Abstract: A papermakers forming fabric having two layers of CMD yarns interwoven with a system of MD yarns to form a multilayer fabric. The paper support surface CMD yarn layer has at least three times as many CMD yarns as the machine contact surface CMD yarn layer. The higher count of upper layer CMD yarns provides an improved paper forming/carrying surface with improved drainage characteristics.

Abstract: A flat woven pin-seamed papermakers fabric wherein machine direction yarns define a series of seaming loops on the opposing fabric ends. The fabric comprises a system of flat monofilament machine direction warp yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which are woven in a selected weave construction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. Selected end segments of the upper and lower MD yarns are removed and yarn segments made of a more durable material are rewoven into the fabric end in the space vacated by the trimmed upper and lower MD yarn end segments. Non-loop forming upper MD yarns are preferably backwoven into the space vacated by trimming respective lower MD yarns. Preferably, at least the upper MD yarns are woven contiguous with each other to lock in the machine direction alignment of the stacking pairs of MD yarns and the orthogonal orientation of the end loops.

Abstract: A yarn positioning apparatus for use in an automated seaming machine for forming a woven join between opposite ends of a length of woven fabric, of the type in which an auxiliary strip of threads are supported in parallel relation to the cross machine direction threads in the woven fabric. The opposite ends of the fabric are supported on opposite sides of the auxiliary threads and each end of the woven fabric includes a fringe of machine direction (MD) threads. The MD threads are successively separated from the fringe and interwoven with the auxiliary thread to form the join. The yarn positioning apparatus is comprised of a yarn gripper for gripping a previously woven yarn from a fabric fringe in a first orientation and repositioning it to a second orientation. The yarn is retained in its second orientation as it is translated for further processing.

Abstract: Hollow synthetic monofilament yarns are used in the construction of a base fabric for a papermakers wet felt. The synthetic hollow monofilament yarns have selected interior void, compressibility and resiliency characteristics and are interwoven with other yarns to form a woven base fabric with the hollow monofilament yarns predominating, on at least the paper carrying side of the base fabric. The weaving and finishing of the base fabric results in the hollow monofilament yarns retaining a substantially unflattened cross-section. Accordingly, substantially unflattened portions of the hollow monofilament yarns predominate the paper carrying side of the base fabric thereby providing a cushioning surface which is compressibly resilient to assist in the dewatering of the aqueous paper web as it is transported through a press nip during the manufacture of the paper.

Abstract: An endless papermakers belt which is formed from a length of woven fabrics having its ends joined together to form the endless belt. The fabric has joining loops at each end of the fabric which are formed entirely from and are a linear continuation of the original woven fabric.

Abstract: A shed formation apparatus having increased flexibility and speed. The shed formation apparatus is comprised of a plurality of movable heddles which are connected to a plurality of heddle selectors by a first plurality of control leads. The heddle selectors are movably connected to a plurality of heddle selector controllers which include stoppers to retard the movement of the heddle selectors. A second plurality of control leads are attached to the heddle selectors. A repeat pattern output apparatus determines the movement of the second plurality of control leads and the attached heddle selectors, and selectively activates the stoppers.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric having a system of monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which control the permeability of the fabric. The present weave provides for usage of high aspect ratio yarns as structural weave components. The system of MD yarns comprises multiple layers of yarns which are vertically stacked. Preferably, upper MD yarns define floats on the upper surface of the fabric and each upper MD yarn is grouped in a vertically stacked orientation with an intermediate and a lower MD yarn.

Abstract: The present invention provides a belt filter press fabric for supporting pressing and draining moisture from a moisture laden web in a press having an inlet end, an outlet end and at least one high pressure nip. The fabric includes machine direction monofilament yarns having selected load bearing, dimensional stability and compressible characteristics. Means for protecting the machine direction yarns from compressive deterioration, such as fibrillation, are provided by interweaving the machine direction yarns with cross machine direction yarns the majority of which have a compressibility characteristic which is greater than the characteristic of the machine direction yarns.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric and method of designing and manufacturing same which exhibits high tolerance to temperature and/or moisture variation and as a result, retains dimensional stability avoiding these problems. A specific fabric construction is selected having a defined machine direction (MD) and cross machine direction (CMD) yarn components. A mathematical model of the selected fabric structure is then defined in terms of the dimensions of the yarn components in relationship to the machine direction length of the fabric. The percent change in fabric length is then determined as a function of both the dimensions and the expansion characteristics of the MD and CMD yarns. The fabric is then designed to have calculated expansion characteristics within selected tolerances.

Abstract: A flat woven pin-seamed papermakers fabric wherein machine direction yarns define a series of orthogonal seaming loops on the opposing fabric ends. The fabric comprises a system of flat monofilament machine direction warp yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which are woven in a selected weave construction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. End segments of the lower MD yarns are removed and the upper MD yarn ends are looped back upon themselves and rewoven into the fabric end in the space vacated by the trimmed lower MD yarn end segments. Non-loop forming upper MD yarns are also preferably backwoven into the space vacated by trimming the respective lower MD yarns. Preferably, at least the upper MD yarns are woven contiguous with each other to lock in the machine direction alignment of the stacking pairs of MD yarns and the orthogonal orientation of the end loops.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric having a stacked system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which define the surface characteristics of the fabric. The system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. Preferably, the upper MD yarns define floats on the upper surface of the fabric and each upper MD yarn is paired in a vertically stacked orientation with a lower MD yarn. The upper MD yarns may be comprised of one type of material, such as nylon 6, 6 to define a hydrolysis resistance paper carrying surface with the lower MD yarns, which define the machine side surface, being made of a polyester (PET) yarns, which are lower in cost and are less hydrolysis resistant. Cross machine direction yarns (hereinafter CMD yarns) may be a third type of yarn, for example a relatively inert material such as Ryton.TM.. The CMD yarns are protected from abrasive wear by the upper and lower MD yarns.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and stabilizing yarn prior to interweaving thereof. The apparatus is comprised of a generally tubular body having an open end, an open side and a generally vertical slot which extends between the open side and the open end.

Abstract: A corrugation machine includes a woven papermakers fabric. The fabric has at least four layers of bulky yarns interwoven with monofilament yarns. The yarns and weave patterns are selected such that the fabric has a caliper of at least 0.2 inches, a weight of between 10 to 15 ounces per square foot and a permeability of at least 25 CFM.

Abstract: An industrial fabric, preferably for use as a papermakers fabric, having a system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns hereinafter MD yarns, which are woven in stacked, vertical alignment throughout the body of the fabric. Preferably, each upper MD yarn defines floats on the upper surface of the fabric and is vertically stacked with respect to the lower MD yarns. In the preferred embodiment, the same type and size yarns are used throughout the machine direction yarn system.

Abstract: A shed formation apparatus which has increased flexibility and speed and finds particular application in automated reweaving of the ends of a fabric. The apparatus is generally comprised of a plurality of heddles which will control yarn movement during the shed formation. Each of the heddles has a yarn mail and at least one control lead. Each control lead is under the influence of a controller - stopper mechanism which controls heddle movement and position. The actuation of the stopping mechanism is controlled by a shed formation repeat pattern output device which determines the position of the heddle and the selection of the stopping mechanism in accordance with the repeat pattern.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric have a system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns). The system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. Preferably, the upper MD yarns define floats on the upper surface of the fabric and each upper MD yarn is paired in vertically stacked orientation with a lower MD yarn. At least the upper MD yarns are flat monofilament yarns woven contiguous with each other to define a warp fill of at least 80% to reduce the permeability of the fabric and to lock in the machine direction alignment of the stacking pairs of MD yarns. The stacked, contiguous woven machine direction system provides stability and permits the MD yarns to have a relatively high aspect ratio, cross-sectional width to height, of greater than 3:1. A seam for the fabric comprised of loops formed from selected flat MD yarns is provided to render the fabric endless during use in papermaking.

Abstract: A seam for a papermakers wet press felt having a flat woven base fabric with the crimped yarns oriented in a lengthwise or machine direction. Orientation of the crimp in the machine direction lends itself to an analysis of the crimps per square inch based upon the crimp length and warp end count. Utilizing the crimps per square inch figure, it is possible to establish the approximate minimum length of the join in the machine direction. The machine direction length, in inches, of the join area is approximated by the equation: approximate joined length equals 500 divided by the crimps per square inch in the repeat pattern of the woven base fabric.

Abstract: A multi-layer fabric for carrying and forming an embossed paper web is provided which comprises two separate woven fabric layers which are joined together, preferably during weaving. The top fabric layer is a very coarse mesh open fabric which supports the web and assists in forming the embossed characteristic of the web. The top layer is connected to a base fabric layer which is a substantially finer mesh. The layers are preferably interconnected by binder strands which interweave as structural warps or shutes of the finer mesh fabric layer.

Abstract: A woven pin-seamed papermakers faric wherein machine direction yarns define a series of orthogonal seaming loops on the opposing fabric ends. The fabric comprises a system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which are woven in a selected weave construction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. End segments of the lower MD yarns are removed and the upper MD yarn ends are looped back upon themselves and rewoven into the fabric end in the space vacated by the trimmed lower MD yarn end segments. Non-looping forming upper MD yarns are also preferably backwoven into the space vacated by trimming the respective lower MD yarns. Preferably, at least the upper MD yarns are woven contiguous with each other to lock in the machine direction alignment of the stacking pairs of MD yarns and the orthogonal orientation of the end loops.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a papermakers fabric which provides for usage of high aspect ratio yarns as structured weave components. The fabric comprises a system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which are woven in a selected weave construction which provides stability to the fabric. In a preferred embodiment, the system of MD yarns comprises upper and lower yarns which are vertically stacked. Preferably, the upper MD yarns define floats on the upper surface of the fabric and each upper MD yarn is paired in a vertically stacked orientation with a lower MD yarn. The lower MD yarns may weave in an inverted image of the upper MD yarns to provide floats on the bottom fabric surface or may weave with a different repeat to provide a different surface on the bottom of the fabric.