Multi-cylinder dryer for a paper machine with supported draw of web

Claim 1

A multi-cylinder dryer for a paper or paperboard making machine through which a web passes, said multi-cylinder dryer comprising: a plurality of drying groups, each of said drying groups comprising: at least two drying cylinders which are situated over each other such that a line between their respective centers is no more than slightly inclined relative to the vertical plane but which cylinders are not in direct contact with each other; at least one suction roll; a drying wire forming a loop and so positioned that said drying cylinders are outside the loop of said drying wire; said drying wire carrying said web from one drying cylinder to an adjacent drying cylinder by passing said web over said suction roll and causing said web to be pressed against a large angular portion of a heated surface of said one drying cylinder; and said multi-cylinder dryer comprising a first transfer-suction roll and a second transfer-suction roll over which said web is passed from a first drying group to a second adjacent drying group and wherein said first transfer-suction roll is situated within the loop of a drying wire of said first drying group and said second transfer-suction roll is situated in proximity to said first transfer-suction roll and within the loop of another drying wire of said second drying group and said web is thus passed between said first and said second drying groups so as to be essentially continuously supported by a drying wire; said second transfer-suction roll being situated in proximity to a first drying cylinder contacted by said web in said second drying group; and said multi-cylinder dryer comprising means for causing a pressure differential impelling said web against a drying wire substantially throughout the passing of said web between said first drying group and said second drying group; and said multi-cylinder dryer comprising at least two additional drying groups and said multi-cylinder dryer comprising a first transfer-suction roll located in proximity to a last drying cylinder of a first adjacent one of said at least two additional groups through which said web passes before reaching said first transfer-suction roll and said multi-cylinder dryer comprising a second transfer-suction roll located in proximity to a first drying cylinder of a second adjacent one of said at least two additional drying groups through which said web passes after reaching said second transfer-suction roll, and wherein a drying wire of said first adjacent drying group contacts said first transfer-suction roll, and wherein a suction zone of said second transfer-suction roll facilitates transfer of said web from said first adjacent drying group to said second adjacent drying group.