System and method for guiding fibers

A fiber processing system comprising:

• a source of fibers;
• and
• a fiber guide positioned downstream from the source of fibers, the fiber guide being configured to guide fibers as the fibers are received from the source of fibers, the fiber guide including:
• a surface defining a plurality of apertures through which the fibers can pass in a direction from an upstream side of the surface to a downstream side of the surface, each of the apertures having an inlet positioned to receive a portion of the fibers from the upstream side of the surface;
• the plurality of apertures including at least one pair of first and second apertures adjacent to and spaced from one another;
• the inlet of the first aperture of the at least one pair of first and second apertures being offset from the inlet of the second aperture of the at least one pair of first and second apertures, the offset being in the direction in which the fibers can pass from the upstream side of the surface to the downstream side of the surface, thereby increasing a distance d1 between the inlet of the first aperture and the inlet of the second aperture as compared to a distance d2 between the first aperture and the second aperture measured transverse to the direction in which the fibers can pass.

A system for guiding fibers traveling along substantially parallel paths between an upstream location and a downstream location, the system comprising:

• a fiber guide defining at least one pair of fiber guide passages, the fiber guide being positioned between the upstream location and the downstream location;
• each of the fiber guide passages having a guide opening configured to receive a portion of the fibers when the fibers are traveling between the upstream location and the downstream location, and each of the guide openings being defined by a guide surface;
• wherein the fiber guide passages of the pair of fiber guide passages are spaced from one another but positioned proximal to one another;
• wherein the guide surface of the guide opening of one of the fiber guide passages of the pair of fiber guide passages is proximal to the guide surface of the guide opening of the other one of the fiber guide passages of the pair of fiber guide passages;
• and
• wherein the position of the guide surface of the guide opening of one of the fiber guide passages of the pair of fiber guide passages is positioned upstream in a direction along the paths relative to the guide surface of the guide opening of the other one of the fiber guide passages of the pair of fiber guide passages.