Patent US2525287A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4582666A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4582666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for making a patterned non-woven fabric
Assignee: CH Dexter Ltd
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Filing: 1982-02-25
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2002-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A non-woven fabric having a pattern defined by an array of discrete areas having a reduced fibre density but which are substantially free of perforations is produced by supporting a freshly wet laid web of the non-woven fabric on a porous surface and directing spaced jets of fluid against the unsupported side in order to displace fibres within discrete areas while maintaining in position a proportion of fibres that are within those areas and that are adjacent the porous surface. The fabric web may be supported on a Fourdrinier wire (1) and the jets of fluid (e.g. water) may be directed through the apertures in a perforated cylinder (6), the fluid being supplied under pressure from a water-knife device (11). The apertures in the cylinder (6) preferably have a cross-section that increases in the direction of the water jets. Vacuum may be applied through the Fourdrinier wire (1) by means of a vacuum box (10) and vacuum may also be applied within the cylinder (6) from means (17) in order to remove excess water from within the cylinder (6).
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Kenworthy
- 👤 Robert B. Gettins
- 👤 Peter W. Logan
- 👤 Patrick Jeambar
- 👤 Andre Vuillaume
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:04
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of producing a patterned non-woven fabric, which method comprises supporting a web of non-woven fabric against a porous surface; overlaying at least part of the supported web with an apertured member having a first surface adjacent the web and a second surface remote from the web, the first surface having apertures therein each communicating with a respective aperture in the said second surface by means of a passageway extending therebetween; and directing a sheet of fluid at the second surface of the apertured member, thereby causing discrete streams of fluid to pass through respective passageways in the apertured member and impinge upon the side of the web remote from the porous surface, characterised in that the apertured member is provided with passageways that increase in cross-sectional area as they lead to their respective apertures in the said first surface of the apertured member and in that the thickness of the sheet of fluid is less than the corresponding dimension of the apertures in the said second surface of the apertured member whereby the discrete streams of fluid impinging on the web form discrete areas of reduced fiber density substantially free of perforations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of producing a patterned non-woven fabric, which method comprises supporting a web of non-woven fabric against a porous surface; overlaying at least part of the supported web with an apertured member having a first surface adjacent the web and a second surface remote from the web, the first surface having apertures therein each communicating with a respective aperture in the said second surface by means of a passageway extending therebetween; and directing a sheet of fluid at the second surface of the apertured member, thereby causing discrete streams of fluid to pass through respective passageways in the apertured member and impinge upon the side of the web remote from the porous surface, characterised in that the apertured member is provided with passageways that increase in cross-sectional area as they lead to their respective apertures in the said first surface of the apertured member and in that the thickness of the sheet of fluid is less than the corresponding dimension of the apertures in the said second surface of the apertured member whereby the discrete streams of fluid impinging on the web form discrete areas of reduced fiber density substantially free of perforations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the passageways through which the fluid streams pass each terminate in an aperture, in the first surface, defined by an edge, which edge is substantially in contact with the web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the said sheet of fluid is directed under pressure at the said second surface of the apertured member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the web is continuously advanced through the zone in which the fluid streams impinge upon the web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the fluid streams impinge along a single line across the width of the web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the fluid streams impinge upon the web in a series of pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the said fluid is an aqueous liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that a vacuum is applied through the porous surface to a region of the web in register with the region against which the fluid streams impinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the web is a freshly wet-laid web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 4, characterised in that the apertured member is in the form of a rotating hollow cylinder supported with its longitudinal axis parallel to the porous surface and transverse to the direction in which the web is continuously advanced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the sheet of fluid is directed perpendicularly to the said second surface of the apertured member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the said pasageways are perpendicular to the porous surface in the zone in which the fluid streams impinge upon the web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the sheet of fluid is produced from a slot having a width of from 25 um to 80 um; the dimensions of the apertures in the said first surface are from 0.1 mm to 10 mm; the ratio of the area of each aperture in the first surface to the area of the corresponding aperture in the second surface is from 1.25:1 to 8:1; and the apertured member has a thickness of from 0.1 to 2 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, characterised in that excess fluid is removed from the second surface of the apertured member by vacuum means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7, characterised in that the aqueous liquid is supplied at a pressure to give a flow rate of from 2 to 20 m 3 per meter of machine width per hour.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |