US3914080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the high speed production of non-woven fabrics
Assignee: Glad Products Co
•
Filing: 1970-07-02
•
Granted: 1975-10-21
•
Expires: 1990-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of making a non-woven fibrous web comprises providing a fluid stream, incorporating fibers in that stream, continuously directing the stream into a centrifugal flow, collecting the fibers from the flow as a substantially endless tubular web and flattening the web. Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous web comprises a flexible, endless foraminous belt, fore and aft guide means for tubularizing and de-tubularizing a section of the belt, and an exhaust plenum surrounding a portion of the tubularized section to apply suction to the surface of the belt. In addition, a nozzle arrangement is positioned to direct a suspension of fibers toward the tubularized section of the belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Ewald A Kamp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:26
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/70; D04H1/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous sheet-like web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous longitudinal movement of said belt; fore and aft guide means engaging said belt for tubularizing and detubularizing a section of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and positioned intermediate said guide means within the tubularized section of said belt for directing a flow of said fibers toward the interior surface of said tubularized section of said belt; and exhaust means mounted in substantially coaxial relationship with at least a portion of the tubularized section of said belt in cooperative relationship with said nozzle means to apply suction to the exterior surface of said belt for promoting rapid deposit of fibers on said belt in the form of a substantially hollow tubular web, said nozzle means including a plurality of orifices which are focused toward said belt, said apparatus further including drive means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of iNstantaneous impingement at said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous sheet-like web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous longitudinal movement of said belt; fore and aft guide means engaging said belt for tubularizing and detubularizing a section of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and positioned intermediate said guide means within the tubularized section of said belt for directing a flow of said fibers toward the interior surface of said tubularized section of said belt; and exhaust means mounted in substantially coaxial relationship with at least a portion of the tubularized section of said belt in cooperative relationship with said nozzle means to apply suction to the exterior surface of said belt for promoting rapid deposit of fibers on said belt in the form of a substantially hollow tubular web, said nozzle means including a plurality of orifices which are focused toward said belt, said apparatus further including drive means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of iNstantaneous impingement at said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said belt comprises a fabric of first and second interwoven strands, said first strands being disposed at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said belt and said second strands being disposed at a second angle with respect to said axis and generally across said first strands, whereby to permit said belt to flex internally upon executing tubularization movements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first and second strands normally cross each other at substantially right angles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said belt comprises a central permeable band and flexible edge strip secured to the opposite edges of said band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said edge strips include mutually interengageable aligning means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said guide means include a pair of channel members and wherein said belt further includes carrier elements mounted on said edge strips and rollably engaging said channel members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said edge strips includes a plurality of gear teeth and wherein said drive means includes gear means meshing with said gear teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said belt includes carrier members mounted at the opposite edges thereof and wherein said guide means includes a pair of channel members transportably engaging said carrier members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fiber supply means includes a conduit disposed within the tubularized section of the belt, substantially coaxially therewith, and connected to said fiber delivery nozzle means and wherein said apparatus further comprises binder supply means including a binder supply conduit coaxially arranged with said fiber supply conduit and binder nozzle means connected to said binder supply conduit downstream from said fiber delivery nozzle means in the direction of the belt travel in the tubularized section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 which further comprises dryer means encircling said tubularized belt section downstream from said binder nozzle means in the direction of belt travel in the tubularized section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 which further comprises air supply means disposed downstream from said fiber delivery nozzle means in the direction of belt travel in the tubularized section and including an outlet positioned to direct a stream of air towards said binder nozzle means whereby to promote uniform distribution of binder material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises a second air supply means disposed upstream from said fiber delivery nozzle means in the direction of belt travel in the tubularized section and including an outlet positioned to direct a stream of air toward said binder nozzle means whereby to promote uniform distribution of binder material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle means includes a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices providing overlapping discharge patterns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle means includes a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices tapering from a narrow opening adjacent the downstream end to a wider opening adjacent the upstream end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous, longitudinal movement of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and including a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices focused toward said belt for providing overlapping discharge patterns; and means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of instantaneous impingement at said belt, said belt surrounding a substantial region of said nozzle means, whereby said discharge orifices scan the surface of said belt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous, longitudinal movement of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and including a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices focused toward said belt for providing overlapping discharge patterns; and means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of instantaneous impingement at said belt, said belt surrounding a substantial region of said nozzle means, whereby said discharge orifices scan the surface of said belt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous sheet-like web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous longitudinal movement of said belt; fore and aft guide means engaging said belt for tubularizing and detubularizing a section of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and positioned intermediate said guide means within the tubularized section of said belt for directing a flow of said fibers toward the interior surface of said tubularized section of said belt; and exhaust means mounted in substantially coaxial relationship with at least a portion of the tubularized section of said belt in cooperative relationship with said nozzle means to apply suction to the exterior surface of said belt for promoting rapid deposit of fibers on said belt in the form of a substantially hollow tubular web, said nozzle means including orifice means focused toward said belt, said apparatus further including drive means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of instantaneous impingement at said belt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for producing a non-woven fibrous sheet-like web comprising: a flexible, endless foraminous belt; drive means for causing continuous longitudinal movement of said belt; fore and aft guide means engaging said belt for tubularizing and detubularizing a section of said belt; supply means for providing a suspension of fibers in air; nozzle means connected to said supply means and positioned intermediate said guide means within the tubularized section of said belt for directing a flow of said fibers toward the interior surface of said tubularized section of said belt; and exhaust means mounted in substantially coaxial relationship with at least a portion of the tubularized section of said belt in cooperative relationship with said nozzle means to apply suction to the exterior surface of said belt for promoting rapid deposit of fibers on said belt in the form of a substantially hollow tubular web, said nozzle means including orifice means focused toward said belt, said apparatus further including drive means for rotating said nozzle means in a path of movement generally away from the point of instantaneous impingement at said belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1931570A
Cited
US2796810A
Cited
US3276928A
Cited
US3025197A
Cited
US3170197A
Cited
US3164238A
Cited
US3314840A
Cited
US3544414A
Cited
US3311221A
Cited
US3585680A
Cited
US3654074A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |