The invention concerns a method in a paper machine or equivalent, in which method water is removed out of the paper web (W) or equivalent by pressing, in which pressing stage the paper web or equivalent is pressed in at least one press nip, and in which method, after pressing, the paper web or equivalent is dried in at least one dryer group based on impingement drying or equivalent, in which group the paper web is guided along a substantially linear path or by using a large curve radius, and in which drying stage, after the impingement drying, the paper web or equivalent is dried in at least one dryer group in which a normal single-wire draw is applied, in which method the paper web is passed from the pressing stage to the drying stage as a closed draw.

Further, the invention concerns a device in a paper machine or equivalent, which paper machine comprises at least one press nip and at least two dryer groups, in which device the paper web or equivalent has a closed draw from the last press nip to the first dryer group, and in which the paper web or equivalent has a substantially linear draw or a draw with a large curve radius through the first dryer group.

Increased running speeds of paper machines provide new problems to be solved, which problems are mostly related to the runnability of the machine. Currently speeds of up to about 1600 metres per minute are employed in printing-paper machines. At these speeds the so-called closed press sections, which comprise a compact combination of press rolls fitted around a smooth-faced centre roll, as a rule, operate satisfactorily.

With increasing running speeds of paper machines, the problems of runnability of a paper machine are also manifested with higher emphasis, because a web with a high water content and low strength does not endure an excessively high and sudden

compression pressure impulse or the dynamic forces produced by high speeds, but web breaks and other disturbance in operation arise and cause standstills. In a modern printing-paper machine the cost of standstill time is to-day about FIM 60,000 per hour.

Further problems manifested with increased emphasis at high speeds of paper machines, for which problems, at least for all of them, satisfactory solutions have not been found as yet, include the problems of quality related to the requirements of uniformity of the profiles of properties of the paper web both in the machine direction and in the cross direction. Uniformity of the web produced also affects d e runnability of the entire paper machine, and it is also an important quality factor of finished paper, which is emphasized in the case of copying and printing papers with increasing speeds of copiers and printing machines and with higher requirements imposed on the uniformity of the printing result.

Recently, even speeds as high as about 40 metres per second = 2400 metres per minute have been contemplated as speeds of paper machines. Application of speeds as high as this, in particular in wide machines, provides ever more difficult problems to be solved, of which problems the most important ones are runnability and adequate dewatering capacity of the machine at a high speed.

With respect to the prior art related to the press section of a paper machine, refer¬ ence is made to the US Patent No. 5,389,205, in which a method and a device are described for dewatering of a paper web by pressing. In said patent, a method is suggested in the manufacture of paper or board for dewatering of the paper web that is being manufactured and that has been drained in the web former of the paper machine, in which method the dewatering takes place by passing the paper web on support of fabrics that receive water through a number of successive dewatering nips so that, by the effect of the compression pressure, water is transferred out of the fibre mesh of the paper web into the spaces in the fabric that receives water and into the spaces in the hollow faces of the mobile dewatering members, such as press rolls, in which method the paper web is transferred from the forming wire onto the

wire of the dryer section while constantly on support of a fabric that receives water, a transfer fabric, or of any other, corresponding transfer surface as a closed draw at a speed that is higher than about 25...30 metres per second. It has been considered novel in this prior-art method that, in the method, dewatering of the paper web is carried out by means of at least two such successive press nips of which nips at least one press nip is a so-called extended-nip zone, whose length in the machine direction is larger than z > about 100 mm, and said extended-nip zone is formed in connec¬ tion with a mobile flexible press-band loop, that in the method the distribution of the compression pressure employed within said extended-nip press zone is regulated and/or selected both in the cross direction of the web and in the machine direction so as to set or to control the different profiles of properties of the web, and that in the method, as the first press stage, a dewatering pressing is carried out on the web forming wire by using a press zone and a water-receiving, relatively open fabric or fabrics running through said press zone.

As is known from the prior art, in multi-cylinder dryers of paper machines, twin- wire draw and/or single- wire draw is/are employed. In twin-wire draw, the groups of drying cylinders comprise two wires, which press the web, one from above and the other one from below, against the heated cylinder faces. Between the rows of drying cylinders, which are usually horizontal rows, the web has free and unsup¬ ported draws, which are susceptible of fluttering, which may result in web breaks, in particular as the web is still relatively moist and, therefore, of low strength. Therefore, in recent years, ever increasing use has been made of said single-wire draw, in which each group of drying cylinders comprises one drying wire only, on whose support the web runs through the whole group so that, on the drying cylin¬ ders, the drying wire presses the web against the heated cylinder faces, and on the reversing cylinders or rolls between the drying cylinders the web remains at the side of the outside curve. Thus, in single-wire draw, the drying cylinders are placed outside the wire loop, and the reversing cylinders or rolls inside the loop.

With increasing running speeds of paper machines, problems of runnability have also started occurring in the area of single- wire draw, in particular in the first groups in

a dryer section. In the way known from the prior art, attempts have been made to reduce these problems by using various components of runnability, such as the Uno Run Blow Box (applicant 's trade mark) and by replacing the lower roll by a suction roll, for example a VAC -roll. However, so far, the speeds are not yet known up to which these prior-art solutions are sufficient to support the web in the beginning of the dryer section when the speeds continue to become higher.

With increasing speeds of paper machines, the runnability of a paper machine is, of course, also affected by the dryer section, whose length with the prior-art multi- cylinder dryers would, at high speeds, also become intolerably long. If it is imagined that a present-day multi-cylinder dryer were used at a web speed of 40 metres per second, it would include about 70 drying cylinders, and its length in the machine direction would be about 180 metres. In such a case, the dryer would comprise about 15 separate wire groups and a corresponding number of draws over the group gaps. It is to be assumed that, in a speed range of 30...40 metres per second, the runnability of the prior-art multi-cylinder dryers would no longer be even nearly satisfactory, but web breaks would be frequent, which would deteriorate the effi¬ ciency of the paper machine.

In a speed range of 30...40 metres per second and at higher speeds, the prior- art multi-cylinder dryers would also become uneconomical, because the cost of invest¬ ment of an excessively long paper machine hall would be unduly high. It can be estimated that, at present, the cost of a paper machine hall is typically about one million FIM per metre in the machine direction.

It is known from the prior art to use various impingement drying / through drying units for evaporation drying of a paper web, which units have been used in particular in the drying of tissue paper. With respect to the prior art related to this, reference is made, e.g. , to the US Patents Nos. 3,874,997, 3,868, 780, and 5,319,863.

With respect to the prior art related to the present invention. reference is made to the article "Trends in high speed machines for newsprint and groundwood papers ", Pulp

& Paper, April 1983, pages 100...103. In this paper, among other things, a news¬ print machine is described, which is operated at a speed of about 1000 metres per minute and in which, in the dryer section, web support of full width is employed without draws between the dryers. In a pre-dryer in the dryer section, inside the wire, vacuum boxes and vacuum rolls are fitted in order to keep the web in contact with the belt. The web is dried in the pre-dryer in the dryer section by means of hot air to a dry solids content of 45...50 %.

With respect to the prior art, reference is also made to the US Patent 4,361,466, in which a method and a mechanism are described for removal of water out of a web in a paper machine, in which there are press members, a first dryer unit based on heating, in which there is a long, continuous, endless support belt, which carries the web during the first drying cycle, in which the rolls and the suction zones are placed below the web and in which there are members that blow hot air as well as members by whose means the air flow is directed at the web on the first heat-treatment run, on which the web is received substantially as of a dry solids content of 40 % and from which the web is removed substantially at a dry solids content of about 50 % . In this prior-art solution the paper web arrives and departs as an open draw into/from the pre-drying unit.

With respect to the prior art, reference is also made to the US Patent 5,256,257, in which a solution is described in which a transfer belt not receiving water runs through two press nips and transfers the web to the dryer section as a supported draw so that the web can be heated/dried by impingement drying between the press and a group with single- wire draw.

In the way known from the prior art, the web is passed from the press section to the dryer section so that the web has been separated from the last smooth roll in the press section and passed by means of a guide roll to the dryer section, in which case the web has had a free draw directly after the press section. This has proved problematic, in particular because of the increased risk of web break in this connec¬ tion. In order to amend this, a closed draw has been developed from the press

section to the dryer section, such a closed draw being described, for example, in said US Patent 5,389,205, in which the web is passed from the press section by means of a transfer belt to a group with single-wire draw in the dryer section. As is well known, a web tightness arising in connection with an open draw improves the running quality of the web, and in closed draws attempts have been made to produce a web tightness by using a difference in speed between the different support fabrics. This has, however, produced problems, because in such a case the support fabrics have been subjected to rapid wear. In paper machines of very high speeds an adequate web tightness has not been achieved by means of a difference in speed, in which case the web has not followed the wire in the dryer section, but, owing to its slackness, it has caused web breaks, fluttering, and similar problems.

The wet strength and the elastic properties of a paper web depend on the dry solids content of the web, and directly after the press section it has been problematic to make the web sufficiently tight, because the web has not been sufficiently dry. This is why in cylinder groups with single-wire draw, which are often placed in the beginning of the dryer section, i.e. in so-called slalom-draw groups, problems have been encountered in the runnability, in particular in high-speed paper machines. As one solution, short groups of just a few cylinders have been employed in the beginning of the dryer section, so that by means of a positive difference in speed between the groups it has been possible to maintain web tightness. The solution. however, increases the costs of investment and operation because of the increased number of wire circulations.

Moreover, when tightening of the paper by means of differences in speed between support fabrics has been employed, the paper web may have been constricted unevenly, and high differences in tension applied to the web may have caused problems in achievement of a sufficiently uniform quality, in particular in relation to the cross-direction profile of the paper.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide novel solutions for the problems dealt with above so that said problems in the prior art and problems that will come out later are substantially avoided.

In view of achieving the objectives stated above and those that will come out later, the method in accordance with the invention is mainly characterized in that the paper web is passed from the pressing stage to the area with single-wire draw in the drying stage so that the paper web is constantly supported against at least one support face.

Further, the device in accordance with the invention is mainly characterized in that the last press nip in the press section and the first dryer group in the dryer section are placed in the paper machine so that, on its run from the press section to the first group that applies a normal single-wire draw in the dryer section, the paper web or equivalent is constantly supported by at least one support face.

In the present invention and in its different embodiments it has been possible, in a novel and inventive way, to combine certain component solutions, some of them in themselves known from the prior-art paper machine technology, so that the problems of different natures discussed above have been brought under control and solved by means of a novel overall concept.

The most important object achieved by means of the invention is satisfactory runnability of the paper machine even at speeds as high as about 30...40 metres per second. This has been achieved partly as a result of the "linear" closed draw of the web, whereby the runnability remains on a good level.

In the present invention, the prior-art impingement drying and/or through drying and the contact drying by means of heated contact-drying cylinders have been combined in a novel way. In order that the objectives of the invention could be achieved with the high web speeds concerned, v > 25 metres per second, in particular in the speed range of v = 30...40 metres per second, said drying stages and the drying geometry have been arranged in a novel way.

Moreover, in the present invention, the factor, decisive in view of the runnability of the dryer section, has been taken into account that a stable run and uniform tightness of the drying wire and, thus, undisturbed running of the web on support of said wire are ensured by providing the wire with a curved run in said impingement drying and/or through drying areas or that the run consists of relatively short straight draws placed at a little angle in relation to one another, yet, so that the curve radius is sufficiently large so that the centrifugal force that attempts to separate the web from the wire remains minimal and detaching of the web is prevented in all cases.

A large curve radius in the impingement drying and/or through drying areas is particularly favourable also when the web is dried between two wires. A curved face always produces a detrimental difference in speed between the wires, the magnitude of said difference becoming higher when the curve radius becomes shorter. With a large curve radius or with a substantially straight draw, it is possible to obtain such a little difference in speed that the paper web is not damaged between the wires or that the wires do not abrade each other to a substantial extent.

In the arrangement in accordance with the present invention related to a paper machine, there is no free draw from the press section to the dryer section, but a fully closed draw is employed by means of at least one support felt / support wire. In the beginning of the dryer section, drying by means of impingement drying or equivalent devices is employed, in which case the problems of slalom draw do not occur, because the running direction of the web is substantially linear or has a large curve radius. Preferably, the draw from a dryer group based on impingement drying into a group with normal single- wire draw is also closed.

In a preferred exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the initial part of the dryer section, impingement drying units are fitted at both sides of the web, in which impingement drying units air or steam or an equivalent drying medium is used. The web runs through the gap between the impingement drying units on support of two support fabrics, and the support fabrics are open. The permeability of the drying wires can be, for example, 10, 000...20, 000 cu.m/sq.m/h (cubic metres per square

metre per hour) at a difference in pressure of 100 Pa, whereas in conventional single-wire draw the permeability of the drying wire is, as a rule, about 2,000 cu.m/sq.m/h (ΔP 100 Pa). In a preferred exemplifying embodiment, the suppoπ fabrics used in dryer groups based on impingement drying tolerate a temperature higher than 190°C, i.e. higher d an the temperature tolerated by the drying wires used in groups that make use of normal single-wire draw.

Since, in the arrangement in accordance with the invention, in the initial part of the dryer section, the web is passed as a substantially linear run and preferably sup- ported from two sides, the runnability causes no problems. Moreover, since the wire runs under support from the press unit into the dryer unit, the paper web of low strength is not separated from the support at any stage until it has been dewatered and dried to a sufficiently high dry solids content, at which stage its strength is higher. In the first group in the dryer section, based on impingement drying or equivalent, the dry solids content of the paper web can be raised sufficiently, in which case it is easier to treat the web in the subsequent groups provided with single-wire or twin- wire draw. When a dry solids content of about 45...55 % has been achieved in the press section, after the impingement drying unit or equivalent used in the arrangement in accordance with the present invention the dry solids content is about 50...70 %.

In some arrangements in accordance with the invention, when a transfer belt and a transfer wire are used, the difference in speed between these support belts can be adjusted to the desired level. In some preferred exemplifying embodiments of the invention, difference in speed is not needed to adjust the tightness of the paper, in which case the paper is also constricted uniformly. Also, in this way the desired cross-direction profiles are reached, whereby paper of uniform quality is obtained.

By means of impingement drying devices used in the dryer section, an abundance of drying capacity is obtained when dry air or superheated steam is blown substantially perpendicularly against the paper at a relatively high velocity. In such a unit, a high evaporation rate is obtained, which is about 3...4 times as high as in an average

dryer unit based on cylinder drying. By means of impingement drying, the paper web is dried until its dry solids content is preferably high enough so that it can endure the strains of single-wire draw. At high speeds, said dry solids content typically varies in the range of 55...65 %, depending, among other things, on the basis weight and raw material of the paper web. Impingement drying can also be used so that drying that makes use of normal single-wire draw is introduced when the web starts shrinking to a substantial extent, i.e. when the dry solids content of the web is < 60...65 %. In such a case, the natural drying shrinkage of the web compensates for the web-stretching effect of the strains applied to the web by the single- wire draw, and a web tightness that ensures good runnability does not have to be maintained by means of differences in speed between the groups.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawing, wherein

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which the web is passed from the press section to the dryer section on support of a separate transfer fabric,

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a preferred exemplifying embodiment in which the lower support fabric in the dryer unit extends up to the press section,

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment in which the transfer belt also operates as the last upper support fabric in the press section,

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which, in the dryer section, an upper impingement drying unit and lower blow- suction boxes are employed,

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment in which the first unit in the dryer section is provided with an upper impingement drying unit and the next unit with a lower impingement drying unit,

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment in which the paper web is passed from the last press nip in the press section by means of a lower transfer belt so as to be supported on the upper drying wire in the first unit in the dryer section,

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which the web is passed from an impingement drying group into a group with single-wire draw by means of a drying cylinder,

Figure 8 shows an arrangement in which the web is passed from the smooth-faced press roll of the last press nip in the press section by means of a transfer fabric onto the lower drying wire in an impingement drying group in the dryer section,

Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which the impingement drying unit is placed vertically and the web is transferred from the lower support fabric of the press section by means of a transfer fabric onto the first fabric in the dryer section,

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which vertically positioned dryer units are employed and in which the web is passed from the press section to the dryer section by means of the upper transfer fabric in the press section,

Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention in which the first group after the press section has been accomplished by means of impingement drying and the subsequent groups are groups with single-wire draw and with lower suction rolls, and

Figure 12 illustrates the results of an exemplifying computation concerning the evaporation process in the dryer section as illustrated in Fig. 11.

In the following description, equivalent parts in the different exemplifying embodi¬ ments are denoted with the same reference numerals. In each exemplifying embodi¬ ment, equivalent parts in different sections are denoted with corresponding tens and unit numbers increased by hundreds.

In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the paper web W is passed into the last press nip P in the press section on support of the press felt 11 of the preceding press nip, from which felt the paper web W is transferred by means of the transfer suction roll 118, whose suction zone is denoted with the reference numeral 119, onto the support of the upper press felt 111, on which the dewatering of the web W is aided by means of blow suction boxes 121. Guided by die press felt 111 , the paper web W is passed into the press nip formed by die extended-nip press roll 115 and its backup roll 116, in which water is removed out of the web W pressed by the extended-nip shoe 117. The upper press felt 111 runs guided by d e guide rolls 125, and the press felt 111 is conditioned by means of felt conditioning devices 123, which comprise a wash jet and felt suction devices. Below said felt, mere runs a transfer belt or transfer fabric 112, which is guided by die guide rolls 125 and which runs between the extended-nip press roll 115 and the backup roll 116. From the extended-nip press 115,116,117 d e paper web W is passed as a closed draw into die first group R _p in the dryer section. Supported by the lower transfer fabric 112 of the press nip P, the paper web W is passed over the suction roll 218 onto the transfer fabric 212, on which the web W is kept by means of blow-suction boxes 221 , and further from this transfer fabric 212 onto the lower drying wire 313 in the dryer group Rp by means of its transfer suction roll 318. The support of the web on d e lower drying wire 313 is aided by means of a blow-suction box 321.

The dryer group R _P comprises two impingement drying units 330,430 as well as the related support rolls 331,431, over which the drying wires 313,413, both the upper and the lower wire 413,313, respectively, run while guided by the guide rolls 425,325. The conditioning devices for me drying wires 313,413 are denoted with the reference numerals 324,424, and in a conventional way they comprise washing and drying means. From the lower drying wire 313 the paper web W is passed into the

13 next group R _j in the dryer section, which group is, in the exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a normal group provided with single-wire draw, which group comprises lower VAC-rolls or suction rolls 526 and drying cylinders 527. The guide rolls are denoted with the reference numeral 525, and the drying wire with the reference numeral 513. The doctor 522 cleans the drying cylinder 527, and the blow-suction box or an equivalent device that stabilizes the run of the web is denoted widi the reference numeral 521.

Thus, as is shown in the figure, the paper web W is passed from the last press nip P in the press section as a fully closed draw, by means of the upper transfer fabric 112 and the transfer fabric 212, onto the lower drying wire 313 in the dryer group Rp, after which the paper web W is passed through the gap between the impinge¬ ment drying units 330,430, which are provided with two drying wires 313,413 that are highly permeable, further to the next, normal group R* with single-wire draw.

In this exemplifying embodiment the transfer fabrics 112,212 can be used to regulate the difference in speed to the desired level. The paper web W runs along a substan¬ tially linear path as a horizontal draw from the press section to the dryer section through the first group Rp in the dryer section, whereby the web reaches a dry solids content of about 50...70 %, after which the transfer of the web in a conven¬ tional single-wire draw is easier from the point of view of runnability.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the paper web W is passed from the preceding press group on support of the press felt 11 onto the upper press felt 111 of the press nip P by means of the transfer suction roll 118, and on support of the press felt 111 the paper web W is passed with the aid of the blow-suction boxes 121,321 into a roll-nip press, which is formed by the press roll 115 and its backup roll 116. The lower drying fabric of the first dryer group R _p in the dryer section also operates as a press fabric, i.e. the web W runs on support of the press/drying fabric 314 into the impingement drying group R _p in the dryer section, in which group the paper web W is dried by means of the impingement drying units 330,430. In the area of the impingement drying units 330,430 the run of the web is

also guided by support rolls 331,431. The paper web W runs through the dryer group Rp on support of the drying wire 413 and of the press/drying fabric 314 over a VAC-roll or suction roll 326 to the next group in the dryer section, which group is a dryer group R* with normal single-wire draw, in which the rolls in the lower row are VAC -rolls or suction rolls 526 and the drying cylinder is denoted with the reference numeral 527.

The paper web W runs as a substantially linear horizontal run from the last press nip P in the press section into the first dryer group R _p in the dryer section, which group applies impingement drying. In this exemplifying embodiment, it is highly advan¬ tageous diat the paper web W of low strength is not separated from anything until it has been dried in me first group R _P in the dryer section to a sufficiently high dry solids content, i.e. the paper web W runs constantly as a closed draw.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplifying embodiment similar to Fig. 1 , wherein the last press nip P is, however, placed upside down, i.e. so diat the extended-nip press roll 115 is placed below the paper web W to be dried and die upper roll is the backup roll 116, whose transfer fabric 112 extends onto die lower wire 313 of die dryer group Rp, the paper web W running as a closed draw from the press to the dryer section.

The dryer group R _p comprises impingement drying units 330,430, between whose drying wires 313,413 the paper web W to be dried runs as a substantially linear horizontal run to ie next group R* in the dryer section, which is a group that applies normal single- wire draw, in which the paper web W runs meandering on the outer face on the VAC-rolls or suction rolls 526 and between the drying wire 513 and the face of the drying cylinder 527 in the upper row.

In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 4, me press nip P is similar to the exemplifying embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, and from the press nip P the paper web W is passed on support of the transfer fabric 212 onto the lower drying wire 313 in the next dryer group R _P , the blow-suction boxes 333 and the support rolls 332 being placed inside said wire 313. Above the paper web W, an impingement

drying unit 430 is placed. The paper web W runs from the last press nip P in the press section as a closed draw, being guided by the lower transfer fabric 112 and by the upper transfer fabric 212 and by the drying wire 313, along a substantially linear path, through the entire first dryer group R _P towards the group with single-wire draw, i.e. die slalom group R* .

In the exemplifying embodiment of ie invention shown in Fig. 5, the first impinge¬ ment drying group R _p in the dryer section is followed by an inverted impingement drying group R _pχ , in which die drying wire 313 _x and die blow-suction boxes 333 _x and die support rolls 332 _x are placed above, inside die wire loop 313 _x , and the impingement drying unit 430 _x is placed below die paper web W to be dried. After this, there follows a group R* with normal single- wire draw, into which group the web W is passed from the inverted group R _px over the drying cylinder 627.

In the exemplifying embodiment of die invention shown in Fig. 6, in the last press nip P in the press section, the extended-nip press consists of an extended-nip press roll 115, whose press shoe is denoted widi the reference numeral 117, and of die backup roll 116 of the extended-nip press roll 115. The upper press felt 111 runs as guided by die guide rolls 125, and from the preceding press group the paper web W is taken by means of the transfer suction roll 118 onto the support of the press felt 111, which support is aided by die blow-suction boxes 121. The transfer belt or transfer fabric that runs around the backup roll 116 is denoted wid the reference numeral 112, and d e paper web W is transferred on die upper face of said transfer belt into the first group P _p in die dryer section to be supported on die upper wire 413, onto which the paper web W is transferred by means of die transfer suction roll 418, and d e support is aided by the blow-suction box 421. After mis the paper web W runs between the impingement drying units 330,430, supported by the upper wire 413 and the lower wire 313 and aided by the support rolls 431 ,331. From the VAC roll or suction roll 326 placed inside die lower-wire loop 313 the paper web W is transferred to the next dryer group R- , which applies single-wire draw.

The exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 6, except diat after the lower-wire loop 313 of the dryer group R _p the paper web runs on support of the upper wire 413 onto the drying cylinder 627, on which transfer the support of the web W is aided by means of the blow-suction box 421. From die drying cylinder 627 the paper web W is passed to the next dryer group R* , which applies normal single- wire draw.

In die exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 8, me paper web W enters into the last press nip P in the press section on support of the press felt 11 of the preceding press, and the web is transferred by means of the transfer suction roll 118 onto the support of the press felt 111 of the last press nip P, which support is aided by the blow-suction box 121. The extended-nip press roll 115 and die backup roll 116 form an extended-nip press, in which the roll 116 is a smooth-faced press roll, from which the paper web W is passed by means of the transfer suction roll 218 onto the transfer fabric 212, on whose support, aided by die blow-suction boxes 221, die paper web W is passed onto die lower wire 313 of die first dryer group R _p by means of the transfer suction roll 318. The paper web W runs as a substantially linear horizontal run between the impingement drying units 330,430 in the dryer group Rp on support of two drying wires 313,413. After the dryer group R _p , the paper web W is passed into the dryer group R- , which uses normal single-wire draw.

Figs. 9 and 10 show exemplifying embodiments of the invention in which the impingement drying units 30- ...30 in the dryer section are placed vertically and form vertical groups R _pv .

Inside d e first drying wire 13- there is one impingement drying unit 30 * , and inside the next drying wire 13 ₂ there are two impingement drying units 30 ₂ , which blow in opposite directions so that each drying wire 13- ...13 ₄ operates in two groups in the support of the web W. Below the second and the fourth group R _pv , additional impingement drying units 34 ₂ ,34 are placed, and at the opposite side of the web W

and of die drying wire 13 ₂ ,13 ₄ there is a blow-suction box 21 ₂ ,21 ₄ diat promotes the drying, and a similar arrangement 34 ₃ ,21 ₃ is placed above the third group.

In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 9, d e paper web W is passed from the last press nip in the press section, which nip is formed by die rolls 115 and 116, on support of the transfer fabric 12 onto the transfer fabric 212 by means of its transfer suction roll 218, and the web is passed onto d e wire 13 - circulating over the impingement drying unit 30 _j by means of the transfer suction roll 18* .

The exemplifying embodiment shown in Fig. 10 is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 9, but in mis exemplifying embodiment no separate transfer fabric is used, but d e upper transfer fabric 112 of the press nip P carries the paper web W directly into the press section onto die drying wire 13 • of the first impingement drying group Rp . In this exemplifying embodiment, ie press nip formed by the press rolls 115,116 has been arranged as inverted, compared wid die preceding figure, as the press felt 111 is placed below die paper web W.

Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of an exemplifying embodiment of an arrange¬ ment in a paper machine, which illustration shows the last press nip P in the press section, the following first group in the dryer section, in which group impingement drying is applied, i.e. the group R _p , through which the paper web runs along a substantially linear path horizontally. This is followed by groups R* which apply normal single- wire draw and whose number is five, as is shown in die figure, or any necessary number.

Figure 12 shows the results of computing of such a dryer section, wherein the drying efficiency KT and die dry solids content KA have been established by means of a computing model when a paper web is dried in a dryer section as shown in Fig. 11.

The invention is not supposed to be strictly confined to the exemplifying embodi¬ ments shown in the figures, and, for example, the press nips in die press can be

arranged in each exemplifying embodiment either as extended-nip presses or as roll- nip presses.

A VAC-roll is understood as die reversing suction cylinder marketed by d e appli- cant under the trade mark "Vac-Roll"™, an exemplifying embodiment of the con¬ struction of said rolls being described in die applicant's US Patent 5,022, 163. A VAC-roll is a grooved suction roll in which there is no separate suction zone in the interior of the roll. Of course, as transfer and suction rolls, it is possible to use various roll constructions in diemselves known to a person skilled in the art. As reversing rolls, preferably suction rolls are used whose vacuum is more dian 250 Pa.

The blow-suction boxes are favourably blow-suction boxes marketed by die applicant under the trade mark "Uno Run Blow Box"™. Of course, various embodiments of impingement drying units, blow boxes and odier alternative devices, which are known to a person skilled in die art, are included in die overall concept of the present invention. As die drying medium in d e impingement drying units, air, steam, or an equivalent medium is used, and the temperature of said medium depends on die structure of the support felt or support wire or equivalent that is used, and the temperature is, for example, 70...400°C, preferably 200...400°C. The blowing from an impingement dryer is applied preferably substantially perpendicular¬ ly against the paper web to be dried and at an adequate velocity. When air is blown, the blow velocity is about 40...130 m s (metres per second), preferably 80...100 m/s, and when steam is blown, about 60...200 m/s, preferably 100...170 m/s. The support fabric used in the dryer section can be very open in dryer groups provided with impingement drying units, in which case such fabrics are permeable to an abundance of air at a certain difference in pressure, for example 10, 000...20, 000 cubic metres per square metre per hour at a difference in pressure of 100 Pa. In impingement drying units it is also possible to use drying wires of ordinary permea¬ bility. The impingement drying units comprise blow-nozzle openings and exhaust-air openings as well as the necessary means for blowing and removing air.

Above, the invention has been described wid reference to some preferred exemplify¬ ing embodiments of same only, die invention being, however, not supposed to be strictly confined to die details of said embodiments. Many variations and modifica¬ tions are possible within die scope of the inventive idea defined in ie following patent claims.