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US 5,480,604 AGranted
Molded seam for papermakers fabric and method
AssigneeAsten, Inc.
InventorsC. Barry Johnson, Rachel H. Kramer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seam construction for a papermakers fabric in which mating seam components are molded onto opposite ends of the fabric. The seam is assembled by matingly engaging the seam components molded onto the respective fabric end to define a seam having a caliper substantially equal to the caliper of the fabric. Preferably, the seam components are male and female and become positively locked when the seam ends are joined together.
Claims11
A method for making papermakers fabric comprising:
- providing a fabric having opposing ends and a body of selected caliper and permeability;
- preparing said opposing fabric ends for molding including cutting said fabric to a selected length based upon a given set of machine requirements for papermaking equipment on which said fabric is to be used;
- providing at least one selectively configured mold;
- and
- plastic injection molding a seam component on each prepared end of said fabric using said mold whereby mating engagement of said respective seam components with each other renders said fabric endless and defines a seam having a caliper substantially equal to said caliper of said fabric body.
2 more elements
A method for making a papermakers fabric comprising:
- providing a fabric woven of machine direction and cross machine yarns, said woven fabric having a selected uniform caliper and permeability and said machine direction yarns having opposing ends which define opposing ends of said woven fabric;
- affixing a seam component to each end of said fabric including:
- preparing said opposing fabric ends for receiving a seam component on each said end by cutting said fabric to a selected length based upon a given set of machine requirements for papermaking equipment on which said fabric is to be used;
- causing molten plastic material to flow about a selected length of said ends of said machine direction yarns;
- confining said flow of molten plastic material such that said molten plastic material flows in a space substantially equal to said caliper of said fabric;
- and
- permitting said molten plastic material to solidify about said machine direction yarn ends such that said solidified plastic material has a caliper substantially equal to said caliper of said fabric and serves to couple a selectively configured seam component onto said fabric end.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.