It is known that in paper production employment of great amounts of water is required. Usually, the adopted process comprises a paper maceration step carried out in plenty of water, so as to separate the long natural fibres. These fibres are subsequently coupled with each other by drop and light compression between cloths and felts. Finally, the product thus obtained is submitted to a drying step.

In addition to the high amount of water required, there is therefore also a great waste of energy due both to the necessity of removing water from the product, and the necessity of a long treatment step of the polluted water thus produced.

It is a general object of the present invention to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a process and a plant for paper production starting from waste paper, with a low water amount, preferably without production of impregnation water to be evacuated and a limited waste of energy.

In view of this object, in accordance with the invention a process for paper or paperboard production has been

devised which comprises the steps of: - chopping up waste paper to reduce it to particles; - laying down particles into an even layer to form a mat; - spraying the mat with water; - submitting the mat to a compression at least as strong <BR> <BR> <BR> 2<BR> as 200kg/cm and preferably included between 300 and<BR> <BR> <BR> 2<BR> 500kg/cm2.

In accordance with this process also provided is a plant for paper or paperboard production, comprising: - means for chopping up waste paper until it is reduced to particles; - first distribution means to lay down particles into an even layer to form a mat; - spraying means for spraying the mat with water; - pressing means to submit the mat to a compression at least as strong as 200kg/cm2 and preferably included <BR> <BR> <BR> 2<BR> between 300 and 500kg/cm2.

A further process for paper and paperboard production in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of forming a mat consisting of two layers of paper particles with a water film therebetween and compressing the mat to force water to the outside through the layers.

For better explaining the innovatory principles of the present invention and the advantages it offers over the known art, a possible embodiment applying said principles will be given hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying sole drawing.

With reference to the figure, a plant 10 for paper

production in accordance with the invention is diagrammatically shown.

The plant is comprised of a device 11 for producing paper fragments or powder that are sent to a first distributor 12 to form a layer 13 on a belt conveyor 14. Fragments can be advantageously reduced to average sizes not exceeding 7mm and, preferably, comprised between 2mm and 5mm. A spraying device 15 wets, advantageously by shower atomization, the layer formed on the mat so as to produce a damp mat or ribbon. A second distributor 16 may be provided for distributing a second layer of paper fragments or powder on the first damp layer. Thus a mat or ribbon is obtained which is formed of two layers of paper fragments with a water film between the two layers.

The damp paper-fragment ribbon is passed into a pressing device 17 and a compact ribbon 18 comes out of it.

Pressing takes place at pressures at least as high as <BR> <BR> <BR> 2<BR> 200kg/cm2 and, preferably, included between 300 and<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 2<BR> 500kg/cm . Advantageously, the amount of water distributed over the fragment layer is selected in such a manner that pressing does not produce an important water extraction from the paper ribbon. For example, it has been found advantageous for the water amount to be lower than or equal to one litre per paper kg. By virtue of pressing, the sprayed water which is between the layers is forced to penetrate at least partly into the layers and the paper ribbon dampness is thus substantially made uniform in the ribbon thickness. The outgoing ribbon is just slightly

damp.

It has been noted that the paper ribbon thus obtained has an excellent cohesion, comparable with that obtained with paper produced following traditional methods, although made of paper fragments.

The ribbon thus obtained can be submitted to a further pressing operation by means of rollers 19, for providing a further surface finish, for example. If the residual retained water amount is considered still too much, the paper ribbon may be further submitted to a drying step 20.

Once the paper production steps have been completed, paper can be wound onto a bobbin 21.

Distribution of paper fragments to form the two layers on the mat can be accomplished by means of inclined vibration screens 22, 24 having appropriate mesh sizes based on the desired fragment sizes. Possible fragments of bigger sizes can be gathered into containers 23, 24 at the lower screen end to be then recirculated and sent to the chopping device 11 again.

The chopping or mincing device 11 can be formed of a toothed rotary drum 26 against which the waste paper mass 27 is pushed by means of a press 28.

The minced paper particles can be assimilated to flocks; therefore they are quite different from cellulose fibres of greater or smaller length that are usually necessary in paper production according to the known art.

The paper particles before reaching distributors 12, 16 can also be mixed in a mixer 29 with other particles of

different production. For instance, colour of the produced paper can be adjusted by mixing particles produced from chopping of paper particles of different composition and source.

The paper ribbon pressing and squeezing device 17 can advantageously consist of the end portion of conveyor 14 and a rotary belt 30 disposed to have a stretch facing said end portion of the conveyor belt 14. Belts 14 and 30 are driven in movement at the same speed and the faced stretches are pushed against each other by pressing rollers 31, 32 disposed face-to-face on opposite belt faces.

The belt material is such selected as to be pervious to water or in any case capable of enabling removal of water from the ribbon which is squeezed between the belts.

At this point it is apparent that the intended purposes have been reached.

Water supply can be of the strictly necessary amount for a correct damping of layers. Pressing causes the water to pass through the layers from inside to outside reaching a perfect layer permeation. The residual dampness is very low and, should it be necessary, can be easily removed by quick drying with a low energy consumption. By adjusting the sprayed water amount, there is practically no water to be drawn.

Thus, high water consumption does not exist and water purification operations which are peculiar to the known art are not required.

The plant in accordance with the invention is very simple and manufacture and servicing of same is easy and cheap.

Production of two or more layers enables manufacture of paper and paperboard having different surface features on the two faces to be carried out. A process in accordance with the invention is adapted to make simple or two-faced paper or paperboards consisting either of a single layer or of superposed layers.

Thickness of the produced layers can be easily varied and checked by masking the perforated surfaces of the vibration screens, for example.

Unlike the known art, the plant can be easily and readily stopped and re-started, in order to comply, for instance, with work shifts, ordinary and extraordinary maintenance requirements, production controls or changes, etc.

Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovatory principles of the present invention is reproduced by way of example only and cannot be considered as a limitation of the inventive scope as herein claimed.

For example, should it be necessary, additives may be added to the atomized water for meeting particular requirements, the additive amounts being substantially those that are strictly necessary for the produced amount of paper, without wastes and without recovery being required. A small amount of glue or paste can be optionally added to water. For instance, it has been found that with more than 20% of glue in the water a nearly coated thin paperboard can be obtained.