Apparatus for and method of providing a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers

A splitter chute apparatus for providing a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers by splitting a column of fibers into multiple fiber streams and by independently entraining each of the fiber streams in air, said splitter chute apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• four side walls extending from said base defined by a first side wall, a second side wall opposed to said first side wall, and an opposed pair of lateral side walls;
• a curvilinear top wall positioned on said side walls and having a plurality of ports disposed in and along the surface of said top wall and comprising
• a first port, and
• a second port at least partially axially offset from said first port,
• wherein a column of fibers is directed along the surface of said top wall to said ports;
• a first conduit duct for directing a column of air past said first port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said first conduit duct to form a first fiber stream, and for entraining the first fiber stream in the air to direct the first fiber stream downstream, said first conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said first conduit duct being in communication with said first port;
• and
• a second conduit duct for directing a column of air past said second port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said second conduit duct to form a second fiber stream, and for entraining the second fiber stream in the air to direct the second fiber stream downstream, said second conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said second conduit duct being in communication with said second port.

A method for splitting a column of fibers into a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a column of fibers;
• directing said column of fibers along the surface of a curvilinear splitting member having a plurality of ports comprising a first port and a second port;
• imparting angular velocity and momentum to said column of fibers;
• directing a first column of air through a first conduit duct past the first port so as to create a pressure differential adjacent the first port;
• releasing a first portion of said column of fibers away from its angular path of travel;
• drawing said first portion of said column of fibers through the first port into the first conduit duct as a result of the angular momentum of the fibers and the pressure differential formed adjacent the first port so as to form a first fiber stream;
• entraining said first fiber stream in the first column of air;
• directing the first stream of air-entrained fibers downstream;
• directing a second column of air through a second conduit duct past the second port so as to create a pressure differential adjacent the second port;
• releasing a second portion of said column of fibers away from its angular path of travel;
• drawing said second portion of said column of fibers through the second port into the second conduit duct as a result of the angular momentum of the fibers and the pressure differential formed adjacent the second port so as to form a second fiber stream;
• entraining said second fiber stream in the second column of air;
• and
• directing the second stream of air-entrained fibers downstream.