With Felt Structure Or Felt Composition Patents (Class 162/358.2)
  • Patent number: 7306703
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to fabrics for paper making machines that are rendered contamination resistant and maintain good permeability as a result of a durable coating that lasts the entire life of the fabric. A fluoropolymer will render the fabric contamination resistant over the entire fabric lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: John M. Hawes
  • Patent number: 7300552
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for maximizing water removal from an absorbent web in a press nip. The present invention uses a pressing unit having a blanket with a void volume and with a pressure profile that maximizes water removal in the press section or on the Yankee dryer of a paper machine. The pressure profile of the pressing unit according to the present invention has a very steep pressure drop at and/or following the exit of a pressure distribution curve in order to maximize water removal by minimizing rewet of the web. The improved pressure profile according to the present invention results in increased water removal and/or improved line speed. The void volume further increases water removal and/or improves line speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Robert J. Marinack, Jeffrey Charles McDowell, Gary L. Worry
  • Patent number: 7297233
    Abstract: A dewatering system in a paper machine includes a dewatering fabric and a press. The dewatering fabric includes a woven permeable fabric and a polymeric layer having openings therethrough, the polymeric layer is connected to the permeable fabric. The press applying pressure to a portion of the dewatering fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jeffrey Herman, Thomas Thoröe Scherb, Luiz Carlos Silva
  • Patent number: 7297234
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and a papermaker's or industrial fabric, which includes the application of a polymeric resin material onto preselected discrete locations on a base substrate in a controlled manner in droplets having an average diameter of 10? (10 microns) to point bond yarns, bond spiral wound strips together or to bond layers of a fabric together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Francis L. Davenport, Charles E. Kramer, Joseph G. O'Connor, Maurice Paquin
  • Patent number: 7294238
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an endless non-woven tissue making fabric having a three-dimensional texture suitable for use as a fabric for producing three-dimensional fibrous webs. The endless non-woven tissue making fabric comprises a plurality of substantially parallel adjoining sections of non-woven material. Each section of non-woven material has a width substantially less than the width of the non-woven tissue making fabric. Each section of non-woven material may be joined to at least one other adjoining section of non-woven material. The non-woven tissue making fabric has a machine direction, a cross-machine direction, a tissue contacting surface and a tissue machine contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface comprises solid matter at a plurality of heights such that the tissue contacting surface of the non-woven tissue making fabric has an Overall Surface Depth of at least 0.2 mm in regions of solid matter on the tissue contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Peter Bakken, Mark Alan Burazin, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7294237
    Abstract: A belt press including a roll having an exterior surface and a permeable belt having a side in pressing contact over a portion of the exterior surface of the roll. The permeable belt having a tension of at least 30 KN/m applied thereto. The side of the permeable belt having an open area of at least approximately 25%, and a contact area of at least approximately 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jeffrey Herman, Thomas Thoröe Scherb, Luiz Carlos Silva
  • Publication number: 20070240842
    Abstract: Dewatering system for dewatering a web. The system comprises a former, a belt press, and a structured fabric comprising a paper web facing side and being guided over a support surface and through the belt press. The structured fabric runs at a speed differential relative to a wire of the former. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: VOITH PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas T. SCHERB, Luiz Carlos DA SILVA, Rogerio BERARDI, Danilo OYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 7275566
    Abstract: A papermaking fabric includes a series of repeat units, each of the repeat units including: a set of top machine direction (MD) yarns; a set of top cross machine direction (CMD) yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns; and a set of stitching yarns. The stitching yarns are disposed in pairs, at least one of the yarns of each of the stitching yarn pairs being interwoven with the top CMD yarns and the bottom CMD yarns, wherein when a first stitching yarn of a pair is interweaving with the top CMD yarns, a second stitching yarn of the pair is passing below the top CMD yarns, and when the second stitching yarn of the pair is interweaving with the top CMD yarns, the first stitching yarn of the pair is passing below the top CMD yarns, such that each stitching yarn pair forms a composite top MD yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin John Ward
  • Patent number: 7276137
    Abstract: The invention concerns a textile product (6) for use in a paper machine, having a monofilament or a profiled structure as support element (1) on which is arranged a layered sensor for measuring pressure and/or temperature, and is characterized in that the sensor is constituted from at least three layers (2, 3, 4), the second layer (3) having piezoelectric properties and the layers (2, 4) in contact against the second layer (3) forming electrodes that are couplable or coupled to an analysis device. The invention further concerns a method for producing such a textile product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Heimbach GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Best, Sebastian Gerundt
  • Patent number: 7270151
    Abstract: An industrial two-layer fabric which comprises eight pairs of warps obtained by arranging eight upper surface side warps and eight lower surface side warps, and a plurality of upper surface side wefts and lower surface side wefts, and has an upper surface side layer and a lower surface side layer bound with warp-direction yarns. In the lower surface side layer, warps are formed by successively arranging a design in which one warp passes over four successive lower surface side wefts, passes under one lower surface side weft, passes over two lower surface side wefts, and passes under one lower surface side weft while shifting the design by three lower surface side wefts, and two adjacent lower surface side warps simultaneously weave therein, from the lower surface side, one lower surface side weft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagura, Ikuo Ueda, Keiichi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 7270152
    Abstract: An industrial two-layer fabric obtained by alternately arranging, on an upper surface side thereof, (a) a warp complete design made of a design in which a warp passes over one upper surface side weft and then passes under one upper surface side weft, and any one of the following warp complete designs of: (b) a warp complete design made of a design in which a warp passes over two upper surface side wefts and then passes under two upper surface side wefts, (c) a warp complete design made of a design in which a warp passes over one upper surface side weft and then passes under three upper surface side wefts, (d) a warp complete design made of a design in which a warp passes over three upper surface side wefts and then passes under one upper surface side weft, and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Ueda, Hiroyuki Nagura
  • Patent number: 7267745
    Abstract: A paper makers felt comprising a fibrous outer layer formed of inter-engaged fibers of between 3.0 and 67 dtex inter-engaged preferably by needling, and a web layer formed of fibers which are between 200 and 600 dtex and are inter-engaged preferably by point bonding. The outer layer is engaged with the web layer, preferably by needling, forming a composite paper makers felt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Crook, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7249615
    Abstract: Paper machine clothing, such as a forming fabric formed by a large number of repeating units, wherein each repeat unit includes a paper-side woven structure having paper-side warp and weft threads and a machine-side woven structure having machine-side warp and weft threads, such that the paper side and the machine side woven structures are connected to each other by binding threads, and each repeat unit being formed by at least 26 warp threads and the paper machine clothing having a total thickness of 0.78 mm and less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Arved Westerkamp, Johann Boeck
  • Publication number: 20070169910
    Abstract: A transport belt, in particular for machines for the production of web material such as paper or paperboard, having a printed material at least in some regions on a web material contact side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: VOITH PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Arved H. WESTERKAMP, Matthias SCHMITT
  • Publication number: 20070169909
    Abstract: A transport belt, in particular for machines for the production of web material such as paper or paperboard, which on a web material contact side (18) includes at least two material layers (20, 22, 24) of different material arranged one above the other, wherein prior to starting up for the first time the transport belt (10) is subjected on its web material contact side (18), at least in some regions, to a material-removing process such that the transport belt (10) has on its web material contact side (18) a web material contact surface (26) provided by various material layers (20, 22, 24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: VOITH PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Arved H. WESTERKAMP, Matthias SCHMITT
  • Publication number: 20070163741
    Abstract: A fabric for a paper machine includes a base having a paper side and a roll side; a roll side batt layer attached to the roll side of the base; and a plurality of yarns embedded in the roll side batt layer. The yarns can be mono or multifilament yarns, and can be yarn cores in elastomer sheathes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Crook
  • Patent number: 7243687
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric includes a set of top machine direction yarns, a set of top cross machine direction yarns interwoven with the top machine direction yarns to form a top fabric layer, a set of bottom machine direction yarns, a set of bottom cross machine direction yarns interwoven with the bottom machine direction yarns to form a bottom fabric layer. The bottom fabric layer is stitched to the top fabric layer. The top machine direction yarns and the top cross machine direction yarns are interwoven in a series of repeat units and the bottom machine direction yarns and the bottom cross machine direction yarns are interwoven in a series of corresponding repeat units. Each repeat unit has twice the number of bottom machine direction yarns as the number of top machine direction yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: Christine Barratte
  • Patent number: 7241364
    Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a twin wire former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics moves over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll. A final forming fabric is arranged to operated at a lower speed than the penultimate forming fabric so that a rush transfer and creping like action takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignees: Metso Paper, Inc., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger A. Kanitz, Thomas D. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7238259
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric and a method of forming a papermaker's fabric, for installation in a papermaking machine. The papermaker's fabric having a plurality of cross-machine, a plurality of machine directional yarns, and a plurality of heat shrunk joints connecting ends of either the machine directional yarns or the cross machine directional yarns to form and continuous loop of fabric. The papermaker's fabric is formed by providing a fixture for securing a plurality of heat shrink tubing sections. Two or more corresponding yarns of the papermaker's fabric are inserted into each of the heat shrink tubing sections and heat is applied to the heat shrink tubing. Upon application of the heat the heat shrink tubing reduces its size to form a tight joint between two yarns inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph G. O'Connor, Victor P. Laskorski
  • Patent number: 7229531
    Abstract: A method of seaming an on-machine-seamable multiaxial papermaker's fabric to prevent yarn migration. The multiaxial fabric is in the form of an endless loop flattened into two layers along fold lines. CD yarns are removed from the folds to create ravel areas. This leaves the MD yarns unbound in the ravel areas. Seam loops are then formed from the unbound MD yarns at the folds. A thin porous material is sewn to the fabric at each fold. The porous material binds the CD yarns along the edges of the ravel areas while allowing passage of the seam loops through the material. The laminate prevents migration of CD yarn tails into the seam area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Steven S. Yook, Michael A. Royo
  • Patent number: 7220340
    Abstract: The invention concerns a porous paper machine clothing (1) for dewatering a paper web in a paper machine, having a yarn layer made up of at least one ply (2) of longitudinal yarns (3) and at least one ply (4) of transverse yarns (5, 6, 7) that cross the longitudinal yarns (3), which is characterized in that the longitudinal and transverse yarns (3, 5, 6, 7) are connected positively to one another at crossing points (8). The invention further concerns a method for manufacturing a porous paper machine clothing of this kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Heimbach Gmbh & Co.
    Inventor: Walter Best
  • Patent number: 7219701
    Abstract: A papermaking fabric includes a series of repeat units, each of the repeat units including: a set of top machine direction (MD) yarns; a set of top cross machine direction (CMD) yarns interwoven with the set of top MD yarns; a first set of bottom CMD yarns, the first set of bottom CMD yarns arranged in pairs; a second set of bottom CMD yarns, the second set of bottom CMD yarns arranged as single yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the first and second set of bottom MD yarns; and a set of pairs of MD stitching yarns interwoven with the top and bottom CMD yarns, each pair of MD stitching yarns sandwiching a respective immediately adjacent bottom MD yarn of the second set. Each of the yarns of a pair of the first set of bottom MD yarns interweaves with the bottom CMD yarns in the same pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin John Ward
  • Patent number: 7216677
    Abstract: In an industrial two-layer fabric, running surface side wefts constituting the running surface side layer each has a design in which the running surface side weft passes over a running surface side warp, passes under two successive running surface side warps, passes over a running surface side warp and passes under at least four successive running surface side warps, thereby forming a long crimp of the weft on the running surface side surface. A running surface side weft adjacent to the above-described weft or adjacent to the above-described weft with one weft sandwiched therebetween is arranged with a design obtained by shifting the design of the above-described weft by two running surface side warps. The design of the running surface side warps is formed of a portion passing under a running surface side weft and a portion passing over at least two running surface side wefts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co. Ltd.,
    Inventor: Shigenobu Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7207356
    Abstract: A through-air dryer (TAD) fabric formed by interweaving of a warp yarn system with a weft yarn system. The TAD fabric has a paper side with a contact area between 20% and 30%. The warp yarn system includes flat warp yarns and/or the weft yarn system includes flat weft yarns which have not been subjected to a sanding process after weaving of the fabric and which have an aspect ratio of 1.15:1 to 1.35:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Sanjay Patel, Jeff Herman
  • Patent number: 7198067
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable in a forming section of a paper machine, having a first layer formed of a first system of paired machine-direction (MD) warp yarns interwoven with a first system of cross machine-direction (CD) weft yarns and a second layer formed of a second system of MD warp yarns interwoven with a second system of CD weft yarns. The paired MD warp yarns are intrinsic to the first layer and are interwoven with the second system of CD weft yarns to bind the second layer to the first layer. The second system of MD warp yarns forms long floats, or warp-runners, on an external surface of the second layer. In this manner, a triple layer forming fabric with paired intrinsic binders and warp-runners may be produced with improved wear side abrasion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Joseph Collegnon
  • Patent number: 7172982
    Abstract: An industrial fabric having improved sheet restraint and wear resistance along with acceptable permeability. The improvement is effected by coating only the high spots of the fabric with silicone material. The coating methods used in this invention may include kiss roll coating, gravure roll coating, rotogravure printing, rotary screen coating, screen-printing and/or flexography. The improvement is also applicable to corrugator fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Adam J. Jaglowski, Alan L. Billings
  • Patent number: 7166195
    Abstract: A grooved perforated layer for use in a papermakers' fabric is provided. The grooves serve to diffuse flow at the surface of the perforated layer so as to reduce the pressure drop across the layer and thereby reduce the migration of fines. In this manner, the light/dark pattern associated with the fines is avoided and the quality of the resulting paper sheet is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: John Hawes
  • Patent number: 7156956
    Abstract: A family of paper industry process belts (“PIPB's”) having a range of properties for different applications in the paper industry. The PIPB can be a laminate comprising a grooved press belt and a porous membrane embedded therein and used as a substitute dewatering structure heretofore provided by press fabric(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Patent number: 7147756
    Abstract: An industrial process fabric and a method for manufacturing such a fabric. The fabric is made of material and is endless, or made endless with a seam, in the machine direction of a machine on which it is used. The fabric comprises at least one layer composed of a spirally-wound strip made of material and having a width which is smaller than the width of the final fabric. The longitudinal axis of the spirally-wound strip of material makes an angle with the machine direction of the fabric. The fabric strip of material may advantageously be a flat-woven fabric of MD and CD yarns in any weave pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Francis L. Davenport
  • Patent number: 7144479
    Abstract: A method whereby a water permeable press fabric is given greater dewatering and drainage capacity by providing voids which are reservoirs of minimum pressure available to accept water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Trent W. Davis, James G. Donovan
  • Patent number: 7141144
    Abstract: A multi-layer woven papermaker's fabric having at least two sets of seam loops. Longer and a shorter seam attachment mechanisms are used to connect the bottom and top layer seam loops. The longer attachment mechanism in the top layer being over the shorter attachment mechanism in the bottom layer, and vice versa. A pintle or installation cable is positioned between each set of connectors to form a seam. The pair of connectors for each set of seam loops comprises different lengths in the MD direction such that the pintle or installation cables on adjacent layers are offset in the MD direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Björn Rydin
  • Patent number: 7141142
    Abstract: Papermaking fabrics, particularly those fabrics useful for making tissue and towel products, can be modified to alter their structure, such as surface texture, and re-used to make a different product. The fabrics can be modified after removal from the paper machine or while on the paper machine, including while the machine is running, so that down time between making different products can be eliminated or greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Andrew Peter Bakken, Irene Beatrice Strohbeen
  • Patent number: 7138037
    Abstract: A press felt for use in the press section of a papermaking machine is provided. The press felt includes a base fabric layer and at least one layer of a staple fiber batt material connected thereto. The press felt has a paper side surface (PS) which when in operation is in contact with a paper web conveyed thereon and a machine side surface (MS) which contacts various press section components. The base fabric layer includes a regenerated cellulosic component in either or both the MD and CD yarns. Regenerated cellulosic fibers may also be provided in the batt and/or scrims located in the batt to improve dewatering when compared to similarly constructed felts which lack this regenerated cellulosic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc P. Despault, Brady S. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7135094
    Abstract: An endless papermaking press felt comprises a base and a batt layer intertwiningly integrated with the base. The batt layer comprises a wet paper web side layer and a machine side layer formed on an outer surface and inner surface of a base respectively, The base is manufactured from belt-shaped partial base bodies, which are connected to one another in side-by-side relationship. The press felt can be manufactured easily and at reduced cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Watanabe, Hirokuni Ohno
  • Patent number: 7135095
    Abstract: A press felt for use in a papermaking machine comprises a base body, a batt material and a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, all intertwiningly integrated by needle punching. The batt material comprises a staple fiber, and is composed of a wet paper web side layer and a press side layer. The hydrophilic nonwoven fabric is provided in the wet paper web side layer. The hydrophilic character of the nonwoven fabric improves the movement of water to the nonwoven fabric, and the holding the water in the nonwoven fabric. As a result rewetting is prevented more effectively than in the case of prior press felts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignees: Ichikawa Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oda, Shin Kawashima, Kazumasa Watanabe, Minenari Imada, Hiroshi Iwata, Daisuke Goto, Hidemasa Iijima, Naoyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 7135093
    Abstract: A press felt for a papermaking machine includes: a base fabric comprising a plurality of machine direction (MD) yarns interwoven with a plurality of cross machine direction (CMD) yarns in a predetermined regular weave pattern, the MD yarns being divisible into upper MD yarns, lower MD yarns, and seam loops merging with either end of the upper and lower MD yarns, the seam loops defining the longitudinal ends of the press felt and having upper and lower portions; and a first Dreher CMD yarn interwoven with a CMD yarn of the regular weave pattern located nearest to the seam loops and with the upper portions of the seam loops of at least one end of the press felt in a Dreher weave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: Hippolit Gstrein
  • Patent number: 7135096
    Abstract: A press felt for use in the press section of a papermaking machine is provided. The press felt includes a base fabric layer and at least one layer of a staple fiber batt material connected thereto. The staple fiber batt material is includes between 20% to 100% by weight of a regenerated cellulosic staple fiber material, such as rayon, and from 80% to 0% by weight of a polymeric staple fiber, such as nylon. A scrim including regenerated cellulosic material can also be incorporated into the press felt construction, either between two layers of batt material, or between a batt layer and the base fabric. The regenerated cellulosic staple fibers of the batt and/or scrim having a dtex from at least about 1.1 to about 44, and are preferably non-fibrillatable. As a further option, at least a portion of the base fabric includes a regenerated celluliosic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc P. Despault, Brady S. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7132036
    Abstract: A press felt for use in the press section of a papermaking machine. The felt is comprised of at least one base fabric to which at least one batt layer is attached by needling or another suitable method. A woven or nonwoven fibrous scrim may be included between the base fabric and the at least one layer of batt material, or between any two or more layers. At least one of the base fabric, the at least one layer of batt material, or the fabric scrim is comprised of polymeric fibers which are blended with fibers whose modulus of elasticity is substantially less than the modulus of elasticity of the polymeric fibers. Press felts manufactured in accordance with the teachings of the invention provide a retarded elastic spring-back in the vertical (or Z) direction of the felt following the mid-nip point in the press section. This retarded elastic spring-back advances the post nip separation position of the felt and the paper web towards the mid-nip point, thus reducing rewetting of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc P. Despault, Brady S. Patterson, Graham Jackson
  • Patent number: 7128810
    Abstract: An anti-rewet press fabric for paper and board machines includes a barrier layer such that during compression in the press nip, the water is forced through the barrier layer, but is prevented from flowing back to the paper web during expansion. The barrier layer comprises a continuous material possessing, for example square, rectangular, tetrahedral, circular or oblong conical inclusions with a smaller opening on the bottom than on the top of the structure. Each of these “funnels” effectively constitutes a one-way valve and creates a vacuum to prevent re-absorption of water by the paper sheet. Under pressure, the structure of the barrier layer allows water to flow into the cones and out of the smaller opening in the bottom. Upon expansion, the smaller opening in the bottom of the structure restricts backward water flow and creates a vacuum on the other side. The vacuum increases water retention in the press fabric and prevents rewetting of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7124781
    Abstract: A multi-layer fabric which may be utilized in a papermaking process. Such fabric has a first layer of machine direction (MD) yarns, a second layer of MD yarns and a first system of cross-direction (CD) yarns having first binder yarns weaving a first contour pattern and second binder yarns weaving a second contour pattern different from the first contour pattern. The first binder yarns and the second binder yarns are each intrinsic to the first layer and each bind with the second layer. Moreover, the binder yarns each weave in sequence in the first layer more than once in a pattern repeat of the fabric. The binder yarns also weave plural contour patterns in the first layer in the weave pattern repeat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Ernest Fahrer, Monique Fagon
  • Patent number: 7118651
    Abstract: A press felt comprises a base fabric, optionally with a batt of fibrous material needled thereto. The base fabric is woven endless, having upper and lower layers of weft yarns and first and second sets of warp yarns. The first set of warp yarns interweaves with at least the upper layer of wefts and the second set of warp yarns interweaves with at least the lower set of wefts. At least some of the first set of warps at least occasionally interweave with the lower wefts and at least some of the second set of warps at least occasionally interweaves with the upper wefts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics Heidenheim GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: William Daniel Aldrich
  • Patent number: 7118650
    Abstract: In a wet paper web transfer belt, the wet paper web side layer is formed by a high molecular weight elastic section containing porous bodies which are exposed at, or protrude from the web-contacting surface. The porous bodies are anchored in the resin and wear at about the same rate way as the surrounding resin. Therefore, the distribution of the porous bodies does not vary significantly as a result of abrasion. This transfer belt can transport an attached wet paper web, and release the web smoothly to a next stage in the papermaking process, over a long period of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7114529
    Abstract: A multilayer through-air dryer (TAD) fabric architecture having a single warp yarn system with a maximum warp fill and a weft yarn system comprised of two sets of weft yarns selected to set the warp yarn height above the weft yarns without embedment into the fabric plane, the warp and weft yarns interlacing to form diagonal apertures within the fabric to produce a high fabric air permeability for providing increased paper sheet bulk without compromising paper machine running parameters. A method of using the TAD fabric of the present invention for forming a paper sheet having increased bulk and a predetermined embossed pattern. Also, a method for manufacturing a TAD fabric to provide increased bulk and a predetermined embossed pattern of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale B. Johnson, James Harrison
  • Patent number: 7108019
    Abstract: An industrial two-layer fabric comprises an upper layer fabric having upper surface side warps and upper surface side wefts and a lower layer fabric having lower surface side warps and lower surface side wefts. The upper layer fabric and the lower layer fabric are bound at least one spot in a repeating unit where an upper surface side warp weaves a lower surface side weft without weaving an upper surface side weft which should have been woven by the upper surface side warp based on the fabric structure, and where a lower surface side warp weaves the upper surface side weft which should have been woven by the upper surface side warp, without weaving the lower surface side weft which should have been woven by the lower surface side warp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagura, Ikuo Ueda, Shigenobu Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7105077
    Abstract: A press felt for papermaking comprises a base body, a fibrous assembly, and a three-dimensional knitted fabric within the interior of the felt. The base body and the knitted fabric may be in contact, or, for improved adhesion between the base body and the knitted fabric, a fibrous assembly may be disposed between the base body and the knitted fabric. Excellent compression recoverability and sustainability may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Onikubo, Hiroyuki Oda, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Masufumi Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 7101404
    Abstract: Paper machine clothing, especially a press felt (1), has a support (2) which has at least one layer of a thread lap (3, 4, 5, 13). The lap threads (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 38, 43, 44, 45) run parallel to one another. Spacing threads are present which run between two lap threads (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 38, 43, 44, 45) and are soluble in a solvent in which the remaining part of the paper machine clothing (1) is not soluble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Heimbach GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Stefan Korfer
  • Patent number: 7094320
    Abstract: A multi-region paper structure having a transition region interconnecting relatively thinner regions is disclosed. The paper structure comprises a first region, a patterned second region, a third region, and transition region. The transition region interconnects the patterned second region with a background matrix. The background matrix comprises the first region and the third region. The first region comprises a plurality of discrete protuberances dispersed throughout the third region. The first and second regions are disposed at different elevations, and each has a thickness less than a thickness of the transition region. An apparatus and process for making the paper structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Dean Van Phan
  • Patent number: 7093621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-pin pin seam used to join the a woven fabric wherein the loops are made around three or more cross-machine CD pins or pintles. Advantageously, this arrangement results in the seam area having a weave pattern that more closely conforms to that of the fabric body, and thus the risk of sheet marking and/or fabric abrasion in the seam area is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Luc Canon, Jean-Louis Monnerie
  • Patent number: 7089968
    Abstract: Paper making machine fabric comprising weft yarns extending in the machine direction (MD) and forming seaming loops at each end of the fabric, cross machine direction (CD) warp yarns being interwoven with the weft yarns, wherein that at least one multifilament warp yarn is inserted so that there is at least one standard warp yarn between the multifilament yarn and the seaming loops on each side of the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: William D. Aldrich
  • Patent number: RE39709
    Abstract: A multilayer papermaker's press felt fabric comprising in combination a woven first fabric layer, typically a double layer fabric, has a cross machine direction pin seam. A second fabric layer is located on the paper side face of the first fabric layer, and a layer of needled batt is applied to the paper side face of the second layer binding the layers together. A flap comprising a short length of the second fabric layer with attached batt overlays the pin seam area in the first layer. The second layer comprises a plurality of relatively narrow strips, which are located with a lateral edge at a first cant angle of from more than 1° to less than 20° to the machine direction. A third layer, similar to the second layer, can be included on the machine side of the first layer; the strip widths, the cant angles, and the direction of the cant angle relative to the machine direction for each of the two strips need not be the same. The fabric is assembled using a spiral winding technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Z. Fekete, Edwin R. Perry, Robert P. Burke