CA2229371A1 - Fabric made from extruded, cut to size hollow tubes - Google Patents

Fabric made from extruded, cut to size hollow tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2229371A1
CA2229371A1 CA002229371A CA2229371A CA2229371A1 CA 2229371 A1 CA2229371 A1 CA 2229371A1 CA 002229371 A CA002229371 A CA 002229371A CA 2229371 A CA2229371 A CA 2229371A CA 2229371 A1 CA2229371 A1 CA 2229371A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ring
belt
machine direction
ring elements
elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002229371A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Henry J. Lee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Asten Inc
Original Assignee
Asten Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Asten Inc filed Critical Asten Inc
Publication of CA2229371A1 publication Critical patent/CA2229371A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21FPAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
    • D21F1/00Wet end of machines for making continuous webs of paper
    • D21F1/0027Screen-cloths
    • D21F1/0072Link belts

Abstract

A paper machine belt comprising hinge wires extending in the cross machine direction and a plurality of ring link elements, each of which extends in the machine direction and encloses at least two of the hinge wires.

Description

' CA 02229371 1998-02-13 Express Mail Label No.: EM394698272 FA~RIC MADE FROM ~l~ED, CUT TO SIZE HOLLOW TUBES
BACRGROUND OF THE lNv~NLlON

Field of t.he Invention The present invention concerns a link belt, especially for paper machines, with hinge wires extending in the cross machine direction and link elements extending in the machine direction.
Each link encloses at least two adjacent hinge wires.

Description of the Prior Art A pa?ermaker's link belt fabric has been disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. 4,469,221. It has a number of circular hinge wires running in the cross machine direction bound together via link elements. A number of differently shaped link elements are shown.
Each link element has passage openings at its ends for accepting neighborillg hinge wires. The passage openings are slit to permit them to be expanded and snapped around the hinge wires.
In such a link belt, there is a possibility of expansion of the slit passage openings and, also, only a limited stability in lhe direction of tensioning. Additionally, the link elements are prone to breaking at the expandable sections bordering the passage openings. Another disadvantage of such a link belt is that air permeability can not be adjusted significantly. Since link belts are generally used in the dryer section of a paper machine, air permeability is an important property and therefore is preferably adjustable.

So-called wire link belts are described in U.S. Patent Nos.
4,395,308 and 5,364,692. Such wire link belts also have a number of hinge wires extending in the cross direction. The hinge wires may be circular, flat, oval, or rectangular in cross section or a variation thereof. In wire link belts, the hinge wires join together wire spirals, each of which surrounds two neighboring hinge wires. Generally, each wire spiral intermeshes with its neighboring wire spirals.
In some applications, filler elements may be incorporated between each pair of hinge wires in the area surrounded by the wire spirals to reduce the air permeability as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,364,692. Permeability may also be reduced by providing spirals having upper or lower surfaces which are wider than the ends thereof, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,528,236, which is 1'; incorporated herein by reference.
However, the manufacture of wire link belts is not simple.
(,enerally, the wire spirals are produced via plastic deformation under the influence of heat. This is an expensive, tedious and time consuming process. In addition, left- and right-spiraled wire 2() spirals have to be kept on hand to be joined and intermeshed with each other in a proper sequence. A further disadvantage is that damage to a single wire spiral can result in a break of the entire wire link belt.
Therefore, there exists a need for a link belt that it is resistant to tension, can be adjusted for air permeability, and can be easily produced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally provides a paper machine belt comprising hinge wires extending in the cross machine direction and a plurality of ring link elements extending in the machine direction. Each ring link element opens in the cross machine direction and encloses at least two of the hinge wires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a link belt made in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the link belt of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the link belt of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the link belt.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the link belt of Figure 4.
FiguIe 6 is a top plan view of a second alternate embodiment of the link belt.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the link belt of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a top plan view of a third alternate embodiment of the link belt.
Figu:re 9 is an isometric view of a preferred tube and ring elements :Eormed therefrom.
Figu:re 10 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of a ring link element.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the ring link element of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a partial isometric view of a link belt forming apparatus.
Figures 13a-19a are side elevation views of the forming apparatus of Figure 12 during formation of a link belt. -Figure~ 13b-19b are front elevation views of the forming apparatus of Figure 12 during forming of a link belt.
Figure~ 13c-19c are top views of the forming apparatus of Figure 12 during formation of a link belt.
Figures 20-27 are top views of an alternate forming apparatus during forming of a link belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The I?referred embodiments will be described with reference to drawing figures where the numerals represent like elements throughout.
As shown in FigureR 1-8, the link belt 1 has a number of hinge wires 2 extending in the cross machine direction. The hinge wires 2 can have various cross sections, such as the hinge wires presently used in spiral link belts. They are preferably equally spaced with respect to each other.
Each pair of neighboring hinge wires 2 is jointly surrounded by a ring element 3 having a single opening 4. Preferably, the ring elements 3 are adapted to the shape of the hinge wires 2 in that the ring openings 4 correspond to the geometry of the hinge wires 2. It i8 preferable that the hinge wires 2 and ring openings 4 be roundid along their lateral edges regardless of their cross section as part of the hinging function.
In the preferred embodiment, the ring elements 3 have a substantially quadratic cross section and run straight on the top and bottom side. In this way, flat surfaces are formed. It is also possible to provide convex or concave surfaces in order to attain bett:er adaptation to specific conditions. The ring elements 3 may have a variety of configurations, such as those currently utilized in spiral link belts. The configuration shown in Figure 8 is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,528,236. In this configuration, the top and bottom surfaces of each ring 3 are wider than the ends thereof.
Referring to Figure 1, two neighboring ring elements 3 are arranged around hinge wire 2 and offset with respect to each other in the machine direction. For example, ring element 3b encloses two specific hinge wires 2b and 2c. Neighboring ring element 3a surrounds only one of the two above-mentioned hinge wires 2b as well as the next hinge wire 2a in the machine direction. Ring element 3c encloses the other of the two above-mentioned hinge wires 2c as well as the hinge wire 2d neighboring on the other side. This pattern is continuous so that two neighboring hinge wires 2 are jointly surrounded by only every other ring element 3 ~iewed in the cross direction of the link belt 1. It is also possible for the ring elements 3 to enclose three or more successiv,- hinge wires 2, the spacing of the hinge wires 2 being held constant in such an embodiment through appropriate staggering of the ring elements 3. This is shown in Figures 6 and 7.
When the belt 1 is assembled, channel 6 extends in the cross direction between neighboring hinge wires 2 over the entire width of the linl~ belt 1. Filler elements, such as are found in U.S.
Patent No. 5,364,692, can be placed in these channels 6. In this way, the air permeability of the link belt 1 can be adjusted to a desired value. If desired, a woven or non-woven batt layer can be affixed to one or both sides of the belt in a known manner, such as is disclosed in U.S. 4,528,236.
The ring elements 3 and the hinges 2 can be formed from any number of materials, including but not limited to plastics, metals, or any cornbination thereof. The materials may be treated or reinforced by additives such as fiberglass. As shown in Figure 9, the ring elements 3 are preferably sections of a desired width, that are formed from a continuous hollow tube 10 of the desired cross sect:ion. In the preferred embodiment, tube 10 is an extrusion and the ring elements 3 are formed in a cutting apparatus. Alternatively, the ring elements 3 may be injection molded.
An alternate ring element 103 is shown in Figures 10-11. In this embocliment, the machine side of the ring element 103 has a separation 105. The ring element 103 may be formed with this configurat:ion or may be formed flat and then bent to the desired configurat.ion. These ring elements 103 may be used to form an entire bel.t, but are preferably used only as replacement elements for fabric elements which are broken or damaged since they will not be required to provide as much MD stability in such an application.
A first method of manufacturing the belt 1 is shown in Figures 12-19. The forming apparatus 20 extends in the cross direction and comprises a ring discharger 22, a forming platform 24 and an advancing arm 26. The ring discharger 22 is supplied with ring elements 3. Preferably, the number of stacks of ring elements 3 is equal to half the number of ring elements 3 in the machine cross direction of the desired belt. The stacks are spaced in the cross machine direction by a distance equal to the width of a ring element 3.
Assembly of the belt 1 is shown in Figures 13-19, wherein each figure re~resents a progression in the formation process. As shown in Figures 13a-13c, when the ring discharger 22 is in a first 1', alignment, the even row ring elements 28 drop to the forming platform :'4. Next, as shown in Figures 14a-14c, advancing arm 26 preferably advances the even row ring elements 28 in the machine direction by one half of a ring element. Simultaneously, the ring discharger 22 moves in the cross machine direction by the width of a ring element to its second alignment. When the advancing arm 26 is removed, as shown in Figures 15a and 15c, the odd row ring elements 27 fall to the forming platform 24, as shown in Figure 15a. A forming wire 2 is placed through the channel by the aligned positions of ring elements 27 and 28, as shown in Figures 16a and 16c. The advancing arm 26 advances the belt 1 in the machine direction while the ring discharger 22 simultaneously moves back to its first alignment, as shown in Figure 17. When the advancing arm 26 is withdrawn as shown in Figures 18a and 18c, the next group of even row ring elements 28 falls to the forming platform. A pintle wire 2 is inserted through the channel formed by the advanced ring elements 27 and the newly positioned ring elements 28, às shown in Figures l9a and l9c. This process is repeated to form a belt 1 of a desired length.
An a:lternate method of forming the link belt 1 is shown in Figures 20-27. The forming apparatus 40 extends in the cross machine direction and comprises a forming jig 42 and advancing pins 44. As shown in Figure 20, hollow tubes 10 are inserted into the jig 42. Individual ring elements 3 are formed across the desired width of the forming apparatus 40. Odd rows of the ring elements 27 are then advanced in the machine direction by the advancing pins 1', 44, as shown in Figure 22. Hinge wires 2 are inserted in the channels :Eormed between the advanced odd row ring elements 27 and the non-advanced even row ring elements 28, as can be seen in Figure 23.. The assembled portion of the belt 1 is advanced beyond the jig 42 and hollow tubes 10 are again inserted into the cutting jig 42, as shown in Figure 24. The advancing pins 44 advance the even row ring elements 28 in the machine direction to align with the last of the previously advanced odd row ring elements 27, as can be seen in Figure 2 5. Hinge wires 2 are then inserted into the newly formed channels. As can be seen in Figure 27, a hinge wire 2 5 2 j oins the advanced portion of the belt 1 with the newly advanced ring elements 28. The assembled belt is advanced as the process continues to form a belt 1 of a desired length.

_ g

Claims (16)

1. A paper machine belt comprising:
a plurality of hinge wires extending in a cross machine direction; and a plurality of ring link elements that open in the cross machine direction and enclose at least two of the hinge wires whereby the ring link elements are arrayed over a given width and length and are offset in a machine direction by at least one hinge wire over the width of the link belt.
2. The belt according to claim 1 wherein each ring opening has a constant height over its extent in the machine direction.
3. The belt according to claim 1 wherein each ring opening has a configuration which corresponds to that of the hinge wires.
4. The belt according to claim 1 wherein the ring elements have top and bottom sides and at least one of the sides is flat.
5. The belt according to claim 1 wherein the ring elements have a quadratic or rectangular cross section.
6. The belt according to claim 1 wherein the hinge wires have a circular or oval cross section.
7. The belt according to claim 1 wherein the hinge wires are flat wires whose flat sides extend parallel to the belt plane.
8. The belt according to claim 1 wherein the hinge wires are rounded at their ends extending in the machine direction.
9. The belt according to claim 1 wherein neighboring ring elements are offset by one hinge wire in the machine direction of the belt.
10. The belt according to claim 1 wherein each ring element encloses more than two hinge wires.
11. The belt according to claim 1 wherein each ring element has a top, a bottom and two sides and the top and bottom are wider in the cross machine direction than the sides.
12. The belt according to claim 1 further comprising batting attached to one or both sides of the belt.
13. A replacement ring link element for the belt of claim 1 that opens in the cross machine direction and has a top, a bottom and two sides and the bottom is comprised of separated portions that expand to allow passage about the hinge wires.
14. A method of manufacturing a link belt comprising the steps of:
providing a first group of ring elements in a first alignment wherein ring elements are spaced in the cross machine direction by the width of one ring element;
advancing the first group of ring elements in the machine direction by half the length of the ring elements;
providing a second group of ring elements in a second alignment wherein the ring elements of the second group are aligned between the ring elements of the first group;
inserting a forming wire through the first and second groups of ring elements to join them; and advancing the joined ring elements in the machine direction by half the length of a ring element.
15. A method of manufacturing a link belt comprising the steps of:
providing hollow tubes of a predetermined length;
forming rows of ring elements from the tubes;
advancing select rows of ring elements in the machine direction by a predetermined distance and;
inserting pintles through the ring elements to form the belt.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the ring elements are formed by cutting the hollow tubes.
CA002229371A 1997-09-30 1998-02-13 Fabric made from extruded, cut to size hollow tubes Abandoned CA2229371A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US94057197A 1997-09-30 1997-09-30
US08/940,571 1997-09-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2229371A1 true CA2229371A1 (en) 1999-03-30

Family

ID=25475075

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002229371A Abandoned CA2229371A1 (en) 1997-09-30 1998-02-13 Fabric made from extruded, cut to size hollow tubes

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6774998A (en)
CA (1) CA2229371A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999016966A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA988909B (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19944864C2 (en) 1999-09-18 2003-03-06 Heimbach Gmbh Thomas Josef Belt for circulation in machines and process for its production
US6918998B2 (en) * 2002-11-13 2005-07-19 Albany International Corp. On-machine-seamable industrial fabric comprised of interconnected rings
CN107716262A (en) * 2017-11-08 2018-02-23 刘全义 Guipure equals back the method that sieve carries out grain impurity-removing

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3224760A1 (en) * 1982-07-02 1984-01-05 Thomas Josef Heimbach GmbH & Co, 5160 Düren TAPE FOR USE IN WET PRESSES OF PAPER MACHINES
US4469221A (en) * 1982-09-24 1984-09-04 Scapa Inc. Papermakers fabric of link and pintle construction
DE9209146U1 (en) * 1992-07-08 1992-09-10 Wuerttembergische Filztuchfabrik D. Geschmay Gmbh, 7320 Goeppingen, De
US5558204A (en) * 1993-05-05 1996-09-24 Maryland Wire Belts, Inc. Modular components and weld-free belting assembly
DE19534486C1 (en) * 1995-09-16 1997-03-27 Heimbach Gmbh Thomas Josef Link belt, in particular for paper machines

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA988909B (en) 1999-04-12
WO1999016966A1 (en) 1999-04-08
AU6774998A (en) 1999-04-23

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