Method for forming fibrous structures

A method for forming a fibrous structure from a fibrous feed, said method including the steps of:

• A. rotating a drum having projections on its outer periphery so that said periphery moves at a surface speed in excess of 10,000 feet per minute;
• B. directing the fibrous feed into engagement with the rotating outer periphery of the drum, whereby rotation of the drum past the fibrous feed separates fibers from said feed;
• C. directing separated fibers to a release zone on the drum at which the separated fibers are released from the periphery of said drum for subsequent conveyance to a foraminous forming surface upon which the fibrous structure is formed, said separated fibers being directed to the release zone by rotation of the drum;
• and
• D. sealing the outer periphery of the drum in a region between the fiber release zone and the section in which the fibrous feed is directed into engagement with the periphery of said drum, the sealing of said drum including the step of directing a gas through the outlet of a nozzle at a static pressure of from about two atmospheres to about four atmospheres against the outer periphery of the drum with a force component in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the drum to provide a gas velocity which is sufficiently high to remove air trapped between the projections of the drum as said drum is being rotated.

A method for forming a fibrous structure from a fibrous feed, said method including the steps of:

• A. rotating a drum having projections on its outer periphery so that said periphery moves at a surface speed in excess of 10,000 feet per minute;
• B. directing the fibrous feed into engagement with the rotating outer periphery of the drum, whereby rotation of the drum past the fibrous feed separates fibers from said feed;
• C. directing separated fibers to a release zone on the drum at which the separated fibers are released from the periphery of said drum for subsequent conveyance to a foraminous forming surface upon which the fibrous structure is formed, said separated fibers being directed to the release zone by rotation of the drum;
• and
• D. sealing the outer periphery of the drum in a region between the fiber release zone and the section in which the fibrous feed is directed into engagement with the periphery of said drum, the sealing of said drum including the step of directing a gas through the outlet of a nozzle at a static pressure of at least about two atmospheres against the outer periphery of the drum with a force component in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the drum to provide a gas velocity which is sufficiently high to remove air trapped between the projections of the drum as said drum is being rotated.