Seam for papermachine clothing

Abstract

A protective cover for a press fabric seam of a press fabric on the roll side of the fabric. The protective cover has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is attached to a press fabric first seam portion such that the first portion is attached to the roll side of the press fabric.

1 . A protective cover for a press fabric seam, comprising:
 a press fabric having a paper side and a roll side;   a protective cover, the protective cover having a first portion and a second portion;   wherein the first portion is attached to a press fabric first seam portion; and   wherein the first seam portion is attached to the roll side of the press fabric.   
   
   
       2 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , the press fabric having seam loops, wherein the first portion is attached to the first seam portion off center of the seam loops. 
   
   
       3 . The protective cover of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion is attached approximately 4 mm in front of the seam loops. 
   
   
       4 . The protective cover of  claim 2 , wherein the second portion extends over a first portion of a seam loop area. 
   
   
       5 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is at least one of a scrim, a solid film, a plastic material, a woven material, and a non-woven material. 
   
   
       6 . The plastic cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is permeable or impermeable. 
   
   
       7 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is attached to the first seam portion. 
   
   
       8 . The protective cover of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion is attached to the first seam portion by at least one of needling and adhesive. 
   
   
       9 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is hinged to the first portion. 
   
   
       10 . The protective cover of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge is on the leading side of the fabric. 
   
   
       11 . A method of applying a protective cover to a seam in a press fabric, comprising the steps of:
 attaching a protective cover first portion to a press fabric first seam portion;   wherein the first seam portion is on a leading edge of the press fabric, and   wherein the protective cover first portion is attached to a roll side of the press fabric.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion is attached to the first seam portion using at least one of needling and an adhesive. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , the press fabric having seam loops, wherein the first portion is attached to the first seam portion off center of the seam loops. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is attached approximately 4 mm in front of the seam loops. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , the protective cover further comprising a second portion, wherein the second portion extends over the seam loops. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the protective cover is at least one of a scrim, a solid film, a plastic material, a woven material, and a non-woven material. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the protective cover is permeable or impermeable.