US1587027A - Machine for making fiber composition - Google Patents

Description

June 1 1926. 4 L587fl27 W G. Q'BRIE N MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER COMPOSITION Filed Sept. 16, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Mum/11.6 UBE'IEA/ ATTORNEY deposited thereon.

Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. OBRIEN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEARiTIBE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

macnmn ron naxme FIBER COMPOSITION.

Application filed September My invention relates to a machine for making a fiber composition, and it has particular relation to machines of the character designated of the type known as the Fourdrinler machines, which are commonly used in the manufacture of paper.

One object of my invention is to provide a novel type of machine whereby the fiber composition is protected during the course of its treatment from sudden strains and the possibility of displacement of the fibers while passing through a compressing process.

Another object of my invention consists in providing very accurately regulated means whereby pressure may be applied gradually upon the fibrous composition, while passing through a compressing operation.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a machine of the Fourdrinier type which is particularly adapted for the manufacture of thick fibrous material.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing a novel arrangement of the machine elements which is particularly adapted for a continuous production of fibrous composition, in which a travelin screen or wire strains the fibers from a liqui while passing up an inclined plane, and washes the same when rubber coated fibers are.employed, while passing over an adjacent horizontal plane.

Heretofore it has been customary, in machines of'the Fourdrinier type, to deposit the fibers upon a' moving screen or porous belt, which passes over a suction box adapted to remove therefrom the liquid in which the fibers were suspended. The screen thereafter carries the fibers between two adjacently disposed pressure rolls, one of which is disposed beneath the travelling screen,

and the other of which is disposed above the screen and engages the fibrous composition An objection to the aforementioned type of machine is that when a thick composition is passed between the pressure rolls, the

fibers are sometimes broken, and are frequently displaced from their natural felted arrangement, owing to the sudden applica-. tion of the relatively high pressure necessary to properly remove the liquid therefrom. This dificulty renders the commonly used 16, 1922. Serial No. 588,665.

Fourdrinier machine unsuitable for making thick materials, such as cardboard, which is now usually formed in layers as a result. Another disadvantage of the machine in question is that the suction boxes may only be applied to the bottom side of the fibrous compositlon, since, if applied to the top side, a portion of the fibers would be carried directly into the suction box along with the liquid removed thereby.

By my invention I have eliminated the aforementioned objections by the use of a second or auxiliary screen which engages the top of the fibrous composition and is instrumental in causing the pressure necessary for the proper compression of the material to be applied gradually, thus preventing the breakage and displacement of the fibers the side frame members being omitted for the sake of clearness; and Fig. 2 IS a similar view of a machine constructed in accordance with another form which my invention may assume.

-In the drawings, I show a fiber composition making machine comprising a traveling screen or carrier belt 3, a portion of which passes throu h a lowermost horizontal lane 4, over an idler pulley 5, up an inc 'ned plane 6, over an idling pulley 7 through an uppermost horizontal p ane 8, over a driving pulley 9, and back to the horizontal plane 4. While passing up the inclined plane 6, a quantity of liquid, having fibers suspended therein, fiows through the screen, being introduced thereto through a conduit 10, and the fibrous suspended therein are strained therefrom by the' screen 3. The fibers are deposited upon the screen while it passes up the horizontal plane 6, a large portion of the liquid being removed there from by means of a suction box 11, disposed ad acent to the inclined plane 6 in engagement with the bottom of the screen 3.

the sides of the screen on the inclined plane ti, bv means of deckle straps 12, one of which Is disposed at each side of the screen and moves therewith until a considerable portion.

of the liquid has been removed from the fibers, after which they will remain in substantially their original form without further assistance from the deckle straps. The

straps 12 are moved in the inclined plane 6 b the wire and pass over a loweridling' pul ey'13, ad acent to the pulley 5 and an upper pulley 14, adjacent to the pulley 7. The, fibers deposited upon the screen 3,

while on the inclined plane 6, are carried into the horizontal plane 8. The top surwhich event it is necessary that means be provided for driving the two screens at exactly the same spee'd,as a difierence of speed would ruin the matted formation of the fibers, and probably crush and "break a large number thereof.

The ulley 16 is disposed at such distance from t e horizontal plane 8 of the screen 3 that the screen 15 initially engages the fibrous composition without exerting any strain thereon. The fibrous com osition, illustrated at 18, pames between the wires 3 and 15, and, while in that position, is subjected to treatment by-a suction box 19 disposed below the wire 8. If any further treatinent'of the fibers is desirable, as for example, when rubber coated fibers are empioyed, the composition is'next treated by ing washed with a liquid rubber precipitant,sprayed thereon by means of a device '21 disposed above the screen 15 and cooperating with a suction box 22, below and in engagement with the carrier screen 3. The purpose of thetreatment with the precipitating fluid is to displace, as far as possible, any rubber solvent or other undersirable 1i uid which may be contained in the fibrous mixture. The suction box 22 serves to removeany li uid which comes throu h the fibers from t e spra 21, or which is' dis- 1 placed by the liquld rom the spray 211 The auxiliary belt 15 is engaged by an ad justable pressure'roll 23, disposed substan-' tially opposite to a cooperating pressure roll24, in engagement. with the screen 3. Both of the rolls 23 and 24 are disposed at some distance from the front pulley 16 of the screen 15, and the tension on the screens both sides are sure is exerted upon the material carried by t t I thescreen 3 very gradually, sjtarting'at the The fibers and the liquid from the con du1t 10 are prevented from escaping over time "that the material "passes beneath the pulley 16,- and ending as it passes between gree. The roller 23 'is' adjustable with respect to the roll ery24 in order that the pressure exerted thereby may be controlled as desired. The-entireauxiliary belt supporting mechanism is also adjustable with respect to the carrying belt supporting mechanism, in order that differentthicknesses of material may be accommodated thereby.

From the foregoing description it will be 1 the rollers 23- and-24 at which time thefibers I have bee i ompress' a to the desired deapparent that Lhave' provided a machine 'in which the fibrous material .is protected from injury of any type and in which the pressure exertedthereon, for the purpose of 8!! compressing the same,-"is exerted very grad-'- 'ually, thusavoiding any possibility of in-.-

jury to theindividual fibers, and the possibility of disturbing. the :mattedrelation thereof. Also, it will be apparent that this invention, used on f a" Fourdrinier machine, enables the operatorto make a fibrous sheet material, such, for example as cardboard, of 6 any desired thickness. 7 Also, it; will be apparent that: I have increased the efficiency of the liquid removing means by. disposing 5 suction boxes 'on'both sides of the material, which is possible since:

rotected' by means of a device 21- may' throw a liquid'thereonwit consider screen. In addition the sprayin ably greater-force orin greater volume than on a material supported upon :a single screen, since the fibers cannot be disarrangedthereby owing to the fact that'they are hel in position between'two screens.

It will'also be apparent thatI'have proconstruction ofthe machine. 1

In another form of my'inventi0n,as best illustrated in Fig;2,I provide another novel type of pressure exerting@me'chanism. In this device the. carrier belt 3 passes through a horizontal plane-8,.through which it carries the fibrous-material-zin the directions.

indicated by the arrows 4 While passing through the plane 8, the material is engaged by an auxiliary belt 15, which moves inthe directions indicated by arrows 15, and is washed by means of aspraying mechanism' 21: and a cooperating suction box 22, as de-' scribed in connection with the machine illustrated in Fig. ;1. The mechanism consists of a p urality of spheres.

ressure applying 23 which are divided into a front compartment 24 and a rear compartment 25. The spheres in the front compartment 24 are smaller and lighter in weight than are those in compartment 25, so as to appl a gradually increasing pressure on the brous material as it passes through the machine. A relatively long suction .box 26 is disposed opposite to the pressure applying device, so as to remove any liquid which may be forced from the fibrous composition thereby. The pressure applying device may consist of any desired number of compartments, depending on the material to be manufactured. The pressure exerted by the device may be regulated by removing or adding to any of the compartmentsany desired number of the spheres. Barriers 27 prevent the movement otthe spheres 23 with the belt 15 over which they roll as the belt moves.

Although I have illustrated several forms of my invention and have described in detail several applications thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but that various minor changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I desire to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith and means for app ying pressure on saidauxiliary screen comprising a plurality of weight members of circular cross section disposed upon said auxiliary screen.

2. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and means for app ying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of members of graduated weights disposed upon said auxiliary screen.

3. A machine for making fiber composition comprisin a movable screen adapted to transport the bers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and-means for app ying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of groups of members disposed upon said auxiliary screen and adapted to exert a graduated pressure thereon.

4. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the bers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and ada ted to move therewith, and means for app ying pressure on saidauxiliary screen comprising a plurality of separate rotatable spherical weight members disposed upon said auxiliary screen.

5. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and means for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of spherical Weight members disposed upon said auxiliary screen. i

6. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and means for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of weight members of circular cross section disposed upon said auxiliary screen, and means for retaining said members on a predetermined portion of said screen.

7. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and means for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of spherical weight members disposed upon said auxiliary screen, and means for preventing movement of the weight members with the screen.

8. Amachine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers, and adapted to move therewith, and means for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of graduated weights disposed upon said auxiliary screen. I

9. A machine for'making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, and means for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of spherical members of relatively different weights disposed upon said screen.

10. A machine for making fiber composition comprisin a movable screen adapted to transport the bers, an auxiliary screen disposed in engagement" with the fibers, and ada ted to move therewith, and means 'for app ymg pressure on said auxiliary screen comprising a plurality of members of relatively light weight and a plurality of relatively heavier weight disposed upon the auxiliary screen, the weight members being so arranged that the composition is first, compressed by the relatively light weight members and subsequently by the heavier weight members. I

11. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transport the fibers, an auxiliaryscreen disposed in Jen'ga gement'with the fibers and adapted to move therewith, andmeans for applying pressure on said auxiliary screen compr sing a plurality of spherical members of relatively ,difl'erent weights'disposed upon the auxiliary screen, the weight members being so arranged as to compress the composition gradually.

12. A machine for making fiber composition comprising a movable screen adapted to transportthe fibers, an auxiliarysereendis ofrelatively different weights disposed upon the auxiliary screen, the weight members being so arranged that the fiber composition is gradually compressed during its course of 2 travel by successively heavier weights.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM G. OBRIEN.

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