A Fabric for a Paper or Pulp Technology and a Method for Manufacturing a Fabric for a Paper or Pulp Technology

Abstract

A fabric for a paper or pulp technology has a longitudinal direction (MD) and a cross direction (CMD), and a first surface (FS) and a second surface (SS) in a fabric thickness direction (TD). The fabric (1) extends in the cross direction (CMD) from a first edge (FG) to a second edge (SG). The fabric (1) has an adaptable medium comprising at least one sensor. The adaptable medium is a deformable structure that adapts to the fabric where it is inserted and may be a string or a sheet configured to detect temperature, temperature profile, wear, volatile organic compounds (VOC), humidity, pH, microbial level, organic and inorganic material content, dirt content, flow rate and flow velocity field, or pressure in a nip. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a fabric for a paper or pulp technology.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A fabric for a paper or pulp technology, the fabric comprising: longitudinal yarns and cross directional yarns forming a weave, the fabric having a longitudinal direction (MD) and a cross direction (CMD) and a first surface (FS) spaced from a second surface (SS) in a thickness direction, the fabric extending in the cross direction from a first edge to a second edge and in the longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the first end and the second end having seam forming counterparts that are joinable together by a pin; and a string comprising at least one sensor embedded in the fabric weave, wherein the string is separate from the longitudinal yarns and the cross directional yarns forming the weave of the fabric.

17. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the string is configured to extend in the longitudinal direction.

18. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the string is configured to extend in the cross direction.

19. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the string is configured to extend diagonally to the longitudinal direction and the cross direction of the fabric.

20. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the seam forming counterparts define seam loops, and wherein the string is configured to extend inside the seam loops in the cross direction of the fabric.

21. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the fabric comprises more than one layer of yarns one upon the other in the thickness direction of the fabric and the string is configured to extend between the layers of the yarns.

22. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the string is configured to extend at least partially in the thickness direction of the fabric.

23. The fabric of claim 16 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to harvest kinetic energy and use said energy as an electric power source.

24. The fabric of claim 16 further comprising at least one batt fiber layer and the fabric forms a felt for a press section.

25. A fabric and sensing system for a paper or pulp technology, the system comprising: a fabric having a longitudinal direction (MD) and a cross direction (CMD), and longitudinal yarns and cross directional yarns forming a weave, the fabric having a first surface (FS) spaced from a second surface (SS) in a thickness direction, the fabric extending in the cross direction from a first edge to a second edge and in the longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the first end and the second end having seam forming counterparts that are joinable together by a pin; a string comprising at least one sensor embedded in the fabric weave, wherein the string is separate from the longitudinal yarns and the cross directional yarns forming the weave of the fabric, the at least one sensor being thereby positioned to produce measurement results relating to at least one aspect of the fabric and to wirelessly transmit the measurement results; a reader external to the fabric and configured to receive the measurement results wirelessly transmitted by the at least one sensor; and a computer which processes the received measurement results and sends them to a cloud service which stores the measurement results.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure parameters in the fabric selected from the group consisting of temperature, temperature profile, wear, volatile organic compounds (VOC), humidity, pH, microbial level, organic and inorganic material content, dirt content, flow rate and flow velocity field, and pressure in a nip.

27. A method for manufacturing a fabric for a paper or pulp technology, the fabric having a longitudinal direction and a cross direction and a first surface and a second surface in a thickness direction of the fabric, the fabric extending in the cross direction from a first edge to a second edge and in the longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, the first end and the second end comprising seam forming counterparts that are joinable together by a pin, the fabric comprising machine direction yarns and cross machine direction yarns forming a weave, the method comprising fitting a string comprising at least one sensor in the fabric, the string being separate from the machine direction yarns and the cross machine direction yarns forming the weave of the fabric.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises fitting the string in the fabric by one of the following methods: darning, threading, shooting, applying in a liquid, sewing, injecting, weaving, or winding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric and a system related to it.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a view of a fabric from above.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view of a fabric.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of a fabric.

[0036] FIGS. 5 to 7 are perspective views of a fabric.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a fabric 1. The fabric has a longitudinal direction MD, a cross direction CMD, a first surface FS and a second surface SS. The fabric 1 extends in the cross direction from a first edge 7 to a second edge 8. The fabric 1 forms in the machine direction MD an endless loop as shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] The system related to the fabric 1 may comprise a reader 20, a computer 21 and a cloud service 22. The reader 20 reads measuring results which are stored in a cloud service 22 and processed by a computer 21.

[0039] FIGS. 2 and 3 show schematic views of a fabric 1. The fabric has a longitudinal direction MD, a cross direction CMD, a first surface FS and a second surface SS. The dryer fabric 1 comprises a weave 2 and seam forming counterparts 3, 4. On one of the outer surfaces of the weave 2, or on both outer surfaces of the weave 2 may be a batt fiber layer (FIGS. 6 and 7). The batt fiber layer may also be between two weaves 2 when the fabric 1 comprises more than one weave 2 one upon the other.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the weave 2 comprises a first end FE, a second end SE, a first end region FR, a second end region SR, a first edge 7 and a second edge 8. When the fabric 1 is in use in a paper or pulp machine the seam forming counterparts 3, 4 are joined together by a pin 10, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the fabric 1 at the seam forming counterparts 3, 4. The seam forming counterparts 3, 4 are seam loops. The seam loops of the first end FS and the seam loops of the second end SE alternate in the seam in such a manner that a channel 9 forms in the cross direction CMD of the fabric 1. The pin 10 threaded into the channel 9 joins the ends FE, SE together.

[0042] The pin 10 may comprise a sensor, i.e., the pin 10 is a string comprising at least one sensor. Alternatively, there may be a conventional pin in the channel 9, which is accompanied by one string comprising one or more sensors, or more strings each comprising one or more sensors. The string may have a length, which corresponds to the whole width of the fabric, or the string may be shorter.

[0043] There may be a specific tool for inserting the string inside the channel 9. The tool may be configured to thread the string or shoot the string inside the channel 9.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the fabric 1 in a schematic perspective view. FIG. 5 shows how the strings may lie in the fabric 1. The fabric may comprise the spiral fabric or the weave 2. The same fabric 1 may comprise several strings either assembled in the same manner or differently. Further, the same fabric 1 may be provided with strings 16 of FIG. 6 or a sheet 17 of FIG. 7.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the string 11 extends in the cross-direction CMD. The string 11 itself may be a cross directional yarn of the fabric 1, or a separate string extending in the cross direction. The separate string may be assembled in the fabric 1 by adding it to the same shed with a weft yarn during weaving of the fabric 1, or it may darned into the fabric 1 in a suitable phase after manufacturing. It is also possible that the string 11 is added to the fabric 1 at a paper or pulp machine during a stoppage. The string 12 extends in a diagonal direction in the fabric 1. The string 12 may darned into the fabric 1. The string 12 may be at any angle to the longitudinal direction MD and the cross direction CMD of the fabric 1.

[0046] The string 13 extends in the longitudinal direction MD. The string 13 itself may be a longitudinal yarn of the fabric 1, or a separate string extending in the longitudinal direction. The separate string may be assembled in the fabric 1 by darning it into the fabric 1 in a suitable phase after weaving. It is also possible that the string 13 is attached to a warp yarn so that it passes the same reed spacing as the warp yarn during weaving. Further, the string 13 may be added to the fabric 1 at a paper or pulp machine during a stoppage.

[0047] The string 14 extends partially in the thickness direction of the fabric 1. The string 14 may be added to the fabric 1 by darning.

[0048] The fabric 1 may comprise two longitudinal yarn layers one upon the other in the thickness direction TD of the fabric 1. FIG. 5 shows schematically the locations of the first longitudinal yarn layer FW and the second longitudinal yarn layer SW. The string 15 extends between the first longitudinal yarn layer FW and the second longitudinal yarn layer SW in the cross direction CMD of the fabric 1.

[0049] The fabric may comprise more than two longitudinal yarn layers one upon the other. There may be e.g., 2 to 5 yarn layers. Further, it is also possible that there are more than one layer of cross machine direction yarns. The string 15 may extend between each superimposed layers, or between some of the superimposed layers.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the fabric 1. The fabric 1 comprises a batt fiber layer BFL on the first side FS of the fabric 1, i.e., the fabric is a felt. The felt may be used in a press section of a paper or pulp machine. The string 16 may be one of the fibers of the batt fiber layer BFL. The string 16 may be assembled into the fabric 1 by needling. The string 16 may be randomly oriented, or it may extend e.g., in the longitudinal direction MD of the fabric 1. The string 16 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the fabric 1 in a predetermined location in such a manner that it is possible to needle the batt fiber layer BFL to the weave in such a manner that the at least one sensor remains undamaged.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows another schematic perspective view of the fabric 1. The fabric 1 may comprise a sheet 17 under the batt fiber layer BFL. The sheet 17 may cover the whole surface of the fabric 1, or only partially. The sheet 17 may be a fabric, a net, or a membrane. The sheet may be water permeable. The sheet 17 comprises one or more sensors.

[0052] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.