CN116615589A - Fabric attachment and paper machine clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

Fabric connection for a wire of a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, comprising a first fabric end with a first warp end and a second fabric end with a second warp end and at least one connecting element extending in the transverse direction of the subsequent wire, characterized in that the connecting element has an upper side and a lower side and that the first warp end and the second warp end are only in contact with the upper side of the connecting element and are in a material-locking connection therewith, in particular welded, and the wire has a paper side and a running side, wherein the wire has at least one first fabric layer, wherein the first fabric layer has at least one such fabric connection which is arranged such that the lower side of the at least one connecting element points in the direction of the running side of the wire.

Description

Fabric attachment and paper machine clothing

Technical Field

The present application relates to a wire and seam wire and a fabric connection for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material.

Background

A wire, in particular for a paper machine, generally comprises one or more fabric strips as an integral part. For application in a taut net, a continuous fabric band, the so-called band, is generally required. They may be woven either directly into a band ("circular weave") or into a flat fabric section that is continuous by joining the two longitudinal side ends.

Various possibilities are known from the prior art for such a connection for both ends of the fabric strip.

US 2014/0186579 describes the joining of two ends by means of an ultrasonic weld. However, this type of connection is disadvantageous. On the one hand, as can also be seen in the figures of US 2014/0186579, the fabric is damaged during the welding process. The characteristics of the joint after welding are not easily predictable. The strength characteristics of the welded filaments may also be compromised. This is particularly disadvantageous because sufficient tensile strength, especially in the machine direction, is an important quality feature of the base fabric and the finished taut web. Finally, such welds are also relatively brittle.

US 7,381,307 also suggests a welded connection of two fabric ends. US 7,381,307 does not describe welding of the ends in detail, however laser welding is generally suggested as a suitable type of connection.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present application is to propose an improved fabric connection and an improved clothing with such a fabric connection in relation to the prior art.

In this case, on the one hand, a strong textile connection which can be produced in a simple manner should be proposed.

The object of the application is to propose a textile connection whose properties can be adapted in a simple manner to the desired application.

Another task is to propose a taut net with fabric connections that leave little marks in the produced web of fibrous material.

These objects are completely solved by a fabric connection according to claim 1, a wire-wrap according to claim 2 and a seam wire-wrap according to claim 7.

Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

If mentioned in the application category: the element is light absorbing for light of a certain wavelength, e.g. laser light, it should be understood that: absorbs at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 70% of the radiant energy.

If mentioned in the application category: the element is transparent for light of a certain wavelength, e.g. a laser, then it should be understood that: absorbing at most 20%, preferably at most 10%, particularly preferably at most 5% of the radiant energy.

If mentioned within the scope of the application: the element has an upper or lower side, it is to be understood in the case of a circular element that a semicircle above the centre line is understood as the upper side and a semicircle below is understood as the lower side.

The same applies to oval or similar elements as appropriate.

With regard to the connection, this object is achieved by a fabric connection for a wire of a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, comprising a first fabric end with a first warp end and a second fabric end with a second warp end, and at least one connection element extending in the transverse direction of the subsequent wire. According to the application, the connecting element has an upper side and a lower side, and the first warp yarn end and the second warp yarn end are only in contact with the upper side of the connecting element and are connected, in particular welded, to the connecting element in a material-locking manner.

In this case, if (for example, due to the melting process in welding) a small part of the warp thread ends contacts the connecting element outside the upper side, it should also be regarded as having been satisfied that the warp thread ends only contact the upper side of the connecting element.

The machine may be, for example, a paper machine (or board machine, tissue machine) or pulp machine, among others.

Advantageously, the material-locking connection is produced by means of transmission welding, in particular laser transmission welding. The method is particularly advantageous in the field of wire-stretching of paper or board machines, since wire-stretching often consists entirely or partly of polyamide, which is for example largely transparent in the near infrared wavelength range. The soldering can be performed very simply by introducing a completely or partially light-absorbing connecting element. Furthermore, the non-light-absorbing part of the wire-mesh is not or only very slightly affected by the welding process.

In an advantageous embodiment of the fabric connection, a plurality of connection elements, in particular two or three connection elements, can be provided. The first and second warp yarn ends can in particular be contacted in each case only with the upper side of the connecting element and connected thereto in a material-locking manner, in particular welded. By providing a plurality of connecting elements, the strength of the textile connection can be increased on the one hand, while on the other hand (compared to the use of a single larger connecting element) the flexibility and permeability of the textile connection can be increased.

It can furthermore be provided that one or more weft threads, in particular 2 to 5 weft threads, are removed from the first fabric end and/or the second fabric end, respectively, in order to produce the first warp thread end and/or the second warp thread end. This is advantageous in particular in the case of the use of a plurality of connecting elements to produce warp yarn ends of sufficient length.

In an advantageous manner, the connecting element can extend past a plurality of warp yarn ends of the fabric end. Typically, the connecting elements extend in the cross-machine direction across the entire width of the fabric.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that at least one connecting element, preferably all connecting elements, are embodied as yarns. The yarn or yarns have in particular a circular, oval or rectangular cross-section. However, the yarn may have other cross-sections. By a suitable shape of the cross section, for example an "X" shape, a "Y" shape or a wedge shape, the compressibility and elasticity can also be changed in the case of yarns made of a single material. Furthermore, the contact area of the connecting element with the warp yarn ends can be increased without an excessively high material density being formed in the fabric connection.

It is also possible that the connecting element is not embodied as a yarn. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, for some or all of the connecting elements to be embodied as a textile strip or film or foam strip.

It can furthermore be provided that the diameter of the at least one connecting element is greater than the diameter of the weft thread which is woven in at the first fabric end and at the second fabric end, in particular by more than 10%, preferably by more than 30%.

If a plurality of connecting elements, in particular connecting yarns, are used, it may be advantageous if the spacing between two adjacent connecting elements is greater, in particular greater than 10%, preferably greater than 20%, than the spacing between adjacent weft yarns of the first fabric end and of the second fabric end.

The connection, in particular the welding, of the fabric ends can be achieved as described below: the weft yarns are removed on the fabric ends to form warp yarn ends that protrude beyond the fabric ends, the weft yarns are provided, and the warp yarn ends are then arranged over the provided weft yarns. One easily conceivable embodiment is to remove the same number of weft yarns (e.g. 3 segments) on both fabric ends, providing the same number of (3 segments) connecting elements, in particular yarn-type connecting elements, in the overlapping area of the warp yarns, in a desired manner in a manner almost equal to the given spacing of the whole fabric.

Furthermore, it is obvious that for the provided connecting element, weft yarns are used which have the same diameter as the weft yarns in the fabric.

If a transmission soldering process is used for the connection, the weft thread inserted/provided can also be implemented such that the weft thread sufficiently absorbs light of the wavelength used for soldering.

However, it has been found that the provision of connecting elements of larger diameter than the weft yarns in the whole fabric of the fabric end results in a more stable weld, since the compressive forces exerted when welding the fabric ends cause the warp and weft yarns to press together better in the connection area and generally create a larger contact surface at the yarn connection. However, by simultaneous pressing and welding, the resulting fabric connection has only minimal deviation in thickness from the full fabric.

The fabric connection thus exemplarily obtainable replaces the weft yarn of a 0.4mm full fabric with a connection element having a weft yarn diameter of 0.5mm and the strength of the fabric connection is improved by 30% -90%. The thickness of the attachment zone is in both cases however comparable and substantially identical to the thickness of the whole fabric.

The larger diameter of the connecting element is also advantageous when the fabric should have a high storage volume and thus be embodied as a 1.5-layer or 2-layer fabric.

In a 1.5 layer fabric, the yarns running in the cross direction can, for example, closely follow one another in such a way that they thus move slightly upward and downward, whereby a thicker and more fluffy fabric results. If yarns of the same diameter as the weft yarn of the fabric are used as connecting elements here (in principle possible), the fabric seam is thinner than the rest of the fabric. Whereby undesired marks may occur on the paper. The thickness compensation of the fabric and the fabric seam can be obtained by applying correspondingly thicker yarns as connecting elements.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that a yarn of a different type than the type used for the weft yarn of the fabric is applied for the connecting element. In particular, it can be provided that a twist is used for the weft yarn of the entire fabric and a monofilament is used for the connecting element. This may be advantageous because welding with monofilaments is much easier and more repeatable to achieve than twisting. In a preferred embodiment, 2X 0.2mm twist is used for the weft yarn of the whole fabric (2 filaments of diameter 0.2mm are twisted with each other, then the two twist threads thus formed are twisted with each other again). Filaments with a diameter of 0.4mm can be used here for the connecting element. However, numerous other combinations are possible in addition to the described embodiments.

In an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the connection elements absorb light having a wavelength in the range 780 μm to 1200 μm at least on their respective upper sides.

It has furthermore been found that such a fabric connection with connecting elements having a different pitch from the pitch of the weft yarns in the whole fabric of the fabric end is advantageous. If, for example, 4 weft yarns are removed at the fabric end, but only 3 weft yarns arranged at approximately equal intervals in the connection region are provided as connection elements for the fabric connection, a slightly more open fabric connection is obtained after welding, which has a reduced material density compared to the above-mentioned connection.

Furthermore, the connection areas, which are relatively rigid per se (all warp yarn ends and all connection elements are welded to one another in a desired manner at all contact points), are slightly more flexible. Both effects are for example advantageous when needling together the base fabric layer with the pile fiber layer of the press felt. In very tight fabric connections, fiber transport is often inhibited during needling.

Although there is a higher material density due to the fabric connection, a region of the press felt is obtained with a higher permeability after needling than the needled region in the whole fabric. Less fibers penetrate the fabric layer and fluff fibers are fed into adjacent areas on the paper side partially during needling or result in thick spots due to concentration above the fabric layer.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the connecting element is deformable, in particular elastically deformable.

This can be achieved in particular in that the connecting element comprises an elastomer, in particular polyurethane.

In principle, the connecting element can be made of a uniform material or be constructed of different materials. So-called core-sheath yarns can be used as connecting elements, wherein the core and the sheath are made of different materials. It is possible here, for example, for the connecting element to have a core made of polyurethane, which is surrounded by a sheath made of a polymer material, wherein the sheath absorbs light having a wavelength in the range 780 μm to 1200 μm.

Here, the sheath should be thick enough to avoid exposure of the core material during or after welding. On the other hand, it should be thick enough so that the soft or elastic core can compress and re-expand under yarn load.

As a possible alternative to the core-sheath yarn, so-called "top-bottom" elements or "top-bottom" yarns may be used as connecting elements.

Such yarns have light-absorbing upper and lower sides, which have good elastic properties. The lower side is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and the upper side is made of polyamide, for example PA6, with the absorber additive added. Industrial soot ("carbon black") is very suitable as an absorbent additive.

Other advantages of the concepts described herein also include better fiber anchoring and better penetration distribution.

A wire for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material is disclosed, having a paper side contacting the web and a running side facing away from the web, wherein the wire has at least one first fabric layer with at least one fabric connection according to one aspect of the above-described application.

With regard to a wire, this object is achieved by a wire of a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, which has a paper side contacting the web and a running side facing away from the web, wherein the wire has at least one first fabric layer. According to the application, the first fabric layer has at least one fabric connection according to one aspect of the application described above, wherein the fabric connection is arranged such that the underside of the at least one connection element points in the direction of the running side of the clothing.

Advantageous embodiments of the taut net are specified in the dependent claims.

The fabric layer of the taut net according to an aspect of the application may for example consist of a piece of fabric which is made continuous by a single fabric connection. The fabric connection connects two fabric ends of the same fabric section to each other. The fabric segments may have the same fabric characteristics (e.g., weave pattern, yarn count, yarn density) throughout their extension. However, it is also possible that the properties, for example the weave pattern, vary over the fabric section. The weave pattern may thus vary, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the fabric section.

In an alternative embodiment, it may be advantageous if the first fabric layer has a plurality of fabric connections which are constructed according to one of the above-described aspects, wherein in particular all fabric connections are arranged such that the undersides of the respective connection elements point toward the running side of the clothing. The fabric connecting portion connects fabric ends of different fabric sections to each other.

The individual fabric sections may be identical or may differ in one or more characteristics. The individual fabric segments may in particular also have the same fabric properties (e.g. weave pattern, yarn count, yarn density) over their entire extension. However, it is also possible that the properties, for example the weave pattern, vary over the fabric section.

It may furthermore be advantageous if the tensioning net has one or more further fabric layers, wherein they may likewise have one or more fabric connections, in particular according to one of the above-described aspects. The first fabric layer is preferably closer to the paper side of the clothing than the further fabric layer.

With regard to a seam-stretching net, this object is achieved by a seam-stretching net for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, having a paper side contacting the web and a running side facing away from the web, wherein the seam-stretching net comprises a base structure, which is realized in that a fabric section is folded over and placed on itself at two folding points to form two layers of fabric, wherein the two fabric ends are connected to one another by a fabric connection, and wherein a seam loop is formed at the folding points, wherein a continuous fabric loop is produced by connecting the seam loop into a patch seam by means of a patch element.

According to the application, provision is made for the fabric connection to be implemented according to one aspect of the application described above, and for the fabric connection to be arranged such that the underside of at least one connection element points in the direction of the interior of the two-layer fabric formed.

Advantageous embodiments are also described in the dependent claims.

For example, it can be provided that the fabric connection is arranged in a layer of the two-layer fabric that is closer to the paper side, wherein the underside of the connection element points in the direction of the running side of the wire.

Since the fabric connection is arranged in a layer closer to the paper side, the fabric connection is not in direct contact with the driving element, guiding element or dewatering element of the paper machine during seam-tightening operation. The fabric connection is thus protected and less worn. This is particularly advantageous because the material-locking connection (in particular in the present embodiment, in the form of a weld) can be broken by these elements when subjected to a permanent load, in particular the drive element, guide element or dewatering element hits the side of the connecting element.

Such an embodiment is thus particularly advantageous in such applications where there is a high risk of wear based on the machine structure or the machine travel pattern.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the fabric connection is arranged in a layer of the two-layer fabric that is closer to the running side, wherein the underside of the connection element points in the direction of the paper side of the wire.

With this arrangement, the fabric connection is separated from the web of fibrous material by at least the second layer of fabric. Thereby significantly reducing the tendency of the fabric connection to mark. In order to protect the fabric connection against wear, the fabric connection is oriented such that one or more connection elements are directed inwards, i.e. away from the drive element, guide element or dewatering element of the paper machine.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in applications where even a seam-stretched net brings about only slight marks, which have resulted in significant quality defects, based on the range of varieties produced.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the wire and/or the seam wire has at least one further textile layer, wherein the further textile layer is a circularly woven textile layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the taut mesh or seam taut mesh may be a press felt, wherein the paper side of the taut mesh is provided by a pile layer, which is connected to one or more fabric layers by needling.

The following sentences are again used to illustrate various aspects of the application:

sentence l: fabric connection for a wire of a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, comprising a first fabric end with a first warp end and a second fabric end with a second warp end and at least one connecting element extending in the transverse direction of the subsequent wire, characterized in that the connecting element has an upper side and a lower side, the first warp end and the second warp end being in contact with and in a material-locking connection, in particular welded, only with the upper side of the connecting element.

Sentence 2: the fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that a plurality of connection elements, in particular two or three connection elements, are provided, the first warp yarn end and the second warp yarn end being respectively in contact with only the upper side of the connection elements and being connected, in particular welded, with the material closure thereof.

Sentence 3: the fabric connecting according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that for the production of the first warp yarn end and/or the second warp yarn end, one or more weft yarns, in particular 2 to 5 weft yarns, are removed from the first fabric end and/or the second fabric end, respectively.

Sentence 4: fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that at least one, preferably all, of the connection elements are embodied as yarns.

Sentence 5: the fabric connecting portion of sentence 4 wherein the yarns have a circular, oval or rectangular cross-section.

Sentence 6: the fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that the diameter of at least one connection element is greater than the diameter of the woven weft yarn of the first fabric end and of the second fabric end, in particular greater than 10%, preferably greater than 30%.

Sentence 7: the fabric connection according to one of sentences 2 to 6, characterized in that the spacing of two adjacent connection elements is greater than the spacing of adjacent weft yarns of the first fabric end and of the second fabric end, in particular by more than 10%, preferably by more than 20%.

Sentence 8: the fabric connecting portion according to one of the preceding sentences, wherein the connecting elements absorb light having a wavelength in the range 780 μm to 1200 μm at least on their respective upper sides.

Sentence 9: the fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that the connection element is deformable, in particular elastically deformable.

Sentence 10: the fabric connecting portion according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that the connecting element comprises an elastomer, in particular polyurethane.

Sentence 11: the fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, characterized in that the connection element has a core made of polyurethane, which is surrounded by a sheath made of a polymer material, wherein the sheath absorbs light with a wavelength in the range 780 μm to 1200 μm.

Sentence 12: a wire for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, having a paper side contacting the web and a running side facing away from the web, wherein the wire has at least one first fabric layer, characterized in that the first fabric layer has at least one fabric connection according to one of the preceding sentences, wherein the fabric connection can in particular be arranged such that the underside of the at least one connection element points in the direction of the running side of the wire. (in principle, other arrangements are also possible, see for example fig. 7 e).

Sentence 13: the wire according to sentence 12, characterized in that the first fabric layer has a plurality of fabric connections according to one of sentences 1 to 11, wherein all the fabric connections are arranged such that the undersides of the respective connection elements point in the direction of the running side of the wire.

Sentence 14: the clothing according to one of sentences 12 to 13, characterized in that the clothing has one or more further fabric layers, which likewise have a fabric connection, in particular according to one of sentences 1 to 11, wherein the first fabric layer is arranged closer to the paper side of the clothing than the further fabric layers.

Sentence 15: the wire of one of sentences 12 to 14, wherein the wire has at least one further textile layer, wherein the further textile layer is a circularly woven textile layer.

Sentence 16: the wire-stretching according to one of the sentences 12 to 15, characterized in that the wire-stretching is a press felt, wherein the paper side of the wire-stretching is provided by a fluff layer, which is connected to one or more fabric layers by needling.

Drawings

The application is further illustrated in the following in connection with schematic drawings.

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a fabric attachment portion according to one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fabric attachment portion according to another aspect of the present application;

figures 3a to 3d show cross-sectional views of possible connecting elements according to different aspects of the application;

FIG. 4 illustrates another possible cross-sectional view of a connecting element according to various aspects of the present application;

fig. 5 shows a wire according to another aspect of the application;

fig. 6a and 6b show a net according to another aspect of the present application, respectively;

fig. 7a to 7e show a possible manufacturing process of a knitted basic structure of a taut net, in particular according to an aspect of the application.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Fig. 1a shows a first fabric end 2a and a second fabric end 2b which should be connected by means of a fabric connection 1. Here, for example, two ends of a single fabric section that is continuous by a fabric connection may be used. But it is also possible to have the fabric ends 2a, 2b of two different fabric sections joined by the fabric connecting portion 1.

The first fabric end 2a has a first warp end 3a, and the second fabric end 2b has a second warp end 3b. In order to create warp yarn ends 3a, 3b of sufficient length for the fabric connection 1, some of the weft yarns 6 of the whole fabric are removed on both fabric ends 2a, 2b. It is generally advantageous to remove two to five weft yarns 6 per fabric end 2a, 2b.

Fig. 1b shows how the two fabric ends 2a, 2b according to fig. 1 are put together. Three connecting elements 4 in the form of connecting yarns 4 are provided here, which extend in the transverse direction of the subsequent net.

The connecting element 4 here has an upper side 4a and a lower side. The first warp yarn end 3a and the second warp yarn end 3b are arranged such that they are only in contact with the upper side 4a of the connecting element 4. In order to create the fabric connection 1, the connection element 4 is connected to the upper side 4a of the connection element 4 in a material-locking manner. The material-locking connection can advantageously be produced by welding, in particular by (laser) transmission welding. If the warp yarn ends 3a, 3b are made of polyamide as is usual for most taut webs, they are completely or largely transparent to light in the NIR (near infrared) range. If at least the upper side 4a of the connecting element 4 is designed to absorb light from this range, for example by adding a suitable absorber additive such as carbon black, it is possible to irradiate the penetrating warp yarn end 3a, 3b with a suitable near infrared laser, heat the light absorbing upper side 4a of the connecting element 4 and weld it with the warp yarn end 3a, 3b. Typically, this process is performed with a certain engagement pressure applied.

Alternatively, the material-locking connection can however also be realized by other welding processes, for example ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding.

The fabric connection 1 shown in fig. 2 is a special embodiment of the fabric connection 1 according to fig. 1 b. The connecting elements 4 are embodied in the form of connecting yarns 4, which have a larger diameter than the weft yarns 6 in the entire fabric of the fabric ends 2a, 2b. This results in a more stable welded connection, since the pressing force applied when welding the fabric ends 2a, 2b presses the warp ends 3a, 3b and the connecting element 4 together better in the connection region and generally creates a larger contact surface at the yarn connection. However, by simultaneous pressing and welding, the resulting fabric connection 1 has only minimal deviations in thickness compared to a full fabric.

Thus, the obtained fabric connecting portion 1 replaces the weft yarn 6 of the whole fabric of 0.4mm with the connecting member 4 of 0.5mm diameter, for example, and the strength of the fabric connecting portion 1 is improved by 30% to 90%. The thickness of the attachment zone 1 is in both cases however comparable and substantially identical to the thickness of the whole fabric.

Another example is a 1.5 layer or 2 layer fabric, wherein, for example, the yarns running in the cross direction are so closely attached to each other that they thereby move slightly up and down, thereby giving rise to a thicker and more fluffy fabric. Thus, for example, in the case of a diameter of the warp threads of the weft thread 6 and the warp thread ends 3a, 3b, respectively, of 0.4mm, the fabric has a self-thickness of 1.2 mm. (the illustrated diameters should be understood to be exemplary of only possible values, however, the application is not limited to such values). If yarns of 0.4mm diameter are likewise used here as connecting elements 4, the thickness of the fabric connection of approximately 0.8mm is significantly smaller than the remaining fabric thickness. This can lead in particular to undesired marks in the production of the paper.

One solution may also be to apply a thicker connecting element 4 here. At a diameter of the connecting element of 0.8mm, a thickness of 1.2mm of the fabric connection is obtained, together with a diameter of 0.4mm of the warp yarn ends 3a, 3b, which is the same as the fabric thickness. As mentioned above, the connecting element 6 may even have a slightly larger diameter (e.g. 10% or 20%) than it. By simultaneous pressing and welding, a fabric connection 1 can be obtained which has only a minimal deviation in thickness from the full fabric.

It is thereby possible to produce a fabric connection 1 having a desired thickness, which, however, sometimes also occurs at the same time, such that the resulting fabric connection 1 is very heavy due to the relatively thick connecting element 4 and also relatively stiff, in particular incompressible compared to a full fabric. This can be handled by sometimes making the connecting element 4 somewhat elastic by a suitable choice of material (e.g. application of elastomer) and/or a suitable cross-sectional shape. Advantageous examples for this purpose are shown in fig. 3a to 3d and fig. 4.

Furthermore, in fig. 2, the connecting elements 4 are arranged at a larger pitch compared to the pitch of the weft yarns 6 in the complete fabric of the fabric ends 2a, 2b. In order to produce the warp yarn ends 3a, 3b, four weft yarns 6 are removed here exemplarily at the fabric ends 2a, 2b, respectively, however only three weft yarns are used as connecting elements 4 for the fabric connection 4. Hereby, after joining a slightly more open fabric connection 1 is obtained, which has a reduced material density.

Furthermore, the connecting region 1, which is itself relatively rigid (all warp ends 3a, 3b and all connecting elements 4 are welded to one another in a desired manner at all points of contact), is slightly more flexible. Both effects are for example advantageous when needling together the base fabric layer with the pile fiber layer of the press felt.

In order to be able to carry out an effective material-locking connection by means of laser transmission welding, it is furthermore advantageous if the connecting element 4 is embodied in a light-absorbing manner at least on its upper side 4 a. For this purpose, the entire connecting element is embodied in a light-absorbing manner by means of the absorbent additive, as already described. However, it is also possible that only the part of the connecting element 4 is light-absorbing. Fig. 3a shows a typical core-sheath filament, wherein only the sheath 8 is light-absorbing, while at the same time there is a relatively large degree of freedom in designing the core 7. The core may in turn be made of polyamide, for example. However, it is also possible that the core 7 is made of other materials, such as elastic polyurethane. The thus increased elastic properties of the connecting element 4 may prove advantageous.

Fig. 3b, 3c and 3d show variants of the connecting element 4 made of a hybrid material.

Fig. 3b and 3c show a "half-and-half" yarn 4, one with a circular cross-section and one with a rectangular cross-section. The upper part is here made of a light-absorbing sheath material 8, for example, in the upper half, and a non-light-absorbing core material 7 in the lower half.

Fig. 3d shows a variant of fig. 3 c. In this case, only the surface of the upper side 4a is made of the light-absorbing material 8 in the case of a rectangular connecting element 4. Which may be applied to the connecting element, for example, before soldering. Suitable materials are commercially available, for example under the name "clearwell".

The connecting element 4 shown here should only be used to show a number of possibilities. The application is not limited to these examples herein.

Fig. 4 shows a further possible cross section of the connecting element 4 according to various aspects of the application. The compressibility and elasticity can also be changed by appropriate shapes (e.g. "X", "Y" or wedge shape) in the case of yarns made of a single material. Furthermore, the contact surface of the connecting element with the warp yarn ends can be increased without an excessively high material density being formed in the fabric connection.

Alternatively, however, the connecting element 4 shaped in this way (as shown in fig. 4) can also have a core 7 surrounded by a light-absorbing sheath material 8.

Fig. 5 shows a wire 10 according to another aspect of the application. The wire 10 is embodied as a press felt. Which comprises a pile layer 13 provided to the paper side 11 of the wire 10. The pile layer 13 is arranged on the first fabric layer 14 and is fastened, for example by needling. The first fabric layer 14 has a fabric connection 1 which connects a first fabric end 2a with a first warp end 3a and a second fabric end 2b with a second warp end 3b to one another. For this purpose, for example, in the expanded net 10 of fig. 5, three connecting elements 4 are provided, which extend in the transverse direction of the expanded net 10. The connecting element 4 is in this case only connected, in particular welded, with its upper side 5 to the first warp yarn end 3a and the second warp yarn end 3b in a material-locking manner.

The fabric connection 1 is arranged such that the underside 5b of the connection element 4 points in the direction of the running side 12 of the clothing 10. The arrangement of the fabric connecting portion 1 influences the marking tendency of the press felt 10. The (possibly overlapping) warp yarn ends 3a, 3b are directed towards the paper side 13 and the transversely arranged yarns of the connecting element 4 are directed towards the running side 12. The possible occurrence of mechanical marks from the connecting element 4 is thereby minimized by the relatively closely packed warp threads 3a, 3b (approximately double the thread density in the connecting region 1). This is even more important because in an advantageous embodiment the weft yarns of the connecting element 4 have a larger spacing from each other than the weft yarns 6 in the whole fabric.

Fig. 6a and 6b also show examples of a taut net 10 according to other aspects of the application. Unlike fig. 5, the clothing 10 shown here has in addition to the first fabric layer 14 in each case a further fabric layer 15, wherein the first fabric layer 14 is closer to the paper side 11 of the clothing 10 than the further fabric layer 15. The further fabric layer 15 also has in these figures at least one fabric connection 1 according to an aspect of the present concept. In the taut net 10 shown in fig. 6a and 6b, the fabric connections 1 are arranged substantially on top of each other. However, it is generally advantageous if the fabric connections 1 of the first fabric layer 14 and the fabric connections 1 of the further fabric layer 15 are not arranged directly one above the other, but are offset from one another in the Machine Direction (MD) and have an MD spacing of, for example, more than 10cm or more than 100 cm.

The difference between fig. 6a and 6b is the orientation of the fabric connection 1 in the further fabric layer 15. In the taut net 10 of fig. 6a, the fabric connection 1 is oriented as that of the first fabric layer 14. The warp ends 3a, 3b point to the paper side 13 and the transversely arranged yarns of the connecting element 4 point to the running side 12. In contrast, in the taut mesh 10 of fig. 6b, the fabric connecting portions 1 are oriented exactly opposite. This arrangement of the fabric connection 1 is advantageous in terms of production technology in some cases. In this way, the textile connection 1 of the further textile layer 15 can be closed, for example, simply by means of transmission welding, in particular, by irradiating the connection region, for example, with laser light, starting from the running side. This light can penetrate the normally transparent warp yarn ends 3a, 3b and be absorbed by the upper side 5 of the connecting element, whereby a material-locking connection is produced. This is not possible in the embodiment of fig. 6, since here energy is absorbed by the underside 5b of the connecting element 6. The upper side 5 and the warp ends 3a, 3b cannot be welded.

Fig. 7a to 7e show a possible manufacturing process for a knitted infrastructure of a clothing 10, in particular for a clothing 10 according to an aspect of the application.

The fabric section is folded at two folding points 20 and placed on itself in such a way that the two fabric ends 2a, 2b touch or overlap each other (fig. 7a and 7 b). The two fabric ends 2a, 2b are then connected to each other by a fabric connection 1. For this purpose, the warp ends 3a, 3b are usually connected to one another in an interlocking manner by one or more connecting elements 4. The connecting elements 4 extend in the transverse direction of the wire 10, for example in the form of yarns. The connection is carried out in such a way that the warp ends 3a, 3b are only in contact with the upper side of the connecting element 4 or the connecting element 4 and are connected thereto in a material-locking manner, in particular welded. To adjust the fabric connection, some of the weft yarns 6 may be removed from the fabric ends 2a, 2b to lengthen the warp yarn ends 3a, 3b. In an advantageous manner, as shown in fig. 7c, the fabric connection 1 is oriented such that the underside 5b of at least one connection element 4 points in the direction of the interior of the two-layer fabric formed. As already mentioned, a material-locking connection can be achieved simply by means of transmission welding.

To produce the seam-stretching net 10, in particular the seam felt 10, a seam loop 21 is formed at the fold 20. For this purpose, a certain number of weft yarns 6 are removed from the fabric at these locations. Such removal is typically already performed before the webs 10 are folded and stacked on top of each other.

It is now possible to produce a continuous fabric loop from the two layers of fabric by bringing the seam loops 21 together and joining them by means of a patch element into a patch seam 22, which can be used as a base structure for the clothing net 10. Here, two possibilities are provided, as shown in fig. 7d and fig. 7 e.

In fig. 7d, the seaming loops 21 are folded such that the fabric connection 1 is arranged in a layer closer to the paper side 11. The fabric connection 1 is thereby obtained, which is arranged such that the underside 5b of the at least one connection element 4 points in the direction of the running side 12 of the clothing 10. Thus, such a fabric loop as shown in fig. 7d may also be used as the first fabric layer 14 in the taut net 10 according to the first aspect of the application.

Fig. 7e shows an alternative. The seam loops 21 are closed in this case such that the fabric connection 1 is arranged in a layer closer to the running side 12. The fabric connection 1 is thereby obtained arranged such that the underside 5b of the at least one connection element 4 is directed in the direction of the paper side 11 of the wire 10. Such a fabric loop as shown in fig. 7e can also be used advantageously as fabric layer 14 in the clothing 10, possibly also as first fabric layer, due to its simple manufacture.

Reference numerals

1 textile connecting portion

2a first fabric end

2b second fabric end

3a first warp yarn end

3b second warp yarn end

4 connecting element

5 upper side

5b underside

6 weft yarn

7 core

8 sheath

10-stretch net

11 paper side

12 run side

13 fluff layer

14 first fabric layer

15 further textile layers

20 folding parts

21 seam loops

22 plug wire joint

Claims (9)

1. Fabric connection (1) for a wire (10) of a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, comprising a first fabric end (2 a) having a first warp end (3 a) and a second fabric end (2 b) having a second warp end (3 b), and at least one connection element (4) extending in the transverse direction of the subsequent wire (10), characterized in that the connection element (4) has an upper side (5) and a lower side (5 b), and that the first warp end (3 a) and the second warp end (3 b) are in contact only with the upper side (5) of the connection element (4) and are connected, in a material-locking manner, in particular welded, to the upper side.

2. A wire (10) for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, the wire having a paper side (11) contacting the web and a running side (12) facing away from the web, wherein the wire (10) has at least one first fabric layer (14), characterized in that the first fabric layer (12) has at least one fabric connection (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fabric connection (1) is arranged such that the underside (5 b) of at least one connection element (1) points in the direction of the running side (12) of the wire (10).

3. The wire (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fabric layer (14) has a plurality of fabric connections (1) according to claim 1, wherein all fabric connections (1) are arranged such that the undersides (5 b) of the respective connection elements (4) are directed in the direction of the running side (12) of the wire (10).

4. A wire (10) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the wire (10) has one or more further fabric layers (15) which likewise have a fabric connection (1), in particular according to claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer (14) is arranged closer to the paper side (11) of the wire (10) than the further fabric layers (15).

5. The wire (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the wire (10) has at least one further fabric layer (15), wherein the at least one further fabric layer (15) is a circularly woven fabric layer.

6. The wire-stretching (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the wire-stretching is a press felt (10), wherein the paper side (11) of the wire-stretching (10) is provided by a pile layer connected with one or more fabric layers (14, 15) by needling.

7. Seam-stretching net (10) for a machine for producing or processing a web of fibrous material, having a paper side (11) contacting the web and a running side (12) facing away from the web, wherein the seam-stretching net (10) comprises a basic structure, which is realized in that a fabric section is folded over and placed on itself at two folding points (20) to form two layers of fabric, wherein two fabric ends (2 a, 2 b) are connected to each other by means of a fabric connection (1), and wherein a patch loop (21) is formed at the folding points (20), wherein a continuous fabric loop is produced by connecting the patch loop (21) by means of a patch element into a patch seam (22), characterized in that the fabric connection (1) is implemented according to claim 1, wherein the fabric connection (1) is arranged such that the lower side (5 b) of at least one connection element (1) points in the direction of the interior of the two layers of fabric formed.

8. Seam-stretching net (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fabric connection (1) is arranged in a layer of the two-layer fabric closer to the paper side (11), wherein the underside (5 b) of the connection element (4) points in the direction of the running side (12) of the stretching net (10).

9. Seam-stretching net (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fabric connection (1) is arranged in a layer of the two-layer fabric closer to the running side (12), wherein the underside (5 b) of the connection element (4) points in the direction of the paper side (12) of the stretching net (10).