Enhanced pleatability of meltblown media by ultrasonic processing
AssigneeFleetguard, Inc.
InventorsGene Mullins, David Dickerson, Karen Ramsey-Idem, Lee Currier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web uses ultrasonic bonding wheels to create bond lines in the machine direction as the web is being produced. In addition to, or in place of, the bond lines, ribbons made of the web material, a thermoplastic polymer, string saturated with a phenolic or ultraviolet curing resin, or beads of an ultraviolet curing resin may be ultrasonically bonded to the web to enhance its stiffness. A heated scoring bar or ultrasonic horn forms pleats in the web by heating the web above its glass transition temperature and deforming the web into the pleated configuration. Cooling of the web locks the pleats into position.
Claims32
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web, comprising:
- ultrasonically bonding stiffened parallel-spaced bond lines on the meltblown web;
- and
- saturating the meltblown web with resin.
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web comprising:
- ultrasonically bonding parallel-spaced bond lines on the meltblown web;
- and
- ultrasonically bonding ribbons on the meltblown web.
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web comprising:
- ultrasonically bonding ribbons on the meltblown web, wherein said ribbons are selected from among strands of the meltblown web material, strands of thermoplastic polymer, strings saturated with a phenolic resin or an ultraviolet curing resin, and beads of an ultraviolet curing resin.
A process for pleating a meltblown web comprising:
- ultrasonic bonding bond lines to the meltblown web to impart stiffness to the web;
- heating the meltblown web above its glass transition temperature;
- and
- deforming the web to create a pleat.
A process for pleating a meltblown web comprising:
- ultrasonic bonding ribbons to the meltblown web to impart stiffness to the web, wherein said ribbons are selected from among strands of the meltblown web material, strands of thermoplastic polymer, strings saturated with a phenolic resin or an ultraviolet curing resin, and beads of an ultraviolet curing resin;
- heating the meltblown web above its glass transition temperature;
- and
- deforming the web to create a pleat.
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web, comprising:
- ultrasonically bonding stiffened parallel-spaced bond lines on the meltblown web;
- and
- wherein said ultrasonically bonding includes defining porous filtration areas in the meltblown web between the parallel-spaced bond lines.
A process for enhancing the pleatability of a meltblown web, comprising:
- ultrasonically bonding stiffened parallel-spaced bond lines on the meltblown web;
- and
- pleating the meltblown web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.