Method for forwarding and charging a bundle of filaments

Abstract

Method for charging and forwarding a group of filaments to a web formation zone wherein an attenuator forwards the group of filaments along a path into impingement with a target electrode positioned downstream from the attenuator and in the filament path, a charging electrode being positioned to cooperate with the target electrode to form a filament-charging electric field at the location where the filament group impinges and is being spread by the target electrode. The filaments are advanced in such a manner that the filaments are in a bundle configuration prior to contact with the target electrode and are free to spread from the bundle configuration to a fan configuration as they pass through and are charged by the electric field. The apparatus for carrying out the process is provided with a plurality of attenuators and associated charging electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the target electrode in a staggered relationship to spread filament bundles into fan configurations and forward the filaments to the web formation zone. The filament groups in fan configurations intermingle with adjacent filament groups below the target electrode in such a manner that the groups of filaments entering the web formation zone form a curtain.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.