Patent ID: 6306258
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing water from a web formed of fibers comprising:a first forming fabric which is permeable to air;a second forming fabric which is permeable to air;a web of fibers containing between about ten and about forty percent fibers dry weight and about ninety to about sixty percent water, the web being positioned and held between the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric;a first box rigidly mounted with respect to the first forming fabric and connected to a source of pressurized air;a plurality of baffles extending between the box and the first forming fabric and defining an area of the first forming fabric, the plurality of baffles extending into the first box so as to seal the source of pressurized air to the area of the first forming fabric, the baffles being substantially devoid of surfaces on which pressure in the first box acts in a way to force the baffles towards or against the first forming fabric;a seal formed between the plurality of baffles and the first box so that air supplied to the first box is substantially constrained to flow through the first forming fabric, the web of fibers and the second forming fabric;a means for urging each of the baffles towards the first forming fabric; anda means for drawing a vacuum positioned adjacent to the second forming fabric, the vacuum means engaging the second forming fabric over an area which at least encompasses substantially all of an area opposite the area of the first forming fabric which is sealed to the source of pressurized air; wherein the vacuum means comprises a vacuum box with a plurality of cross machine direction forming fabric supports, at least two of said cross machine direction forming fabric supports defining a pocket into which the first forming fabric and second forming fabric and web are urged by at least one of said plurality of baffles overlying the first forming fabric, the pocket defining a seal, and wherein the pocket is filled with a resilient material and underlain by a rigid support.