US4055003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for altering the rigidity of webs by oscillation
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
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Filing: 1975-08-28
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1995-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided which is suitable for treating a web so as to modify the properties of the web. The apparatus includes a wall means which defines an elongated tunnel having an inlet end and an outlet end. Gas stream deflectors such as an array of spaced baffles, contoured surfaces, or the like, are positioned in the tunnel along opposing walls thereof. Two substantially parallel gas streams are passed through the tunnel in the direction of web travel. The gas streams flow on opposite sides of the web, impinge on the deflector means and oscillate and support the web. As each gas stream is deflected, it is directed against the web so that the web undergoes mechanical bending and oscillation which results in an alteration of bending stiffness, drape, feel and hand of the web. A method for modifying the properties of the web contemplates providing a confined flow passageway having an inlet and an outlet, introducing the web into the passageway, introducing a pair of gas streams into the passageway only at the inlet end of the passageway, passing the gas streams through the passageway on each side of the web so that the web is supported by the gas streams and transported through the passageway, and periodically altering the direction of flow for each gas stream in the passageway so that each gas stream alternately impinges onto and deflects a portion of the web as the web is transported through the passageway.
Inventors
- 👤 Georges H. Sack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:50
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B13/00; F26B13/10; F26B13/101; F26B13/104; D; D06; D06B; D06B3/00; D06B3/10; D06B3/20; D06B3/205; D06B3/208; D06C; D06C19/00; D06B3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
Apparatus suitable for treating a flexible web segment by oscillation so as to modify the properties of said segment which comprises wall means defining an elongated tunnel adapted to receive a web segment having at least two substantially opposing wall surfaces, and having an inlet end and an outlet end; an array of spaced baffles positioned substantially transversely in said tunnel along each of said opposing wall surfaces;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus suitable for treating a flexible web segment by oscillation so as to modify the properties of said segment which comprises wall means defining an elongated tunnel adapted to receive a web segment having at least two substantially opposing wall surfaces, and having an inlet end and an outlet end; an array of spaced baffles positioned substantially transversely in said tunnel along each of said opposing wall surfaces;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
162 words
first and second gas feed means only at said inlet end for introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said tunnel; said baffles in one array being positioned in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array, and said gas feed means being positioned to impinge a first gas stream against said one array and to impinge a second gas stream against said other array, said baffles deflecting the respective gas streams against said web segment such that said first gas stream deflects said web segment in a first direction and said second gas stream deflects said web segment in the opposite direction, with said web segment being alternately deflected in said opposite directions to oscillate the web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to mechanically alter the properties thereof; and web feeding means for feeding said web segment through said apparatus between said opposing wall surfaces, said feeding means comprising said pair of gas streams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
first and second gas feed means only at said inlet end for introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said tunnel; said baffles in one array being positioned in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array, and said gas feed means being positioned to impinge a first gas stream against said one array and to impinge a second gas stream against said other array, said baffles deflecting the respective gas streams against said web segment such that said first gas stream deflects said web segment in a first direction and said second gas stream deflects said web segment in the opposite direction, with said web segment being alternately deflected in said opposite directions to oscillate the web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to mechanically alter the properties thereof; and web feeding means for feeding said web segment through said apparatus between said opposing wall surfaces, said feeding means comprising said pair of gas streams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the baffles in said one array are substantially parallel to one another and the baffles in said other array are substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said baffles are wedge-shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall means comprises an elongated top wall, an elongated substantially opposing bottom wall, and first and second elongated side walls generally perpendicular to said top and bottom walls and connected therewith, said one array of baffles being positioned along said top wall and said other array of baffles being positioned along said bottom wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said baffles project into said tunnel for a distance which is less than one-half of the transverse dimension between said top wall and said bottom wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said top wall and said bottom wall are substantially parallel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second gas feed means each comprise a gas conduit, a plenum communicating with said gas conduit and provided with an orifice for introducing a gas stream into said tunnel, and gas flow control means associated with said conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said gas flow control means is independently variable to adjust the velocity of each of said gas streams within said tunnel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means for injecting a web treating substance into said gas streams whereby said substance is transferred to said web in said tunnel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus suitable for subjecting a flexible web segment to bending or flexing in opposite directions which comprises wall means defining an elongated confined flow passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to receive said flexible web segments; first and second gas feed means situated only at said inlet end for introducing into said confined flow passageway a gas stream on each side of said flexible web segment, said introduced gas streams being substantially concurrent; gas stream deflector means comprising baffles positioned on opposite sides of said web, in staggered relationship with respect to each other and substantially transversely across said confined flow passageway and spaced from one another so to permit transport of said flexible web segment therebetween, and alternately deflecting said introduced gas stream for impingement against said flexible web segment so as to oscillate said flexible web segment with sufficient severity to modify the physical characteristics thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus suitable for subjecting a flexible web segment to bending or flexing in opposite directions which comprises wall means defining an elongated confined flow passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to receive said flexible web segments; first and second gas feed means situated only at said inlet end for introducing into said confined flow passageway a gas stream on each side of said flexible web segment, said introduced gas streams being substantially concurrent; gas stream deflector means comprising baffles positioned on opposite sides of said web, in staggered relationship with respect to each other and substantially transversely across said confined flow passageway and spaced from one another so to permit transport of said flexible web segment therebetween, and alternately deflecting said introduced gas stream for impingement against said flexible web segment so as to oscillate said flexible web segment with sufficient severity to modify the physical characteristics thereof.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
266 words
A method for modifying properties of a web segment which comprises the steps of providing a confined flow passageway for said web segment, said passageway having an inlet and an outlet; introducing said web segment into said passageway; introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said passageway only at the inlet end of said passageway, one of said gas streams being introduced on one side of said web segment and another of said gas streams being introduced on the other side of said web segment; passing said gas streams through said passageway on each side of said web segment so that the web segment is supported by the gas streams and transported through said passageway; providing a pair of arrays of spaced baffles in said passageway and substantially transverse thereto, said baffles in one array being positioned on one side of said web segment and in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array on the opposite side of the web segment; periodically altering the instantaneous direction of flow for each gas stream within the passageway by impinging said gas streams against said arrays, and alternately deflecting said web segment in opposite directions to oscillate said web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to mechanically alter the properties thereof by further impinging said one gas stream against said web segment to deflect said web segment in a first direction, and further impinging the other of said gas streams against said web segment to deflect said web segment in the opposite direction as said web segment is transported through said passageway.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
266 words
A method for modifying properties of a web segment which comprises the steps of providing a confined flow passageway for said web segment, said passageway having an inlet and an outlet; introducing said web segment into said passageway; introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said passageway only at the inlet end of said passageway, one of said gas streams being introduced on one side of said web segment and another of said gas streams being introduced on the other side of said web segment; passing said gas streams through said passageway on each side of said web segment so that the web segment is supported by the gas streams and transported through said passageway; providing a pair of arrays of spaced baffles in said passageway and substantially transverse thereto, said baffles in one array being positioned on one side of said web segment and in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array on the opposite side of the web segment; periodically altering the instantaneous direction of flow for each gas stream within the passageway by impinging said gas streams against said arrays, and alternately deflecting said web segment in opposite directions to oscillate said web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to mechanically alter the properties thereof by further impinging said one gas stream against said web segment to deflect said web segment in a first direction, and further impinging the other of said gas streams against said web segment to deflect said web segment in the opposite direction as said web segment is transported through said passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of varying the pressure of at least one of said gas streams in said passageway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 11 further including the steps of providing at least one variable blower communicating with said inlet and varying the velocity of at least one of said gas streams by varying the speed of said blower.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 11 further including the steps of positioning an array of spaced baffles in said passageway on opposing walls thereof and impinging said gas streams against said baffles so as to alter the instantaneous direction of flow for each gas stream.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of injecting a web-treating substance into said gas streams so as to deposit said substance onto said web segment in said passageway to further modify the properties thereof.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for modifying the properties of a web having a plurality of laminates which comprises the steps of: providing a confined flow passageway for said web segment, said passageway having an inlet and an outlet; introducing said web segment into said passageway; introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said passageway only at the inlet end of said passageway, one of said gas streams being introduced on one side of said web segment and another of said gas streams being introduced on the other side of said web segment; passing said gas streams through said passageway on each side of said web segment so that the web segment is supported by the gas streams and transported through said passageway; providing a pair of spaced baffles in said passageway and substantially transverse thereto, said baffles in one array being positioned on one side of said web segment and in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array on the opposite side of the web segment; periodically altering the instantaneous direction of flow for each gas stream within the passageway by impinging said gas streams against said arrays, and alternately deflecting said web segment in opposite directions to oscillate said web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to separate said web segment into at least substantially coextensive web portion by further impinging said one gas stream against said web segment to deflect said web segment in a first direction, and further impinging the other of said gas streams against said web segment to deflect said web segment in the opposite direction as said web segment is transported through said passageway.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for modifying the properties of a web having a plurality of laminates which comprises the steps of: providing a confined flow passageway for said web segment, said passageway having an inlet and an outlet; introducing said web segment into said passageway; introducing a pair of substantially concurrent gas streams into said passageway only at the inlet end of said passageway, one of said gas streams being introduced on one side of said web segment and another of said gas streams being introduced on the other side of said web segment; passing said gas streams through said passageway on each side of said web segment so that the web segment is supported by the gas streams and transported through said passageway; providing a pair of spaced baffles in said passageway and substantially transverse thereto, said baffles in one array being positioned on one side of said web segment and in a staggered relationship relative to the baffles in the other array on the opposite side of the web segment; periodically altering the instantaneous direction of flow for each gas stream within the passageway by impinging said gas streams against said arrays, and alternately deflecting said web segment in opposite directions to oscillate said web segment with a severity and frequency sufficient to separate said web segment into at least substantially coextensive web portion by further impinging said one gas stream against said web segment to deflect said web segment in a first direction, and further impinging the other of said gas streams against said web segment to deflect said web segment in the opposite direction as said web segment is transported through said passageway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |