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US 8,658,067 B2Granted
Apparatuses and methods for the deposition of microfibers and nanofibers on a substrate
AssigneeFibeRio Technology Corporation
InventorsEd Peno, Roger Lipton, Stephen Kay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are apparatuses and methods of creating fibers, such as microfibers and nanofibers. The methods discussed herein employ centrifugal forces to transform material into fibers. Apparatuses that may be used to create fibers are also described. Embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses and methods for the deposition of fibers onto substrates.
Claims59
A microfiber and/or nanofiber producing system comprising:
- a fiber producing device comprising a body, the body comprising a plurality of openings and a coupling member, wherein the body is configured to receive material to be produced into a fiber;
- a driver capable of rotating the body, wherein the body is couplable to the driver through the coupling member;
- a deposition system that directs fibers produced by the fiber producing device toward a substrate disposed below the fiber producing device during use, wherein the deposition system comprises an electrostatic plate positioned below the substrate, wherein the electrostatic plate has an opposite charge to a charge of the fibers produced by the fiber producing device such the produced fibers are drawn toward the substrate due to an electrostatic attraction to the electrostatic plate;
- and
- a substrate transfer system, wherein the substrate transfer system moves a continuous sheet of substrate material through the deposition system;
- wherein, during use, rotation of the body coupled to the driver causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce microfibers and/or nanofibers that are at least partially transferred to the substrate.
3 more elements
A method of producing microfibers and/or nanofibers, comprising:
- placing material into a fiber producing device, the fiber producing device comprising a body comprising one or more openings and a coupling member, wherein the body is configured to receive material to be produced into a fiber;
- rotating the fiber producing device at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, wherein rotation of the fiber producing device causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce microfibers and/or nanofibers;
- directing fibers produced by the fiber producing device toward a substrate disposed below the fiber producing device;
- and
- moving a substantially continuous sheet of substrate material below the fiber producing device while fibers are being produced by the fiber producing device;
- wherein the fibers are formed without subjecting the material to an externally-applied electric field that is sufficient to draw a fiber from the openings of the fiber producing device.
3 more elements
A microfiber and/or nanofiber producing system comprising:
- a fiber producing device comprising a body, the body comprising a plurality of openings and a coupling member, wherein the body is configured to receive material to be produced into a fiber;
- a driver capable of rotating the body, wherein the body is couplable to the driver through the coupling member, wherein the driver is coupled to a movable support, wherein the position of the driver with respect to the substrate is movable along the movable support;
- a deposition system that directs fibers produced by the fiber producing device toward a substrate disposed below the fiber producing device during use;
- and
- a substrate transfer system, wherein the substrate transfer system moves a continuous sheet of substrate material through the deposition system;
- wherein, during use, rotation of the body coupled to the driver causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce microfibers and/or nanofibers that are at least partially transferred to the substrate.
3 more elements
A method of producing microfibers and/or nanofibers, comprising:
- placing material into a fiber producing device, the fiber producing device comprising a body comprising one or more openings and a coupling member, wherein the body is configured to receive material to be produced into a fiber;
- rotating the fiber producing device at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, wherein rotation of the fiber producing device causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce microfibers and/or nanofibers;
- directing fibers produced by the fiber producing device toward a substrate disposed below the fiber producing device;
- moving the position of the fiber producing device with respect to the substrate while the fiber producing device is producing fibers;
- and
- moving a substantially continuous sheet of substrate material below the fiber producing device while fibers are being produced by the fiber producing device.
3 more elements
A method of producing microfibers and/or nanofibers from a material, comprising:
- mixing the material with a solvent to produce a mixture of the material in a solvent;
- placing the mixture in a fiber producing device, the fiber producing device comprising a body comprising one or more openings and a coupling member, wherein the body is configured to receive material to be produced into a fiber;
- rotating the fiber producing device at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, wherein rotation of the fiber producing device causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce microfibers and/or nanofibers;
- directing fibers produced by the fiber producing device toward a substrate disposed below the fiber producing device;
- and
- moving a substantially continuous sheet of substrate material below the fiber producing device while fibers are being produced by the fiber producing device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.