The invention relates to a clothing, in particular a forming screen, for a machine for producing or processing a material web, in particular a tissue web, comprising a first woven-fabric layer which provides a web material contact side and is formed by interweaving first longitudinal threads that run in the clothing longitudinal direction and first transverse threads that run in the clothing cross direction, and a second woven-fabric layer which provides a machine contact side and is formed by interweaving second longitudinal threads that run in the clothing longitudinal direction and second transverse threads that run in the clothing cross direction, wherein the first woven-fabric layer and the second woven-fabric layer are connected to one another by binding threads; wherein the clothing has more first longitudinal threads than second longitudinal threads, but the number of first longitudinal threads is at most double the number of second longitudinal threads; and wherein the weaving pattern of the clothing recurs in repeats, and the second transverse threads in each repeat form at least two contact flotations on the machine contact side. The invention furthermore relates to the use of such a clothing for producing a tissue web.
As clothings of this type are in most instances flat woven, the longitudinal threads are typically the warp threads, and the transverse threads are typically the weft threads, of the clothing. However, should the clothing be circular-woven, the exact reverse applies.
Such a clothing is known from publication WO 2008/068317 A1, for example. Owing to the fact that the clothing has more first longitudinal threads than second longitudinal threads, the first longitudinal threads can be of a finer configuration than the second longitudinal threads, and a particularly low-marking web material contact side can be provided in this way. The tensile stresses to which the clothing is subjected in the longitudinal direction can primarily be absorbed by the second longitudinal threads with a larger cross section.
In order to protect the second longitudinal threads, which are highly stressed for tension, against wear, the clothing is configured in such a manner that contact with the machine takes place primarily at the contact flotations of the second transverse threads. In flat-woven clothings, these are referred to as so-called “weft runners”. In this way, the second transverse threads are subjected to particular wear in the intended use of the clothing. As it is generally assumed that the local wear decreases as the contact face increases, the flotations of the second transverse threads are in most instances configured to be relatively long on the machine side.
An issue which has been observed in known clothings of this type is that the transverse stability could be better. The transverse stability is important in order to avoid the clothing decreasing in size in the machine cross direction when said clothing is stressed for tension in the machine direction.
Publications US 2009 205740 A1 and US 2008 196784 A1 already disclose generic clothings, specifically the clothing described at the outset, in which all contact flotations of the second transverse threads have a length of at most two. In other words, the second transverse threads in one contact flotation should be guided below only one second longitudinal thread, or at most below two directly neighboring second longitudinal threads. It has been demonstrated that the transverse stability can be increased in comparison to that present in the clothing from WO 2008/068317 A1 by reducing the contact flotation length and accordingly increasing the number of contact flotations, without the wear on the second transverse threads increasing noticeably or even quantifiably. The latter applies in particular when the clothing is used as intended, as a forming screen in tissue machines. It is presumed that this has to do with the fact that no filler materials, or very minor quantities of the latter, are used in the production of tissue, filler materials having an abrasive effect on the clothing.
At the same time, the fact that more and shorter contact flotations are present than in the prior art has the effect that the contact flotations are more tightly interlaced as a result of the tauter binding. In other words, the thickness of the clothing is reduced in the region of the contact flotations. This effect is presumed to be the cause of the improved transverse stability which manifests itself in an increased stability in terms of the screen width on the paper machine.
The tighter interlacing moreover results in an advantageous secondary effect in terms of a reduction of the free volume within the clothing, undesirable entrained water being transported through said free volume.
A reduction of the free volume within the clothing also facilitates the de-watering of the material web transported on said clothing. This is particularly advantageous when this material web is a fibrous web, in particular a tissue web, with a low specific area weight. The production of such tissue webs requires particularly rapidly de-watering forming screens.
However, the de-watering performance could still be better in the clothings in US 2009 205740 A1 and US 2008 196784 A1.
It is an object of the present invention to solve this issue, i.e. to improve the de-watering performance, but without compromising the service life and the transverse stability with the afore-mentioned advantages of such a clothing.
The object is achieved by the device having the features according to claim 1. Further advantageous features are mentioned in the dependent claims.
According to the invention, the generic clothing is distinguished in that the first longitudinal threads and the second longitudinal threads in each repeat are disposed in a plurality of groups, specifically at least one first group and one second group, wherein the first group is formed from a first longitudinal thread and a second longitudinal thread which are disposed exactly on top of one another in the thickness direction of the clothing, while the second group is formed from two first longitudinal threads and one second longitudinal thread, wherein none of the two longitudinal threads of the second group is disposed exactly above the first longitudinal thread of the second group in the thickness direction of the clothing. As result of this special arrangement of the first and the second longitudinal threads it can be achieved that water from the tissue web, which passes through the first woven-fabric layer, can also flow relatively easily and on a direct path through the second woven-fabric layer. Rapid de-watering is promoted as a result.
This applies in particular when the first longitudinal threads and the second longitudinal threads are dimensioned and disposed relative to one another in such a manner that, when viewed projected in the thickness direction of the clothing, said threads within a repeat form at least one free longitudinal strip, wherein such a strip is preferably formed at all locations where individual groups are adjacent to one another.
In the context of this invention, “disposed exactly on top of one another” is understood to mean that the first longitudinal thread—when viewed projected in the thickness direction of the clothing—is not to protrude laterally beyond the second longitudinal thread. Minor displacements which may arise locally are however to be disregarded here.
A mutually different number of first and second groups is preferably provided in each repeat. Since the first and the second groups have a mutually dissimilar de-watering behavior, and thus marking behavior, it has been demonstrated that an irregularity in the marking pattern can be generated by the different number of first and second groups in the repeat, as a result of which the markings are significantly less visible.
Moreover, this design embodiment offers the possibility of influencing the de-watering behavior of the screen. It is therefore proposed, in one advantageous refinement of this concept of the invention, that the number of first groups differs from the number of second groups in the clothing. For example, if more first groups than second groups are used, a screen with a higher de-watering performance can be achieved than when more second than first groups are used. Conversely however, if more second groups than first groups are used, this has the advantage that the screen provides more support points to the fibrous web.
Especially with a view to a regular twill weave in the second woven-fabric layer, the appearance of the fibrous web, in particular a tissue web, can be influenced in a targeted manner with this type of arrangement of the first and the second longitudinal threads in different groups, in particular by way of the interaction of the diagonally oriented and longitudinally oriented hydraulic markings. The term “hydraulic marking” herein relates to a disturbance in the homogenous flow of the screen water through the screen during the de-watering and the sheet formation, this being caused by the presence of the longitudinal and transverse threads and their thread intersections.
In order to prevent the weaving pattern from becoming too complex, it is preferable that the second transverse threads form at most six contact flotations on the machine contact side in each repeat. Between two and four such contact flotations per repeat are typically sufficient.
It is moreover proposed that the binding threads always run in pairs beside one another in the clothing cross direction, wherein said binding threads, preferably in an alternating manner, continue a weaving pattern on the web material contact side. Such clothings are also referred to as SSB screens in the industry, SSB being an abbreviation for “sheet support binder”.
In order to provide as many fiber-support points on the web contact side as possible, and in this way to configure the clothing to be as low-marking as possible, it is proposed that the first woven-fabric layer has a plain weave. It is to be noted here that the binding threads should be able to contribute toward the weaving pattern of the first layer. Thus, the plain weave is preferably achieved not solely by the first longitudinal threads and the first transverse threads, but also by the binding threads which furthermore preferably also extend substantially in the woven-fabric cross direction. Alternatively however, it is also possible that the first woven-fabric layer has a different weave, in particular a 2/1 twill weave, or a 3/1 twill weave, order a weave derived therefrom. This is particularly advantageous when a certain structuring of the fibrous web is even desirable, such as in tissue webs, for example. The binding threads can have substantially the same diameter as the first transverse threads and/or the first longitudinal threads. The term “substantially” in this context means that the diameters of these thread systems do not vary from one another by more than 30%.
The second woven-fabric layer, which does not come into contact with the material web, can have a plain weave or a twill weave. The twill weave is distinguished in that an obliquely running rib can be seen therein. This rib can continue without interruption over the entire clothing at all locations, and so this is referred to as a regular, non-interrupted twill weave, or else said rib may have certain variances, in particular interruptions or offsets, and so this is referred to as a broken or interrupted twill weave. Both types of twill weaves have proven suitable for the clothing according to the invention in practice. Regular twill weaves lead to thinner clothings than broken twill weaves, because interruptions in the twill rib lead to a greater height of the flotation in this region. Regular twill weaves can reproduce the diagonal, formed by them, by way of hydraulic interaction in the de-watered fibrous web, which is advantageous when a structured fibrous web is desirable. In contrast, broken twill ribs are typically reproduced in a less strongly hydraulic manner in the de-watered fibrous web. Multi-rib twills having different twill rib widths can moreover optimize the hydraulic marking potential.
It is to be noted that the binding threads are in principle not considered in the definition of the weaving pattern of the second layer, as opposed to the weaving pattern of the first layer.
It can moreover be provided that two neighboring contact flotations of a second transverse thread are mutually separated by at most two second longitudinal threads. As a result of the many intersection points in the second woven-fabric layer, the thickness of the latter can be relatively minor, and the second longitudinal threads can also be protected against wear. It can be achieved in particular that the second woven-fabric layer is of a relatively planar configuration, i.e. that this results in noteworthy protrusions also not being present on the web contact side, which protrusions would be subjected to particular wear.
In a refinement of this concept, it can even be provided that two neighboring contact flotations of a second transverse thread are always in each case mutually separated by only one second longitudinal thread.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a previously described clothing according to the invention for producing a tissue web, wherein the advantages of the clothing according to the invention become particularly salient when the tissue web has a low specific area weight, i.e. a specific area weight of at most 30 g/m2, preferably between 8 g/m2 and 30 g/m2.
The clothing according to the invention is advantageously used as a forming screen in a so-called crescent former of a tissue machine.
Further advantageous features of the invention will be explained by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:
To be seen in
The second transverse threads QF2 on the machine contact side (at the bottom in
The two variants shown in
Two further embodiments of the clothing according to the invention are illustrated in
In a manner similar to what has been described in the context of the first embodiment in
As can furthermore be gathered from
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2021 115 275.5 | Jun 2021 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2022/065176 | 6/3/2022 | WO |