 'passes around theA heated drums IEI vand II, and then between the pressure roller I2'and`thecorrugating roller I3.l The other sheet B'pa'sse'so'ver the -heated drum "I5 which frequently hoises 'one of the shower pipes, under another steam shower pipe, and then between the corrugating rollers I3 and I4. Glue is applied to the crowns of the corrugations of the sheet B while the latter is in the corrugating roller I3, and the resulting single faced sheet C` is delivered to the doublefacer. The facer sheet D is passed around a heated drum I'I, thence under a heated plate I8 and over a second heated plate I9, where it comes into contact with the single faced corrugated sheet C after the latter has passed over a heated tension drum 20 and afsuitable glue ap-plier, not shown.

The doublefacer includes a large number of heated plates 2|, over which the double faced corrugated sheet E is pulled at high speed, While "pressure is applied to hold the sheets together during the setting of the glue. Such pulling and pressing means VVincluding a conveyor belt above fthe'sheet E and the plates 2l, and a second conveyor belt below Ythe sheet E and beyond the plates. l As theseconveyors, the glue applying means, the drive for the rollers and drums, and such other mechanical elements, form no portion oi the present invention and are not involved in my vimproved he'atingsystem,`fan'dmaybe of nventional form, theyfhave not been illustrated.

In carrying outmy invention in `the specific lform illustrated, high .pressure steam, Whichfm'ay have a'temperature 'inthe general range of `330 F. and 380 F., is delivered from `the boiler through-a steam mainline 25, Whichfis preferably 'mounted overhead, and to the single facerl end lof the machine. A branch line .2S leads Afl'oxnthe ymain line to an inletmanifoldf2f1."above the' single'- disposed adjacent tothe intake end'of the doublefacer.

Steam 'is also'drawn off 'from `the main rlitre 25 througha 'line'l 4I andthrough branch lines'l42,

43 'and 44 to the interior'of the heater drums 2U and ill, and the lheat'er.plate iI8. 'From these the steam, together with any condensateyows through parallel flinesfd, '-46' and 41 to a line 48 .joining Ythe line 3S"l`eadin`g"'to the ivseparator 10.

Thus the Vseveralheat'ed drums, rollers'andplates which engage thesheets 14.',13 and'C 'havefsteam passed'therethrough infparallel', and'allof th'eieicy 'hau'st steam, 'non-cnderisa'ble gases and 'co'n densate from these units pass to separatorl '140, from which 'the "condensate is 'withdrawn through 'a line' 50yin'cluding'a trap 5I; to fa'fcn densate return line 52.

In the doublefacer there 'maybe a large num- Aber'of hater'plates -2"I,'a`nd thes'e are preferably divided into groups `with the `steam passing 1in parallel 4through `the '.plates of each :group arid in series through the groups of theplates, and with condensate withdrawal from the 'line between successive groups. The lnumber of Eplatesi each group may be one for`r`n'ore, 'a'nd vthe numberfof 'groups may 'be one "or 'iiior-e, vand the 'different groups `may Vhave"different numbers of "plates The exact 'arrangement will Cdepend 'onthesize of the maehineythefnumber offe1"`eritsusedfsnd the 'average rate fof steam-'eensumptin 'in 'these elements, 'but will 'i'n` anyv case' be suoli ftha't Se? steam eowaw-il-lisrbe, maintained .feat .la .suiciently high rate to prevent non-condensable gases from.; departing. from the. steamtoiorm .lmsionpockets onany appreciablezsize.;

Asi.` .shown,.thez.steam, after havingl .heated the units'bf-lthel 'singleiacenY and after. having all confV densatearemovdfatthe .separatorf 40; but. still including..anysnon-condensable'gases which may... havestbeeniinthe. steam, risrtaken.from thetopfoffV the separator 40p through-.a illne... 53;; andlaconaj ductedthroughzbranehes. 541,-to..the yplate-...| 9,5.andx to the plates 2| of the rst group of plates. at thefintak'e endY ofV :the .dou'blefacerv From*b these plates ite-passes .through branches.. 55 to `a line 561i. leading. to a V.separatorasimilar .to separator-l40.,l and .twithsia trap .5 fa. for` withdrawal 'of L con-1 L den'satetolthe line.521.-

The...steam..is delivered. tothe units of thel singleface'r under. pressure,.;w1iich may. beeld() .-toq 175: .-pounds; .butthis pressure andthe correspond-l Cil lng temperature, drop somewhat in passing-f.

'5 Dil m'ai'ningylplatesofthe'-doublefaoer` under anyreduced lpressureand reduced temperature thatmayfbedesired -to suit i the materials being run; and-so'a's to produce board ofl better quality and A withi-1ess tendency -to sulzvseiuentwarpage. For operation under conditions requiring mairimum heata`bypas's line 59113 to render this'fpressur'e reducing valve inoperative ips-provided.

Steaml---fromithe -pres'sure reducer 58 4V`passesV Y through-'a line 6D-'toVr a -line 61;- from which" branoheswBZ ingparallel deliverV steam to; the heate'rl 'plates 2 hof -thelnext group, and the steamY froml thesema-y-I pass through branches 53 IinY paralllltoi-a line [i4-to the separator and con-V densatetrap Yatthe endy of this group of plates.

Tri-parallel dischargebranches 63' preferablyf have-'flow regulators63a toA facilitatethe regulation of flow and securefthe desired ,distribution thruglijthe-Aplates. There `may beras many` groupsof-plates lwith intermediate separators and traps'as desired.- and the' steam from the .final plates goes to a separator 65 similar to the separators-AU-and 51gr `and with a similar condensate`A draw-'01T `trap 5Ib.4 It `will thus be seen that the highest: temperature steam is used in the singleiacer` and the pre-heaters, slightly' lower temperature-steam is used in the first plates of the doublefaeer; and the lowestpressure steam is` usedfinth'e nal plates.

Fromthefinal` separator 65 the residual steam,` together-with all non-condensable gases which may. have Ybeen inthe original steam,lis taken off 'i through the line BBand-conducted back to' thevv singlefacer. Here it passes through a line 61fto a heater .68, thence through` branches 69 and 10 tonozzles 'H;and..12, which/latter may-frequentlybe..located` ini a recess of heater drum I5. These nozzlesare disposed on opposite sides of the sheet B gandainadvance oftheipoint where said. sheet sgthecorrugating; roller.. I4. .1 The heater 68v i may be of .any suitable;type. but is .preferably an,. electricheater, so that 1the .temperature;of the.;4

exhaust ,steam from the deliveryV end ofgthe doublefacer may be raised to a `suitable temperature, ranging as high as 500 F., before 4being. sprayed onto the sheet B; The steam from line S1 preferably passes to the bottomof the heater,V and any condensate may be drawn off throughs suitable trap 14.. The condensate from the trap may be delivered to the line 52. In oase there is any condensation in the main steam yline 25,t .`or-

in the line 65, it may be drawn off through simifv lar suitable traps 14a' and 14h and deliveredto 'i the line 52.

It is important to note that in my improved,v system there is no vent for non-condensable'gases along the line of flow of the steam, and that all such gases are swept through the system and dis--` charged therefrom with the steam spray nozzles yat H and 12. Where the facing sheets also require some spraying with steam there will be additional nozzles suitably located. It will also be noted that there is no steam return line, that all of the steam delivered through the main line 25 is used up in the system, and all condensate. formed along the line is separated and returned.`

through the line 52.

It will also be noted that the steamunder the highest pressure and at the highest temperature.

is delivered to the elements which require maximum temperature, namely the several preheaters and the rollers of the rst unit;` that the steam is then delivered to the doublefacer; and that steam at the lowest temperature and lowest prest L, sure employed is used inmaintaining the temperature of thecompleted sheet or board at the delivery end portion of the doublefacer, where it acts primarily to prevent cooling ofy the sheet rather than to raise .the temperature thereof.

It will also be noted that the stream ultimately used in the nozzles adjacent to the corrugating rollers is first circulated through the machine thus increasing throughout the machine the rate of stream flow. which in turn makes it possible to effectively sweep out the object-ionablefnom condensable gases. Furthermore it should be noted that since these nozzles are discharging steam continrously while the machine is in operation there is continuous flow through the machine. This notonly aids in sweeping out non-condensable gases but also aids materially .the efficient removal of condensate and makes possible a much quickerand more accurate con* trol of the steam pressure and temperature of all but the first group of plates in the doublefacer.`

Pressure gauges are employed at the variousseparators, and -if desired at other places in the line of flow, in order that the operator may obV serve and control the temperature and pressure of the steam delivered to the various units.

It will-he` understood thatif twe or-more corrugated -sheets'are employed with 'intermediate plain sheets tomakea thicker and stiier'product-y a plurality of singlefacers may be` employed land connected in parallel-by steam -lines drawn from thevmain supplyline 25,V and all delivering'the`ir--y exhaust-steam to the line 3%- whichgces to theseparator -4 9;

It will further be understood that where-no 'l doublefacer isusedyasffor instance wheresingle faced board only is 1 aroduc'ed, 0r where-fer var-Ll ous .reasons it Yis, not considered--feasible.to'alterl A the steamandtdrainage system. of a double-facer,-

this....system. of. zcirculating... the .showery steam through ithe..heat.ed .elements of 1a corrugator loan. i

beapplied'tothesinglefacer only. Similarly the system 'can be applied only to the doublefacer, the shower steam for a singlefacer operating in conjunction with such doubleiacer circulating through the double Yfacer only. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A heating system for a corrugated board machine, including a singlefacer having steam heated rollers and drums and a doubleiacer havingl steam heated plates, in'combination with a steam supply line, a condensate returnline, means for conducting steam from said supply line through said rollers and drums, thence through said plates, and thence as jets against at least one of the sheets delivered to the machine for moistening the sheet to be corrugated, separators for condensate at spaced points along the` line of steam flow, and traps for withdrawing condensate but not gases from said separato-rs, and delivering it to said return line.

2. The combination of a Singlefacer having steam heated corrugating rollers, a doubleiacer having steam heated plates, means for supplying steam to said rollers, means for separating ccndensate but not gases from the steam delivered from said rollers, means for delivering steam from said separating means to said plates, means for separating condensate but not gases from the steam delivered from said plates, and means for heating at least one of the sheets delivered to said singlefacer, by thesteam and gases delivered from said last mentioned separating means.

3. In combination, a singlefacer, a doublefacer, a moistener for at least one ofthe sheets delivered tc saidsinglefacer, and means for delivering steam to said singleriacer, said doublefacer, and said moistener in series, and in the order above named.

4. In combination, a singlefacer having a plurality oi rollers and drums, moistening and heating means for at least one of the sheets de* livered thereto, means for delivering steam through said rollers and drums in parallel, separating means for removing condensate but not non-condensable gases from the steam leaving said drums and rollers, and means for delivering to said moistening and heating means said last mentioned steam from said separating means,

5. In combination, a singlefacer having a plurality c-f rollers and drums, moistening and heating means for at least one of the sheets delivered thereto, means for delivering steam through rollers and drums, separating means for removing condensate but not non-condensable gases from the steam leaving said drums and rollers, and means for delivering to said moistening and heating means said last mentioned steam from said separating means.

6. A machine for processing sheet material, including a plurality of elements over which the material passes in series, means for delivering steam through said elements in series in the path of movement of the material, and means for moistening said material at the material intake end of the machine, by exhaust steam discharged from an element at the delivery end of the machine.

7. A machine for processing sheet material, including a plurality of elements over which the material passes in series, means for delivering steam through said elements, and means for moistening said material at the material intake end of the machine, by exhaust steam discharged Cil from an element at the delivery end of the mchine.v

8. A machine for making double faced corrugated paper, including a series of plates over which the paper passes, means for passing steam through said platesl generally in the direction of movement of said paper, means for separating condensate but not non-condensable gases from` the steam discharged from said plates, and means for moistening and heating a sheet delivered to said doublefacer by said last mentioned steam and gases.

9. A machine for making double faced corrugated paper, including a series of plates over which the paper passes, means for passing steam through said plates, means for separating condensate but not non-condensable gases from the steam discharged from said plates, and means for moistening and heating a sheet delivered to said doublefacer by said last mentioned steam and 11. In combination, a singlefacer, a doublefacer, a moistener for at least one of the sheets delivered to said singlefacer, means for deliveri ing steam to said singlefacer, said doublefacer, and said moistener in series, and in the order 1 above named, and means for separating condensate but not non-condensable gases from said steam between said singlefacer and said doublefacer and between saidv dou-blefacer and said moistener.

12. In combination, a singlefacer, a doublefacer, a moistener for at least one of the sheets delivered to said singlefacer, means for delivering steam to said singlefacer, said doublefacer, andvv said' moistener in series, and in the order above named, and means for separating condensate said singlefacer and said doublefacer, and discharged at said moistener.

13. In combination, a singlefacer having a plu- I rality of rollers and drums, moistening and heating means for at least one of the sheets delivered to said singlefacer, a doublefacer having a plurality of groups ofA plates, means for delivering steam through said rollers and drums in parallel, a condensate separator through which the steam is delivered from said rollers and drums, means for delivering steam from said separator through said groups oi plates in series and through the plates of each group in parallel, condensate separators through which the steam passes between each group of plates, and means for delivering steam, together with all non-condensable gases from the last of said separators to said sheet heating and moistening means.

14. In combination, a singlefacer having a plurality of rollers and drums, moistening and heating means for at least one of the sheets delivered to said singlefacer, a doublefacer having a plurality of groups of plates, means for delivering 75 steam through said rollers and drums in parallel,

a condensate separator through which the steam REFERENCES CITED and non-condensable gases are delivered from The followlng references are of record in the sald rollers and drums, means for delivering me of t1. :patent:

steam and gases from said separator through said groups of plates in series and in the general di- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS rection of the movement of the product through .l

the doublefacer, a `condensate separator through Nugs Knolgme OctDot e190() which the steam and gases pass from the last 1 357453 Hawking Nob 2 1920 group of said series, and means for delivering said 1770757 Maston Jul '15 1930 steam and gases from said last separator to said lo 1817110 Stickle Auy 4 1931 moistening and heating means. g'

W ALTER J GOETTSCH 2,341,335 Simmons Feb. 8, 1944