Apparatus for integrally joining preformed thermoplastic core elements especially adapted for the continuous manufacture of melt-blown filter cartridges
AssigneeMemtec Limited
InventorsBrian Mozelack, Robert D. Connor, Robert J. Schmitt
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed whereby elongate preformed thermoplastic elements are friction-welded coaxially in an end-to-end manner so that the core elements are joined integrally to one another. Most preferably, the elongate elements are perforated tubular elements formed of a thermoplastic material which are employed as core elements in the production of cylindrical melt-blown filter cartridges. As such, the integrally joined core elements can be rotated and traversed as a unit relative to a melt-blowing die during the continuous production of indefinite length cylindrical melt-blown filter cartridges.
Claims10
In a continuous apparatus for forming melt-blown cylindrical filter cartridges by continuously rotating and axially translating a tubular thermoplastic core element relative to a melt-blowing die so as to collect an annular mass of non-woven, melt-blown, continuous fibers on the core element, the improvement comprising positioning means for coaxially abutting opposed ends of at least one pair of core elements, and means for affecting a friction-weld between said abutted opposed ends of said at least one pair of core elements so that said at least one pair of core elements is capable of being rotated and axially translated as a unit relative to the melt-blowing die assembly.
A system for continuously producing melt-blown cylindrical filter cartridges formed of an annular mass of non-woven, melt-blown continuous thermoplastic fibers on a preformed tubular thermoplastics core element, said system comprising:
- a melt-blowing die for issuing streams of continuous thermoplastic fibers toward a rotatable and axially translatable first core element to form the annular mass of fibers thereon;
- and
- a core element positioning and joining apparatus for coaxially positioning a second core element in abutted end-to-end relationship relative to said first core element, and then effecting an integral friction-weld between said abutted first and second core elements so that said first and second core elements are rotatable and axially translatable as a unit relative to said melt-blowing die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.