Fibrous webs having isotropic structure and apparatus and method for making same
AssigneeDelStar Technologies, Inc.
InventorRick L. Chapman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber web structure made of randomly oriented synthetic fibers, an apparatus for making the web structure and a method of making the web structure. The web is a dimensionally-disordered, aerodynamically-formed structure in which electrostatic and/or non-electrostatic fibers are arranged to create structured fiber webs. The method uses different size, crimp, length and shapes of fibers, among various characteristics, to create strength and other properties. An apparatus for making the web structure includes a randomizing cylinder that removes fibers from a main cylinder, and condensing cylinders. The fiber webs may be structured in layers and the layers may have fibers and/or additives placed in or between the layers for enhanced performance.
Claims21
An apparatus for forming a web of non-woven fibers, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a main cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface upon which a plurality of fibers is disposed, the main cylinder rotating in a first rotational direction;
- (b) a randomizing cylinder rotating in the first rotational direction and with a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the main cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface;
- and
- (c) a doffer cylinder rotating in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the doffer cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the randomizing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface.
An apparatus for forming a web of non-woven fibers, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a main cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface upon which a plurality of fibers is disposed, the main cylinder rotating in a first rotational direction;
- (b) a doffer cylinder rotating in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the doffer cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the main cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface;
- (c) a first condensing cylinder rotating in the first rotational direction and having a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the doffer cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface;
- and
- (d) a second condensing cylinder rotating in the second rotational direction and having a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the first condensing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface.
A method for forming a web of non-woven fibers, the method comprising:
- (a) disposing a plurality of fibers on a peripheral cylindrical surface of a main cylinder, the main cylinder rotating in a first rotational direction;
- (b) rotating a randomizing cylinder in the first rotational direction with a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the main cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface, the randomizing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface removing at least some of said plurality of fibers from the main cylinder;
- and
- (c) rotating a doffer cylinder in a second rotational direction, which is opposite the first rotational direction, with a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the randomizing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface, the doffer cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface removing at least some of said plurality of fibers from the randomizing cylinder, and thereby forming the web of non-woven fibers having substantially isotropic orientation.
A method for forming a web of non-woven fibers, the method comprising:
- (a) disposing a plurality of fibers on a main cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface, the main cylinder rotating in a first rotational direction;
- (b) rotating a doffer cylinder in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the doffer cylinder having a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the main cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface, the doffer cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface removing at least some of said plurality of fibers from the main cylinder;
- (c) rotating a first condensing cylinder in the first rotational direction with a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the doffer cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface, the first condensing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface removing at least some of said plurality of fibers from the doffer cylinder;
- and
- (d) rotating a second condensing cylinder in the second rotational direction with a peripheral cylindrical surface adjacent the first condensing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface, the second condensing cylinder's peripheral cylindrical surface removing at least some of said plurality of fibers from the first condensing cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.