Blow box for a dryer

A blow box disposed within a pocket defined by a web and felt travelling together from a first dryer to and around a second dryer and on to and around a third dryer, said blow box comprising in combination:

• a wedge-shaped box extending from between the first and third dryers to adjacent the second dryer, said box being connected to a source of pressurized air for maintaining the web in close conformity with the felt when the web and felt diverge relative to the first dryer;
• said box defining an orifice disposed adjacent to the first dryer for directing pressurized air towards the first dryer and therafter directing the air in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first dryer such that the web is urged against the felt for inhibiting the tendency of the web to adhere to the first dryer when the felt diverges relative to the first dryer;
• said box further including;
• a base wall extending radially relative to the second dryer to midway between the first and third dryers, said base wall extending in a cross machine direction;
• a curved wall extending said base wall towards where the web and felt converge relative to the second dryer, said curved wall conforming to the periphery of the second dryer, said curved wall extending in a cross machine direction;
• a diverging wall disposed opposite to said base wall, said diverging wall extending from said curved wall towards the first dryer, said diverging wall extending in a cross machine direction;
• a connecting wall disposed opposite to said curved wall, said connecting wall extending between said diverging wall and said base wall for connecting said base and diverging wall together;
• and
• a first and second end wall separated relative to each other in a cross machine direction and respectively secured to said base, curved, diverging and connecting walls for defining therebetween said wedge-shaped box.

A blow box disposed within a pocket defined by a web and a felt traveling together from a first dryer to, and around, a second dryer and onto and around a third dryer, said blow box comprising:

• a wedge shaped box extending from between the first and third dryers to adjacent the second dryer, said box being connected to a source of pressurized air for maintaining the web in close conformity with the felt when the web and felt diverge relative to the first dryer;
• said box defining an orifice disposed adjacent to the first dryer for directing pressurized air tangentially and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first dryer such that the web is urged against the felt for inhibiting the tendency of the web to adhere to the first dryer when the felt diverges relative to the first dryer;
• and
• said box further including:
• a diverging wall extending from the first dryer to the second dryer, said diverging wall being diposed adjacent to that portion of the felt between the first and second dryer, said diverging wall diverging relative to said portion of the felt in a direction from the first towards the second dryer for inducing a partial vacuum between said portion of the felt and said diverging wall when the web and felt are moving relative to the box for urging the web into close conformity with the felt.