# US 10,119,212 B2 · Apparatus and methods for impinging fluids on substrates

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- Number: US 10,119,212 B2
- Document ID: US10119212B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/796,122
- Filed: 2015-07-10
- Published: 2015-11-05
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-22
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Kristopher K. Biegler; Jorge A. Ferreiro; Michael R. Gorman; Victor F. Panza; Omar A. Parodi; Gabriela F. Serra; William C. Unruh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119212B2

## CPC

- D04H 1/485: in combination with weld-bonding
- B29C 65/103: {direct heating both surfaces to be joined}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat}
- B29C 66/729: {Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics}
- B29C 66/7294: {Non woven mats, e.g. felt}
- B29C 66/8145: {characterised by the constructional aspects of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps (B29C66/816 and B29C66/818 take precedence; adaptable for making articles or joints of different dimensions B29C66/841)}
- B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums}
- B29C 66/83415: {the contact angle between said rollers, cylinders or drums and said parts to be joined being a non-zero angle (B29C66/83433 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/9121: {by measuring the temperature}
- B29C 66/9141: {by controlling or regulating the temperature}
- B29C 66/91431: {the temperature being kept constant over time}
- D04H 11/08: formed by creation of a pile on at least one surface of a non-woven fabric without addition of pile-forming material, e.g. by needling, by differential shrinking (needling machines D04H18/00)
- B29C 66/002: {Removing toxic gases}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/81457: {comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber (pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161)}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29K 2995/007: Hardness
- B29L 2031/4878: {Diapers, napkins}
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for impinging fluid onto at least a first surface of a first moving substrate and a first surface of a second moving substrate and locally removing the impinged fluid, comprising:
at least one first fluid delivery outlet;
at least one first fluid capture inlet that is locally positioned relative to the at least one first fluid delivery outlet;
at least one second fluid delivery outlet;
at least one second fluid capture inlet that is locally positioned relative to the at least one second fluid delivery outlet;
and wherein the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and the at least one second fluid delivery outlet are in diverging relation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one first fluid delivery channel fluidly connected to the at least one first fluid delivery outlet, at least one second fluid delivery channel fluidly connected to the at least one second fluid delivery outlet, at least one first fluid removal channel fluidly connected to the at least one first fluid capture inlet, and at least one second fluid removal channel fluidly connected to the at least one second fluid delivery inlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one first fluid delivery channel and the at least one second fluid delivery channel comprise first and second portions of a common fluid delivery plenum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one first fluid delivery outlet comprises a circumferentially elongated arcuate shape and wherein the at least one first fluid capture inlet comprises a circumferentially elongated arcuate shape that is congruent with that of the at least one first fluid delivery outlet; and,
wherein the at least one second fluid delivery outlet comprises a circumferentially elongated arcuate shape and wherein the at least one second fluid capture inlet comprises a circumferentially elongated arcuate shape that is congruent with that of the second fluid delivery outlet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one first fluid delivery outlet is laterally outwardly flanked by a pair of first fluid capture inlets and wherein the at least one second fluid delivery outlet is laterally outwardly flanked by a pair of second fluid capture inlets.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pair of first fluid capture inlets is congruent with the at least one first fluid delivery outlet, and wherein the pair of second fluid capture inlets is congruent with the at least one second fluid delivery outlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and the at least one second fluid delivery outlet collectively comprise a perimeter and wherein the pair of first fluid capture inlets and the pair of second fluid capture inlets are positioned and sized so that at least 70% of the perimeter is circumscribed by the pair of first fluid capture inlets and the pair of second fluid capture inlets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a circumferential end of the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and a circumferential end of the at least one second fluid delivery outlet are positioned adjacent to each other so as to form a protruding salient.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus comprises a laterally-spaced pair of first fluid delivery outlets, with a pair of first fluid capture inlets laterally outwardly flanking the pair of first fluid delivery outlets and with an additional first fluid capture inlet laterally sandwiched between the pair of first fluid delivery outlets; and
wherein the apparatus further comprises a laterally-spaced pair of second fluid delivery outlets, with a pair of second fluid capture inlets laterally outwardly flanking the pair of second fluid delivery outlets and with an additional second fluid capture inlet laterally sandwiched between the pair of second fluid delivery outlets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus comprises at least three laterally-spaced first fluid delivery outlets, with a first fluid capture inlet laterally sandwiched in between each two first fluid delivery outlets, and with a set of first fluid capture inlets laterally outwardly flanking the laterally outwardmost first fluid delivery outlets; and,
wherein the apparatus further comprises at least three laterally-spaced second fluid delivery outlets, with a second fluid capture inlet laterally sandwiched in between each two second fluid delivery outlets, and with a set of second fluid capture inlets laterally outwardly flanking the laterally outwardmost second fluid delivery outlets.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and the at least one second fluid delivery outlet comprises a working face comprising a fluid-permeable sheet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each fluid-permeable sheet comprises a discontinuous screen with through-openings providing the sheet with a percent open area of between 20% and 80%.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fluid-permeable sheet of each of the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and the at least one second fluid delivery outlet is positioned at an acute angle to the general direction of fluid flow down a fluid delivery channel to which each of the at least one first fluid delivery outlet and the at least one second fluid delivery outlet is fluidly connected.