Blade segment for refiner

A blade segment assembly for a refiner for refining fibrous material, the blade segment assembly comprising:

• a first blade segment;
• a second blade segment, wherein the first blade segment is for mounting alongside the second blade segment within the refiner to define therebetween a first opening, wherein each of the first blade segment and the second blade segment comprise:
• a body with a front surface and a background surface;
• a first end edge and a second end edge;
• a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge extending between the first end edge and the second end edge;
• a refining surface comprising blade bars and blade grooves on the front surface of the blade segment;
• a projection at the first side edge extending downwardly from the body in a direction away from the refining surface;
• wherein a first body thickness is defined at the first side edge between a floor of a groove closest to the first side edge and a rearmost extent of the projection and a second body thickness is defined at the second side edge between a floor of a groove closest to the second side edge and a rearmost extent of the background surface at the second side edge;
• wherein the first opening is located between the first side edge of the first segment and the second side edge of the second segment, the first opening extending through a whole thickness of the first blade segment body from the front surface to the background surface;
• and
• wherein the first body thickness of the first blade segment body at the first opening at the first blade segment first side edge is greater than the second body thickness of the blade body of the second blade segment such that the projection of the first blade segment defines a guide surface that intensifies the feed of the material to be refined through the first opening to the refining surface of the first blade segment.

A refiner for refining fibrous material, the refiner comprising:

• a fixed stator;
• a rotator mounted for rotation with respect to the stator;
• a first blade segment mounted to the rotor;
• a second blade segment mounted to the rotor alongside the first blade segment to define therebetween a first opening, wherein each of the first blade segment and the second blade segment comprise:
• a body with a front surface and a background surface;
• a first end edge and a second end edge;
• a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to the first side edge, the first side edge and the second side edge extending between the first end edge and the second end edge;
• a refining surface comprising blade bars and blade grooves on the front surface of the blade segment;
• a projection at the first side edge extending downwardly from the body in a direction away from the refining surface;
• wherein a first body thickness is defined at the first side edge between a floor of a groove closest to the first side edge and a rearmost extent of the projection and a second body thickness is defined at the second side edge between a floor of a groove closest to the second side edge and a rearmost extent of the background surface at the second side edge;
• wherein the first opening is located between the first side edge of the first segment and the second side edge of the second segment, the first opening extending through a whole thickness of the first blade segment body from the front surface to the background surface;
• and
• wherein the first body thickness of the first blade segment body at the first opening at the first blade segment first side edge is greater than the second body thickness of the blade body of the second blade segment such that the projection of the first blade segment defines a guide surface that intensifies the feed of the material to be refined through the first opening to the refining surface of the first blade segment.