System for making dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fibers

• US 7,290,353 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Yancey, Michael J., Wester, Brian, Vrbanac, Michael David, Dezutter, Ramon Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US10/860,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/24, 342/26, 342/18, 34/83, 343/26, 343/59, 343/56, 343/37, 344/13, 342/13, 342/19, 344/43, 162/9, 162/55, 162/63, 162/100, 162/146
• US Class Current: 34/221
• 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 23/04 Addition to the pulp; After-treatment of added substances in the pulp
• 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 crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker 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 further 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 drying system for the processing of pulp into singulated and dried fibers comprising:

a jet drier with a jet conduit, said jet conduit configured to freely circulate said pulp in a loop without additional mechanical intervention, a pulp intake for delivery of pulp into the jet conduit, a manifold for air intake into the jet conduit, said manifold including nozzles for inducing flow in said jet conduit and causing feed air to impinge on pulp circulating in said jet conduit, and a fiber outlet for removal of singulated and dried fibers, outlet air and fines from the jet conduit;

a pulp supply station coupled to the pulp intake for supplying a feed pulp to the pulp intake, the pulp supply station including a treatment supply source for delivering a crosslinker to the pulp;

an air supply station coupled to the manifold for delivering air to the manifold;

an outlet flow conduit coupled to the fiber outlet for the removal of the fibers, outlet air, and fines from the jet conduit; and

a fiber separation station coupled to the outlet flow conduit for separating the fibers from the outlet air.

2. The drying system of claim 1, wherein the pulp supply station further includes a first dewatering device and a second dewatering device in flow communication with the first dewatering device;

the first dewatering device receiving a pulp supply having a liquid content, removing a portion of the liquid content, and sending a dewatered supply pulp to the second dewatering device;

the treatment supply source delivering the crosslinker to the dewatered supply pulp prior to entry into the second dewatering device; and

the second dewatering device removing additional liquid content from the treated and dewatered supply pulp and sending a treated feed pulp to the jet drier pulp intake.

3. The drying system of claim 1, wherein the pulp supply station further includes a pulp feed device coupled to the pulp intake for delivering the feed pulp to the pulp intake while minimizing the amount of air flow through the pulp supply station, the pulp feed device being a rotary airlock including a rotor housing and a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing, the rotor having rotor vanes for transporting the feed pulp, wherein the rotor vanes and rotor housing are sized so that a gap exists between the rotor vanes and the rotor housing to prevent the feed pulp from jamming the rotary airlock.