Industrial Fabric for Production of Nonwovens, and Method of Making Thereof

Abstract

An industrial fabric such as an endless belt or sleeve for use in the production of nonwovens, and a method of making thereof are disclosed. The fabric includes a plurality of through voids, where each of the voids has a first opening associated with a top surface of the fabric and a first raised edge circumferentially adjacent to the first opening. The voids may each further include a second opening associated with a bottom surface of the fabric and a second raised edge circumferentially adjacent to the second opening, such that the first opening may have a surface area that is larger than or the same as the second opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing through voids in an industrial fabric used in the production of nonwovens, said system comprising: an optical source operable to generate incident optical radiation; a drive unit coupled to said optical source and adapted to control at least one characteristic associated with said incident optical radiation; and an apparatus operable to retain said fabric and facilitate relative motion between said optical source and said fabric such that said incident optical radiation perforates said fabric and generates said through voids, wherein said generated through voids each include at least one raised edge circumferentially adjacent to an opening created on at least one of top and bottom surfaces associated with said fabric. 
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said incident optical radiation comprises a focused laser output. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of motorized components operable to provide motion to said fabric in one or more directions and motion to a head associated with said optical source, wherein said head is adapted to move relative to said fabric in an x, y, or z direction. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one characteristic associated with said incident optical radiation comprises output power. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one characteristic associated with said incident optical radiation comprises modulation characteristics. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising beam shaping components for shaping said incident optical radiation prior to applying said incident optical radiation to said fabric. 
     
     
         7 . A method of generating through voids in an industrial fabric used in the production of nonwovens, said method comprising: producing a first opening associated with a top surface of said fabric; producing a second opening associated with a bottom surface of said fabric; and producing at least one raised edge circumferentially adjacent to at least one of said first and second opening.