U.S. patent application number 11/020601 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for machine for making/treating a sheet of material.
Invention is credited to Aust, Richard, Henninger, Christoph, Reich, Stefan, Tietz, Martin.
Application Number | 20050098285 11/020601 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34553281 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050098285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aust, Richard ; et
al. |
May 12, 2005 |
Machine for making/treating a sheet of material
Abstract
A machine for one of producing and treating, and separately
treating a material web including a material web dispensing device,
at least one application apparatus, a drying device, a processing
device and a material web smoothing device. The material web
dispensing device dispenses a material web continuously. The at
least one application apparatus is arranged along a material web
path after the material web dispensing device. The application
apparatus applies a liquid or a pasty application medium to at
least one side of the web as it moves along the material web path.
The at least one application apparatus including at least one
contactless application unit discharging the application medium as
a free application medium jet, an application medium curtain, an
application medium veil or an application medium droplet spray. The
at least one contactless application unit applying the application
medium to the material web on the basis of forces imparted to the
application medium, movement impulses imparted to the application
medium or movement of the application medium induced by the force
of gravity. The drying device is arranged along the material web
path after the application apparatus. The drying device drying the
moving material web to a drying state. The processing device is
arranged along the material web path after the drying device. The
processing device at least processing, picking up and/or
discharging the web. The material web smoothing device is
positioned along the material web path either before or after the
application apparatus.
Inventors: |
Aust, Richard;
(Monchengladbach, DE) ; Henninger, Christoph;
(Heidenheim, DE) ; Reich, Stefan; (Heidenheim,
DE) ; Tietz, Martin; (Heidenheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Todd T. Taylor
Taylor & Aust, P.C.
142 S. Main Street
PO Box 560
Avilla
IN
46710
US
|
Family ID: |
34553281 |
Appl. No.: |
11/020601 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11020601 |
Dec 23, 2004 |
|
|
|
PCT/EP03/50209 |
Jun 2, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
162/136 ;
162/205; 162/265; 162/266; 427/420 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D21H 23/72 20130101;
D21H 23/50 20130101; D21H 23/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
162/136 ;
427/420; 162/266; 162/265; 162/205 |
International
Class: |
D21H 023/72 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2002 |
DE |
102 28 117.3 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A machine for one of producing and treating, and separately
treating a fiber material web, comprising: a material web
dispensing device for dispensing the fiber material web
continuously; at least one application apparatus arranged along a
fiber material web path after said material web dispensing device,
said application apparatus for applying one of a liquid and a pasty
application medium to at least one side of the fiber material web
as it moves along the fiber material web path, said at least one
application apparatus including at least one contactless
application unit discharging the application medium in at least one
of a free application medium jet, an application medium curtain, an
application medium veil and an application medium droplet spray,
said at least one contactless application unit applying the
application medium to the fiber material web on the basis of at
least one of forces imparted to the application medium, movement
impulses imparted to the application medium and movement of the
application medium induced by the force of gravity; a drying device
arranged along the fiber material web path after said application
apparatus, said drying device drying the moving fiber material web
to a drying state; a processing device arranged along the fiber
material web path after said drying device, said processing device
at least one of processing, picking up and discharging the web; and
a material web smoothing device positioned along the fiber material
web path one of before and after said application apparatus.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said material web smoothing
device smoothes the fiber material web on at least one side, in
such a way that a fiber material web roughness no greater than 5
.mu.m when measured in accordance with the PPS-10s measuring
method.
3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said roughness is no greater
than 3 .mu.m.
4. The machine of claim 1, wherein said material web smoothing
device achieves said fiber material web roughness of at most 5
.mu.m, on the basis of normal operating parameters of the
machine.
5. The machine of claim 4, wherein said fiber material web
roughness is at most 3 .mu.m.
6. The machine of claim 1, wherein said material web smoothing
device includes at least one smoothing unit from the group
consisting of: a soft nip calender, a wide nip calender, a hard nip
calender, a supercalender, a multi-nip smoothing unit, a 1-nip
calender and a 2-nip calender.
7. The machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one contactless
application unit is a curtain application unit which discharges the
application medium in the form of at least one of a curtain and a
veil onto the fiber material web at least predominately on the
basis of a movement of the application medium induced by the force
of gravity.
8. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle arrangement
on said contactless application unit, said at least one contactless
application unit being a spray application unit which discharges
the application medium in the form of one of an application medium
droplet spray and application medium jets onto the fiber material
web, the application medium moving at least predominantly on the
basis of movement impulses inputted to the application medium as it
emerges from said nozzle arrangement.
9. The machine of claim 1, further comprising: a dewatering and
drying section arranged along the fiber material web path after
said material web dispensing device; and at least one further
material web treatment device arranged along the fiber material web
path one of between said material web dispensing device and said
dewatering and drying section, between said dewatering and drying
section and said application apparatus, between said application
apparatus and said drying device, between said drying device and
said processing device and integrated into one of said material web
dispensing device, said drying device and said processing
device.
10. The machine of claim 1, wherein said material web dispensing
device includes a material web forming device forming the fiber
material web continuously from a supplied fibrous suspension.
11. The machine of claim 10, further comprising a dewatering and
drying section arranged along the fiber material web path between
said material web forming device and said application apparatus,
said dewatering and drying section extracting water from the web by
way of at least one of thermal and mechanical action, said
dewatering and drying section drying the web at least down to a
residual moisture content.
12. The machine of claim 10, further comprising at least one
further material web treatment device arranged along the fiber
material web path one of between said material web forming device
and said dewatering and drying section, between said dewatering and
drying section and said application apparatus and integrated into
one of said material web forming device and said dewatering and
drying section.
13. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a material web reel,
said material web dispensing device being a material web unwind for
unwinding the fiber material web from said material web reel.
14. The machine of claim 13, further comprising at least one
further material web treatment device arranged along the fiber
material web path one of between said material web unwind and said
application apparatus and integrated into said material web
unwind.
15. A method of coating a fiber material web, comprising the step
of using a contactless application unit that is one of a curtain
application unit, and a spray application unit, to apply one of a
liquid and a pasty application medium to a moving fiber material
web in combination with a material web smoothing device in one of
an online process within a machine for producing and treating the
fiber material web and an offline process within said machine for
treating the fiber material web.
16. A method for treating a fiber material web, comprising the
steps of: contactlessly applying one of a liquid and pasty
application medium to at least one side of the fiber material web
as it moves; smoothing at least one side of the fiber material web
one of before and after said contactlessly applying step; and
drying the fiber material web.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method is sequentially
carried out as follows: said smoothing step; said contactlessly
applying step; then said drying step.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said drying step is at least
additionally carried out one of prior to said smoothing step and
after said smoothing step;
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said smoothing step is
additionally carried out after said drying step.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of PCT application No.
PCT/EP2003/050209, entitled "MACHINE FOR TREATING A SHEET OF
MATERIAL, PREFERABLY MADE OF PAPER OR CARDBOARD, AND FOR OPTIONALLY
PRODUCING SAID SHEET OF MATERIAL PRIOR TO THE TREATMENT THEREOF,
COMPRISING A CONTACTLESS APPLICATION DEVICE AND A
MATERIAL-SMOOTHING DEVICE", filed Jun. 2, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a machine for producing and
treating, or for treating a material web, and, more particularly,
to a machine for producing and/or treating paper or paper
board.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Some papermaking machines permit the production and
treatment, including application of an application medium to at
least one side of the material web, in what is known as an online
operation. In machines of this type, only contacting application
apparatuses, such as coating units are conventionally used as the
application apparatus.
[0006] Other machines may be used for the treatment, including the
application of an application medium to at least one side of the
material web, in what is known as an offline operation. Machines of
this type include coating or application machines separate from a
machine for producing the material web, to which the material web
to be treated is generally fed in the form of material web reels.
Within machines of this type, both contacting application
apparatuses, such as coating units, and contactless application
apparatuses, such as contactless coating units are used as
application apparatuses.
[0007] Contacting application apparatuses can be a problem,
inasmuch as the performance (runnability) and average operating
times between operating interruptions can be impaired as a result
of the contacting application or coating. Thus, there is an
increased risk of a web break in the application unit resulting in
the entire production line coming to a standstill.
[0008] As compared with an online operation, the offline operation
has a lower volumetric efficiency in relation to the coating of the
material web.
[0009] For many applications, a material quality with high
smoothness and possibly gloss is desired. In order to achieve such
a quality, the material web can be calendered online in a smoothing
unit, possibly a two-roll soft calender, so as to be
machine-finished or more highly machine-finished. Furthermore,
there is a large number of material qualities which,
conventionally, following the production of the material web in an
appropriate machine, or following coating on a coating machine,
have to be calendered offline in a further operation. Calendering
exerts a substantial influence on the surface structure of the
material, in particular of paper or board, and therefore both on
the visual appearance and on the printability. Calendering is a
very important operation for coated papers. Following coating, it
provides smoothness and possibly gloss.
[0010] If the coating is carried out in an offline operation, the
calendering is conventionally carried out in a separate offline
process by way of a suitable smoothing machine, for example, a
supercalender or soft calender, separate from the coating machine.
On account of two offline processes being carried out, one after
another, by way of separate machines, the result is an even lower
volumetric efficiency.
[0011] What is needed in the art is a machine which has good
performance and runnability and is able to provide material with a
high smoothness and possibly gloss with a good volumetric
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention comprises, in one form thereof, a
machine having an application device with at least one contactless
application unit. The unit is designed to discharge application
medium in at least one free application medium jet or an
application medium curtain or an application medium veil or in an
application medium droplet spray and to apply it to the material
web on the basis of forces and/or movement impulses imparted to the
application medium and/or on the basis of a movement of the
application medium induced by the force of gravity. Further, a
material web smoothing device is provided along the treatment path
before and/or after the application device. In addition to an
application on the basis of the force of gravity, an application on
the basis of electrostatic forces is to be considered.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention there
is a contactless application of the application medium to at least
one side of the material web, in particular a contactless coating
of one or both sides of the material web is made possible in an
online operation or in an offline operation in the machine, in
particular a papermaking machine. The material web smoothing device
is integrated into the machine to ensure high smoothness and
possibly gloss of the material on one side or both sides of the
material web.
[0014] If the machine does not also produce the material web, that
is to say the application of a coating and smoothing thereof are
carried out in an offline operation, the result is a considerably
increased volumetric efficiency because the smoothing device and
the application apparatus are integrated into one machine, so that
both a application of coating to the web and smoothing of the web
are carried out in an offline process.
[0015] If the machine is also used for producing the material web
that is to be treated, such as coating or smoothing procedures, in
an online process, there are certain advantages. Moreover, with
regard to the application of the application medium, to a certain
extent the advantages of conventional contacting coating in an
online operation and of a conventional contactless coating in an
offline operation are obtained in combination. Specifically, on the
one hand the higher volumetric efficiency of an online operation
and the better runnability of the contactless coating,
conventionally used only in an offline operation. According to the
present invention, the high smoothness and possibly the gloss of
the material are achieved by way of the material web smoothing
device.
[0016] The machine has a material web smoothing device along the
material web path, at least before the application device.
Connecting the material web smoothing upstream of the application
of the application medium is expedient and effective inasmuch as
contactless application methods, in particular coating methods,
largely maintain the contour of the material web surface (in this
connection, one speaks of "contour coating methods"). This means
that a rough contour of the material web is not evened out/or
smoothed, or if it is smoothed it is only comparatively little, by
the application medium. The smoother the material web is before the
application of the application medium, the higher is the level of
achieved product quality. In this connection, it has been shown
that it is better to smooth first and then to apply the contour
coating than to smooth a rough contour after the coating.
[0017] It has proven to be beneficial if the material web smoothing
device is designed to calender the material web, at least on one
side, in such a way that a material web roughness of no more than
between 5 .mu.m, and preferably at most 3 .mu.m, remains. These
material web roughness values preferably relate to values
determined by way of the PPS method (Parker PrintSurf): roughness
(PPS-10s) of .ltoreq.5 .mu.m, or preferably .ltoreq.3 .mu.m.
[0018] With regard to the material web smoothing device or the
material web roughness achieved by the latter, these roughness
values are achieved on the basis of normal operating parameters of
the machine.
[0019] In addition, a material web smoothing device can also be
provided along the material web path after the application
apparatus. For example, in order to achieve a particularly high
smoothness or a particularly high gloss. For many applications,
however, a material web smoothing device before the application
device will be able to ensure a sufficient smoothness or sufficient
gloss.
[0020] The material web smoothing device can advantageously have a
smoothing unit from the group consisting of a soft nip calender, a
wide nip calender, a hard nip calender, a supercalender, a
multi-nip smoothing unit (e.g. Janus), a 1-nip calender, and a
2-nip calender.
[0021] With regard to the application of the application medium,
use is made of what is known as a curtain application method, also
known as curtain coating. For this purpose, it is proposed that at
least one contactless application unit, designed as a curtain
application unit, be provided, which discharges the application
medium in the form of at least a curtain or veil onto the material
web. The application is, at least predominantly, on the basis of a
movement of the application medium induced by the force of gravity.
Alternatively, use can also be made of what is known as a spray
application method, also known as a spray coating. For this
purpose, at least one contactless application unit, designed as a
spray application unit, is provided, which discharges the
application medium in the form of an application medium droplet
spray or application medium jets on the material web. The
application is, at least predominantly, on the basis of movement
impulses imparted to the application medium as it emerges from a
nozzle arrangement.
[0022] The curtain application method is preferred over the spray
application method since, on the basis of the curtain application
method, a higher product quality is achieved and the curtain
application method generally entails less maintenance than the
spray application method.
[0023] The machine, according to the present invention, can have at
least one further material web treatment device. Such a further
material web treatment device can be arranged along the material
web path between the material web forming device and the dewatering
and drying section; or between the dewatering and drying section
and the application apparatus; or between the application apparatus
and the drying device; or between the drying device and the device
for processing and/or picking up and/or discharging the material
web; or integrated into the material web forming device; or the
dewatering and drying section, or the application apparatus, or the
drying device, or the device for processing and/or picking up
and/or discharging the material web.
[0024] As already mentioned, the machine according to the present
invention can also be used for producing the material web. To this
end, the material web dispensing device comprises a material web
forming device, which is designed to form the material web
continuously from raw material supplied, preferably from a fibrous
suspension. As a rule, a dewatering and drying section is then
arranged along the fiber material web path between the material web
forming device and the application apparatus, which is designed to
extract water from the moving material web, at least by way of
thermal and/or mechanical action, and to dry the material web at
least down to a residual moisture content. The material web
smoothing device is arranged along the material web path before the
application device and is particularly arranged between the
dewatering and drying section, and the application device, or
integrated into a drying section portion of the dewatering and
drying section. In this connection, it is entirely possible for at
least one further material web treatment device to be arranged
along the material web path between the material web forming device
and the dewatering and drying section; or between the dewatering
and drying section and the application apparatus. The material web
smoothing device according to the present invention can be
connected upstream and downstream, as appropriate, or integrated
into the material web performing device on the dewatering and
drying section. However, the machine can also be a machine which
carries out the medium application and the smoothing of the
material web in an offline process. For this configuration the
material web dispensing device can include a material web unwind
for unwinding the material web from a respective material web reel.
The above-mentioned material web smoothing device is arranged along
the material web path, before the application device, and is
generally arranged between the material web unwind and the
application apparatus. It is entirely possible for at least one
further material web treatment device to be provided, which is
arranged along the material web path between the material web
unwind and the application apparatus and, in this case, for the
material web smoothing device is connected upstream or downstream,
as appropriate, or integrated into the material web unwind.
[0025] It should further be mentioned that the contactless
application by way of an appropriate application device is also
advantageous, in particular when application medium is applied to
the moving material web at a plurality of application points in the
machine. The material web is less stressed by the contactless
application of the application medium than by a contacting
application, so the risk of web breaks is reduced and, accordingly,
the performance or runnability is improved.
[0026] Another embodiment of the present invention also relates to
the use of a contactless application unit, in particular a curtain
application unit or spray application unit, for applying liquid or
pasty application medium to a moving material web, preferably of
paper or board, and the use of a material web smoothing device for
smoothing the moving material web. According to the present
invention, the contactless application unit and the material web
smoothing device are used in combination. They are used in an
online process within a machine for producing and treating the
material web, or in an offline process within a machine for
treating the material web. In either process they first apply a
liquid or pasty application medium to a moving material web,
preferably of paper or board, and secondly they smooth the material
web or provide it with gloss.
[0027] Moreover, the present invention provides a method for
treating a material web, preferably of paper or board. According to
the present invention, the method includes at least the following
steps:
[0028] contactless application of a liquid or pasty application
medium to at least one side of the moving material web,
[0029] before and/or after the contactless application: smoothing
of at least one side of the material web, and
[0030] drying of the material web.
[0031] Regarding the implementation of the method, thought is given
in particular to the following sequence, if necessary, first
drying, then smoothing, then if appropriate drying once more, then
application in a contactless manner, then drying and then if
appropriate smoothing once more.
[0032] Inter alia, the invention proposes coating in a contactless
manner in an integrated process and smoothing by way of a suitable
smoothing unit, in particular a calender, it being possible for the
smoothing to be carried out before or after the coating. Smoothing
by way of a calender before coating replaces a conventional
smoothing unit, so that a particularly good base for coating is
achieved, and also an improvement in the final quality, exemplified
by high smoothness or high gloss, that is achieved in the
integrated process. As a result of applying the curtain coating
application to a very smooth raw material, a very smooth end
product is achieved. The smoothing, according to the present
invention, before and/or after the coating application is of
particular importance since the coating quality depends on the
quality of the raw material (body paper).
[0033] Relative to the contactless application of application
medium, in particular the contactless coating, thought is primarily
given to an application of the application medium such that, first,
the application is carried out without contact and, second, no
metering and preferably no equalization of the application medium
applied, by way of a doctor device or the like, is required. The
application of the application medium is preferably carried out
from the start both with the correct metering and with adequate
uniformity over the surface of the material web. This means that
the application to the material web is not carried out in excess,
which is what is known as a 1-to-1 application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference
to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0035] FIG. 1 shows in schematic form four examples of possible
configurations of a machine according to the present invention for
producing and treating a material web of paper or board (FIGS. 1a,
1b, 1c) and, respectively, a machine according to the present
invention of treating an otherwise produced material web of paper
or board (FIG. 1d);
[0036] FIG. 2 represents a section of a machine corresponding to
FIG. 1a according to a first embodiment of a machine according to
the present invention having an application apparatus permitting
the contactless application of application medium, specifically to
a top side of the material web;
[0037] FIG. 3 represents a section of a machine corresponding to
FIG. 1a according to another embodiment of a machine according to
the present invention having an application apparatus permitting
the contactless application of application medium, specifically to
an underside of the material web;
[0038] FIG. 4 represents a section of a machine corresponding to
FIG. 1b according to another embodiment of a machine according to
the present invention having application apparatuses permitting the
contactless application of application medium, specifically to both
sides of the material web; and
[0039] FIG. 5 represents a section of a machine corresponding to
FIG. 1c according to yet another embodiment of a machine according
to the present invention having an application apparatus permitting
the contactless application of application medium, specifically to
both sides of the material web.
[0040] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out
herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one
form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c each show an example of a papermaking machine
according to the present invention in a very schematic form. This
can be, for example, a Fourdrinier papermaking machine or the like.
Papermaking machine 10a, 10b or 10c has a wet end 12a, 12b or 12c
with an associated flow box and an associated stock supply system.
The stock supply system is designed to supply a fibrous suspension
to the flow box with a constant volume flow. The flow box and the
wet end are used for web formation by way of uniform fiber
distribution and dewatering, as well as for web guidance. Along a
material web path, section 12a, 12b or 12c, is followed by a press
section 14a, 14b or 14c, which is used in particular to ensure
mechanical dewatering of the material web by pressing the material
web. Along the material web path, the press section is followed by
a drying section 16a, 16b or 16c, in which the material web is
dried in a thermal manner, also known as thermal dewatering.
[0042] According to the examples of FIG. 1, after the drying
section, there is arranged a material web smoothing device 18a, 18b
or 18c, which is what is known as a calender (for example a soft
nip calender or wide nip calender) or a smoothing unit of another
suitable type.
[0043] In each of the embodiments, along the material web path,
after the smoothing unit, a contactless coating unit 20a, 20b or
20c is arranged, such as an application apparatus, preferably what
is known as a curtain application unit. The curtain application
unit applies application medium, in particular a coating medium, to
one side of the material web in a contactless manner. In the case
of the curtain application unit the application of coating medium
is, at least predominantly, on the basis of a movement induced by
the force of gravity of the application medium emerging from a slot
nozzle or the like in what is known as a curtain or veil. The
application takes place either to that side of the material web,
which can be identified as the top side, at least over the major
part of the entire material web path; or to that side of the
material web which can be identified as the underside of the
material web, at least over the major part of the entire material
web path, but may possibly be oriented upwards in some regions in
the area of the application unit.
[0044] Application unit or coating unit 20a or 20b is followed by a
final drying section 22a or an intermediate drying section 22b,
while coating unit 20c is followed by a further coating unit 24c,
which applies medium to the other side of the material web and
which, just like coating unit 20c, applies coating medium to the
material web in a contactless manner. According to the example of
FIG. 1b, a further coating unit 24b is arranged after intermediate
drying section 22b.
[0045] Along the material web path, coating unit 24b or 24c is
followed by a final drying section 26b or 26c and, at the end of
the material web path, there is in all three examples, a material
web reel-up 28a, 28b or 28c, which is used to reel up the material
web coated on one or both sides on what are known as spools.
[0046] Now, additionally referring to FIG. 1d, a coating machine
according to the present invention is shown in a very schematic
illustration. Coating machine 10d has a material web unwind 17d in
which the material web, to be treated, is unwound from material web
reels. The unwound material web is fed to a material web smoothing
device 18d, for example, what is known as a calender, such as a
soft nip calender or a wide nip calender, or a smoothing unit of
another suitable type, before the material web is coated on both
sides with application medium by way of contactless coating units
20d, 24d. The configuration of machine 10d to this extent
corresponds to the configuration of machine 10c according to FIG.
1c, since no intermediate drying is provided between the medium
applications. Coating unit 24d is followed by drying section 26d
and, at the end of the material web path, there is a material web
reel-up 28d.
[0047] FIG. 2 shows an example of a possible implementation of
machine 10a according to FIG. 1. A drying device 30a-1 of drying
section 16a, is used for the thermal drying of material web M by
way of circulating belts 32a-1, which press material web M against
heatable drying cylinders 34a-1, on which material web M is
subjected to what is known as contact drying. In each case a drying
cylinder 36a-1, used for drying the felt, is assigned to felts
32a-1.
[0048] Material web M emerging from drying device 30a-1 is led over
a guide roller arrangement 38a-1, through a smoothing unit 40a-1.
Smoothing unit 40a-1 belongs to material web smoothing device 18a,
which is represented by smoothing rolls 42a-1 and 44a-1 acting on
both sides of material web M. This can be, for example, what is
known as a soft nip smoothing unit or a wide nip smoothing
unit.
[0049] Material web M is led over a further guide roll arrangement
46a-1 through an application apparatus 20a-1, which has a curtain
application unit that is represented by a discharge head 52a-1.
Discharge head 52a-1 discharges application medium in a metered
manner in the form of an application medium veil or application
medium curtain, which strikes the top side of material web M on the
basis of the movement of the force of gravity and remains on this
side of material web M without further metering and equalization,
thereby providing the desired application or coating. Discharge
head 52a-1 can advantageously be assigned some edge guiding
elements, or the like, for the curtain or the veil, as known from
the prior art, see for example, German patents DE 100 12 256 A1, DE
197 35 588 A1 and DE 195 13 531 A1.
[0050] Material web M that has been coated with the application
medium then enters a convection or hot air dryer 60a-1, as an
example of a contactless drying device. In drying 60a-1 material
web M and the application medium applied thereto is dried to such
an extent that subsequently, by way of a further drying device
70a-1 of the type of drying device 30a-1, contact drying of
material web M can be carried out without quality penalties. Drying
device 70a-1, together with dryer 60a-1, belong to final drying
section 23a.
[0051] As can be seen from FIG. 1a, final drying section 22a is
followed by material web reel-up 28a. However, still further
material web treatment devices could quite possibly be connected
upstream of the material web reel-up, for example a further
smoothing unit.
[0052] A further implementation of machine 10a according to FIG. 1a
is shown in FIG. 3. There is illustrated a drying device 30a-2 of
the type of drying device 30a-1 according to FIG. 2, a smoothing
unit 40a-2 corresponding to smoothing unit 40a-1 according to FIG.
2, and an application apparatus 20a-2 whose curtain application
unit is again represented by a discharge head 52a-2. Material web M
is guided over a guide roll arrangement 46a-2 in such a way that,
as compared with the example of FIG. 2, the upper material web side
is provided with an application of medium without contact. Again,
discharge head 52a-2 can be assigned edge guiding elements, and the
like, for the curtain or veil of application medium.
[0053] By way of a contactless drying device 60a-2 which, in
addition to a contactless drying function on the basis of hot air,
additionally fulfills a contactless guiding and deflection function
in relation to material web M. The deflection is carried out in a
manner similar to that, which is known as an air turn. Material web
M is then fed to further drying device 70a-2 of the type of drying
device 30a-1 according to FIG. 2 which, together with drying device
60a-2, is included in final drying section 22a.
[0054] A configuration corresponding to FIG. 1b can be obtained,
for example, by a machine section corresponding to FIG. 2 and a
machine section corresponding to FIG. 3 being arranged one after
another in a machine. FIG. 4 shows a corresponding example. In the
material web running direction, it is possible to see, one after
another, a drying device 30b-1, a smoothing unit 40b, an
application apparatus 20b having a curtain application unit
represented by a discharge head 52b-1, a contactless dryer 60b-1, a
further contact drying device 30b-2, an application apparatus 24b
having a curtain application unit represented by a discharge head
52b-2, a contactless drying and guide or deflection device 60b-2
and a further contact drying device 70b. Dryer 60b-1 and drying
device 30b-2 form intermediate drying section 22b according to FIG.
1b.
[0055] If an application of application medium to both sides of
material web M is desired, then, given appropriate guidance of
material web M, the application medium is first applied to both
sides of material web M by way of a corresponding contactless
application unit before contactless drying and then, finally,
contact drying is carried out. It is therefore not absolutely
necessary to provide intermediate drying between the application of
the application medium to one side of material web M and the
application of the application medium to the other side of material
web M. FIG. 5 shows a corresponding example, which corresponds to
an implementation of a machine of the configuration according to
FIG. 1c. The machine includes a contact drying device 30c,
corresponding to device 30a-1, a smoothing unit 40c, a first
curtain discharge head 52c-1 belonging to a first contactless
application apparatus 20c, a second discharge head 52c-2 belonging
to a second contactless application apparatus 24c, a contactless
dryer 60c and a further contact drying device 70c corresponding to
device 30a-1 according to FIG. 2. From smoothing unit 40c, material
web M is led over a guide roll arrangement 46c. First web M is led
under first discharge head 52c-1 and then under second discharge
head 52c-2, in such a way that the first discharge head 52c-1
applies the application medium to one side of material web M and
second discharge head 60c-2 applies the application medium to the
other side of material web M in a metered manner in the form of a
curtain or veil and without requiring subsequent equalization.
After second discharge head 50c-2, an air guide arrangement 80c is
provided, which ensures guidance of material web M with no contact
on either side into dryer 60c and through the latter as far as the
entry into contact drying device 70c.
[0056] A configuration corresponding to FIG. 1d is illustrated by
using FIG. 5. It is possible to think of drying device 30c merely
replaced by a material web unwind. Material web M is unwound from a
material web reel and is fed first to smoothing unit 40c and then
coated on both sides in contactless application apparatuses 20c and
24c. In the contactless dryer, drying without contact is carried
out, in particular by way of hot air and/or by way of infrared
radiation, before material web M is brought to a final state of
dryness on both sides with contact in drying device 70c. After
that, material web M is then reeled up onto spools in the material
web reel-up, not illustrated, if no further treatment in an
appropriate treatment device, for example further smoothing in an
appropriate additional material web smoothing device, is
provided.
[0057] Inter alia, it is proposed, in a machine for producing and
treating a material web, preferably of paper or board, to provide
at least one application device having at least one contactless
application unit in combination with at least one material web
smoothing device, which, firstly, permit the application of a
liquid or pasty application medium to at least one side of the
moving material web in a contactless manner and, secondly,
smoothing of the moving material web, preceding and/or following
the application of medium, in an online process or in an offline
process.
[0058] While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of
the appended claims.
List of Designations
[0059] 10a, 10b, 10c Papermaking machine
[0060] 12a, 12b, 12c Wet end
[0061] 14a, 14b, 14c Press section
[0062] 16a, 16b, 16c Drying section
[0063] 17d Material web unwind
[0064] 18a, 18b, 18c,
[0065] 18d Material web smoothing device
[0066] 20a, 20b, 20c,
[0067] 20a-1, 20a-2,
[0068] 20d Application apparatus or coating unit
[0069] 22a Final drying section
[0070] 22b Intermediate drying section
[0071] 24b, 24c, 24d Application apparatus or coating unit
[0072] 26b, 26c, 26d Final drying section or drying section
[0073] 28a, 28b, 28c,
[0074] 28d Material web reel-up
[0075] 30a-1, 30a-2,
[0076] 30b-1, 30b-2,
[0077] 30c Drying device
[0078] 32a-1 Felt
[0079] 34a-1, 36a-1 Drying cylinder
[0080] 38a-1 Guide roller arrangement
[0081] 40a-1, 40a-2,
[0082] 40b, 40c Smoothing unit
[0083] 42a-1, 44a-1 Smoothing roll
[0084] 46a-1, 46a-2,
[0085] 46c Guide roller arrangement
[0086] 52a-1, 52a-2,
[0087] 52b-1, 52b-2,
[0088] 52c-1, 52c-2, Curtain discharge head
[0089] 60a-1, 60a-2,
[0090] 60b-1, 60b-2,
[0091] 60c Drying device (contactless)
[0092] 70a-1, 70a-2,
[0093] 70b, 70c Drying device
[0094] 80c Air guide device
[0095] M Material web
* * * * *