Abstract:
A paper machine fabric leader includes a leader having a first end, a second end, a first leader face and a second leader face, the first end being connected to a paper machine fabric; and a solid sheet cover attached to the first leader face of the leader. A method for making the paper machine fabric leader is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of commonly owned provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/759,648 filed Jan. 17, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to paper machine fabrics and, more particularly, to a leader for installing machine fabric on a paper machine. 
         [0003]    Paper machine fabric leaders are used to install paper machine fabric on a paper machine. It is known to pull fabrics onto the machine using ropes or straps. However, ropes and straps get caught in various elements of the paper machine. To avoid this problem, triangular leader formations were developed. However, this type of leader resulted in non-uniform tension, and reinforcements to the triangular leader were then developed, for example as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,398,915 and 6,447,873. Unfortunately, these reinforcements lead to increased cost. 
         [0004]    Based upon the state of the art, it is clear that the need exists for a paper machine fabric leader which addresses these issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a paper machine fabric leader which has less tendency to get caught in the paper machine, and which can be manufactured at an economical cost. 
         [0006]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear herein. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, these objectives have been attained. 
         [0008]    According to the present disclosure, a paper machine fabric leader is provided which comprises a leader having a first end, a second end, a first leader face and a second leader face, the first end being connected to a paper machine fabric; and a solid sheet cover attached to the first leader face of the leader. 
         [0009]    A method is also provided for making a paper machine fabric leader, and comprises attaching a solid sheet cover to a leader at a first leader face. 
         [0010]    The leader is in one embodiment a plurality of straps which are connected at one end to the paper machine fabric and which are joined at the other end to define a connection point for a pull rope or the like. 
         [0011]    The solid sheet cover can in one embodiment be substantially transparent whereby the position and quality of the straps can be observed. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the solid sheet cover can be substantially impermeable to water or other liquids to which the paper machine fabric might be exposed prior to installation, and the solid sheet cover thereby serves to protect the paper machine fabric from such liquids during shipping and storage prior to use. 
         [0013]    Additional details of the present invention are discussed in the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a paper machine fabric leader according to the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a reverse side of the paper machine fabric leader of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The invention relates to a leader for installing a fabric on a paper machine.  FIG. 1-2  show a leader  10  according to the invention. Leader  10  is attached to an end  12  of fabric  22  for a paper machine. Leader  10  is used to install fabric  22  onto the paper machine as is known to a person of skill in the art. 
         [0018]    Leader  10  has a plurality of straps  14  having first ends  16  and second ends  18 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , first ends  16  of straps  14  define and are connected to a first end  20  of leader  10 . This first end  20  can be a substantially lateral structural member to which straps  14  and end  12  of fabric  22  can be attached as shown. This first end  20  is attached to the fabric  22 . 
         [0019]    Second ends  18  of straps  14  are joined together to define a connection point  24  which allows attachment of a rope or other pulling member for pulling first leader  10  and then fabric  22  onto a paper machine. A loop  26  of material can be passed through each second end  18  of straps  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and loop  26  can be used to secure to a suitable pulling member. 
         [0020]    As shown in the drawings, straps  14  spread from connection point  24  toward first end  20  of leader  10 . Preferably, straps  14  gradually spread away from each other so that at connection point  24  all second ends  18  are substantially together, and so that all first ends  16  are substantially uniformly spaced along a width of the fabric. 
         [0021]    Straps  14  of leader  10  also define opposite facing leader faces, and a solid sheet cover  28  is advantageously attached to one such leader face. Cover  28  can be attached to straps  14  in any suitable manner, as will be discussed below, and serves to prevent straps  14  from getting caught in a paper machine during installation of fabric  22  using leader  10 . As shown, cover  28  is preferably a flexible material which is sized to cover straps  14  without extending beyond them. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , cover  28  can initially be sized slightly larger than the width of straps  14 , and the overlapping material of cover  28  can be folded over onto the other side or face of leader  10 . An additional sleeve  30  of material can also be attached to cover  28  over one or more straps  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0022]    Cover  28  can in one embodiment be made from a substantially transparent material so that straps  14  can be viewed through cover  28 , for example to inspect the position and condition of straps  14 . Of course, cover  28  can alternatively be made from other types of material, including that which is not substantially transparent, and this is well within the broad scope of the invention. Within that broad scope, a transparent material is desirable as set forth above. 
         [0023]    Cover  28  can be made from any suitable flexible material, and can be plastic or cloth, permeable or impermeable, porous or nonporous, and transparent or opaque. Within this broad scope, cover  28  is preferably made of a flexible material having a thickness of between about 1 mil and about 1 inch. Within this range, one particularly suitable example is LDPE having a thickness of about 6 mil. Of course, other types of material could be used within the broad scope of the invention. 
         [0024]    Cover  28  can also advantageously be provided of a material which is substantially impermeable and/or nonporous to water and other liquids to which fabric  22  might be exposed during shipping and/or storage awaiting installation on a paper machine. In this way, cover  28  serves to protect fabric  22  prior to installation on a paper machine. 
         [0025]    Straps  14  can be made of any suitable material, keeping in mind that straps  14  are the load bearing elements of leader  10  according to the invention. Suitable materials or types of straps include but are not limited to webbing, roping, straps, and the like of nearly any material in a size large enough to carry the load imposed by pulling fabric  22 . 
         [0026]    Cover  28  can suitably be attached to straps  14  to keep straps  14  aligned as desired. Cover  28  can be attached to straps  14  in any suitable manner, examples of which include stitching, gluing, taping, riveting, grommeting, welding (including but not limited to chemical welding and high frequency welding) and combinations thereof. 
         [0027]    It should be appreciated that straps  14  are the load bearing members of the present invention. Unlike in prior art disclosures such as those mentioned above, cover  28  serves only to cover one side of straps  14  and thereby prevent these straps from getting caught in the paper machine, and also in some embodiments of the invention to protect fabric  22  and/or allow visual inspection of straps  14  through cover  28 . This provides an even pulling of fabric onto the machine by straps  14  while preventing straps  14  from getting caught, and allowing them to be inspected before installation. 
         [0028]    In use, leader  10  is attached to the end  12  of a paper machine fabric  22  by sewing, stitching, zippering, and the like and then a pulling member such as a rope is attached to the other end of the leader, for example to loop  26 . The leader  10  with attached fabric is then pulled through the machine, to position the fabric on the machine, and leader  10  can then be removed and ends of fabric  22  can be joined to complete installation. 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.