CA2244343A1 - Method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2244343A1 CA2244343A1 CA 2244343 CA2244343A CA2244343A1 CA 2244343 A1 CA2244343 A1 CA 2244343A1 CA 2244343 CA2244343 CA 2244343 CA 2244343 A CA2244343 A CA 2244343A CA 2244343 A1 CA2244343 A1 CA 2244343A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fabric
- sheet material
- material web
- housing
- slitting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D7/20—Cutting beds
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D7/08—Means for treating work or cutting member to facilitate cutting
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/04—Processes
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/04—Processes
- Y10T83/0405—With preparatory or simultaneous ancillary treatment of work
- Y10T83/0419—By distorting within elastic limit
- Y10T83/0424—By stretching
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/04—Processes
- Y10T83/0591—Cutting by direct application of fluent pressure to work
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/343—With means to deform work temporarily
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/647—With means to convey work relative to tool station
- Y10T83/6472—By fluid current
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/768—Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
- Y10T83/7684—With means to support work relative to tool[s]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/768—Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
- Y10T83/7684—With means to support work relative to tool[s]
- Y10T83/7722—Support and tool relatively adjustable
Abstract
An apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web being carried on a fabric. The apparatus including a penetrating device and an air flow that separates a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent the penetrating device so as to bring the web into contact with the penetrating device. In one embodiment, a vacuum lifts a portion of the sheet material web into contact with a slitting member such that it continuously slits the sheet material web longitudinally along its length as the fabric carries the sheet material web beneath it. In an alternative embodiment, a pressurized air stream is directed to a bottom portion of the sheet material web so as to separate the web from the fabric. A method for penetrating a sheet material web as it is carried on a fabric includes the steps of carrying the sheet material web on a fabric in a longitudinal direction, applying an air flow to the web so as to separate a portion of the web from the fabric, penetrating the web as it is separated from the fabric and reapplying the sheet material web to the fabric.
Description
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
METEIOD AND APPARATUS FOR PENETRATING
A ~ ; l MATERIAL WEB
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, such as by slitting, cutting, puncturing or perforating, while the web is being carried on a fabric.
It is well known in the field of paper making, and particularly in the field of m~mlf~cturing tissue products such as facial tissues, bath tissues and paper towels, to provide an apparatus for longitudinally slitting a continuous running sheet material web into two or more strips. Typically, the sheet material web is slit either as it traverses an "open draw" before being wound into rolls, before it is 15 dried or after it is wound onto the roll. In the first instance, the area of open draw, where the dried sheet is momentarily unsupported before being wound, provides an ideal place to slit the web. In particular, the slitting device, often configured as a rotary saw blade, can be applied to the web without concern about cutting or otherwise d~m~ging an underlying fabric, which otherwise carries the 20 sheet material web throughout the forming process. Fabrics of this nature can be expensive and difficult to replace.
However, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,309, issued January 7, 1997 to Rugowski et al., and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the same assignee as the present application, open draws are a frequent source of sheet 25 breaks and associated production delays. As a result, tissue sheets often aredesigned to have high machine direction strengths in order to remain intact as they are pulled through the open draw. However, high machine direction strengths can adversely affect the quality of the web in terms of its desired softness. Therefore, as explained in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,309, the elimination of open draws in tissue 30 m~nllf~cturing can result in a sheet material being made more efficiently at less cost and with more desirable properties.
When the open draw is elimin~ted7 the sheet material web is typically slit using a water jet prior to drying the web. However, such "wet slitting" can result CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
in a degradation of the throughdrying fabric as it is exposed to hot air passingthrough the slit in the sheet material during the drying stage of the process.
Moreover, the slit edges of the sheet material web may not dry evenly due to thepile up of fibers along the slit. Additionally, when the sheet material web is slit 5 prior to drying, the various strips of sheet material web are difficult to control and can become inadvertently interwoven, or overlapped, as they are further carried towards the wind-up reel. Interwoven strips can be more easily damaged and can make the winding process particularly difficult. Moreover, adjacent rolls havinginterwoven webs can be particularly difficult to separate. Accordingly, the strips 10 of sheet material web are typically required to be spread apart so as to prevent interweaving.
In contrast to slitting the web prior to drying, it is also known in the art to slit the sheet material web as it is wound onto the roll, as mentioned above.
Slitting apparatuses of this nature typically apply a pressure or guide roller, or like 15 device, to the outermost surface of the roll so as to thereby control the penetration of the slitting device. However, facial and bath tissues typically have low densities. Accordingly, it usually is not desirable, or even possible, to allow such a guide roller to contact the roll as it builds so as to thereby control the position of the slitter, and the penetration thereof. Moreover, the various strips are 20 necessarily wound onto the same roll and must be rewound onto separate rolls after slitting in another m~mlf~cturing step if desired.
Alternatively, the sheet material web can be carried on two or more belts aligned side-by-side, wherein a slitting blade protrudes through the gap betweenthe belts. The sheet material web can become caught or torn in the gap, however,25 and it is not possible to change the lateral position of the slitting device without reconfiguring the belts, which can be very expensive and time con~ lming Moreover, the control of the belts, and the alignment thereof, can be difficult to m~mt~1n Briefly stated, the invention is directed to an apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, such as by slitting, cutting, puncturing or perforating, while CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
being carried on a fabric. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a penetrating device positioned above the fabric and an air flow, which is applied to a portion of the sheet material web adjacent the penetrating device so as to separate the web from the fabric and thereby bring the web into contact with the5 penetrating device above the fabric.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing disposed around a slitting member, preferably configured as a rotary saw blade. The housing preferably includes a shoe member attached to a bottom of the housing and having an opening forming a mouth of the housing which opens towards the 10 sheet material web carried on the fabric. The shoe member preferably includes a rearwardly facing nose portion shaped to strip the boundary layer of air from the sheet material web as it passes beneath the housing. Preferably, a curved plate is mounted to the shoe member at the mouth of the housing. The plate has a plurality of apertures and a slot formed therein. A vacuum is connected to the 15 housing to apply an air flow such that a portion of the sheet material web isseparated from the fabric at the mouth of the housing and thereby brought into contact with the slitting member.
In an alternative embodiment, an air hose is provided below the fabric.
The air hose applies a pressurized air stream to a portion of the bottom of the web 20 so as to lift it off of the fabric and into contact with the penetrating device, preferably including a slitting member. The air hose is used with air permeable fabrics, while the vacuum is employed with imperrneable fabrics. Alternatively, the air hose can be used in combination with the vacuum so as to obtain the desired separation of the sheet material web when used with an air permeable 25 fabric.
In one aspect of the invention, a sensor is provided below the fabric. The sensor monitors the position of the fabric and signals the retraction or stoppage of the penetrating device if the fabric inadvertently approaches the penetrating device. Preferably, the penetrating device is made height adjustable so as to allow 30 the distance between the blade and fabric to be automatically adjusted according to the input from the sensor.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
In yet another aspect, a method is provided for penetrating the sheet material web carried on the fabric. The method includes carrying the sheet material web on a fabric in a longitudinal direction, applying either a vacuum or a pressurized air stream, or both, to the sheet material web so as to separate at least S a portion of the web from the fabric, penetrating the sheet material web as it is separated from the fabric and reapplying the separated portion of the sheet material web to the fabric.
The present invention provides significant advantages over other slitting or penetrating devices. Importantly, the apparatus allows for slitting the sheet 10 material web while it is being carried by a fabric prior to winding the web onto rolls. In this way, the open draw of the forming process can be eliminated so as to reduce waste and costs, but without having to slit the sheet material web prior to the drying process, wherein the problems of fabric degradation, fiber build-up at the slit edges and loss of sheet control can be encountered. Moreover, since the15 apparatus can be positioned relatively close to the winding reel, as opposed to wet slitting, which is typically performed up stream in the process, the problem of interweaving can be greatly reduced.
In addition, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for slitting the sheet material web prior to winding the web onto rolls.
20 In this way, the various strips of sheet material web can be directed to different wind-up reels, rather than rolling the web into a single roll, where it is then slit and rewound onto separate, individual rolls, if needed.
Moreover, since the fabric is not split, or otherwise configured to receive the slitting device, the apparatus can easily be moved laterally to any desired 25 position above the longitudinally moving web without having to reconfigure the fabric. In addition, a plurality of slitting apparatuses can be positioned above the web so as to enable the operator to make multiple strips of sheet material web. In either situation, the desired slitting operation can be set up quickly, inexpensively and with little or no waste.
The present invention, together with further objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Many of the features and dimensions portrayed in the drawings, and in particular the presentation of sheet material web thicknesses and the like, have5 been somewhat exaggerated for the sake of illustration and clarity.
FIGURE 1is a side view of a slitting apparatus.
FIGURE 2is a rear view of the slitting apparatus.
FIGURE 3is a side view of a shoe member.
FIGURE 4is a top view of the shoe member.
FIGURE 5is an end view of the shoe member.
- FIGURE 6is a top view of a vacuum plate.
FIGURE 7is a side view of the vacuum plate.
FIGURE 8is an end view of the vacuum plate.
FIGURE 9is a side view of a first mounting bracket for the laser sensor.
FIGURE lOis an end view ofthe first mounting bracket.
FIGURE 11is a rear view of a second mounting bracket for the laser sensor.
FIGURE 12is a side view ofthe second mounting bracket.
FIGURE 13is a partial enlarged cross-sectional of the slitting device ~ng~ging the sheet material web in a recess formed at the mouth of the housing.
FIGURE 14is an alternative embodiment of the slitting apparatus.
FIGURE lSis a schematic flow diagram of a method for making a sheet material web.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE
PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It should be understood that the term "web," as used herein, is meant to include a sheet material made of one or more plies of material so that a multiple-ply sheet material is considered to be a "web" of sheet material, regardless of thenumber of plies. In addition, the term "longitudinal," as used herein, is intended to indicate the direction in which the web traverses through the forming process inthe machine direction, and is not intended to be limited to a particular length of the CA 02244343 1998-09-lF, web, whether it is cut or otherwise. Similarly, the terms "downwardly,"
"upwardly," "forward", "rearward", "left" and "right" as used herein are intended to indicate the direction relative to the views presented in the Figures, and inparticular, from a perspective when viewing the web and fabric as they travel away from the drier toward the slitting apparatus and ultimately to the wind-up reel.Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an apparatus 10 having a housing 12, a vacuum and a penetrating device 16, shown as a slitting member. A
forward portion of the housing 12 includes a pair of mounting flanges 18 bolted to a pivot bracket 20 with a plurality of bolts 21. Vertically oriented slots 19 are 10 provided in the mounting flànges 18 so as to allow the vertical position of the housing 12 to be adjusted relative to the pivot bracket 20. In addition, a pair of adjustment screws 70 extend through a pair of lug members 72 extending forwardly from the flange members 18 and engage a bottom surface 74 of the pivot bracket 20. When the bolts 21 are loosened, the adjustment screws 70 can 15 be extended or retracted relative to the lug members 72 so as to locate the mounting flanges 18 in the desired position relative to the pivot bracket 20, wherein the bolts 21 can be tightened so as to securely mount the housing to thepivot bracket. In this way, the operator can adjust the exposure of the slittingmember within a mouth 94 of the housing.
A pair of lug members 22 extend forwardly from the pivot bracket 20 at two locations and are pivotally attached with a pin 64 to a pair of rearwardly extending lug members 26 attached to a lower portion 28 of an upwardly extending plate member 24. The plate member 24 includes an upper portion 30 attached to a first mounting plate 40 with a plurality of bolts 34.
Preferably, the upper portion 30 includes a plurality of slots 32 which are adapted to receive bolts 34. A pair of lug members 33 extend forwardly from the upper portion 30. A pair of adjustment screws 42 are threadably received in the lug members 33 and engage a top surface 39 of the first mounting plate 40. In this way, the bolts 34 can be loosened so as to allow the adjustment screw 42 to be 30 rotated and thereby raise or lower the plate member 24 to a desired height relative to the first mounting plate 40. In this way, the operator can adjust the position of the slitting member relative to the fabric 60 and control the distance therebetween.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
The bolts 34 are then tightened within the slots 32 to mount the plate member 24to the first mounting plate 40.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first mounting plate 40 is attached to a second mounting plate 44 disposed on an opposite side of a laterally extending frame member 46. A plurality of bolts 47 are used to clamp the frame member 46 between the first and second plate members 40, 44. As shown in FIG. 2, the bolts47 can be loosened so that the entire apparatus can be moved laterally along thelength of the frame member 46 to a desired operating position above the longitudinally oriented fabric 60, which is preferably one-piece and spans the 10 entire cross-machine direction ofthe machine. It should be understood by one of skill in the art, that the plate member, or first and/or second mounting plates,could also be fixedly attached directly to the frame member with fasteners, welding or the like.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting bracket 48 is attached, with 15 fasteners, or by welding and the like, to a rear surface 36 of the upper portion 30 of the plate member 24. The bracket 48 includes a pair of rearwardly extending lug members 50. A pneumatic cylinder 54 includes an upper end 56 which is pivotally attached to the lug members, and a shaft 62 having a lower end 58 pivotally attached to a pair of lug members 52 extending rearwardly from the pivot 20 bracket 20. In operation, the pneumatic cylinder 54, preferably configured as a gas spring, can be extended or retracted so as to pivot the pivot bracket 20 about the axis of pin 64. Alternatively, a hydraulic cylinder can be used to actuate the pivot bracket. In addition, a pair of horizontally oriented adjustment screws 76extend through the lower portion 28 of the plate member 24 and engage a forward 25 surface 38 of pivot bracket 20. The adjustment screws 76 act as a stop against the pivot bracket 20 and can be extended or retracted relative to the plate member so as to limit the rotation of the pivot bracket 20, and attached housing 12 and slitting member 16, relative to the fabric 60. In this way, the slitting member is prevented from being rotated into contact with the fabric, especially in the event of 30 a failure in the pneumatic cylinder 54.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric motor 80 is also attached to the pivot bracket 20. A suitable motor is the 1. lKW, 50Hz, 2840 RPM AC motor CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
commercially available from ABB Industrie as Type M2JA 80L. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontally oriented shaft 82 of the motor extends laterally into the housing 12. Preferably, the slitting member 16is a rotary saw blade. The slitting member 16is disposed in the housing 12 and is mounted to the shaft 82 of 5 the motor. A commercially available saw blade suitable for use is the 3/4 inch inner diameter, 12 inch outer diameter tool steel blade sold by Otter-Kinetic Co. as Part No. 3074-5A. Preferably, the saw blade rotates clockwise, or in the same direction as the travel of the fabric and sheet material web, and a greater speed, preferably at about a 2:1 ratio.
Alternatively, the penetrating device can be configured as one of a stationary, fixed knife blade positioned within the housing, a water jet, a laser or any other known and conventional slitting devices. In addition, the apparatus can be used to modify the moving sheet material web as it is carried on the fabric such as by cutting the web in a transverse, cross-machine direction, by puncturing orperforating the web, or by similarly acting upon the web so as to change its size, shape or makeup. In such embodiments, one of skill in the art should recognize that the apparatus would include a penetrating device capable of making the cuts, perforations or punctures, including for example, but not limited to, rotary cutter or perforation heads.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum includes a conduit 15 attached to the rear portion of the housing. A conventional vacuum is connected to the conduit 15 so as to apply a vacuum to the housing 12. Depending on the weight of the sheet material web and the permeability of the underlying fabric, vacuum levels of from about 4 inches water column ("WC") to about 25 inches WC can be applied to the housing so as to provide an adequate separation of the sheet fromthe material web fabric without also drawing the fabric toward the housing.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the housing 12 preferably includes a shoe member 90 having flange portion 103 attached to a lower portion 66 ofthe housing. The shoe member 90 has a cavity 92 and a mouth 94 opening downwardly towards the underlying fabric 60 and sheet material web 100 traversing beneath it. The shoe member 90 also includes a rearwardly facing nose portion 96 which is shaped to strip the boundary layer of air from the sheet material web 100 so as to allow the CA 02244343 1998-09-l~
web to be more easily separated from the underlying fabric. Preferably, the shoemember is made of aluminum.
Referring to FIGS. 6-9, a perforated vacuum plate member 102 is shown.
Preferably the vacuum plate member 102 is curved so as to have a downwardly 5 facing concave surface 104 overlying the sheet material web 100 and fabric 60.The concave curved surface extends substantially continuously along the longitudinal length ofthe plate member. A pair of mounting flanges 106 extend longitudinally along the side portions of the plate member. Each mounting flange106 includes a plurality of holes 108. A plurality of fasteners are received in the lO holes and securely fasten the plate member 102 over the mouth 94 of the shoe member. In addition, an end plate 107is attached to a forward portion 109 of theshoe member. Each ofthe mounting flanges 106 have a bottom surface 112.
Preferably, the vacuum plate member is made of #14 gauge stainless steel.
The curved portion 114 ofthe plate member is received within the cavity 15 92 ofthe shoe member and forms a downwardly facing recess 116 opening towards the sheet material web as shown in FIG. 13. A plurality of apertures 118are positioned in the curved portion 114 ofthe plate member. Preferably, the apertures 118 are configured as holes, rather than slots, so that the sheet material web is prevented from being drawn through the plate member and into the housing, or vacuum plenum. In addition, the plate member includes a longitudinalelongate slot 120 positioned approximately along the centerline of the plate member. The apertures 118 are positioned both on the sides of and rearwardly of the slot 120, but not- forward of the slot. Preferably, the apertures do not extend the full length of the shoe member 90 so as to allow the raised portion of the sheet material web 100 to settle back onto the fabric 60 as it travels toward the wind-up reel.
As shown in FIG. 13, the shoe member 90 and vacuum plate member 102 allow the relatively more flexible sheet material web 100 to be drawn into the recess 116 and into contact with the slitting member 16, but prevent the relatively inflexible fabric 60, which is stretched tight over reel drum 174, from being drawn into the recess as it contacts the bottom of the shoe member and/or plate memberflanges. In this way, the shoe member 90 and vacuum plate member 102 prevent CA 02244343 l998-09-lF, the slitting member from contacting and thereby damaging the fabric 60. In addition, screw 70 can be adjusted to expose more or less of the slitting member16 within the recess 116.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. l-2 and 9-12, a laser displacement sensor 130 iS mounted to a frame member 132 below the fabric 60. In particular, a crossmember 134 iS adjustably mounted to a bracket 136 attached to the vertical framemember 132. The cross member 134 includes flange member 138 at about a midpoint of the cross member. The laser sensor 130 iS mounted on a bracket member 140 which includes a flange member 141 attached to flange member 138.
10 In operation, the cross member 134 can be moved laterally beneath the fabric 60 by sliding the cross member between the support brackets 136 mounted on opposite sides of the machine as the apparatus 10 is moved latèrally above the fabric 60 such that the laser sensor 130 iS directed at the fabric immediately below the slitting member, preferably at the approximate centerline of the rotary saw 15 blade at its lowest point adjacent the fabric. A lock-down bolt 137 iS mounted on each bracket 136 and engages the cross member 134 to releasably lock the cross member in a desired position. Alternatively, the laser can be slid to the operator side of the machine to allow for angular adjustment or maintenance of the sensor.
The sensor 130 monitors the position of the fabric 60 and automatically signals the 20 operator or adjusts the slitting apparatus if the fabric is lifted upwardly towards the slitting member. In a preferred embodiment, the signal from the sensor 130 triggers an upward retraction of the slitting member or a stoppage of the vacuumso as to ensure that the fabric is not damaged by the slitting device. In particular, the pneumatic cylinder is actuated so as to pivot the slitting apparatus upwardly 25 about pin 64 and away from the fabric. A commercially available sensor 130 is the Nippon Automated LAS-8010 laser sensor available from Adsens Tech. Inc.
Also as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support tube 142 or bar is attached to bracket 144 and supports a bottom surface 146 ofthe fabric immediately behind the housing 12. Preferably, the support tube is rotatably mounted beneath the 30 fabric so as to not wear the fabric. The support tube impinges slightly on the fabric so that the fabric wraps around the tube and thereby further helps to prevent the fabric from being drawn to the slitting device. An adjustment screw 147 CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
threadably engages a flange extending rearwardly from bracket 136 and engages a bottom surface of bracket 144. The screw 147 can be rotated to adjust the vertical position of the support tube, and the relative impingement against the fabric.
Referring to FIG. 15, a schematic diagram for forming a sheet material web without an open draw is shown. The apparatus and method for making such a web is set forth in U.S. Patent No. 5,593,545, issued January 14, 1997 and U.SPatent No. 5,591,309, issued January 7, 1997, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. However, it should be understood by one of skill in the art that the present invention could be used with other paper forming processes which utilize fabrics and/or belts to carry the sheet material without an open draw, and can be used for slitting other types of sheet materials other than paper products.
As explained in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,593,545 and 5,591,309, and as shown in FIG. 15, a representative throughdrying process for making uncreped throughdried tissues is shown. Shown is the headbox 148 which deposits an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto inner forming fabric 150 as it traverses the forming roll 152. Outer forming fabric 154 serves to contain the web while it passes over the forming roll and sheds some of the water. The wet web 156 is then transferred from the inner forming fabric to a wet end transfer fabric 158 with the aid of a vacuum transfer shoe 160. This transfer is preferably carried out with the transfer fabric traveling at a slower speed than the forming fabric(rush transfer) to impart stretch into the final sheet material web. The wet web is then transferred to the throughdrying fabric 162 with the assistance of a vacuumtransfer roll 164. The throughdrying fabric carries the web over the throughdryer 166, blows hot air through the web to dry it while preserving bulk. There can bemore than one throughdryer in series (not shown), depending on the speed and thedryer capacity. The dried tissue sheet is then transferred to a first dry end transfer fabric 168 with the aid of vacuum transfer roll 170. The sheet material web shortly after transfer is sandwiched between the first dry end transfer fabric and the second dry end transfer fabric 60 to positively control the sheet path. Suitable fabrics for use as the first dry end fabric include without limitation, a wide variety CA 02244343 l998-09-l~
of fabrics such as Asten 934, Asten 939, Albany 59M, Albany Duotex DD207, Lindsay 543 and the like. After the sheet material web is compressed between thefirst dry end transfer fabric and the second dry end transfer fabric 60, which, in one embodiment, has a greater air permeability than that of the first dry end transfer fabric, the web is wrapped around the reel drum 174. Suitable second dry end transfer fabrics include, without limitation, Asten 960 (air permeability ofabout 300-400), Appleton Mills style Q53F (air permeability of about 400), Appleton Mills style Q53KY (air permeability of about 200). Because of the air flow through the lower fabric caused by roll, the sheet transfers to the second dry 10 end transfer fabric. It is retained on the top surface of the second dry end transfer fabric by air pressure generated by the presence of an air foil on the underside of the fabric. The sheet material web is then carried to the winding nip formed between the reel drum 174 and the reel 178 and wound into a roll 180.
In an alternative embodiment, the permeability ofthe second transfer fabric 15 60 is much lower than the corresponding fabric used for the above-described method. By lowering the permeability of the second dry end transfer fabric, the need for an air foil is eliminated because with the lower permeability of the second fabric, the sheet tends to naturally adhere to that fabric. At the point of separation the sheet follows the lower permeability fabric due to vacuum action. No air is 20 pumped through the fabric by the various rolls and no foils are required. Suitable low air permeability fabrics for this embodiment include, without limitation, Asten 960 dryer fabric (air permeability of about 50-100), COFPA Mononap NP 50 dryer felt (air permeability of about 50) and Appleton Mills dryer felt style H53FH
(air perrneability of about 75).
As shown in FIG. 15, the apparatus 10 is positioned over the second dry end transfer fabric 60 between the first dry end transfer fabric 168 and the reel drum 174. Preferably, the apparatus of FIGS. 1-2 is used in conjunction with thesecond dry end transfer fabric of the second embodiment described above, which has a low permeability.
In operation, a vacuum is continuously applied through the apertures 118 in the plate member 102 so as to apply a negative pressure to a portion of the sheet material web and thereby lift the web from the fabric 60 and thereafter be CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
drawn into the recess 116 and into contact with the concave surface 104 ofthe plate member. The slitting member 16, or saw blade, extends through the slot 120in the plate member and into the recess 116 formed by the plate member.
Preferably, slitting member 16 does not extend below the bottom surface 98, 112 of the shoe member or vacuum plate member. Accordingly, as the sheet material is carried by the fabric, a portion of the web is lifted from the fabric 60 and carried past the slitting member which makes a slit in the sheet material web 100, thereby forming separate strips of sheet material web. As the sheet material web strips traverse past the slitting member 16 and beyond the apertures 118 applying the 10 vacuum, the raised portions of the strips settle back onto the fabric 60, or are reapplied thereto, and are thereafter transferred to the wind-up reel 178 and wound into rolls 180.
It should be understood by those of skill in the art that a fixed knife, water jet, laser or like slitting member could be positioned in the housing. Alternatively, 15 the vacuum can be applied to the sheet material web without a housing.
Moreover, other penetrating devices, capable of cutting, puncturing and/or pelrola~ing the web can also be positioned adjacent the fabric and web and act upon the web as it is separated from the fabric without contacting or otherwise d~m~ging the fabric.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, the slitting apparatus includes a flexible air line 182 and nozzle 184 positioned beneath the second dry end transfer fabric 60 ofthe first embodiment described above, i.e., a fabric having a relatively high permeability, and beneath the mouth 194 of the housing and theslitting member 16. In this embodiment, the nozzle 184 continuously emits a 25 stream of pressurized air which passes through the relatively permeable fabric and provides a positive pressure which lifts a portion of the sheet material web off of the fabric and into contact with the slitting member. As with the first embodiment, the raised portions of the strips of sheet material web settle back onto, or arereapplied to, the fabric after being slit.
It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the vacuum and pressurized air can be used either separately, or in conjunction, depending on the thickness of the sheet material web being slit and the permeability of the fabric CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
carrying the sheet material web. For example, when using only a vacuum applied to a relatively impermeable fabric having a basis weight of about 800 to 1100 g/m2, a 4 inch WC to 25 inch WC vacuum is sufficient to lift a portion of the sheet material web having a basis weight of from about 18.6 g/m2 to about 32.0g/m2 off5 of the fabric and into contact with the slitting member, but without drawing the fabric into contact with the slitting member.
The slitting apparatus and method of slitting provides significant advantages. First, the invention provides for slitting the web, or similar modification such as by cutting or puncturing, while being supported on a fabric, 10 which allows the manufacturer to do away with open draws. Accordingly, sheet breaks and the like are reduced, while simultaneously allowing for the manufacture of a softer, more desirable sheet material product. In particular, the shoe member and vacuum plate, in conjunction with the sensor, and adjustment screws ensure that the fabric is prevented from being drawn into the slitting device. In addition, 15 the invention elimin~tes the need for wet slitting which helps to preserve the throughdrying fabric, improves the control of sheet web and provides a more uniform web. Moreover, the lateral position ofthe slitting apparatus can be easily adjusted and changed.
In addition, the slitting apparatus can be used with a one-piece fabric 20 which extends laterally across substantially the entire cross-machine span of the machine. This avoids the problems of the web being caught between multiple, adjacent fabrics or belts, and the associated problems with keeping such belts properly aligned. Moreover, the slitting operation can be moved laterally along the transverse direction of the web without having to reconfigure the underlying25 fabrics or belts.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoing detailed description be 30 regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof~ which are intended to define the scope of theinvention.
METEIOD AND APPARATUS FOR PENETRATING
A ~ ; l MATERIAL WEB
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, such as by slitting, cutting, puncturing or perforating, while the web is being carried on a fabric.
It is well known in the field of paper making, and particularly in the field of m~mlf~cturing tissue products such as facial tissues, bath tissues and paper towels, to provide an apparatus for longitudinally slitting a continuous running sheet material web into two or more strips. Typically, the sheet material web is slit either as it traverses an "open draw" before being wound into rolls, before it is 15 dried or after it is wound onto the roll. In the first instance, the area of open draw, where the dried sheet is momentarily unsupported before being wound, provides an ideal place to slit the web. In particular, the slitting device, often configured as a rotary saw blade, can be applied to the web without concern about cutting or otherwise d~m~ging an underlying fabric, which otherwise carries the 20 sheet material web throughout the forming process. Fabrics of this nature can be expensive and difficult to replace.
However, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,309, issued January 7, 1997 to Rugowski et al., and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the same assignee as the present application, open draws are a frequent source of sheet 25 breaks and associated production delays. As a result, tissue sheets often aredesigned to have high machine direction strengths in order to remain intact as they are pulled through the open draw. However, high machine direction strengths can adversely affect the quality of the web in terms of its desired softness. Therefore, as explained in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,309, the elimination of open draws in tissue 30 m~nllf~cturing can result in a sheet material being made more efficiently at less cost and with more desirable properties.
When the open draw is elimin~ted7 the sheet material web is typically slit using a water jet prior to drying the web. However, such "wet slitting" can result CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
in a degradation of the throughdrying fabric as it is exposed to hot air passingthrough the slit in the sheet material during the drying stage of the process.
Moreover, the slit edges of the sheet material web may not dry evenly due to thepile up of fibers along the slit. Additionally, when the sheet material web is slit 5 prior to drying, the various strips of sheet material web are difficult to control and can become inadvertently interwoven, or overlapped, as they are further carried towards the wind-up reel. Interwoven strips can be more easily damaged and can make the winding process particularly difficult. Moreover, adjacent rolls havinginterwoven webs can be particularly difficult to separate. Accordingly, the strips 10 of sheet material web are typically required to be spread apart so as to prevent interweaving.
In contrast to slitting the web prior to drying, it is also known in the art to slit the sheet material web as it is wound onto the roll, as mentioned above.
Slitting apparatuses of this nature typically apply a pressure or guide roller, or like 15 device, to the outermost surface of the roll so as to thereby control the penetration of the slitting device. However, facial and bath tissues typically have low densities. Accordingly, it usually is not desirable, or even possible, to allow such a guide roller to contact the roll as it builds so as to thereby control the position of the slitter, and the penetration thereof. Moreover, the various strips are 20 necessarily wound onto the same roll and must be rewound onto separate rolls after slitting in another m~mlf~cturing step if desired.
Alternatively, the sheet material web can be carried on two or more belts aligned side-by-side, wherein a slitting blade protrudes through the gap betweenthe belts. The sheet material web can become caught or torn in the gap, however,25 and it is not possible to change the lateral position of the slitting device without reconfiguring the belts, which can be very expensive and time con~ lming Moreover, the control of the belts, and the alignment thereof, can be difficult to m~mt~1n Briefly stated, the invention is directed to an apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, such as by slitting, cutting, puncturing or perforating, while CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
being carried on a fabric. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a penetrating device positioned above the fabric and an air flow, which is applied to a portion of the sheet material web adjacent the penetrating device so as to separate the web from the fabric and thereby bring the web into contact with the5 penetrating device above the fabric.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing disposed around a slitting member, preferably configured as a rotary saw blade. The housing preferably includes a shoe member attached to a bottom of the housing and having an opening forming a mouth of the housing which opens towards the 10 sheet material web carried on the fabric. The shoe member preferably includes a rearwardly facing nose portion shaped to strip the boundary layer of air from the sheet material web as it passes beneath the housing. Preferably, a curved plate is mounted to the shoe member at the mouth of the housing. The plate has a plurality of apertures and a slot formed therein. A vacuum is connected to the 15 housing to apply an air flow such that a portion of the sheet material web isseparated from the fabric at the mouth of the housing and thereby brought into contact with the slitting member.
In an alternative embodiment, an air hose is provided below the fabric.
The air hose applies a pressurized air stream to a portion of the bottom of the web 20 so as to lift it off of the fabric and into contact with the penetrating device, preferably including a slitting member. The air hose is used with air permeable fabrics, while the vacuum is employed with imperrneable fabrics. Alternatively, the air hose can be used in combination with the vacuum so as to obtain the desired separation of the sheet material web when used with an air permeable 25 fabric.
In one aspect of the invention, a sensor is provided below the fabric. The sensor monitors the position of the fabric and signals the retraction or stoppage of the penetrating device if the fabric inadvertently approaches the penetrating device. Preferably, the penetrating device is made height adjustable so as to allow 30 the distance between the blade and fabric to be automatically adjusted according to the input from the sensor.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
In yet another aspect, a method is provided for penetrating the sheet material web carried on the fabric. The method includes carrying the sheet material web on a fabric in a longitudinal direction, applying either a vacuum or a pressurized air stream, or both, to the sheet material web so as to separate at least S a portion of the web from the fabric, penetrating the sheet material web as it is separated from the fabric and reapplying the separated portion of the sheet material web to the fabric.
The present invention provides significant advantages over other slitting or penetrating devices. Importantly, the apparatus allows for slitting the sheet 10 material web while it is being carried by a fabric prior to winding the web onto rolls. In this way, the open draw of the forming process can be eliminated so as to reduce waste and costs, but without having to slit the sheet material web prior to the drying process, wherein the problems of fabric degradation, fiber build-up at the slit edges and loss of sheet control can be encountered. Moreover, since the15 apparatus can be positioned relatively close to the winding reel, as opposed to wet slitting, which is typically performed up stream in the process, the problem of interweaving can be greatly reduced.
In addition, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for slitting the sheet material web prior to winding the web onto rolls.
20 In this way, the various strips of sheet material web can be directed to different wind-up reels, rather than rolling the web into a single roll, where it is then slit and rewound onto separate, individual rolls, if needed.
Moreover, since the fabric is not split, or otherwise configured to receive the slitting device, the apparatus can easily be moved laterally to any desired 25 position above the longitudinally moving web without having to reconfigure the fabric. In addition, a plurality of slitting apparatuses can be positioned above the web so as to enable the operator to make multiple strips of sheet material web. In either situation, the desired slitting operation can be set up quickly, inexpensively and with little or no waste.
The present invention, together with further objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Many of the features and dimensions portrayed in the drawings, and in particular the presentation of sheet material web thicknesses and the like, have5 been somewhat exaggerated for the sake of illustration and clarity.
FIGURE 1is a side view of a slitting apparatus.
FIGURE 2is a rear view of the slitting apparatus.
FIGURE 3is a side view of a shoe member.
FIGURE 4is a top view of the shoe member.
FIGURE 5is an end view of the shoe member.
- FIGURE 6is a top view of a vacuum plate.
FIGURE 7is a side view of the vacuum plate.
FIGURE 8is an end view of the vacuum plate.
FIGURE 9is a side view of a first mounting bracket for the laser sensor.
FIGURE lOis an end view ofthe first mounting bracket.
FIGURE 11is a rear view of a second mounting bracket for the laser sensor.
FIGURE 12is a side view ofthe second mounting bracket.
FIGURE 13is a partial enlarged cross-sectional of the slitting device ~ng~ging the sheet material web in a recess formed at the mouth of the housing.
FIGURE 14is an alternative embodiment of the slitting apparatus.
FIGURE lSis a schematic flow diagram of a method for making a sheet material web.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE
PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It should be understood that the term "web," as used herein, is meant to include a sheet material made of one or more plies of material so that a multiple-ply sheet material is considered to be a "web" of sheet material, regardless of thenumber of plies. In addition, the term "longitudinal," as used herein, is intended to indicate the direction in which the web traverses through the forming process inthe machine direction, and is not intended to be limited to a particular length of the CA 02244343 1998-09-lF, web, whether it is cut or otherwise. Similarly, the terms "downwardly,"
"upwardly," "forward", "rearward", "left" and "right" as used herein are intended to indicate the direction relative to the views presented in the Figures, and inparticular, from a perspective when viewing the web and fabric as they travel away from the drier toward the slitting apparatus and ultimately to the wind-up reel.Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an apparatus 10 having a housing 12, a vacuum and a penetrating device 16, shown as a slitting member. A
forward portion of the housing 12 includes a pair of mounting flanges 18 bolted to a pivot bracket 20 with a plurality of bolts 21. Vertically oriented slots 19 are 10 provided in the mounting flànges 18 so as to allow the vertical position of the housing 12 to be adjusted relative to the pivot bracket 20. In addition, a pair of adjustment screws 70 extend through a pair of lug members 72 extending forwardly from the flange members 18 and engage a bottom surface 74 of the pivot bracket 20. When the bolts 21 are loosened, the adjustment screws 70 can 15 be extended or retracted relative to the lug members 72 so as to locate the mounting flanges 18 in the desired position relative to the pivot bracket 20, wherein the bolts 21 can be tightened so as to securely mount the housing to thepivot bracket. In this way, the operator can adjust the exposure of the slittingmember within a mouth 94 of the housing.
A pair of lug members 22 extend forwardly from the pivot bracket 20 at two locations and are pivotally attached with a pin 64 to a pair of rearwardly extending lug members 26 attached to a lower portion 28 of an upwardly extending plate member 24. The plate member 24 includes an upper portion 30 attached to a first mounting plate 40 with a plurality of bolts 34.
Preferably, the upper portion 30 includes a plurality of slots 32 which are adapted to receive bolts 34. A pair of lug members 33 extend forwardly from the upper portion 30. A pair of adjustment screws 42 are threadably received in the lug members 33 and engage a top surface 39 of the first mounting plate 40. In this way, the bolts 34 can be loosened so as to allow the adjustment screw 42 to be 30 rotated and thereby raise or lower the plate member 24 to a desired height relative to the first mounting plate 40. In this way, the operator can adjust the position of the slitting member relative to the fabric 60 and control the distance therebetween.
CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
The bolts 34 are then tightened within the slots 32 to mount the plate member 24to the first mounting plate 40.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first mounting plate 40 is attached to a second mounting plate 44 disposed on an opposite side of a laterally extending frame member 46. A plurality of bolts 47 are used to clamp the frame member 46 between the first and second plate members 40, 44. As shown in FIG. 2, the bolts47 can be loosened so that the entire apparatus can be moved laterally along thelength of the frame member 46 to a desired operating position above the longitudinally oriented fabric 60, which is preferably one-piece and spans the 10 entire cross-machine direction ofthe machine. It should be understood by one of skill in the art, that the plate member, or first and/or second mounting plates,could also be fixedly attached directly to the frame member with fasteners, welding or the like.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting bracket 48 is attached, with 15 fasteners, or by welding and the like, to a rear surface 36 of the upper portion 30 of the plate member 24. The bracket 48 includes a pair of rearwardly extending lug members 50. A pneumatic cylinder 54 includes an upper end 56 which is pivotally attached to the lug members, and a shaft 62 having a lower end 58 pivotally attached to a pair of lug members 52 extending rearwardly from the pivot 20 bracket 20. In operation, the pneumatic cylinder 54, preferably configured as a gas spring, can be extended or retracted so as to pivot the pivot bracket 20 about the axis of pin 64. Alternatively, a hydraulic cylinder can be used to actuate the pivot bracket. In addition, a pair of horizontally oriented adjustment screws 76extend through the lower portion 28 of the plate member 24 and engage a forward 25 surface 38 of pivot bracket 20. The adjustment screws 76 act as a stop against the pivot bracket 20 and can be extended or retracted relative to the plate member so as to limit the rotation of the pivot bracket 20, and attached housing 12 and slitting member 16, relative to the fabric 60. In this way, the slitting member is prevented from being rotated into contact with the fabric, especially in the event of 30 a failure in the pneumatic cylinder 54.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric motor 80 is also attached to the pivot bracket 20. A suitable motor is the 1. lKW, 50Hz, 2840 RPM AC motor CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
commercially available from ABB Industrie as Type M2JA 80L. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontally oriented shaft 82 of the motor extends laterally into the housing 12. Preferably, the slitting member 16is a rotary saw blade. The slitting member 16is disposed in the housing 12 and is mounted to the shaft 82 of 5 the motor. A commercially available saw blade suitable for use is the 3/4 inch inner diameter, 12 inch outer diameter tool steel blade sold by Otter-Kinetic Co. as Part No. 3074-5A. Preferably, the saw blade rotates clockwise, or in the same direction as the travel of the fabric and sheet material web, and a greater speed, preferably at about a 2:1 ratio.
Alternatively, the penetrating device can be configured as one of a stationary, fixed knife blade positioned within the housing, a water jet, a laser or any other known and conventional slitting devices. In addition, the apparatus can be used to modify the moving sheet material web as it is carried on the fabric such as by cutting the web in a transverse, cross-machine direction, by puncturing orperforating the web, or by similarly acting upon the web so as to change its size, shape or makeup. In such embodiments, one of skill in the art should recognize that the apparatus would include a penetrating device capable of making the cuts, perforations or punctures, including for example, but not limited to, rotary cutter or perforation heads.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum includes a conduit 15 attached to the rear portion of the housing. A conventional vacuum is connected to the conduit 15 so as to apply a vacuum to the housing 12. Depending on the weight of the sheet material web and the permeability of the underlying fabric, vacuum levels of from about 4 inches water column ("WC") to about 25 inches WC can be applied to the housing so as to provide an adequate separation of the sheet fromthe material web fabric without also drawing the fabric toward the housing.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the housing 12 preferably includes a shoe member 90 having flange portion 103 attached to a lower portion 66 ofthe housing. The shoe member 90 has a cavity 92 and a mouth 94 opening downwardly towards the underlying fabric 60 and sheet material web 100 traversing beneath it. The shoe member 90 also includes a rearwardly facing nose portion 96 which is shaped to strip the boundary layer of air from the sheet material web 100 so as to allow the CA 02244343 1998-09-l~
web to be more easily separated from the underlying fabric. Preferably, the shoemember is made of aluminum.
Referring to FIGS. 6-9, a perforated vacuum plate member 102 is shown.
Preferably the vacuum plate member 102 is curved so as to have a downwardly 5 facing concave surface 104 overlying the sheet material web 100 and fabric 60.The concave curved surface extends substantially continuously along the longitudinal length ofthe plate member. A pair of mounting flanges 106 extend longitudinally along the side portions of the plate member. Each mounting flange106 includes a plurality of holes 108. A plurality of fasteners are received in the lO holes and securely fasten the plate member 102 over the mouth 94 of the shoe member. In addition, an end plate 107is attached to a forward portion 109 of theshoe member. Each ofthe mounting flanges 106 have a bottom surface 112.
Preferably, the vacuum plate member is made of #14 gauge stainless steel.
The curved portion 114 ofthe plate member is received within the cavity 15 92 ofthe shoe member and forms a downwardly facing recess 116 opening towards the sheet material web as shown in FIG. 13. A plurality of apertures 118are positioned in the curved portion 114 ofthe plate member. Preferably, the apertures 118 are configured as holes, rather than slots, so that the sheet material web is prevented from being drawn through the plate member and into the housing, or vacuum plenum. In addition, the plate member includes a longitudinalelongate slot 120 positioned approximately along the centerline of the plate member. The apertures 118 are positioned both on the sides of and rearwardly of the slot 120, but not- forward of the slot. Preferably, the apertures do not extend the full length of the shoe member 90 so as to allow the raised portion of the sheet material web 100 to settle back onto the fabric 60 as it travels toward the wind-up reel.
As shown in FIG. 13, the shoe member 90 and vacuum plate member 102 allow the relatively more flexible sheet material web 100 to be drawn into the recess 116 and into contact with the slitting member 16, but prevent the relatively inflexible fabric 60, which is stretched tight over reel drum 174, from being drawn into the recess as it contacts the bottom of the shoe member and/or plate memberflanges. In this way, the shoe member 90 and vacuum plate member 102 prevent CA 02244343 l998-09-lF, the slitting member from contacting and thereby damaging the fabric 60. In addition, screw 70 can be adjusted to expose more or less of the slitting member16 within the recess 116.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. l-2 and 9-12, a laser displacement sensor 130 iS mounted to a frame member 132 below the fabric 60. In particular, a crossmember 134 iS adjustably mounted to a bracket 136 attached to the vertical framemember 132. The cross member 134 includes flange member 138 at about a midpoint of the cross member. The laser sensor 130 iS mounted on a bracket member 140 which includes a flange member 141 attached to flange member 138.
10 In operation, the cross member 134 can be moved laterally beneath the fabric 60 by sliding the cross member between the support brackets 136 mounted on opposite sides of the machine as the apparatus 10 is moved latèrally above the fabric 60 such that the laser sensor 130 iS directed at the fabric immediately below the slitting member, preferably at the approximate centerline of the rotary saw 15 blade at its lowest point adjacent the fabric. A lock-down bolt 137 iS mounted on each bracket 136 and engages the cross member 134 to releasably lock the cross member in a desired position. Alternatively, the laser can be slid to the operator side of the machine to allow for angular adjustment or maintenance of the sensor.
The sensor 130 monitors the position of the fabric 60 and automatically signals the 20 operator or adjusts the slitting apparatus if the fabric is lifted upwardly towards the slitting member. In a preferred embodiment, the signal from the sensor 130 triggers an upward retraction of the slitting member or a stoppage of the vacuumso as to ensure that the fabric is not damaged by the slitting device. In particular, the pneumatic cylinder is actuated so as to pivot the slitting apparatus upwardly 25 about pin 64 and away from the fabric. A commercially available sensor 130 is the Nippon Automated LAS-8010 laser sensor available from Adsens Tech. Inc.
Also as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support tube 142 or bar is attached to bracket 144 and supports a bottom surface 146 ofthe fabric immediately behind the housing 12. Preferably, the support tube is rotatably mounted beneath the 30 fabric so as to not wear the fabric. The support tube impinges slightly on the fabric so that the fabric wraps around the tube and thereby further helps to prevent the fabric from being drawn to the slitting device. An adjustment screw 147 CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
threadably engages a flange extending rearwardly from bracket 136 and engages a bottom surface of bracket 144. The screw 147 can be rotated to adjust the vertical position of the support tube, and the relative impingement against the fabric.
Referring to FIG. 15, a schematic diagram for forming a sheet material web without an open draw is shown. The apparatus and method for making such a web is set forth in U.S. Patent No. 5,593,545, issued January 14, 1997 and U.SPatent No. 5,591,309, issued January 7, 1997, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. However, it should be understood by one of skill in the art that the present invention could be used with other paper forming processes which utilize fabrics and/or belts to carry the sheet material without an open draw, and can be used for slitting other types of sheet materials other than paper products.
As explained in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,593,545 and 5,591,309, and as shown in FIG. 15, a representative throughdrying process for making uncreped throughdried tissues is shown. Shown is the headbox 148 which deposits an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto inner forming fabric 150 as it traverses the forming roll 152. Outer forming fabric 154 serves to contain the web while it passes over the forming roll and sheds some of the water. The wet web 156 is then transferred from the inner forming fabric to a wet end transfer fabric 158 with the aid of a vacuum transfer shoe 160. This transfer is preferably carried out with the transfer fabric traveling at a slower speed than the forming fabric(rush transfer) to impart stretch into the final sheet material web. The wet web is then transferred to the throughdrying fabric 162 with the assistance of a vacuumtransfer roll 164. The throughdrying fabric carries the web over the throughdryer 166, blows hot air through the web to dry it while preserving bulk. There can bemore than one throughdryer in series (not shown), depending on the speed and thedryer capacity. The dried tissue sheet is then transferred to a first dry end transfer fabric 168 with the aid of vacuum transfer roll 170. The sheet material web shortly after transfer is sandwiched between the first dry end transfer fabric and the second dry end transfer fabric 60 to positively control the sheet path. Suitable fabrics for use as the first dry end fabric include without limitation, a wide variety CA 02244343 l998-09-l~
of fabrics such as Asten 934, Asten 939, Albany 59M, Albany Duotex DD207, Lindsay 543 and the like. After the sheet material web is compressed between thefirst dry end transfer fabric and the second dry end transfer fabric 60, which, in one embodiment, has a greater air permeability than that of the first dry end transfer fabric, the web is wrapped around the reel drum 174. Suitable second dry end transfer fabrics include, without limitation, Asten 960 (air permeability ofabout 300-400), Appleton Mills style Q53F (air permeability of about 400), Appleton Mills style Q53KY (air permeability of about 200). Because of the air flow through the lower fabric caused by roll, the sheet transfers to the second dry 10 end transfer fabric. It is retained on the top surface of the second dry end transfer fabric by air pressure generated by the presence of an air foil on the underside of the fabric. The sheet material web is then carried to the winding nip formed between the reel drum 174 and the reel 178 and wound into a roll 180.
In an alternative embodiment, the permeability ofthe second transfer fabric 15 60 is much lower than the corresponding fabric used for the above-described method. By lowering the permeability of the second dry end transfer fabric, the need for an air foil is eliminated because with the lower permeability of the second fabric, the sheet tends to naturally adhere to that fabric. At the point of separation the sheet follows the lower permeability fabric due to vacuum action. No air is 20 pumped through the fabric by the various rolls and no foils are required. Suitable low air permeability fabrics for this embodiment include, without limitation, Asten 960 dryer fabric (air permeability of about 50-100), COFPA Mononap NP 50 dryer felt (air permeability of about 50) and Appleton Mills dryer felt style H53FH
(air perrneability of about 75).
As shown in FIG. 15, the apparatus 10 is positioned over the second dry end transfer fabric 60 between the first dry end transfer fabric 168 and the reel drum 174. Preferably, the apparatus of FIGS. 1-2 is used in conjunction with thesecond dry end transfer fabric of the second embodiment described above, which has a low permeability.
In operation, a vacuum is continuously applied through the apertures 118 in the plate member 102 so as to apply a negative pressure to a portion of the sheet material web and thereby lift the web from the fabric 60 and thereafter be CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
drawn into the recess 116 and into contact with the concave surface 104 ofthe plate member. The slitting member 16, or saw blade, extends through the slot 120in the plate member and into the recess 116 formed by the plate member.
Preferably, slitting member 16 does not extend below the bottom surface 98, 112 of the shoe member or vacuum plate member. Accordingly, as the sheet material is carried by the fabric, a portion of the web is lifted from the fabric 60 and carried past the slitting member which makes a slit in the sheet material web 100, thereby forming separate strips of sheet material web. As the sheet material web strips traverse past the slitting member 16 and beyond the apertures 118 applying the 10 vacuum, the raised portions of the strips settle back onto the fabric 60, or are reapplied thereto, and are thereafter transferred to the wind-up reel 178 and wound into rolls 180.
It should be understood by those of skill in the art that a fixed knife, water jet, laser or like slitting member could be positioned in the housing. Alternatively, 15 the vacuum can be applied to the sheet material web without a housing.
Moreover, other penetrating devices, capable of cutting, puncturing and/or pelrola~ing the web can also be positioned adjacent the fabric and web and act upon the web as it is separated from the fabric without contacting or otherwise d~m~ging the fabric.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, the slitting apparatus includes a flexible air line 182 and nozzle 184 positioned beneath the second dry end transfer fabric 60 ofthe first embodiment described above, i.e., a fabric having a relatively high permeability, and beneath the mouth 194 of the housing and theslitting member 16. In this embodiment, the nozzle 184 continuously emits a 25 stream of pressurized air which passes through the relatively permeable fabric and provides a positive pressure which lifts a portion of the sheet material web off of the fabric and into contact with the slitting member. As with the first embodiment, the raised portions of the strips of sheet material web settle back onto, or arereapplied to, the fabric after being slit.
It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the vacuum and pressurized air can be used either separately, or in conjunction, depending on the thickness of the sheet material web being slit and the permeability of the fabric CA 02244343 1998-09-1~
carrying the sheet material web. For example, when using only a vacuum applied to a relatively impermeable fabric having a basis weight of about 800 to 1100 g/m2, a 4 inch WC to 25 inch WC vacuum is sufficient to lift a portion of the sheet material web having a basis weight of from about 18.6 g/m2 to about 32.0g/m2 off5 of the fabric and into contact with the slitting member, but without drawing the fabric into contact with the slitting member.
The slitting apparatus and method of slitting provides significant advantages. First, the invention provides for slitting the web, or similar modification such as by cutting or puncturing, while being supported on a fabric, 10 which allows the manufacturer to do away with open draws. Accordingly, sheet breaks and the like are reduced, while simultaneously allowing for the manufacture of a softer, more desirable sheet material product. In particular, the shoe member and vacuum plate, in conjunction with the sensor, and adjustment screws ensure that the fabric is prevented from being drawn into the slitting device. In addition, 15 the invention elimin~tes the need for wet slitting which helps to preserve the throughdrying fabric, improves the control of sheet web and provides a more uniform web. Moreover, the lateral position ofthe slitting apparatus can be easily adjusted and changed.
In addition, the slitting apparatus can be used with a one-piece fabric 20 which extends laterally across substantially the entire cross-machine span of the machine. This avoids the problems of the web being caught between multiple, adjacent fabrics or belts, and the associated problems with keeping such belts properly aligned. Moreover, the slitting operation can be moved laterally along the transverse direction of the web without having to reconfigure the underlying25 fabrics or belts.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoing detailed description be 30 regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof~ which are intended to define the scope of theinvention.
Claims (39)
1. An apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web carried on a fabric, said apparatus comprising:
a penetrating device adapted to be positioned adjacent to said fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith and to penetrate said sheet material web as said fabric carries said sheet material web past said penetrating device;
an air flow adapted to separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent said penetrating device so as to bring said portion of said sheet material web into contact with said penetrating device as said fabric travels past said penetrating device in a spaced apart relationship therewith; and whereby said penetrating device is adapted to penetrate said sheet material web while being carried on said fabric and while said penetrating device remainsspaced apart from said fabric so as to avoid contact therewith.
a penetrating device adapted to be positioned adjacent to said fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith and to penetrate said sheet material web as said fabric carries said sheet material web past said penetrating device;
an air flow adapted to separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent said penetrating device so as to bring said portion of said sheet material web into contact with said penetrating device as said fabric travels past said penetrating device in a spaced apart relationship therewith; and whereby said penetrating device is adapted to penetrate said sheet material web while being carried on said fabric and while said penetrating device remainsspaced apart from said fabric so as to avoid contact therewith.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said penetrating device comprises a slitting member adapted to slit continuously said sheet material web longitudinally along its length as the fabric carries the sheet material web past the slitting member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said slitting member comprises a rotary saw blade.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air flow comprises a vacuum, and wherein a housing is disposed around said penetrating device, said housing having a mouth adapted to open towards said fabric, and wherein said vacuum is applied to said housing, whereby said vacuum is adapted to separate said portion of saidsheet material web from said fabric at said mouth of said housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a plate covering said mouth, said plate having a plurality of apertures and a slot, wherein said penetrating device comprises a blade extending through said slot in said plate.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plate has a downwardly facing concave surface forming a recess, said blade extending through said slot in saidplate into said recess.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said slot extends forwardly from said plurality of apertures in said plate.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said housing further comprises a shoe member mounted to a bottom of said housing and forming said mouth of said housing, said shoe member comprising a rearwardly extending nose portion adapted to be positioned next to said sheet material web and said fabric.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air flow comprises a pressurized air stream, and wherein an air hose emits said pressurized air stream, said air hoseadapted to be positioned next to said fabric and to separate said portion of said sheet material web from said fabric adjacent to said penetrating device so as tobring said sheet material web into contact with said penetrating device as said fabric travels past said penetrating slitting device in a spaced apart relationship.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor adapted to monitor the position of the fabric adjacent said penetrating device.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said penetrating device is pivotably and moveably attached to a frame member.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said penetrating device and said air flow are adapted to be moveable in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the sheet material web.
13. An assembly for slitting a sheet material web carried on a fabric, said assembly comprising:
said fabric adapted to carry said sheet material web;
a slitting device positioned adjacent said fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith and adapted to slit continuously said sheet material web longitudinally along its length as said fabric carries said sheet material web past said slitting device;
an air flow adapted to continuously separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent said slitting device so as to bring said portion of said sheet material web into contact with said slitting device as said fabric travels past said slitting device; and whereby said slitting device is adapted to continuously slit said sheet material web longitudinally along its length while said sheet material web is being carried by said fabric and while said slitting device remains spaced apart from said fabric so as to avoid contact therewith.
said fabric adapted to carry said sheet material web;
a slitting device positioned adjacent said fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith and adapted to slit continuously said sheet material web longitudinally along its length as said fabric carries said sheet material web past said slitting device;
an air flow adapted to continuously separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent said slitting device so as to bring said portion of said sheet material web into contact with said slitting device as said fabric travels past said slitting device; and whereby said slitting device is adapted to continuously slit said sheet material web longitudinally along its length while said sheet material web is being carried by said fabric and while said slitting device remains spaced apart from said fabric so as to avoid contact therewith.
14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said slitting device comprises a blade.
15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said blade comprises a rotary saw blade.
16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said air flow comprises a vacuum and wherein a housing is disposed around said slitting device, said housing having amouth opening towards said fabric and a bottom surface spaced apart from said fabric, and wherein said vacuum is applied to said housing, whereby said portionof said sheet material web is separated from said fabric at said mouth of said housing.
17. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising a plate covering said mouth, said plate having a plurality of apertures and a slot, and wherein said slittingdevice comprises a blade extending through said slot in said plate.
18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said plate has a curved surface forming a recess opening towards said fabric, said blade extending through said slot in said plate and into said recess, said blade positioned above said bottom surface of said housing.
19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said slot extends forwardly from said plurality of apertures in said plate.
20. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said housing further comprises a shoe member mounted to a bottom of said housing and forming said mouth of said housing, said shoe member comprising a rearwardly extending nose portion positioned over said fabric.
21. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said air flow comprises a pressurized air stream and wherein an air hose is positioned adjacent said fabric, said air hoseemitting said pressurized air stream so as to separate said portion of said sheet material web from said fabric so as to bring said portion of said sheet material web into contact with said slitting device above said fabric as said fabric travels past said slitting device.
22. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a sensor adapted to monitor the position of the fabric adjacent said slitting device.
23. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said slitting device is pivotably and moveably attached to a frame member.
24. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said slitting device is laterally moveable relative to said longitudinally moving fabric.
25. The assembly of claim 24 further comprising a sensor adapted to monitor the position of the fabric adjacent said slitting device and wherein said sensor is laterally moveable.
26. An assembly for modifying a sheet material web carried on a fabric, said assembly comprising:
said fabric adapted to carry said sheet material web;
a housing positioned next to said fabric in a spaced apart relationship, said housing having a recess opening towards said fabric;
an air flow adapted to separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric and to direct said portion of said sheet material web into said recess.
said fabric adapted to carry said sheet material web;
a housing positioned next to said fabric in a spaced apart relationship, said housing having a recess opening towards said fabric;
an air flow adapted to separate a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric and to direct said portion of said sheet material web into said recess.
27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said housing comprises a shoe member having a curved plate member forming said recess.
28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said curved plate member has a plurality ofapertures, wherein said air flow is directed through said apertures so as to be adapted to draw said sheet material web into said recess.
29. A method for penetrating a sheet material web comprising:
carrying said sheet material web on a fabric in a longitudinal direction;
applying an air flow to said sheet material web so as to separate a portion of said web from the fabric; and penetrating the sheet material web with a penetrating device positioned adjacent the fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith as said portion of said sheet material web is separated from the fabric and thereby brought into contactwith the penetrating device.
carrying said sheet material web on a fabric in a longitudinal direction;
applying an air flow to said sheet material web so as to separate a portion of said web from the fabric; and penetrating the sheet material web with a penetrating device positioned adjacent the fabric in a spaced apart relationship therewith as said portion of said sheet material web is separated from the fabric and thereby brought into contactwith the penetrating device.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising reapplying the separated portion of the sheet material web to the fabric.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of applying said air flow comprises applying a vacuum to a surface of said sheet material web facing said penetrating device.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising providing a housing having a mouth opening towards said sheet material web, wherein said vacuum is applied to said web at said mouth of said housing.
33. The method of claim 29 wherein said penetrating device comprises a slitting member.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein said slitting member is disposed in a housing.
35. The method of claim 29 further comprising stripping a boundary layer from a surface of said sheet material web as it is carried past the penetrating device.
36. The method of claim 35 further comprising providing a housing having a rearwardly extending nose portion for stripping said boundary layer.
37. The method of claim 32 wherein said housing further comprises a plate covering said mouth, said plate having a curved surface forming a recess, a plurality of apertures and a slot, wherein said step of continuously slitting said web further comprises extending said penetrating device through said slot into said recess.
38. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of monitoring the position of the fabric adjacent the penetrating device with a sensor.
39. The method of claim 29 wherein said step of applying said air flow comprisesapplying a pressurized air stream to a surface of said sheet material web.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/933,654 | 1997-09-19 | ||
| US08/933,654 US5988030A (en) | 1997-09-19 | 1997-09-19 | Apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web carried on a fabric |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2244343A1 true CA2244343A1 (en) | 1999-03-19 |
Family
ID=25464308
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2244343 Abandoned CA2244343A1 (en) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-09-15 | Method and apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (3) | US5988030A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2244343A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5988030A (en) * | 1997-09-19 | 1999-11-23 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web carried on a fabric |
| DE19902026C2 (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2002-07-18 | Bwg Bergwerk Walzwerk | Device for removing binding tape from objects strapped with binding tape, in particular coils |
| JP2002308489A (en) * | 2001-04-16 | 2002-10-23 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Manufacturing method for magnetic tape |
| US7001487B2 (en) * | 2001-12-19 | 2006-02-21 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Method and apparatus for transporting a sheet from a dryer to a reel |
| US8281695B2 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2012-10-09 | Marvel Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Chip vacuum system |
| WO2009047945A1 (en) * | 2007-10-12 | 2009-04-16 | Ryobi Ltd. | Slide type cutting machine |
| US8555762B1 (en) | 2009-04-29 | 2013-10-15 | John Christopher Jones | Saw stop |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE158998C (en) | ||||
| US1914528A (en) | 1929-12-31 | 1933-06-20 | Dunlop Tire & Rubber Corp | Cutting fork |
| US3143016A (en) | 1960-12-28 | 1964-08-04 | West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co | Webcutting mechanism with forced air work and product transfer means |
| US3747449A (en) | 1972-04-04 | 1973-07-24 | Dow Chemical Co | Slitting device and method |
| GB1461572A (en) * | 1973-03-09 | 1977-01-13 | Masson Scott Thrissell Eng Ltd | Web guide sysstems |
| US3880047A (en) * | 1973-03-22 | 1975-04-29 | Dosier Paul Ass Inc | Chip removal and hold-down device for lateral movement routers |
| CA983063A (en) | 1973-05-03 | 1976-02-03 | Reed International Limited | Web feeding apparatus |
| US4072557A (en) * | 1974-12-23 | 1978-02-07 | J. M. Voith Gmbh | Method and apparatus for shrinking a travelling web of fibrous material |
| GB1530246A (en) | 1976-04-14 | 1978-10-25 | Valmet Oy | Method of and means for detaching and conducting a paper web in a paper-making machine |
| US4090425A (en) * | 1977-04-01 | 1978-05-23 | S. A. Platt, Inc. | Wire coiling machine fluid cutoff |
| US4403533A (en) * | 1981-07-23 | 1983-09-13 | The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company | High accuracy slitter system |
| AU542944B2 (en) * | 1982-04-14 | 1985-03-28 | Nippondenso Co. Ltd. | Cutting corrugated member |
| FR2536698A1 (en) | 1982-11-29 | 1984-06-01 | Michelin & Cie | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING BANDS FROM A MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR A LATEX COAGULUM; BANDS SO OBTAINED |
| US4542842A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1985-09-24 | Crown Zellerbach Corporation | Pneumatic conveying method for flexible webs |
| FI69332C (en) * | 1984-03-02 | 1986-01-10 | Valmet Oy | ANORDNING I TORKNINGSPARTIET AV EN PAPPERSMASKIN |
| US4815220A (en) | 1986-07-18 | 1989-03-28 | Beloit Corporation | Web transfer apparatus |
| DE3917845A1 (en) * | 1989-06-01 | 1990-12-06 | Roland Man Druckmasch | CUTTING DEVICE FOR A FOLDING MACHINE OF A PRINTING MACHINE |
| US5031494A (en) * | 1990-01-10 | 1991-07-16 | Kampf Gmbh & Co. Maschinenfabrik | Web processing machine having at least one web and roll and a slitter for said web |
| US5665206A (en) * | 1991-01-18 | 1997-09-09 | Valmet Corporation | Method and device in a press section of a paper machine for detaching a web from a face of a press roll |
| US5639351A (en) * | 1991-12-23 | 1997-06-17 | Valmet Corporation | Press section of a paper machine, in particular for printing paper qualities |
| US5406869A (en) * | 1993-09-16 | 1995-04-18 | Marquip, Inc. | Air bearing support assembly for paper slitting apparatus |
| DE69516233T2 (en) * | 1994-11-07 | 2000-11-02 | Eastman Kodak Co | Device and method for the long cutting of strip material |
| US5593545A (en) * | 1995-02-06 | 1997-01-14 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Method for making uncreped throughdried tissue products without an open draw |
| US5591309A (en) * | 1995-02-06 | 1997-01-07 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Papermaking machine for making uncreped throughdried tissue sheets |
| FR2732044B1 (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1997-04-30 | Kaysersberg Sa | METHOD FOR WRINGING A SHEET OF CELLULOSIC MATERIAL BY HOT AIR PASSING THROUGH UNDER A HIGH VACUUM |
| FI110440B (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 2003-01-31 | Metso Paper Inc | Transferring the web from the last press nip in the paper machine to the next drying section |
| US5988030A (en) * | 1997-09-19 | 1999-11-23 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web carried on a fabric |
-
1997
- 1997-09-19 US US08/933,654 patent/US5988030A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-09-15 CA CA 2244343 patent/CA2244343A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1999
- 1999-10-06 US US09/413,107 patent/US6227089B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-10-06 US US09/413,115 patent/US6244145B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5988030A (en) | 1999-11-23 |
| US6244145B1 (en) | 2001-06-12 |
| US6227089B1 (en) | 2001-05-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |