PAPER MACHINE FABRIC

Abstract

The invention relates to a paper machine fabric that consists of two layers, a paper-side layer and a wear-side layer. The paper-side layer consists of the top warps (1) and at least the binding top wefts (2), which have been adjusted to form a part of the paper-side surface, and the wear-side layer consists of the bottom warps (3) and bottom wefts (4). The binding top wefts (2) have been adjusted to bind the paper-side layer and the wear-side layer together. Each binding top weft (2) is adjusted so that it forms a continuous independent yarn path.

Claims

1. A paper machine fabric that consists of two layers, a paper-side layer and a wear-side layer, where the paper-side layer consists of the top warps (1) and at least the binding top wefts (2), which have been adjusted to form a part of the paper-side surface, and the wear-side layer consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4), where the binding top wefts (2) have been adjusted to bind the paper-side layer and the wear-side layer together, characterised in that each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted to form a continuous independent yarn path.

2. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, where at least one top weft (2a) has also been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2), and it has been adjusted to only bind to the top warps (1), characterised in that each top weft (2a) and each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted to form a continuous independent weft path.

3. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of only the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted to bind to the top warps (1) under two top warps and over two top warps, and each binding top weft (2) has also been adjusted to bind to each bottom warp (3) in the pattern repeat.

4. A paper machine fabric according to claim 3, characterised in that the weave of the bottom wefts is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3).

5. A paper machine fabric according to claim 3, characterised in that the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

6. A paper machine fabric according to claim 2, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of the top warps (1), the binding top wefts (2) and the top wefts (2a), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted to bind to the top warps (1) under two top warps and under two top warps, and each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to every other bottom warp (3) in the pattern repeat, and where one top weft (2a) has been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2); it binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp and over three top warps.

7. A paper machine fabric according to claim 6, characterised in that the wear-side weave is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3).

8. A paper machine fabric according to claim 6, characterised in that the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

9. A paper machine fabric according to claim 2, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of the top warps (1), the binding top wefts (2) and the top wefts (2a), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under two top warps and over two top warps, and each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to every other bottom warp (3) in the pattern repeat, and where one top weft (2a) has been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2); it has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over one top warp (1).

10. A paper machine fabric according to claim 9, characterised in that the wear-side weave is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3).

11. A paper machine fabric according to claim 9, characterised in that the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

12. A paper machine fabric according to claim 2, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of the top warps (1), the binding top wefts (2) and the top wefts (2a), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp and over two top warps, and each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to every other bottom warp (3) in the pattern repeat, and where one top weft (2a) has been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2); it has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over two top warps (2).

13. A paper machine fabric according to claim 12, characterised in that the wear-side weave is a 6-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under four bottom warps (3).

14. A paper machine fabric according to claim 12, characterised in that the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

15. A paper machine fabric according to claim 2, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of the top warps (1), the binding top wefts (2) and the top wefts (2a), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under three top warps (1) and over three top warps (1) and where one top weft (2a) has been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2); it has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under two top warps (1) and over three top warps (1).

16. A paper machine fabric according to claim 15, characterised in that the wear-side weave is a 6-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over one bottom warp (3) and under five bottom warps (3).

17. A paper machine fabric according to claim 15, characterised in that the ratio of top warps to bottom warps is 5: 3.

18. A paper machine fabric according to claim 2, characterised in that the paper-side layer has been adjusted so that it consists of the top warps (1), the binding top wefts (2) and the top wefts (2a), where each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over three top warps (1), and each binding top weft (2) has been adjusted so that it binds to every other bottom warp (3) in the pattern repeat, and where one top weft (2a) has been adjusted between two adjacent binding top wefts (2); it has been adjusted so that it binds to the top warps under one top warp (1) and over three top warps (1).

19. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio of binding top wefts (2) to the top wefts (2a) is 1, >1 or <1.

20. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 1:1, 1:2 or 2:3.

21. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the wear-side weave is between 2 and 16 shafts.

22. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the paper machine fabric is a wire used in the wet section of a paper machine.

23. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the paper-side layer consists of top warps (1) and binding top wefts (2a).

24. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that in a pattern repeat, the binding top wefts (2) have been adjusted so that they bind to each bottom warp (3).

25. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the binding top wefts (2) have been adjusted so that they bind to every other bottom warp (3) in a pattern repeat.

26. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the binding top wefts (2) have been adjusted so that they bind to every third bottom warp (3) in a pattern repeat.

27. A paper machine fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio of top warps (1) to bottom warps (3) is 1, <1 or >1.

Description

[0019] In the following, the invention is described in greater detail by means of the application examples presented in the attached figures, where:

[0020] FIG. 1 presents the first embodiment of the invention, as a view from the paper side,

[0021] FIG. 2 presents the embodiment of the invention, according to FIG. 1, as a view from the wear side,

[0022] FIG. 3 presents the second embodiment of the invention as a view from the paper side,

[0023] FIG. 4 presents the embodiment of the invention, according to FIG. 3, as a view from the wear side,

[0024] FIG. 5 presents the third embodiment of the invention as a view from the paper side,

[0025] FIG. 6 presents the embodiment of the invention, according to FIG. 5, as a view from the wear side,

[0026] FIG. 7 presents the fourth embodiment of the invention as a view from the paper side,

[0027] FIG. 8 presents the embodiment of the invention, according to FIG. 7, as a view from the wear side,

[0028] FIGS. 9a-9d present the fifth embodiment of the invention as views in the direction of warp threads, and

[0029] FIG. 10 presents the sixth embodiment of the invention as a view from the paper side

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the first embodiment of the invention. Each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2). The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps (1) under two top warps (1) and over two top warps (1). Each of the binding top wefts (2) binds to a bottom warp (3), and every bottom warp (3) is bound. The wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3). The ratio of top wefts (2) to bottom wefts (4) is 2:1.

[0031] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the second embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used in FIGS. 3 and 4 as in FIGS. 1 and 2 to refer to the corresponding parts. In this embodiment, too, each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), in addition to the top wefts (2a). The top wefts (2a) are non-binding top wefts, meaning that the top wefts (2a) are not bound to the wear-side warps. The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps (1) under two top warps (1) and over two top warps (1). Each of the binding top wefts (2) binds to a bottom warp (3), and every other bottom warp (3) is bound. Between each pair of adjacent binding top wefts (2) is one non-binding top weft (2a), which binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over three top warps (1). The wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3). The ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

[0032] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the third embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used in FIGS. 5 and 6 as in FIGS. 4 and 5 to refer to the corresponding parts. In this embodiment, too, each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), as well as the top wefts (2a). The top wefts (2a) are non-binding top wefts, which are not bound to the wear-side warps. The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps (1) under two top warps (1) and over two top warps (1). Each of the binding top wefts (2) binds to a bottom warp (3), and every other bottom warp (3) is bound. Between each pair of adjacent binding top wefts (2) is one top weft (2a), which binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over one top warp (1). The wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave is an 8-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under six bottom warps (3). In this embodiment, the ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1 and the ratio of top warps to bottom warps is 1:2.

[0033] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the fourth embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used in FIGS. 7 and 8 as in e.g. FIGS. 5 and 6 to refer to the corresponding parts. In this embodiment, too, each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), as well as the top wefts (2a). The top wefts (2a) are non-binding top wefts, which are not bound to the wear-side warps. The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps under one top warp (1) and over two top warps (1). Each of the binding top wefts (2) binds to a bottom warp (3), and every other bottom warp (3) is bound. Between each pair of adjacent binding top wefts (2) is one non-binding top weft (2a), which binds to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over two top warps (1). The wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave is a 6-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over two bottom warps (3) and under four bottom warps (3). The ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1.

[0034] FIGS. 9a-9d show the fifth embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used in FIGS. 9a-9d as in the previous embodiments to refer to the corresponding parts. In this embodiment, too, each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), as well as the top wefts (2a). The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps under three top warps (1) and over two top warps (1). Between each pair of adjacent binding top wefts (2) is one non-binding top weft (2a), which binds to the top warps (1) under two top warps (1) and over three top warps (1). The wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave is a 6-shaft weave, meaning that the bottom wefts (4) pass over one bottom warp and under five bottom warps (3), in such a way that the adjacent bottom warps are also bound. The bottom weft could also be bound in a 3-shaft or a 12-shaft structure. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9a-9d, the warp ratio is 5:3.

[0035] FIG. 10 shows the fifth embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used in FIG. 10 as in e.g. FIG. 5 to refer to the corresponding parts. In this embodiment, too, each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure consists of the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2), as well as the top wefts (2a). The top wefts (2a) are non-binding top wefts, which are not bound to the wear-side warps. The binding top wefts (2) bind to the top warps under one top warp (1) and over three top warps (1). Each of the binding top wefts (2) binds to a bottom warp (3), and every other bottom warp (3) is bound. Between each pair of adjacent binding top wefts (2) is one non-binding top weft (2a), which is bound to the top warps (1) under one top warp (1) and over three top warps (1).

[0036] A common feature of all of the embodiments described above is that each top weft forms an independent yarn path. The paper side of the structure also consists of, at least, the top warps (1) and the binding top wefts (2). The weave of the binding top wefts (2) with the top warps (1) can vary, as shown in the figures, such as a 3-shaft or 4-shaft weave, twill, satin, etc. In the pattern repeat, the binding top weft (2) always binds to at least one bottom warp. The binding top weft (2) can also bind to the bottom warps (3) in other ways, such as to every other bottom warp (3) or every third bottom warp (3). In some applications, there may be non-binding top wefts (2a) in between the binding top wefts (2). Their weave can vary, meaning that the weave can be a 2-shaft weave, twill, satin, etc. The ratio of the binding top wefts (2) to the non-binding top wefts (2a) may be 1, >1 or <1. Furthermore, in all embodiments of the invention, the wear side of the structure consists of the bottom warps (3) and the bottom wefts (4). The wear-side weave can be twill or satin, for example, but other weaves are also possible. It is advantageous for the bottom weft (4) to bind to two adjacent bottom warps (3) and form a bottom weft loop after this, such as two over/3-14 under, but there are also other options from 2-shaft up to 16-shaft weaves. The ratio of top wefts to bottom wefts is 2:1 in many of the embodiments in the figures, but it can also be something else, such as 1:1, 1:2, 2:3, etc. The ratio of top warps to bottom warps is 1:2 in many of the embodiments in the figures, but it can also be 1 (=1), greater than one (>1) or smaller than one (<1). The top warps can be located either on top of the bottom warps or between them; for example, in 1:2 one bottom warp can be directly under a top warp, while the other bottom warp does not have a pair, or a top warp can be in the middle of the bottom warps.

[0037] The solutions described above use polyester and polyamide yarns. Other possible yarn materials include PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) or PPS (polyphenylene sulphide). The yarns or a part of the yarns may have a round cross-section or they may be, for example, profile yarns, where the cross-section is not round, but rather flat, oval, rectangle, or some other shape. The yarns may also be hollow, in which case they can flatten in the fabric and the structure can be made even thinner than before. One advantageous form of the invention is that all warps are 0.12 mm in diameter. The warp diameter may also be different; however, top warps 0.08 mm and bottom warps 0.11 mm. The diameter of the binding top wefts and the non-binding top wefts may be 0.08 mm. Similarly, bi-component yarns may also be used. The properties of the fabric can be influenced by the choice of yarn properties; for example, to achieve a thinner structure or an even paper-side surface, etc. The structure of the invention is intended for use as a wire in the wet section of a paper machine, but the structure can also be used with e.g. tissue, paperboard and non-woven machines. The structure of the invention can also be adjusted for use at the press or drying section of a paper machine.

[0038] The invention is described above by means of different embodiments. However, the invention is in no way restricted to the embodiments of the figures, but may naturally be freely modified, within the scope of the accompanying claims.