Fabric cleaning systems and methods using synchronized cross-machine direction traversing cleaning heads

A method of cleaning fabric comprising:

• providing a first cleaning head and a second cleaning head disposed on opposite sides of a fabric;
• moving the fabric along a machine direction partially around a roll;
• and
• traversing each of the first cleaning head and the second cleaning head along respective first and second beams during cleaning in a cross-machine direction,
• the first cleaning head including a first area and a second area, the first area of the first cleaning head providing a fluid under positive pressure and a vacuum against a sheet side of the fabric, the second area of the first cleaning head providing a further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, and
• the second cleaning head providing a fluid under pressure against a roll side of the fabric, wherein the second cleaning head applies the fluid under pressure to a same position of the fabric at which the second area of the first cleaning head applies the further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, wherein the second cleaning head further includes an air-doctor for applying air under positive pressure that removes any remaining fluid from the roll side of the fabric following the roll away from the first cleaning head.

A fabric cleaning system comprising for use in a roll processing system, said fabric cleaning system comprising:

• a first traversing cleaning head that is directed toward a sheet side of a fabric that travels along a machine direction partially around a roll, said first traversing cleaning head being adapted to traverse a cross-machine direction of the fabric;
• and
• a second traversing cleaning head that is directed toward a roll side of the fabric that is opposite the sheet side of the fabric, said second traversing cleaning head also being adapted to traverse the cross-machine direction of the fabric,
• the first traversing cleaning head including a first area and a second area, the first area of the first traversing cleaning head comprising a first plurality of nozzles surrounded by a first vacuum opening that provide a fluid under positive pressure and a vacuum towards a sheet side of the fabric, the first area of the first traversing cleaning head further comprising an air-doctor that provides positive air pressure to the sheet side of the fabric, the second area of the first traversing cleaning head comprising a second vacuum opening that provides a further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, and
• the second traversing cleaning head comprising a second plurality of nozzles that faces the second vacuum opening of the first cleaning head and provides a fluid under positive pressure towards a roll side of the fabric, wherein the second traversing cleaning head further includes an air-doctor for applying air under positive pressure that removes any remaining fluid from the roll side of the fabric following the roll away from the first traversing cleaning head.

A method of cleaning fabric comprising:

• providing a first cleaning head and a second cleaning head disposed on opposite sides of a fabric;
• moving the fabric along a machine direction partially around a roll;
• and
• traversing each of the first cleaning head and the second cleaning head along respective first and second beams during cleaning in a cross-machine direction,
• the first cleaning head including a first area and a second area, the first area of the first cleaning head providing a fluid under positive pressure and a vacuum against a sheet side of the fabric, the second area of the first cleaning head providing a further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, and
• the second cleaning head providing a fluid under pressure against a roll side of the fabric, wherein the second cleaning head applies the fluid under pressure to a same position of the fabric at which the second area of the first cleaning head applies the further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, wherein the second cleaning head further includes a vacuum box that removes any remaining fluid from the roll side of the fabric following the roll away from the first cleaning head.

A fabric cleaning system comprising for use in a roll processing system, said fabric cleaning system comprising:

• a first traversing cleaning head that is directed toward a sheet side of a fabric that travels along a machine direction partially around a roll, said first traversing cleaning head being adapted to traverse a cross-machine direction of the fabric;
• and
• a second traversing cleaning head that is directed toward a roll side of the fabric that is opposite the sheet side of the fabric, said second traversing cleaning head also being adapted to traverse the cross-machine direction of the fabric,
• the first traversing cleaning head including a first area and a second area, the first area of the first traversing cleaning head comprising a first plurality of nozzles surrounded by a first vacuum opening that provide a fluid under positive pressure and a vacuum towards a sheet side of the fabric, the first area of the first traversing cleaning head further comprising an air-doctor that provides positive air pressure to the sheet side of the fabric, the second area of the first traversing cleaning head comprising a second vacuum opening that provides a further vacuum on the sheet side of the fabric, and
• the second traversing cleaning head comprising a second plurality of nozzles that faces the second vacuum opening of the first cleaning head and provides a fluid under positive pressure towards a roll side of the fabric, wherein the second traversing cleaning head further includes a vacuum box that removes any remaining fluid from the roll side of the fabric following the roll away from the first traversing cleaning head.