Papermaking apparatus and process for removing water from a cellulosic web
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsDean Van Phan, Paul Dennis Trokhan, Peter Graves Ayers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for removing water from a cellulosic web. The papermaking apparatus comprises imprinting member having an absolute void volume that enables a hydraulic connection to be formed between a cellulosic web and a capillary dewatering member when compressed in a nip. The absolute void volume is predetermined based on an estimate of the volume of water expressed from the cellulosic web.
Claims16
An apparatus for dewatering a cellulosic web comprising a capillary dewatering member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an imprinting member comprising a reinforcing structure having a bottom surface juxtaposed with the top surface of the capillary dewatering member and a top surface having a resinous knuckle pattern disposed thereon, the imprinting member having a relative void volume ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.28.
A process of removing water from a cellulosic web, the process comprising the steps of:
- providing a first roll and a second roll juxtaposed together to form a nip therebetween;
- providing a cellulosic web containing a volume of water;
- providing an imprinting member having a topside for imprinting the web and a backside opposed thereto, the imprinting member having an absolute void volume;
- placing the cellulosic web on the topside of the imprinting member;
- providing a capillary dewatering member having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- juxtaposing the top surface of the capillary dewatering member with the backside of the imprinting member;
- interposing the cellulosic web, the imprinting member, and the capillary dewatering member in the nip, the cellulosic web being in contacting relationship with the first roll and the bottom surface of the capillary dewatering member being in contacting relationship with the second roll, whereby the volume of water is expelled from the cellulosic web and through the imprinting member forming a hydraulic connection between the cellulosic web and the capillary dewatering member such that the ratio of the volume of water expelled from the web to the absolute void volume of the imprinting member is at least about 0.5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.