Press apparatus for pressing a moving web

Claim 1

A press apparatus for pressing a moving web formed on a forming wire, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a first plurality of rolls rotatably secured to said frame; a first continuous felt extending around said first plurality of rolls; said first plurality of rolls including: a pickup roll disposed adjacent to the wire, said pickup roll and wire cooperating together such that when the web passes between the wire and the pickup roll, the web is transferred from the wire onto said first felt; a first press roll disposed downstream relative to said pickup roll; a second plurality of rolls rotatably secured to said frame; a second continuous felt extending around said second plurality of rolls; said second felt cooperating with said first felt such that the web is supported by and between said first and second felts when the web moves from said pickup roll to said first press roll; said second plurality of rolls including: a second press roll cooperating with said first press roll for defining therebetween, a first nip such that when the web moves from said pickup roll and between said first and second felts toward said first nip, the web is pressed between said first and second felts during passage through said first nip; means for urging the web against said second felt when the pressed web emerges from said first nip such that the web is supported by said second felt when said first and second felts diverge relative to each other; an extended nip press means disposed downstream relative to said first nip for imparting further dewatering to the web when the web supported by said second felt passes through a second nip defined by said extended nip press means; said extended nip press means including: a third press roll; a shoe defining a concave surface such that said concave surface cooperates with said third press roll for defining therebetween said second nip; means for urging said shoe towards said third press roll; a continuous blanket extending through said second nip such that when said blanket, said second felt and the web pass through said second nip, said second felt is disposed between said blanket and the web; a third plurality of rolls rotatably secured to said frame; a third continuous felt extending around said third plurality of rolls, said third felt together with said blanket, said second felt and the web passing through said second nip such that the third felt is disposed between the web and said third press roll; said blanket having a surface which is pressed against said second felt during passage of said blanket and second felt through said second nip, said surface defining a plurality of grooves for the reception therein of water removed from the web when the web passes through said second nip; said second felt having a smoother texture than the texture of said third felt such that the web follows said second rather than said third felt when said second and third felts diverge relative to each other; and said second felt has a void volume which is greater than the void volume of said third felt.