Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the de-watering performance of a forming section of a papermaking machine is disclosed which includes a laser instrument having a laser displacement meter laterally spaced and supported above an upper run of a paper forming fabric having a paper stock deposited thereon. A head box deposits paper stock consisting of a water/fiber mixture on top of the upper run. An adjustable C-shaped carrier stand has an upper leg that supports the laser instrument above the upper run of the forming fabric. The carrier stand has a lower leg to support a baseline contact device below the upper run of the forming fabric. The laser displacement meter is disposed at a laser reference position above the forming fabric so that a laser beam is reflected off of the paper stock which is deposited on top of the forming fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the de-watering performance of a forming section of a papermaking machine is disclosed which includes a laser instrument assembly having first and second laser displacement meters laterally spaced and supported above an upper run of a paper forming fabric. A head box deposits paper stock consisting of a water/fiber mixture on top of the upper run. An adjustable carrier stand supports the laser instrument assembly above the upper run of the forming fabric. The first laser displacement meter is disposed in a first position above the forming fabric so that a laser beam of the first laser meter is reflected off of the paper stock which is deposited on top of the forming fabric. The second laser displacement meter is disposed in a second position above said forming fabric so that a laser beam of the second laser displacement meter is reflected off of a bare edge of the forming fabric.

Abstract: A forming fabric woven of synthetic continuous warp and weft filaments which is adopted for use with a papermaking machine. The forming fabric is formed with a support surface and a running surface with the running surface having abrasion resistant areas arranged along its length adjacent each of its edges. The abrasion resistant areas comprise abrasion resistant polyurethane impregnated to penetrate and bond with and about the warp and weft filament throughout the thickness of the forming fabric. The polyurethane forms protrusions on at least the running surface of the forming fabric.

Abstract: A fabric for use with a paper forming machine comprising a set of MD blended synthetic monofilaments having a first diameter and which are in a five shed Atlas weave pattern with the MD monofilaments passing over four and under one of the CD monofilaments to form a MD monofilament dominant first surface and a CM monofilament dominant second surface. The upper surface of the MD monofilaments are arranged on the first surface to extend along a common plan which is above a plane formed by the uppermost surfaces of the CM monofilaments by an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the diameter of the MD monofilaments. Also, a lower surface of the CM monofilaments is arranged on the second surface to extend along a common plane which is below a plane formed by the lower most surfaces of the MD monofilaments by an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the diameter of the MD monofilaments.

Abstract: A woven fabric for use on paper machines having a support surface and a running surface. The fabric comprises a first set of filaments disposed in generally parallel relationship and in a machine direction, a second set of filaments disposed generally in parallel relationship in a cross machine direction and transversely of said first set of filaments. These sets of filaments are interwoven with each other so as to be serpentinely configurated to provide a first grouping of machine direction filaments having coplanar support surface crossovers and a second grouping of sub-support surface crossovers. The cross machine direction filaments are arranged to have coplanar support surface crossovers which are also recessed below said machine direction first crossover grouping by an equal depth which is between 5% and 50% of the diameter of the machine direction filaments.

Abstract: A multi-layer paper machine fabric having a preselected permeability value and an increased weft wise stiffness including a single system of warp threads and multiple layers of weft threads including at least support surface weft threads, intermediate layer weft threads and lower surface weft threads interwoven with the warp threads. The surface layer weft threads are arranged to have at least a first thickness and the intermediate layer and lower surface weft threads are arranged to have a second and equal thickness greater than the first thickness of the surface layer weft threads. The second thickness is selected relative to the first thickness to achieve the preselected permeability value and the preselected weft wise stiffness value of the paper machine fabric. Alternate ones of the support layer weft threads are arranged in vertically stacked rows with the intermediate and lower layer weft threads and intermediate ones of the support layer weft threads are arranged between the vertical rows.

Abstract: A papermaker's fabric woven from uniformly precoated, totally encapsulated monofilament yarns is disclosed. The yarns are coated prior to the weaving of the papermaker's fabric in order to impart anti-sticking characteristics to the papermaker's fabric. The coatings may be such that thickness of the machine direction yarns is different than the thickness of the cross-machine direction yarns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a papermaker's forming fabric which is produced from yarns including at least two parallel monofilament strands. Such yarns may be utilized exclusively in the cross-machine direction, or they may be utilized in both the machine and cross-machine directions. Such a fabric construction results in reduced knuckles thereby providing a fabric displaying improved sheet-release and reduced wire mark.

Abstract: Generally, this invention relates to papermakers' belts for use in papermaking machines which comprise ultra high modulus load bearing yarn comprised of poly(para-phenylene terephthalamide).