A method of forming a fibrous web including the steps of providing a fiber slurry, depositing the fiber slurry between an inner forming wire and an outer forming wire, wherein the outer forming wire comprises a structured fabric and the inner forming wire contacts a segment of a forming roll, and rotating the forming roll so that the fiber slurry moves into contact with the structured fabric.

A drying hood for drying a fibrous web, such as a tissue paper web, includes a plurality of nozzle boxes for supplying or discharging air and a housing that at least partially surrounds the nozzle boxes. The nozzle boxes are each individually mounted on the housing by a first bearing and a second bearing. The two bearings allow at least one movement of the nozzle box relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle box and/or at least one movement in a direction transverse thereto, along a transverse axis of the nozzle box. The two bearings have translational degrees of freedom differing by one. A drying arrangement having a drying cylinder and the drying hood is also provided.

A method of forming a fibrous web including the steps of providing a fiber slurry, depositing the fiber slurry between an inner forming wire and an outer forming wire, wherein the outer forming wire comprises a structured fabric and the inner forming wire contacts a segment of a forming roll, and rotating the forming roll so that the fiber slurry moves into contact with the structured fabric.

Systems and methods for drying or bonding materials are described. A material to be dried or bonded may be passed through a through air dryer (TAD) or through air bonder (TAB). Some of the air output by the TAD/TAB may be recirculated to be passed back through material. As the air is recirculated, it is heated and mixed to a desired uniform temperature distribution. As heated air of the desired uniform temperature distribution is passed through ducting for transport to the material, the desired uniform temperature distribution deteriorates due to heat loss experienced at the walls of the ducting. Heating tape is implemented with respect to particular locations of ducting and selectively operated to maintain air traveling through the ducting at the desired uniform temperature distribution. Heat generated by the heating tape is used to counteract heat loss experienced by air traveling through the ducting.

A method of forming a fibrous web including the steps of providing a fiber slurry, depositing the fiber slurry between an inner forming wire and an outer forming wire, wherein the outer forming wire comprises a structured fabric and the inner forming wire contacts a segment of a forming roll, and rotating the forming roll so that the fiber slurry moves into contact with the structured fabric.

The present invention relates to papermaking belts useful in the manufacture of paper products, such as tissue paper. Particularly this invention relates to a papermaking belt used in a through-air drying process for making tissue products, and more particularly to a belt having a particular pattern thereon which imparts properties to tissue products manufactured therewith. In some embodiments, the belt can be seamless. The belt can include a first web contacting area defining a first plane and a second web contacting area defining a second plane. The second plane can be above the first plane. The first web contacting area and the second web contacting area comprise a plurality of channels that extend from the web contacting side to the machine contacting side of the seamless papermaking belt.

A through-air apparatus for drying or bonding paper, tissue, or nonwoven webs is provided. The apparatus includes a web-carrying structure configured to move and a first component having at least one sealing element adjacent the web-carrying structure, where the sealing element is configured to reduce the infiltration of ambient air into the through-air apparatus. The apparatus also includes at least one channel configured to direct air to the sealing element to reduce the infiltration of ambient air into the through-air apparatus. A method of operating a through-air apparatus for drying or bonding paper, tissue, or nonwoven webs is also provided. The method includes directing air to a sealing element to reduce the infiltration of ambient air into the through-air apparatus.

The present invention relates to papermaking belts useful in the manufacture of paper products, such as tissue paper. Particularly this invention relates to a papermaking belt used in a through-air drying process for making tissue products, and more particularly to a belt having a particular pattern thereon which imparts properties to tissue products manufactured therewith. In some embodiments, the belt can be seamless. The belt can include a first web contacting area defining a first plane and a second web contacting area defining a second plane. The second plane can be above the first plane. The first web contacting area and the second web contacting area comprise a plurality of channels that extend from the web contacting side to the machine contacting side of the seamless papermaking belt.

Unlike conventional through-air drying processes the instant invention utilizes at least two through-air driers where the first dyer is at least partially encircled by a first through-air drying fabric and the second dyer is at least partially encircled by a second through-air drying fabric. By providing each through-air dryer with its own fabric the overall drying performance may be increased. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the first and second fabrics may be different to optimize both the drying performance and/or tissue product properties.

Described herein are devices and methods for the drying of permeable and semi-permeable webs such as paper products in a physical environment with limited space while providing for higher flow rates. The devices and methods of the present invention are for use with rotating, foraminous shelled roll dryers and are implemented by redesigning the aspects of the devices and methods associated with exhausting spent drying gas.