Abstract: A permeable industrial fabric is assembled from a plurality of separate tiles into at least two plies, and in which the two plies are held together by jointing structures made integrally with the tiles. In these fabrics, within each tile the jointing structures are incorporated at primary selected locations according a symmetrical pattern, and the apertures in the tiles which provide the required fabric permeability are incorporated at secondary and tertiary selected locations according two more patterns, at least one of which is asymmetrical. This combination of symmetry and asymmetry allows for some control over the permeability of the assembled fabric.

Abstract: A synthetic filament formed from first and second compatible polymers. The first polymer has a first, higher melting temperature melting point and the second polymer has a second, lower temperature melting point that is at least 5° C. lower. The polymers are mixed and extruded to form a filament that has two distinct melting points so that the filament remains stable and can be heat set at a temperature less than the first high temperature. A woven textile is also provided which incorporates the filaments in at least some of the machine direction and cross direction yarns.

Abstract: A flat woven papermaker's forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer interconnected by pairs of machine side layer weft binder yarns. Each of the binder yarn pair members in sequence interlaces with a portion of the machine side layer warp yarns in segments of the weft yarn path so as to complete an unbroken weft path in the machine side layer weave pattern, and to provide an internal machine side layer float. Each of the binder yarn pair floats interweaves with a paper side layer warp yarn so as to bind the paper and machine side layers together. The location of the internal floats in each layer determines the available interweaving locations, not all of which need be used. A wider choice of possible paper and machine side layer weave design combinations is thus made available in forming fabrics, thereby allowing for a better match between the forming fabric and the paper maker's requirements.

Abstract: A shower device for a papermaking machine is provided which includes a longitudinally extending hollow member having an inlet end adapted for connection to a pressurized water source. A slot extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the hollow member. The slot includes opposing edges and a strip of material is slideably engageable with the hollow member so that the hollow member is substantially sealed along the edges of the slot when the strip is installed. The strip of material includes a plurality of spaced apart shower nozzles. This allows a plurality of shower nozzles on a papermaking machine to be quickly and easily replaced by slidably removing the nozzle strip from the slot and slidably inserting a replacement strip of nozzles into the slot.

Abstract: A process, and an apparatus, for improving sheet properties in the initial impingement zone of a paper making machine including a forming section, a forming fabric moving in the machine direction and a head box having a head box slice which delivers a stock jet onto the moving forming fabric. The scale and intensity of agitation within the stock is adjusted by adjusting some of the support elements beneath the forming fabric adjacent the head box slice so that they either contact, or do not contact, the machine side surface of the forming fabric and observing the effect, if any, that the adjustment has on the quality of the sheet product being made on the paper making machine. This technique is of use in a papermaking machine forming section having a single open surface forming fabric, in the initial open surface section of a so-called hybrid gap former having two superposed forming fabrics, and in the forming section of a two fabric papermaking machine.

Abstract: A synthetic filament formed from first and second compatible polymers. The first polymer has a first, higher melting temperature melting point and the second polymer has a second, lower temperature melting point that is at least 5° C. lower. The polymers are mixed and extruded to form a filament that has two distinct melting points so that the filament remains stable and can be heat set at a temperature less than the first high temperature. A woven textile is also provided which incorporates the filaments in at least some of the machine direction and cross direction yarns.

Abstract: A tie component comprising first and second pre-crimped portions. Each pre-crimped portion has a plurality of alternating indentations and projections. The pre-crimped portions are joined by alignment and relative movement with respect to one another such that at least one of the first portion projections engages at least one of the second portion indentations and at least one of the second portion projections engages at least one of the first portion indentations.

Abstract: An integrated cutter for preparing the edges of a fabric for seaming includes a hooked needle which oscillates vertically in a guide bushing located close to the plane of the fabric between a retracted position where the head of the needle is not exposed and an extended position in which the needle penetrates the fabric. The needle head is shaped so that when it moves upwardly it pushes between a pair of yarns in one direction until the hook is above a yarn in the other direction. The needle hook includes a transverse groove shaped so that when it moves downwardly it captures this yarn.

Abstract: An integrated cutter for preparing the edges of a fabric for seaming includes a hooked needle which oscillates vertically in a guide bushing located close to the plane of the fabric between a retracted position where the head of the needle is not exposed and an extended position in which the needle penetrates the fabric. The needle head is shaped so that when it moves upwardly it pushes between a pair of yarns in one direction until the hook is above a yarn in the other direction. The needle hook includes a transverse groove shaped so that when it moves downwardly it captures this yarn.

Abstract: A composite forming fabric woven to a repeating pattern in at least 6 sheds; up to at least 36 sheds can be used. All of the paper side layer warp yarns are pairs of intrinsic warp binder yarns (101, 102) occupying an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface including three segments. The first and a second are occupied in turn by each intrinsic warp binder yarn (101, 102), and the third by both intrinsic warp binder yarns (101, 102) of a pair. The first, second and third segments are separated by at least one paper side layer weft, and a first or second segment is adjacent each end of the third segment. Within each first and second segment, each intrinsic warp binder yarn (101, 102) also interlaces once with a machine side layer weft (2′, 9′), at the same point as a machine side layer warp (103) interlaces with the same weft (2′, 9′). The weave path occupied by each member of a pair of intrinsic warp binder yarns (101, 102) can be the same or different.

Abstract: A bi-component link for making a modular papermaking fabric has a link base component capable of interconnecting to at least one other link and a surface plate component attached to the link base forming a paper support surface. Each component is made through molding techniques to have predetermined characteristics such as open area, permeability, surface finish, etc. The surface plate component is attached to the link base component for combined effect on fabric characteristics. A papermaking fabric is constructed from a plurality of interconnected bi-component links and has predetermined permeability established by the combination of a pattern of open and contact areas on each component of each link.

Abstract: A link for making a modular papermaking fabric by interconnecting with other links is made through molding techniques to have predetermined characteristics such as open area, permeability, surface finish, etc. A papermaking fabric is constructed from a plurality of interconnected links and has predetermined permeability established by the combination of open and contact areas on each link.

Abstract: A tie component comprising first and second pre-crimped portions. Each pre-crimped portion has a plurality of alternating indentations and projections. The pre-crimped portions are joined by alignment and relative movement with respect to one another such that at least one of the first portion projections engages at least one of the second portion indentations and at least one of the second portion projections engages at least one of the first portion indentations.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric is reinforced along its edges by bonding a webbing thereto. The fabric may be made of various materials and weaves. The webbing is made of thermoplastic material, and also may be made of various material to various thicknesses. The webbing is bonded to one or both surfaces of the fabric at its edge by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A bi-component link for making a modular papermaking fabric has a link base component capable of interconnecting to at least one other link and a surface plate component attached to the link base forming a paper support surface. Each component is made through molding techniques to have predetermined characteristics such as open area, permeability, surface finish, etc. The surface plate component is attached to the link base component for combined effect on fabric characteristics. A papermaking fabric is constructed from a plurality of interconnected bi-component links and has predetermined permeability established by the combination of a pattern of open and contact areas on each component of each link.

Abstract: A link for making a modular papermaking fabric by interconnecting with other links is made through molding techniques to have predetermined characteristics such as open area, permeability, surface finish, etc. A papermaking fabric is constructed from a plurality of interconnected links and has predetermined permeability established by the combination of open and contact areas on each link.

Abstract: A double layer papermaking fabric having twice as many paper side cross machine direction yarns as machine side cross machine direction layer. A system of machine direction yarns is interwoven with both cross machine direction layers, with each machine direction yarn forming first and second knuckles on each side of the fabric. The paper side knuckles are woven with uniform spacing and each machine side cross machine direction yarn is passed under by two machine direction knuckles spaced by at least one intermediate machine direction yarn.

Abstract: An expandable monofilament pintle, either solid or hollow, that is inserted in a channel formed by a plurality of intermeshed loops at the ends of a papermaking fabric is expanded by means of exposure to either chemicals, high temperature, or some other form of triggering mechanism to pull the fabric ends closer together to form a tight seam.

Abstract: A papermaking fabric with increased stability is provided, due to the use of beam construction yarns which resist lateral, vertical and torsional deflection as well as compression when interwoven. The yarns are generally non-circular in cross-section and are preferably I-beam, H-beam, box-beam or a hybrid construction. Each type has certain advantages, with the hybrid construction being capable of multiple combined advantages.

Abstract: An apparatus for the creation of a spiral coil by extruding a hollow tube and cutting the tube in a fixed plane relative to the tube is provided. A fabric made from such spiral coils is also provided.