Patent ID: 7901530
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: D21F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a fabric seam in a fabric for use as papermachine clothing, said method comprising the steps of: providing that the fabric includes a plurality of loops at each transverse end of the fabric, said plurality of loops being adapted for interconnection using a pintle to make the fabric endless; bringing said transverse ends into an end-to-end disposition in order to interdigitate said plurality of loops; inserting said pintle in said interdigitated plurality of loops; heat setting to fix a plurality of base yarns of the fabric and said plurality of loops of the fabric in place; inserting at least one stuffer yarn, at least a part of which includes a low melt component, into selected void areas in said plurality of loops adjacent said pintle, a melting point of said low melt component being up to 140° C., wherein said stuffer yarn is distanced from said pintle by the interdigitated plurality of loops connected by said pintle; adhering at least one batt layer to the fabric seam by needling; and heat setting to at least partially melt said at least one stuffer yarn such that said at least one stuffer yarn deforms to substantially take on a shape of said void areas at a pintle joint, to encapsulate and bind a plurality of fibers of said at least one batt layer needled into said void areas and to bind adjacent ones of said plurality of base yarns of the fabric.