US3740797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming webs and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
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Filing: 1971-01-21
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for forming an air-laid, nonwoven web from separate supplies of individualized fibers, such as textile and papermaking fibers. Supplies of fibers are fed to oppositely rotating lickerins that are rotated at speeds which are optimum for the fibers being individualized by the lickerins. The individualized fibers are doffed from the lickerins by centrifugal force and high velocity air streams directed against the fibers clinging to the lickerin clothing. The fibers from each supply are entrained in their respective air streams, which are impelled at high rates of speed toward each other, and the air streams come together in a mixing zone. The doffed fibers are given an initial trajectory as they leave their respective lickerins, and the inertia of the fibers in the air streams is sufficient to bring the fibers to the mixing zone and effect blending of at least a portion of the fibers from each supply in the mixing zone. In communication with the mixing zone is a suction actuated condensing means where the fibers are deposited to produce a nonwoven web of fibers, for example, an isotropic nonwoven web. The process and apparatus can be varied to form a variety of nonwoven webs, using as the fibers of these webs two different fibers of the same, or of different lengths. A variable that can be introduced to vary the web construction includes a baffle that can be interposed between the two separate air streams to control the location where the two air streams are intermixed.
Inventors
- 👤 A Farrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:29
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21H; D21H5/00; D21H5/26; D21H5/2607; D21H5/2628; D21H11/00; D21H13/00; D21H13/10; D21H13/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
The method of forming a nonwoven web comprising the following steps: 1. providing at least two separate sources of fibers, 2. feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, said paths converging toward one another and being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone, 3. individualizing the fibers received from each sEparate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into one fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof, 4. providing a restricted opening upstream of the fiber outlet of each fiber flow path for directing a separate gaseous stream through each of said restricted openings with an impelling force to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force along said converging flow paths and beyond said outlets and into said mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream, 5. applying centrifugal forces to the fibers from each source in each fiber flow path and in said mixing zone to aid in entraining the fibers in their respective gaseous stream and to aid in the intermingling of the fibers in the common mixing zone, 6. applying a driving force to said gaseous streams to (a) cause said gaseous streams to flow through said restricted openings, (b) accelerate the movement of the entrained fibers through their respective flow paths and impel the fibers into said mixing zone with at least some of the fibers from each flow path having a component of motion directed toward fibers from another flow path, and (c) accelerate the fibers through said mixing zone to a depositing zone, and 7. collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
332 words
The method of forming a nonwoven web comprising the following steps: 1. providing at least two separate sources of fibers, 2. feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, said paths converging toward one another and being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone, 3. individualizing the fibers received from each sEparate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into one fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof, 4. providing a restricted opening upstream of the fiber outlet of each fiber flow path for directing a separate gaseous stream through each of said restricted openings with an impelling force to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force along said converging flow paths and beyond said outlets and into said mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream, 5. applying centrifugal forces to the fibers from each source in each fiber flow path and in said mixing zone to aid in entraining the fibers in their respective gaseous stream and to aid in the intermingling of the fibers in the common mixing zone, 6. applying a driving force to said gaseous streams to (a) cause said gaseous streams to flow through said restricted openings, (b) accelerate the movement of the entrained fibers through their respective flow paths and impel the fibers into said mixing zone with at least some of the fibers from each flow path having a component of motion directed toward fibers from another flow path, and (c) accelerate the fibers through said mixing zone to a depositing zone, and 7. collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the separate gaseous streams are controlled so that each stream is in a turbulent condition when it is directed through its respective restricted opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, said paths converging toward one another and being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, said paths converging toward one another and being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, each path being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
feeding each fiber source to the inlet of a confined separate fiber flow path, each path being in communication with a common fiber mixing zone and each fiber flow path having a fiber outlet leading to said common fiber mixing zone,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
individualizing the fibers received from each separate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into a fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
individualizing the fibers received from each separate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into a fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
individualizing the fibers received from each sEparate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into one fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
individualizing the fibers received from each sEparate source and introducing the individualized fibers from each separate source into one fiber flow path through the fiber inlet thereof,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one source of fibers is textile length fibers, and the other source of fibers is short fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 including the further step of controlling the location of the fiber outlet of each separate fiber flow path relative to said depositing zone to control the configuration of the common fiber mixing zone and the degree of intermingling of said at least some fibers and to thus determine the type of web to be formed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
providing a restricted opening upstream of the fiber outlet of each fiber flow path for directing a separate gaseous stream through each of said restricted openings with an impelling force to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force along said converging flow paths and beyond said outlets and into said mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
providing a restricted opening upstream of the fiber outlet of each fiber flow path for directing a separate gaseous stream through each of said restricted openings with an impelling force to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force along said converging flow paths and beyond said outlets and into said mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
introducing a separate high speed gaseous stream into each fiber flow path upstream of the fiber outlet thereof to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force beyond said outlets, into said mixing zone, and to a depositing zone, with at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream entering said mixing zone with a component of motion directed toward at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream to forcibly intermingle said at least some fibers,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
introducing a separate high speed gaseous stream into each fiber flow path upstream of the fiber outlet thereof to (a) entrain the individualized fibers in their respective streams while the fibers are in their respective flow paths, and (b) convey the entrained fibers with an impelling force beyond said outlets, into said mixing zone, and to a depositing zone, with at least some of the fibers in one gaseous stream entering said mixing zone with a component of motion directed toward at least some of the fibers in another gaseous stream to forcibly intermingle said at least some fibers,
Claim 18
Independent Claim
11 words
The method of forming a nonwoven web comprising the following steps:
Claim 19
Independent Claim
11 words
The method of forming a nonwoven web comprising the following steps:
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
applying centrifugal forces to the fibers from each source in each fiber flow path and in said mixing zone to aid in entraining the fibers in their respective gaseous stream and to aid in the intermingling of the fibers in the common mixing zone,
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
applying centrifugal forces to the fibers from each source in each fiber flow path and in said mixing zone to aid in entraining the fibers in their respective gaseous stream and to aid in the intermingling of the fibers in the common mixing zone,
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
controlling the location of the fiber outlet of each separate fiber flow path relative to said depositing zone to control the configuration of the common fiber mixing zone and the degree of intermingling of said at least some fibers and to thus determine the type of web to be formed, and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
controlling the location of the fiber outlet of each separate fiber flow path relative to said depositing zone to control the configuration of the common fiber mixing zone and the degree of intermingling of said at least some fibers and to thus determine the type of web to be formed, and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said controlling step is performed by at least partially blocking the intermixing of said gaseous streams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
applying a driving force to said gaseous streams to (a) cause said gaseous streams to flow through said restricted openings, (b) accelerate the movement of the entrained fibers through their respective flow paths and impel the fibers into said mixing zone with at least some of the fibers from each flow path having a component of motion directed toward fibers from another flow path, and (c) accelerate the fibers through said mixing zone to a depositing zone, and
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
applying a driving force to said gaseous streams to (a) cause said gaseous streams to flow through said restricted openings, (b) accelerate the movement of the entrained fibers through their respective flow paths and impel the fibers into said mixing zone with at least some of the fibers from each flow path having a component of motion directed toward fibers from another flow path, and (c) accelerate the fibers through said mixing zone to a depositing zone, and
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
collecting the fibers in the depositing zone to form a web of nonwoven fibers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of introducing said gaseous sTreams is performed by independently controlling individual gaseous streams for each source of fibers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 in which the collecting step is performed by applying a suction to a foraminous fiber receiving member at said depositing zone, whereby said fibers are retained at a relatively high velocity prior to depositing on the fiber receiving member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 in which one fiber source is a source of textile length fibers and the other fiber source is a source of short fibers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
234 words
Web forming apparatus comprising: frame means; means for feeding a fibrous material to a first fiberizing station at a first location on said frame means; means for feeding a fibrous material to a second fiberizing station at a second location on said frame means; means defining a mixing zone between said fiberizing stations, said mixing zone having a fiber inlet end and a fiber outlet end; a first lickerin located adjacent the inlet end of said mixing zone; a second lickerin located adjacent the inlet end of said mixing zone; means mounting said lickerins in spaced parallel relationship on said frame means; means rotating each lickerin at its respective fiberizing station in fiber-removing relationship with respect to its respective fibrous material to open said fibrous materials and produce supplies of individualized fibers through the inlet end of said mixing zone; means for providing air streams for doffing the fibers from the lickerins and for initially directing said supplies of doffed fibers toward one another and to said mixing zone; a flow controlling member; means mounting said flow controlling member for movement relative to said mixing zone to control the extent to which said gaseous streams intermix, including means for moving said flow controlling member along a path that bisects the space between said lickerins; and fiber collecting means adjacent the fiber outlet end of said mixing zone for accumulating fibers to form a web.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
234 words
Web forming apparatus comprising: frame means; means for feeding a fibrous material to a first fiberizing station at a first location on said frame means; means for feeding a fibrous material to a second fiberizing station at a second location on said frame means; means defining a mixing zone between said fiberizing stations, said mixing zone having a fiber inlet end and a fiber outlet end; a first lickerin located adjacent the inlet end of said mixing zone; a second lickerin located adjacent the inlet end of said mixing zone; means mounting said lickerins in spaced parallel relationship on said frame means; means rotating each lickerin at its respective fiberizing station in fiber-removing relationship with respect to its respective fibrous material to open said fibrous materials and produce supplies of individualized fibers through the inlet end of said mixing zone; means for providing air streams for doffing the fibers from the lickerins and for initially directing said supplies of doffed fibers toward one another and to said mixing zone; a flow controlling member; means mounting said flow controlling member for movement relative to said mixing zone to control the extent to which said gaseous streams intermix, including means for moving said flow controlling member along a path that bisects the space between said lickerins; and fiber collecting means adjacent the fiber outlet end of said mixing zone for accumulating fibers to form a web.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for forming a non-woven web of non-woven fibers from at least two sources of fibers: a pair of lickerins; means rotatably mounting said lickerins in spaced parallel relationship with one another, so that the adjacent facing surfaces of said lickerins define boundary walls of a fiber mixing zone; means for rotating said lickerins in opposite directions; means for feeding each source of fibers into contact with its respective lickerin whereby each lickerin individualizes fibers it receives from its respective source; means, including a portion of the periphery of each of said lickerins upstream of the facing surfaces of the lickerins that define the boundary walls of the mixing zone, defining separate duct means having a fiber inlet adjacent the position where the fibers are individualized and a fiber outlet opening into said fiber mixing zone; means providing a restricted opening adjacent each lickerin, each restricted opening communicating with one of said separate duct means upstream of the fiber outlet thereof; means for impelling separate gaseous streams through each of said restricted openings and for directing said gaseous streams into its respective duct means and against the associated lickerin to (a) doff at least some of the fibers from each lickerin, (b) entrain the doffed fibers within the said duct means, and (c) convey the entrained fibers beyond the fiber outlet of each duct means and into said fiber mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers from one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in the other gaseous stream; and collecting means including a movable foraminous member communicating with said fiber mixing zone to collect said fibers and form a web of non-woven fibers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for forming a non-woven web of non-woven fibers from at least two sources of fibers: a pair of lickerins; means rotatably mounting said lickerins in spaced parallel relationship with one another, so that the adjacent facing surfaces of said lickerins define boundary walls of a fiber mixing zone; means for rotating said lickerins in opposite directions; means for feeding each source of fibers into contact with its respective lickerin whereby each lickerin individualizes fibers it receives from its respective source; means, including a portion of the periphery of each of said lickerins upstream of the facing surfaces of the lickerins that define the boundary walls of the mixing zone, defining separate duct means having a fiber inlet adjacent the position where the fibers are individualized and a fiber outlet opening into said fiber mixing zone; means providing a restricted opening adjacent each lickerin, each restricted opening communicating with one of said separate duct means upstream of the fiber outlet thereof; means for impelling separate gaseous streams through each of said restricted openings and for directing said gaseous streams into its respective duct means and against the associated lickerin to (a) doff at least some of the fibers from each lickerin, (b) entrain the doffed fibers within the said duct means, and (c) convey the entrained fibers beyond the fiber outlet of each duct means and into said fiber mixing zone to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers from one gaseous stream with at least some of the fibers in the other gaseous stream; and collecting means including a movable foraminous member communicating with said fiber mixing zone to collect said fibers and form a web of non-woven fibers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including passage means in communication with each of said restricted openings, and means in each of said passage means for controlling the flow therethrough to insure that the required quantity of gas in turbulent condition is uniformly provided to its resPective lickerin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including generally parallel wall members located adjacent the source of fibers for its associated lickerin defining passage means in communication with each of said restricted opening, and flow restricting means in each of said passage means for controlling the flow of the gaseous stream to the lickerin to insure that the required quantity of gas in the prescribed condition is uniformly provided to its respective lickerin.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means for varying the position of at least one of said flow restricting means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means for providing a flow control member at a preselected position between said lickerins to control the intermixing of said gaseous streams and the intermingling of fibers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for forming a now-woven web of fibers from at least two sources of fibers comprising: means rotatably mounting a lickerin for each source of fibers; means for rotating said lickerins; means for feeding each source of fibers into contact with its respective lickerin whereby each lickerin individualizes fibers from its respective source; means defining a mixing zone between said lickerins having a fiber inlet end and a fiber outlet end; fiber collecting means adjacent the fiber outlet end of said mixing zone; means for causing gas to flow against each lickerin, through said mixing zone and to said fiber collecting means to (a) doff the individualized fibers from each lickerin, (b) introduce the doffed fibers into the mixing zone through the inlet end thereof, and (c) to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in the mixing zone prior to deposition on the fiber collecting means; a flow controlling member; and means mounting said flow controlling member at least for vertical movement relative to said mixing zone between said lickerins to control the degree of intermingling of said fibers.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for forming a now-woven web of fibers from at least two sources of fibers comprising: means rotatably mounting a lickerin for each source of fibers; means for rotating said lickerins; means for feeding each source of fibers into contact with its respective lickerin whereby each lickerin individualizes fibers from its respective source; means defining a mixing zone between said lickerins having a fiber inlet end and a fiber outlet end; fiber collecting means adjacent the fiber outlet end of said mixing zone; means for causing gas to flow against each lickerin, through said mixing zone and to said fiber collecting means to (a) doff the individualized fibers from each lickerin, (b) introduce the doffed fibers into the mixing zone through the inlet end thereof, and (c) to forcibly intermingle at least some of the fibers in the mixing zone prior to deposition on the fiber collecting means; a flow controlling member; and means mounting said flow controlling member at least for vertical movement relative to said mixing zone between said lickerins to control the degree of intermingling of said fibers.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the mounting means for said lickerins locates the lickerins with the axes thereof in a common plane, and wherein the flow controlling member is mounted for movement perpendicularly with respect to said common plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |