Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The openings can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.

Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The openings can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.

Abstract: A vented lead blade for use in a paper making machine located so that the stock jet impinges the forming fabric at, or near to, its trailing edge. The vented lead blade serves to bend the forming fabric before it enters the forming section, and to vent at least a substantial proportion of any air which becomes trapped in the wedge shaped space between the surface of the forming fabric and the surface of the stock jet, together with at least some of any liquid carried with the air. The vented lead blade of this invention thus enables the forming fabric to be positioned so that the angle of impingement of the stock jet onto the forming fabric can be minimized to become substantially zero. It also makes it possible to reduce the unsupported length of the stock jet. The vented lead blade of this invention can be used in both an open surface forming section with one forming fabric, or in the forming section of a two fabric paper making machine.

Abstract: A paper forming fabric having two layers of synthetic weft strands with interwoven synthetic warp strands and approximately 100% warp fill. The upper layer of the fabric comprises a regular array of mesh openings in which the distance between consecutive openings measured in the weft direction is never greater than the thickness of a single warp strand and measured in the warp direction is never greater than the thickness of a single weft strand.

Abstract: An improved dryer fabric, woven entirely from monofilament plastic polymeric warp and weft strands, having a lower permeability to air flow and lower modulus of elasticity than normal fabrics, wherein at least the warp strands are flattened in cross-section, with the long axis of the flattened section extending parallel to the plane of the fabric and wherein the weft strands may be shaped so as to more or less conform to the horizontally directed passages of the mesh naturally formed by the woven warp strands and may also be relatively more malleable than the warp strands so that under stress they can adapt to conform to the shape of mesh interstices thereby to restrict these and still further reduce the permeability.

Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The opening can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.