EP0239339A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for producing fibrous structures electrostatically
Assignee: University of Liverpool
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Filing: 1987-03-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing a fibrous structure includes electrostatically charged mandrels (10) arranged around a delivery assembly for fibreizable material. The delivery assembly includes capillary needles (18) to which fibreizable material is supplied from a reservoir (15), the needles (18) being arranged on manifolds (17) moved continuously around a loop path on a rail (20).
Inventors
- 👤 John Phillip Berry
- 👤 David Annis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:07
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/0007; D01D5/0061; D01D5/0076; D01D5/0069; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/70; D04H1/72; D04H1/728; D04H3/00; D04H3/08; D04H3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for producing fibrous structures, which apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart fibre collectors electrostatically charged in use, and delivery means for delivering fibreizable material towards the collectors, which delivery means comprises a continuous delivery loop path, a multiplicity of ejection outlets for fibreizable material spaced apart along the loop path, means for supplying fibreizable material to the ejection outlets, and means for moving the outlets around the loop path to cause, in use, continuous movement of the ejection outlets past the collectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for producing fibrous structures, which apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart fibre collectors electrostatically charged in use, and delivery means for delivering fibreizable material towards the collectors, which delivery means comprises a continuous delivery loop path, a multiplicity of ejection outlets for fibreizable material spaced apart along the loop path, means for supplying fibreizable material to the ejection outlets, and means for moving the outlets around the loop path to cause, in use, continuous movement of the ejection outlets past the collectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ejection outlets are mounted in a multiplicity of manifolds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the means for moving the manifolds around the loop path comprise an endless rail and means for moving the manifolds along the rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the means for moving the manifolds along the rail comprise an endless element and drive means to drive the endless element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the endless element is a chain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the endless element is a belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ejection outlets are on a continuous tube loop, fibreizable material being supplied to the ejection outlets through the tube loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the means for moving the ejection outlets comprise driven roller means in contact with the tube loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the ejection outlets comprise holes in the tube loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one Claims 1 to 8 wherein the ejection outlets comprise a multiplicity of capillary elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the capillary elements are capillary needles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the collectors are rotatable mandrels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the collectors are static surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising electrostatically charged means in the regions of the ends of the collectors to provide a continuous electrostatic field around the loop path to attract material from the ejection outlets to avoid discontinuity in ejection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising mounting means for the delivery means and the collectors, which mounting means allows relative movement of the delivery means and the collectors from a first position in which fibreizable material is directed towards the collectors, and a second position in which the fibreizable material is no longer directed towards the collectors to allow changing of the collectors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 comprising a dummy electrostatically charged grid on which fibres are collected in the second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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