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AssigneesBritish American Tobacco (Investments) Limited, Tobacco Research and Development Institute (Proprietary) Limited
InventorsGary FALLON, John RICHARDSON, Ian KING, Gerhard Malin LE ROUX, Arnold Leslie HERHOLDT
Estimating the term…
A method of, and equipment for gathering fibres (12) entrained a gas stream, for example by melt blowing, comprises an enclosure (50) having an inlet (57), through which a gas stream carrying entrained fibres (12) may be directed into the enclosure (50), a fibre outlet (58) from which an assembly of gathered fibres (12) may be withdrawn from the enclosure (50) and an exhaust outlet (41) through which gas may pass out of the enclosure (50). The enclosure (50) is constructed to provide a pathway for the fibres (12) from the inlet (57) to the fibre outlet (58) in which surplus gas in the gas stream is separated from the entrained fibres (12) and directed to the exhaust outlet (41), thereby reducing turbulence in the fibres (12) in the enclosure (50) which may affect the quality of the finished assembly.
Equipment for gathering fibres entrained a gas stream, the equipment comprising an enclosure having an inlet through which a gas stream carrying entrained fibres may be directed into the enclosure, a fibre outlet from which gathered fibres may be withdrawn from the enclosure and an exhaust outlet through which gas may pass out of the enclosure, the enclosure being constructed to provide a pathway for the fibres through the enclosure from the inlet to the fibre outlet, to separate surplus gas in the gas stream from the entrained fibres and to direct the surplus gas to the exhaust outlet.
An enclosure for use in equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the enclosure defining an inlet, through which a gas stream carrying entrained fibres may be directed into the enclosure, a fibre outlet from which gathered fibres may be withdrawn from the enclosure, and an exhaust outlet through which gas may pass out of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure provides a pathway for the fibres through from the inlet to the fibre outlet and is constructed to direct surplus gas in the gas stream away from the entrained fibres.
A method of forming an assembly of gathered fibres comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.