Microstructured belt contact surface

Abstract

A transport belt, in particular for machines for the production of web material such as paper or paperboard, has, on a web material contact side, depressions of which the majority has a depression opening with a dimension smaller than 20 μm in at least one direction.

1 . A transport belt for machines for production of web material, comprising:
 a web material contact side having depressions,   wherein a dimension of depression openings of a majority of the depressions is less than 20 μm in at least one direction.   
     
     
         2 . The transport belt according to  claim 1 , wherein the majority of the depressions is essentially all of the depressions. 
     
     
         3 . The transport belt according to  claim 1 , wherein the depressions on the web material contact side are arranged, at least in some regions, in an essentially regular pattern of depressions. 
     
     
         4 . The transport belt according to  claim 1 , wherein the depressions on the web material contact side are arranged, at least in some regions, in an irregular pattern of depressions. 
     
     
         5 . The transport belt according to  claim 1 , wherein the depressions are created by at least one of mechanical, thermal and chemical methods. 
     
     
         6 . The transport belt according to  claim 1 , wherein the web material is one of paper and paperboard. 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a transport belt, comprising:
 forming depressions on a web material contact side of a belt, wherein at least one dimension of a depression opening for a majority of the depressions is smaller than a fiber diameter of fibers in a web material to be transported.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the web material is one of paper and paperboard. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the forming is by at least one of mechanical, thermal and chemical methods. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the fiber diameter is greater than approximately 20 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one dimension of the depression openings is less than 20 μm. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing web material, comprising:
 forming depressions on a web material contact side of a transport belt, wherein at least one dimension of a depression opening for a majority of the depressions is smaller than a fiber diameter of fibers in a web material to be transported; and   transporting the web material on the web material contact side of the transport belt.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the web material is one of paper and paperboard. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the forming is by at least one of mechanical, thermal and chemical methods. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the fiber diameter is greater than approximately 20 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one dimension of the depression openings is less than 20 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 guiding the transport belt and the web material through a press nip.