Web transfer apparatus

A web transfer apparatus is disclosed for transferring a web from a press section to a dryer section. The transfer apparatus includes a dryer fabric extending around the dryer section for conveying the web from the press section to, and around, the dryer section so that excess water remaining in the web after the press section is removed from the web when passing through the dryer section. A first plurality of rotatable rolls movably support the dryer fabric and a frame rotatably supports the first plurality of rolls. The first plurality of rolls includes a lead-in roll which is disposed adjacent to the press section for guiding the web from the press section towards the dryer section. The first plurality of rolls also includes a first transfer roll which is spaced relative to the lead-in roll for guiding the web through the dryer section. A transfer fabric cooperates with the dryer fabric such that the transfer fabric and dryer fabric define therebetween a transfer section which extends along the dryer fabric and between the lead-in roll and the transfer roll. The transfer section permits support of the web therethrough so that the web is easily led to the dryer section while inhibiting any tendency of the web to droop during threading of the web from the press section to the dryer section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a web transfer apparatus for transferring a web 
from a press section to a dryer section. More particularly, this invention 
relates to a web transfer apparatus for transferring a paper web from a 
press section to a paper dryer section so that the unsupported distance 
travelled by the web between the press and the dryer section is minimized. 
2. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT 
In order to understand the advantages of the present invention, it is 
necessary to appreciate the problems involved in guiding and, more 
particularly, in threading a paper web from a press section to--and 
through--a dryer section. 
The transfer of the wet web from the press section to the dryer section of 
a conventional paper machine is generally accomplished by first 
transferring a narrow portion of the web to the dryer section. The next 
step is that of threading that narrow portion of the web through the 
entire dryer section. When this has been accomplished, the web width is 
gradually increased until the entire web runs through the dryer section. 
In order to understand the aforementioned operation more particularly, 
reference is made hereinafter to the aforementioned threading operation 
using a conventional Tri-Vent press section and BelRun dryer section. The 
Tri-Vent and BelRun sections are both manufactured by Beloit Corporation. 
First of all, the transfer from the press section to the dryer section 
begins after the full width web has been transferred through the press 
section and is being removed from the press roll by a doctor blade. This 
full-width web is first cut longitudinally by a suitable water jet prior 
to the press section so that a small portion of the front edge of the web 
is separated from the rest of the web. This small portion of the web is 
typically 2 to 10 inches (5.08 to 25.4 centimeters) in width and is called 
the "tail". The tail is then blown off the press roll and directed into a 
nip defined by the dryer fabric and a first dryer of the dryer section. 
Currently, there are several devices in common usage for blowing the tail 
off of the press roll and these devices usually use pressurized air for 
directing the tail towards the dryer section. 
There are two main problems associated with the foregoing operation. The 
first problem is the difficulty in accurately aiming the nozzle of the 
pressurized air device so that the tail will get caught in the nip of the 
dryer and dryer fabric. This problem is aggravated by having long open 
spans between the press roll and the nip. A long span not only increases 
the directional accuracy required in blowing the tail off the press roll, 
but also increases the susceptibility of the tail to being disturbed by 
local air currents. The second problem results because the tail must be 
blown off the press roll before it contacts the doctor blade. However, if 
the tail is blown off too far above the doctor blade, it will not have a 
direct path to the nip due to the disposition therebetween of the lead-in 
roll of the dryer fabric. Therefore, the zone or "target" within which the 
tail must be removed from the press roll is limited in size and such 
removal, therefore, requires great skill on the part of the operator of 
the air nozzle to correctly remove the tail within this target and to 
direct such tail towards and between the nip. 
Also, there are several other factors which influence the trajectory of the 
tail from the press roll which makes this portion of the transfer 
particularly difficult. To enumerate some of these difficulties, there 
exists a tendency of the web to fall due to gravity. Furthermore, there is 
a tendency on the part of the tail, to slow down due to air friction. 
In addition to the aforementioned problems regarding the actual threading 
of the tail between the press section and the dryer section, another major 
problem exists in that when the tail has been threaded, a certain slack in 
the tail will exist between the press and dryer sections. Once the tail is 
caught in the nip, the slack in the tail length must be quickly reduced in 
order to keep the tail from drooping downwardly and coming into contact 
with the doctor blade or being broken by local air currents. This slack is 
reduced by running the dryer section at an increment of speed above that 
of the press section. This increment is called the "draw". The "draw" must 
be large enough during this operation to quickly take up any slack in the 
tail, but if this "draw" is too large, the tail will be broken once the 
slack is removed. Typically, such "draws" are in the range of 2 to 5 
percent of the press speed. 
The aforementioned problem relative to the "draw" is also aggravated by 
having a long span, or distance, between the press and dryer sections. A 
longer span obviously increases the amount of slack which must be quickly 
taken up by the dryer section. 
In order to overcome the aforementioned problems associated with the prior 
art proposals, Applicant has reduced the length of this span. Although 
this solution may, at first, be thought to be relatively simple, in 
practice--when a portion of the dryer section is located inside the 
framing of the press section, various additional problems arise. These 
problems include restrictions in the press frame design, various stresses 
imposed on the press frame, vibrations and access to the press frame. 
Also, access to the dryer felt and roll removal becomes very difficult. 
Because of these difficulties in design, it is not uncommon for the 
distance between the press section and dryer section to be in the range of 
8 to 10 feet. (2.44 meters to 3.05 meters) 
In an attempt to stabilize the tail on the dryer fabric during threading, 
it has been found that if the tail maintains good contact with the fabric, 
it will not be subject to external air currents and will later progress 
down the dryer section without wandering. 
In order to maintain such contact between the tail and the dryer fabric, 
several devices have previously been installed above the dryer fabric in 
order to generate and maintain such good contact. These devices include 
air nozzles and transfer boxes. Also, diverging foil sections have been 
used as well as vacuum boxes and air foil devices. These tail stabilizing 
devices cannot effectively support the narrow tail because the vacuum 
levels created by such transfer boxes or the like, are not adequate. Such 
inadequate vacuum is caused by the large open area on each side of the 
tail and the permeability of the fabric which allows air to flow in above 
the tail and reduce the effective vacuum at the felt surface. While it is 
true that the vacuum levels can be increased to support the tail, this 
increased vacuum will then pull the dryer fabric into contact with the 
transfer box, or the like when the fabric is later sealed by the 
full-width web. 
The aforementioned long span, or distance travelled by the tail between the 
press roll and the dryer section, is aggravated because such deflection of 
the dryer felt due to application of vacuum to the transfer box increases 
almost by a factor of four with the span length. 
With regard to the use of air nozzles for maintaining close contact between 
the tail and the dryer fabric, these air nozzles have proven to be 
effective for relatively low speed operations but the spent air is found 
to cause more disruptions and movement of the tail at higher speeds. 
Regarding a further aspect of transferring the web from the press section 
to the dryer section, once the tail has been transferred to the dryer 
fabric, it becomes necessary to thread the tail from the first dryer 
cylinder down the dryer section to the last dryer cylinder. This can be 
accomplished either with the use of threading air jets or, more commonly, 
with the use of threading ropes. 
When using threading ropes, the tail must be separated from the dryer 
fabric and either manually, or automatically moved towards the front (or 
edge) of the machine until such tail is caught between the threading 
ropes. Although this aspect of the transfer is not usually a problem, the 
design of the press to dryer transfer apparatus must have provisions for 
this operation. 
More specifically, there must be at least a short, open draw with enough 
access to move the tail from the dryer fabric so that the tail can be 
moved into the rope nip. 
Once the tail has been threaded down the dryer section, the next step is to 
widen the tail to the full width of the web. During this widening process, 
good contact must be maintained between the dryer fabric and the tail. If 
this is not the case, the tail will become slack and will break. 
The tail is particularly susceptible to separating from the dryer fabric at 
the edges of the tail where the transfer box device is least able to 
maintain the required support vacuum. And--once again, the long span 
between the press and dryer sections aggravates this problem by increasing 
the weight of the unsupported tail. 
The final step in transferring from the press to the dryer section includes 
continuing the support of the full width web. Here again, the edges of the 
web are the most difficult part of the web to support. With long spans, 
there exists a limit on the amount of vacuum that can be applied or 
induced above the fabric because of the aforementioned fabric deflection. 
Further, the long span also increases the weight of the unsupported web 
thereby causing it to stretch and increasing the time for the viscoelastic 
web to relax and lose its internal tension. 
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there exist several 
problems as enumerated herein which present themselves when attempting to 
transfer a web from a press to a dryer section. 
The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned inadequacies of 
the prior art proposals by providing a web transfer apparatus which 
includes a secondary, or transfer fabric, which cooperates with the dryer 
fabric such that the web during the majority of the travel between the 
press to the dryer section is supported simultaneously from both sides. 
Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a 
web transfer apparatus in which the provision of a transfer fabric 
effectively reduces the length of the unsupported span. 
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a web 
transfer apparatus in which the guide roll for the transfer fabric is 
located relatively close to the lead-in roll of the dryer fabric thereby 
reducing the span to a minimum. 
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a web transfer 
apparatus in which the guide roll bears only slightly against the dryer 
fabric in order to minimize the angle of wrap of the web as the web moves 
along the dryer fabric and then between the felts or fabrics in the 
transfer section. 
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a web transfer 
apparatus in which the transfer apparatus is provided with a second air 
deflector to insure that the tail follows the dryer fabric as the tail 
emerges from the transfer section. 
These, and other objects of the present invention, will be readily apparent 
to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description 
hereinafter and by reference to the attached drawings. 
Although the present invention is described with particular reference to 
transferring a web between a Tri-Nip press section and a UNIRUN dryer 
section, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the 
present invention is not limited by the description of the preferred 
embodiment. Tri-Nip is a registered trademark of Beloit Corporation. 
Rather, the present invention is defined by the appended claims which 
envisage various modifications and applications which fall within the 
spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended 
claims. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a web transfer apparatus and method for 
transferring a web from a press section to a dryer section. The apparatus 
includes a dryer fabric extending around the dryer section for conveying 
the web from the press section to, and around, the dryer section so that 
excess water remaining in the web after the press section is removed from 
the web when the web passes through the dryer section. A first plurality 
of rotatable rolls movably support the dryer fabric and a frame rotatably 
supports the first plurality of rolls. The first plurality of rolls 
includes a lead-in roll which is disposed adjacent the press section for 
guiding the web from the press section towards the dryer section. The 
first plurality of rolls also includes a first transfer roll means which 
is spaced relative to the lead-in roll for guiding the web through the 
dryer section. A transfer fabric cooperates with the dryer fabric such 
that the transfer fabric and dryer fabric define therebetween a transfer 
section which extends along the dryer fabric and between the lead-in roll 
and the transfer roll means. The transfer section permits support of the 
web therethrough so that the web is easily led to the dryer section while 
inhibiting any tendency of the web to droop during threading of the web 
from the press section to the dryer section. 
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first plurality of 
rolls also includes a plurality of dryers and a plurality of transfer 
rolls such that each dryer of the plurality of dryers alternates with a 
transfer roll of said plurality of transfer rolls so that the dryer fabric 
moves around the plurality of transfer rolls and the plurality of dryer 
drums as a UNIRUN dryer section. 
Furthermore, the transfer rolls, dryer drums, and first transfer roll means 
are all rotatably supported by a dryer section frame. The lead-in roll and 
the first transfer roll are, respectively, vacuum rolls. The web transfer 
apparatus also includes a second plurality of rolls for movably supporting 
the transfer fabric with the second plurality of rolls being rotatably 
supported by the press section and dryer section frames. A plurality of 
tensioning rolls bear against the transfer fabric for tensioning the 
transfer fabric so that the transfer fabric bears against, and cooperates 
with, the dryer fabric for defining the transfer section therebetween. The 
second plurality of rolls also includes a guide roll for guiding the web 
into the transfer section between the dryer fabric and the transfer 
fabric. A first air deflector is disposed adjacent to the guide roll for 
deflecting the air which is traveling with the transfer fabric away from 
the web. 
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, instead of the 
provision of vacuum rolls for the lead-in roll and the first transfer 
roll, a plain shell or grooved shell is used. A second air deflector is 
disposed adjacent to the first transfer roll means for deflecting the web 
away from the transfer fabric towards the dryer fabric when the web 
emerges from the transfer section. 
Additionally, a third air deflector is disposed adjacent to a roll of the 
second plurality of rolls such that the roll supports the transfer fabric 
between the first transfer roll and the plurality of tension rolls. The 
third air deflector deflects the web away from the transfer fabric in the 
event of the web failing to transfer from the transfer felt to the dryer 
fabric when the web emerges from the transfer section. The third air 
deflector thereby inhibits the possibility of the web winding around the 
subsequent tensioning rolls. Means are provided for driving one of the 
rolls of the second plurality of rolls so that the transfer fabric is 
moved at approximately the same speed as the speed of the dryer fabric. 
Preferably, this driven roll is the guide roll because of the large felt 
wrap. 
The present invention minimizes the distance travelled by the unsupported 
web between the press and the dryer section thereby minimizing the 
possibility of the web drooping down and breaking prior to completion of 
the threading operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art web transfer apparatus 
generally designated 10 showing a Tri-Nip press section generally 
designated 12 and a UNIRUN dryer section generally designated 14. 
The press section 12 includes a bottom felt 16 which extends through a 
first nip generally designated 18 defined by cooperating press rolls 20 
and 22 respectively. A second press felt 24 also extends through the nip 
18 with a web W disposed between the felts 16 and 24 respectively. The web 
W supported by the second felt 24 extends between a second nip generally 
designated 26 defined by a first press roll 28 and roll 30. The web W is 
carried by the first press roll 28 around the press roll 28 and between a 
third nip generally designated 32 defined by the first press roll 28 and a 
roll 34. A third press felt 36 also extends through the third nip 32 such 
that the web W is disposed between the third press felt 36 and the first 
press roll 28. A doctor blade 38 is disposed beneath and adjacent to the 
first press roll 28 such that the web W supported on the first press roll 
28 is parted from the first press roll 28 by means of the doctor blade 38. 
A lead-in roll 40 is disposed adjacent to the first press roll 28 at a 
location between the doctor blade 38 and the roll 34. A dryer fabric 42 is 
guided by a first plurality of rolls generally designated 44 including the 
lead-in roll 40 after which the dryer fabric 42 extends towards a baby, or 
lead-in dryer drum 46 onto a transfer roll 48 and thence onto a first 
dryer drum 50 of a series of UNIRUN dryers (not shown). 
As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the tail T is parted from the surface S of 
the press roll 28, the tail T must be guided around the lead-in roll 40 
and caused to come into close contact with the dryer fabric 42 between the 
lead-in roll 40 and the baby dryer drum 46. As stated hereinbefore, this 
has presented many problems, not least of which is the tendency of such 
tail T to droop downwardly relative to the lead-in roll 40 and dryer 
fabric 42. 
FIGS. 2 to 4 show various types of pressurized air devices commonly used in 
threading a tail into a nip 52 defined by the dryer fabric 42 and the baby 
dryer 46. FIG. 2 shows a caliper type device generally designated 54 
having opposed nozzles 56 and 58 respectively. The tail T of the web W is 
guided by the air jets 60 and 62 ejected from this device 54. 
FIG. 3 shows another type of pressurized air device generally designated 64 
which is simply a pipe 66 having a plurality of air nozzles (not shown) 
for directing air as indicated by arrows 67,68,69,70,71 and 72 laterally 
relative to the pipe 66. 
FIG. 4 shows a further type of pressurized air device 74 having an air 
supply pipe 76 connected to a curved cross pipe 78 having a plurality of 
nozzles for directing convergent currents of air 79,80,81,82 and 83 for 
guiding the tail T within the nip 52. 
FIG. 5 shows a press roll 28A and a roll 34A with the web WA leaving the 
press roll 28A, passing around the lead-in roll 40A and being held against 
the dryer fabric 42A between the lead-in roll 40A and a baby dryer drum 
46A by a foil type device 84. 
FIG. 6 shows a further prior art device similar to that shown in FIG. 5 but 
using an air box 86 connected to a fan 88 which creates a partial vacuum 
within the air box 86. The other parts shown in FIG. 6 are identical to 
those shown in FIG. 5 and are designated by the same numerals as the 
corresponding parts of FIG. 5 but with the suffix B added thereto. 
FIG. 7 is a prior art device similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but instead of 
the air box 86, a pair of air foil type boxes 90 and 92 are both connected 
to an air fan 94 which pressurizes the air foil boxes 90 and 92 to create 
curtains of air 96 and 98 respectively for urging the tail against the 
dryer fabric. In other respects, the apparatus of FIG. 7 is the same as 
that shown in FIG. 6 and similar parts have the same numerals with the 
suffix C added thereto. 
According to the present invention as shown in FIG. 8, the web WD emerging 
from between a third press felt 36D and the first press roll 28D passes 
downwardly toward a doctor blade 38D. A lead-in roll 40D is disposed 
between a roll 34D and the doctor blade 38D and is in close proximity to 
the first press roll 28D. As the web WD passes the lead-in roll 40D 
towards the doctor blade 38D, a tail removal zone 100, is defined between 
the lead-in roll 40D and the doctor blade 38D. A tail TD of the web WD is 
urged by the aforementioned pressurized air devices 54, 64 or 74 from the 
surface SD of the first press roll 28D within the zone 100 and the tail TD 
is directed towards the dryer fabric 42D between the lead-in roll 40D and 
a guide roll 102 such that the tail TD is directed within a nip 104 
defined by the guide roll 102 and the dryer fabric 42D. A transfer fabric 
106 extends around the guide roll 102 and towards a first transfer roll 
108. The dryer fabric 42D at the first transfer roll 108 parts from the 
transfer fabric 106 such that the dryer fabric 42D and the transfer fabric 
106 defined therebetween a transfer section 110 which extends from the 
guide roll 102 to the first transfer roll means 108. This transfer section 
110 has a first and a second end 112 and 114 respectively with the first 
end 112 being disposed adjacent to the press section 12D and the second 
end 114 being disposed adjacent to the dryer section 14D. The transfer 
fabric 106 extends around a second plurality of rolls generally designated 
116 which includes rolls 118, 119 and 120 and guide roll 102. A first and 
second tensioning roll 122 and 124 respectively, bear against the transfer 
fabric 106 so that the transfer fabric 106 bears against, and cooperates 
with, the dryer fabric 42D for defining the transfer section 110 
therebetween. The tensioning rolls 122 and 124 and the second plurality of 
rolls 116 may be rotatably supported by the dryer section frame 126 or the 
press section frame 130. 
The dryer fabric extends around the dryer section 14D for conveying the web 
WD from the press section 12D to, and around, the dryer section 14D so 
that excess water remaining in the web WD after the press section 12D is 
removed from the web WD when passong through the dryer section 14D. A 
first plurality of rotatable rolls generally designated 44D movably 
support the dryer fabric 42D. A frame means generally designated 128 
rotatably supports the first plurality of rolls 44D. The first plurality 
of rolls 44D includes the lead-in roll 40D which is disposed adjacent to 
the press section 12D for guiding the web WD from the press section 12D 
towards the dryer section 14D. The first transfer roll means 108 is 
disposed adjacent to the dryer section 14D for guiding the web WD from the 
lead-in roll 40D past the transfer roll means 108 and onto the dryer 
section 14D. The transfer fabric 106 cooperates with the dryer fabric 42D 
such that the transfer fabric 106 and the dryer fabric 42D define 
therebetween, the transfer section 110 which extends along the dryer 
fabric 42D and between the lead-in roll 40D and the transfer roll 108. The 
transfer section 110 permits support of the web WD therethrough so that 
the web WD is easily led to the dryer section 14D while eliminating any 
possibility for the web WD to droop during threading of the web WD from 
the press section 12D to the dryer section 14D. 
The frame means generally indicated at 128 includes a dryer section frame 
126 for rotatably supporting the transfer roll means 108 and the dryer 
drum 50D. The frame means 128 also includes a press section frame 130. The 
first plurality of rolls includes the plurality of dryers of which 50D is 
shown. Furthermore, of the plurality of transfer rolls, each dryer of the 
plurality of dryers alternates with a transfer roll of the plurality of 
transfer rolls such that the dryer fabric 42D moves around the plurality 
of transfer rolls and the plurality of dryer drums as a UNIRUN dryer 
section. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, the lead-in roll 40D is a 
vacuum roll for facilitating the guidance of the web WD from the press 
section 12D towards the dryer section 14D. Also, the first transfer roll 
means 108 is a vacuum roll for urging the web WD away from the transfer 
section 110 around the first transfer roll means 108 and onto the dryer 
section 14D. 
The first end 112 of the transfer section 110 is disposed between the 
lead-in roll 40D and the first transfer roll means 108 while the second 
end 114 of the transfer section 110 is disposed adjacent to the first 
transfer roll means 108. 
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 9, 
the web transfer apparatus 10E includes a first air deflector 132 disposed 
adjacent to the guide roll 102E for deflecting the air which is traveling 
with the transfer fabric 106E away from the web WE thereby minimizing 
disturbance of the web WE during the transfer of the web. 
Furthermore, the web transfer apparatus 10E includes a second air deflector 
134 disposed adjacent to the first transfer roll 108E for deflecting the 
web WE or tail TE away from the transfer fabric 106E towards the dryer 
fabric 42E when the web WE or tail TE emerges from the transfer section 
110E. In this embodiment of FIG. 9, it is unnecessary to provide the 
transfer roll 108E as a vacuum roll as the deflector 134 serves the same 
purpose and is less costly and the transfer roll means 108E can be a plain 
or a grooved shell roll. 
Additionally, the web transfer apparatus 10E includes a third air deflector 
136 which is disposed adjacent to a roll 138 of the second plurality of 
rolls 116E. The roll 138 supports the transfer fabric 106E between the 
first transfer roll 108E and the plurality of tensioning rolls 124E and 
122E. The third air deflector 136 deflects the web WE or the tail TE away 
from the transfer fabric 106E in the event of the web WE or the tail TE 
failing to transfer from the transfer fabric 106E to the dryer fabric 42E 
when the web WE emerges from the transfer section 110E. The third air 
deflector 136 thereby inhibits the possibility of the web WE or tail TE 
winding around the subsequent tensioning rolls 124E and 122E. 
In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the web transferring 
apparatus also includes means 140 for rotatably driving one of the rolls 
of the second plurality of rolls and preferably the guide roll 102E such 
that the transfer fabric 106E is moved at approximately the same speed as 
the speed of the dryer fabric 42E. 
In both embodiments of the present invention, the press sections 12D and 
12E also include a press roll 28D and 28E respectively which are disposed 
adjacent to the lead-in rolls 40D and 40E respectively and first doctor 
blades 38D and 38E which cooperate with the press rolls 28D and 28E for 
removing the web WD or WE from the press roll as the web emerges past the 
lead-in roll from the press section. 
In operation of the present invention the tail of the web is lifted from 
the surface of the first press roll by means of a suitable pressurized air 
device as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. This removal of the tail is accomplished 
within the zone 100 as shown in FIG. 8. The tail is directed towards the 
nip 104 as shown in FIG. 8 and the tail is drawn towards lead-in roll 40D, 
particularly in view of the lead-in roll 40D being a vacuum roll. Because 
of the cooperation between dryer fabric 42D and transfer fabric 106 as 
shown in FIG. 8, the tail supported on both sides thereof is guided from 
the guide roll 102 towards the transfer roll means 108 where the web 
follows the dryer fabric as the web emerges from the second end 114 of the 
transfer section 110. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, such transfer of 
the web to the dryer fabric is facilitated by the first transfer roll 
means 108 being a vacuum roll. Moreover, by virtue of the transfer fabric 
106 extending closely towards the first press roll 28D, the distance that 
the web has to travel unsupported from the first press roll 28D before it 
becomes supported on both sides within the transfer section 110, is 
minimal thereby inhibiting the aforementioned problems associated with 
transferring and threading a web from a press section to a dryer section. 
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the operation is similar 
to that described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 8. However, 
instead of the first transfer roll being a vacuum roll as in the case of 
the embodiment of FIG. 8, the roll means 108E may be a plain roll or a 
grooved roll provided with a second air deflector 134 for effecting 
transfer of the tail onto the dryer fabric 42E. Further, in the embodiment 
shown in FIG. 9, the driving means 140 enables the transfer fabric 106E to 
move at approximately the same speed as the dryer fabric 42E thereby 
inhibiting any tendency of scuffing of the tail or web during passage 
through the transfer section 110E. 
Additionally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a first air deflector 132 
is provided adjacent to the guide roll 102E to assist in directing the 
tail within the nip defined by the guide roll 102E and the dryer fabric 
42E. 
The third air deflector 136 serves the purpose of removing from the 
transfer fabric 106E the tail, or web, in the event of failure of the tail 
or web to follow the dryer fabric 42E. Such third air deflector prevents 
the web from becoming entangled around the tensioning roll 124E. 
As shown in both FIGS. 8 and 9, the guide roll 102 and 102E respectively, 
bear only slightly against the dryer fabric 42D and 42E respectively, 
thereby avoiding any sharp change in direction of the tail, or web, during 
passage along the transfer section. Such avoidance of scuffing of the web 
between the fabrics is achieved by the present invention by minimizing the 
angles of reversing of the double felt wrap in the transfer section. 
In the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9, the first, second and third air 
deflectors may be air nozzles. 
FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention with similar 
parts thereof referred to by the same numerals applied to the first 
embodiment with the suffix F added thereto. As shown in FIG. 10, the web 
WF is led through the transfer section 110F between the dryer fabric 42F 
and the transfer fabric 106F. However, the cooperating fabrics 42F and 
106F pass around the first dryer 50F prior to the dryer fabric 42F and web 
WF extending round the transfer roll means 108F. 
The fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11 is 
similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and similar reference numerals 
are used in FIG. 11 with the suffix G added thereto. In FIG. 11, the 
cooperating dryer fabric 42G and transfer fabric 106G extend around an 
auxiliary roll 142 prior to the dryer fabric 42G and web WG extending 
round the transfer roll means 108G. 
FIG. 12 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention which is similar 
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, however, the cooperating fabrics 42H 
and 106H extend around an auxiliary roll 142H and then around the first 
dryer 50H prior to the dryer fabric 42H and web WH passing around the 
transfer roll means 108H. Similar reference numbers with the suffix H 
added thereto are used in FIG. 12 to indicate similar parts to the 
preceeding embodiments. 
In operation of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the web, or 
tail, is guided through the transfer section from the guide roll to the 
transfer roll means such that the unsupported span traversed by the web, 
or tail, is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, reversing of the double 
felt wrap is minimized and air nozzle transfer of the tail to the nip 104 
is facilitated. 
In the prior art, certain problems were experienced when attempting to pass 
a web sandwiched between a top and bottom fabric between the dryer 
section. Such problems came about because not all the dryers were cooled 
by direct contact with the web, therefore, such non-contacted dryers 
expanded to a larger diameter. Secondly, the top felt wrapped around 
certain of the dryers and not others, thereby increasing the effective 
diameter of the dryers around which both felts wrapped. Such different 
speeds resulted in scuffing between the bottom and top fabrics. 
The aforementioned problem is avoided by the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 
and 12 by not driving the first dryer 50F and 50H respectively with the 
subsequent dryer. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the first 
dryer 50F and 50H respectively are driven by the transfer fabric 106F and 
106H respectively. 
In all the various embodiments of the present invention, the dryer fabric 
and the transfer fabric are arranged to run at approximately the same 
speed and each fabric is arranged to run at a fixed speed along the entire 
length of the respective fabrics. 
The foregoing detailed description illustrates five embodiments of the 
present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 
there are many variations of the described embodiments that fall within 
the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended 
claims. The present invention provides a reliable and practical means for 
assisting transfer of a web between a press and dryer section of a 
papermaking machine.