Abstract: The present invention provides a surface-reading apparatus that includes a subject-flexing mechanism and a surface-reading component. The subject-flexing mechanism causes a subject to flex in one of a convex form and a concave form. The surface-reading component reads a characteristic of a surface condition of the subject that has been flexed by the subject-flexing mechanism. The surface-reading component can includes an optical reading component that optically reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject. The optical reading component may be a reflected light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with reflected light or may be a transmitted light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with transmitted light.

Abstract: Devices and methods related to a web stabilizer for stabilizing a moving web with a surface adjacent the moving web and with a supply of moving fluid in a direction parallel to the moving web and a supply of moving fluid in a direction perpendicular to the moving web.

Abstract: Devices and methods related to a web stabilizer for stabilizing a moving web with a surface adjacent the moving web and with a supply of moving fluid in a direction parallel to the moving web and a supply of moving fluid in a direction perpendicular to the moving web.

Abstract: A papermaking apparatus having a machine direction, cross machine direction, and a z-direction. The papermaking apparatus also has a web stabilization device. The web stabilization device has a plurality of surface features that have a feature depth of greater than about 0.02?.

Abstract: A papermaking apparatus having a machine direction, cross machine direction, and a z-direction. The papermaking apparatus also has a web stabilization device. The web stabilization device has a plurality of surface features that have a feature depth of greater than about 0.02?.

Abstract: A foil for paper production systems has a carrier strip and mutually adjoining plates of ceramic material. The plates are fixed to the carrier strip by way of a plurality of clips, whose free ends are latched to the plates. On their side facing the carrier strip, the plates of a ceramic material are formed with strips projecting from the latter and extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip, which are formed with undercuts along their side edges, the free ends of the clips, which are oriented toward one another, projecting into the lateral undercuts of the strips projecting from the plates.

Abstract: A twin wire papermaking machine which has a multichambered suction dewatering device located over the forming wires downstream from the forming roll. The dewatering device deflects the forming wires into a concave path to aid in formation and dewatering.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a former for use in a paper making machine, or the like, for producing a web of fibrous suspension on a wire. The former includes a sliding surface, past which a tensioned wire is moved. A duct for fibrous suspension opens on the sliding surface. The sliding surface on the two sides of the duct is shaped so that downstream of the duct in the direction of movement of the wire, a wedge shaped slot is defined between the wire and the sliding surface in which the suspension is received and from which it is dewatered.