US 4,352,649 A · Apparatus for producing a non-woven web from particles and/or fibers

Abstract

A system for production of non-woven sheet material by the dry forming method, comprising a moving carrier web to receive a uniformly distributed layer of loose fibres and a fibre distributor unit located above and across the moving web. The distributor unit includes a closed conduit system for conducting a flow of air fluidized fibre material, this closed flow across the web being maintained by blowing action. The conduits located overhead the web are provided with outlet openings constituted by narrow slots or screen wall portion, and compressed air nozzles are arranged so as to cause fibres circulating in said flow crosswise to be moved crosswise in the flow outwardly through the outlet openings, whereby a high distributor capacity is obtained by simple means by forcing fibre material out of the outlet openings in a positive manner as distinguished from outlet by general suction from outside the outlet openings.

Claims33

Dependent claims

Apparatus for dry forming at least one of particles and fibers into a web-like material comprising:

(a) a moving foraminous forming sheet;
(b) a distributor unit positioned above said forming sheet with an outlet thereof directed toward and extending across said forming sheet;
and
(c) suction means positioned beneath said forming sheet for sucking air downward through the forming sheet and for conveying said particles and fibers from said distributor unit outlet toward said forming sheet;
wherein said distributor unit comprises:
(1) an inlet for material comprising at least one of fibers and particles;
(2) a flow producing means for recirculating a flow of said particles and fibers in a path extending across said forming sheet within said distributor unit between said inlet and outlet, said flow producing means being formed at least in part by a flow guiding pipe, at least a portion of which is formed by a perforated outlet screen wall;
and
(3) means, within said flow guiding pipe, for directing a portion of said flow of particles and fibers outwardly through said outlet screen wall.

6 more elements

In an apparatus for producing a non-woven web of the type comprising:

(a) a moving foraminous forming sheet;
(b) a distributor container positioned above said forming sheet, said container having inlet means for receiving a supply of material comprising at least one of fibers and particles and outlet means for gradual delivery of said material in a broad flow towards said moving forming sheet;
(c) means for maintaining said material air fluidized in said distributor container and moving generally in a flow in a closed material conducting circuit across said forming sheet;
and
(d) power exerting means located in said distributor container for subjecting portions of the material in the closed circuit flow to positive cross displacement forces to impart a component of movement directed crosswise towards said outlet means;
the improvement wherein:
(1) said means for maintaining comprising flow conducting means and means for transporting said supply of material by way of transportation air, said closed material conducting circuit being formed by said flow conducting means in conjunction with said distributor container;
and
(2) said power exerting means is at least partly comprised by nozzle means for providing jets of air directed generally toward said outlet means.

6 more elements

In an apparatus for producing a non-woven web of the type comprising:

(a) a moving foraminous forming sheet;
(b) a distributor container positioned above said forming sheet, said container having inlet means for receiving a supply of material comprising at least one of fibers and particles and outlet means for gradual delivery of said material in a broad flow towards said moving forming sheet;
(c) means for maintaining said material air fluidized in said distributor container and moving generally in a flow in a closed material conducting circuit across said forming sheet;
and
(d) power exerting means located in said distributor container for subjecting portions of the material in the closed circuit flow to positive cross displacement forces to impart a component of movement directed crosswise towards said outlet means;
the improvement wherein:
(1) said means for maintaining comprising flow conducting means and means for transporting said supply of material by way of transportation air, said closed material conducting circuit being formed by said flow conducting means in conjunction with said distributor container;
and
(2) said power exerting means is at least partly comprised by a rotary needle cylinder located inside a portion of said flow conducting means situated within said distributor container in a manner so as to generally subjecting the material in the closed circuit flow to a centrifugal action without substantially obstructing the closed circuit flow.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for producing a non-woven web from particles and/or fibers

Life of this patent

Apparatus for producing a non-woven web from particles and/or fibers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33