Sheet stealing

1. Generally associated with tissue manufacture where sheet tends to follow the bottom wet felt rather than the pickup felt on the outgoing side of the suction press nip.
— see if bottom felt surface is too smooth and top felt surface is too rough.
— usually remedied by thoroughly washing wet felts or lightly brushing surface to reduce tendency for a water film to form.
2. It is best to continuously clean and condition the wet felt-to offset compaction and filling.
— a good flushing shower system is mandatory and high pressure showering is desirable to fluff up the surface fibers.
3. Reducing water loads on the pickup and wet felts, relocating the suction pipe in the press, and reducing press loads help alleviate sheet stealing.
— may need to change the sheet/fabric geometry on exit side of nip to eliminate problem.
4. Ensure that roll loading is uniform.
5. Exit from a double felted press must have both felts wrap the top press with approximately 10 separation angle between the two felts.
6. Decreased vacuum level on press rolls sometimes helps.
7. Lower vacuums on Uhle boxes apparently reduces sheet stealing, however, may get fall-off at pressure roll.