US4921659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a fibrous web using a variable transverse webber
Assignee: Astra Lakemedel AB
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Filing: 1989-01-17
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Granted: 1990-05-01
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Expires: 2009-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A web or structure is formed by feeding separate supplies of fibrous material into contact with two separate lickerins that are parallel to each other and rotated toward each other. The fibers from the two lickerins pass through a mixing zone and are accumulated on a moving conveying screen that is moved parallel to the axes of the lickerins. Segmented baffle plates may be inserted into the mixing zone to control the lateral or cross-sectional composition of a web formed by the fibers accumulated on the screen. A segmented feed may be used to advantageously deliver different fiber materials at different rates to each lickerin. Radially layered composite web structures having circular cross-sections may be formed with the same apparatus by forming the conveying screen into a U-shape and selectively controlling the air flow through the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald M. Marshall
- 👤 Allan P. Farrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:28
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/70; D04H1/72; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/15617; A61F13/15658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of forming a web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding at least one source of fibrous material into engagement with one of two lickerins and feeding at least one other source of fibrous material of different composition into engagement with the other lickerin, said lickerins rotating toward each other about parallel axes such that the fibrous material is opened to form individualized fibers; doffing the fibers form the lickerins in the form of fiber streams; directing the fiber streams toward each other and into a mixing zone; selectively intercepting and redirecting at least part of each fiber stream within the mixing zone with at least two independently vertically movable baffle segments, each said baffle segment corresponding to a longitudinal segment along the operating length of said lickerins, at least one of said baffle segments being at a different vertical height; receiving and accumulating the fiber streams on a conveying belt, after they have passed through the mixing zone, to form a web of material; and moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of forming a web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding at least one source of fibrous material into engagement with one of two lickerins and feeding at least one other source of fibrous material of different composition into engagement with the other lickerin, said lickerins rotating toward each other about parallel axes such that the fibrous material is opened to form individualized fibers; doffing the fibers form the lickerins in the form of fiber streams; directing the fiber streams toward each other and into a mixing zone; selectively intercepting and redirecting at least part of each fiber stream within the mixing zone with at least two independently vertically movable baffle segments, each said baffle segment corresponding to a longitudinal segment along the operating length of said lickerins, at least one of said baffle segments being at a different vertical height; receiving and accumulating the fiber streams on a conveying belt, after they have passed through the mixing zone, to form a web of material; and moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of forming a web as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sources of fiber materials are fed to at least one of said lickerin by independent feeding means segments, each feeding means segment corresponding to one of said longitudinal segments of said lickerins.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of forming a web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding at least two sources of different fibrous material at independent separate speeds into independent engagement with one of two lickerins rotating toward each other about parallel axes and at least one source of fibrous material to the other lickerin, such that the fibrous material is opened to form individualized fibers, said feeding being performed by feed segments corresponding to longitudinal segments along the operating length of said at least one lickerin; doffing the fibers from said lickerins in the form of fiber streams; directing the fiber streams into a mixing zone; selectively intercepting and redirecting at least part of each said fiber stream within said mixing zone with at least two independently vertically movable vertical baffles, at least one of said baffle segments being at a different vertical height; receiving the fiber streams on a conveying belt, after they have passed through the mixing zone, in condensing zone located beyond the mixing zone; moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins; and accumulating the fibers from the fiber streams on the conveying belt to form a web of material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of forming a web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding at least two sources of different fibrous material at independent separate speeds into independent engagement with one of two lickerins rotating toward each other about parallel axes and at least one source of fibrous material to the other lickerin, such that the fibrous material is opened to form individualized fibers, said feeding being performed by feed segments corresponding to longitudinal segments along the operating length of said at least one lickerin; doffing the fibers from said lickerins in the form of fiber streams; directing the fiber streams into a mixing zone; selectively intercepting and redirecting at least part of each said fiber stream within said mixing zone with at least two independently vertically movable vertical baffles, at least one of said baffle segments being at a different vertical height; receiving the fiber streams on a conveying belt, after they have passed through the mixing zone, in condensing zone located beyond the mixing zone; moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins; and accumulating the fibers from the fiber streams on the conveying belt to form a web of material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claims 1 or 3, further comprising the step of spraying a powder onto the forming web by introducing the powder into said fiber stream.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of forming a cylindrical web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding a first source of fibrous material into engagement with a first lickerin; feeding a second source of fibrous material into engagement with a second lickerin arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of said first lickerin; rotating said first and second lickerins toward each other about their axes such that the fibrous material is opened so as to form individualized fibers; doffing the fibers from the first and second lickerins in the form of two fiber streams directed toward each other and a mixing zone; forming a foraminous flat conveying belt into a U-shape as it enters a condensing zone beyond the mixing zone in the direction of travel of the fiber streams; intercepting the streams of fibers, after they have passed through the mixing zone, with the U-shaped conveying belt; moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins; accumulating the fibers from the fiber streams on the conveying belt to form a web of material; guiding the U-shaped conveying belt into a cylindrical shape to form the cylindrical web; fixing said cylindrical web in the cylindrical shape; releasing the conveying belt back to a flat shape from said cylindrical shape; and separating the resulting cylindrical web product from the conveying belt.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of forming a cylindrical web of fibers comprising the steps of: feeding a first source of fibrous material into engagement with a first lickerin; feeding a second source of fibrous material into engagement with a second lickerin arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of said first lickerin; rotating said first and second lickerins toward each other about their axes such that the fibrous material is opened so as to form individualized fibers; doffing the fibers from the first and second lickerins in the form of two fiber streams directed toward each other and a mixing zone; forming a foraminous flat conveying belt into a U-shape as it enters a condensing zone beyond the mixing zone in the direction of travel of the fiber streams; intercepting the streams of fibers, after they have passed through the mixing zone, with the U-shaped conveying belt; moving the conveying belt parallel to the axes of the lickerins; accumulating the fibers from the fiber streams on the conveying belt to form a web of material; guiding the U-shaped conveying belt into a cylindrical shape to form the cylindrical web; fixing said cylindrical web in the cylindrical shape; releasing the conveying belt back to a flat shape from said cylindrical shape; and separating the resulting cylindrical web product from the conveying belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said accumulating step comprises the steps of: selectively directing said fibers to predetermined zones on the inner surface of said U-shaped conveying belt by entraining said fibers in at least one air stream; forming said air stream by a vacuum force created beyond the conveying belt; and varying the vacuum force from a minimum at the center of said conveying belt to a maximum at the edges of said belt during at least a portion of time the conveying belt is in the condensing zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 further including the step of inserting at least one baffle into the mixing zone so as to at least partially block the fiber streams and vary the composition of the web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of forming a fibrous structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of feeding a first source of fibrous materials involves simultaneously feeding at least two different fibrous material with generally the same functional fiber length to different portions of the first lickerin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of forming a fibrous structure according to claim 5, additionally comprising the step of depositing a powdered material onto the forming web.
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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) | 1993-04-30 | 1993-10-30 | 1994-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-30 | 1997-10-30 | 1998-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-30 | 2001-10-30 | 2002-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |