US2653522A

US2653522A - Paper machine

Info

Publication number: US2653522A
Application number: US773143A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hornbostel Lloyd
Original assignee: Beloit Iron Works Inc
Current assignee: Beloit Iron Works Inc
Priority date: 1947-09-10
Filing date: 1947-09-10
Publication date: 1953-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-29

Description

Sept. 29, 1953 I L. HORNBOSTEL 2,653,522

' PAPER MACHINE Filed se ti 10, 1947 -,2;$ neets-sheet 1 A are Hoe/v5 0.9721.

fig z/ab ww PL 1953 L. HORNBOSTEL 2,653,522

' PAPER MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ZZZ'E'IZ 2 UP 4mm bae/vaarrez Patented Sept. 29, 1953 PAPER MACHINE Lloyd Hornbostel, Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,143

11 Claims.

This invention relates toa paper machine and more particularly to a novel and improved construction of press section for use in a paper machine.

In present high speed paper machines such as are in use today considerable difficulty is experienced in starting the wet web through the press section of the machine. As is customary at the start of the operation, a relatively narrow strip of the wet web is formed on the wire by means of a water jet, and this strip is carried by hand from the suction couch roll over onto the first bottom felt, which is spaced slightly from the couch roll. Then, as the strip, or tall, as it is called, is conveyed along the felt, it is carried into the nip of the first press. Where the press is a horizontal dual press such as described and claimed in the Berry Patent No. 2,209,756, there is a comparatively shar change in direction at the point of entry of the tail into the nip. This is also true in conventional types of press roll assemblies. As a result of the high speed at which the machine is operated, there is a very strong tendency of the tail to continue in the same line as the line of the felt before it reaches the nip, and this makes for difliculty in threading the tail down into the nip. The same difficulty is experienced wherever the tail must make a sudden change in direction of travel.

In order to avoid this difficulty, I provide a press roll arrangement in which the rolls are so dimensioned and arranged that the Web passes through the first press assembly without any sharp or sudden change in direction of travel. In its preferred form, the first press assembly comprises an upper large diameter press roll suspended from an overhead sup-port, and a pair of relatively smaller diameter press rolls arranged for adjustably controlled pressure relationship with respect to the under surface of the upper larger roll. By the use of a sufiiciently large diameter upper roll and. the relatively close spacing of the lower smaller rolls the path of travel of the web through the press assembly can be made substantially horizontal. With such an arrangement, no difiiculty is experienced in starting a narrow strip of wet web, or tail, through the first press assembly, since even though the suction applied to the lower rolls is not effective because the narrow strip leaves the suction area of the rolls uncovered, the tail will tend to follow the first lower felt into the first nip and to adhere to the bare surface of the upper large diameter roll until it comes into contact with the second lower felt, to which it readily adheres in prefer- 2 ence to the surface of the upper large diameter roll.

In such a press assembly as just described, only the to surface of the wet web of paper is pressed against a bare roll surface, the lower surface being in contact with a supporting felt in passing through both of the pressure nips. If the paper after passing through the first press assembly were then to be dried and machine finished in the usual way, the top surface would present a somewhat dii'ferent appearance and would have a somewhat different finish from the under surface of the web. In order .to provide a similar appearance and finish for both surfaces of the web, my

" invention contemplates the use of a second press assembly which is in the nature of a reverse press and a smoothing press, combined.

In order to eliminate an open draw between the first press assembly and the second assembly, the second lower felt from the first assembly is trained into contact with the leading press roll of the second press roll assembly so as to support the web in its travel between the two press assemblies. The second press assembly is so arranged that the under surface of the web is brought into the first nip and pressed against the bare surface of an intermediate press roll. In this way the under or lower surface of the web receives the same pressing action as the top surface of the web received in the first press roll assembly. In the second ress roll assembly, the Web is carried on the bare surface of the intermediate roll into a second pressure nip formed between the intermediate roll and a third bare surfaced press roll. In this second nip a smoothing action is effected that tends further to eliminate any difference between the two surfaces of the web of paper. From the last mentioned pressure nip the web is guided into the first bottom drier of a drying section of the paper machine. From there on, the paper is dried in any usual or conventional manner and machine finished.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a press roll section of a paper machine so arranged and constructed as to eliminate any open draw between the first and second press roll assembly, and with the first press roll assembly so constructed and arranged as to provide for a substantially straight line path of passage of the web through the assembly.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide, in combination, a first press roll assembly in which the upper surface of a wet web of paper is subjected to a ressing and smoothing action against a bare press roll surface, and a second press roll assembly in which the lower surface of the web is subjected to a similar pressing and smoothing action against a bare press roll surface, whereby the two surfaces of the web are given a closely similar appearance and finish.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a press section of a paper machine made up of a plurality of press roll assemblies and an arrangement of top and bottom felts cooperating therewith in such a way as to facilitate the feeding of a wet web of paper through the press section and to eliminate any open draw between the successive press roll assemblies.

It is a still further important object of this invention to provide a first press roll assembly made up of a plurality of lower press rolls arranged in horizontal alignment, and an upper larger diameter press roll against the lower surface of which the lower rolls are brought into adjustable controlled pressure relationship, the relative arrangement and dimensions of the rolls being such that the wet web of paper in passing through the press roll assembly travels substantially in a straight line and without any sudden or abrupt changes in line of direction of travel, thereby facilitating the threading of a newly started web of paper through the press roll assembly.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the first press roll assembly, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the second press r011 assembly of a press section embodying the principles of my invention, Figures 1 and 2 together illustrating the complete press section between the forming section and the drying section of a paper machine.

The reference numeral I indicates generally a supporting framework, comprising vertical supporting members II and upper horizontal supporting members [2 that are supported in turn by said vertical members H. The upper horizontal supporting members [2 are common to the framework It shown in Figures 1 and 2 and serve to support some one or more of the press rolls of both the first press assembly, indicated generally as P-l, and the second press assembly, indicated generally as P-2.

As indicated somewhat diagrammatically in Figure l, a suction couch roll I3 is journaled in bearing supports l4 that constitute a part of the vertical supporting members I I of the first press roll assembly P-l. Said suction couch roll I3 is provided with a suction chamber l5 which is exhausted through a hollow supporting pedestal l6 at one end of the roll. As is customary, the suction r011 l3 constitutes a part of the forming section of the paper machine, a Fourdrinier wire, indicated in dotted lines by the numeral I! being trained around a breast roll (not shown) at the leading end of the forming section and around the couch roll at the other end of the forming section.

The first press roll assembly P-l comprises a relatively large diameter upper press roll l8 journaled at its ends in bearing hangers [9 that are supported by or form a part of dependent supporting arms 29 carried by the overhead horizontal frame members [2. Horizontally extending bracing and supporting members 2| extend between the bearing hangers l9 and the vertical supporting frame members ll. Said horizontal- 1y extending bracing and supporting elements 2! serve both to support a doctor blade assembly, indicated generally at 22, and a broke box 23, and to provide an overhead walk, indicated in dotted lines at 24, which is guarded by a rail 25. The doctor blade assembly 22 serves to scrape and clean the upper roll l8 and to guide any web material that may be scraped therefrom into the broke box 23, which can be tended by an operator from the cat-walk 24.

The large diameter upper roll 18 is suitably made of an artificial stone composition, but may be made of any suitable material customarily employed for press roll construction. As indicative of the relative size of the upper roll I8, the diameter may be of the order of five feet. In general, the diameter of the upper press roll will be around twice the diameter of the lower press rolls of the first press roll assembly P-l.

A pair of lower press rolls 26 and 21 are arranged in horizontal alignment in relatively closely spaced relation to each other and in pressure relationship to the lower surface of the upper press roll [8. The press roll 26 is journaled at its ends in bearing supports '28, which are carried by pivotally mounted arms 28. The arms 29 are pivoted as at 30 and the other ends of said arms are secured to a movable collar 3| forming parts of mechanical jack structures 32. By operation of the jacks 32, the roll 25 is caused to press more or less heavily against the under surface of the upper roll [8. The press roll 26 is preferably of the suction type and is provided with a suction chamber indicated in dotted lines at 33, just in advance of the nip, N-l between said lower roll 26 and the upper roll 18. The suction chamber 33 is exhausted through the front end of the roll 26 by means of a conduit 34. The conduit 34 is provided with a telescopic joint 35 to permit the accommodation of the conduit to the raising and lowering of the roll 26.

The other lower press roll 2'! is of similar construction and is supported in a generally similar fashion by means of pivotally mounted arms 36 about a pivot point 31. Jacks 38 serve to raise and lower the roll 21. A jointed conduit 39 serves for the exhausting of the interior of the press roll 21, which is provided with a suction chamber 40 divided b a partition 4| into two compartments, a compartment 42 in advance of the nip, indicated at N-2, and a compartment 43 extending beyond said nip.

A first bottom felt 45 is associated with the first press roll 26 for conveying a web of paper, indicated in dotted lines at 46, into the first pressure nip N-l. Said felt 45 extends upwardly in contact with an automatic felt guide 41 and is trained around a roller 48 carried at its ends by arms 49 from the bearing hangers 28. The felt 45, with a wet web of paper thereon when the machine is operating, comes into contact with the first lower press roll 26 in advance of the nip N-I and is trained by means of a second felt guide roll 50 to hug the lower surface of the upper roll I8 for a short distance beyond said nip N-l. The felt 45 after passing around the guide roll 50 extends downwardly to felt drying equipment (not shown) which may be located below the flooring F on which the press section is supported.

A second bottom felt 52 is associated with the second lower press roll 21 for conveying the wet web of paper to the second press assembly P-2, Said lower press felt 52 passes upwardly in contact with a felt guide roll 53 into the nip N-2 and is partially lapped around the lower press roll 21, from which it passes in a substantially horizontal line to the second press roll assembly P-2. The arrangement and function of said lower press roll felt 52 will be further described in connection with the following description of the second press roll assembly P-Z.

Said press roll assembly P-2 comprises a stationary intermediate press roll 55 journaled at its ends in supporting brackets 56 that are dependent from and supported by the overhead frame members ii. A pair of outer press rolls 51 and 58 are arranged, one on either side of the intermediate roll 55, with their axes slightly above the axis of the intermediate roll 55 but in general horizontal alignment therewith. The rolls 5'! and 58 are pivotally mounted from the bracket 56 by means of hangers 59 and 6t pivoted, as at 6! and 52, respectively, to the dependent brackets 55. Identical means are provided for both of the outer rolls 5'! and 533 to enable said outer rolls to be urged against the intermediate roll 55 with the desired amount of pressure. Said means are described and claimed in my copending application for patent Serial No. 607,728, filed July 30, 1945. Said means include, in the case of the roll 51, a pair of lever arms 53 pivoted adjacent their lower ends, as at 54, to portions of the dependent brackets 55. The upper ends of said arms 63 are arranged for actuation by means of the flexible diaphragms 65 of a pair of fluid pressure operated diaphragm assemblies 65. Air or other fluid under pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chambers 61 from a source of the compressed fluid (not shown) to act against said diaphragms 65 and thus against the corresponding ends of the arms 63. A casing 58 is carried by each of the arms 63 to partially enclose and protect the diaphragms 65.

The lower ends of the lever arms 63 are provided with hook-like extremities 69 for receiving and retaining the ends it of pressure-applying rods "H. Said rods H are provided with intermediate portions 12 that engage with the lower notched ends T3 of the roll supporting arms 55. Manually operated pressure applying means E i are mounted upon the free ends of said rods 71!, as at 15. By virtue of a threaded engagement (not shown) between the manually operated members M and the rod portions '55, the roll 5! can initially be caused to bear against the inter mediate roll 55 with the desired amount of pressure, prior to operation of the fluid pressure controlled diaphragm assemblies 55. Thereafter, the proper amount of pressure between the outer roll 5? and the intermediate roll 55 is built up and controlled by means of the diaphragm assemblies 56. As is apparent from the construction shown on the drawings, distention outwardly of the diaphragms 65 causes the upper ends of the arms 63 to move toward the left, as shown in the drawings, and therefore causes the lower ends 59 to move toward the right and place the rods 5 5 under tension tending to urge the outer roll 5? into pressure relationship with the intermediate roll 55.

Since identical means are employed for controlling the pressure relationship between the other outer roll 58 and the intermediate roll 55, it is not necessary to describe such other means. A controlled amount of pressure is thus set up at the nip N-3 between the outer roll 58 and the intermediate roll 55, and at the pressure nip N-i between the outer roll 57 and the intermediate roll 55. The roll 58 is a suction press roll, being provided with a suction chamber indicated in dotted lines at I6 just ahead of the nip N-3. The intermediate roll 55 is preferably a stone roll, similar to the press roll I8, while the other outer roll 51 is a plain press roll, preferably rubber surfaced.

The second bottom felt 52, previously referred to, has a horizontal run that is trained against the lower portion of the outer press roll 58 by means of a felt guide roll 18. The felt passes around said guide roll 18 and downwardly into contact with an automatic felt guide roll '19, which is mounted upon a felt guide roll assembly 80. The lower run of the felt 52 passes beneath the flooring F to be dried and then upwardly into contact with the felt guide roll 53, as already described. The wet web of paper 45 carried on the upper surface of the felt 52 is transferred at the roll 58 to the under side of an upper felt 3 l. The transferrence of the web from the lower felt 52 to the upper felt 8| is aided by a suction chamber, indicated in dotted lines at 82 positioned in said suction press roll 58 at a point just beyond the first line of contact between said felts 52 and 8|.

The upper felt 8| has an upper horizontal run above the frame members [2 around rolls 33, 84, 85 and 86. The downwardly extending run of the felt 8! is guided around a felt guide roll 81 into lapping relationship with the outer roll 58, from which the felt 8| passes upwardly around the outermost upper guide roll 86. In its upper passage, the felt 8| passes into contact, as at 88, with the intermediate roll 55 to transfer the web to the surface of said intermediate roll 55. Owing to the tendency of a wet web to adhere more strongly to a roll surface than to a felt, the web is automatically transferred to the bare surface of the intermediate roll 55 upon being brought into contact therewith at the line of contact 88.

The Web is then carried on the bare surface of the intermediate roll 55 into the pressure nip N-fl and at that point is transferred to the surface of the outer press roll 51. Since the pressure at the nip N4 is between roll surfaces, without any intervening felt, the action upon the wet web is that of a smoothing press at the nip N-4. At the nip N-3, however, it is only the bottom, or wire, side of the web 46 that comes in contact with a bare roll surface, namely the surface of the intermediate roll 55, since at the nip N-3 the web 46 is still carried by a felt, the felt 8 I.

Thus, the top surface of the web 46 is brought at the nip N-l and at the nip N-2 into contact with the bare surface of the stone roll l8, while the bottom surface of the web is brought into contact with bare surface of the stone roll 55, and the web is subsequently subjected to a smoothing and pressing action at the nip N- i. In this way, both sides of the web are finished alike. Because of its reversing action upon the web 55, the combination of the outer roll 58 with the intermediate press roll 55 is referred to as a reverse press, and the combination of the other outer roil with the intermediate roll 55 is referred to as a smoothing press because that is the action offected by this latter combination, From the nip N4, the web 46 passes over a guide roll against the surface of the first bottom drier drum 5%. A bottom drier felt 92, passing around a guide roll 93 holds said web 46 against the lower surface of the drier drum 9| and aids in the conveyance of the web as it passes through the drier section,

which may be of usual or conventional construction and design.

Referring again to some of the advantages of the press section construction as just described, the construction and arrangement of the first press section P-i makes possible a substantially horizontal line of travel of the wet web 66 from the time it leaves the lower suction couch roll l3 until it reaches the second press assembly P-2. The absence of any sharp or abrupt changes in direction of travel of the wet web 45 through the first press roll assembly P-l greatly reduces and even eliminates entirely the trouble that an operator would otherwise experience in starting a wet web through the first press section. The narrow strip of web, or tail as it is referred to, is manually stripped from the suction couch roll :3 and deposited upon the upper run of the lower press felt 45, but from there on the web automatically transfers itself to the lower surface of the stone roll I 8 and from such surface to the web 52 at the nip N-2. If there is any break in the web and the web for some reason continues upwardly in contact with the surface of the roll l8, such web is scraped off of the roll surface by means of the doctor blade assembly 22. Said doctor blade assembly 22 includes a blade proper 95 and a downwardly extending apron 96, which together cause the broke to be deposited in the broke box 23. The fact that the broke box 23 is at an elevated level, out of the way of the rolls and felt, greatly facilitates the handling of the broke. The overhead mounting of the large diameter press roll l8 also makes possible the substantially horizontal line of travel of the web through the first press assembly P-I, as already described.

The arrangement of the lower press rolls 26 and 21 in bearing relationship to the under surface of the upper large diameter roll [8 affords all of the advantages of a dual press roll assembly while still permitting the substantially horizontal line of travel of the web through the first press assembly. The degree of pressure between the rolls 26 and I8 and between the rolls 2'! and I8 is separately adjusted and controlled by means of the mechanical jacks 32 and 38 and their associated elements.

The arrangement of the second bottom felt 52 eliminates an open draw between the two press assemblies R4 and P2. The transfer of the wet web of paper 48 from the first press to the second press is thus automatically accomplished and re-- quires practically no attention from the operator of the machine. Similarly, the conveyance of the web through the second press assembly P-2 is automatic and requires little or no attention on the part of the machine tender. A doctor blade or scraper assembly N is provided for cooperation with the lower surface of the intermediate roll 55 to keep that surface clean before coming in contact with the web of paper carried on the under surface of the felt 8|. Any scrapings at the doctor blade assembly H70 fall by gravity into an open pit or a broke box, as the case may be. So far as the operation of the second press roll assembly P-2 is concerned, upon the starting up of the machine or the threading of a tail to and through the press roll assemblies, all that the machine tender need do at the second press roll assembly is to take the tail off the under side of the outer press roll 5'? and lead it over the guide roll 90 and into the draw between the bottom drier felt 92 and the first bottom drier drum 8|. At this point, of course, the web 46 is much drier and stronger by reason of having passed through the dual press P-l and the reverse and smoothing press P-2, so that the web can be handled more easily and with less danger of the web breaking. It will, of course, be apparent to anyone skilled in the paper making art that once the tail has been started into the drier section, and even before that point is reached, the machine tender moves the squirter across the face of the Fourdrinier wire toward the back side of the wire until the full width of web from the wire is passing from the suction couch roll l3 across the gap onto the horizontal run of the first bottom press felt 45.

As soon as the full width of the web is traveling through the press assembly, the suction action of the suction chambers 33 and 43, of course, is effective to make the web follow the path that it is intended to follow. The suction chambers 33 and 40 also perform the function of extracting some additional water from the web 46 and in removing water from the in-side of the nips N-I and N-2. In the second press roll assembly P-2, the suction chamber 82 aids in effecting the transfer of the web 46 from the second lower press felt 52 to the first upper press felt 8|, while the suction chamber 16 performs the previously described function of extracting water am the web and keeping the in-side of nip N? 'lry.

It is apparent from the foregoing description of the press section of my invention and its mode of operation that there is true cooperation between the various elements of the two press roll assemblies, the dual press roll assembly P-l affecting primarily the surface characteristics of the top surface of the web and the reverse press combination of sub-assembly P-2 affecting primarily the surface characteristics of the under surface of the web, while the smoothing press combination comprising the intermediate roll 55 and the other outer roll 51 performs primarily a smoothing action with respect to both the surfaces of the web.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a first press arranged with a pair of lower horizontally aligned rolls and a single larger diameter upper roll having a diameter about twice the diameter of each of said lower rolls for cooperation with said lower rolls to press the upper side of said web against the bare surface of said upper roll, a reverse press arranged with a plurality of horizontally aligned rolls in bearing relationship defining successive vertically extendin nips. lower felt for conveying the web horizontally from said first press to the reverse press, and an upper felt cooperating with said lower felt to receive said web therefrom and convey said web into a vertical nip between rolls of said reverse press for pressing the bottom side of said web against a bare roll surface.

2. In a paper machine. a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a first dual press containing a bare roll, a horizontal reverse press containing a bare roll and a pair of felts, one positioned above the other, cooperating therewith to effect the pressing successively of the top and bottom surfaces of said web and finally both surfaces of said web against a bare roll surface, the lower one of said felts conveying the web from said first press to said reverse press to eliminate an open draw said one felt being disposed to convey said web between said presses in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a dual press, a reverse press and a pair of felts, one positioned above the other, cooperating therewith, the lower one of said felts being horizontal for conveying the web horizontally from said dual press to said reverse press to eliminate an open draw, said dual press having a lower pair of horizontally aligned rolls and an upper single roll forming pressure nips with said lower rolls, the relative diameters of the rolls being in the proportion of about two to one so that the line of travel of the web through said pressure nips is substantially horizontal, and said reversed press having a plurality of horizontally aligned press rolls defining a pair of consecutive vertical nips, the first of said vertical nips receiving therethrough the upper one of said felts and said web thereon to subject one surface only of said web to a bare r011 surface, and the second of said vertical nips receiving therethrough said web alone to subject both surfaces of said web to bare roll surfaces.

4. In a paper machine, a press section including a dual press and a reverse press, the dual press comprising a pair of lower horizontally aligned rolls, a single upper roll having a diameter about twice that of each of said lower rolls, a stationary overhead support having depending portions in which said upper roll is journaled, means supporting said lower rolls in adjustable pressure relationship to said upper roll to provide successive pressure nips therebetween, and a first lower felt for conveying a wet web into the leading one of said nips for contact with and conveyance on the bare surface of said upper roll to the successive nip, the reverse press comprising three horizontally aligned rolls, a dependent portion of said overhead support supporting the middle of said rolls, members pivotally depending from said support for supporting the outer two of said three rolls, means cooperating with said members for controlling the nip pressure between said two outer rolls and said middle roll, an upper felt partly lapped around the first of said outer rolls and passing through the corresponding nip, and a lower horizontal felt passing through the succeeding one of the pressure nips of the dual press for conveying a wet web thereon into contact with said upper felt to transfer said web from said dual press to the upper felt of said reverse press for transfer to the bare surface of said middle roll and passage of said web unsupported by any felt through said reverse press, the consecutive nips of said dual press subjecting one surface only of said web to the smoothing effect of the bare upper roll surface, the first nip of the reverse press subjecting only the reversed web surface to the smoothing effect of the bare middle roll surface, and the second nip of the reverse press simultaneously subjecting both web surfaces to the smoothing effect of the bare middle roll and the second of said outer rolls.

5. A method of making paper, which comprises subjecting a wet web of paper while supported on a conveying surface to pressure against a bare rotating surface for transfer of said web to said rotating surface with the top surface of said web thereagainst, transferring said web from said rotating surface without an open draw to a substantially horizontal traveling supporting surface, passing said traveling surface with said Web thereon into contact with an endless conveying member for transfer of said web thereto and passing said conveying member and web into a pressure nip with the lower surface of said web in contact with a second bare rotating surface for 10 transfer thereto and finally simultaneously con tacting both surfaces of said web with bare relatively rotating surfaces, whereby both surfaces of said web are subjected to a similar pressing action against a bare rotating surface.

6. A method of making paper, which comprises subjecting a wet web of paper while supported on a horizontal run of a conveying felt to pressure against a bare rotating surface for transfer of said web to said rotating surface with the top surface of said web thereagainst, transferring said web from said rotating surface without an open draw to a horizontally traveling supporting surface, passing said traveling surface with said web thereon into contact with an endless conveying member for transfer of said Web thereto and passing said conveying member and web into a pressure nip with the lower surface of said web in contact with a second bare rotating surface for transfer thereto and simultaneously contacting both web surfaces simultaneously with bare rotating surfaces including said second bare rotating surface, whereby both surfaces of said web are subjected to a similar pressing action against a bare rotating surface and whereby said web is at all times supported from the time said web leaves said first conveying felt until said web leaves said second bare rotating surface.

'7. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a first press for pressing the top side of the web against a bare roll surface, a reverse press separate and apart from said first press for pressing the bottom side of the web against a bare roll surface, a first means for receiving the wet web and for supporting and feeding the wet web into said first press without an open draw and a second means for supporting and conveying the web between said first press and said reverse press without an open draw, said first press and said first and second means being so positioned that the web is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane during its travel through said first press and on both said first and said second means.

8. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a dual press for pressing the top side of the web against a bare roll surface, a receiving felt for receiving the wet web and for supporting and feeding the wet web so received into said dual press without an open draw, a horizontal reverse press separate and apart from said dual press for pressing the bottom side of the web against a bare roll surface, a first transfer felt for supporting and conveying the web from said dual press to said reverse press without an open draw, and a second transfer felt for receiving the web from said first transfer felt and carrying the web through a nip of said reverse press, said dual press and said receiving felt and said first transfer felt being so arranged that the web is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane during its travel through said dual press and on said receiving and first transfer felts.

9. In a process of removing water from a continuously moving web in a press section of a paper machine, including a first press and a reverse press, including the steps of (1) drawing the continuously moving web from a forming section of the paper machine, (2) then pressing only the top side of the moving web against a bare rotating surface of said first press, (3) next pressing only the bottom side of the moving web against a bare against bare rotating surfaces, the improvement that comprises carrying the web in a substantially horizontal direction and continuously supporting said web from a point in the moving webs travel in between steps (1) and (2) until the point at which the moving web first contacts the reverse press of step (3).

10. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a. first press for pressing the top side of the web against a bare roll surface, a reverse press separate and apart from said press for pressing the bottom side of the web against a bare roll surface, a first transfer felt for supporting and conveying the web from said first press to said reverse press without an open draw, and a second transfer felt for receiving the web from said first transfer felt and carrying the web through a nip of said reverse press, said first press and said first transfer felt being so arranged that the web is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane during its travel through said first press and on said first transfer felt.

11. In a paper machine, a press section for receiving and pressing a wet web, comprising a first press containing a bare roll, a horizontal reverse press containing a bare roll, and a pair of felts, one positioned above the other, cooperating therewith to effect the pressing successively of the top 12 and bottom surfaces of said web and finally both surfaces of said web against a bare roll surface, the lower one of said felts conveying the web from said first press to said reverse press to eliminate an open draw and said lower felt being disposed to convey said web between said presses in a substantially horizontal plane.

LLOYD HORNBOSTEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,631 Aldrich Mar. 29, 1892 608,849 Eilers Aug. 9, 1898 976,551 Coenen Nov. 22, 1910 2,186,171 Millspaugh Jan. 9, 1940 2,204,426 Millspaugh June 11, 1940 2,209,756 Berry July 30, 1940 2,209,757 Berry July 30, 1940 2,251,492 Malkin Aug. 5, 1941 2,281,294 Malkin Apr. 23, 1942 2,367,778 Hornbostel Jan. 23, 1945 2,386,584 Berry Oct. 9, 1945 2,390,692 Clem Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 499,657 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1939