Method and apparatus for producing nonwoven fibrous sheets

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A UNITARY, NONWOVEN PATTERNED FIBROUS SHEET FROM AN AQUEOUS SLURRY OF FIBERS WHICH COMPRISES: REMOVING LIQUID FROM THE SLURRY OF FORM A LAYER OF WET FIBERS IN MECHANICAL AND FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WHILE SUPPORTING THE SAME UPON A FREELY PERMEABLE, FLEXIBLE, PAPERMAKING SURFACE HAVING A PREDETERMINED TOPOGRAPHY AND A PREDETERMINED ARRANGEMENT OF PASSAGES THERETHROUGH SAID FIBERS BEING FREE OF HYDRATION BONDS; AND WHILE SAID FIBROUS LAYER IS SO SUPPORTED DIRECTING STREAMS OF WATER IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN AGAINST THE FIBROUS LAYER TO THEREBY PRODUCE FLUID FLOW ALONG PREDETERMINED COURSES OVER SAID PAPERMAKING SURFACE AND THROUGH SAID PASSAGES TO MOVE INDIVIDUAL FIBER ELEMENTS OF THE LAYER IN DIRECTIONS INTO PACKED GROUPS OF FIBERS DISPOSED IN AN ARRANGEMENT CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED COURSES OF FLUID FLOW.