Needling fibrous webs
AssigneeVelcro BVBA
InventorsChristopher M. Gallant, James R. Barker, Gregory K. Kopanski, David Erick Fuller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.
Claims24
A method of forming a touch fastening material, the method comprising:
- providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush, such that individual fibers of the lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers are in direct contact with the bristle tips, the total weight of fibers supported on the brush being less than about 60 grams per square meter;
- after providing the staple fibers in direct contact with the bristle tips,
- needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush, such that the needles carry loops of fibers of the layer into spaces between bristles of the brush;
- then,
- while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, with the loops of the fibers extending between bristles of the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush;
- and then
- pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.