Method and apparatus for creating a graduated distribution of granule materials in a fiber mat
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorRobert E. Bryson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distinctive apparatus for forming an absorbent body includes a forming chamber, and a fiber delivering mechanism for providing a flow of fibrous material within the forming chamber. A forming layer, which is located in the forming chamber and is movable therein, receives deposit of the fibrous material thereon. A conduit mechanism supplied a flow of dispersed bodies of high-absorbency material, which enter the forming chambers and intermix with the flow of fibrous material thereon. A regulating mechanism controls a velocity of the flow of high-absorbency material into the flow of fibrous material to thereby form a selected distribution of high-absorbency material within the fibrous material deposited onto the forming layer.
Claims25
An apparatus for forming an absorbent body, comprising:
- a. a forming chamber;
- b. fiber delivering means for providing a flow of fibrous material within said forming chamber;
- c. a forming layer, which is located in said forming chamber and is movable therein, for receiving a deposit of said fibrous material thereon to form said absorbent body;
- d. conduit means for supplying a flow of dispersed bodies of high-absorbency material, which enters said forming chamber and intermixes with said flow of fibrous material therein;
- and
- e. regulating means for controlling a velocity of said flow of high-absorbency material into said flow of fibrous material to provide high-absorbency material having various shorter, longer and intermediate trajectories, wherein said various trajectories deposit the high-absorbency material at different locations in said forming chamber to thereby selectively distribute said high-absorbency material through a thickness dimension of said absorbent body to produce a concentration gradient of high-absorbency material along said thickness dimension.
A method for forming an absorbent body, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a flow of fibrous material with a forming chamber;
- b. depositing said fibrous material onto a forming layer, which is located in said forming chamber and is moveable therein, to form said absorbent body;
- c. supplying a flow of dispersed bodies of high-absorbency material, which enters said forming chamber and intermixes with said flow of fibrous material therein;
- and
- d. controlling a flow velocity of said high-absorbency material into said flow of fibrous material to provide high-absorbency material having various shorter, longer and intermediate trajectories, wherein said various trajectories deposit the high-absorbency material at different locations in said forming chamber to thereby selectively distribute said absorbent body to produce a concentration gradient of high-absorbency material along said thickness dimension.
A conduit section for changing a flow direction of a gas/particle dispersion, comprising:
- a. a first, substantially linear conduit section;
- b. a second, substantially linear conduit section which intersects in fluid communication with said first conduit section to form a T-bend enters said conduit section, an exit arm from which said dispersion departs from said intersection with a changed flow direction, and a blinded arm;
- and
- c. adjustment means for selectively controlling an effective conduit length of said blinded arm, said adjustment means located in said blinded on and constructed to position a face surface of said adjustment means at a location which can be recessed into and protruded from said blinded arm by a selected distance to thereby provide a substantially uniform distribution of particles in said dispersion departing from said exit arm.
A conduit section for changing a flow direction of a gas/particle dispersion, comprising:
- a. a first, substantially linear conduit section;
- b. a second, substantially linear conduit section which intersects in fluid communication with said first conduit section to form a T-bend therewith, said T-bend including an entrance arm into which said dispersion enters said conduit section, an exit arm from which said dispersion departs from said intersections with a changed flow direction, and a blinded arm;
- c. adjustment means for selectively controlling an effective conduit length of said blinded arm to provide a substantially uniform distribution of particles in said dispersion departing from said exit arm;
- and
- d. sealing means for reducing an intrusion of particles into a blinded arm region behind said adjustment means, which intrusion could inhibit control movements of a face surface of said adjustment means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.