Papermaking fabric with edge sewn with fusible thread

Abstract

A method of producing an industrial fabric includes the steps of: (a) providing a woven fabric having interlaced MD and CMD yarns; (b) cutting excess edges from the CMD edges of the woven fabric to create edge portions on the fabric; (c) sewing a fusible thread into at least one of the edge portions; and (d) transforming the fusible thread so that the fusible thread mechanically interlocks with the MD yarns and the CMD yarns of the at least one edge portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A woven industrial fabric, comprising:
 a woven body comprising interlaced MD and CMD yarns, the woven body having edge portions on opposite sides in the CMD direction; and   a fusible thread joined into at least one of the edge portions;   wherein the fusible thread is transformed to interlock with the MD and CMD yarns of the at least one edge portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread is formed of a first material, and wherein one of the MD and CMD yarns is formed of the first material. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread is sewn into the at least one edge portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric defined in  claim 3 , wherein the fusible thread is sewn into the at least one edge portion in a zig-zag stitching pattern or an overlocking stitching pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread is formed of polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , installed in the forming section of a papermaking machine. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread has a size between about 150-800 dtex. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread extends inwardly between about 2.5 and 20 mm from an edge of the at least one edge portion. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fusible thread is transformed to interlock with the MD and CMD yarns via melting. 
     
     
         10 . A method of produced an industrial fabric, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a woven fabric having interlaced MD and CMD yarns;   (b) cutting excess edges from the CMD edges of the woven fabric to create edge portions on the fabric;   (c) joining a fusible thread into at least one of the edge portions; and   (d) transforming the fusible thread so that the fusible thread mechanically interlocks with the MD yarns and the CMD yarns of the at least one edge portion.   
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein step (d) comprises heating the fusible thread. 
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of pressing the transformed fusible thread to increase smoothness. 
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fusible thread is formed of a first material, and wherein one of the MD and CMD yarns is formed of the first material. 
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein in step (c) the fusible thread is sewn into the at least one edge portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein in step (c) the fusible thread is sewn into the at least one edge portion in a zig-zag stitching pattern or a overlocking stitching pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fusible thread is formed of polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         17 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fusible thread has a size between about 150-800 dtex. 
     
     
         18 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein step (c) comprises sewing the fusible thread so that the fusible thread extends inwardly between about 2.5 and 20 mm from an edge of the at least one edge portion. 
     
     
         19 . A woven industrial fabric, comprising:
 a woven body comprising interlaced MD and CMD yarns in a first weaving pattern, the woven body having edge portions on opposite sides in the CMD direction; and   a fusible thread sewn into at least one of the edge portions in a second pattern that differs from the first weaving pattern.   
     
     
         20 . A method of making paper, the method comprising:
 (a) determining at least one property of a papermaking fabric on a paper machine, at least one property of the paper machine, or at least one property of the paper,
 wherein the papermaking fabric comprises a woven body comprising interlaced MD and CMD yarns, the woven body having edge portions on opposite sides in the CMD direction, and wherein the papermaking fabric further comprises a fusible thread interlocking with the MD and CMD yarns of at least one edge portion; and 
   (b) regulating at least one property of the papermaking fabric, at least one operation behavior of the fabric, or replacing the papermaking fabric.   
     
     
         21 . A woven industrial fabric, comprising:
 a woven body comprising interlaced MD and CMD yarns, the woven body having edge portions on opposite sides in the CMD direction, at least some of the MD yarns and/or CMD yarns being formed of a first material; and   a coating applied to at least one of the edge portions, the coating being formed of the first material.