Abstract: A polishing belt is made from a woven base layer with a matte affixed thereon. The matte includes a plurality of batting fibers with abrasives. These abrasives are permanently mounted on the batting fibers. The abrasives can include abrasive particles impregnated or securely bonded to the shafts of the fibers. Alternatively, wool fibers can be used. These wool fibers can have spaced ridges along the shafts of the fibers. Otherwise, edges of the fibers themselves can be used as an abrasive. The fibers with such edges can have a triangular or star shape in cross section whereby the edges are formed. These edges will act as the abrasive. With this belt, it is possible to polish paper. The paper is passed by the polishing belt. The paper will move at a first speed and the polishing belt will move at a different second speed. The abrasives on the fibers of the polishing belt will abrade the surface of the paper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a deflection roll for compressing a web of material includes a shaft and a hollow roll disposed around the shaft. The hollow roll includes a working surface where the hollow roll is engageable with a hard roll along an entire length of the working surface. At least two bearing devices are disposed within the roll and are substantially aligned with the working surface of said roll. Each bearing device has a predetermined positive bearing clearance facilitating displacement of each outer contact surface relative to a respective inner contact surface of each bearing. The deflection roll further includes a mechanism for displacing the working surface of the roll with a fluid where the displacing mechanism is disposed external to the bearing devices.

Abstract: A woven belt paper polisher imparts mechanical energy to paper by sliding a woven belt against a paper sheet while the sheet is supported against a shear inducing roll. The contact force, slide distance and the coefficient of friction of the polishing belt result in less polishing material wear, less chance for developing machine direction character on the paper surface, and less chance for machine component damage. The use of an extended belt run outside the polishing section, results in reduced wear, extended uptime, and better polishing surface reconditioning. The use of a commercially produced and modified woven paper machine fabric results in lower operating cost compared to the use of a specialty polishing material.