Apparatus for producing fibrous mats

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing fibrous mats which comprises: an elongate cylindrical separating wall having sifting openings uniformly distributed over substantially its entire circumferential areas except a full width inlet portion through which untreated fibers are fed; a rotary shaft; a dispersing means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively associated with said separating wall for dispersing fiber flocks into elementary fibers; a casing disposed in surrounding relation to said separating wall and defining therewith an annular dispersing chamber having a downwardly directed fiber outlet for dispersed fibers, said casing being provided with full width air intake openings at the upper end thereof and, said casing being further provided in opposite sides thereof with an elongate aperture communicating with the atmosphere for introducing a controlled volume of air into said chamber, said chamber between the casing and the separating wall widening progressively towards said fiber outlet so as to maintain a constant velocity of air throughOut all regions of said chamber; a damper provided at the upper end of said dispersing chamber in operative association with said air intake openings for regulating the volumertic ratio of air to fibers within said chamber; and a moving endless wire conveyor and suction means underlying said fiber outlet for the deposition thereon of dispersed fibers.

Claim 3

Apparatus for producing fibrous mats which comprises: an elongate cylindrical separating wall having sifting openings uniformly distributed over substantially its entire circumferential areas except a full width inlet portion through which untreated fibers are fed; a rotary shaft; a dispersing means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively associated with said separating wall for dispersing fiber flocks into elementary fibers; a casing disposed in surrounding relation to said separating wall and defining therewith an annular dispersing chamber having a downwardly directed fiber outlet for dispersed fibers, said casing being provided with full width air intake openings at the upper end thereof and, said casing being further provided in opposite sides thereof with an elongate aperture communicating with the atmosphere for introducing a controlled volume of air into said chamber, said chamber between the casing and the separating wall widening progressively towards said fiber outlet so as to maintain a constant velocity of air throughOut all regions of said chamber; a damper provided at the upper end of said dispersing chamber in operative association with said air intake openings for regulating the volumertic ratio of air to fibers within said chamber; and a moving endless wire conveyor and suction means underlying said fiber outlet for the deposition thereon of dispersed fibers.

Claim 4

Apparatus for producing fibrous mats which comprises: an elongate cylindrical separating wall having sifting openings uniformly distributed over substantially its entire circumferential areas except a full width inlet portion through which untreated fibers are fed; a rotary shaft; a dispersing means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively associated with said separating wall for dispersing fiber flocks into elementary fibers; a casing disposed in surrounding relation to said separating wall and defining therewith an annular dispersing chamber having a downwardly directed fiber outlet for dispersed fibers, said casing being provided with full width air intake openings at the upper end thereof and, said casing being further provided in opposite sides thereof with an elongate aperture communicating with the atmosphere for introducing a controlled volume of air into said chamber, said chamber between the casing and the separating wall widening progressively towards said fiber outlet so as to maintain a constant velocity of air throughOut all regions of said chamber; a damper provided at the upper end of said dispersing chamber in operative association with said air intake openings for regulating the volumertic ratio of air to fibers within said chamber; and a moving endless wire conveyor and suction means underlying said fiber outlet for the deposition thereon of dispersed fibers.

Claim 5

Apparatus for producing fibrous mats which comprises: an elongate cylindrical separating wall having sifting openings uniformly distributed over substantially its entire circumferential areas; except a full width inlet portion through which untreated fibers are fed; a rotary shaft; a dispersing means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively associated with said separating wall for dispersing fiber flocks into elementary fibers; a casing disposed in surrounding relation to said separating wall and defining therewith an annular dispersing chamber having a downwardly directed fiber outlet for dispersed fibers, said casing being provided with full width air intake openings at the upper end thereof and, said casing being further provided in opposite sides thereof with an elongate aperture communicating with the atmosphere for introducing a controlled volume of air into said chamber, said chamber between the casing and the separating wall widening progressively towards said fiber outlet so as to maintain a constant velocity of air throughout all regions of said chamber; a damper provided at the upper end of said dispersing chamber in operative association with said air intake openings for regulating the volumetric ratio of air to fibers within said chamber; and a moving endless wire conveyor underlying said fiber outlet for the deposition thereon of dispersed fibers; a main suction box for withdrawing dispersed fibers onto said wire conveyor; and an auxiliary suction box annexed to said main suction box for maintaining a suction air current across said wire conveyor immediately at the forward end of said fiber outlet.

Claim 6

Apparatus for producing fibrous mats which comprises: an elongate cylindrical separating wall having sifting openings uniformly distributed over substantially its entire circumferential areas; except a full width inlet portion through which untreated fibers are fed; a rotary shaft; a dispersing means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and operatively associated with said separating wall for dispersing fiber flocks into elementary fibers; a casing disposed in surrounding relation to said separating wall and defining therewith an annular dispersing chamber having a downwardly directed fiber outlet for dispersed fibers, said casing being provided with full width air intake openings at the upper end thereof and, said casing being further provided in opposite sides thereof with an elongate aperture communicating with the atmosphere for introducing a controlled volume of air into said chamber, said chamber between the casing and the separating wall widening progressively towards said fiber outlet so as to maintain a constant velocity of air throughout all regions of said chamber; a damper provided at the upper end of said dispersing chamber in operative association with said air intake openings for regulating the volumetric ratio of air to fibers within said chamber; and a moving endless wire conveyor underlying said fiber outlet for the deposition thereon of dispersed fibers; a main suction box for withdrawing dispersed fibers onto said wire conveyor; and an auxiliary suction box annexed to said main suction box for maintaining a suction air current across said wire conveyor immediately at the forward end of said fiber outlet.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispersing means comprises a plurality of relatively thin blade runners superimposed one upon another at random angles and radially extending in close proximity to the inner face of said separating wall.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing is made of a transparent plastic material.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein at least one blade runner is comprised of an annular core portion and substantially triangular blade portions extending symmetrically on opposite sides of said core portion.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said blade runner has a uniform thickness of the order of 1 - 5 millimeters.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said main suction box is provided with dampers for controlling the weight of fibers deposited on the wire conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the distance between the lowermost end of said separating wall and the upper surface of said wire conveyor is between 150 to 300 millimeters.