Through-air drying apparatus having decreasing wet flow resistance in the machine direction and process of drying a web therewith

(19)

(11)

EP 1 785 523 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	30.05.2007 Bulletin 2007/22

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	16.05.2007 Bulletin 2007/20

(21)	Application number: 07102122.4

(22)	Date of filing: 14.08.2002

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

D21F 5/18^(2006.01)

F26B 13/16^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR

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Priority:

14.08.2001 US 929589
14.08.2001 US 929607

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	02750484.4 / 1425467

(71)	Applicant: The Procter and Gamble Company
	Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Trokhan, Paul Dennis Hamilton, OH 45249 (US) Ensign, Donald Eugene Cincinnati, OH 45242 (US) Stelljes, Michael Gomer Jr. West Chester, OH 45069 (US) Polat, Osman Montgomery, OH 45249 (US)

(74)	Representative: Corticchiato, Olivier
	Procter & Gamble Service GmbH Sulzbacher Strasse 40-50 65824 Schwalbach am Taunus 65824 Schwalbach am Taunus (DE)

(54)	Through-air drying apparatus having decreasing wet flow resistance in the machine direction and process of drying a web therewith

(57) A micropore drying apparatus (10) having a variable wet flow resistance. The flow resistance preferably decreases in the machine direction. The micropore drying apparatus (10) may comprise a single integral unit having a decreasing wet flow resistance from the beginning to the end of the unit. Alternatively, the micropore drying apparatus (10) may comprise a plurality of discrete units, each unit having a successively lesser flow resistance than that of the preceding unit. Alternatively, a hybrid arrangement may be used wherein each discrete unit has a successively decreasing flow resistance within that unit. The micropore drying apparatus may comprise one or more micropore drying media (15). The micropore drying media (15) have pores (40) which allow air flow therethrough. The pores (40) are disposed in a grid, to form a field of pores. The decreasing flow resistance may preferably be provided by adjusting one or more of said pores (40), which affect the flow resistance through a single pore or through the entire field of the pores.

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