Abstract: A flat woven papermaker's forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer interconnected by pairs of weft binder yarns. Each of the binder yarn pair members in sequence interweaves with a portion of the paper side layer warp yarns in segments of the weft yarn path so as to complete an unbroken weft path in the paper side layer weave pattern, and to provide an internal paper side layer float. Each of the binder yarn pair floats interlaces with a machine side layer warp yarn so as to bind the paper and machine side layers together. To recess the binder yarns from the plane of fabric wear the interlacing point is located at or near the midpoint of an internal float in the machine side layer warp yarn. The number of paper side layer weft yarns located between each of the pairs of intrinsic weft yarns is irregular within one repeat of the overall fabric weave pattern. The location of the paper side layer internal floats also determines the interlacing locations with the machine side layer.

Abstract: An open ended papermaker's fabric of a type woven from a longitudinal thread system and a transverse thread system wherein a plurality of seam loops are formed at each end of the fabric by the threads of the longitudinal thread system. A seam zone exists at each end of the fabric between the respective seam loops and the last thread of the transverse thread system. Two additional transverse threads are interwoven with the longitudinal thread system in at least one seam zone in complementary weave repeat patterns that combine to provide a paper side repeated pattern of over one, under one across the repeat.

Abstract: An open ended papermaker's fabric woven from longitudinal and transverse thread systems and including a plurality of seam loops at each end. Two additional transverse threads are interwoven with the longitudinal thread system in the seam zone. The crossover points of the two additional transverse threads occur at a transition between paired paper and machine side threads of the longitudinal thread system which are separated in the transverse direction by at least three top layer longitudinal threads.

Abstract: A “triple layer” fabric having upper and lower systems of interwoven yarns interconnected into an integral fabric by a system of stitching yarns. Preferably, the fabric is a forming fabric having upper and lower layers of uniformly sized machine direction (MD) yarns. Upper and lower layer cross machine direction (CMD) yarns weave, respectively, with the upper and lower MD yarns to define the upper and lower yarn systems. The lower layer CMD yarns are preferably larger in diameter than the MD yarns. The lower layer CMD yarns weave in a repeat pattern with respect to the lower layer MD yarns such that the lower layer CMD yarns weave in a repeat defined by floats under groups of at least three lower MD yarns and over pairs of adjacent lower MD yarns. Each lower layer MD yarn is in at least two different pairs relative to at least two different lower layer CMD yarns within the repeat which maintains a substantial degree of stacking of the lower layer MD yarns below respective upper layer MD yarns.

Abstract: An open ended papermaking fabric comprised of interwoven longitudinal and transverse thread systems which define a paper side, a machine side and a plurality of seaming loops at each open end of the fabric. The seaming loops are formed by the longitudinal thread system and the transverse threads define a seaming zone at each end. The fabric is characterized by at least one additional transverse thread interwoven with the longitudinal threads in the seam zone in a repeat pattern that includes a mid-plane float of at least two threads in the longitudinal yarn system.

Abstract: An open ended papermaker's fabric of the type woven from longitudinal and transverse thread systems including a plurality of seam loops at each end of the fabric. A seam zone exists at each end of the fabric between the respective seam loops and the last thread of the transverse thread system. At least one additional transverse thread is interwoven in at least one seam zone in a repeat pattern having a ratio of interlacings with longitudinal machine side threads to paper side longitudinal threads greater than zero and less than or equal to 1 in 6.

Abstract: The invention concerns a stitched seam for high-tensile woven fabric sections, in particular dryer screen fabric for paper machine clothing, wherein the warp yarn loops (6) located at the end of the two woven fabric sections (1, 2) to be interconnected are interconnected at the common seam line by a closure wire (9). Associated with the warp yarn loops (6) at the location of the stitched seam and with the closure wire (9) is at least one reinforcing yarn (8) which takes up loops disposed parallel to the warp yarn loops in the eyelet region in order to take up the closure wire.

Abstract: A forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer comprises at least two systems of weft yarns and a single set of warp yarn triplets. In the fabric weave pattern, each member of each triplet set of warp yarns interweaves with the paper side weft yarns to occupy in sequence segments of an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface, and the members of each triplet interlace in pairs with single machine side layer weft yarns. Each segment in the unbroken warp path is separated by at least one paper side layer weft yarn. The machine side layer interlacing points can be regularly or irregularly spaced. After heat setting, the fabrics typically have a warp fill from about 105% to about 140%, an open area of at least 35% in the paper side surface, and an air permeability typically from about 3,500 to about 8,200 m3/m2/hr. Paper products made using these fabrics have enhanced printability.

Abstract: A multilayer papermaking fabric having interwoven machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CMD) yarns, the CMD yarns defining at least upper and lower CMD yarn subsets which are interwoven with the MD yarns in a repeat pattern such that the MD yarns have substantially more interweavings with the upper CMD yarn subset than with the lower CMD yarn subset. The upper subset CMD yarns define sheetside floats over at least seven MD yarns and each MD yarn interweaves with only two upper subset CMD yarns in a given repeat.

Abstract: A composite forming fabric, comprising in combination a paper side layer having a paper side surface, a machine side layer and paper side layer intrinsic warp binder yarns. Each of the paper side layer and the machine side layer are woven together in a repeating pattern, and the two layers together are woven in at least 6 sheds, and up to at least 36 sheds can be used. All of the paper side layer warp yarns are provided by pairs of intrinsic warp binder yarns. The paper side layer weave pattern provides an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface including at least two segments, occupied in turn by each intrinsic binder yarn; the segments are separated by at least one paper side layer weft. Within each segment, each intrinsic binder yarn also interlaces once with a machine side layer weft, at the same point as a machine side layer warp interlaces with the same weft. The weave path occupied by each member of a pair of intrinsic warp binder yarns can be the same or different.

Abstract: A method for weaving a papermakers fabric having a system of flat monofilament machine direction yarns (hereinafter MD yarns) which are stacked to control the permeability of the fabric. The system of MD yarns comprises at least upper and lower layers of yarns. Preferably, each upper MD yarn is paired in a vertically stacked orientation with a lower MD yarn. In a low permeability embodiment, at least the upper MD yarns are flat monofilament yarns woven contiguous with each other.

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: A multilayer papermaking fabric having interwoven machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CMD) yarns, the CMD yarns defining at least upper and lower CMD yarn subsets which are interwoven with the MD yarns in a repeat pattern such that the MD yarns have substantially more interweavings with the upper CMD yarn subset than with the lower CMD yarn subset. The lower subset CMD yarns define machine side floats under at least seven MD yarns and each MD yarn interweaves with only two lower subset CMD yarns in a given repeat.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for plasma modifying a substrate are disclosed along with associated techniques for applying coatings to the substrate. Particular utility has been found using a hollow cathode to generate the plasma along with magnetic focusing means to focus the plasma at the surface of a substrate.

Abstract: A polymer blend of fresh polymer, recycled polymer, polymeric stabilizer, wherein the recycled polymer comprising a carboxyl end group, and the polymeric stabilizer is reactive with such a carboxyl end group; also a yarn or fiber made from such a blend and an industrial fabric, especially a papermaker's fabric, made from such a yarn or fiber; also the process of making such a yarn or fiber.

Abstract: An opened ended, endless woven papermaker's fabric having a plurality of longitudinal yarns and a plurality of transverse yarns woven in a selected weave pattern to form a fabric body and seaming loops, the fabric characterized by a longitudinal yarn weave repeat having selected yarns woven as the seaming loops and selected yarns woven in the fabric body and defining a fabric edge.

Abstract: A papermaker's fabric having a system of primary machine direction yarns which form seaming loops at each end of the fabric and a system of secondary machine direction yarns. A system of cross-machine direction yarns are interwoven with the primary and secondary systems of machine direction yarns in a weave pattern that provides adjacent balancing yarns that maintain the seam loops in substantially vertical alignment.