Importance

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Abstract

A non-woven fabric having a pattern defined by an array of discrete areas having a reduced fibre density but which are substantially free of peforations is produced by supporting a freshly wet laid web of the non-woven fabric on a porous surface and directing spaced jets of fluid against the unsupported side in order to displace fibres within discrete areas while maintaining in position a proportion of fibres that are within those areas and that are adjacent the porous surface. The fabric web may be supported on a Fourdrinier wire (1) and the jets of fluid (e.g. water) may be directed through the apertures in a perforated cylinder (6), the fluid being supplied under pressure from a water-knife device (11). The apertures in the cylinder (6) preferably have a cross-section that increases in the direction of the water jets. Vacuum may be applied through the Fourdrinier wire (1) by means of a vacuum box (10) and vacuum may also be applied within the cylinder (6) from means (17) in order to remove excess water from within the cylinder (6).

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First Claim