Patent ID: 6503466
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: D21H

Abstract:
An apparatus for continuously loading fibers in a fiber suspension with calcium carbonate, comprising:a source of fiber suspension, said fiber suspension including at least one of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide therein; a deflocculating vessel having at least one vessel interior chamber, a fluid inlet connected with said source of fiber suspension and each said vessel interior chamber, a fluid outlet connected with each said vessel interior chamber, and a high shear imparting device disposed within each said vessel interior chamber for imparting high shear forces to and thereby deflocculating the fiber suspension; a mixing container having a container interior compartment, a container fluid inlet connected with each said container interior compartment and said fluid outlet of said deflocculating vessel, a container fluid outlet connected with said container interior compartment, and a low shear imparting device within said container interior compartment configured for imparting low shear forces to the fiber suspension and conveying the fiber suspension continuously through said container interior compartment toward said container fluid outlet, said low shear imparting device and said container fluid outlet together being configured for conveying the fiber suspension continuously outward through said container fluid outlet, said mixer container having a first container end and a second container end, said low shear imparting device having a first device end and a second device end, said first device end being rotatably mounted in said first container end, said second device end being rotatably mounted in said second container end, said low shear imparting device thereby extending at least from said container fluid inlet to said container fluid outlet; and a gas supply connected with at least one said first interior chamber of said deflocculating vessel and with said container interior compartment of said mixing container, said gas supply configured for supplying gas to and pressurizing each of said deflocculating vessel and said mixing container, said gas supply being a source of a gas which promotes the formation of calcium carbonate when mixed with at least one of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide.