Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for avoiding periodic non-uniformities in papermaking felts by varying the width of the web going into a cross lapper.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to papermaking felts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of making papermaker&#39;s felts having non-periodic nonuniformities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A papermaker&#39;s felt must have a high degree of uniformity. Non-uniformities in the papermaker&#39;s felt can cause vibration of a paper machine. If these nonuniformities are periodic as a result of the classical procedures used to manufacture wet felts, it is possible to excite the paper machine at the system&#39;s natural frequency or at one of the natural frequencies of the components by simply running at the correct speed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal object of the invention is to provide a method of producing papermaking felts having non-periodic nonuniformities comprising a carded web of fibers, delivering the web to a cross lapper, gradually varying the width of said web delivered to the cross lapper and lapping a plurality of layers of web onto a receiving conveyor as the receiving convevor moves away from the cross lapper so that the cross lapper deposits fibers at an angle from 91 to 113 degrees to the direction of travel of the receiving conveyor, depending on the width of the final batt and the number of layers of web. 
     The method and apparatus disclosed herein provide a felt with non-periodic nonuniformities. The width of the web used to produce the felt is limited only by the width of available lapping equipment. 
     These and various other features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive nature, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The FIGURE discloses a perspective view of the novel method and apparatus for producing the non-periodic nonuniformities for the felt which is the subiect of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The method disclosed herein and illustrated in the FIGURE provides a web of fibers 2 which has been carded in a conventional manner on a card system. The width of said web of fibers is varied and only limited by the width of the machinery through which it travels. 
     The carded web 2 is conveyed to a cross lapper 10. The web travels and is deposited on a receiving conveyor 20 traveling in direction 21 and is rolled onto a wind-up roller 31. The carded web 2 is deposited on the moving conveyor 20 so that the leading edge 3 coming off the cross lapper lies flush with and touches edge 4 of the prior layer. 
     In the apparatus, the lower cart 15 travels from left to right on the moving conveyor. The web is laid onto the conveyor 20 with the speed of the incoming web and the conveyor adjusted to produce the edge-to-edge contact described above. The layers of web thus deposited are consolidated into a homogeneous sheet of fibers by means conventional to the art for insuring the layers of web are prevented from ply separating in subsequent processing. 
     The web of fibers 2 is produced with a varying width. The widths are infinitely variable within the ranges available in the machine and in the specific example disclosed herein the width of the web thus formed is variable within the ranges of 60&#34; minimum and 84&#34; maximum. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations in form may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.