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:
Nov. 14, 2000
Filed:
May. 06, 1999
Frank Stephen Hada, Appleton, WI (US);
Keith Douglas Glass, Appleton, WI (US);
Ronald Frederick Gropp, St. Catharines, CA;
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A suction breast roll former has a support surface with a plurality of apertures formed therein that are operatively connected to a vacuum source. A headbox has a flexible roof extending downstream from a slice opening and disposed adjacent to a support surface of the suction breast roll. The headbox permits the flexible roof to bend over a range of movement relative to the support surface to match the shape of a drainage curve suiting current operating conditions. A method of forming a paper web includes the steps of supplying an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers to a forming zone created between the suction breast roll and the headbox. The headbox includes a slice body and an apron that define a slice opening therebetween and also has a flexible roof extending from the slice opening and spaced from the support surface to define a forming zone therebetween. A forming fabric is passed through the forming zone to receive the aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers. The flexible roof is permitted to bend over a range of movement relative to the support surface to match the shape of a drainage curve. A restraining member is spaced from the flexible roof and positioned to limit the range of movement of the flexible roof.