Fiber and nanofiber spinning apparatus
AssigneeSpinDynamics, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Fabbricante, Jack S. Fabbricante, Thomas J. Fabbricante
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for spinning fibers, or fiberizers, using a rotary fiber-making die system made up of thin plates, embodied by a housing fixture, configured and stacked to define slots, channels and/or grooves through which the material used to make the fibers will flow. The die system allows for the production of different size and types of fibers, including nanofibers having a diameter of less than 1 micron, and facilitates a variety of cost effective methods for extrusion. The use of plates means the dies can be manufactured cost effectively, with easier clean-outs, replacements and/or variations.
Claims12
A fiber spinning device mountable to rotate on a shaft in a fiberizer comprising:
- one or more stacked, thin circular plates
- a housing unit containing the one or more plates;
- at least one of the plates or the housing unit having a central opening to receive material to be formed into fibers;
- at least one of the plates having a groove which defines an outflow edge peripheral to the plate;
- the one or more plates and housing unit cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the fiber forming material and to allow the flow of material along a radial path whereby said outflow edge will define a spinneret orifice through which fibers can be extruded, and wherein the one or more said plates have holes and are stacked so as to offset adjacent holes in adjacent plates to define a non-linear path.
An apparatus for spinning fibers comprising:
- at least one source of fiber forming material;
- a spinneret comprising one or more stacked, thin circular plates;
- at least one of the plates having a central opening to receive material to be formed into fibers;
- at least one of the plates having a groove which defines an outflow edge peripheral to the plate;
- said plates cooperating to form a chamber for receiving the fiber forming material and to allow the flow of material along a radial path whereby said outflow edge will define a spinneret orifice through which fibers can be extruded, and wherein the one or more said plates have holes and are stacked so as to offset adjacent holes in adjacent plates to define a non-linear path;
- means for transporting fiber making material to the spinneret;
- means for axially rotating the spinneret where the rotating means is on the same axis as the central opening;
- and
- means for collecting and removing the fibers formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.