The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 28, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1995
Bruce F Taylor, Worthington, OH (US);
Qualitek Limited, Columbus, OH (US);
Abstract
The apparatus and method of the present invention generates and controls an air-atomized spray, for application of moisture to a moving sheet, such as paper or converted paper products (e.g. corrugated board). The air-atomized water spray is generated by mixing a metered quantity of water with a constant air volume. In a representative embodiment the water flow is metered by adjusting the axial position of a shut-off needle relative to a circular control orifice. The needle is positioned by pushing and pulling upon it with a thermally-expanded metallic element. The thermally expanded element is heated directly or indirectly, at a controlled rate, to produce the desired needle movement and resultant water flow. A series of such controllable nozzles can be mounted across the width of a sheet to permit localized, metered moisture application to each cross-machine control zone. Accurate, zonal control of the water application rate permits the localized moisture content of the sheet to be increased or decreased to meet quality control objectives.