A method of making a fibrous sheet. The method includes forming a nascent web from an aqueous solution of papermaking fibers, moving a dewatered web on a transfer surface, and applying a vacuum at a molding zone defined between the transfer surface and a molding roll. The molding roll includes a permeable patterned surface on an exterior of the molding roll. The method also includes transferring the dewatered web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface at the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the dewatered web, and the papermaking fibers of the dewatered web are (i) redistributed on the permeable patterned surface and (ii) drawn into a plurality of recess of the permeable patterned surface, in order to form a molded paper web. The method further includes drying the molded paper web in a drying section to form a fibrous sheet.

A method of making a fibrous sheet. The method includes forming a nascent web from an aqueous solution of papermaking fibers, moving a dewatered web on a transfer surface, and applying a vacuum at a molding zone defined between the transfer surface and a molding roll. The molding roll includes a permeable patterned surface on an exterior of the molding roll. The method also includes transferring the dewatered web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface at the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the dewatered web, and the papermaking fibers of the dewatered web are (i) redistributed on the permeable patterned surface and (ii) drawn into a plurality of recess of the permeable patterned surface, in order to form a molded paper web. The method further includes drying the molded paper web in a drying section to form a fibrous sheet.

The invention relates to a clothing (10) for a machine to manufacture or refine a fibrous web, in particular a paper, cardboard, or tissue web, comprising a substrate (40) and a grid structure (20) applied on the substrate (40), on which the fibrous web is transported when the clothing (10) is used as intended, wherein the grid structure (20′) comprises a plurality of first elements (24′), all of which aligned in a first direction, and a plurality of second elements (26′), all of which aligned in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, wherein the first elements (24′) penetrate the second elements (26′), forming the grid structure (20′), such that an underside of the first elements (24′) facing the substrate (40) and an underside of the second elements (26′) facing the substrate (40) are located in a common plane. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for producing such a clothing.

A method of making a molded paper web includes bringing a permeable patterned surface of a patterned cylinder into contact with a nascent web and conveying the nascent web between a transfer surface and the permeable patterned surface over an arc length of the permeable patterned surface. The arc length forms at least a portion of a molding zone. The method also includes applying a vacuum over at least a portion of the arc length. The method further includes transferring the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder in the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder.

A method of making a molded paper web includes bringing a permeable patterned surface of a patterned cylinder into contact with a nascent web and conveying the nascent web between a transfer surface and the permeable patterned surface over an arc length of the permeable patterned surface. The arc length forms at least a portion of a molding zone. The method also includes applying a vacuum over at least a portion of the arc length. The method further includes transferring the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder in the molding zone. The vacuum is applied during the transferring of the nascent web from the transfer surface to the permeable patterned surface of the patterned cylinder.

Provided is technology improving the efficiency (productivity) of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. A sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures sheets S by heating with heaters 81 and 82 a mixture (second web W2) of resin and fiber produced by defibrating feedstock MA. The heaters 81 and 82 each have a first roller 171, a second roller 172 that holds the second web W2 with the first roller 171, and a moving mechanism 190. The moving mechanism 190 can switch the first roller 171 and second roller 172 to a position holding the second web W2, and a first roller 171 and second roller 172 are separated and do not hold the second web W2. The heaters 81 and 82 are configured as units that can removably installed to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

Provided is technology improving the efficiency (productivity) of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. A sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures sheets S by heating with heaters 81 and 82 a mixture (second web W2) of resin and fiber produced by defibrating feedstock MA. The heaters 81 and 82 each have a first roller 171, a second roller 172 that holds the second web W2 with the first roller 171, and a moving mechanism 190. The moving mechanism 190 can switch the first roller 171 and second roller 172 to a position holding the second web W2, and a first roller 171 and second roller 172 are separated and do not hold the second web W2. The heaters 81 and 82 are configured as units that can removably installed to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a rotatably driven cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a permeable patterned surface on the exterior surface of the shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and projections, a plurality of holes extending from the exterior surface to the interior to allow air to be moved through the shell. Each hole has an exterior end and an interior end, and a plurality of grooves. Each groove is fluidly connected to the exterior end of each hole and extends outward from the corresponding hole. The roll also includes a vacuum box on the inside of the cylindrical shell to draw air from the exterior surface of the shell to the interior surface. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the shell.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a rotatably driven cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a permeable patterned surface on the exterior surface of the shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and projections, a plurality of holes extending from the exterior surface to the interior to allow air to be moved through the shell. Each hole has an exterior end and an interior end, and a plurality of grooves. Each groove is fluidly connected to the exterior end of each hole and extends outward from the corresponding hole. The roll also includes a vacuum box on the inside of the cylindrical shell to draw air from the exterior surface of the shell to the interior surface. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the shell.

A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a cylindrical shell and a vacuum box. The cylindrical shell is configured to be rotatably driven and is permeable to allow air to be moved through the cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell has a permeable patterned surface on an exterior surface of the cylindrical shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections. The density of the at least one of the plurality of recesses and the plurality of projections is greater than about fifty per square inch. The vacuum box is positioned on the inside of the cylindrical shell and is configured to draw air from the exterior surface of the cylindrical shell to an interior surface of the cylindrical shell. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the cylindrical shell.