Patent ID: 6458246
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
A papermaking machine for manufacturing a creped paper web, comprising:a breast roll; a Yankee dryer; a press roll; a first forming fabric forming an endless loop which contains the breast roll and the press roll, the first forming fabric being urged against the Yankee dryer by the press roll; a second forming fabric forming a second endless loop, the second forming fabric coming into engagement with the first forming fabric and being wrapped around a portion of the breast roll and running parallel to and engaged with the first forming fabric along an extended run after the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric leave the breast roll; a headbox positioned to inject a stream of paper forming stock between the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric as the second forming fabric comes into engagement with the first forming fabric on the breast roll; an air press comprising a pressure box positioned to engage the inside of one of the forming fabrics, and a vacuum box in spaced parallel relation to the pressure box, the vacuum box positioned to engage the inside of the other forming fabric so that the first and second forming fabrics pass between the pressure box and the vacuum box; a source of pressure connected to the pressure box; a source of vacuum connected to the vacuum box so air flows from the pressure box through the first forming fabric, a paper web contained therebetween, and the second forming fabric; a web transfer pickup box positioned inside the first forming fabric downstream of the air press and overlying the second forming fabric to draw a vacuum on the first forming fabric to cause the web to follow the first forming fabric; and wherein the second forming fabric co-operates with the first forming fabric to eliminate spans where the web is unsupported from beneath before the web reaches the air press.