Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing paper board includes a hybrid papermakers fabric which facilitates both the formation of an aqueous paper board web and the dewatering of the formed web through at least one press nip. The papermakers fabric includes a woven, single-layer base fabric having a seam with a layer of fibrous batt material needled to at least one side.Each end of the base fabric has vertically oriented loops formed from the machine direction yarns of the base fabric. The base fabric seam is defined by intermeshing the respective end loops together and inserting a joining wire or pintle through the intermeshed loops. The caliper of the body of the single-layer base fabric is inherently slightly less than the caliper of the seam. In order to reduce the effect of the seam area on the paper board manufacturing process, the end loops of the base fabric may be elongated and may contain stuffer yarns.

Abstract: A papermakers fabric is made with a woven base fabric having two ends. The base fabric includes a single layer of machine direction yarns having a system of cross machine direction yarns interwoven in a repeat pattern. At each end of the base fabric, the machine direction yarns are formed into a series of loops with an angular orientation so that the base fabric ends can be joined by intermeshing the respective end series of loops and inserting a pintle through the intermeshed loops. The angular orientation of the loops on one end of the base fabric are formed in the opposite direction from the angular orientation of the loops of the other end of the fabric when said respective end loops are intermeshed. The base fabric is heat set with the base fabric ends joined with a pintle such that both series of end loops take on a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A papermaker's wet press felt is formed from a flat woven base fabric having the crimped warp yarns of the fabric weave oriented in the lengthwise machine running direction. The warp yarns are formed into seaming loops at the ends of the base fabric which are joined so as to form an endless felt. At least one layer of non-woven batt material is affixed to the base fabric, typically by needling. The flat woven base fabric includes from at least 30 to 50 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a single layer weave and at least 60 to 100 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a multi-layer weave.

Abstract: An improved seamed papermaker's press felt of the type having a pintle seamed base fabric and at least one layer of batt material affixed thereto is disclosed. The improvement resides in the provision of an angled slit through the batt material adjacent to the seam. By means of the angled splice, a need for a flap overlying the seam is avoided.

Abstract: A papermaker's wet press felt is formed from a flat woven base fabric having the crimped warp yarns of the fabric weave oriented in the lengthwise machine running direction. The warp yarns are formed into seaming loops at the ends of the base fabric which are joined so as to form an endless felt. At least one layer of non-woven batt material is affixed to the base fabric, typically by needling. The flat woven base fabric includes from at least 30 to 50 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a single layer weave and at least 60 to 100 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a multi-layer weave.

Abstract: An improved loop construction for use in closing the ends of an open papermaker's fabric is disclosed. The loop constuction, as disclosed, is elongated to achieve a minimum loop length of at least three millimeters. The loop is formed by an arcuate portion which defines the free end of the loop and adjacent portions which are interwoven with the fabric body in a repeated pattern. As a result of the disclosed construction, the continuous arcuate portion of the seaming loop is positioned vertically with respect to a plane through the horizontal plane of the fabric. The continuous arcuate portion of the loop is within 15.degree. of the perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the fabric.

Abstract: An improved loop construction for use in closing the ends of an open papermaker's fabric is disclosed. The loop construction, as disclosed, is elongated to achieve a minimum loop length. The loop is formed by an arcuate portion which defines the free end of the loop and adjacent crossing portions which are interwoven with the fabric body in a repeated pattern. As a result of the disclosed construction, the continuous arcuate portion of the seaming loop is positioned vertically with respect to a plane through the horizontal plane of the fabric and the crossing portions are within 15.degree. of the perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the fabric.

Abstract: A papermaker's wet press felt is formed from a flat woven base fabric having the crimped warp yarns of the fabric weave oriented in the lengthwise machine running direction. The warp yarns are formed into seaming loops at the ends of the base fabric which are joined so as to form an endless felt. At least one layer of non-woven batt material is affixed to the base fabric, typically by needling. The flat woven base fabric including from at least 30 to 50 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a single layer weave and at least 60 to 100 machine direction, crimped warp yarns per inch for a multi-layer weave.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution to the prior art problem of producing a high density papermakers batt fabric or felt which may be secured to an undamaged under layer in an economic manner. The present invention provides these improvements by providing a batt which is comprised of a non-woven low melt scrim to which the batt material is initially needled. Subsequent to producing a batt of the required density, the batt may, if desired, be needled or adhered to an under layer fabric. The completed felt will be subjected a heat pressing operation which will elevate the temperature of the batt to a temperature above the softening temperature of the scrim but below the melting point of the batt fibers. In this manner, the batt and under layer fabric are unified to produce a multilayer papermakers felt with minimum effort and disruption of the under layer.