Patent ID: 6190506
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
An apparatus for making paper using a forming fabric, comprising:a plurality of rollers arranged for cooperative rotation, each of said plurality of rollers having a first circular end, a second circular end and a cylindrical middle surface, said plurality of rollers positioned to define a corresponding plurality of nips, said forming fabric being processed through at least two of said plurality of nips, and at least a first roller of said plurality of rollers having at least one void formed in said cylindrical middle surface;first and second sealing panels for engaging the first and second circular ends of each of said plurality of rollers, said first and second sealing panels and said plurality of rollers defining a chamber;a conduit positioned in said chamber and having a plurality of distribution holes extending across a width of said forming fabric; anda source of fiber slurry;a pressure source fluidly coupled to said conduit and said source of fiber slurry to supply a pressurized distributed flow of the fiber slurry in said chamber across a width of said forming fabric to form a continuous web, wherein said continuous web is formed on said forming fabric at a location in said chamber where said chamber fluidly communicates with said at least one void formed in said cylindrical middle surface.