U.S. patent application number 11/248399 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for method for the production of a fiber web.
Invention is credited to Klaus Doelle.
Application Number | 20060060320 11/248399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31991492 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060060320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doelle; Klaus |
March 23, 2006 |
Method for the production of a fiber web
Abstract
A method for the production of a fiber web from a fiber stock
suspension including a filler, including the steps of: selecting at
least one size of at least one filler particles for a predetermined
color of the fiber web, including at least one filler particles in
the filler, adding at least one filler including at least one
filler particles of at least one size in the fiber stock suspension
and producing the fiber web in the predetermined color.
Inventors: |
Doelle; Klaus; (Kisslegg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAYLOR & AUST, P.C.
142 SOUTH MAIN STREET
P. O. BOX 560
AVILLA
IN
46710
US
|
Family ID: |
31991492 |
Appl. No.: |
11/248399 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10242821 |
Sep 13, 2002 |
|
|
|
11248399 |
Oct 12, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
162/162 ;
162/123; 162/181.1; 162/181.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D21H 21/52 20130101;
D21H 21/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
162/162 ;
162/181.1; 162/123; 162/181.2 |
International
Class: |
D21H 21/28 20060101
D21H021/28; D21H 17/66 20060101 D21H017/66 |
Claims
1. A method for the production of a fiber web from a fiber stock
suspension including a filler, comprising the steps of: selecting
at least one size of at least one filler particles for a
predetermined color of the fiber web; including at least one said
filler particles in the filler; adding at least one filler
including at least one said filler particles of at least one said
size in the fiber stock suspension; and producing the fiber web in
said predetermined color.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using
a single said size of said filler particles.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using
a plurality of said sizes of said filler particles, said plurality
of said sizes produces a plurality of colors, said predetermined
color of the fiber web resulting from said plurality of colors.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said method is carried out using
three different said sizes of said filler particles to produce
three primary colors which results in said predetermined color of
the fiber web.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using
at least one volume of said filler particles, each distinct said
volume corresponding to a distinct said size, at least one said
volume is at least one of controlled and adjusted.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said method is carried out using
at least one ratio of at least one said volumes, said ratio is at
least one of controlled and adjusted.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using
the fiber stock suspension including at least one partial
suspension stream, each distinct said partial suspension stream
corresponding to a distinct said size of said filler particles and
a throughput, at least one said throughput is at least one of
controlled and adjusted.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said method is carried out using
at least one ratio of a plurality of said throughputs, said ratio
is at least one of controlled and adjusted.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said method is carried out using
a plurality of headboxes, each said headbox including at least one
said partial suspension stream and a headbox throughput, at least
one said partial suspension stream including a content of said
filler of varying said sizes of said filler particles, at least one
of said headbox throughput and said content are at least one of
controlled and adjusted.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said method is carried out using
three said headboxes to produce three primary colors through three
distinct said sizes of said filler particles which results in said
predetermined color of the fiber web.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out
producing a finished fiber web including a plurality of the fiber
webs, each of the fiber webs including said fillers of varying said
sizes of said filler particles, each said size of said filler
particles associated with a different color, said sizes selected to
produce said finished fiber web in said predetermined color,
resulting from said different colors produced by said sizes of said
filler particles.
12. The method of claim 1, further including the step of producing
at least one said filler particles by at least one of triggering a
chemical precipitation reaction and a refining process, said
producing at least one said filler particles step is prior to said
including step.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out with
said filler including at least one of precipitator, synthetic
material, calcium carbonate, talc, TiO.sub.2, silica and similar
materials.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out by
loading the fiber suspension with said filler through a chemical
precipitation reaction.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said chemical precipitation
reaction produces a crystalline precipitator particles.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said precipitator is calcium
carbonate.
17. The method of claim 16, further including the steps of adding
at least one of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide to the fiber
stock suspension, the fiber stock suspension including fibers, the
fibers are loaded by said adding step; and supplying carbon dioxide
to the fiber suspension thereby triggering said chemical
precipitation reaction.
18. The method of claim 1, further including a refining process
step to produce a predetermined said size of said filler
particles.
19. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of loading
the fiber stock suspension with said filler through a chemical
reaction, the fiber stock suspension including fibers which are
loaded with said filler; and refining the fibers thereby producing
a predetermined said size of said filler particles.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using
a chemical color as a brightner.
21. A method for a production of a fiber web from a fiber stock
suspension including a filler, comprising the steps of:. loading at
least one filler including a plurality of filler particles in the
fiber stock suspension; and refining the fiber stock suspension
after said loading step to produce said plurality of filler
particles in a predetermined size range.
22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of producing
the fiber web in a predetermined color corresponding to said
predetermined size range.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said refining step is a beating
operation.
24. A method for a production of a fiber web from a fiber stock
suspension including a filler, comprising the steps of: loading at
least one filler including a plurality of filler particles in the
fiber stock suspension; and adding at least one dispersing chemical
to the fiber stock suspension.
25. The method of claim 24, further including the step of producing
the fiber web.
26. The method of claim 25, further including the step of improving
at least one of an opacity of the fiber web and a brightness of the
fiber web.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/242,821, entitled "METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A FIBER
WEB", filed Sep. 13, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method for the production
of a fiber web, specifically a paper or cardboard web, from a fiber
stock suspension.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The current trend is to produce paper having brightness
values that are as high as possible. These brightness values may be
achieved by introducing fillers such as calcium carbonate, or
ground calcium carbonate into the fiber stock suspension.
[0006] The loading with an additive, i.e. a filler, may occur for
example through a chemical precipitation reaction, that is
specifically through a so-called "fiber loading.TM." process, such
as described in the prior art documentation U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,090
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,138, among others. During such a "fiber
loading.TM." process at least one additive, specifically a filler,
is deposited on the moistened fiber surfaces of the fiber material.
The fibers may, for example, be loaded with calcium carbonate. To
this end, calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide are added to the
moist disintegrated fiber material in such a manner, whereby at
least a portion of these additives associates with the water that
is contained in the fiber material. The fiber material treated in
this manner is subsequently supplied with carbon dioxide.
[0007] What is needed in the art is a method for loading a fiber
web with an additive to improve brightness and that would provide
as simple and as reliable a method as possible for the production
of fiber webs in various colors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a method for the production
of a fiber web, specifically a paper or cardboard web, from a fiber
stock suspension containing a filler, whereby the size of the
filler particles is selected with the particular objective of
producing a fiber web of a predetermined color.
[0009] The present invention comprises, in one form thereof, a
method for the production of a fiber web from a fiber stock
suspension including a filler, including the steps of: selecting at
least one size of at least one filler particles for a predetermined
color of the fiber web, including at least one filler particles in
the filler, adding at least one filler including at least one
filler particles of at least one size in the fiber stock suspension
and producing the fiber web in the predetermined color.
[0010] An advantage of the present invention is a simple and
reliable method for the production of fiber webs in various
colors.
[0011] Another advantage is the production of fiber webs in various
colors with improved brightness.
[0012] Yet another advantage is the fact that the dispersion and
reflection of light is dependent upon the respective particle
size.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] According to a preferred practical arrangement of the method
according to the present invention, filler particles of one and the
same size are utilized in order to produce the color of the fiber
web. In this instance the color produced by the relevant particle
size constitutes the actual color of the fiber web that is visible
from the surface.
[0014] According to an advantageous alternative arrangement, filler
particles of varying sizes are utilized whereby the different
particle sizes are selected so that the color of the fiber web
results from the different colors produced by the different
particle sizes. The visible exterior color of the fiber web
therefore, results from two or more primary colors produced by the
respective particle sizes. Specifically three different particle
sizes may be used in this process, and the different particle sizes
selected so that three primary colors are produced from which the
color of the fiber web results. The utilized volume of fillers of a
specific particle size is controlled and/or adjusted to advantage.
Specifically, the ratio of the utilized filler volumes of varying
particle sizes can also be controlled and/or adjusted.
[0015] According to a functional practical arrangement of the
method in accordance with the present invention, the throughput of
at least one partial suspension stream containing filler of a
certain particle size is controlled and/or adjusted. Specifically,
the relationship of the throughputs of two or more partial
suspension streams containing fillers of varying particle sizes can
also be controlled and/or adjusted.
[0016] According to an effective arrangement of the method in
accordance with the present invention, several fiber webs
containing fillers of varying particle sizes are produced, and the
varying particle sizes selected with the objective that the color
of the finished fiber web will be a result of the different colors
produced by the varying particle sizes. Specifically, several
headboxes may be used whose partial suspension streams contain
filler of varying particle sizes. The headbox throughputs and/or
the filler content of the partial suspension streams can be
controlled and/or adjusted.
[0017] Advantageously three headboxes are utilized in order to
produce three primary colors through three different filler
particle sizes, resulting in the color of the fiber web.
[0018] In order to produce the filler particles, a chemical
precipitation reaction is effectively triggered and/or a refining
process carried out. Basically however, any other desired
manufacturing process is also feasible. The filler can consist
specifically of one or several of the following materials:
precipitator, synthetic material, calcium carbonate, talc,
TiO.sub.2, silica and/or similar materials.
[0019] According to a preferred practical arrangement of the method
in accordance to the present invention, the fiber suspension is
loaded with filler through a chemical precipitation reaction,
whereby especially crystalline precipitator particles are produced.
The precipitator may for example be calcium carbonate.
[0020] It is also particularly advantageous if calcium oxide and/or
calcium hydroxide is added to the fiber stock suspension for the
purpose of loading the fibers, and if the precipitation is
triggered by supplying carbon dioxide to the fiber suspension.
[0021] When loading the fibers with filler, calcium carbonate
(CaCO.sub.3) can for example be deposited at the moistened fiber
surfaces by adding calcium oxide (CaO) and/or calcium hydroxide
(Ca(OH).sub.2) to the moist fiber material, whereby at least a
portion of this can associate with the water of the fiber volume.
Carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) can then be introduced to the treated
fiber material.
[0022] The term "moistened fiber surfaces" may encompass all
moistened surfaces of the individual fibers. This specifically also
encompasses the instance where the fibers are loaded with calcium
carbonate or any other desired precipitator on their outer surface
as well as in their interior (lumen).
[0023] Accordingly, the fibers may for example be loaded with the
filler calcium carbonate, whereby the deposit onto the moistened
fiber surfaces occurs through a so-called "fiber loading.TM."
process, as described in the prior art documents U.S. Pat. No.
5,223,090 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,138. In this "fiber loading.TM."
process the carbon dioxide reacts, for example, with the calcium
hydroxide to water and calcium carbonate. The calcium hydroxide may
be introduced to the fiber stock suspension in liquid or in dry
form.
[0024] Specifically a refining process can produce the appropriate
particle size.
[0025] A preferred practical arrangement of the method according to
the present invention distinguishes itself in that the fiber stock
suspension is loaded with filler through a chemical reaction and in
that the fibers that are loaded with filler are refined in order to
produce an appropriate filler particle size.
[0026] In certain instances it may be advantageous if a chemical
color is used additionally as a brightener. Production of paper in
different colors is therefore possible for example, by utilizing
particles whose size is selected so that for the production of a
certain color in the finished paper, a respective color of the
visible light is reflected.
[0027] The particles that are present in the finished product may
for example be produced by a precipitation reaction, by refining
and/or by another production process. The utilized material may,
for example, be a precipitator or a synthetic material, calcium
carbonate, talc, TiO.sub.2, silica and/or a similar material.
[0028] The particle size is fundamental to achieving optimum
opacity as well as the desired color. A high opacity or brightness
is achieved when the color spectrum of the visible light is well
dispersed. If the entire color spectrum is absorbed, the resulting
color will be black. If the filler particle size is below a value
of specifically 0.2 to 0.5 .mu.m, the tendency is toward achieving
a higher transparency and a higher gloss.
[0029] In order to obtain colored paper, the particle size of the
filler must be in a range in which only one color of the visible
light is reflected. The paper then possesses a resulting color that
is complimentary to the absorbed color. If for example, a filler
particle absorbs the color blue, the resulting color will be
yellow. If a filler particle is produced which absorbs only one
color, then the paper will be in the complimentary color.
[0030] If the paper contains two filler particles, or more
precisely two filler types that differ in their particle size,
where the one particle or the one filler type absorbs for example
the color blue and the other one absorbs the color yellow, then the
resulting paper color will be green.
[0031] Obviously, any other examples of the method according to the
invention would also be feasible.
[0032] Viewed physically, color is an optical phenomenon that
captures a certain frequency range of the visible light. Light is
known to be a form of electromagnetic radiation that transmits at
the velocity of light. Color is a subjective immaterial sensation
that occurs when light enters the eyes.
[0033] The visible spectrum of light has a wavelength of 400 to 800
nm, whereby certain color impressions occur at certain wavelength
ranges, as indicated in the table below: TABLE-US-00001 Wave length
range Color impression 800-605 red 605-595 orange 595-580 yellow
580-560 yellow-green 560-500 green 500-490 bluish-green 490-480
green-blue 480-435 blue 435-400 violet
[0034] White light is not a color in the physical sense. It does
however, show a mixture of all above referenced colors. If one
color of the visible light is filtered out, the complimentary color
remains as indicated in the table below: TABLE-US-00002 Filtered
out color Complimentary color Blue Yellow Red Cyan Green
Magenta
[0035] Basically, a color can also be produced through a
combination of various colors, as indicated in the following
examples: TABLE-US-00003 Resulting Color Original colors White =
Red + Green + Blue Yellow = Red + Green Magenta = Red + Blue Cyan =
Green + Blue
[0036] Basically, color can originate in various ways. Chemical
colors for example, find their origin in colored substances, atoms
and especially in molecules that selectively absorb the sources of
light, whereby the color of the atoms or molecules is complementary
to the filtered out light. Structural colors result through
refraction, reflection, dispersion and interference.
[0037] For the production of colors according to the present
invention through correlative particle sizes, and particularly for
utilization of the so-called "fiber loading.TM." process the
dispersion and reflection is of particular interest. In contrast,
refraction is used primarily in optical devices. Interference or
superposition of waves is also excluded in this instance.
[0038] Light is dispersed on very small particles such as for
example dust, in other words, it is reflected in all directions.
The dispersion effect depends greatly on the wavelength. Higher
frequencies with shorter wavelengths therefore, are dispersed more
strongly. Blue light for example, is dispersed approximately ten
times more strongly than red light.
[0039] In the case of a medium consisting of extremely small
particles, the blue light is dispersed or filtered out first, and
then the yellow light. A white light beam changes its color from
white to yellow and then to red.
[0040] In the application of, for example, a paper containing
fillers, white paper is created when the filler particles reflect
the entire spectrum colors, resulting in white light. White paper
therefore is created if the filler particles are of appropriately
different sizes. Transparent paper is created when the light can
pass unimpeded through the paper, that is, if light is possibly
reflected but, however, no light sources of certain size are
filtered out. If a filler particle is produced that filters out a
certain wavelength of the visible light, then the paper will appear
in the complimentary color. If for example, blue is filtered out,
then the paper will appear in the color yellow.
[0041] If for example different layers are contained in a certain
paper type, that respectively filter out a certain wavelength of
light, and that are additively mixed, then basically, any desired
paper color can be selected. In one example of the method according
to the present invention, the coating processes that were hitherto
used for coloring of the paper are superfluous. A pre-condition for
this is that the filler pigments only filter out the respective
color, irrespective of whether they were produced by the so-called
"fiber loading.TM." process or by another manufacturing process.
This may signify for example, that the respective headbox must be
controlled and/or adjusted to an optimum with regard to its
throughput and with regard to the filler content. This signifies
that, for example, three headboxes with fillers of different
particle sizes containing a respective primary color may be
utilized, in order to cover the entire color range.
[0042] A possible gray cast in the produced paper colors may be
avoided by additionally using chemical colors in lower volumes as
brightening agents.
[0043] Basically, other desired arrangements of the method
according to the invention are also feasible.
[0044] The necessary filler particle size ranges are in the range
of the visible wavelength, i.e., in the range of nanometers (nm),
and more specifically in the bandwidth ranges given in the table
above. As previously mentioned, there is a correlative relationship
between the particle size and color of the paper, or between the
combination of particle sizes and resulting paper color. For a
predetermined color of the fiber web, the particle size is selected
to be in the wavelength range of that predetermined color. As given
in the table above, a wavelength range of light provides a given
color impression, such as a bandwidth of 800 nm-605 nm produces a
color impression of red. Therefore, filler particles on the order
of 800 nm-605 nm are added for a red fiber web. For a combination
color such as yellow, filler particles corresponding to red and
green color impressions, i.e., 800 nm-605 nm filler particle sizes
and 560 nm-500 nm filler particle sizes are added to the fiber web.
As is known in the optical and color arts, even highly coherent
light sources, such as lasers, which produce a "single" color light
have a bandwidth but still appear as a single color, such as red in
the case of a HeNe laser. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide
a single filler particle size for a resulting color impression;
instead, particle sizes which are in the wavelength bandwidth of a
color impression can be produced that result in the resultant color
impression of the fiber web.
[0045] Filler particles can be produced in the appropriate size
ranges using a chemical slaking process as is known. For example, a
common filler is calcium hydroxide. The slaking process converts
limestone (CaCO.sub.3), with the addition of heat, to calcium oxide
and carbon dioxide (CaO+CO.sub.2). However, calcium oxide (CaO) can
be unstable in the presence of moisture and CO.sub.2. A more stable
form of lime is calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) which can be
produced by combining the calcium oxide (CaO) with water H.sub.2O
to produce calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2)+heat. The chemical
slaking process can be supported by beating and/or producing high
shear forces when producing the calcium hydroxide lime to reduce
the filler particle size. Further, grinding of the filler particles
can reduce their size, and other refining such as filtering or
screening can produce particle sizes in a range corresponding to
the wavelength bandwidth of a given color impression. As previously
mentioned, when loading the fibers with filler, calcium carbonate
(CaCO.sub.3) can for example be deposited at the moistened fiber
surfaces by adding calcium oxide (CaO) and/or calcium hydroxide
(Ca(OH).sub.2) to the moist fiber material, whereby at least a
portion of this can associate with the water of the fiber volume.
Carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) can then be introduced to the treated
fiber material. The filler can include one or several of the
following materials: precipitator, synthetic material, calcium
carbonate, talc, TiO2, silica and/or similar materials.
[0046] The fiber loading process can include parameters to change
for steering the size of the filler particles. For example, the
present invention can include a method for a production of a fiber
web from a fiber stock suspension including a filler, including the
steps of: loading at least one filler including a plurality of
filler particles in the fiber stock suspension; and refining the
fiber stock suspension after the loading step to produce the
plurality of filler particles in a predetermined size range. This
method can further include the step of producing the fiber web in a
predetermined color corresponding to the predetermined size range.
The refining step can be a beating operation, for example.
[0047] As mentioned above, a high opacity or brightness of a fiber
web is achieved when the color spectrum of the visible light is
well dispersed. To that end, dispersing chemicals can be added to
the fiber web. The present invention therefore includes a method
for a production of a fiber web from a fiber stock suspension
including a filler, including the steps of: loading at least one
filler including a plurality of filler particles in the fiber stock
suspension; and adding at least one dispersing chemical to the
fiber stock suspension. The method can further include the steps of
producing the fiber web, and improving at least one of an opacity
of the fiber web and a brightness of the fiber web.
[0048] 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.
* * * * *