Extruded paper machine clothing and method for the production thereof

A process for producing a clothing for a machine for at least one of producing or processing a fibrous web, the process comprising the following steps:

• providing the clothing with a basic structure substantially providing dimensional stability of the clothing in at least one of a lengthwise direction or a widthwise direction when used as intended;
• providing the basic structure with a band-shaped, one-piece grid structure including an upper side being a paper contacting side, an underside being a machine contacting side, a plurality of first material strands disposed next to one another in the widthwise direction of the clothing, having a first polymer material and having a length extended substantially in the lengthwise direction of the clothing, and a plurality of at least one of second material strands or drops disposed next to one another, having a second polymer material, directly contacting the first material strands at contact points and being connected to one another causing the first material strands and the at least one of second material strands or drops to form the grid structure together;
• and
• producing the grid structure by:
• a) providing a depositing surface having a first direction and a second direction,
• b) providing the first and second polymer materials in a liquid state,
• c) extruding the first liquid polymer material by using at least one nozzle to form on the depositing surface a multiplicity of the first material strands disposed next to one another in the second direction, being spaced apart from one another and having a length respectively extending substantially in the first direction,
• d) extruding the second liquid polymer material by using at least one nozzle to form on the depositing surface a multiplicity of at least one of the second material strands or the drops being disposed next to one another in the first direction, being spaced apart from one another, contacting the first material strands at contact points and being connected to one another causing the first material strands and the at least one of second material strands or drops to form at least one portion of the band-shaped and one-piece grid structure together,
• e) transforming the at least one portion of the grid structure from a liquid or pasty and unstable state into a solidified and self-supporting state by:
• 1) solidifying the first polymer material,
• 2) solidifying the second polymer material, and
• 3) bringing about a material-bonded connection between the first and second polymer materials at the contact points;
• and
• f) removing the at least one portion of the solidified band-shaped and one-piece grid structure from the depositing surface.