Abstract: The present invention is a method for making a roll cover and a roll cover, wherein at least one material is applied to the surface of the roll or a base substrate. In a first embodiment, a single material is applied as a flowable phase. A uniform coating of the material is applied to the roll, and upon setting of the material, such as by cooling, curing, or other means, a smooth and permanent roll cover is formed upon the surface of the roll. In another embodiment, at least two materials are applied in flowable phases to the surface of the roll. The first material may be a sacrificial, removable first material, applied to the surface of the roll cover in a preselected pattern. After the sacrificial material has been applied, a second material, such as a functional resin, is applied to the surface of the roll cover with the sacrificial material removed after the second material has set. In another embodiment, the use of sacrificial material is avoided and the material is applied in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a belt and a belt for use in the production of bulk tissue and towel, and of nonwoven articles and fabrics, a polymeric resin material is applied onto the surface of a base substrate in a precise predetermined pattern which is to be imparted onto products manufactured with the belt. The polymeric resin material is deposited in droplets having an average diameter of 10&mgr; (10 microns) or more. The polymeric resin material is then set by means appropriate to its composition, and, optionally, may be abraded to provide the belt with a uniform thickness, and a smooth, macroscopically monoplanar surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and a papermaker's or industrial fabric, such as a dryer fabric for the dryer section of a paper machine, includes the application of a polymeric resin material onto preselected locations on the backside of a base substrate using a piezojet array which deposits the polymeric resin material in droplets having an average diameter of 10&mgr; (10 microns) or more to build up discrete, discontinuous deposits of the polymeric resin material having a height of about 0.5 mm at the preselected locations. The preselected locations may be the knuckles formed by the interweaving of the yarns making up the fabric. The purpose of the deposits is to separate the backside of the dryer fabric from a surface, such as that of a dryer cylinder or turning roll, to enable air trapped between the dryer fabric and the surface to escape in lengthwise and crosswise directions parallel to the surface, instead of being forced through the fabric, possibly causing “drop off”.