Methods for through-fluid bonding nonwoven webs
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorHan Xu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for manufacturing through-fluid bonded continuous fiber nonwoven webs are provided. The method may include providing a through-fluid bonding oven. The through-fluid bonding oven may have a first porous member and a second moving member. An intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web may be conveyed into the through-fluid bonding oven intermediate the first and second moving porous members. A first surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web may be in face-to-face contact with the first porous member. A second surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web may be in face-to-face contact with the second porous member. A heated fluid may be flowed through the first and second porous members and the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web to create a continuous fiber nonwoven web.
Claims14
A method of through-fluid bonding an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, the method comprising:
- providing a through-fluid bonding oven, the through-fluid bonding oven comprising a first rotating porous member and a second rotating porous member, wherein the second rotating porous member is disposed below the first rotating porous member;
- conveying the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web through the through-fluid bonding oven and onto the first rotating porous member;
- wherein the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web comprises a first surface and a second, opposing surface;
- wherein the first surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web is in face-to-face contact with the first rotating porous member;
- and wherein the second surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web faces away from the first rotating porous member;
- transferring the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web from the first rotating porous member to the second rotating porous member, such that the second surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web is in face-to-face contact with the second rotating porous member, and the first surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web faces away from the second rotating porous member;
- flowing a heated fluid through the through-fluid bonding oven such that the heated fluid flows in a first direction through the first rotating porous member, the second rotating porous member, and the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web;
- using the heated fluid, the first rotating porous member, and the second rotating porous member to bond the first surface and the second surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web;
- wherein the through-fluid bonding oven further comprises a third rotating porous member disposed in a face-to-face relationship with the second surface of the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, such that in a portion of the through-fluid bonding oven the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web is disposed between the first rotating porous member and the third rotating porous member;
- and
- wherein the intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven comprises bi-component fibers comprising a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and wherein the first polymer component has a melting temperature that is different than the second polymer component by at least 10 degrees C., but less than 180 degrees C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.