Process to produce dried singulated cellulose pulp fibers

• US 6,910,285 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company (Weyerhauser)
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Vrbanac, Michael David, Wester, Brian, Dezutter, Ramon Charles, Yancey, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/738,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 343/29, 343/31, 343/33, 343/37, 343/56, 343/57, 343/97, 34/60, 34/83, 34/84, 342/21, 342/18, 34/90, 343/12, 343/13, 343/14, 343/16, 343/25, 345/76, 344/77, 343/26, 343/38, 343/59, 343/75, 343/79, 343/76, 343/77, 343/78, 345/41, 345/94, 34/58, 34/59
• US Class Current: 34/576
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/241 Paper, e.g. waste paper; Paper pulp
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/02 Treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2303/02 Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/001 Modification of pulp properties purification D21C9/08
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/002 by chemical means; preparation of dewatered pulp, e.g. in sheet or bulk form, containing special additives
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/007 by mechanical or physical means
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/18 De-watering de-watering in general F26B; Elimination of cooking or pulp-treating liquors from the pulpD21C9/002, D21C9/02 take precedence; paper-making machines D21F; strainers in digesters D21C7/00; presses in general B30B
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/185 comprising at least one step where the pulp is suspended in a gaseous medium, e.g. flash drying
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 11/20 Chemically or biochemically modified fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 15/04 crimped, kinked, curled or twisted fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 17/38 containing crosslinkable groups
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 17/63 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/08 Filter paper self-supporting filtering material B01D39/14; making on paper-making machines D21F11/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete

Abstract

This invention provides a dried singulated cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated and dried fibers. In accordance with the process a feed pulp is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Claims

1. A process for producing singulated pulp fibers comprising:

introducing a wet pulp and air into a jet drier that circulates the pulp in a closed loop;

drying said pulp in said jet drier to form singulated pulp fibers;

removing said pulp from said jet drier and separating said pulp fibers from said air; and

treating said wet pulp with a treatment substance before drying said wet pulp to reduce the knot content of said pulp fibers, said treatment substance being selected from the group consisting of a surfactant and a mineral particulate, said treatment substance and said wet pulp being mechanically mixed to form a foam suspension of said pulp prior to introducing said pulp into said drier.