Seamed Papermaking Felt Base Member Seam Loop Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing process for seamed papermaking felts results in disrupted seam loop arrangements during storage, leading to impaired work efficiency in joining seam loops and increased occurrence of seam marks on the wet paper web.

Innovation Solution

A papermaking felt base member with a specific configuration, including machine direction yarns, cross machine direction yarns, pintle wire insertion loops, and filling yarns of varying fineness arranged along the cross machine direction, which helps maintain the alignment of seam loops and prevents disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a seamed papermaking felt is manufactured with conventional filling yarns, then the seam loops can be joined, but the arrangement of seam loops becomes disrupted during storage, impairing work efficiency in joining operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiency of joining seam loopsVSAvoidalignment of seam loops
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the filling yarns by specifying their fineness ranges (first filling yarns: 1/10 to 1/5 of machine direction yarns, second filling yarns: 1/5 to 1/2 of machine direction yarns) and their arrangement patterns. These parameter changes ensure the filling yarns provide sufficient structural support to maintain seam loop alignment during storage while allowing efficient joining operations when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties and positions of filling yarns in specific regions. First filling yarns are arranged between cross machine direction yarns and pintle wire insertion loops, while second filling yarns are arranged between cross machine direction yarns at the outermost end and the first filling yarns. This localized differentiation provides targeted structural support where needed most for maintaining alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If seam loops are joined in conventional seamed felts, then the felt can be installed, but seam marks are transferred to the wet paper web during water-squeezing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation of papermaking feltVSAvoidseam marks on wet paper web
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fineness parameters of filling yarns in the seam loop region to create a more uniform and refined structure. The first filling yarns with fineness of 1/10 to 1/5 of machine direction yarns create a finer, more uniform texture in the seam area, reducing the visibility and transfer of seam marks to the paper web during the water-squeezing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional weaving structures are used, then the felt can be manufactured, but short fibers fall off easily near the seam loops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing of papermaking feltVSAvoidretention of short fibers
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing specific filling yarns (first filling yarns with fineness of 1/10 to 1/5 of machine direction yarns) in the region between cross machine direction yarns and pintle wire insertion loops. This localized refinement creates a denser structure that effectively anchors short fibers, preventing them from falling off near the seam loops while maintaining overall manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4553222A1Papermaking felt base member and papermaking felt
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 ICHIKAWA CO LTD
  • EP4553222A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4553222A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4553222A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Technical Problem] Provided are a base member for a seamed papermaking felt and a papermaking felt, which do not impair the work efficiency of joining seam loops and which suppress the occurrence of seam marks in a seam part. [Solution to Problem] The papermaking felt base member comprises:an ended woven fabric comprising machine direction yarns reciprocating in a machine direction, and cross machine direction yarns arranged along a cross machine direction and interwoven with the machine direction yarns;a plurality of pintle wire insertion loops formed by folding back the machine direction yarns at both ends of the woven fabric in the machine direction, through which a pintle wire is able to be inserted; and a plurality of filling yarns arranged along the cross machine direction at least one end of the woven fabric between the cross machine direction yarns disposed at the outermost end of the woven fabric and the pintle wire insertion loops,wherein, among the plurality of filling yarns, the fineness of a first filling yarn that is disposed closest to the pintle wire insertion loops is smaller than the fineness of a second filling yarn that is disposed on the cross machine direction yarn side of the first filling yarn.