Process for cleaning a transport belt for manufacturing a paper web

{
  "publication_number": "US10744545B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Process for cleaning a transport belt for manufacturing a paper web",
  "abstract": "The disclosure relates to a continuous cleaning method for cleaning a moving fabric in a paper machine. The method uses one or more cleaning stages. In one embodiment, one cleaning stage applies steam to heat and soften contaminants on the fabric followed by the application of water, preferably superheated water, to remove the contaminants. Another cleaning stage may apply hot water, steam and/or superheated water via an encapsulated shower and evacuation chamber making it possible to clean the width of the fabric without substantial rewet.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A papermaking apparatus comprising: a first cleaning assembly; a second cleaning assembly; a fabric to be cleaned travelling in a machine direction through the papermaking machine; wherein the first cleaning assembly is configured to apply a cleaning medium comprising steam and the second cleaning assembly is configured to apply a cleaning medium comprising superheated water at a temperature of greater than 100° C.; wherein the second cleaning assembly is located downstream in the machine direction from the first cleaning assembly; and wherein the first cleaning assembly and the second cleaning assembly allow application of the cleaning media to the entire width of the fabric to be cleaned.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies comprises an encapsulated shower.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one encapsulated shower comprises a shower that allows for application and withdrawal of cleaning media to the fabric to be cleaned without significant deposition on the papermaking machine.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies comprises a traversing shower.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one traversing shower is configured to reticulate back and forth across the width of the papermaking fabric.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies comprises one or more nozzles.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies is mounted by a pivoting bracket and driven by a rotation mechanism thereby allowing the shower to be rotated away from the papermaking fabric.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one debris collection source configured to remove the cleaning medium from the papermaking fabric.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one debris collection source comprises at least one of a vacuum box, an air knife, or an air shower.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one debris collection source comprises an air knife, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a collection chute located adjacent to and associated with the air knife.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one debris collection source is proximal to at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one debris collection source comprises at least two debris collection sources, and wherein the at least two debris collection sources are positioned on opposite sides of the papermaking fabric.",
    "13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one debris collection source runs the width of the papermaking fabric.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising two debris collection sources, one associated with each of the first and second cleaning assemblies.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one mist eliminator configured to eliminate mist generated by the application of the cleaning medium to the papermaking fabric by at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies.",
    "16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one mist eliminator includes a cover portion that runs the length of the papermaking fabric.",
    "17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one mist eliminator is located between 0.25 cm and 2.54 cm away from the papermaking fabric.",
    "18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one mist eliminator is mounted on pivoting brackets, allowing it to be rotated away from the papermaking fabric.",
    "19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning assemblies comprises both a first encapsulated shower and a second encapsulated shower; wherein the first encapsulated shower and the second encapsulated shower are configured to be adjacent to opposite sides of the papermaking fabric and configured to apply the cleaning medium to the papermaking fabric; and wherein at least one of the first and second encapsulated showers is mounted by a pivoting bracket and driven by a rotation mechanism thereby allowing the shower to be rotated away from the papermaking fabric."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This is a divisional of U.S. Application No. 13/799,721, filed Mar. 13, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/622,622, filed Apr. 11, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.\n\nThis disclosure relates to cleaning equipment and methods for cleaning a moving fabric used in the manufacture of paper webs. This disclosure further relates to cleaning equipment and methods for continuous cleaning of a moving fabric in a paper machine. Still further, this disclosure relates to cleaning equipment and a method for continuous cleaning of a moving fabric in a paper machine which minimizes rewet.\n\nMore particularly, this disclosure relates to a cleaning system including both an initial cleaning shower and a second cleaning shower. The disclosed dual cleaning arrangement results in a continuous cleaning system that does not suffer from areas of residue contamination that can result in poor fabric performance. The disclosure relates to an improved initial cleaning shower that provides enhanced contaminant removal and exceptional residual water uptake. Further, the disclosure relates to an improved second cleaning shower that also provides enhanced contaminant removal and further prevents residual water uptake by the fabric.\n\nStill more particularly, this disclosure relates to the application of steam to a moving fabric in a paper making machine to thereby heat and soften contaminants in the fabric making them easier to remove by subsequent water showers.",
  "cpc": [
    "B08B 11/00",
    "B08B 2230/01",
    "B08B 3/022",
    "B65G 45/22",
    "D21F 1/32",
    "D21F 1/325"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B08B 11/00",
    "B08B 3/02",
    "B65G 45/22",
    "D21F 1/32"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GPCP IP Holdings LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mark S. Hunter",
    "Dean J. Baumgartner",
    "David Drew Raines",
    "Theodore D. Kennedy",
    "David S. Veldhuizen",
    "Glenn W. Busch",
    "Mitchell S. Edbauer"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-09-26",
  "publication_date": "2020-08-18",
  "grant_date": "2020-08-18",
  "priority_date": "2012-04-11",
  "application_number": "US-201816142243-A",
  "family_id": "49323971",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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