US5750066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for forming an intermittent stream of particles for application to a fibrous web
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1995-05-19
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2015-05-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and apparatus for applying discrete particles of absorbent material to a predetermined location on a fibrous web. The apparatus comprises a continuously rotating mask, and a means for directing a supply stream of absorbent particles to form an acute included angle with a diverting surface on the rotating mask. The mask diverting surface splits the supply stream of absorbent particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface. The absorbent particles in one of the first and second intermittent streams is directed to the fibrous web.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Francis Vonderhaar
- 👤 James Michael Fleming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/15617; A61F13/15658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming an intermittent stream of discrete particles for application to a fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of: forming a supply stream of the discrete particles, wherein at least some of the discrete particles comprise an absorbent gelling material; continuously moving a mask having a diverting surface relative to the stream of discrete particles; and directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface and splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming an intermittent stream of discrete particles for application to a fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of: forming a supply stream of the discrete particles, wherein at least some of the discrete particles comprise an absorbent gelling material; continuously moving a mask having a diverting surface relative to the stream of discrete particles; and directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface and splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the step of directing discrete particles in one of the intermittent streams to apply a nonuniform distribution of discrete particles to the fibrous web.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for applying discrete particles to a fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of: supporting the fibrous web; conveying the fibrous web; providing a supply stream of discrete particles, wherein at least some of the discrete particles comprise an absorbent gelling material; supporting a mask having a diverting surface for continuous rotation about an axis; continuously rotating the mask about the axis; directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface and splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream of particles passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream of particles deflected by the diverting surface; and directing the discrete particles in one of the intermittent streams to the fibrous web.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for applying discrete particles to a fibrous web, the method comprising the steps of: supporting the fibrous web; conveying the fibrous web; providing a supply stream of discrete particles, wherein at least some of the discrete particles comprise an absorbent gelling material; supporting a mask having a diverting surface for continuous rotation about an axis; continuously rotating the mask about the axis; directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface and splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream of particles passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream of particles deflected by the diverting surface; and directing the discrete particles in one of the intermittent streams to the fibrous web.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for forming airlaid fibrous webs having discrete particles, the method comprising the steps of: providing an airlaying means having a foraminous forming element for forming an airlaid fibrous web; providing an air-entrained stream of fibers; providing an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles; supporting a mask for continuous rotation of a diverting surface about an axis; continuously rotating the mask about the axis; directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface for splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream of particles passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream of particles deflected by the diverting surface; combining the air-entrained stream of fibers with one of the intermittent streams of particles to form a combined stream comprising an intermittent stream of particles within a continuous stream of fibers; and directing the combined stream of fibers and particles to the forming element of the airlaying means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for forming airlaid fibrous webs having discrete particles, the method comprising the steps of: providing an airlaying means having a foraminous forming element for forming an airlaid fibrous web; providing an air-entrained stream of fibers; providing an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles; supporting a mask for continuous rotation of a diverting surface about an axis; continuously rotating the mask about the axis; directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface for splitting the supply stream of discrete particles into a first intermittent stream of particles passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream of particles deflected by the diverting surface; combining the air-entrained stream of fibers with one of the intermittent streams of particles to form a combined stream comprising an intermittent stream of particles within a continuous stream of fibers; and directing the combined stream of fibers and particles to the forming element of the airlaying means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claims 3 or 4 wherein the supply stream of discrete particles is directed to form an included angle of less than 60 degrees with the diverting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the supply stream of discrete particles is directed to form an included angle of about 20 to about 30 degrees with the diverting surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of claims 3 or 4 further comprising the step of phasing the position of the mask with the position of the web.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of claims 3 or 4 including the step of inclining the diverting surface with respect to the horizontal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of directing the supply stream of discrete particles to form an acute included angle with the diverting surface comprises directing the supply stream of discrete particles with a vertically downward velocity component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 comprising the step of combining the air-entrained supply stream of fibers with the first intermittent stream of particles passing through the mask.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles comprises: providing a metered quantity of discrete particles; combining the metered quantity of discrete particles with the second intermittent stream of discrete particles deflected by the mask; and entraining the combined metered and deflected particles in an airflow to form an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles comprises providing an air-entrained supply stream of discrete particles wherein at least some of the discrete particles comprise an absorbent gelling material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 comprising the step of directing discrete particles in one of the intermittent streams to apply a nonuniform distribution of discrete particles to the fibrous web.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 comprising the step of directing discrete particles in one of the intermittent streams to apply a nonuniform distribution of discrete particles to the fibrous 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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |