Flexible Endless Band Type Mold (e.g., Fourdrinier) Patents (Class 162/348)
  • Patent number: 7871498
    Abstract: Forming fabrics for making tissue webs are provided with structural icons on the side of the fabric that does not contact the tissue web during formation. The resulting tissue web has good formation without pinholes, yet contains a watermark corresponding to the shape of the structural icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Peter Bakken, Peter John Allen
  • Publication number: 20100314064
    Abstract: A sieve for the wet-end section of a paper machine is described, in which the sieve has been compressed by at least one of increased temperature, pressure and/or moisture. Such a treatment leads to a sieve which has at least one side wherein the thread floats and knuckles are reshaped and the sieve presents at least one substantially flatter surface for the production of paper. This process does not cause any physical damage to the surface of the sieve, as current techniques of abrasively polishing the surface do, and therefore leads to cloths with improved properties and lifetimes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Joachim Pitzler, Oliver Baumann
  • Publication number: 20100252219
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a press felt for a machine for the production and/or processing of a fibrous web including a carrier structure which fundamentally influences the dimensional stability of the felt. The carrier structure includes a flat manufactured textile fabric formed from longitudinal threads, transverse threads crossing the longitudinal threads, and sewing threads which connect the longitudinal and transverse threads with each other at the crossing points. The textile fabric is longer than the carrier structure and is laid onto itself in sections such that the carrier structure is formed by several layers of the textile fabric, extending respectively along the entire length of the carrier structure. The layers are connected with each other, at least in sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Uwe Köckritz
  • Patent number: 7803252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible and porous fabric structure comprising a support structure (1) and a coating material for use in a paper machine. The coating material (2) is arranged solely on the surface of the support structure (1) at a predefined location(s) so that the coating material (2) does not substantially alter the permeability properties of the support structure (1). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a fabric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Tamfelt PMC Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Martikainen, Pekka Kortelainen, Tania Rautio, Mari Seppanen, Ali Harlin, Tuula Wilenius-Jaakonaho
  • Publication number: 20100155008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial fabric, in particular press fabric or transfer belt, for use in a papermaking machine. The industrial fabric includes a porous composite structure, having a batt fiber structure and particulate polymeric material. The batt fiber structure has an upper surface and a lower surface extending parallel to the upper surface and spaced from the upper surface along a thickness direction extending perpendicular to the upper and lower surface. The particulate polymeric material is partly fused together and bonded with fibers extending on at least one of the surfaces of the batt fiber structure and with fibers inside the batt fiber structure such that the polymeric material partly impregnates fibers of the batt structure and partly fills interstices between fibers of the batt structure to form the porous composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Hans Ragvald, Kjell Anders Karlsson, Anders Bertilsson, Pia Dela Nord
  • Patent number: 7727361
    Abstract: A fabric, in particular for a paper making machine, includes a plurality of helically wound coil members arranged side by side with respect to each other in an intermeshing manner, such that connecting channels are formed by adjacent intermeshing coil members, a hinge member being introduced into and extending along each connecting channel for interconnecting adjacent coil members, a stuffer channel being formed within each coil member extending along and between two connecting channels associated to a respective coil member, at least a part of the stuffer channels being filled with stuffer members extending longitudinally within the stuffer channels, a stuffer material being provided at least in regions of the fabric for filling spaces formed within the fabric between the coil members, the hinge members and the stuffer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Antony Morton, Justin Alan Payne, David Stuart Ponton, John Jeffrey
  • Patent number: 7727360
    Abstract: A sieve for the wet-end section of a paper machine is described, in which the sieve has been compressed by at least one of increased temperature, pressure and/or moisture. Such a treatment leads to a sieve which has at least one side wherein the thread floats and knuckles are reshaped and the sieve presents at least one substantially flatter surface for the production of paper. This process does not cause any physical damage to the surface of the sieve, as current techniques of abrasively polishing the surface do, and therefore leads to cloths with improved properties and lifetimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Wangner GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Pitzler, Oliver Baumann
  • Patent number: 7722742
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fabrics used in papermaking, and relates more specifically to fabrics employed in making corrugated board. The invention also relates to a belt for a corrugated board machine, where the belt includes a coating including an anti-friction modifier which can provide one or more of the following advantages: easy application of the coating to the appropriate area of the fabric, the coating is cost effective, the coating provides for increased belt life on the machine, and increased production quality of corrugated board. The present invention also relates to corrugated board machine including a belt which has a coating containing an anti-friction modifier. The present invention also relates to a method of making a coating for a belt, and a method of applying the coating to a belt where the coating includes an anti-friction modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Jean Alphonse Marie Rouhling
  • Patent number: 7691238
    Abstract: A spiral-link fabric for use in a papermaking machine or the like. The spiral-link fabric may include a plurality of spiral coils arranged in a predetermined manner such that adjacent ones of side-by-side spiral coils are interdigitated with each other so as to form a channel and interconnected by a pintle extending through the channel. At least some of the plurality of spiral coils have a coil width of approximately 12 mm or larger, as measured in machine direction of the spiral-link fabric. The ratio of the diameter of the monofilament forming the spiral coils to the coil width may be approximately 0.07 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Alan L. Billings
  • Patent number: 7651588
    Abstract: A dewatering and thickening belt having an endless fabric woven with synthetic resin filaments, a bending-resistant element and a guide protrusion, wherein the guide protrusion is fusion-bonded to a bending-resistant portion to which the bending-resistant element has been attached so that the outer end portion of the guide protrusion is located inside the end portion of the fabric. The inner end portion of the guide protrusion is located 20 to 50 mm outside the inner end portion of the bending-resistant element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsutoshi Nakajima, Yoshihisa Kondou
  • Publication number: 20100000695
    Abstract: A fabric for a papermaking machine is provided. The fabric includes a machine facing side and a web facing side comprising pockets formed by warp and weft yarns. Each pocket is defined by four sides of the web facing side. Two of the four sides are each formed by a warp knuckle of a single warp yarn that passes over at least three consecutive weft yarns to define the warp knuckle. The other two of the four sides are each formed by a weft knuckle of a single weft yarn that passes over two consecutive warp yarns to define the weft knuckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Publication number: 20100000696
    Abstract: A fabric for a papermaking machine that includes a machine facing side and a web facing side comprising pockets formed by warp and weft yarns is provided. Each pocket is defined by four sides on the web facing side, each of the four sides is formed by a knuckle of a single yarn that passes over only two consecutive yarns to define the knuckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Patent number: 7641768
    Abstract: A method of joining two ends of a fabric for use in a paper machine, carried out using a joining assembly, includes the steps of: placing a first end of the fabric on a first portion of a pin plate, the pins in the first portion of the pin plate extending into the first end; placing a second end of the fabric on a second portion of the pin plate such that the first end and the second end are in close proximity to each other in a join area, the pins in the second portion of the pin plate extending into the second end; and joining the first end and the second end in the join area. The method results in a perforated (and therefore permeable) join area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Sanjay Patel, Robert Crook, Bryan Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090314447
    Abstract: A papermaking machine is provided for manufacturing a paper web, comprising a forming section having two clothings, a dewatering section comprising at least one paper manufacturing clothing, and a plurality of rotary rolls comprising guide rolls, each guide roll having two opposing flanges interconnected by a shell, each clothing running about some of the rotary rolls in a loop, wherein said papermaking machine is a tissue papermaking machine, at least one of the guide rolls is a lightweight guide roll supporting at least one of the clothings, and at least one of the shell and the flanges of said lightweight guide roll comprises a material with a density less than steel, wherein a weight of the lightweight guide roll is at least 10% less than a weight of a steel guide roll having the same dimensions and mechanical parameters. Associated devices and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Krister Aspegren, Rune Skogsberg, Rolf Jonsson
  • Patent number: 7624765
    Abstract: Textured non-woven webs, papermaking fabrics and tissue sheets made using the textured papermaking fabrics can contain design elements set in highlight areas which make the design elements more visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Cristina Asensio Mullally, Andrew Peter Bakken, Robert Eugene Krautkramer
  • Patent number: 7611607
    Abstract: A woven fabric for a papermaking machine includes a textured sheet contacting surface having substantially continuous machine-direction ripples separated by valleys. The ripples are formed of multiple warp strands grouped together and supported by multiple shute strands of two or more diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Cristina Asensio Mullally, Brooke Savell
  • Patent number: 7591928
    Abstract: A spiral-link fabric comprised of connected sets of “chain mail” intertwined spiral coils. Alternating sets of two right-turn spiral coils and two left-turn spiral coils are repeatedly connected to form the body of the fabric. Within each set, the spiral coil loops are intertwined in a pattern which does not require fastening to connect the coils. The alternating sets are connected by interdigitating respective spiral coil loops and inserting a series of parallel pintles extending through the channels formed by the interdigitated loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Alan L. Billings, Curtis L. Gardner
  • Patent number: 7585394
    Abstract: A wire cloth, in particular a paper making wire cloth, has at least two fabric layers (1B, 1T; 2B, 2T), including an upper fabric layer made of wires in the making direction (101, 110) and wires in the cross direction (121, 130), and a lower fabric layer made of wires in the making direction and wires in the cross direction (141, 145). Wire bridges are formed for the individual fabric layers in such a way that they extend over a predeterminable distance within a pattern repeat without being tied to other wires. The wire bridges of the upper cross direction wires extend within a pattern repeat over at least nine making direction wires and under maximum one making direction wire. The wire bridges of the lower cross direction wires extend within the pattern repeat at least under six and over two making direction wires. Between two making direction wires extending over a cross direction wire, at least one other making direction wire extends under the same cross direction wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Kufferath GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heger, Klaus Fichter
  • Patent number: 7581567
    Abstract: A triple layer papermaker's fabric includes: a set of top MD yarns; a set of top CMD yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns to form a top fabric layer; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer; and a set of stitching yarn pairs that interweave with the top MD yarns, wherein at least one of the yarns of each stitching yarn pair interweaves with the bottom MD yarns. The top MD yarns and the top CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of repeat units and the bottom MD yarns and the bottom CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of corresponding repeat units. The set of top MD yarns comprises a first number of top MD yarns in each repeat unit, and the set of bottom MD yarns comprises a second number of bottom MD yarns in each repeat unit, and the ratio between the first number and the second number is 2:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ward, Christine Barratte
  • Patent number: 7575659
    Abstract: A spiral-link fabric for use in a papermaking machine or the like. The spiral-link fabric may include a plurality of spiral coils arranged in a predetermined manner such that adjacent ones of side-by-side spiral coils are interdigitated with each other so as to form a channel and interconnected by a pintle extending through the channel. At least some of the plurality of spiral coils have a coil width of approximately 12 mm or larger. The ratio of coil thickness to coil width may be approximately 0.5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Alan L. Billings
  • Patent number: 7534325
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forming fabric, with a paper side fabric having paper side threads and with a wear side fabric having wear side threads. The paper side fabric and the wear side fabric are superimposed to one another and connected by binding threads weaving with both the paper side threads and the wear side threads, both extending in cross direction relative to the binding threads. The binding threads form part of the weave pattern of the paper side fabric and form part of the weave pattern of the wear side fabric, and alternate from weaving with the paper side fabric to weave with the wear side fabric and vice versa, thereby crossing each other forming crossing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Quigley, Martin Ringer
  • Patent number: 7527707
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and a papermaker's or industrial fabric, which includes the application of a polymeric resin material onto preselected discrete locations on a base substrate in a controlled manner in droplets having an average diameter of 10? (10 microns) to point bond yarns, bond spiral wound strips together or to bond layers of a fabric together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Francis L. Davenport, Charles E. Kramer, Joseph G. O'Connor, Maurice Paquin
  • Patent number: 7524403
    Abstract: A forming fabric for an ATMOS system or a TAD machine. The forming fabric includes a permeability value of between approximately 100 cfm and approximately 1200 cfm, a paper surface contact area of between approximately 0.5% and approximately 90% when not under pressure and tension, and an open area of between approximately 1.0% and approximately 90%. A belt press for a paper machine can utilize the forming fabric. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Ademar Lippi Alves Fernandes, Martin Ringer, Carl Warren
  • Patent number: 7514030
    Abstract: A smoothed and durable industrial process fabric and method for producing such a fabric. The fabric may be used as a papermaker's fabric, other industrial process fabric and/or engineered fabric. In any case, the fabric is processed using a device comprising at least two smooth rolls which form a pressure nip, such as a calender, such that at least some of the fabric components are permanently deformed. Preferably, at least one of the rolls is heated to a pre-selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Anders Nilsson, Goran Nilsson, Ademar Lippi Fernande, David Rougvie, Lynn Kroll, Jeffrey Scott Denton
  • Publication number: 20090078388
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric including at least one system of warp yarns interwoven with at least first and second systems of weft yarns, with the weft yarns of the first system of weft yarns having a vertical dimension that is greater than a vertical dimension of the weft yarns of the second system. The fabric has a papermaking surface and a machine side surface, and in the papermaking surface, the yarns of the first system of weft yarns are interwoven with the warp yarns to provide groups of four weft yarn floats which form four corners of a box shape, the yarns of the second system of weft yarns are interwoven with the warp yarns so as to pass through the bottom of the box shape, and further provide support areas in pockets located adjacent to the box shapes, and at least one yarn from the second system of weft yarns interweaves with the warp yarns to occupy space in a center plane of the fabric so as to restrict or retard drainage and thereby increase a CPR of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: ASTENJOHNSON, INC.
    Inventor: Rex Barrett
  • Patent number: 7503350
    Abstract: A forming fabric is formed by repeat units, being determined by a paper side weave and a wear side weave, the paper side weave having first yarns being interwoven with second yarns extending in cross direction relative to the first yarns. The first yarns passing over one or more consecutive second yarns define over-floats and first yarns passing under one or more consecutive second yarns define under-floats. Each weave repeat unit has at least two like floats having different lengths and forming part of the paper side weave, wherein floats are like floats if all of the floats are either over-floats or under-floats. A “float” as used herein is defined as being either an over-float or an under-float, an over-float being defined by a yarn weaving over one or more consecutive yarns extending in cross direction relative thereto, an under-float being defined by a yarn weaving under one or more consecutive yarns extending in cross direction relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Patent number: 7503351
    Abstract: This invention relates to a paper machine covering such as a mesh, in particular forming mesh, having an upper fabric layer which is repeated in upper repeats and whose outer side forms the paper side of the mesh, having a lower fabric layer whose outer side forms the machine side of the mesh, and having tie threads arranged in groups and extending in the longitudinal thread direction, which connect the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer to each other, wherein the upper fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, upper transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads, in that the tie threads of each group alternate in sections when weaving with the upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction, thus jointly creating an upper longitudinal thread run which is repeated over the length of the upper repeat in the longitudinal thread direction, wherein the lower fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, lower transverse
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Petra Hack-Ueberall
  • Publication number: 20090068909
    Abstract: Forming fabric for making a bulky web. The fabric includes a machine facing side and a web facing side having pockets formed by warp and weft yarns. A bottom of the pockets is formed an exchange of a different number of the warp and the weft yarns. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Publication number: 20090065167
    Abstract: Forming fabric for making a bulky web. The fabric includes a machine facing side and a web facing side comprising pockets formed by warp and weft yarns. A bottom of the pockets is formed by an exchange of the warp and weft yarns. A contact plane of the web facing side includes elongated warp knuckles. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Publication number: 20090065166
    Abstract: Forming fabric for making a bulky web. The fabric includes a machine facing side and a web facing side having pockets formed by warp and weft yarns. The pockets are defined by more than four sides on an upper plane of the web facing side. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Quigley
  • Patent number: 7493922
    Abstract: This invention relates to a paper machine mesh, in particular a forming mesh, including an upper fabric layer, whose outer side forms a paper side, and a lower fabric layer, whose outer side forms a machine side of the paper machine mesh, and tie threads extending in the longitudinal thread direction, which connect the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer to each other, wherein the upper fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, upper transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads, wherein the lower fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, lower transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads, wherein each lower transverse thread is held respectively by several tie threads in that each of these tie threads continually crosses the respective lower transverse thread on the outer side of the lower fabric layer, and wherein at least some of the tie threads holding a respective lower transverse thread are separated from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Petra Hack-Ueberall
  • Patent number: 7493923
    Abstract: A double layer papermakers' fabric that is particularly suitable for forming or through-air drying (TAD) of high bulk tissue and towel product is provided. The fabric includes a single warp yarn system interwoven with three weft yarn systems such that: a first of the weft yarn systems is located on the paper side (PS) surface of the fabric; a second of the weft yarn systems is located on the machine side (MS) surface of the fabric; and the third weft yarn system is located intermediate between the first and second weft yarn systems. The yarns of the first and second weft yarn systems are interwoven with the warp yarn system such that they are vertically stacked with respect to one another in the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Barrett, Rae Patel
  • Patent number: 7491297
    Abstract: Papermaching clothing for conveying a fibrous web in a machine for producing the fibrous web, whereby a fabric made of fibers which run in the machine direction and in the transverse direction, is disclosed having circular fibers, flat fibers or, as compared with the plane of the clothing formed by them, flattened fibers, such as fibers having an elliptical cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Serr, Lena Johannson, Scott Quigley, Volker Schmidt-Rohr
  • Patent number: 7487805
    Abstract: A triple layer papermaker's fabric includes: a set of top MD yarns; a set of top CMD yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns to form a top fabric layer; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer; and a set of stitching yarn pairs that interweave with the top MD yarns, wherein at least one of the yarns of each stitching yarn pair interweaves with the bottom MD yarns. The top MD yarns and the top CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of repeat units and the bottom MD yarns and the bottom CMD yarns are interwoven in a series of corresponding repeat units. The set of top MD yarns comprises a first number of top MD yarns in each repeat unit, and the set of bottom MD yarns comprises a second number of bottom MD yarns in each repeat unit, wherein the second number being greater than the first number. Each bottom MD yarn follows a different interweaving pattern than that followed by each of its two immediate neighboring bottom MD yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventors: Christine Barratte, Stewart Hay, Kevin John Ward
  • Patent number: 7473336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multilayer multiaxial fabric for a paper machine having a reduced interference pattern and accordingly improved dewatering uniformity. The present invention also provides a method of forming such a multilayer multiaxial fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Hawes, Glenn Kornett
  • Publication number: 20080271868
    Abstract: A sieve for the wet-end section of a paper machine is described, in which the sieve has been compressed by at least one of increased temperature, pressure and/or moisture. Such a treatment leads to a sieve which has at least one side wherein the thread floats and knuckles are reshaped and the sieve presents at least one substantially flatter surface for the production of paper. This process does not cause any physical damage to the surface of the sieve, as current techniques of abrasively polishing the surface do, and therefore leads to cloths with improved properties and lifetimes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: WAGNER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Pitzler, Oliver Baumann
  • Patent number: 7445032
    Abstract: A multilayered papermakers' forming fabric comprises at least one set of machine direction (MD) warp yarns, at least a first set of cross-machine direction (CD) machine side layer weft yarns; and paper side layer weft yarns woven in a repeating pattern with at least some of the MD warp yarns. At least some of the paper side layer weft yarns comprise an array of bulk enhancing weft yarns each having a vertical dimension which exceeds a corresponding vertical dimension of each of the remaining paper side layer weft yarns in a ratio of at least 1.25:1. Selected weft yarns can have different float lengths in the paper side surface. The fabrics of the invention impart increased bulk for products such as towel or tissue without loss of other required characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Barrett, Rae Patel
  • Patent number: 7431802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forming fabric, with a paper side fabric having paper side threads and with a wear side fabric having wear side threads. The paper side fabric and the wear side fabric are superimposed to one another and connected by binding threads weaving with both the paper side threads and the wear side threads, both extending in cross direction relative to the binding threads. The binding threads form part of the weave pattern of the paper side fabric and form part of the weave pattern of the wear side fabric, and alternate from weaving with the paper side fabric to weave with the wear side fabric and vice versa, thereby crossing each other forming crossing points. The wear side weave pattern is repeated by wear side repeat units, wherein the binding threads alternate such that one or less than one crossing point within each wear side weave repeat unit is formed and the ratio of the paper side threads to the wear side threads is greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Scott Quigley, Martin Ringer
  • Patent number: 7427334
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus to encode substrates (e.g., paper, synthetics, etc.) with information. In one implementation a method is provided including: receiving data that corresponds to a two-dimensional signal that encodes plural bits of data; receiving data that corresponds to a frequency-domain signal, the data corresponding to a representation in a spatial domain through inverse transforming the frequency-domain signal; and defining characteristics for an element of a substrate-making process, the characteristics including at least a pattern representing the spatial domain representation and the two-dimensional signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Adnan M. Alattar
  • Patent number: 7410554
    Abstract: A forming fabric including a sheet contact layer of woven material and a base layer formed of a layer of spiral turns formed by a spirally-wound material strip, the material strip having a width which is smaller in width than the forming fabric, the longitudinal axis of the spiral turns making an angle with said machine direction of the fabric. The sheet contact layer and the base layer are laminated to one another to form a single fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Francis L. Davenport
  • Patent number: 7384513
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric for use as a forming fabric. The fabric may include bondable or meltable monofilament yarns which may be formed from materials that retain substantial strength and tenacity after thermal treatment. Further, the remaining yarns in the forming fabric may be formed from materials that have a higher melting temperature than the monofilament material that will be thermally bonded or melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Dana Eagles
  • Patent number: 7384515
    Abstract: A fabric and a method of forming a fabric formed by the steps of providing an endless fabric having at least two layers of MD yarns, raveling CD yarns in an area of said endless fabric to be cut, cutting at least one layer of MD yarns at a first predetermined location, and cutting at least one layer of MD yarns at a second predetermined location. The method also includes steps of folding the endless fabric in half in the MD direction, placing the first and second predetermined locations proximally to one another, forming loops from at least one uncut layer of MD yarns when said fabric is folded, and seaming the loops to form an endless fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Tobias Byfeldt, Bjorn Rydin
  • Patent number: 7381306
    Abstract: The invention concerns a paper machine belt having front ends (6, 7) extending transversely to the machine direction and having a yarn structure (2, 4) made up of longitudinal yarns (3) extending in the machine direction and transverse yarns (5) extending transversely to the machine direction, and having a coupling device (8, 32, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92) connecting or capable of connecting the front ends (6, 7), which device comprises at both front ends (6, 7) coupling elements (9, 10; 33, 34, 35, 36; 53, 54; 63, 64: 83, 84; 93, 94) engaging respectively onto the yarn structure (2, 4); which is characterized in that the coupling elements (9, 10; 33, 34, 35, 36; 53, 54; 63, 64; 83, 84; 93, 94) are propping themselves against the side facing away from the front edges (6, 7) transverse yarns (5) belonging to the yarn structure (2, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Heimbach GmbH & Co
    Inventors: Walter Best, Christian Molls
  • Patent number: 7381308
    Abstract: A method of seaming an on-machine-seamable multiaxial papermaker's fabric to prevent yarn migration. The multiaxial fabric is in the form of an endless loop flattened into two layers along fold lines. CD yarns are removed from the folds to create extended ravel areas. This leaves the MD yarns unbound in the ravel areas. Seam loops are then formed from the unbound MD yarns at the folds. CD materials (e.g. continuous CD yarns) are affixed to (rewoven into) the fabric along the edges of the ravel area at each fold. The affixed CD materials bind the CD yarn tails along the edges of the ravel areas to prevent migration of CD yarn tails into the seam area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Glenn Kornett, Bjorn Rydin, Bodil Jonasson, Sandra Rae, Frank Oxley, Dave Krebs
  • Patent number: 7373957
    Abstract: A papermaking screen includes at least one individual fabric for the paper side and at least one individual fabric for the machine side. Each of those fabrics is provided with a set of weft yarns (4, 6) and warp yarns (1, 5). At least one part of the superimposed individual fabrics is interconnected via binder yarns (3). The two fabric layers (paper side and machine side) are connected by binder yarns that are fully integrated into the fabric structure of the paper side and are able to support the resulting binding point due to each binder yarn (3) engaging with warp yarns (1) of the individual fabric from above at defined points on the paper side, while at least one weft yarn (2) of the individual fabric engages with the warp yarns (1) from below on the opposite side so as to lean against it such that the binder yarns remain on one plane along with the weft and the remaining warp yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Andreas Kufferath GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heger, Klaus Fichter
  • Patent number: 7374639
    Abstract: A papermaking belt having a reinforcing structure and a pattern layer is disclosed. The reinforcing layer has a first layer of interwoven machine direction yarns and cross-machine direction yarns. The machine direction and cross-machine direction yarns of the first layer are interwoven in a weave. The pattern layer extends outwardly from and into the first layer. The pattern layer provides a web contacting surface facing outwardly from the first layer. The pattern layer further has at least one region having an amorphous pattern of elongate two-dimensional geometrical shapes having a longitudinal axis having an angle relative to either of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction. The amorphous pattern of two-dimensional geometrical shapes has a statically controlled degree of randomness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Stanley Ampulski, Osman Polat
  • Publication number: 20080073048
    Abstract: Throughdried tissue sheets can be made using a linkbelt throughdrying fabric and/or transfer fabric. In particular, linkbelts can be modified with topically-applied materials, such as extruded or printed silicone materials, in a pattern that provides an overall background texture and/or a decorative design that is imparted to the resulting tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Andrew Peter Bakken
  • Patent number: 7300554
    Abstract: A multi-layer tissue forming fabric constructed so that the top forming surface has topographical differences measured as a plane difference between at least two top weft yarns. The plane difference—the difference in height between the two weft yarns—must be greater than zero. Using at least two different diameter, size, or shape weft yarns positioned at the same contour in the forming surface creates this plane difference and defines pocket areas in the forming surface of the tissue forming fabric. The pocket areas act to generate bulk, cross directional tensile, absorbency, and softness in a formed sheet of tissue, napkin, or towel paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: John J. LaFond, Cynthia Rose Mathe, Jeffrey Joseph Collegnon, Bruce Stowe
  • Patent number: 7297234
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and a papermaker's or industrial fabric, which includes the application of a polymeric resin material onto preselected discrete locations on a base substrate in a controlled manner in droplets having an average diameter of 10? (10 microns) to point bond yarns, bond spiral wound strips together or to bond layers of a fabric together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Francis L. Davenport, Charles E. Kramer, Joseph G. O'Connor, Maurice Paquin
  • Patent number: 7294238
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an endless non-woven tissue making fabric having a three-dimensional texture suitable for use as a fabric for producing three-dimensional fibrous webs. The endless non-woven tissue making fabric comprises a plurality of substantially parallel adjoining sections of non-woven material. Each section of non-woven material has a width substantially less than the width of the non-woven tissue making fabric. Each section of non-woven material may be joined to at least one other adjoining section of non-woven material. The non-woven tissue making fabric has a machine direction, a cross-machine direction, a tissue contacting surface and a tissue machine contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface comprises solid matter at a plurality of heights such that the tissue contacting surface of the non-woven tissue making fabric has an Overall Surface Depth of at least 0.2 mm in regions of solid matter on the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Peter Bakken, Mark Alan Burazin, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay