Method and apparatus for optically monitoring fiber orientation in nonwoven webs
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorRobert L. Watson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical method and apparatus for measuring angular orientation and uniformity of orientation of fibers within a nonwoven web.
Claims10
Method for measuring the angular orientation and uniformity of orientation of fibers within a nonwoven web and wherein the major axis of said web lies along the machine direction for feed of the web and the minor axis of said web lies perpendicular to said major axis, said method comprising:
- selecting a cross-sectional configuration of a coherent light beam that will encompass a number of said fibers within the web sufficient to detect and record measurements of said angular orientation and uniformity.
- illuminating a section of said web with said coherent light beam,
- establishing relative movement between the web and the coherent light beam along said machine direction, and
- detecting refracted and diffracted components of light scattered from the fibers illuminated by said coherent light beam and determining therefrom the preferred direction of light scatter relative to said major axis and to said minor axis of said web and the variability from point-to-point within said web of such preferred direction.
Apparatus for measuring the angular orientation and uniformity of orientation of fibers within a non-woven web and wherein the major axis of said web lies along the machine direction for feed of the web and the minor axis of said web lies perpendicular to said major axis, said apparatus comprising:
- means for projecting onto a section of said web a coherent light beam that will encompass a number of said fibers within the web sufficient to detect and record measurements of said angular orientation and uniformity.
- means for establishing relative movement between said web and said coherent light beam along the direction of said major axis, and
- means for detecting refracted and diffracted components of light scattered from the fibers illuminated by said coherent light beam and means for determining therefrom the preferred direction of light scatter relative to said major axis and to said minor axis of said web and the variability from point-to-point within said web of such preferred direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.