Abstract: A structured tissue belt assembly including a supporting layer, a non-woven web contacting layer, and one or more laser welds that attach the bottom surface of the web contacting layer to the top surface of the supporting layer. The structured tissue belt assembly allows for air flow in x, y and z directions. In exemplary embodiments, the structured tissue belt assembly has an embedment distance between the supporting layer and the web contacting layer of 0.05 mm to 0.60 mm and a peel force between the web contacting layer and the supporting layer of at least 650 gf/inch.

Abstract: A forming fabric for a papermaking machine woven according to a repeating pattern. The fabric includes a PS layer having a PS surface, with the PS layer including PS warps and first PS wefts, second PS wefts, and binder PS weft pairs interwoven in a first repeating pattern, and a MS layer having a MS surface, with the MS layer including interwoven MS warps and MS wefts. The binder PS weft pairs are interwoven with the PS warps and the MS warps to bind the PS and MS layers together. The first PS wefts have a larger diameter than the second PS wefts, the second PS wefts have a larger diameter than the binder PS weft pair, and in each repeat, the first PS wefts, the second PS wefts, and the binder PS wefts are inserted sequentially, preferably from large to small, forming a stair step topography.

Abstract: A structured tissue belt assembly including a supporting layer, a non-woven web contacting layer, and one or more laser welds that attach the bottom surface of the web contacting layer to the top surface of the supporting layer. The structured tissue belt assembly allows for air flow in x, y and z directions. In exemplary embodiments, the structured tissue belt assembly has an embedment distance between the supporting layer and the web contacting layer of 0.05 mm to 0.60 mm and a peel force between the web contacting layer and the supporting layer of at least 650 gf/inch.

Abstract: A structured tissue belt assembly including a supporting layer and a nonwoven web contacting layer. The supporting layer has a top surface and a bottom surface and is formed of monofilaments including one or more layers of warp yarns interwoven with weft yarns in a repeating pattern. At least one of: a) at least some of the warp yarns; or b) at least some of the weft yarns, include laser energy absorbent material, and at least one of: a) at least some of the warp yarns; or b) at least some of the weft yarns include laser energy scattering material. Laser welds attach the bottom surface of the web contacting layer to the top surface of the supporting layer at points where the web contacting layer contacts the at least one of: a) the at least some of the warp yarns; or b) the at least some of the weft yarns that include laser energy absorbent material.

Abstract: A structured tissue belt assembly including a supporting layer, a non-woven web contacting layer, and one or more laser welds that attach the bottom surface of the web contacting layer to the top surface of the supporting layer. The structured tissue belt assembly allows for air flow in x, y and z directions. In exemplary embodiments, the structured tissue belt assembly has an embedment distance between the supporting layer and the web contacting layer of 0.05 mm to 0.60 mm and a peel force between the web contacting layer and the supporting layer of at least 650 gf/inch.

Abstract: A structured tissue belt assembly including a supporting layer, a non-woven web contacting layer, and one or more laser welds that attach the bottom surface of the web contacting layer to the top surface of the supporting layer. The structured tissue belt assembly allows for air flow in x, y and z directions. In exemplary embodiments, the structured tissue belt assembly has an embedment distance between the supporting layer and the web contacting layer of 0.05 mm to 0.60 mm and a peel force between the web contacting layer and the supporting layer of at least 650 gf/inch.