In addition, the invention relates to a formation section according to the preamble to Claim 16.

In the formation section according to the invention, a multi-layer web is made in at least two successive wire units. The first partial web is formed in a first wire unit, which may be a single-wire or a two-wire unit. A second partial web is formed in a second wire unit, which is a two-wire unit. After the first wire unit the first partial web is guided on a bottom wire into a joint, which is located in the area of the second wire unit in between the second wire unit and the bottom wire and wherein the first partial web is joined to the second partial web. The second wire unit may be followed by a third wire unit, a fourth wire unit etc. The partial web of each wire unit is always joined atop the preceding partial webs at the joint between the concerned wire unit and the bottom wire.

When a web is made of aqueous wood-fibre stock, water is removed from the pulp on the formation section through the formation wire or formation wires in order to start the web formation. The wood pulp fibres remain randomly distrib- uted on the formation wire or in between the formation wires, which are travelling together.

Fibre pulps of different types are used depending on the quality of web to be made. The water quantity, which can be removed from different fibre pulps in order to achieve a web of good quality, is a function of many factors, such as, for example, a function of the desired basis weight of the web, the designed velocity of the machine, and the desired level of fines, fibres and fillers in the final prod- uct.

Equipment of several types are known in the web formation section, that is, in the former, such as foil lists, suction boxes, hitch rolls, suction rolls and rolls pro- vided with an open surface, which have been used in several different formations and orders in an attempt to optimise the quantity of removed water, the time and location in the formation of the web. Making a web is still an art in part and sci- ence in part in that simply removing water as quickly as possible will not produce a final product of optimum quality. In other words, making a final product of a high quality especially at high velocities is a function of the dewatering quantity, the dewatering method, the time of dewatering and the location of dewatering.

When it is desirable to maintain or improve the quality of the final product when proceeding to higher production speeds, unforeseeable problems often occur, in consequence of which either the production quantity must be reduced to maintain the desired quality or the desired quantity must be given up in order to achieve a higher production quantity.

It is known in the state of the art to use formation shoes to guide one or two for- mation wires on the formation section. It is also known to use a so-called forma- tion roll provided with an open surface, for example, a perforated one, to receive water into the formation roll from the fibre pulp lying on the formation wire.

The state-of-the-art list elements or foils of formation shoes or list shoes, which have a curved surface or which are planar, are arranged in the cross machine di- rection at right angles to the travelling direction of the formation wire. In between the list elements there are gaps defining leading edges for the list elements. A stock jet is directed against the formation wire over the leading edge of the forma- tion shoe/list in such a way that part of the water contained in the stock jet will travel through the formation wire to end up below the shoe/list. Each foil, list element or formation shoe is either open at its bottom to the pressure of the air outside or they are connected to a vacuum source in order to improve the dewater-

ing process by forcing water into the gaps in between the foils or list elements.

The list elements constitute the cap of the foil or formation shoe.

When increasing machine velocities, new phenomena will occur in the web for- mation and they will affect the machine runnability and the looks of the produced final product as well as its internal structure. An undesirable distribution of fines and fillers may occur in the surface or internal parts of the final product, whereby retention will suffer.

Two-wire formers used in board-making machines and in papermaking machines can be divided into two main types, which are the roll jaw former and the list jaw former.

The roll jaw former, wherein the pulp jet of the headbox hits a roll having a rela- tively large radius, is insensitive to minor geometric errors, to errors in the jet quality and to external effects, such as air resistance and water drops. As regards characteristics in the Z direction, such as the distribution of fillers and anisotropy of fibres, an excellent two-sidedness is achieved. This is so because the fibre mat is at first formed at the same time on both wires at a constant dewatering pressure (that is, non-pulsatingly). A good retention is also achieved thanks to the constant dewatering pressure in the initial part of the dewatering zone.

A drawback of the roll jaw former is that the rotation of the formation roll brings about an under-pressure pulse on the discharge side of the roll nip. This under- pressure pulse partly damages (crushes) the structure of the formed web as it is travelling from the formation roll's dewatering zone where a constant pressure exists to the following dewatering zone where a pulsating pressure exists, if the web is too wet at this point. Hereby the damaged web can no longer withstand powerful pulsating, whereby the dewatering must be limited in the pulsating de- watering zone. The price of the formation roll and its spare parts as well as the need for roll service and the resulting time of machine standstill also constitute a

disadvantage. In addition, it has been found to be a problem with the roll jaw for- mer that the dewatering capacity is not sufficient at high velocities and with dense pulps. In addition, the big rotating roll forms a source of vibrations in the forma- tion section. In practice, the radius of the formation roll cannot be very long, whereby the wires travelling over it are subjected to a great force directed towards the shell. For this reason, the outer wire tends to attach at its edges to the inner wire, whereby the pulp located in between the wires is subjected, especially when the headbox jet is very thick, to a flow motion directed towards the centre, in con- sequence of which the orientation of fibres becomes less advantageous. The big formation roll also takes much space and, in addition, a standby roll is also needed at all times.

In a list jaw former, the pulp jet of the headbox hits a shoe having a relatively long radius and where pulsating dewatering is pursued. Due to the pulsating dewatering right at the beginning of the formation section, the former has a good formation potential. Since all dewatering components are fixed, acquisition and service costs are lower than when using a roll as the first dewatering device.

However, the list jaw former is sensitive to many errors, such as changes occur- ring in the pulp jet, and this circumstance restricts the former's efficient operation.

The dewatering is quite asymmetric to begin with, which in the Z direction results in unequal sidedness in the web structure, especially as regards the distribution of fillers and the anisotropy of fibre orientation. Since the dewatering of pulp is done under a pulsating pressure to begin with, retention is low.

The roll jaw former and the list jaw former may also be combined to form a roll- list jaw former. A non-pulsating dewatering zone together with a pulsating dewa- tering zone are used as a combination in the roll-list jaw former. The former's first non-pulsating dewatering zone comprises a formation roll (a suction roll provided with an open surface), after which a pulsating dewatering zone is arranged, wherein a loading element-suction box combination is located. With such an ar-

rangement a good retention and a symmetric paper have been achieved, but poorer formation results than with the traditional list jaw formers. This is due to the fact that the rotational motion of the formation roll brings about an under-pressure peak in the web after the formation roll, which will damage the web already formed.

The big rotating roll of the roll-list jaw former forms a vibration source in the formation section. In practice, the radius of the formation roll cannot be very long, whereby the wires travelling over it are subjected to a strong force directed to- wards the shell. For this reason, the outer wire tends to attach at its edges to the inner wire, whereby the pulp located in between the wires is subjected, especially with very thick headbox jets, to a flow motion directed towards the centre, in con- sequence of which the fibre orientation becomes less advantageous. A big forma- tion roll also takes much space and, in addition, a standby roll is also required at all times.

US Patent 5,468, 348 presents a multi-layer web formation section. The formation section comprises a bottom wire transporting the web's base layer and a two-wire formation section forming the web's top layer. The top layer formation section comprises a first wire loop and a second wire loop, which form a curved two-wire zone. At the beginning of the two-wire zone the formation wires form a jaw, into which a headbox supplies a pulp suspension jet. Inside the first wire loop in the two-wire zone a foil box is arranged, wherein there are several dewatering foils. In addition, an under-pressure may be connected to the foil box. Inside the second wire loop in the two-wire zone only water collecting equipment is arranged, which is used to collect the water discharging from the pulp through the second wire. The tension of the second wire causes a pressure on the curved foil box in the pulp located between the wires, whereby water is removed from the pulp to the outside also through the second wire. A centrifugal force also removes water to the outside through the second wire. By this arrangement most of the water in the pulp is removed through the first wire into the foil box. Only little water dis-

charges through the web surface located against the second wire, and this dewater- ing is not boosted by under-pressure, whereby fines will remain in the concerned web surface. After the two-wire zone, the formed web is released from the second wire and attached to the first wire, whereupon the travelling direction of the first wire is reversed by a hitch-suction roll. The bottom wire forms a joint with said hitch-suction roll in such a way that the web base layer travelling on the bottom wire and the web top layer travelling on the hitch-suction roll on the first wire of the two-wire stretch are joined together at said joint. The combined web formed by the base layer and the top layer is released from the first wire and attached to the bottom wire at a transfer-suction box located after said joint.

US Patent 4,830, 709 presents a multi-layer web formation section, wherein a top layer is formed atop a base layer. The formation section comprises a bottom wire transporting the web's base layer and a two-wire formation section forming the web's top layer. The top layer formation section comprises a first wire loop and a second wire loop, which form a two-wire zone. At the beginning of the two-wire zone the formation wires form a jaw, into which a headbox supplies a pulp sus- pension jet. Inside the first wire loop in the two-wire zone a formation shoe is arranged, wherein there may be several foils in the cross machine direction or several gaps or perforations. In addition, an under-pressure may be connected to the formation shoe. Inside the first wire loop in the two-wire zone a dewatering shoe provided with foils and a pressure foil with a smooth surface are also ar- ranged. Inside the second wire loop a dewatering shoe with a curved surface is also arranged. After the two-wire zone the formed web is released from the sec- ond wire and attached to the first wire, whereupon the travelling direction of the first wire is reversed by a hitch roll. The bottom wire forms a joint with said hitch roll in such a way that the web's base layer travelling on the bottom wire and the web's top layer travelling on the hitch roll on the first wire of the two-wire stretch are joined together at said joint. The combined web formed by the base layer and the top layer is released from the first wire and attached to the bottom wire at a transfer-suction box located after said joint.

The solution according to the invention constitutes an improvement on the state- of-the-art solutions.

The main characterising features of the method according to the invention are presented in the characterising part of Claim 1.

The main characterising features of the formation section according to the inven- tion are presented in the characterising part of Claim 16.

Other characterising features of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

In the formation section according to the invention there are at least two succes- sive wire units. The first wire unit is either a single-wire or a two-wire unit, to which a stock jet is supplied by a first headbox in order to form a first partial web.

The second wire unit is a two-wire unit, to which a pulp suspension jet is supplied by a second headbox in order to form a second partial web. The first partial web formed in the first wire unit is guided on the bottom wire to a joint between the second wire unit and the bottom wire. At this joint, the second partial web is joined to the first partial web. The dewatering of the two-wire stretch of the sec- ond wire unit is both structurally and process-technically a combination of two elements in such a way that all the advantages of a list-jaw former and a roll-jaw former can be achieved without their associated drawbacks.

The first element is a fixed formation shoe having a curved cap and provided with openings extending through the cap, in which formation shoe it is possible to use under-pressure to control and boost the dewatering. The formation shoe is con- structed in such a way that dewatering may take place freely at the same time through both formation wires travelling over the curved cap of the formation shoe.

The cap of the formation shoe provides an essentially constant dewatering pres-

sure according to equation P = TIR, wherein P = pressure of the liquid in between the formation wires travelling over the formation shoe, T = tension of the outer- most web, and R = radius of curvature of the fixed formation shoe. The intention is that the formation shoe will not cause any pulsating dewatering even when the dewatering is boosted by under-pressure. The formation shoe can be thought as being the curve of a"fixed roll"provided with an open surface. The cap has a large open surface area and through openings it is connected to an under-pressure chamber located inside the formation shoe. The openings in the cap of the forma- tion shoe are formed in such a way that pulsating dewatering is avoided, which would result if the openings were formed by longitudinal gaps in the cross ma- chine direction. In order to bring about this essentially constant pressure, these openings are either holes, gaps arranged essentially in the machine direction, wave-like gaps, upstanding contact surfaces in the machine direction to carry the web above the shoe cap, etc. The cross-section of the holes may be round, square, elliptic or polygonal.

The second dewatering element is a pulsating dewatering element comprising fixed dewatering lists mounted on the other side of the formation wires in the cross machine direction and provided with gaps. In connection with the fixed lists it is possible to use under-pressure, which through the gaps in between the lists affects the pulp located in between the formation wires. In addition, in the gaps between the fixed dewatering lists it is possible to locate adjustable dewatering lists on the side opposite to the formation wires in relation to the fixed dewatering lists. These adjustable dewatering lists are used to boost further the pulsating im- pact on the web.

Dewatering first takes place in the non-pulsating dewatering zone essentially un- der a constant pressure as two-sided dewatering, owing to which the web structure is symmetric in the Z direction.

No under-pressure peak occurs on the output side of the non-pulsating dewatering zone, because the structure is fixed. In this way that tendency damaging the web is avoided, which relates to the non-pulsating dewatering zone formed by a roll.

In the non-pulsating dewatering zone water can be removed even from a very wet web without breaking the structure of the web. In consequence of this, the web may be brought very wet to the formation shoe, where water is removed from the web through the openings of the non-pulsating formation shoe under the effect of under-pressure existing in the openings. A very effective dewatering is provided in this manner. After the non-pulsating dewatering zone the web is guided into the pulsating dewatering zone with such a dry-matter content that formation of the web can be improved by pulsating dewatering. The higher dewatering capacity also allows a higher production rate.

The capital and maintenance costs of a non-pulsating fixed formation shoe are lower than those of a roll and standby roll.

According to each purpose of use, the radius of the non-pulsating fixed formation shoe and the shoe length in the machine direction can be changed within a larger range than would be practical when using a roll. The fixed formation shoe may also be formed by several curves, for example, in such a way that the radius of the formation shoe is longer at the input end, but it becomes progressively shorter as a spiral-like arch towards the output end. In such a case the dewatering pressure is no longer constant over the formation shoe, but it remains non-pulsating neverthe- less. The possibility of changing the radius in both the manners told above as well as the shoe length means that non-pulsating dewatering can always be designed to be suitable according to each application in a considerably easier way than is pos- sible to do in connection with a roll.

The combination of a non-pulsating dewatering zone and a pulsating dewatering zone allows easier control of the dewatering between the non-pulsating and the

pulsating dewatering zones, whereby the dewatering can be controlled more easily and better than in the known formers. In consequence of this, the balance between formation and retention can be better controlled and the strength properties of the web can be optimised. By adjusting the under-pressure level of the non-pulsating formation shoe it is possible to adjust the distribution of dewatering between the top and bottom surfaces of the web, which for its part affects the distribution of fines between the top and bottom surfaces. Hereby the fines content can be con- trolled in that surface of the pulp, which is combined with the partial web formed in the preceding wire unit. There must be sufficiently fines in the joining surfaces of the partial webs, so that a strong bond is formed between the partial webs.

The high dewatering capacity of the non-pulsating formation shoe at the begin- ning of the two-wire stretch makes it possible for the lip jet of the headbox to be very thick. The formation section can hereby be used within a large basis weight range. In addition, it is possible in the fixed formation shoe to use a long radius of curvature, whereby the tension of the outer wire travelling on the shoe causes less dewatering pressure on the pulp located in between the wires. This again reduces the flow tendency in the cross direction, which acts on the pulp travelling in be- tween the wires, whereby fibre orientation errors are avoided in the pulp layers located in the edge areas of the wires.

In the following the invention will be described by referring to the figures shown in the appended drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a formation section according to the invention provided with two wire units.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of another formation section according to the invention provided with two wire units.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a third formation section according to the invention provided with two wire units.

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a fourth formation section according to the invention provided with three wire units.

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a fifth formation section according to the in- vention provided with three wire units.

Figure 6 shows an enlargement of a formation shoe used in the wire units of Fig- ures 1-5.

Figure 1 shows a formation section according to the invention provided with two successive wire units 300, 310. The first wire unit 300 is a single-wire unit and the second wire unit 310 is a two-wire unit.

The first wire unit 300 is formed by a bottom wire loop 11 and by dewatering equipment 200a, 13 arranged under the bottom wire 11. A first headbox 100 sup- plies a pulp suspension jet on to the bottom wire 11 to the forward end of the bot- tom wire, immediately after a breast roll 12 in order to form a first partial web W1. The travelling direction of bottom wire 11 is indicated by an arrow S1, so this direction is also the machine direction.

After the first wire unit 300 there is a second wire unit 310. The second wire unit 310 comprises a first wire 41 made to form an endless wire loop with the aid of hitch rolls and guide rolls 42a, 42b, 42c and a second wire 51 made to form an endless wire loop with the aid of hitch rolls and guide rolls 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d.

The first wire 41 and the second wire 51 have a stretch in common, wherein they form a two-wire stretch of the second wire unit 310. The first hitch and guide roll 42a of the first wire 41 and the first hitch and guide roll 52a of the second wire 51 are located in such a way that a wedge-like jaw G2 defined by the first wire 41

and the second wire 51 is formed at the beginning of the two-wire stretch. A sec- ond headbox 310 supplies a pulp suspension jet into this jaw G2. The travelling direction of the first wire 41 is indicated by an arrow S2 and the travelling direc- tion of the second wire 51 is indicated by an arrow S3.

At the output end of the two-wire stretch of the second wire unit 310 the second wire 51 is separated from the first wire 41 at an internal first transfer-suction box 44 of the first wire link 41. The second partial web W2 formed on the two-wire stretch is released at the same time from the second wire 51 and attached to the first wire 41. Then the travelling direction of the first wire 41 and of the second partial web W2 travelling on top of it is reversed by a hitch roll 42b. The hitch roll 42b forms a joint N1 with the bottom wire 11. At this joint N1, the second partial web W2 is combined with the first partial web Wl. The surface of the first partial web W1, which is opposite to bottom wire 11, forms the joint surface of the first partial web Wl. The surface of the second partial web W2, which was against the second wire 51, forms the joint surface of the second partial web W2. After joint N1, the combined web W is released from the first wire 41 and attached to bottom wire 11 by a second transfer-suction box 14 located inside the bottom wire loop 11, whereupon the combined web W is transferred over the internal suction boxes 15,16, 17 of the bottom wire link 11. Then the direction of travel of the bottom wire 11 is reversed by the suction sector of hitch-suction roll 18, whereupon the combined web W is transferred at pick-up point P aided by the under-pressure of the suction sector of pick-up suction roll 82 to pick-up fabric 81, whereupon the web W is transferred on pick-up fabric 81 for further treatment. Before joint N1, a suction box 13 is mounted inside bottom wire loop 11 to make sure that the first partial web W1 will attach to bottom wire 11.

Two successive dewatering zones Zlb, Z2b are mounted in the two-wire stretch of the second wire unit 310. In the first dewatering zone Zlb non-pulsating dewa- tering is brought about in the pulp located between the wires 41, 51, and in the

second dewatering zone Z2b pulsating dewatering is brought about in the pulp located between the wires 41, 51.

The first dewatering zone Zlb is formed inside the first wire loop 41 by a fixed first formation shoe 200b mounted right at the beginning of the two-wire stretch and provided with a curved cap. Openings extend through the cap of the first for- mation shoe 200b, through which openings an under-pressure is conducted to the pulp suspension located in between the first wire 41 and the second wire 51 in order to remove water from the pulp suspension. By using the first formation shoe 200b, non-pulsating dewatering is brought about in the pulp. The first formation shoe 200b is further arranged in such a way that the pulp suspension jet supplied from the second headbox 110 into the second jaw G2 will not hit the leading edge of the first formation shoe 200b, but it will be guided after the leading edge into the area of the cap of the first formation shoe 200b. Thus, the leading edge of the first formation shoe 200b will not remove water from the fibre pulp.

The second dewatering zone Z2b is formed by fixed dewatering lists 210b and dewatering lists 230b, which can be loaded in a controlled manner. After the first formation shoe 200b, fixed dewatering lists 210b are mounted inside the first wire link 41 in the cross machine direction, and these lists are placed against the inner surface of the first wire 41, thus forming a curved dewatering zone. Between these fixed dewatering lists 210b there are gaps 220b, through which under-pressure Pb is conducted to the already partly formed second partial web W2 located in be- tween the first wire 41 and the second wire 51 in order to remove water from it.

Inside the second wire loop 51 again there are controllable dewatering lists 230b, which are loaded against the inner surface of the second wire 51 and which are located at the gaps 220b between the above-mentioned fixed dewatering lists 210b. By this solution pulsating dewatering is brought about in the area of the fixed dewatering lists 210b and the dewatering lists 230b, which are loaded in a controllable manner. After the fixed dewatering lists 210b, a suction box 43 and

the above-mentioned first transfer-suction box 44 are mounted inside the first wire link 41.

On the first wire unit 200 there are also two dewatering zones Zla, Z2a. The first dewatering zone Zla is formed by a fixed second formation shoe 200a arranged under the fourdrinier wire 11 at the place of impact of the pulp suspension jet supplied by the first headbox 100. The second formation shoe 200a has a structure similar to that of the first formation shoe 200b located at the beginning of the two- wire stretch of the second wire unit 310. The pulp suspension jet of the first head- box 100 hits the second formation shoe 200a preferably at an angle of 2-6 degrees immediately in the area after the leading edge of the second formation shoe 200a.

Thus, the leading edge of the second formation shoe 200a removes no water from the fibre pulp. The second formation shoe 200a brings about non-pulsating dewa- tering in the fibre pulp travelling on the fourdrinier wire 11. The second dewater- ing zone Z2a is formed by a suction box 13 arranged under the fourdrinier wire 11 just before the joint N1 of the partial webs Wl, W2. In the suction box 13 there is a list cap placed against the inner surface of the fourdrinier wire 11 and under- pressure acting through the openings in the list cap, whereby the fibre pulp travel- ling on the fourdrinier wire 11 is subjected to pulsating dewatering in the area of the suction box 13.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the formation section shown in Figure 1. The difference is found in the direction in which the pulp of the second wire unit 310 is supplied and in the output end of the two-wire stretch, where a first transfer- suction box 44a is located inside the second wire link 51. The second wire 51 is released from the first wire 41 at said transfer-suction box 44a. The second partial web W2 formed on the two-wire stretch is released at the same time from the first wire 41 and made to attach to the second wire 51. Then the travelling direction of the second wire 51 and of the second partial web W2 travelling on top of it is changed by a hitch roll 52b. Hitch roll 52b forms a joint N1 together with the bot- tom wire 11. At this joint N1, the second partial web W2 is joined to the first par-

tial web Wl. The surface, which is opposite to the first partial web Wl in relation to bottom wire 11, forms the joint surface of the first partial web Wl. The surface of the second partial web W2, which was against the first wire 41, forms the joint surface of the second partial web W2. After joint N1, the situation corresponds to the situation of Figure 1. The first wire unit 300 is similar to the first wire unit 300 shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the formation section shown in Figure 2. The difference is found in the second dewatering zone Z2b of the second wire unit 310, wherein pulsating dewatering is brought about in the pulp travelling in be- tween the wires 41,51. In this embodiment, the fixed dewatering lists 210b are inside the second wire link 51 and the dewatering links 230b, which can be loaded in a controlled manner, are inside the first wire link 41. Besides, the direction of the under-pressure Pb conducted into the gaps 220b of the fixed dewatering lists 210b is the opposite direction to the one shown in Figure 2. In others respects the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similar to the one shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a formation section formed by three wire units 300,310, 320. The first wire unit 300 is a fourdrinier wire unit and it is similar to the fourdrinier wire unit 300 shown in Figure 1. The second 310 and third 320 wire units are identical and they are entirely similar to the second wire unit 310 shown in Figure 1. A first headbox 100 supplies a pulp suspension jet to the forward end of the first wire unit 300 on to the fourdrinier wire 11. A second headbox 110 supplies a pulp sus- pension jet to the forward end of the second wire unit 310 into a jaw G2 formed in between the formation wires 41, 51, and a third headbox 120 supplies a pulp sus- pension jet to the forward end of the third wire unit 320 into a jaw G3 formed in between the formation wires 61, 71. The first partial web W1 is formed in the first wire unit 300, the second partial web W2 is formed in the second wire unit 310 and the third partial web W3 is formed in the third wire unit 320. The first partial web W1 is transferred on the bottom wire 11 to a first joint N1 in between the second wire unit 310 and the bottom wire 11, at which joint the second partial

web W2 is joined atop the first partial web Wl. Then the web formed by the first partial web Wl and by the second partial web W2 is transferred on the bottom wire 11 to a second joint N2 in between the third wire unit 320 and the bottom wire 11, at which joint the third partial web W3 is joined atop the web formed by the first Wl and the second W2 partial webs. Then the combined web W is trans- ferred to a pick-up point P in accordance with Figure 1.

In Figure 4, the final web W is formed by three partial webs W 1, W2, W3, that is, by a first partial web W1 formed in the first wire unit 300, by a second partial web W2 formed in the second wire unit 310 and by a third partial web W3 formed in the third wire unit.

The dewatering arrangements of the second and third wire units 310,320 are ex- actly alike. The dewatering arrangement is formed in each wire unit 310,320 by two successive dewatering zones Zlb, Z2b, Zlc, Z2c. The dewatering zones Zlb, Z2b, Zlc, Z2c of each wire unit 310,320 are entirely similar to the dewatering zone Zlb, Z2b of the second wire unit 310 shown in Figure 1. The first dewater- ing zone Zlb, Zlb is formed by a non-pulsating formation shoe 200b, 200c, which is followed by a second pulsating dewatering zone Z2b, Z2c formed by fixed de- watering lists 210b, 210c and dewatering lists 230b, 230c, which can be loaded in a controlled manner.

Figure 5 shows a formation section formed by three wire units 300,310, 320. The difference from the embodiment shown in Figure 4 is found in the first wire unit 300. In this embodiment, the first wire unit 300 is a two-wire unit. The first wire unit 300 is formed by a bottom wire 11 and by a top wire loop 21 mounted above it, which together form the two-wire stretch of the first wire unit 300. A first headbox 100 supplies a pulp suspension jet into a first jaw G1 formed by the bot- tom wire 11 and the top wire 21.

In the first wire unit 300 there are two dewatering zones Zla, Z2a. The first dewa- tering zone Zla is formed by a second formation shoe 200a mounted inside the bottom wire loop 11 at the beginning of the two-wire zone. In the area of the first dewatering zone Zla, non-pulsating dewatering is brought about in the pulp trav- elling in between the wires 11,21. The second dewatering zone Z2a is formed by fixed dewatering lists and dewatering lists, which can be loaded in a controlled manner, 210a, 230a in the cross machine direction. The fixed dewatering lists 210a are mounted inside the bottom wire loop 11 and in between them there are gaps 220a, from which under-pressure Pa is directed to the web located between the wires 11,21. The dewatering lists 230a, which can be loaded in a controlled manner, are mounted inside the top wire loop 21 at the gaps 220a of the fixed de- watering lists 210a. In the area of the second dewatering zone pulsating dewater- ing is brought about in the pulp travelling between the wires 11,21. After this follows a transfer-suction box 12, which is mounted inside the bottom wire loop 11 and at which the top wire 21 is separated from the bottom wire 11. The first partial web W1 formed at the transfer-suction box 12 is released from the top wire 21 and made to attach to the bottom wire 11.

Then follows the situation shown in Figure 4, where we have two successive wire units 310,320. In the second wire unit 310 a second headbox 110 supplies a pulp suspension jet into a second jaw G2 formed at the beginning of the second wire unit 310 in between the formation wires 41, 51, whereupon a second partial web W2 is formed in the second wire unit 310. The second partial web W2 formed in the second wire unit 310 is joined to the first partial web W1 at a first joint N1 between the bottom wire 11 and the second wire unit 310. In the third wire unit 320 a third headbox 120 supplies a pulp suspension jet into a third jaw G3 formed at the beginning of the third wire unit 320 in between the formation wires 61,71, whereupon a third partial web W3 is formed in the third wire unit 320. The third partial web W3 is joined to the web formed by the first partial web W1 and the second partial web W2 at a second joint N2 between the bottom wire 11 and the third wire unit 320.

In Figure 5, the final web W is formed by three partial webs W1, W2, W3, that is, by the first partial web Wl formed in the first wire unit 300, the second partial web W2 formed in the second wire unit 310 and the third partial web W3 formed in the third wire unit 320.

The dewatering arrangements of the second and third wire units 310,320 are en- tirely alike. The dewatering arrangement is formed in each wire unit 310,320 by two successive dewatering zones Zlb, Z2b, Zlc, Z2c. The dewatering zones Zlb, Z2b, Zlc, Z2c of each wire unit 310, 320 are entirely similar to the dewatering zone Zlb, Z2b of the second wire unit 310 shown in Figure 1. The first dewater- ing zone Zlb, Zlb is formed by a non-pulsating formation shoe 200b, 200c, which is followed by a second pulsating dewatering zone Z2b, Z2c formed by fixed de- watering lists 210b, 210c and dewatering lists 230b, 230c, which can be loaded in a controlled manner.

Figure 6 shows an enlargement of the fixed non-pulsating formation shoe 200a, 200b, 200c shown above in Figures 1-5. The formation shoe has a curved cap 201, which is placed against the inner surface of the formation wire 11,31 and which has a leading edge 203 and a trailing edge 204. The cap 201 has an open surface formed by openings 202 extending through the cap 201. Openings 202 may be formed by holes, grooves, gaps or equivalent. Under the cap 201 an under- pressure is arranged, which is marked by the reference mark P and illustrated by an arrow and which is used to remove water from the pulp located in between the wires 11,21, 31,21, 41,51 and 61,71. The openings 202 are arranged in such a way in the cap 201 of the formation shoe that the open surface area of said cap 201 is large, most preferably 50-90 %, and so that they do not due to their design and/or arrangement cause any pressure pulses in the web. Pressure pulses may be caused in the web, if the formation wire 11,31, 41,61 travelling on cap 201 is not evenly supported over the whole area of cap 201. Pressure pulses will not be caused, if the openings are formed by holes or by gaps essentially in the length-

wise direction of the machine. When the openings 202 are formed by holes, they are preferably arranged obliquely in relation to the cap 201 in such a way against the travelling direction of the formation wire travelling over the cap that the water is better guided into them. The angle oc between the central axis of holes 202 and a tangent to the cap's 201 outer surface is within a range of 30-75 degrees. Cap 201 is formed as a curved cap in such a way that the cap's 201 radius of curvature R is within a range of 1-20 m. The radii of curvature R of the cap 201 of formation shoes located in the two-wire stretch are within a range of 1-5 m and the radii of curvature R of the cap 201 of formation shoes located in the single-wire section are within a range of 5-20 m. The overlap angle of formation wires 11,31, 41,61 in the area of cap 201 is within a range of 3-45 degrees, preferably 5-30 degrees.

The cap length A in the machine direction is within a range of 200-1000 mm. Cap 201 may also be formed by several parts having different radii of curvature R.

It can be seen in Figure 6 that the lip jet T of the headbox hits the formation wire 21,41, which is outermost in relation to the cap 201 of formation shoe 200a, 200b, before the leading edge 203 of the cap 201 of the formation shoe, and that the formation wire 21,41 which is outer in relation to cap 201 comes into contact with the inner formation wire 11,31 travelling on cap 201 only after a distance from the leading edge 203 of cap 201. Thus, the leading edge 203 of the formation shoe does not remove water from the pulp located in between the formation wires 31,21 and 11,41. Thus, there is time for removing the air transported along by the inner formation wire 11, 31 and the pulp jet T of headbox 100,110 with the aid of under-pressure affecting through the openings 202 in the forward part of the formation shoe's cap 201 before the pulp located in between the formation wires 31,21 or 11,41 will meet the cap 201 of the formation shoe. The formation shoe removes water depending on the ratio between the tension of the outermost forma- tion wire 21,41 and the radius of curvature R of the formation shoe's cap 201 (dewatering pressure = tension of wire 21,41/radius of curvature of the cap 201 of the formation shoe 200a, 200b, that is P = TIR) and assisted by the under- pressure of the formation shoe. The level of under-pressure is preferably 1-30 kPa.

By changing the radius of curvature R of the cap 201 of the formation shoe 200a, 200b, 200c and/or by changing the under-pressure P existing in the shoe and/or the shoe length A it is possible to control the quantity and distribution of the water removed by the formation shoe from the web.

Thus, the first partial web W1 can be formed on a single-wire former or on a two- wire former. On a fourdrinier wire former, water is removed from the first partial web W1 only through the surface located against the fourdrinier wire 11 of the first partial web W1, Hereby fines in the first partial web Wl will discharge mainly from the surface of the first partial web Wl located against the fourdrinier wire 11, whereby fines will remain in the top surface opposite to the first partial web W 1. When the first partial web W1 is joined to the second partial web W2 so that the surface of the first partial web Wl which is opposite to the fourdrinier wire 11 forms a joint surface for the first partial web W1, the fines located therein will promote the bringing about of a good joint between the first partial web W1 and the second partial web W2.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1-3, the formation shoe 200b of the first dewatering zone Zlb of the second wire unit 310 is located at the beginning of the two-wire stretch inside the first wire link, but the formation shoe 200b could also be located at the beginning of the two-wire stretch inside the second wire link 51.

Hereby the dewatering lists 210b of the pulsating dewatering zone Z2b are also placed inside the second wire link 51 and the dewatering lists 230b, which can be loaded in a controlled manner, are correspondingly located inside the first wire link 41 or vice versa.

In the embodiments shown in the figures only one formation shoe is shown at the beginning of the two-wire stretch, but there could also be more formation shoes.

At the beginning of the two-wire stretch there can be, for example, two formation shoes mounted on opposite sides of the two-wire stretch. Hereby a meandering

path is formed on the wires, which may cause runnability problems. On the same side of the two-wire stretch there may also be several successive formation shoes, if, for example, different under-pressure levels are desired in the formation shoes.

The headboxes 100,110, 120 shown in the figures may be single-layer headboxes or multi-layer headboxes.

The consistency of the pulp suspension supplied by the headboxes 100,110, 120 is within a range of 0.5-1. 5 %. A lower consistency generally allows a better for- mation and better strength properties, but the dewatering capacity in the early part of the formation section usually restricts a reduction of the consistency. With the solution according to the invention it is possible to use a lower consistency in the headbox owing to the higher dewatering capacity of the formation section Approximately 20-50 % of the quantity of water contained in the pulp suspension supplied by the second headbox 110 can be removed by the first non-pulsating dewatering zone Zlb of the second wire unit 310, and approximately 40-70 % of the water quantity contained in the pulp suspension supplied by the second head- box 110 can be removed by the second pulsating dewatering zone Z2b. At the joint N1 of the partial webs, the dry-matter content is usually about 5-8 %.

In the embodiments shown in the figures the second dewatering zone Z2b of the second wire unit 310 is formed by fixed dewatering lists 210b and by dewatering lists 230b, which can be loaded in a controlled manner. The second dewatering zone Z2b may also be formed only by fixed dewatering lists 210b. The fixed de- watering lists 210b may form a direct passage for the wires travelling over them.

With the under-pressure existing in the gaps 220b between the fixed dewatering lists 210b the passage of wires is somewhat deviated in said gaps 220b, whereby pulsating dewatering is brought about in the web located between the formation wires. The fixed dewatering lists 210b may also be located in such a way that they form a curved passage for the wires travelling over them. Hereby the dewatering

lists 210b are at a small angle of about 0.5-2 degrees in relation to one another. By such an arrangement a boosted pulsating dewatering is brought about in the web located between the formation wires travelling over the dewatering lists. In both cases, the pulsating effect is boosted even more by using both fixed dewatering lists 210b and dewatering lists 230b, which can be loaded in a controlled manner.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1-3 there are two wire units 300,310, but the second wire unit 310 could when required be followed by several wire units of a corresponding kind. On each wire unit 310 following after the first wire unit 300 a new partial web is always formed, which is joined atop the web formed of the preceding partial webs.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5 there are three wire units 300,310, 320, but there could be more such when required. On each wire unit 310,320 fol- lowing after the first wire unit 300 a new partial web is always formed, which is joined atop the web formed of the preceding partial webs.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1-4, it is possible in the first wire unit 300, that is, the fourdrinier wire unit, also to use other dewatering equipment, espe- cially pulsating dewatering equipment after the non-pulsating formation shoe 200a.

Only some advantageous embodiments of the invention have been presented in the foregoing, and it is obvious to a professional in the art that numerous modifi- cations can be made to them within the scope of the appended claims.