# Patent

## Title
Paper machine mesh

## Abstract

This invention relates to a paper machine mesh, in particular a forming mesh, including an upper fabric layer, whose outer side forms a paper side, and a lower fabric layer, whose outer side forms a machine side of the paper machine mesh, and tie threads extending in the longitudinal thread direction, which connect the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer to each other, wherein the upper fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, upper transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads, wherein the lower fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and, woven therewith, lower transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads, wherein each lower transverse thread is held respectively by several tie threads in that each of these tie threads continually crosses the respective lower transverse thread on the outer side of the lower fabric layer, and wherein at least some of the tie threads holding a respective lower transverse thread are separated from each other by at least one tie thread not holding the lower transverse thread in that the lower transverse thread continually crosses the non-holding tie thread on the outer side of the lower fabric layer. The mesh also includes several lower transverse threads for which an identical number of non-holding tie threads is always arranged respectively between consecutive tie threads respectively holding the lower transverse thread.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a paper machine mesh, in particular a forming mesh.
2. Description of the Related Art
Forming meshes are used in the forming section of a paper machine. During the forming process, a fiber suspension from the headbox of the paper machine is applied to one forming mesh or to two forming meshes (in the case of gap formers). The forming mesh in this case dewaters the fiber suspension and forms a fibrous web, wherein as little cellulose fiber and filler material as possible should be separated from the fiber suspension during the dewatering process.
The quality of the formed fibrous web is co-defined in this case to a great extent by the structure of the surface of the forming mesh facing the fibrous web (paper side). The life of the forming mesh, on the other hand, is greatly influenced by the structure of the surface of the forming mesh facing the paper machine (machine side).
To be able to take account of these in part contradictory requirements, multilayer paper machine meshes with a paper-side fabric layer and a machine-side fabric layer were developed, wherein the two fabric layers are connected to each other by so-called ties. To guarantee as uniform a paper-side fabric structure as possible, the tie threads are an integral component of the paper-side weaving structure (integral tie threads), as the result of which a tendency to marking due to the tying of the tie threads is reduced.
Multilayer forming meshes are known from EP 0 432 413, DE 297 24 238 U1, EP 1 00 197 B1 and US 2004/0149342 A1 for example.
The multilayer forming meshes known from the prior art often display, in spite of having a paper-side and a machine-side fabric layer, insufficient resistance to wear caused by irregular abrasion of the machine side of the mesh in some regions, in particular when used on high-speed paper machines.
The irregular abrasion is caused inter alia by the poor flatness of the machine side of the known paper machine meshes. In this case the poor flatness is caused inter alia by an irregular distribution of the tie points, meaning the points at which a tie thread runs on the machine side of the lower fabric layer and crosses a thread of the lower fabric layer. Furthermore, the irregular abrasion is caused inter alia by respectively unequal floating lengths between consecutive tie points of at least some floating weft threads on the outer side of the machine-side fabric layer, which, as is known, have the function of protecting the load-bearing warp threads.
In addition, the irregular connection of the two fabric layers often results in insufficient flatness of the paper side, as the result of which the tendency to marking is notably increased in particular for graphic papers.
Furthermore, the forming meshes known from the prior art often display excessive water entrainment caused by too great a thickness of the mesh, in particular when used on high-speed paper machines (machine speeds of 1500 m/min and more).
Too great a thickness of the mesh is often owed to insufficient connection of the paper-side fabric layer to the machine-side fabric layer by the tie threads.
An insufficient connection between the paper-side fabric layer and the machine-side fabric layer leads moreover, during operation of the paper machine mesh on the paper machine, to a relative movement between the two fabric layers, thus resulting in abrasion between said layers, which can lead to the failure of such meshes.
What is needed in the art is a paper machine mesh on which the connection between the paper-side and machine-side fabric layers is improved and the above described disadvantages are at least reduced accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a paper machine mesh, in particular forming mesh, including an upper fabric layer, whose outer side forms a paper side, and a lower fabric layer, whose outer side forms a machine side of the paper machine mesh, as well as tie threads extending in the longitudinal thread direction, which connect the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer to each other. The upper fabric layer is formed in this case at least by the tie threads and upper transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads and woven therewith, and the lower fabric layer is formed at least by the tie threads and lower transverse threads extending transverse to the tie threads and woven therewith. Furthermore, on the known paper machine mesh each lower transverse thread is held respectively by several tie threads in that each of these tie threads continually crosses the respective lower transverse thread on the outer side of the lower fabric layer, wherein at least some of the tie threads holding a respective lower transverse thread are separated from each other by at least one tie thread not holding the lower transverse thread in that the lower transverse thread continually crosses the non-holding tie thread on the outer side of the lower fabric layer. The paper machine mesh of the present invention is characterized in that for several of the lower transverse threads between consecutive tie threads holding the respective lower transverse thread there is always arranged an identical number of non-holding tie threads.
For several of the lower transverse threads, an identical number of non-holding tie threads is always arranged between consecutive tie threads respectively holding the lower transverse thread, hence each of these transverse threads always has the same floating length on the outer side of the lower fabric, meaning on the machine side, of the paper machine mesh, between consecutive points at which said transverse thread is held by a tie thread, so-called tie points of the upper fabric to the lower fabric.
The identical floating lengths of the transverse threads between the tie points provides a uniformly distributed connection of the upper fabric layer to the lower fabric layer, thus providing a paper machine mesh with a significantly improved flatness of the machine side and paper side with regard to the prior art.
Owing to the uniform distribution of the tie points it is possible in addition to distribute the holding force uniformly, thus enabling a significantly stronger connection between the two fabric layers to be obtained, as the result of which their relative movement can be reduced to a minimum, which leads to a minimization of the inner wear of the inventive paper machine mesh.
Furthermore, the uniform distribution of the tie points and the stronger connection of the upper fabric layer to the lower fabric layer thus made possible leads to a reduced overall thickness of the inventive paper machine mesh compared to the meshes known from the prior art.
The identical floating lengths of the transverse threads between the tie points also produces a uniformly distributed wear volume of the lower transverse threads extending on the outer side of the lower fabric (machine side), which thus protect the load-bearing tie threads.
Hence according to the present invention it is possible that for one lower transverse thread the number of non-holding tie threads arranged between consecutive holding tie threads is five and for another lower transverse thread seven.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, for each lower transverse thread between consecutive tie threads respectively holding the lower transverse thread provision is made always to arrange an identical number of tie threads not holding the transverse thread. Because all lower transverse threads always have an identical floating length both in respect of themselves and with regard to the other transverse threads, the uniformity of the tie points is further increased, thus intensifying the previously described positive effects on this embodiment.
The number of tie threads not holding the respective transverse thread amounts to between two and twenty, preferably between six and ten. Tests have shown that given identical floating lengths of between two and twenty, tie threads not holding the respective lower transverse thread can provide a good connection between the upper and lower fabric layer paired with an improved wear resistance, in particular for use on paper machines at speeds of 1500 m/min or more.
Another embodiment of the invention provides for the outer side of the upper fabric layer to be irregularly woven. For this purpose provision is made in particular for the upper fabric layer to be formed by weaving the tie threads with the upper transverse threads, wherein the weaving pattern of the upper fabric layer is repeated in upper repeats, wherein the tie threads are arranged in groups and the tie threads of each group alternate in sections when weaving with the upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction, as the result of which each group of tie threads forms, by weaving with the upper transverse threads, a longitudinal thread run with tie thread lifts and tie thread lowerings, which is repeated in the longitudinal thread direction according to the length of the upper repeat, wherein a longitudinal thread lift is formed in that the tie thread of a group respectively weaving with upper transverse threads continually crosses an upper transverse thread on the outer side of the upper fabric layer, wherein a tie thread lowering is formed in that the tie thread of a group respectively weaving with upper transverse threads continually crosses an upper transverse thread between the upper and lower fabric layer, and wherein the tie thread lifts and tie thread lowerings of the weaving pattern of the upper fabric layer are arranged irregularly distributed in the upper repeat.
According to another embodiment of the invention provision is made for the irregular structure to be formed in that, in the upper repeat, at least two longitudinal thread runs are constructed such that it is not possible for the one of the two longitudinal thread runs to be formed by offsetting all of its longitudinal thread lifts and lowerings by an identical number of upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction from the other of the two longitudinal thread runs.
Because the upper repeat includes at least two longitudinal thread runs, with which it is not possible for the one of the two longitudinal thread runs to be created by offsetting all of its tie thread lifts and lowerings by an identical number of upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction from the other of the two longitudinal thread runs, then the number of bonding diagonals and regular structures on the paper side is reduced, thus leading to a reduction of the marking of paper produced with the paper machine mesh.
The upper fabric layer includes in this case upper transverse threads or upper transverse threads and tie threads, which have a diameter in the range from 0.03 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm. A particularly fine and marking-free paper side can thus be produced.
To obtain a nearly completely irregular paper side of the inventive mesh, another particularly preferred further aspect of the invention provides for none of the upper longitudinal thread runs in the upper repeat to be producible by offsetting all of its tie thread lifts and lowerings by an identical number of upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction from another longitudinal thread run. This means that each longitudinal thread run in the upper repeat is different in its tie thread lift and lowering sequence to the other longitudinal thread runs. Such bonds are referred to as crepe bonds.
In addition it is also possible for the irregular paper-side weaving structure to be provided in that the upper weaving structure includes a number of mutually different longitudinal thread runs, wherein the number of the mutually different longitudinal thread runs is smaller than the number of longitudinal thread runs forming the upper repeat.
On this embodiment, the mutually different longitudinal thread runs are arranged in a non-repeating sequence over the entire upper repeat. The longitudinal thread repeat thus produced can then be very large, including 12 longitudinal thread runs for example, wherein the number of mutually different longitudinal thread runs amounts to only four for example. This means that a bond with a very large repeat can be woven with only a very small number of shafts for the paper side. The sequence of the longitudinal thread runs can be for example:

1-2-3-1-4-1-2-3-4-2-3-1

Such a bond is also referred to as a crêpe bond.

In terms of bonding technique, the irregular structure of the upper fabric layer can be formed, either alone or in combination, by free textile development, changing a basic textile bond, deriving a basic textile bond, and extending a basic textile bond.
To provide a paper side with good fiber support on the one hand and an open machine side for good dewatering of the paper machine mesh on the other hand, provision is made in accordance with a particularly advantageous further aspect of the invention for the ratio of upper transverse threads to lower transverse threads to be greater than 1, in particular 2:1, 3:2 or 4:3.
According to a concrete embodiment of the invention, the upper fabric layer of the paper machine mesh has fourteen or more upper transverse threads. Furthermore, the lower fabric layer includes seven or more lower transverse threads. The tie threads in this case are arranged in seven groups of two tie threads each.
For greater flexibility in the construction of the upper and lower fabric layer of the inventive paper machine mesh, the complete repeat is formed preferably by a multiplicity of longitudinal threads and/or upper and lower transverse threads. In concrete terms, the complete repeat of the paper machine mesh can include for example 24 or more, or 26 or more, or 32 or more, or 48 or more longitudinal threads and/or 24 or more, or 26 or more, or 32 or more, or 48 or more upper and lower transverse threads.
According to a concrete embodiment of the invention, the tie threads are warp threads and the transverse threads are weft threads. In this case the system is a warp-tied system. However, it is also possible for the tie threads to be weft threads and the transverse threads to be warp threads. In this case the system is a weft-tied system.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1a-1b show the warp thread run of an embodiment of an inventive paper machine mesh;
FIG. 2 is a representation of the paper side of the paper machine mesh from FIGS. 1a-1b with warp lifts and lowerings; and
FIG. 3 is a representation of the paper side and machine side of the paper machine mesh from FIGS. 1a-1b. 



Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1a-1b, there is shown, in the longitudinal direction, an embodiment of an inventive paper machine mesh 100 constructed as a forming mesh, wherein the longitudinal thread direction corresponds to the warp thread direction of the mesh 100.
The representation in FIG. 1a shows a complete repeat of the weaving structure of the forming mesh 100.
The illustrated forming mesh 100 includes upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 and lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7, which are constructed respectively as weft threads.
As is evident from FIG. 1a, the ratio of the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 to the lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7 is 2:1.
Furthermore, the forming mesh 100 includes tie threads B1a to B7b constructed as warp threads, wherein the tie threads are arranged in groups of tie thread pairs B1a and B1b, B2a and B2b . . . . 
The tie threads are woven not only with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 but also with the lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7.
Weaving the tie threads B1a to B7b with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 forms an upper fabric layer whose weaving pattern is repeated in upper repeats, as is evident in particular from FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the upper repeat extends in the longitudinal thread direction over the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 and in the transverse thread direction over the tie threads B1a to B7b. In this case the upper fabric layer has an outer side 101 which forms the paper side of the forming mesh 100.
Weaving the tie threads B1a to B7b with the lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7 forms a lower fabric layer whose weaving pattern is repeated in lower repeats, wherein the lower repeat extends in the longitudinal thread direction over the lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7 and in the transverse thread direction over the tie threads B1a to B7b. The lower fabric layer includes in addition an outer side 102 which forms the machine side of the forming mesh 100.
Accordingly, each tie thread B1a to B7b is woven alternately in sections with lower transverse threads and with upper transverse threads.
Because the tie threads B1a to B7b are woven with the lower and upper transverse threads, they connect the upper fabric layer to the lower fabric layer. In this case each lower transverse thread is held respectively by several tie threads in that each of these tie threads continually crosses the respective lower transverse thread on the outer side 102 of the lower fabric layer, wherein all of the tie threads holding a respective lower transverse thread are separated from each other by six tie threads not holding the lower transverse thread in that the lower transverse thread continually crosses the non-holding tie thread on the outer side 102 of the lower fabric layer. Hence according to the invention, for all lower transverse threads between consecutive tie threads respectively holding the lower transverse thread there is always arranged an identical number of non-holding tie threads.
For example, the lower transverse thread SU2 is held in the complete repeat by the tie threads B1a and B4b, wherein between the holding tie threads B1a and B4b there are arranged the non-holding tie threads B1b, B2a, B2b, B3a, B3b and B4a, and further in the transverse thread direction of the repeat between the holding tie threads B4b and B1a there are arranged the non-holding tie threads B5a, B5b, B6a, B6b, B7a and B7b. 
In addition, the lower transverse thread SU1 for example is held in the complete repeat by the tie threads B2a and B5b, wherein between the holding tie threads B2a and B5b there are arranged the non-holding tie threads B2b, B3a, B3b, B4a, B4b and B5a, and further in the transverse thread direction of the repeat between the holding tie threads B5b and B2a there are arranged the non-holding tie threads B6a, B6b, B7a, B7b, B1a and B1b. 
Hence for each lower transverse thread between consecutive holding tie threads there is always arranged an identical number of non-holding tie threads.
Furthermore, the number of non-holding tie threads is identical for all transverse threads and amounts in the embodiment in question to six.
As previously mentioned, weaving the tie threads B1a to B7b with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 forms an upper weaving pattern which is repeated in upper repeats, wherein the tie threads B1a to B7b are arranged in groups.
As is evident from FIGS. 1a-1b, the tie threads of each group, for example B1a and B1b, alternate in sections in the longitudinal direction during weaving with the upper transverse threads SO1 SO14, as the result of which each group of tie threads B1a and B1b, B2a and B2b, B3a and B3b, B4a and B4b, B5a and B5b, B6a and B6b, B7a and B7b forms by weaving with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 an upper longitudinal thread run V1 to V7 with tie thread lifts (black boxes in FIG. 2) and tie thread lowerings (white boxes in FIG. 2).
Hence one tie thread of the group weaves with the upper transverse threads when the other tie thread of the group weaves with the lower transverse threads and vice versa. In addition, the tie threads of each group cross each other when switching from weaving with lower transverse threads to weaving with upper transverse threads at intersections, as is evident for example from FIG. 1b in which the two tie threads B1a and B1b cross at the intersections K1 and K2.
Here the tie threads of each group are woven with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14 and with the lower transverse threads SU1 to SU7 such that two intersections are arranged over the length of the upper repeat.
For example, the tie thread pair B1a and B1b forms, by weaving with the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14, the upper longitudinal thread run V1, which is repeated in the longitudinal thread direction according to the length of the upper repeat.
A tie thread lift is formed in this case in that the tie thread of a group respectively weaving with upper transverse threads, for example B1a, continually crosses an upper transverse thread on the outer side 101 of the upper fabric layer. A tie thread lowering is formed in this case in that the tie thread of a group respectively weaving with upper transverse threads, for example B1a, continually crosses an upper transverse thread between the upper and lower fabric layer.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the outer side 101 of the upper fabric layer forming the paper side. As is evident in particular from FIG. 2, the upper repeat is formed by the upper longitudinal thread runs V1 to V7 along the upper transverse threads SO1 to SO14.
The paper side 101 has an irregular structure such that none of the upper longitudinal thread runs V1 to V7 in the upper repeat can be formed by offsetting all of its longitudinal thread lifts (black boxes) and longitudinal thread lowerings (white boxes) by an identical number of upper transverse threads in the longitudinal thread direction from another upper longitudinal thread run V1 to V7 of the repeat. For example, the longitudinal thread run V1 cannot be produced by shifting any of the other longitudinal thread runs V2 to V7 by a number of transverse threads.
FIG. 3 shows a representation of the paper side and machine side of the inventive forming mesh 100.
Black boxes at intersections of tie threads (B) with upper transverse threads (SO) represent tie thread lifts of the paper side, and white boxes at intersections of tie threads (B) with upper transverse threads (SO) represent tie thread lowerings of the paper side.
In addition, white boxes at intersections of tie threads (B) with lower transverse threads (SO) represent points at which the respective lower transverse thread runs on the outer side of the lower fabric layer, meaning on the machine side, and boxes with a vertical bar represent intersections at which the respective tie thread (B) runs on the outer side of the lower fabric layer, meaning the machine side, meaning a lower transverse thread is held by the tie thread.
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A paper machine mesh comprising:
an upper fabric layer including an upper fabric layer outer side which forms a paper side of the paper machine mesh;
a lower fabric layer including a lower fabric layer outer side which forms a machine side of the paper machine mesh; and
a plurality of tie threads extending in a longitudinal thread direction which connects said upper fabric layer and said lower fabric layer to each other,
wherein said upper fabric layer comprises at least said plurality of tie threads and, woven therewith, a plurality of upper transverse threads extending transverse to said plurality of tie threads,
wherein said lower fabric layer comprises at least said plurality of tie threads and, woven therewith, a plurality of lower transverse threads extending transverse to said plurality of tie threads,
wherein each of said plurality of lower transverse threads is held respectively by several of said plurality of tie threads in that each of said several of said plurality of tie threads continually crosses respective said plurality of lower transverse threads on said outer side of said lower fabric layer, wherein at least some of said plurality of tie threads holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads are separated from each other by at least one of said plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads in that respective said plurality of lower transverse threads continually crosses said at least one of said plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads on said outer side of said lower fabric layer, and
wherein several of said plurality of lower transverse threads include an identical number of said at least one of said plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads arranged respectively between consecutive said plurality of tie threads holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads.

2. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein for each of said plurality of lower transverse threads between consecutive said plurality of tie threads holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads there is always arranged an identical number of said at least one of plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads.

3. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein a number of said plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads amounts to between two and ten.

4. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein a number of said plurality of tie threads not holding respective said plurality of lower transverse threads amounts to six.

5. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said upper fabric layer comprises weaving said plurality of tie threads with said plurality of upper transverse threads,
wherein said upper fabric layer includes a weaving pattern which is repeated in a plurality of upper repeats,
wherein said plurality of tie threads are arranged in a plurality of groups and said plurality of tie threads of each of said plurality of groups alternate in a plurality of sections when weaving with said plurality of upper transverse threads in said longitudinal thread direction, each of said plurality of groups of said plurality of tie threads forming, by weaving with said plurality of upper transverse threads, an upper longitudinal thread run with a plurality of tie thread lifts and a plurality of tie thread lowerings, said plurality of tie threads and said plurality of upper transverse threads comprising a plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs, each of said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs repeated in said longitudinal thread direction according to a length of each of said plurality of upper repeats,
wherein each of said plurality of tie thread lifts comprises a respective one of said plurality of tie threads of a respective one of said plurality of groups respectively weaving with said plurality of upper transverse threads continually crossing at least one of said plurality of upper transverse threads on said outer side of said upper fabric layer,
wherein each of said plurality of tie thread lowerings comprises a respective one of said plurality of tie threads of a respective one of said plurality of groups respectively weaving with said plurality of upper transverse threads continually crossing at least one of said plurality of upper transverse threads between said upper fabric layer and said lower fabric layer on said outer side of said upper fabric layer, and
wherein said plurality of tie thread lifts and said plurality of tie thread lowerings of said weaving pattern of said upper fabric layer are arranged irregularly distributed in each of said plurality of upper repeats.

6. The paper machine mesh according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs includes a plurality of longitudinal thread lifts and a plurality of longitudinal thread lowerings, wherein said weaving pattern includes an irregular structure which comprises in each of said plurality of upper repeats, at least two of said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs, said at least two of said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs including a first upper longitudinal thread run and a second upper longitudinal thread run, wherein said first upper longitudinal thread run cannot be formed by offsetting all of said plurality of longitudinal thread lifts and longitudinal thread lowerings of said first upper longitudinal thread run by an identical number of said plurality of upper transverse threads in said longitudinal thread direction from said second upper longitudinal thread run.

7. The paper machine mesh according to claim 6, wherein none of said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs in each of said plurality of upper repeats can be produced by offsetting all of said plurality of tie thread lifts and tie thread lowerings of respective said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs by an identical number of said plurality of upper transverse threads in said longitudinal thread direction from another of said plurality of upper longitudinal thread runs.

8. The paper machine mesh according to claim 6, wherein the paper machine includes an upper weaving pattern having an irregular structure, said irregular structure of said upper weaving pattern formed, one of alone and in combination, at least one of by a free textile development, changing a basic textile bond, deriving a basic textile bond, and extending a basic textile bond.

9. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads to said plurality of lower transverse threads comprises a ratio which is greater than 1.

10. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads to said plurality of lower transverse threads comprises a ratio which is 2:1.

11. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads to said plurality of lower transverse threads comprises a ratio which is 3:2.

12. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads to said plurality of lower transverse threads comprises a ratio which is 4:3.

13. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said upper fabric layer comprises at least 14 of said plurality of upper transverse threads.

14. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said lower fabric layer comprises at least 7 of said plurality of lower transverse threads.

15. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of tie threads comprise seven groups each including two of said plurality of tie threads.

16. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal threads, wherein at least 24 of at least one of said plurality of longitudinal threads and said plurality of upper and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a complete repeat of the paper machine mesh.

17. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal threads, wherein at least 26 of at least one of said plurality of longitudinal threads and said plurality of upper and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a complete repeat of the paper machine mesh.

18. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal threads, wherein at least 32 of at least one of said plurality of longitudinal threads and said plurality of upper and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a complete repeat of the paper machine mesh.

19. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal threads, wherein at least 48 of at least one of said plurality of longitudinal threads and said plurality of upper and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a complete repeat of the paper machine mesh.

20. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a plurality of transverse threads, said plurality of tie threads being a plurality of warp threads and said plurality of transverse threads being a plurality of weft threads.

21. The paper machine mesh according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of upper transverse threads and said plurality of lower transverse threads comprise a plurality of transverse threads, said plurality of tie threads being a plurality of weft threads and said plurality of transverse threads being a plurality of warp threads.