James River-norwalk, Inc.

James River-dixie/northern, Inc.

Douglas L Lindgren

Robert J Marinack

James O Cheshire

Bruce W Janda

Robert S Thut

John T Larkey

Ray E Jostad

Johannes A Van Den Akker

Apparatus and method for laying down a fibrous web from a foam-fiber furnish. A headbox includes walls defining an elongate channel extending transversely of the direction of movement of the forming wire. Foam-forming nozzles are positioned to introduce foam-fiber furnish into the channel for turbulence - inducing impact on an oppositely disposed wall defining the channel. The turbulently flowing foam-fiber furnish is then introduced to the headbox slice for discharge onto the forming wire with minimized MD orientation of the fibers.

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of fibrous webs

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of a non-woven fibrous web such as paper from a dispersion of fibers in a foamed liquid in which fiber furnished in a foamed liquid comprising a solution of surfactant in water is discharged from a headbox into the nip of a twin forming wire prior to its passage over a forming roll. The water-surfactant solution is drained from the web and recycled as a foamed liquid containing about 65% air in the form of bubbles of from about 20 to about 200 microns in diameter. The foamed liquid is directed into a mix tank wherein a slurry containing fiber at 20% to 55% solids is added and mixed. The mixture is pumped to the headbox and into the nip of the forming wires.

Method for manufacture of a non-woven fibrous web

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of a non-woven fibrous web such as paper from a dispersion of fibers in a foamed liquid. In a preferred embodiment, a solution of surfactant in water is initially discharged from a headbox into the nip of a twin forming wire prior to its passage over a curvilinear path defined by a forming roll. The water-surfactant solution is caused repeatedly to pass through the outer one of the twin forming wires until there is created, and stored in a silo, a foamed liquid containing about 65% air in the form of bubbles of from about 20 to about 200 microns in diameter. The foamed liquid is directed from the silo into a mix tank wherein a slurry containing fibers at 20% to 55% solids is added and mixed. The mixture is pumped to the headbox and into the nip of the forming wires. The outer wire retains the fibers while passing and again foaming the liquid for return to the silo and the mix tank for addition of fibers and return to the headbox. The process is continued in formation of a fibrous web. In an alternative embodiment, the curvilinear path is defined by an arcuate surface that is fluid pervious so that the solution to be foamed may pass through both the inner and outer wires. A further alternative embodiment utilizes a single forming wire for receiving the solution prior to passage over a suction breast roll which receives the solution then centrifuges it outwardly in formation of foamed liquid.

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of a non-woven fibrous web

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of a non-woven fibrous web, such as paper, from a dispersion of fibers in a foamed liquid. In a preferred embodiment, a solution of surfactant in water is initially discharged from a headbox into the nip of a twin forming wire prior to its passage over a curvilinear path defined by a forming roll. The water-surfactant solution is caused repeatedly to pass through the outer one of the twin forming wires until there is created, and stored in a silo, a foamed liquid containing about 65% air in the form of bubbles of from about 20 to about 200 microns in diameter. The foamed liquid is directed from the silo into a mix tank wherein a slurry containing fibers at 20% to 55% solids is added and mixed. The mixture is pumped to the headbox and into the nip of the forming wires. The outer wire retains the fibers while passing and again foaming the liquid for return to the silo and the mix tank for addition of fibers and return to the headbox. The process is continued in formation of a fibrous web. In an alternative embodiment, the curvilinear path is defined by an arcuate surface that is fluid pervious so that the solution to be foamed may pass through both the inner and outer wires. A further alternative embodiment utilizes a single forming wire for receiving the solution prior to passage over a suction breast roll which receives the solution then centrifuges it outwardly in formation of foamed liquid.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Douglas L Lindgren