US2396694A - Cylinder type papermaking machine and method - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1946- J. E. GooDwlLLlE ET A1. 2,396,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 5l, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet l daf/m El G'aaow/u/E.

March 19, 1946. J. E. GOODVWLUE ETA.. 2,996,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD 9 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May s1, 1941 z-LVE'z- :F E fof/v boon/MME.

231. E 552er.

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD vFilm1 May 51, 1941 9 sheets-sheet 3 `March 19, 1946. J. E. GooDwlLLlE ET AL 2,396,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 5l, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 r4/QA ff. 5542er.

March 19, 1946- J. E. GooDwlLLlE ET AL. 2,396,594

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 3l, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 iii ' @Tg-Ww Jon/v @occur/LME.

fqeL 552er.

March 19, 1945- l.1. E. GOODWILLIE ET AL 2,396,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 5l, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 l ZYEJ 2..:1 E

DOUOCCC CCO CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 31. 1941 9 Sheefcs-Sheet 7 March 19, 1946- J. E. GooDwlLLlE ET Al. 2,396,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 31, 1941 v9 sheets-sheet 8 N 1 ZVEI ZZCDYTE @anm March 19, `1946. J. E, GOODWlLLlE ET AL 2,396,694

CYLINDER TYPE PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed May 31, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 C/oH/v GoaDw/LL/E. .15h21. El BEeeV.

Patented Mar. 19, 194ev OFFICE CYLINDER TYPE PAPERMAKING MACHINE AND METHOD John E. Goodwillie and Earl E. Berry, Beloit, Wis.,

assignors to Beloit Iron Works, corporation of Wisconsin Beloit, Wis., a

Application May 31, 1941, Serial No. 396,066

24 Claims. (Cl. 92443) This invention relates to the rapid formation of laminated paper and board sheets by a combination of atmospheric or superatmospheric pressures on the paper stock on one side of the ycylinder molds and vacuum or subatmospheric pressures of various degrees on the insides of the cylinder molds.

More specifically this invention relates to cylinder type paper making machines including opposed cylinder molds having web forming areas covering various degrees of the mold faces, together with plain or suction couch rolls that are positioned to direct pick-up felts for bringing together the wire sides of the webs from each mold, to combine the webs into one laminated sheet, and toseal vacuum or subatmospheric pressure yareas at the points where the webs are removed from the molds.

In the usual cylinder type paper making machines, the webs from the molds are successively picked up on a felt to produce a laminated sheet or board always having at least one exposed wire or forming side face. This wire side face is always coarser than the non-wire side face and has, due to drainage of iine fibers through the wire, im-` perfections or wire marks not found in the nonwire side or top side of the web. It is referred to by papermakers as a galvanized surface 'and can be described as a streaked surface simulating "watered silk and having irregular wavy lines running in the direction of the length of the forming wire. The "galvanized surface may also be defined as an imperfection in the fiber arrangement on the wire side of the sheet formed by the action of the stock and water as it first contacts the wire.

The machines of this invention produce supe-l rior laminated sheets or boards since the wire side of each web or lamination is inside of the laminated sheet or board. The galvanized surface of the web is hidden by bringing together two wire sides of newly formed webs and joining :the same to produce the laminated sheet. As a result only the non-wire sides of the webs will be exposed and both surfaces of the finished sheet will have well-lled and well-formed characteristics. In this way thesheets produced by machines of this invention are always symmetrical and will not curl due to differences in fiber formation on opposite sides thereof.

In accordance with this invention a plurality of cylinder molds are arranged with a pair of transfer rolls or couch rolls defining a nip receiving the webs from each mold therebetween to the pair of opposed consolidate the webs into a single laminated sheet or board.

In preferred embodiments of the invention a pair of opposed oppositely rotating cylinder molds are mounted in the same vat or in adjacent vats to deliver their webs to separate felts trained through the nips provided by couch rolls cooperating with the top of each cylinder mold. These couch rolls in turn cooperate with each other to dene a common nlp for both felts and webs. The felts are directed varound their respective couch rolls to bring the wiresides of the webs together, and as the webs pass through this common nip they are laminated sheet or board.

The nips between the cylinder molds and the couch rolls together with the common nip between the couch rolls seal off the space between the cylinder molds through which the exposed forming surfaces must pass after delivering their webs to the felts."l This facilitates the maintenance of vacuum within the molds.

In the first illustrated form of the invention cylinder molds rotate into and out of separate adjoining ponds of stock maintained by separate 'feed boxes. White water is removed from the interior of each cylinder mold 4through suitable drain connections and suction lines communicate with each interior above the pond levels. The couch rolls bridge the space between the molds.

Since the webs cover the molds between the points .where they emerge from the ponds to the points where they are removed from the molds, and since the couch rolls bridge the space through which the exposed mold surfaces must travel before reentering the ponds, the vacuum within the molds can be maintained without dimculty by the mere provision of suitable end seals.

In the second illustrated a similar arrangement is provided except that the ponds are sealed oi from the space between the cylinder molds bridged by the couch rolls. This space is evacuated by means of a suction line. With this arrangement it is possible to maintain higher degrees of vacuum inside of the cylinder molds, because the pond levels are not raised into the evacuated space.

In the third illustrated form of the invention, stock is flowed from feed boxes against the /surfaces of the pair of cylinder molds, but the white water from the stock is drained back through the faces of the molds so that the molds will run substantially empty. Seals extend across the facesof the molds at the bottoms thereof and form of the invention pressed together to form the divide the vacuum space from the space containing the paper stock.

In the fourth illustrated form of the invention the paper stock is brought to the formation areas on the cylinder molds by means of double pipe distributors or ow eveners. Suctioncouoh rolls Aare provided to bridge the space between the cylinder molds.

In the fifth illustrated form of the invention the suction couch rolls are maintained in spaced opposed relation but effectively transfer the webs from the cylinder' molds to the pick-up felts. These felts are then directed with the webs therebetween through a suction press which laminates the webs into a single sheet or board. Seals maintain the vacuum existing in the cylinder molds throughout the space above the couch rolls and below the suction press. ment the couch rolls, suction press and seals bridge the space between the cylinder molds.

In the sixth illustrated form of the invention the formation zones for the cylinder molds are equipped with a series of corrugated disks which are rotated in timed relation to the speed of the machine for creating an entirely random formation of fibers.

In the seventh illustrated embodiment of the invention the formation zones for the cylinder molds are divided into three parts. The lower part of each zone receives stock flowing across the length of the cylinder mold in one direction. The top part receives stock flowing in the opposite direction. The middle part receives stock directly from the head box to flow radially onto the cylinder molds.

It is then an object of this invention to provide cylinder type paper making machines for rapid production of laminated sheets free from exposed galvanized surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide arrangements of cylinder molds and couch rolls for effectively sealing off the vacuum areas in the cylinder molds.

Another object of the invention isto provide cylinder type paper making machines having opposed oppositely rotating ,cylinder molds in cooperating relation with couch rolls bridging the space between the cylinder molds.

A further object of the invention is to provide cylinder type paper making machines with the cylinder molds and couch rolls thereof arranged for bringing together the wire sides ofthe separate webs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apair of cylinder molds in adjacent ponds of stock with couch rolls which define transfer nips to remove the webs from the molds together with a common web consolidating nip to join together the webs from the molds.

A. specific object of the invention is to isolate the web forming zones of cylinder type paper making machines from the web transfer zones of the cylinder molds.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide forming areas for cylinder type paper making machines which insure the application onto the cylinder molds of a random mixture of fibers free from fiber bundles.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide cylinder type paper making machines with web forming zones having different stock areas.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed descriptions of the annexed In this 'arrangesheets of drawings which by way of example disclose the preferred seven embodiments of the Y invention.

0n the drawings:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view, with parts shown in vertical cross section, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the cylinder molds rotate into and out of adjoining ponds of stock.

Figure 1A is a diagrammatic top plan view of the couch rolls, cylinder molds and vat illustrated in Figure 1. A

Figure 1B is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 1A.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the second preferred form of the invention wherein the ponds of stock are sealed off from the space hetgeen the cylinder molds bridged by the couch rol Figure 2A is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the third preferred form of the invention wherein the white water drained from the paper stock is allowed to flow back through the faces of the cylinder molds.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Figure `3 illustrating the end seals for the cylinder molds and couch rolls.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4 Figure 'i is a fragmentary cross sectional view, with parts in elevation taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the fourth preferred form of the invention wherein the cylinder molds receive stock from opposi' flowing streams and wherein suction couch rolls are provided.

Figure 8A is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line VIIIa-VIIIa of Figure 8.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectionai view, with parts in elevation, of the fifth preferred form of the invention wherein suction couch rolls cooperate with a suction press and with seals to bridge the space between the cylinder molds.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the sixth preferred form of the invention wherein the forming zones for the cylinder molds are equipped with corrugated disks to effect a random distribution of fibers.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the line XI-XI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical cross sectional view of the seventh preferred form of the invention wherein the forming zones for the cylinder molds are divided into a plurality of parts receivingjlB and l1. The stock is supplied to the head boxes I6 and l1 through stock conduits Il and Il. A cylinder mold 20 is rotatably mounted in the 'accesos pond area i4. A second cylinder mold 2| is rotatably mounted in the pond area I5. 'I'he side the interiors of thecylinder molds 28 and 2| at the tops thereof.

Couch rolls 32 and 33 cooperate w1th the cylinder molds 2|) and 2| respectively to define transfer nips 34 and 35 at the top portions of the molds for effecting transfer of the webs on the molds to roll 4|, thence back around another guide roll 42 and downwardly to a guide roll 43. The felt next passes upwardly to a guide roll 44. The draw of the "felt between the guide rolls 43 and 44 can be acted on by a beater 45. After passage over the guide roll 44 the felt is directed over a suction box 46, and thence again to the top of the cylinder mold.

The felt 31 has a similar path and travels over the cylinder mold 2| around the couch roll 33, through the press 38 and next to a second press 41. After passage through the second press 41 the felt is then directed around guide rolls 48 to a tensioning roll 49 and in front of a beater 58, thence around another guide roll 48 and over a suction box 5|.

The couch rolls 32 and 33 preferably have relatively soft rubber covers 32a and 33a respectively. These couch rolls cooperate to dene a common nip 52 therebetween. End seal plates 53 carried by the side walls of the vat cooperate with the ends of the cylinder molds 20 and 2| and the ends of the couch rolls 32 and 33 to seal oiT a space 54 between the cylinder molds. As will be hereinafter described the ends of Ethe cylinder molds between the points where the same emerge from the ponds of stock |4 and I5 to the nips 34 and 35 are alsosealed.

In operation, stock is supplied to the head boxes I6 and |1 from the conduits I8 and I9. These head boxes maintain ponds of stock in the pondv areas |4 and I5. The cylinder molds 20 and 2| rotate in opposite directions through these ponds of stock. Thus the cylinder mold 20 rotates in a clockwise direction through the pond area I4 while the cylinder mold 2| rotates in a counterclockwise direction through the pond area 5. White water is drained from the interiors of the cylinder molds through the drain conduits 24 and 25. The fibers in the stock are thus deposited on the cylinder molds to form webs thereon. As the molds emerge from the ponds the webs cover the peripheral forming surfaces thereof. The pickup felts 36 and 31 then' contact these webs and the *webs are transferred to the felts as the same pass through the nips 34 and 35. 'Ihe felts with the webs thereon are then directed around the couch rolls 32 and 33 into the common nipl 52 thereby y -3 bringing together the wire sides of the webs. The

felts with the laminated web therebetween are next directed through the press 38 where the web is pressed to express water therefrom. The web then follows the felt 31 through the press 41 for further extraction of water.

The interiors of the cylinder molds 20 and 2| are maintained under reduced pressure by the suction conduits and 3| for speeding up the web formation on thevmolds. Since the cylinder mold forming surfaces are exposed from the points Where the webs are removed therefrom to the points where they reenter the stock ponds, this partial vacuum would be'destroyed unless the exposed surfaces of the molds were sealed from the atmosphere. The bridging arrangement of the couch rolls together with the pressure nips provided therebetween and the end seals eiilciently protect these otherwise exposed areas of the cylinder molds in an easy manner.

In Figures 2 and 2A parts substantially identical with parts described in Figure 1 have been designated by the same reference numerals. 'I'he dividing wall I3a between the pond areas I4 and I5 does not extend to the top of the vat I I as does the wall I3 in Figure l. The wall I3a terminates below the top of the vat II and supports a horizontal partition 55 carrying flexible seals 56 and 51 which rub againstthe cylinder molds 20 and 2| to separate the pond areas |4 and I5 from the space 54. A suction conduit 58 communicates with the space 54 to evacuate this space, and at the same time to evacuate the interiors of the cylinder molds 20 and 2| since the same communicate through their exposed forming surfaces with this space 54. The space 54 can be maintained under higher vacuum when the seals 56 and 51 are used, since the level of stock in the ponds |4 and I5 will not be drawn up into this space. As a result o the interiors of the suction molds can be maintained under a very high vacuum without difliculty. y i

A pair of shower pipes 59 can be mounted in the space 54 to eject sprays of water against the exposed forming surfaces of the molds 20 and 2| as they pass through this space.

n The Webs formed on the molds are transferred to the felts 36 and 31 at the nips 34 and 35 and have their wire sides brought together at the common nip 52 in the same manner described in Figure 1.

In the third form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the cylinder molds 20 and 2| are rotatably mounted in a common vat 60. This vat has stock inlets 6| and 62 in the opposite ends thereof supplied from conduits 63 and 64. The stock flows upwardly through the inlets, over walls 65 and 66 and under slices 61 and 68 mounted in the vats in cooperating relation with the molds 20 and 2| respectively. The vat has a pair of circles 69 formed therein defining pond areas 10 and 1| for the cylinder molds 2|) and 2| respectively. These pond areas receive the stock from thein lets 6| and 62.

The slices 61 and 68 denne the upper limits of the pond areas 16 and 1|.

In accordance with this invention,seals 12 and 13 extend across the faces of the molds 20 and 2| at the bottoms thereof to form the lower limits of the pond areas 10 and 1|. These seals 12 and 13 are mounted on carriers 14 and 15 slidably engaged in grooves 16 and 11 of track members 18 and 19 mounted in the bottom of the vat 60. Springs and 8| urge the carriers 14 and 15 upwardly towards the cylinder molds 28 and 2| to provide a ilexible mounting for the seals. \\'l.1he stock ows downwardly through the pond areas T8 and 1| against the oppositely rotating cylinder molds 28 and 2|. 'I'he white water drains into the interiors of the cylinder molds, and thence flows back through the faces of the molds at points between the seals 12 and 13, and back into the vat -68 at the central portion thereof. The White water is drained from the central portion of the vat through a drain conduit 82. The rubber covered couch rolls 32 and 33 cooperate with the cylinder molds in the same manner described in connection with Figure 1 to provide the nips 34 and 35 together with the common nip 52. The space 54 between the cylinder molds is .x bridged by the couch rolls but communicates with the bottom portion of the vat between the seals 12 and 13. A suction conduit 58 similar to that described in Figure 2 is provided for evacuating the space 54, and since this'space 54 communi- Cates with the interiors of the suction molds 2|)A and 2| throughout the entire exposed forming surface areas thereof between the Inps 34 and 35 and the seals 12 and 13, the: interiors of these suction molds are readily evacuated. Since the white water drains into the interiors of the cylinder molds at the pond areas 18 and 1 I ,'and then drains back through the faces of the cylinder molds just beyond the seals 12 and 13, the molds are kept substantially empty. A very high speed web formation is thus obtained.

A pair of shower pipes 83 are mounted in the central portion of the vat 68 to direct streams of water against the exposed forming surfaces of the molds for washing the same before they enter the pond areas 18 and 1|. g The webs from the cylinder molds are transferred to the felts 38 and 31 at the nips 34 and 35 and the wire sides of the webs are brought together at the common nip 52 as described in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 4 the side wall of the vat S8 is built up with a plate 85 bolted on the vat. This plate covers the ends of the cylinder molds 28 and 2| and carries removable doors 88 and 81 in alignment with the seal carriers and mountings for the seals 12 and 13. The removal of the doors provides access to the seals so that the seal mountings 14 and 15 can be slid out of the vat for adjustment and replacement of the seals 12 and 13.

The plate 85 has arcuate flanges 88 around the outer ends thereof which, as shown in Figure 5, house seals such as 89 in sealing engagement with end rings 98 of the cylinder molds such as 2|. The flanges 88 have localized built up housing portions 88a as best shown in Figure 6. A spring 9| is mounted in each housing portion 88a and is backed by a block 92 carried on an adjusting bolt 93 threaded through the housing 88a. The spring 9| can thus be compressed to urge the seal 89 in proper sealing engagement withthe end ring 98 of the cylinder mold 2|. The seal 89 can be formed of any suitable sealing material such as rubber, leather or the like, and preferably has a recess 89a in the face thereof contacting the ring 98 to convey a lubricating fluid such as water around the end ring 98 for lubricating the rubbing surfaces.

The doors 86 and 81 also have built up housing portions 86a and 81a thereon. As shown in Figure 7 the housing portion 81a of the door 81 receives a spring 94 urged by an adjusting boit 85 against a filler block 88 slidably mounted through the flange 88 of the plate 85 for urging the seal 89 against the end ring 98. In this manner the seais 89 in each flange 8B of the plate 85 are urged at several points against the end rings of the cylinder molds 28 and 2|.

The ller block 98, in addition to holding the seal 89 against the end ring 98, also serves as a stopper or seal for the space in the ange 88 back of the seal 89. If such a stopper were not used, air could be sucked through the space in flange 88 from the point 88h at the top of the cylinder around the circumference of the flange and into the vacuum space between the molds.

Asshown in Figure 4, a spring S in the lower end of each flange 88 urges the seals 89 circumferentially into abutment with the top ends 88e of the anges to prevent air from flowing through the spaces in the flanges' back of the seals into the vacuum space at the top ends of the seals.

The cylinder molds may have the supporting shafts 28a and 2| a thereof mounted in packing glands G where they pass through the end plates as indicated in Figure 4, or the entire bearing assembly support for the molds can be housed over and subjected to vacuum.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that the seals 89 are in eccentric relation to the cylinder molds 28 and 2| so that grooves will not be worn in the end rings of the molds. It will also be noted from Figures 4 and 5 that the top portions of the in Figure 5, are mounted between the plate 91 and the ends of the couch rolls. A horizontal spring 99 urged by an adjusting bolt |88 threaded through the plate 91 holds the seal 98 against the end of the couch roll 33 as illustrated in Figure 5. A vertical spring |8| urged by an adjusting bolt |82 also threaded through the plate 81 holds the seal 98 against the seal 89. In this manner the transfer point at the nip 35 -is efiiciently sealed at the ends thereof. It will be understood that identical seal structure exists at the nip 34. It will also be understood that the vat 68 has plates and seals at the opposite side thereof identical with the structure just described and cooperating with end rings on the opposite ends of the cylinder molds as well as with the opposite ends of the couch rolls.

The plate 54 described in Figures 1 to 3 is provided with a similar seal arrangement `and the ends of the cylinder molds described in Figures 1 to 3 are also sealed with a seal arrangement similar to the just described plate 85 and seals 89. i

In the fourth embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 8 the cylinder molds 28 and 2| are rotatably mounted in a vat ||8. A pair of. adjacent parallel conduits and ||2 are mounted at each end of the vat ||8 and receive stock from inlets ||3 communicating with a nonadjacent end of each conduit. Return stock conduits ||4, as shown in Figure 8A communicate with the other nonadjacent ends oi the conduits ||I and ||2 so that stock will flow through the conduits in opposite directions. 'The tops of the conduits are perforated along the lengths 1| thereof as at I I8 to discharge stock from the con- -through passageways |20 communicating with overflow boxes |2| which are drained through y drain outlets |22.- The passageways |20 can be dammed oi by means of gates |23 which are slidable toward and away from the slices I and are controlled by adjusting rods |24. In this manner an excess of stock can be flowed to the formina areas H9 and the excess can be recirculated. Alternatively the forming areas 9 can be maintained under pressure by damming oi the .overflow passageways |20.

' Whitewater iiows from forming areas ||9 to lthe interiorsl of the cylinder molds and 2|.

and can then flowback through the faces of the molds to the vatl ||0. The white water is removed from Suction couch rolls |26 and |21 cooperate with the cylinder molds 20 and 2| to define the transfer nips 34 and 35. These couch rolls also cooperate with each other to dene the common nip 52. The felts 36 and 31 are trained around the couch rolls |26 and |21 to pick up'the webs from the cylinder molds at the nip areas 34 and 35 and to convey these webs away from the molds where their wire sides are brought together at the common nip 52.

The suction couch rolls |26 and |21 have downwardlyopening suction areas |28 bounded by seals |29 at the nips 34 and 35 and by seals |30 adjacent to the common nip 52. The seal |30 in roll |26 terminates the vacuum area in the roll 26 at the nip 52 while the seal |30 in the roll |21 terminates the vacuum area in that roll at a point slightly beyond the nip 52. Thus the action of the continuing vacuum from roll |21 on the laminated sheet serves to strip the sheet; from the felt 36 and tied away on felt 31. 'I'he suction box |3| within each suction couch roll carries a flange |32 which extends substantially across the suction area |28 from the botinsure its being cartop end thereof. This flange forms a collecting trough which prevents water entering the suction area from draining by gravity back through the rotating shell of the suction couch roll.

End seals (not shown) can be used to seal the ends of the cylinders and suction couch rolls so that the interiors of the cylinder molds 20 and -2| can be maintained under vacuum.

The suction couch rolls enhance the transfer of the webs from the cylinder molds to the felts 36 and 31.

the vat through a drain outlet -tom end thereof into spaced relation from the I have been designated by the same reference nu-l merals.

In Figures only the forming area ||9 for the Cylinder mold 20 has been illustrated. It will be understood, however, that an identical forming area together with an identical stock flow evener device is provided for the cylinder mold 2| as shown in Figure 8. g

Suction couch rolls |35 -andv |36 somewhat vsmaller than the suction couch rolls |26 and |21 described in Figure 8 are rotatably mounted in the vat ||0 at levels beneath the tops of the cylinder molds 20 and 2|. These suction couch rolls |35 and |36 each have a suction area |31 bounded by seals |38 adjacent the cylinder molds 20 and 2| and by diametrically opposite seals |39. The suction areas |31 thus extend around thevbottom portion of each couch roll |35 and |36 from the nips 34 and 35 between the couch rolls and the cylinder molds to the space between' the couch rolls. 'A flange or wall |40 carried by the head |4| of each suction couch roll prevents gravity drainage of water backthrough the roll as described in Figure 8. An area |31a is also provided in each suction couch roll and extends from a seal |39 to la top seal |42. This area is under the same vacuum prevailing in Ythe main casing. In-leakage of airto the areas |31a is prevented by the inside seals |42 cooperating with other outside seals hereinafter described.

The pick-up felts 36 and 3,1 are trained over guide rolls |43 and |44 respectively disposed over the cylinder molds |20 and |2| and thence travel downwardly against the cylinder molds and through the nips 34 and 35. The webs are thus transferred at the nip areas to the felts and travel with the felts around the suction areas |31 of the couch rolls. A suction press composed of a suction roll |45 and a cooperating press roll |46 is mounted above the couch rolls |35 and |36. The felts with the webs therebetween are directed around the suction roll |45 through the nip |41 of the suction press.

A plate |48 has a seal |49 at the top end thereof in sealing engagement with the roll |46 of the suction press. This plate |48 also has a seal |50 at the bottom end thereof in sealing engagement with the suction couch roll |35 above the seal |42.y n

A second plate |5| has" a sealv |52 at the top end thereof in sealing engagement with the suction roll |45 and has a seal |53 at the bottom end thereof in sealing engagement with the suction couch roll |36 above the seal |42.

It will be noted that the rolls |45 and |46 of the suction press bridge the space between the spaced couch rolls |35 and |36, and that this space is closed by the plates |48 and` |5I. Since the shell of the suction roll |45 is perforated the suction box |45a'of the suction roll carries another seal |54 rubbing against the` interior of the shell to prevent leakage from the outside atmosphere into moved from the molds onto the felts 36 and 31 at the nps 34 and 35, and are then conveyed through the space |65. Suction acting through the felts is effective to dewater the webs along the suction areas |31. As a result the interiors of the cylinder molds 20 and 2| are evacuated from the suction action of all three suction rolls |35,

y |36 and |45, and the webs are subjected to suction continuously until they pass through the nip of the suction press. The vacuums in the areas |3'1 and in the suction press box |45a are, of course, higher than that maintained in the interior of the casing proper to effect ow of water into the rolls from the sheet and felts. Vacuum in the box |45a can be regulated to suit press roll conditions. K

I'he arrangement shown in Figure 9 thus provides for the removal of the formed sheet from each molding means separate from the laminating means.

In the sixth modification shown in Fig. l0, cylinder molds 20 and 2| together with cooperating couch rolls 32 and 33 are rotatably mounted in a vat-likestructure |60 -having a drain outletv |6| in the bottom thereof.

Feed boxes |62 and |63 are provided at each end of the vat |60 and define passages |64 and l|65 respectively receiving stock from inlet headers |66 and |61. The stock is distributed across the full width of the passageways |64 and |65 by means of a plurality of branch pipes such as |68 and |69 connecting the headers with the bottom portions of the passageways |64 and |65 respectively. f

Enlarged headboxes |10 and |1I are provided at the tops of the passageways |64 and |65 respectively and communicate through passageways |12 and |13 with formation chambers |14 and |15 which respectively open onto portions of the cylinder molds and 2l.

The passageways |12 and |13 are controlled by gates |16 and |11 which are conveniently operated by means of rods |18 and wheels |19. The gates will control the sizes of the passagegenerally downward on the side remote from the mold and upward or in the mold direction on the side adjacent to the mold. When the shafts are rotated at peripheral speeds higher than that of the mold the speed of the rotating stock envelope at the face of the mold can, if desired, be arf-- ranged to coincide with the surface speed oi the mold. l

As white water drains through the faces of the molds 20 and 2| from the formation chambers |14 and |15, a correspondingv amount of stock will be drawn from the head boxes |10 and |1| through the regulated passageways |12 and |13. Some of this stock will pass down beside all three shafts to come to the face of the mold at its start in the formation area. Another portion of the stock will pass between'the lower and middle shaft to make up the amount passing from the face of the mold toward the center of the formaways to regulate the flow of stock from the head boxes into the formation chambers.

Slices |80 and |8| are provided at the tops of the formation chambers and can be adjusted toward and away from the cylinder molds.

Three shafts |82, |83 and |84 extend through each formation chamber |14 .and |15 in spaced superimposed relation. A plurality of corrugated disks |85 are mounted in spaced parallel relation 1 to be operated as desired either above, at, or below machine speed. The speed reference is to the peripheral speed of the edges of the disks as compared with the peripheral speeds of the molds.

The disks as best shown in Figure 10 are spaced rather close to the confining sides of the formation chambers, and somewhat further from the faces of the molds. They are rotated upwardly as indicated by the arrows since the cylinder molds rotate upwardly at these points. With the formation chambers |14 and |15 filled with stock, the rotation of the shafts and disks will create a rotating envelope of the stock in the confined formation chambers. The flow will be -on each shaft. The disks on adjacent shafts intermesh or overlap as shown in Figure 11, so that tion area and the remaining amount of stock will pass between the upper and middle shaft. Now all parts of this stock will be completely agitated by the action of the disks thus breaking up i'lber bundles and causing the fibers to take entirely random arrangements in the rotating envelope of stock.

The pressures in the formation areas can be regulated by varying the height of the stock in the head boxes above the entering passageways as well as by regulating the sizes of these passageways.

The white water draining through the face of the cylinder molds at the formation chambers enters the interiors of the molds and can again drain back through the faces of the molds at the bottoms thereof into the vat chamber |60. This drained white water can be removed from the vat through the drain pipe |6I. In this arrangement the molds will run substantially empty as described in Figure 3. Alternatively, of course. drain outlets for the cylinder molds such as are described in Figures 1 and 2 could be used.

'I'he fibrous webs formed on the cylinder molds pass under the slices and I8| into the nips 34 and 35 where they contact the felts 36 and 31. The webs and felts then pass through the nips and the webs follow the felts around the couch rolls 32 and 33 through the common nip 52.

End seals can be provided to close off the space 54 between the cylinder molds bridged by the couch rolls as described above, and this Space can be evacuated as described in Figures 2 or 3 or the interiors of the cylinder molds can be evacuated as described in Figure 1. Alternative- 1y, of course, the molds could be run at atmospheric pressures relying upon gravity drainag for web formation.

The corrugated disk arrangement shown in Figure 11 and included in the formation chambers of Figure 10 is claimed in the copending divisional application Serial No. 523,801, filed February 25, 1944, by John E. Goodwillie.

In the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13, parts corresponding with parts described in the sixth Vembodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10 have been 1 designated by the same reference numerals. In Figures 12 and 13, however, the formation chambers |14 and |15 are divided into three compartments including bottom compartments |14a and f 15a, middle compartments |14b and 15b, and The head boxes |10 and |1| communicate directly with thel middle compartments |14b and |1511, and the top and bottom walls of these middle compartments carry slices |90 and |9| extending from the ends thereof toward the cylinder molds to better isolate the compartments.

The bottom compartments Illa and Illia taper A in size across the width of the chamber being |61a communicating with the mid-portions there.

of, and end pipes |92 and |93 extend from the ends of the headers to pumps |94 and |95. The pumps are driven individually by means of motors such as |96. The pump |94 `communicates through a valved pipe |91 with the top chamber i'llc. 'I'he pump |95 communicates through a valve pipe |98 with the bottom chamberA I'Ma. Thus the pumps discharge into the large ends of the top and bottom chambers respectively. The small end of the bottom chamber is connected through a valved pipe |99 with the pipe |92. 'Ihe small end of the top chamber l'ldc is connected through a valved pipe 200 with the pipe |93. Thus stock is owed in opposite directions through the chambers l'llla and |l4c from the large inlet ends thereof to the small outlet ends thereof and excess stock is removed from these outlet ends through the pipes |99 and 200 back to the pipes |92 and |93. Similar pumps and pipe connections are provided for the chambers |1511 and illic. A

As a result the top and bottom compartments of each formation chamber have streams of stock flowing in opposite directions therethrough along the full length of the cylinder molds. 'Ihe intermediate or middle compartments |14b and |15b, on the other hand, receive stock directly from the head boxes and this stock flows radially onto the cylinder molds 20 and 2 In this manner, crossing of the fiber structure in various parts of the webs being formed on the cylinder molds as the same advance through the formation chambers is insured. Pressures in the various chambers is controlled largely by the heads of stock carried in the head boxes and |1| while the cross velocity in the top and bottom chambers is con trolled by the speeds of the pumps and the setting of the valves in the valved pipes.

By this arrangement it is possible to obtain a sheet arrangement on each cylinder mold with the fibers lying at reversed angles to the lengthwise direction of the sheet in the upper and lower f portions. I'he formation in the center will have the fibers lying substantially in the machine di` rection.

The conveyance of the webs and the transfer of the webs to the felts as well as the drainage of white water from the cylinder molds and the sealif desired, together with rapid drainage oi' white water through the forming surfaces. The invention provides an eilicient sealing arrangement for maintaining high vacuums in the cylinder molds and utilizes couch rolls as seals as well as transfer media. The invention also provides for controlled handling of the stock to insure thorough criss-crossed arrangement of fibers as the same are formed into webs. This eliminates one of the main objections of cylinder type paper making machines which generally produce sheets having the fibers mainly lying in the machine direction.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a paper making machine, a pair of forming parts in spaced relation, pick-up felts for removing webs from the forming parts, rolls bridging the space between the forming parts/delining a common nip therebetween and cooperating with the forming parts to define pressure nips, means cooperating with said rolls and felts to seal the space between the forming parts', said common nip receiving the felts and webs therethrough to Ibring together the forming surface sides of the webs, and means for evacuating the sealed space between the forming parts.

2. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds rotatable in opposite directions, couch rolls bridging the space between the cylinder molds defining a separate nip with each cylinder mold and a common nip therebetween, means including said couch rolls for sealing the space between the cylinder molds, felts movable toward each other around said couch rolls to pick up webs from the cylinder molds and bring together the mold sides of the webs at said common nip, and means creat# ing a pressure differential between the sealed space and the atmosphereL surrounding said paper making machine.

3, In a cylinder type paper making machine, means dening a pair of adjacent stock ponds, a separate cylinder mold rotatable into and out of each pond, a pair of couch rolls bridging the space between the cylinder molds and defining a common nip therebetween, means including said couch rolls sealing said space, means for evacuating the sealed space, and a pair of pick-up felts trained around said couch rolls for bringing together the mold sides of webs formed on the molds at said common nip.

4. In a cylinder type paper making machine including a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds, a pair of couch rolls bridging the space between said molds in cooperating relation with the molds and with each other for defining nips to seal said space,end seals for said space, and means for evacuating the sealed space.

5. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat defining a pair of separated vat circles for ponds of stock, cylinder molds rotatably mounted in each of said Avat circles, a couch roll cooperating with the top portion of each cylinder mold, said couch rolls dening a `common nip therebetween, felts trained around said couch rolls and over the tops of said cylinder molds for bringing together the mold sides of webs formed on the molds at said common nip, end seals for the space between said cylinder molds and suction means evacuating said space to maintain the interiors of the cylinder molds at subatmospheric pressures.

-6. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat defining a pair of adjoining vat circles, feed boxes at the ends of .said vat for maintaining ponds of stock in said vat circles, cylinder molds rotatably mounted in said vat circles for movement in opposite directions through said ponds, a couch roll cooperating with the top portion of each cylinder mold, said couch rolls defining a on Asaid vat in sealing engagement with said cylinder molds and said couch rolls to cooperate therewith for sealing the space between the cylinder molds, and means for evacuatingfthe interiors of said cylinder molds.

7. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat providing a pair of separate adjoining vat circles, feed boxes in the ends of said vat for maintaining separate ponds of stock in said vat circles, cylinder molds mounted in said vat circles and rotatable to enter the adjoining ends of said ponds, seals between the vat circles cooperating with said cylinder molds, couch rolls cooperating with the tops of said cylinder molds and bridging the space between the cylinder molds, end plates in sealing engagement with said cylinder molds, couch rolls cooperating with said seals' to define an isolated space between the .cylinder molds, and means for evacuating said space to maintain the interiors of said cylinder molds at subatmospheric pressure.

8. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat, a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds rotatably mounted in said vat, couch rolls cooperating with the tops of said cylinder molds and with each other to bridge the space between the molds, said couch rolls also cooperating to deiine a common nip therebetween, felts trained around said couch rolls for bringing together in said common lnip the mold sides of webs formed on the molds, means at the ends of said vat defining a, separate formation chamber for each cylinder mold, means for supplying stock to said formation chambers whereby liquid from the stock will drain through the faces of the cylinder molds into the bottoms of the molds and back through the faces of the molds into the central portion of the vat, and a drain outlet communicatng with said central portion of the vat.

9. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat, a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds pair of spaced opposed forming parts, means deiining web forming chambers on said forming parts, a pair of suction couch rolls cooperating with said forming parts and with each other to bridge the space therebetween, means sealing said space, means for evacuating the sealed space, and a Vpair of oppositely running felts trained around said suction couch rolls to pick up and bring together webs from the forming parts. l

l1. In a cylinder type paper making machine including a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds, the improvements which comprise a pair of suction couch rolls bridging the space between said cylinder molds and evacuating said space, and end seals cooperating with the cylinder molds andcouch rolls to seal the space for maintaining the evacuation thereof.

12. In a cylinder type paper making machine including a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds, a pair cfspaced couch rolls each cooperating with a cylinder mold to define a. nip therewith, a suction press disposed above said couch rolls and bridging the space therebetween, seals between the rolls of said suction press and said couch rolls, means for evacuating the sealed space defined by the suction press, the couch rolls and the seals, and separate felts each trained through a nip between a couch roll and the cylinder mold and through the nip of said suction press.

13. A cylinder type paper making machine comprising a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds, suction couch rolls rotatably mounted in the space between the cylinder molds, felts trained around the bottoms of said couch rolls,

. means in said couch rolls defining a suction area rotatably mounted in said vat, seals in the bottom of said vat cooperating with the bottoms of said cylinder molds to isolate the end portions of the vat from the central portion thereof, means for supplying stock to said isolated end portions for forming webs on said cylinder molds, said cylinder molds receiving liquid from said stock therethrough and discharging said liquid in the central portion of the vat, a drain in said central portion of the vat for said liquid, said cylinder molds rotatable in opposite directions upwardly through isaid isolated end portions of the vat, a pair of couch rolls cooperating with the top portions of said cylinder molds and with each other to bridge the space between the cylinder molds, said couch rolls also cooperating to define a common nip, and felts trained around said couch rolls to pick up webs from the cylinder molds for bringing together the mold sides of the webs in said common nip and thereby produce a laminated sheet free from exposed surfaces which contacted the molds.

10. A paper making machine comprising a at the bottoms thereof, a suction press above said couch rolls receiving said felts therefrom, seals extending between the tops of said couch rolls and the rolls of said suction press for sealing off the space bounded by the suction press, the cylinder molds, and the couch rolls, means for evacuating said sealed ofi space, and means in said couch rolls deiining additional suction areas between said felts and said seals.

14. In a cylinder type paper making machine including a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds and couch rolls bridging the space between said cylinder molds to deiine a common nip therebetween together with transfer nips for removing webs from said cylinder molds, the improvements which comprise seal plates for the ends of said cylinder molds carrying arcuate seals for rubbing engagement with the ends of the cylinder molds, and additional arcuate seals lfor the ends of said couch rolls extending between said transfer hips and said common nip, whereby said seals will cooperate to seal oi the space between the cylinder molds bridged by the couch rolls adapting said space for maintenance of reduced pressures.

15. In a paper making machine, a`plurality of web forming parts in spaced relation, rolls bridging the space between the forming parts including couch rolls cooperating with the forming parts, said rolls deiining nips, means including said rolls providing a sealed space between the web forming parts, means creating a pressure differential between said sealed space and the atmosphere surrounding the paper machine, and felts trained through said nips and around the couch rolls to convey webs away from theforming parts and into engagement with each other.

16. In a cylinder type paper making machine, a vat, a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds 7 5 rotatably mounted in said vat, couch rolls cooperating with said cylinder molds and with each other to bridge the space between the molds, said couch rolls providing pickup nips with said cylinder molds and a common nip for receiving webs formed on said molds, means defining formation chambers for each cylinder mold each communieating with a localized area of the cylinder molds for supplying paper stock to the cylinder mold whereby liquid from the stock will drain through the faces of the cylinder mold into the vat, and a drain in said vat for receiving said liquid.

17. In a cylinder type paper` making machine, a vat, a pair of spaced opposed cylinder molds rotatably mounted in said vat, couch rolls cooperating with said cylinder molds and with each other to .bridge the space between the molds, said couch rolls also cooperating to dene a common nip therebetween, felts trained around said couch rolls for bringing together in said common nips the mold sides of webs formed on the molds, means cooperating with each cylinder mold defining a stock chamber having an open end directly communicating with the cylinder mold for flowing stock fibers onto the molds and stock liquid through the molds into the vat and a drain outlet for said vat receiving said liquid.

18. A paper making machine comprising a cylinder, a forming wire around the cylinder, a stock feed device dening a chamber communieating with said cylinder to deposit stock on the forming wire, a couch roll for removing from said forming wire a web formed thereon from said stock, structure sealingly enclosing a space receiving the cylinder therethrough, and means creating a pressure differential between said sealed space and the atmosphere surrounding said paper making machine to speed up forniation of the web on the forming wire up to the point of removal of the web from the forming wire by the couch roll.

19. A paper making machine comprising a vat, a cylinder therein, a forming wire around the cylinder, a feed device for supplying stock to the wire, a couch roll for removing a web formed on the wire from said stock. seal structure cooperating with said vat, cylinder, and couch roll enclosing a space communicating with the forming wire, and means creating a pressure differential between said enclosed space and the atmosphere surrounding the paper making machine to speed up formation of the web on the forming wire up to the point of removal of the web from the forming wire.

20. A paper making machine comprising a cylinder, a stock feed device communicating with said cylinder. a seal on said device acting on said cylinder to provide a lower terminal end for a pool of stock maintained on the cylinder by said device, a couch roll cooperating with the top of said cylinder to remove a web formed from stock deposited on the cylinder from said pool, and structure sealingly enclosing that portion of the cylinder between the point of removal of the web therefrom by said couch roll to said seal at the lower end of the pool of stock, means for evacuating said space to force drainage of white water through the cylinder from said pool and to subject the web formed on the cylinder to vacuum up to the point of removal therefrom, and drainage means outside of said cylinder receiving said white water whereby white water from said pool will drain into the cylinder above said seal and thence back through the face of the cylinder to said drain means below said seal.

21. A cylinder type paper making machine comprising a vat, a pair of spaced parallel cylinders rotatably mounted in said vat, couch rolls cooperating with said cylinders bridging the space therebetween and defining a common nip to receive webs from both cylinders and form a laminated web therefrom, seal means between said cylinders and vat, and means for evacuating the sealed interior of the vat to speed up web formation on the cylinders up to the points of removal of the webs from the cylinders by said couch rolls.

22. A paper making machine comprising a cylinder, a vat supporting the cylinder for rotation, a stock feed device communicating with a localized portion of the cylinder to deposit stock thereon for forming a web, a couch roll for removing the web formed from said deposited stock, seal structure between the cylinder and feed device, seal structure between the vat and couch roll, and means creating al pressure differential between the space sealed off by said seal structures and the atmosphere surrounding the paper making machine to speed up paper formation on the cylinder up to the point of removal of the web from the cylinder.

23. The method of forming paper on spaced adjacent cylinder molds which comprises sealing the space between the molds, evacuating sale'. space to evacuate the interiors of the molds, rotating the molds, depositing paper stock on evacuated molds to form paper webs on the removing the webs from the molds to uncover portions of said molds in said space, and pressi g the mold contacted faces of the Webs together to form a composite paper sheet.

24. The method of forming paper on spaced adjacent cylinder molds which comprises sealing ils,

the space between the molds, rotating the molds throughpaper stock, creating a pressure differential between said space and said paper stock to eiect forced deposition of paper stock onto the molds to form paper webs thereon, removing the webs from the molds to uncover portions of saidl molds in said space, and maintaining said pressure differential up to the point of removal of the webs from the molds.

JOHN E. GOODWILUE.

EARL E. BERRY.

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