Manufacturing process for papermaking belts using 3D printing technology
AssigneeStructured I, LLC
InventorsJames E. Sealey, II, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Justin C. Pence, Taras Z. Andrukh, Shane Ervin Hayes
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Abstract
A papermaking belt including zones of material laid down successively using a 3D printing process. The zones include at least a pocket zone configured to form three dimensional structures in a paper web by applying vacuum to pull the paper web against the pocket zone. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the zone also include at least one vacuum breaking zone configured to limit an amount of paper fibers pulled through the pocket zone by the applied vacuum.
Claims23
A method for making a three-dimensional papermaking belt configured for use in forming, pressing, drying or molding of fibrous web, wherein the process comprises forming the belt by 3D printing of a polymeric material having a plurality of vacuum breaking zones configured to limit an amount of paper fibers pulled through open areas formed in the belt above the vacuum breaking zones, wherein each vacuum breaking zone comprises a crisscross pattern of material disposed within a respective one of the open areas.
A method of making a papermaking belt, comprising:
- laying down successive layers of polymeric material using a 3D printing process so as to form a unitary structure with zones corresponding to the successive layers, wherein the zones comprise:
- a plurality of pocket zones that define a plurality of open areas configured to form three dimensional structures in a paper web;
- and
- a plurality of vacuum breaking zones configured to limit an amount of paper fibers pulled through the plurality of open areas defined by the plurality of pocket zones, wherein each vacuum breaking zone comprises a crisscross pattern of material disposed within a respective one of the open areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.