A TISSUE MAKING APPARATUS

Abstract: A tissue making apparatus (10) is disclosed for making tissue (T) from stock (S). The apparatus includes a former (12) for forming a web of wet tissue (W) from the stock (S). An air drying arrangement (14) is disposed immediately downstream relative to the former (12) for drying the web of wet tissue (W). Subsequently, the tissue (T) is dried during passage thereof through a Yankee dryer (16) disposed downstream relative to the drying arrangement (14), the Yankee dryer (16) completing the drying of the tissue (T).

Description: PATENT APPLICATION TITLE; A TISSUE MAKING APPARATUS Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tissue making apparatus for making tissue from stock. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tissue making apparatus including a Yankee dryer. Information Disclosure Statement Typically, during the manufacture of tissue, a web is formed by ejecting stock from a headbox onto a forming wire of a forming section. Subsequently the formed web is subjected to a pressing operation for removing at least a portion of the water from the formed web. The partially dewatered web is then guided around the heated surface of a Yankee dryer. A Yankee dryer is essentially a rotatable cylinder having a diameter of approximately 25 foot. The cylinder is connected internally with a source of super-heated steam so that as the web is guided about the peripheral surface of the heated cylinder, the web is dried. Subsequently, the dried web is doctored from the surface of the cylinder and is then wound onto a reel. In order to assist in the drying of the web during passage thereof around the Yankee dryer, air caps enclose at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the cylinder. Hot air is directed from such air caps onto the surface of the web in order to improve the web drying process. By the provision of a through-drying means, which includes blowing high temperature air through the formed web, the present invention eliminates the need for a costlypress section for initially dewatering the web. Not only does the elimination of the press section greatly decrease the overall cost of the installation of a tissue making apparatus, but also the aforementioned through-drying, or air impingement arrangement, according to the present invention, greatly increases the speed at which tissue can be manufactured. Additionally, by the provision of the aforementioned air drying means, the diameter of the subsequent Yankee dryer can be much less than that of the typically installed Yankee dryer. Such reduction in diameter not only reduces the overall height of the resultant tissue making apparatus, but also avoids the inherent problems encountered during transportation of the prior art large diameter Yankee dryers to an installation site. Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art tissue making machines and to provide a tissue making apparatus which makes a significant and non-obvious contribution to the art of making tissue. An objective of the present invention is the provision of a tissue making apparatus which is able to operate at a substantially higher speed when compared with currently available tissue making machines. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a tissue making apparatus which avoids the need for the provision of a pressing section. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Another object of the present invention is the provision of a tissue making apparatus in which the Yankee dryer has a diameter which is substantially less than the diameter of Yankee dryers installed in prior art machines. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings. Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a tissue making apparatus and method for making tissue from stock. The apparatus includes a former for forming a web of wet tissue from the stock. Air drying means are disposed immediately downstream relative to the former for drying the web of wet tissue. A Yankee dryer is disposed downstream relative to the drying means for completing the drying of the tissue. In a more specific embodiment of the present invention/the former includes a first and a second looped forming wire which cooperate together to define therebetween a forming section having a first and a second end. A headbox isdisposed closely adjacent to the first end of the forming section for ejecting the stock into the forming section through the first end thereof. The former also includes a forming roll which cooperates with the second wire such that the second wire is disposed between the first wire and the forming roll during passage of the second wire through the forming section. The forming roll preferably is an open roll. The headbox includes a plurality of trailing elements for damping turbulence of the stock during passage thereof through the headbox. The tissue making apparatus also includes transfer means for transferring the web of wet tissue from the second forming wire to the air drying means. More specifically, the transfer means includes a looped transfer felt and a plurality of guide rolls which are disposed within the looped transfer felt for guiding the transfer felt. The plurality of guide rolls include a suction roll, which is disposed closely adjacent to the second forming wire such that the transfer felt is disposed between the second forming wire and the suction roll. The arrangement is such that when the suction roll is connected to a source of partial vacuum, the web of wet tissue is transferred from the second forming wire onto the transfer felt. A downstream guide roll is disposed closely adjacent to the air drying means such that the web of wet tissue is disposed between the transfer felt and the air drying means so that the web of wet tissue is transferred from the transfer felt to the air drying means. The air drying means includes a looped dryer felt for supporting the web of wet tissue between the former and the Yankee dryer. A plurality of support rolls are disposed within the looped dryer felt for supporting the dryer felt. The support rolls are disposed such that the dryer felt defines an upwardly bowed surface for the transport thereon of the web of wet tissue. Hot air impingement means cooperate with the bowed surface such that the web of wet tissue supported by the dryer felt is disposed between the bowed surface and the air impingement means. The arrangement is such that when the air impingement means is connected to a source of high pressure heated air, such air is blown onto the web of wet tissue and through the dryer felt for drying the web of tissue. Additionally, the air drying means includes vacuum means disposed adjacent to the bowed surface. The vacuum means is disposed on an opposite side of the dryer felt relative to the air impingement means such that when the vacuum means is connected to a source of partial vacuum, a flow of heated air from the air impingement means through the web of wet tissue and through the dryer felt is enhanced. The looped dryer felt is fabricated from materials which are capable of withstanding high temperatures. Also/the hot air impingement means is disposed above the bowed surface, and the air drying means includes lifting means connected to the air impingement means for lifting the air impingement means away from the bowed surface in order to facilitate removal of broke therefrom in the event of a web breakage. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the source of high pressure heated air supplies air at a temperature within the range 500° to 800° Fahrenheit, and more particularly, approximately 700° Fahrenheit, so that the web attains a dryness within the range 45 to 90 percent dry, dependent upon the type of furnish being dried, such dryness being attained during passage of the web through the air drying means. More specifically, the air drying means dries the web of wet tissue from a solids level within the range 25 to 35 percent dry to a solids level within the range 45 to 90 percent dry during passage of the web of wet tissue through the air drying means. The source of partial vacuum connected to the vacuum means is at a vacuum level within the range .5 to 2 inches water column (WC). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the transfer means includes a suction means which cooperates with the second wire for picking up the web of wet tissue from the second wire. The suction means cooperates with the air drying means for transferring the web of wet tissue directly onto the air drying means. The air drying means also includes a pick-up roll which is disposed closely adjacent to the suction means so that the web of wet tissue is disposed between the suction means and the pick-up roll so that when the pick-up roll is connected to a source of partial vacuum, the web of wet tissue is drawn away from the suction means onto the looped dryer felt, which is disposed between the web of wet tissue and the pick-up roll. The tissue making apparatus also includes a transfer belt for transferring the web from the air drying means to the Yankee dryer. The Yankee dryer includes a rotatable cylinder which is connected internally to a source of pressurized steam for completing the drying of the UBSTIT web of tissue. Air cap means cooperate with the cylinder, the air cap means being connected to a source of pressurized heated air such that the pressurized heated air flows from the air cap meanstowards the web of tissue supported by and extending around the cylinder. The arrangement is such that the web of tissue is heated on one side thereof through direct surface contact of the web of tissue supported by the cylinder. The other side of the web is also heated by the pressurized heated air flowing from the air cap means towards the web of tissue during movement thereof around the cylinder. Many modifications and variations of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings. However, such variations and modifications fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of a tissue making apparatus according to the present invention; SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the former shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a transfer means shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of an air drying means shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a side-elevational view similar to that shown in Figure 1 but showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the web is transferred directly from the forming section onto a drying means without the need of a transfer felt; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of Figure 5 showing the alternative transfer means for transferring the web from the former to a drying means; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the Yankee dryer shown in Figure 1. Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of a tissue making apparatus, generally designated 10, for making tissue T from stock S. The apparatus 10 includes a former, generally designated 12, for forming a web of wet tissue W from the stock S. Air drying means, generally designated 14, are disposed immediately downstream relative to the former 12 without the interposition therebetween of a press section. The air drying means 14 dries the web of wet tissue W. A Yankee dryer, generally designated 16, is disposed downstream relative to the drying means 14 for completing the drying of the tissue W. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the former 12 shown in Figure 1 . The former 12 includes a first and second looped forming wire 18 and 20, respectively, which cooperate together to define therebetween a forming section 22 having a first and a second end 24 and 26, respectively. A headbox, generally designated 28, is disposed closely adjacent to the first end 24 of the forming section 22 for ejecting the stock S into the forming section 22 through the first end 24 thereof. SUBSTITUTE SHEET The former 12 further includes a forming roll 30 which cooperates with the second wire 20 such that the second wire 20 is disposed between the first wire 18 and the forming roll 30 during passage of the second wire 20 through the forming section 22. As shown in Figure 2, the forming roll 30 is an open roll. The headbox 28 includes a plurality of trailing elements 32,33,34 for damping turbulence of the stock S during passage thereof through the headbox 28. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a transfer means, generally designated 36, shown in Figure 1 . The transfer means 36 transfers the web of wet tissue W, as indicated by the dashed line, from the second forming wire 20 to the air drying means 14. More specifically, the transfer means 36 includes a looped transfer felt 38 and a plurality of guide rolls 40, 41 ,42 and 43 which are disposed within the looped transfer felt 38 for guiding the transfer felt 38. The plurality of guide rolls 40 to 43 include a suction roll 40 which is disposed closely adjacent to the second forming wire 20 such that the SUBSTIT « «• -_r __ . __t . U' ~ transfer felt 38 is disposed between the second forming wire 20 and the suction roll 40 so that when the suction roll 40 is connected to a source of partial vacuum 44, the web of wet tissue W is transferred from the second forming wire 20 onto the transfer felt 38. A downstream guide roll 41 is disposed closely adjacent to the air drying means 14 such that the web of wet tissue W is disposed between the transfer felt 38 and the air drying means 14 so that the web of wet tissue W is transferred from the transfer felt 38 to the air drying means 14. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the air drying means 14 shown in Figure 1 . The air drying means 14 includes a looped dryer felt 46 for supporting the web of wet tissue W between the former 12 and the Yankee dryer 16. A plurality of support rolls 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 ,69 are disposed within the looped dryer felt 46 for supporting the dryer felt 46. The support rolls 48 to 69 are disposed such that the dryer felt 46 defines an upwardly bowed surface 70 for the transport thereon of the web of wet tissue W. Air impingement means, generally designated 72, cooperate with the bowed surface 70 such that the web of wet tissue W supported by the iC TlT' H-- Ci-' -p- dryer felt 46 is disposed between the air impingement means 72. The arrangement is such that when the air impingement means 72 is connected to a source of high pressure heated air 74, such air, as indicated by the arrow 76,77,78, is blown onto the web of wet tissue W and through the dryer felt 46 for drying the web of tissue W. Additionally, as shown in Figure 4, the air drying means 14 includes vacuum means, generally designated 80, disposed adjacent to the bowed surface 70. The vacuum means 80 is disposed on an opposite side of the dryer felt 46 relative to the air impingement means 72 such that when the vacuum means 80 is connected to a source of partial vacuum 82, the flow of heated air 76-78 from the air impingement means 72 through the web of wet tissue W and through the dryer felt 46 is enhanced. The vacuum means 80 includes a box-like arrangement which encloses most of the surface of the support rolls. The vacuum box includes cross-machine directional slots for the protrusion therethrough of at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the support rolls for assisting in the support of the dryer felt. The box also includes a plurality of orifices which permit the through-flow of air from the hot air impingement means 72 through the web W and into the vacuum means 80. SUR55T-!7-l*T~ f^HΞ ^ The looped dryer felt 46 is fabricated from materials which are capable of withstanding high temperatures. The hot air impingement means is disposed above the bowed surface 70, and the air drying means 14 further includes lifting means, generally designated 84, which is connected to the air impingement means 72 for lifting the air impingement means 72 away from the bowed surface 70 in order to facilitate removal of broke therefrom in the event of a web breakage. The source of high pressure heated air 74 supplies pressurized air 76-78 at a temperature within the range 500° to 800° Fahrenheit so that the web attains a dryness within the range 45 to 90 percent dry during passage of the web through the air drying means 14. More specifically, the air drying means 14 dries the web of wet tissue W from a solids level within the range 25 to 35 percent dry to a solids level within the range 45 to 90 percent dry during passage of the web of wet tissue W through the air drying means 14. The source of partial vacuum 82 connected to the vacuum means 80 is at a vacuum level within the range .5 to 2 inches water column (WC). SUBSTITUTE SHEE Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a transfer means, generally designated 36A, transfers the web WA directly from a second wire 20A of a former 12A onto a dryer felt 46A of an air drying means 14A. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the transfer means 36A shown in Figure 5. The transfer means 36A includes a suction means 40A which cooperates with the second wire 20A for picking up the web of wet tissue WA from the second wire 20A. The suction means 40A cooperates with the air drying means 14A for transferring the web of wet tissue WA directly onto the air drying means 14A. More specifically, the air drying means 14A includes a looped dryer felt 46A for supporting the web of wet tissue WA between the former 12A and a Yankee dryer 16A. A plurality of support rolls are disposed within the looped dryer felt 46A for supporting the dryer felt 46A, the support rolls being disposed such that the dryer felt 46A defines an upwardly bowed surface 70A for the transport thereon of the web of wet tissue WA. The plurality of support rolls include a pick-up roll 86 which is disposed closely adjacent to the suction means 40A so that the web of wet SUBSTITUTE SHΞE"- tissue WA is disposed between the suction means 40A and the pick-up roll 86 so that when the pick-up roll 86 is connected to a source of partial vacuum 88, the web of wet tissue WA is drawn away from the suction means 40A onto the looped dryer felt 46A, which is disposed between the web of wet tissue WA and the pick-up roll 86. Figure 7 shows a transfer belt 90 for transferring the web W from the air drying means 14 to the Yankee dryer 16. As shown in Figure 7, the Yankee dryer 16 includes a rotatable cylinder 92 which is connected internally to a source of pressurized steam 94 for completing the drying of the web of tissue W. Air cap means, generally designated 96, cooperate with the cylinder 92. The air cap means 96 are connected to a source of pressurized heated air 98 such that the pressurized heated air flows, as indicated by the arrow 100, from the air cap means 96 towards the web of tissue W supported by and extending around the cylinder 92. The arrangement is such that the web of tissue W is heated on one side thereof through direct surface contact of the web of tissue W supported by the cylinder 92, while the other side of the web is heated by the pressurized heated air 100 flowing SUBSTITUTE SHEET from the air cap means 96 towards the web of tissue during movement thereof around the cylinder 92. In operation of the apparatus, the method includes the steps of: 1 ) ejecting the stock onto a forming wire of a former; 2) transferring the formed web of wet tissue onto a drying felt supported by a plurality of rolls such that the dryer felt defines an upwardly bowed surface, the web of wet tissue being transferred immediately from the former to the dryer felt without the interposition therebetween of a pressing operation; 3) blowing hot air through the web supported on the bowed surface so that the web attains a dryness of up to 90 percent bone dry; and 4) transferring the web from the dryer felt to a Yankee dryer for completing the drying of the web, such Yankee dryer completing the drying of the web without the flow of air through the cylindrical wall of the Yankee dryer, the arrangement enabling the more efficient utilization of thermal energy than a through-air dryer. The present invention greatly increases the speed at which tissue can be manufactured because the web is progressively dried during movement thereof over the bowed surface of the drying means without any need for the web to change directions, as has been the case with some prior art tissue machines provided with a serpentine type dryer arrangement prior to the Yankee dryer. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Also, due to the efficiency of the air drying means, the Yankee dryer may have a minimal diameter and yet efficiently complete the drying operation. Also, the present invention avoids the need for the provision of a costly press section. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: What Is Claimed Is: 1 . A tissue making apparatus (10) for making tissue (T) from stock (S), said apparatus comprising: a former (12) for forming a web of wet tissue (W) from the stock (S); air drying means (14) disposed immediately downstream relative to said former (12) for drying said web of wet tissue (W); and a Yankee dryer (16) disposed downstream relative to said drying means (14) for completing the drying of the tissue (TK 2. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said former (12) includes: a first and second looped forming wire (18, 20) which cooperate together to define therebetween a forming section (22) having a first and a second end (24, 26); a headbox (28) disposed closely adjacent to said first end (24) of said forming section (22) for ejecting the stock (S) into said forming section (22) through said first end (24) thereof. 3. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 2, wherein said former (12) further includes: a forming roll (30) cooperating with said second wire (20) such that said second wire (20) is disposed between said first wire (1 8) ! ~' and said forming roll (30) during passage of said second wire (20) through said forming section (22). 4. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 3, wherein said forming roll (30) is an open roll. 5. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 2, wherein said headbox (28) includes: a plurality of trailing elements (32-34) for damping turbulence of the stock (S) during passage thereof through said headbox (28). 6. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 2, further including: transfer means (36) for transferring said web of wet tissue (W) from said second forming wire (20) to said air drying means (14). 7. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transfer means (36) includes: a looped transfer felt (38); a plurality of guide rolls (40-43) disposed within said looped transfer felt (38) for guiding said transfer felt (38); said plurality of guide rolls (40-43) including: a suction roll (40) disposed closely adjacent to said second forming wire (20) such that said transfer felt (38) is disposed between said second forming wire (20) and said suction roll (40) so that when said suction roll (40) is connected to a source of partial vacuum (44), said web of wet tissue (W) is transferred from said second forming wire (20) onto said transfer felt (38); a downstream guide roll (41 ) disposed closely adjacent to said air drying means (14) such that said web of wet tissue (W) is disposed between said transfer felt (38) and said air drying means (14) so that said web of wet tissue (W) is transferred from said transfer felt (38) to said air drying means (14). 8. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said air drying means (14) includes: a looped dryer felt (46) for supporting said web of wet tissue (W) between said former (12) and said Yankee dryer (16); a plurality of support rolls (48-69) disposed within said looped dryer felt (46) for supporting said dryer felt (46), said support rolls (48-69) being disposed such that said dryer felt (46) defines an upwardly bowed surface (70) for the transport thereon of said web of wet tissue (W); SUBSTITUTE SKEE ' hot air impingement (72) means cooperating with said bowed surface (70) such that said web of wet tissue (W) supported by said dryer felt (46) is disposed between said bowed surface (70) and said air impingement means (72) so that when said air impingement means (72) is connected to a source of high pressure heated air (74), such air is blown onto said web of wet tissue (W) and through said dryer felt (46) for drying said web of tissue (W). 9. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 8, wherein said air drying means (14) further includes: vacuum means (80) disposed adjacent to said bowed surface (70), said vacuum means (80) being disposed on an opposite side of said dryer felt (46) relative to said air impingement means (72) such that when said vacuum means (80) is connected to a source of partial vacuum (82), a flow of heated air (76-78) from said air impingement means (72) through said web of wet tissue (W) and through said dryer felt (46) is enhanced. 10. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 8, wherein said looped dryer felt (46) is fabricated from materials which are capable of withstanding high temperatures. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 1 1. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said hot air impingement means (72) is disposed above said bowed surface (70); said air drying means (14) further including: lifting means (84) connected to said air impingement means (72) for lifting said air impingement means (72) away from said bowed surface (70) in order to facilitate removal of broke therefrom in the event of a web breakage. 12. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 8, wherein said source of high pressure heated air (74) supplies pressurized air (76-78) at a temperature within the range 500° to 800° F so that the web attains a dryness within the range 45 to 90 percent dry during passage of the web through said air drying means (14). 13. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said air drying means (14) dries said web of wet tissue (W) from a solids level within the range 25 to 35 percent dry to a solids level within the range 45 to 90 percent dry during passage of said web of wet tissue (W) through said air drying means (14). SUBSTITUTE SHEET 14. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 9, wherein said source of partial vacuum (82) connected to said vacuum means (80) is at a vacuum level within the range .5 to 2 inches water column (WC). 15. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transfer means (36A) includes: a suction means (40A cooperating with said second wire (20A) for picking up said web of wet tissue (WA) from said second wire (20A), said suction means (40A) cooperating with said air drying means (14A) for transferring said web of wet tissue (WA) directly onto said air drying means (14A). 16. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 15, wherein said air drying means (14A) includes: a looped dryer felt (46A) for supporting said web of wet tissue (WA) between said former (12A0and said Yankee dryer (16A); a plurality of support rolls disposed within said looped dryer felt (46A) for supporting said dryer felt (46A), said support rolls being disposed such that said dryer felt (46A) defines an upwardly bowed surface (70A) for the transport thereon of said web of wet tissue (WA); SUBSTITUTE SHEET said plurality of support rolls including: a pick-up roll (86) disposed closely adjacent to said suction means so that said web of wet tissue is disposed between said suction means (40A) and said pick-up roll (86) so that when said pick-up roll (86) is connected to a source of partial vacuum (88), said web of wet tissue (WA) is drawn away from said suction means (40A) onto said looped dryer felt (46A) , which is disposed between said web of wet tissue (WA) and said pick-up roll (86). 17. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , further including: a transfer belt (90) for transferring said web (W) from said air drying means (14) to said Yankee dryer. 18. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said Yankee dryer (16) includes: a rotatable cylinder (92) connected internally to a source of pressurized steam (94) for completing the drying of said web of tissue; air cap means (96) cooperating with said cylinder (92), said air cap means (96) being connected to a source of pressurized SUBSTITUTE SHEET heated air (98) such that said pressurized heated air flows from said air cap means (96) towards said web of tissue (W) supported by and extending around said cylinder (92) such that said web of tissue is heated on one side thereof through direct surface contact of the web of tissue (W) supported by said cylinder (92) and on the other side thereof by said pressurized heated air (100) flowing from said air cap means (96) towards said web of tissue (W) during movement thereof around said cylinder (92). 19. A method of making high bulk tissue from stock (S), said method comprising the steps of: ejecting the stock (S) onto a forming wire of a former (12); transferring the formed web of wet tissue (W) onto a drying felt (46) supported by a plurality of rolls such that the dryer felt (46) defines an upwardly bowed surface (70), the web of wet tissue (W) being transferred immediately from the former (12) to the dryer felt (46) without the interposition therebetween of a pressing operation; blowing hot air through the web supported on the bowed surface (70) so that the web (W) attains a dryness of up to 90 percent bone dry; and SUBSTITUTE SHEET transferring the web from the dryer felt (46) to a Yankee dryer (16) for completing the drying of the web (W), such Yankee dryer (16) completing the drying of the web without the flow of air through the cylindrical wall of the Yankee dryer (16), the arrangement enabling the more efficient utilization of thermal energy than a through-air dryer. SUBSTITUTE SHEET AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 1 November 1993 (01.11.93) ; original claim 8 cancelled ; original claims 1 ,9 , 10 , 11 and 12 amended; other claims unchanged (3 pages)] 1. A tissue making apparatus (10) for making tissue (T) from stock (S), said apparatus comprising: a former (12) for forming a web of wet tissue (W) from the stock (S); air drying means (14) disposed immediately downstream relative to said former (12) for drying said web of wet tissue (W); a Yankee dryer (16) disposed downstream relative to said drying means (14) for completing the drying of the tissue (T); said air drying means (14) including: a looped dryer felt (46) for supporting said web of wet tissue (W) between said former (12) and said Yankee dryer (16); a plurality of support rolls (48-69) disposed within said looped dryer felt (46) for supporting said dryer felt (46), said support rolls (48-69) being disposed such that said dryer felt (46) defines an upwardly bowed surface (70) for the transport thereon of said web of wet tissue (W); and hot air impingement means (72) cooperating with said bowed surface (70) such that said web of wet tissue (W) supported by said dryer felt (46) is disposed between said bowed surface (70) and said air impingement means (72) so that when said air impingement means (72) is connected to a source of high pressure heated air (74), such air is blown onto said web of wet tissue (W) and through said dryer felt (46) for drying said web of tissue (W). 2. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said former (12) includes: a first and second looped forming wire (18, 20) which cooperate together to define therebetween a forming section (22) having a first and a second end (24, 26); a headbox (28) disposed closely adjacent to said first end (24) of said forming section (22) for ejecting the stock (S) into said forming section (22) through said first end (24) thereof. 3. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 2, wherein said former (12) further includes: a forming roll (30) cooperating with said second wire (20) such that said second wire (20) is disposed between said first wire (18) and said forming roil (30) during passage of said second wire (20) through said forming section (22). vacuum (44), said web of wet tissue (W) is transferred from said second forming wire (20) onto said transfer felt (38); a downstream guide roil (41 ) disposed closely adjacent to said air drying means (14) such that said web of wet tissue (W) is disposed between said transfer felt (38) and said air drying means (14) so that said web of wet tissue (W) is transferred from said transfer felt (38) to said air drying means (14). 9. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said air drying means (14) further includes: vacuum means (80) disposed adjacent to said bowed surface (70), said vacuum means (80) being disposed on an opposite side of said dryer felt (46) relative to said air impingement means (72) such that when said vacuum means (80) is connected to a source of partial vacuum (82), a flow of heated air (76-78) from said air impingement means (72) through said web of wet tissue (W) and through said dryer felt (46) is enhanced. 10. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim , wherein said looped dryer felt (46) is fabricated from materials which are capable of withstanding high temperatures. 1 1. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein: said hot air impingement means (72) is disposed above said bowed surface (70); said air drying means (14) further including: lifting means (84) connected to said air impingement means (72) for lifting said air impingement means (72) away from said bowed surface (70) in order to facilitate removal of broke therefrom in the event of a web breakage. 12. A tissue making apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said source of high pressure heated air (74) supplies pressurized air (76-78) at a STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 With reference to the International Search Report mailed 13 October 1993, claim 1 has been modified to include the limitations of claim 8. Accordingly, Applicant is of the opinion that modified claim 1 defines an inventive step over GB 2 001 370 and US 4,036,684.

Inventors: SKAUGEN BORGEIR, WORCESTER BRIAN J, SKAUGEN, BORGEIR, WORCESTER, BRIAN, J.
Applicants: BELOIT TECHNOLOGIES INC, BELOIT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: D21F11
IPC codes: D21F5, D21F9, D21F11