U.S. patent application number 10/535431 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for press section in a paper or board machine.
Invention is credited to Sami Anttilainen, Petteri Halme, Petter Honkalampi.
Application Number | 20060011319 10/535431 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8564962 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060011319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Honkalampi; Petter ; et
al. |
January 19, 2006 |
Press section in a paper or board machine
Abstract
In a press section in a paper or board machine, the transfer of
a web (W) is accomplished as a closed draw through the press
section. The press section has at least three separate press nips
(N1, N2, N3). In the first nip dewatering takes place on two sides.
The closed draw of the web (W) through the press section is
accomplished as a substantially straight run. The press nips each
have their own fabric loops (20, 21; 30; 40, 41). The nips (N2, N3)
following after the first nip (N1) have one water-receiving fabric
(30, 40), which is placed in the nip (N2, N3) on the opposite side
of the web (W) with respect to the other nip in the running
direction of the web in the machine.
Inventors: |
Honkalampi; Petter;
(Kinkomaa, FI) ; Halme; Petteri; (Jyvaskyla,
FI) ; Anttilainen; Sami; (Jyvaskyla, FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STIENNON & STIENNON
612 W. MAIN ST., SUITE 201
P.O. BOX 1667
MADISON
WI
53701-1667
US
|
Family ID: |
8564962 |
Appl. No.: |
10/535431 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
October 10, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI03/00751 |
371 Date: |
May 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
162/205 ;
100/153; 100/155R; 162/358.1; 162/360.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D21F 3/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
162/205 ;
162/358.1; 162/360.3; 100/153; 100/155.00R |
International
Class: |
D21F 3/02 20060101
D21F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2002 |
FI |
20022057 |
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A press section in a paper or board machine, comprising: a
first press nip arranged to dewater a web on a first side and a
second side, the first press nip having at least one first fabric
loop which passes through the first press nip; a second press nip
separate from the first press nip, the second press nip following
the first press nip and having at least one second fabric loop
which passes through the second press nip; a third press nip
separate from the first press nip and the second press nip, the
third press nip following the second press nip and having at least
one third fabric loop which passes through the third press nip,
wherein the at least one first fabric loop does not pass through
the second press nip or the third press nip; wherein the at least
one second fabric loop does not pass through the first press nip or
the third press nip; wherein the at least one third fabric loop
does not pass through the first press nip or the second press nip,
wherein in the press section the transfer of the web is arranged as
a closed draw along a substantially straight run through the press
section, and the press section defines a running direction from the
first press nip to the second press nip to the third press nip, in
which direction the web travels through the press section; wherein
the at least one second fabric loop comprises only one water
receiving fabric, said only one water receiving fabric arranged to
dewater the web on the first side; and wherein the at least one
third fabric loop comprises only one water receiving fabric, said
only one water receiving fabric arranged to dewater the web on the
second side.
20. The press section of claim 19, wherein the press section is
arranged to be used at running speeds over 1800 m/min.
21. The press section of claim 19, wherein the press section is
arranged to be used at running speeds over 2000 m/min.
22. The press section of claim 19, wherein the first press nip is
formed between two rolls or between a roll and a press suction
roll.
23. The press section of claim 19, wherein the first press nip is
formed between a roll and an extended nip roll, or between a
suction roll and an extended nip roll.
24. The press section of claim 19, wherein the first press nip, the
second press nip, and the third press nip are all formed between a
backing roll and an extended nip roll.
25. The press section of claim 19 wherein the second press nip
includes a first smooth backing roll or a transfer belt on the
second side of the web and the third press nip includes a second
smooth backing roll or a transfer belt on the first side of the web
so as to smooth the first side and the second side of the web.
26. The press section of claim 19, wherein the second press nip is
an extended nip and the third press nip is a smoothing nip, and
further comprising a fourth smoothing press nip following the third
press nip.
27. The press section of claim 19, wherein the first press nip, the
second press nip, the third press nip and a fourth press nip in the
press section are all formed between two rolls.
28. The press section of claim 25, wherein at least one of the
first smooth backing roll and the second smooth backing roll is a
press suction roll made of metal powder manufactured by a powder
metallurgy process.
29. The press section of claim 19 wherein at least one of the first
press nip, the second press nip, and the third press nip is formed
by a press suction roll made of metal powder manufactured by a
powder metallurgy process.
30. The press section of claim 19 wherein at least one of the first
press nip, the second press nip, and the third press nip is formed
by a press suction roll.
31. The press section of claim 19, wherein at least one nip in the
press section following after the first press nip is an extended
nip.
32. The press section of claim 19, wherein after the first press
nip the web is arranged to be transferred from a surface of the
first fabric loop forming an upper fabric onto a surface of the
second fabric loop forming a lower fabric of the press section.
33. The press section of claim 19, wherein the web has an upper
surface and a lower surface and in the second press nip the at
least one second fabric loop's one water receiving fabric is
engaged with the lower surface of the web, and a smooth press roll
or a smooth transfer belt is engaged with the upper surface of the
web and in the third press nip the at least one third fabric loop's
one water receiving fabric is engaged with the upper surface of the
web, and a smooth press roll or a smooth transfer belt is engaged
with the lower surface of the web.
34. The press section of claim, 19 wherein a last lower fabric loop
of the press section is arranged to transfer the web in a closed
draw onto a drying wire of a dryer section.
35. The press section of claim 19, wherein one of the press nips is
a smoothing nip formed by a counter roll without a fabric and a
large-sector press suction roll, said large-sector beginning before
said one press nip and continuing after it, on which the web is
arranged to follow the water receiving fabric that passes through
said one press nip, from before said one press nip, while said
water receiving fabric passes through said one press nip and after
said one press nip.
36. A press section in a paper or board machine, comprising: a
first press nip formed between a first roll and a second roll or
press shoe, the first press nip having two water receiving fabric
loops which pass through the first press nip with the web
therebetween and are arranged to dewater a web on a first side and
on a second side; a second press nip formed between a first roll
and a second roll or press shoe, the second press nip following the
first press nip, the second press nip having one and only one water
receiving fabric loop, the fabric loop passing through the second
press nip in contact with the first side of the web; a third press
nip formed between a first roll and a second roll or press shoe,
the third press nip following the second press nip, the third press
nip having one and only one water receiving fabric loop, the fabric
loop passing through the third press nip in contact with the second
side of the web; wherein in the press section the transfer of the
web is arranged as a closed draw along a substantially straight run
through the press section, and the press section defines a running
direction from the first press nip to the second press nip to the
third press nip, in which direction the web travels through the
press section; and and wherein no fabric loop passes through more
than one of the first, second, and third press nip.
37. The press section of claim 36 wherein the second press nip
includes a first smooth backing roll or a transfer belt on the
second side of the web and the third press nip includes a second
smooth backing roll or a transfer belt on the first side of the web
so as to smooth the first and second sides of the web.
38. The press section of claim 36, wherein the second press nip is
an extended nip and the third press nip is a smoothing nip, and
further comprising a fourth smoothing press nip following the third
press nip.
39. The press section of claim 37, wherein at least one of the
first smooth backing roll and the second smooth backing roll, is a
press suction roll made of metal powder manufactured by a powder
metallurgy process.
40. The press section of claim 36 wherein at least one of the first
press nip, the second press nip, and the third press nip, is formed
by a press suction roll made of metal powder manufactured by a
powder metallurgy process.
41. The press section of claim 36, wherein the web has an upper
surface and a lower surface and in the second press nip the one
water receiving fabric loop is engaged with the lower surface of
the web, and a smooth press roll or a smooth transfer belt is
engaged with the upper surface of the web, and in the third press
nip the one water receiving fabric loop is engaged with the upper
surface of the web, and a smooth press roll or a smooth transfer
belt is engaged with the lower surface of the web.
42. The press section of claim 36, wherein one of the press nips is
a smoothing nip formed by a counter roll not wrapped by a fabric
and a large-sector vacuum sector press suction roll, said large
vacuum sector beginning before said one press nip and continuing
after it, on which said large vacuum sector the web is arranged to
follow the water receiving fabric that passes through said one
press nip, from before said one press nip, while said water
receiving fabric passes through said one press nip and after said
one press nip.
43. A method of pressing a paper web in a press section of a paper
or board machine, comprising the steps of: dewatering a web
received from a forming section of the paper or board machine in a
first press nip using two dewatering fabric loops which are passed
through the first press nip with the paper web therebetween, to
dewater the web on a first side and a second side: dewatering the
web received from the first press nip by using one and only one
dewatering fabric loop which is passed through a second press nip
engaged with the first side of the web to dewater the web on the
first side, wherein the second press nip follows the first press
nip; dewatering the web received from the second press nip using
one and only one dewatering fabric loop which is passed through a
third press nip engaged with the second side of the web to dewater
the web on the second side, wherein the third press nip follows the
second press nip; and transferring the web in a closed draw along a
substantially straight run through the press section, wherein no
fabric loop passes through more than one of the first, second, or
third press nip.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein the second side of the web is
smoothed by a smooth backing roll or a smooth transfer belt in the
second press nip, and the first side of the web is smoothed by a
smooth backing roll or a smooth transfer belt in the third press
nip so as to smooth the first and second sides of the web.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the web passes through an
extended nip in the second press nip and the web passes through an
extended nip in the third press nip, and then passes through a
fourth smoothing nip.
46. The method of claim 44, wherein at least one of the smooth
backing rolls is manufactured by a powder metallurgy process.
47. The method of claim 43 wherein at least one of the first press
nip, the second press nip, and the third press nip, is formed by a
press suction roll manufactured by a powder metallurgy process.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. national stage application of
international app. No. PCT/FI2003/000751, filed Oct. 10, 2003, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein and claims
priority on Finnish App. No. 20022057, filed Nov. 19, 2002.
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to a press section in a paper or board
machine which is provided with at least a forming section, a press
section and a dryer section and in which the press section is
provided with separate press nips. In this patent application, by a
separate press nip is meant a press nip in which opposing press
members define only one press nip. A separate press nip can be a
roll nip or an extended nip. The opposite of a separate press nip
is a press which is provided with a center roll and in which the
center roll forms press nips with at least two other rolls.
[0004] FI patent application 990557 discloses a method and an
arrangement for treating a paper or board web. FIGS. 4-6 show
control of the surface properties of a web with chemicals, and
examples suitable for a smoothing press nip. In these exemplifying
embodiments, a tandem transfer belt is used underneath in the
second and third nips. Dewatering is not symmetric because
dewatering takes place in both directions in the first nip, upwards
in the second nip, and no dewatering takes place in the third nip,
but, instead, there is smoothing and application of the web because
belts are placed on both sides of the web. Thus, the third press
nip of these embodiments does not increase dry solids even though
it improves the surface properties of the web, thus increasing the
overall length of the paper machine.
[0005] FI patent 95610 discloses a press section of a paper machine
provided with a smoothing press. The paper web has a closed and
supported draw through the press section and the press section
comprises at least two successive separate press nips, dewatering
of the paper web being carried out at least in the first one of
said press nips, preferably between two press fabrics that receive
water. The last press nip in the press section is a smoothing press
nip which is separate from the preceding nip and in which no
substantial dewatering is performed. The paper web is passed
through the smoothing press nip from the preceding dewatering press
nip on a transfer belt substantially not receiving water, on its
substantially straight run, which is continued after the smoothing
nip as a run of substantially the same direction, on which run some
of the elongation of the paper web in the machine direction can be
compensated for, which elongation takes place in the smoothing nip,
by a difference in speed of the transfer belt.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,530 discloses a press section and a
method for pressing with shoe presses of different lengths. FIG. 2
shows an embodiment comprising three shoe press units in which the
web is first passed through the first and the second shoe press
unit which are placed underneath a counter roll, i.e. underneath
the web, and the third shoe press is placed above a counter roll,
i.e. above the web.
[0007] FI patent application 981089 discloses a press section of a
paper machine applying one or more press nips, through which the
paper web to be pressed is passed as a substantially closed draw
and in which press section there is at least one press nip provided
with two water-receiving press felts, through which press nip the
paper web runs between the press felts and after which
last-mentioned nip the paper web is separated from one of the press
felts and transferred on support of the other press felt
substantially as a closed draw further. The last nip in the press
section is an extended nip zone, in which one roll is a shoe roll
provided with a hose shell and with a press shoe arrangement and
the other roll is a press suction roll provided with a suction
zone. The paper web is passed through the last extended nip zone
between two water-receiving press fabrics and directly after the
last extended nip zone the paper web is separated from one of the
press fabrics and transferred, with the aid of a vacuum present in
a suction zone of said press section roll, to follow the press
fabric placed at the side of said press suction roll without
substantial rewetting, and the paper web is passed on the latter
press fabric as a closed draw onto a drying wire or equivalent of a
dryer section following after the press section, onto which drying
wire or equivalent the web is transferred as a suction roll
transfer or by means of an equivalent arrangement.
[0008] FI patent application 961518 discloses press section
geometries in which a press section provided with a closed draw of
a web in a paper or board machine comprises a first water-receiving
upper fabric onto which the web is transferred on a suction zone of
a pick-up roll from a forming wire at a pick-up point situated
after its suction roll and after that there is a wire drive roll,
from which the return run of the wire begins. The press comprises
one or two successive press nips which press water from the web and
between which the web has a totally closed draw such that it is
supported by a fabric all the time. The press nips removing water
are so-called extended nips, whose press zone is substantially
longer than that of a sharp roll nip, and all press nips are
additionally provided with two water-receiving press fabrics so
that water is removed in them substantially symmetrically through
both surfaces of the web. In addition, the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 make use of a lightly loaded transfer nip, which
nip is defined by a press roll, provided with a recessed surface
and disposed within an upper wire loop, together with a first
drying cylinder or equivalent.
[0009] One problem in the press sections known in the state of the
art is absorption asymmetry, which is caused because the
composition/structure of the web in the thickness direction changes
in every pressing operation in which water is not removed in an
equal amount in both directions because some of the fines and
filler material of the web is washed with water. Fines accumulate
in the surface parts of the web where dewatering has been stronger.
The problem can also be affected in a wire section but the press is
the last dewatering member by which the problem can actually be
affected. Even in good paper, the middle layer becomes poor in
fines but on both sides of the web there is an equal amount of
fines moving and adhering close to the surfaces.
[0010] In surface topography, missing dots in the print and the
absorption of the top and bottom surfaces of paper and its
asymmetry are a significant drawback in modern press sections
having a closed draw when these are applied to printing paper. When
the speed increases so that it is over 2000 m/min, closed draw
provides a considerable runnability benefit in speed potential and
efficiency. One object of the invention is to develop further a
press section that has a closed draw and is suitable for speeds
over 1800 m/min and advantageously over 2000 m/min, at which there
are no problems with surface topography and absorption symmetry
described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] One object of the invention is to provide a press section of
a paper or board machine which makes it possible to optimize
surface topography and absorption at a speed over 1800 m/min and
advantageously over 2000 m/min.
[0012] In the press section of a paper or board machine in
accordance with the invention, closed draw through the press
section is accomplished as a substantially straight run and the
press section includes at least three separate press nips which do
not have any fabric loops in common with one another.
[0013] In the press section in accordance with the invention, the
first press nip in the running direction of the web is a roll nip
or a press suction roll nip, advantageously at lower speeds of over
1800 m/min, but with speeds increasing over 2000 m/min and with
increasing dewatering need, an extended nip becomes an advantageous
alternative. It is conceivable that in the case of three nips at
high speeds all the nips are extended nips and, on the other hand,
in the case of more nips than three at a lower speed mere roll nips
can be used. The next two nips each have only one water-receiving
fabric, which is placed in each nip on the opposite side of paper
with respect to the other nip in the machine direction. In said
successive nips, both sides of the web are smoothed/evened out one
at a time mechanically against a smooth surface, which smooth
surface can be a smooth roll, known from a center roll arrangement,
or a transfer belt. In that connection, removal of water from the
web takes place in the nip only in a direction away from the smooth
surface, i.e. to the side of the water-receiving fabric. By this
means, in the successive nips an equal amount of fines affecting
absorption is provided in the vicinity of both surfaces.
[0014] Transfer from the press section in accordance with the
invention to a dryer section takes place, as known in itself, from
a transfer belt, and in the embodiments in which a smooth surface
is in an upper position in the last nip of the press section,
transfer from a lower felt is used.
[0015] In the smoothing/evening out nips provided with a smooth
roll or a transfer belt in the press section in accordance with the
invention, there is a water-receiving press fabric and a press roll
on the other side. With lower load needs it is possible to use an
ordinary press suction roll, and at higher loads it is advantageous
to use a press suction roll that is manufactured by means of powder
metallurgy, in which case the wall thickness of the suction roll
need not be increased. For example, by means of the suctions of the
last smoothing nips it is ensured that the web follows the felt,
and a high load is not necessarily needed. Similarly, in the
roll/extended nips at the beginning, increased dewatering is
achieved by means of a higher load using a suction roll of powder
metallurgy. A press suction roll manufactured by means of powder
metallurgy is described, for example, in FI patent 100422. The
suction roll assures that the web remains on the surface of a
porous fabric so that it shall not start following the more
adhesive smooth surface of a roll/transfer belt. The smooth
surfaces of press nips also affect the surfaces of the web
mechanically, evening out the decrease of smoothness caused by
coarse press fabrics. Shoe presses can also be used in connection
with the invention.
[0016] The press section in accordance with the invention provides
good surface properties of the web in respect of printability and
also makes it possible to use high speeds, over 1800 m/min and
advantageously over 2000 m/min, and enable good efficiency with a
good moisture profile.
[0017] The press section in accordance with the invention also
facilitates the adjustment of two-sidedness that takes place
further in the paper machine line and which can be performed mainly
by means of calendering and application of chemicals. The bulk
possibly lost during pressing can be saved later by means of
lighter calendering, which can be optimized further according to
other desired surface properties, as there is no need to correct
absorption symmetry. On the other hand when press dry solids
increase in more press nips than conventional, it may be possible
to manage with a shorter dryer section even though the press
section becomes longer.
[0018] In one advantageous embodiment of the invention there are
three press nips, a closed draw of the web through the press
section and, in the first nip, dewatering takes place on two sides,
thus providing a symmetric web. After the first nip, the web is
transferred from the surface of an upper felt to a second press
and, in the second nip, dewatering takes place downwards and the
upper surface of the web is either against a smooth roll or a
smooth transfer belt. In the third nip, dewatering takes place
upwards and the lower surface of the web is against a transfer belt
and the transfer of the web is from a lower fabric to a dryer
section. In accordance with one advantageous additional feature, a
roll press is placed after the first nip in the second press,
whereby a sufficient material displacement is achieved in the
second nip, i.e. displacement of fines to the side of the lower
surface of the web. At the same time, the smoothness of the upper
surface of the web improves because it is pressed against a smooth
surface.
[0019] In the following, some embodiments of the invention are
described with reference to the figures of the appended drawings,
but the invention is not meant to be exclusively limited to the
details of the figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1A is a schematic view of one embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 1B is a schematic view of one variant of the first
press nip in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1A.
[0022] FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 2B is a schematic view of one alternative application
of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2A.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] In the following figures, the same reference numerals are
used of parts that correspond to one another.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] In FIG. 1A, a web W formed in a forming section is passed to
a pick-up point P situated on a forming wire 10 before reversing
rolls 11, 12 placed within the loop of the forming wire 10. The
pick-up point P is formed between the forming wire 10 and a roll 24
placed within the loop of a first water-receiving press felt 20 and
provided with a suction sector 24a, so that the web W runs at the
pick-up point P between the forming wire 10 and the first press
felt 20. At the pick-up point P, the web W is separated from the
forming wire 10 and transferred to be supported by the first press
felt 20. After that, the web W is transferred on support of the
lower surface of the first press felt 20 to a first press nip N1,
which is defined by two recessed surface press rolls 22 and 23 to
form therebetween a roll nip N1 or a press suction roll nip (FIG.
1B), in which case the upper roll 22 is a press suction roll
provided with a suction zone and the other roll 23 is a recessed
surface roll. In that connection, a felt suction roll 25 can be
omitted. The web W runs in the first press nip N1 between the first
water-receiving press felt 20 serving as an upper press fabric and
a first water-receiving press felt 21 serving as a lower press
fabric. Dewatering of the web W takes place in the first press nip
N1 into both press felts 20, 21. In the embodiments which use a
press suction roll, water is also removed through a suction zone
into the suction roll.
[0027] After the first press nip N1, the travel of the web W with
the upper press felt 20 is assured by means of a vacuum in a
suction zone 25a of an upper suction roll 25, and the web W is
separated from the first press felt 20 by means of a vacuum in a
suction zone 34a of a lower transfer suction roll 34 and caused to
adhere to a second lower press fabric 30, which may also be a press
felt, on the upper surface of which the web W is transferred to a
second press nip N2, which is defined between a roll 32 and a press
suction roll 33 provided with a suction zone 33a. The suction zone
33a of the suction roll 33 preferably has a large sector and a high
vacuum, assuring that the web adheres to the desired felt already
before the press nip and follows the felt after the nip in order
that the web should not follow the smooth roll. After that, the web
W is transferred on support of the second press fabric 30 and
transferred by means of a suction zone 44a of a transfer suction
roll 44 to be supported by a subsequent upper press felt 40 and to
a third press nip N3, which is defined between an extended nip
press roll 42 and a counter roll 43. Underneath there is a transfer
belt 41, by means of which the web W is passed to a transfer
suction roll 54 having a suction zone 54a, by means of which the
web is transferred onto a drying wire 50 of a dryer section.
Dewatering of the web W takes place in the third press nip N3 into
the upper press felt 40.
[0028] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2A mainly corresponds to the
embodiment described in connection with FIG. 1A and its variants,
but in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the second press nip N2 is
formed such that in the second nip 42 there is an upper transfer
belt 31 and as the lower fabric 30, as in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1A, there is a press felt 30. From the second nip N2 the web W
is passed on the lower surface of the transfer belt 31 onto a
transfer fabric 60, onto which the web W is transferred by means of
a suction zone 64a of a transfer suction roll 64 and on support of
the felt 60 the web W is passed by means of a suction zone 44a of a
suction roll 44 to be transferred so as to be supported by the
upper fabric 40 of the third press nip N3.
[0029] The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2B mainly
corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A except that each nip
N1, N2, N3 has been formed into an extended nip, in which one roll
is an extended nip roll 22; 33; 42 and the other roll is its
counter roll 23; 32; 43.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the web
W is passed from a forming wire 10 of a forming section before a
reversing roll 11 to a pick-up point P, at which the web W is
passed by means of a suction zone 24a of a suction roll 24 so as to
be supported by a first water-receiving press felt 20 and the web W
is passed to a first press nipN1, which is defined between two
recessed surface press rolls 22, 23 or between a press suction roll
and a recessed surface press roll (as in FIG. 1B). A lower press
felt 21 also receives water. Adherence to the surface of the lower
press felt 21 is assured by means of a vacuum in a suction zone 26a
of a transfer suction roll 26 and the web W is passed by means of a
vacuum in a suction zone 35a of a suction roll 35 so as to be
supported by an upper press felt 31 of a second press nip N2. The
second press nip N2 is formed into an extended nip press between an
extended nip roll 32 and a counter roll 33. The lower fabric in
this press nip N2 is a water-receiving press felt 30. On its
support the web W is passed onto a transfer suction roll 44, and by
means of a vacuum in a suction zone 44a of the transfer suction
roll 44 the web W is passed to be supported by an upper felt 40, on
which the web is passed to a third nip N3, which is a smoothing
press nip formed between rolls 42 and 43. The roll 42 is a press
suction roll which is provided with a suction zone 42a. Dewatering
takes place into a suction zone 42a of the suction roll. The web is
passed from the felt 40 to a subsequent felt 70 by means of a
vacuum in a suction zone 74a of a suction roll 74, and by means of
the felt 70 the web is passed to a subsequent smoothing nip N4
formed between a press suction roll 73 and a suction roll 72. The
suction zones 42a and 73a of the suction rolls 42 and 73 preferably
have a large sector and a high vacuum, assuring that the web
adheres to the desired felt already before the press nip and that
it follows the felt after the nip in order that the web should not
follow the smooth roll. After that, the web W is passed to a dryer
section to be supported by a drying wire 50, as described above in
connection with FIGS. 1A and 2A. The embodiment in accordance with
FIG. 3 can also be accomplished such that only one press nip that
receives water in both directions is placed before the smoothing
press nips N3, N4, in that case in the first press nip N1 there can
be a nip defined by a shoe roll and a recessed surface roll or a
nip defined by a shoe roll and a press suction roll.
[0031] Above, the invention has been described with reference to
some of its advantageous exemplifying embodiments only, but the
invention is by no means meant to be narrowly limited to the
details of them.
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