Method of drying fibrous structures
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsMichael Gomer Stelljes, Jr., Osman Polat, Donald Eugene Ensign, Paul Dennis Trokhan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for drying fibrous webs utilizing a limiting orifice medium with a plurality of pores. The web is disposed on a supporting fluid permeable carrier. The web is pressed between the supporting carrier and the limiting orifice medium. A vacuum greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the medium is drawn through the pores and the web.
Claims28
A method of reducing the moisture content of a fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting the fibrous web on a fluid permeable carrier;
- b) providing at least one limiting orifice medium comprising a plurality of pores having a breakthrough pressure;
- c) pressing the fibrous web between the fluid permeable carrier and the limiting orifice medium a pressure in the range of about 1 to about 600 pli;
- and
- d) applying a vacuum to the pores of the limiting orifice medium, wherein the vacuum is greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the limiting orifice medium such that air moves through the fibrous web and into the pores of the limiting orifice medium.
A method of removing a portion of the liquid contained in a wet fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting the web on a forming fabric;
- b) dewatering the web to a consistency from about 6% to about 32%:
- c) transferring the web from the forming fabric to a fluid-permeable patterned carrier;
- d) providing a limiting orifice medium comprising a plurality of pores having a breakthrough pressure;
- e) pressing the web between the fluid-permeable patterned carrier and the limiting orifice medium at a pressure in the range of about 1 to about 600 pli;
- and
- f) applying a vacuum to the pores of the limiting orifice medium, wherein the vacuum is greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the limiting orifice medium such that air moves through the fibrous web and into die cores of the limiting orifice medium.
A method of reducing the moisture content of a fibrous web in a web-making process, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting the web on a fluid permeable carrier;
- b) providing a limiting orifice medium wherein the limiting orifice medium comprises a woven material further comprising a plurality of pores having a breakthrough pressure;
- c) pressing the fibrous web between the fluid permeable cater and the limiting orifice medium at a pressure in the range of about 1 to about 600 pli;
- and
- d) applying a vacuum to the pores of the limiting orifice medium, wherein the vacuum is greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the limiting orifice medium such that air moves through the fibrous web and into the pores of the limiting orifice medium.
A method of reducing the moisture content of a fibrous web in a web-making process, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting the web on a fluid permeable carrier;
- b) providing a limiting orifice medium wherein the limiting orifice medium comprises an endless belt further comprising a plurality of pores having a breakthrough pressure;
- c) pressing the web between the fluid permeable carrier and the limiting orifice medium at a pressure in the range of about 1 to about 600 pli;
- and
- d) applying a vacuum to the pares of the limiting orifice medium, wherein the vacuum is greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the limiting orifice medium such that air moves through the fibrous web and into the pores of the limiting orifice medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.