Fibrous web formed on a structured fabric

Abstract

A fibrous web including a fibrous construct having at least one formed surface feature. The surface feature including a topographical pattern reflective of a weave pattern in a fabric used in a papermaking machine. The fabric including a single layer of yarns arranged in a repeating weave pattern, each weave pattern including a plurality of warp yarns substantially oriented in a machine direction (MD) defining MD yarns; and a plurality of weft yarns substantially oriented in a cross machine direction (CD) defining CD yarns. The MD yarns each having at least one long float within the weave pattern. Each long float being adjacent to at least one other long float of an MD yarn. The weave pattern being a plain weave apart from the long floats.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 847,519, entitled “STRUCTURED FABRIC”, filed Jul. 30, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to papermaking, and relates more specifically to a fibrous web formed on a structured fabric employed in papermaking.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In a conventional papermaking process, a water slurry, or suspension, of cellulosic fibers (known as the paper “stock”) is fed into a gap between two endless woven wires that travels between two or more rolls. At least one of the wires are often referred to as a “structured fabric” that provides a papermaking surface on the upper surface of its upper run which operates as a filter to separate the cellulosic fibers of the paper stock from the aqueous medium, thereby forming a wet paper web. The aqueous medium drains throu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a fibrous web with a surface feature that looks like a weave pattern in a fabric used in a papermaking machine. The fabric has a repeating weave pattern with yarns arranged in a way that creates long floats and a plain weave. The long floats are adjacent to each other and are oriented in the machine direction. The technical effect of this invention is that it provides a more complex and intricate surface feature on a fibrous web that mimics the weave pattern of a fabric used in a papermaking machine.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, the belt nip is more than 20 times longer than a conventional press and utilizes airflow through the nip, which is not the case on a conventional press system.

This document, however, does not create pillows in the sheet for effective dewatering of TAD applications, nor does it teach using the disclosed fabrics on an ATMOS™ system and / or forming the pillows in the sheet while the sheet is relatively wet and utilizing a hi-tension press nip.

This document, however, does not teach using the disclosed fabrics on an ATMOS™ system.

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