Cross-lapped web forming system

Claim 1

In apparatus for forming a layered, cross-lapped web from web material having a predetermined width, said apparatus including conveyor means having a web support surface and moveable in a predetermined direction and cross-lapping means disposed above said conveyor means and reciprocally moveable transverse to said predetermined direction across said conveyor means for folding said web material along fold lines extending across the width thereof in said predetermined direction and positioning a folded, layered cross-lapped web formed from said web material on said conveyor means web support surface, the improvement comprising at least a pair of Coanda nozzles positioned over said conveyor means web support surface, said pair of nozzles being disposed along at least one of the fold lines extending in said predetermined direction and spaced from one another a distance substantially equal to said web material width, each of said nozzles including an elongated foil element defining a generally smoothly curved fluid flow attachment surface and means defining a restricted opening for directing fluid under pressure to said fluid flow attachment surface whereby said fluid will attach to said surface and flow along said surface, each of said pair of nozzles having the elongated foil element thereof angularly oriented with respect to one another and with respect to said predetermined direction to create divergent fluid flows, said cross-lapping means delivering said web material to said nozzles with said fold line extending between said nozzles in said predetermined direction and said divergent fluid flows laterally spreading said web material to its full width along said fold line.