Abstract: A substantially planar jointed multi-layer industrial fabric, assembled from at least one segment comprising at least one woven or nonwoven ply, in which the joints utilize jointing yarns or formed structures. The jointing yarns or formed structures are placed at selected locations, such as the lateral edges, of at least one planar surface of a ply of the at least one, or first, fabric segment, and interlock in mating engagement with corresponding jointing yarns or formed structures either in at least one surface of a ply of a second segment, or in another location on the first fabric segment, to provide an integral joint. The joints are comprised of shaped yarns and formed structures which in any combination form mating engagements substantially within the plane of the fabric, such as in hook-and-loop or slot-and-rib type joints, and the like.

Abstract: A multilayer porous fabric which comprises a porous core fabric provided with hook means, and at least one layer of pre-needled nonwoven fibrous batt attached by entanglement onto the hook means by pressing the core fabric and batt together. The entanglement is sufficient to anchor the batt reliably to the core fabric, so that the multilayer fabric is ready for use without further processing. The porous core fabric may be formed by weaving or as an extruded sheet, with a plurality of suitably located hook means structures on at least one of its surfaces. The hook structures engage with and entangle sufficient fibers from the pre-needled nonwoven batt to provide adequate attachment preventing the batt from separating from the core fabric enabling the multilayer fabric to be handled before use, for example for installation in a papermaking machine press section. The batt is pre-needled to a desired density before attachment to the core fabric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically unravelling a fringe area in a fabric is provided. The apparatus uses a reciprocating, hooked needle and a reciprocating blade to pull weft threads from the plane of a fabric and cut them off. The needle and hook are advanced in the direction of the warp threads, unravelling the weft threads until a fringe area of a certain width has been formed. The apparatus is then displaced along the edge of the fabric and the unravelling cycle is repeated. The apparatus continues to be moved along the edge of the fabric until the fringe area extends the length of the edge.

Abstract: A composite forming fabric in which the woven paper and machine side layers are interconnected by pairs of intrinsic weft binder yarns which interweave with the paper side layer to occupy an unbroken weft path. Each member interweaves sequentially with the warps of the paper side layer and with at least one warp of the machine side layer. Each part of the unbroken weft path is separated from adjacent parts by at least one paper side layer warp yarn. The unbroken weft path is the same, or different, to the weft path of the immediately adjacent paper side layer weft yarns. This arrangement overcomes the paper side layer surface imperfections, which cause an unacceptable level of marking, hitherto associated with the use of intrinsic weft binder yarns in composite fabrics.

Abstract: A flat woven, pin seamed, papermakers' fabric, comprising primary warp monofilament yarns, primary weft monofilament yarns and secondary weft monofilament yarns located between and adjacent to the primary weft yarns. The secondary weft yarns are located beneath, and in contact with, the primary warp. The thickness and width of the secondary weft yarns are chosen at the weaving stage so as to control finished fabric air permeability and increase the paper side surface contact area. The fabrics are of a lower caliper, and provide increased cross direction stiffness at lower yarn counts. Formation of the pintle receiving loop yarns in a low marking woven back pin seam, or of a streamline seam, is also facilitated, without compromising fabric properties, by selection of the appropriate dimensions of the secondary weft yarns.

Abstract: A single layer papermaking machine forming fabric which is woven from a single layer of warps interlaced with primary wefts, secondary wefts, and, if desired, tertiary wefts. The secondary and tertiary wefts are located between the primary wefts. The fabric is woven in a first pattern which repeats once in N sheds, and N is at least 10. The primary, secondary, and, if present, tertiary weft are woven to second, third, and, if present, fourth patterns in a lower number of sheds and which repeat at least twice within the first pattern. This weave provides a forming fabric having good first pass retention, good drainage properties, reduced wire mark, good fabric height and good release characteristics. In certain pattern combinations a forming fabric can be woven exhibiting a level of visual discontinuity or randomness in the paper side face.

Abstract: A multilayer papermaker's press felt fabric comprising in combination a woven first fabric layer, typically a double layer fabric, has a cross machine direction pin seam. A second fabric layer is located on the paper side face of the first fabric layer, and a layer of needled batt is applied to the paper side face of the second layer binding the layers together. A flap comprising a short length of the second fabric layer with attached batt overlays the pin seam area in the first layer. The second layer comprises a plurality of relatively narrow strips, which are located with a lateral edge at a first cant angle of from more than 1.degree. to less than 20.degree. to the machine direction. A third layer, similar to the second layer, can be included on the machine side of the first layer; the strip widths, the cant angles, and the direction of the cant angle relative to the machine direction for each of the two strips need not be the same. The fabric is assembled using a spiral winding technique.

Abstract: A forming section for a two-fabric paper machine using at least one formation blade having a shallow cavity in its top surface. The cavity is placed and dimensioned to withdraw fluid continuously from the stock, and to propel it back through the fabric and the incipient paper web into the stock so as to cause a controlled level of localized turbulence which serves to improve formation without causing excessive drainage or fines loss. The formation blade shape, in conjunction with the forming fabric tension, is configured to provide a hydraulic seal between the fabric and the stock, so that all of the withdrawn fluid is returned to the stock.

Abstract: Clip type fasteners for attaching paper machine fabric contacting elements to their supporting structures. The fasteners are provided typically with two tight tolerance slots, which are press-fits onto the elements and the support structure. The fasteners allow for simple removal, replacement, and respacing of the elements.

Abstract: A paper machine dryer fabric includes hollow thermoplastic monofilaments to replace at least a portion of the wefts, also known as cross-machine direction strands. Fabrics including such monofilaments may be either a woven fabric, or a spiral fabric. The deformable nature of the hollow monofilaments decreaes the air permeability of the fabric, and in the case of spiral fabrics, improves monofilaments retention within the helical coils between the hinge yarns. The hollow monofilaments have a solidity in the range of from about 60% to about 75%. A suitable thermoplastic is polyethylene terephthalate. Hollow monofilaments do not have the disadvantages of other deformable yarns, such as spun yarns, multifilament yarns or plied monofilament yarns, each of which tend to hold and entrap within their structure both water and foreign matter.

Abstract: A composite forming fabric, formed from two separate interconnected woven layers, for use in a paper making machine. The machine side layer is a single layer N by 2N weave, such as a six-shed, 6.times.12 weave. Within the weave repeat pattern the warp yarns form two distinct floats of unequal length, and the weft yarns form floats of equal or unequal length. The weft floats are located substantially in a single plane, on the machine side of the composite fabric. The weave design provides the composite fabric machine side layer with improved wear potential and guiding properties, without adversely affecting its drainage properties. The paper side fabric layer may be of any woven construction; a plain weave or 2/1 twill is preferred.

Abstract: This invention discloses a fiber suitable for a papermaker's forming fabric, comprising a blend of 60 to 90% by weight of a polyethylene terephthalate, together with 40 to 10% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane, which may be an ester or ether-based type. Additionally, it is contemplated that the blend may contain up to 5% by weight of a hydrolysis stabilizer. The high abrasion resistance of these blended monofilaments makes them particularly advantageous for use in replacing the nylon-6 and nylon-66 monofilaments currently used in paper machine forming fabrics.

Abstract: A pin seam for use in woven papermaking fabrics, wherein more than 50% of the warp strands from each of the fabric ends are used to form the pintle retaining loops. The loops formed at one of the opposing fabric ends have an "S" orientation, while the loops formed at the second opposing end have a "Z" orientation, thereby allowing the two sets of pintle retaining loops to interdigitate easily. The resulting seam is strong, easily installed on the papermaking machine and has a reduced propensity to mark the paper web. The invention is particularly applicable to fabrics woven using 3-shed weave patterns or integral multiples thereof.

Abstract: This invention discloses a paper-maker's forming fabric wherein some of the yarns are melt-extruded monofilaments, that are a blend of 60 to 90% by weight of a polyethylene terephthalate, together with 40 to 10% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane, which may be an ester or ether-based type, Additionally, it is contemplated that the blend may contain up to 5% by weight of a hydrolysis stabilizer. The high abrasion resistance of these blended monofilaments makes them particularly advantageous for use in replacing the nylon-6 and nylon-66 monofilaments currently used in paper machine forming fabrics.

Abstract: A dewatering fabric for the press section of a paper machine having improved dewatering capabilities. The fabric is constructed to provide long exposed floats of flattened monofilaments on the paper side of the fabric, at a high fill factor. The fabric may be used alone, with a paper side batt, or with a batt on each side.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving stock formation on an open surface paper making machine is described. By the use of both a path for the forming fabric which introduces a controlled level of agitation into the stock, and a low level of vacuum in a suction box extending continuously for at least the major proportion of the forming section, improvements both in paper quality, such as improved wire mark, and in machine operation, such as an improved first pass retention, are obtained.

Abstract: A paper making machine forming board is described wherein the rate of drainage of the stock through the forming fabric is curtailed and controlled by applying a low positive air pressure (above ambient atmospheric) to the machine side of the forming fabric. Additionally, a controlled level of agitation is induced in the stock on the forming board, providing better initial paper formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby the rate of drainage of the stock on a Fourdrinier paper making machine can be controlled for the full length of an open surface forming section. A continuous sealed drainage box is used from adjacent the head box slice to the end of the forming section, within which the air pressure can be controlled. In the area adjacent the head box slice drainage is hindered by the use of a positive (above ambient atmospheric) pressure, while further along the forming section the pressure is decreased to a negative value (below ambient atmospheric). Improved paper formation and first pass retention are obtained.

Abstract: A composite paper making fabric comprising at least two complete weaves each formed by its own set of warp and weft yarns and interconnected by a binder yarn which is interwoven with the two complete weaves. An upper one of the complete weaves constitutes a paper-side weave which is comprised of flattened warp yarns interwoven with its weft yarns.

Abstract: A dryer fabric for use in a dryer section of a paper machine wherein at least a portion of the machine direction components are monofilaments made from polyphenylene sulphide or a blend of polyphenylene sulphide and heat-stabilized polyamide 66. When using a blend the polyamide 66 is present in the range of up to about 20% by weight.