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AssigneeFiberMark, Inc.
InventorsHoman B. Kinsley JR., Christopher B. Peart
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to an apparatus for effectively agitating non-cellulosic fibers in a foamed medium, comprising agitating means mounted for displacement within the foamed medium and including a leading surface facing in the direction of displacement. The leading surface includes upper and lower portions converging in the direction of displacement to form a generally convex leading surface and driving means for displacing the agitating means in the direction of displacement for dispersing and mutually separating the metal fibers within the foamed medium. The present invention further relates to a method for forming a non-woven fibrous web comprised of non-cellulosic fibers which comprises forming a foam furnish by agitating the fibers in a foamed medium with the aforedescribed apparatus, and passing the foam furnish onto a screen and defoaming the furnish.
Apparatus for agitating fibers in a foamed medium, comprising:
Apparatus for agitating fibers in a foamed medium, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Term end not estimated
Mixing liquids with solids: using driven stirrers
For making foam: using driven stirrers
With stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis: co-operating with deflectors or baffles fixed to the receptacle
With stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis: with paddles or arms
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for forming a sheet of fibers, particularly non-cellulosic fibers, using foam. The present invention also relates to a novel agitator for use in foam-forming a wet-laid, sheet of fibers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an efficient foam process for making a uniform sheet of fibers.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a side view of an agitating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2. is a top view of an agitating apparatus of the present invention.
FIGS. 3-5 are side and end views of the agitator.
The process of the present invention comprises the steps of first forming a foam furnish by agitating a fiber mixture comprised of up to 100% of non-cellulosic fibers, in a foamed medium with the agitation apparatus of the present invention, and then passing the foam furnish onto a screen, e.g., a wire or plastic fabricated screen, and defoaming the furnish. The agitating apparatus used in the process is depicted in the Figures of the Drawing, and can be described by reference thereto.
The agitating apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a tank 12 having an internal cylindrical surface 14 forming a cylindrical agitating chamber 16 which receives the mixture of fibers, surfactant, and water. The mixture is agitated by an agitator 18 which causes the surfactant and water to form a foamed medium in which the fibers are entrained. In particular, the agitator serves to keep the non-cellulosic fibers in a dispersed, mutually separated condition within the foamed medium, as will be hereinafter explained.
The agitator 18 is rotatable about a vertically upright axis A which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical agitating chamber 16. The agitator is fixedly connected to the lower end of a vertical shaft 20 which is rotatably displaced by a motor 22 connected to an upper end of the shaft 20 in any suitable manner, such as by a pulley and belt connection represented by phantom lines.