CA1112832A - Multiple distributor heads for laying dry fibers - Google Patents

Multiple distributor heads for laying dry fibers

Info

Publication number
CA1112832A
CA1112832A CA329,900A CA329900A CA1112832A CA 1112832 A CA1112832 A CA 1112832A CA 329900 A CA329900 A CA 329900A CA 1112832 A CA1112832 A CA 1112832A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
forming
tunnel
wire screen
openings
screen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA329,900A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Fredric N. Miller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Primerica Inc
Original Assignee
American Can Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by American Can Co filed Critical American Can Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1112832A publication Critical patent/CA1112832A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/70Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
    • D04H1/72Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres the fibres being randomly arranged

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Multiple distributor heads of the Kroyer type in side-by-side position over a common suction tunnel for laying fibrous material onto a foraminous wire conveyor belt travelling along the tunnel.

Description

The present invention relates to multiple distri~utor heads of the Kroyer type in side-by-side position over a common suction tunnel for laying fibrous material onto a foraminous forming wire screen travelling along the tunnel.
The original ~royer process and Kroyer machine are disclosed in the United States patents 3,581,706 and 4,014,635 to Karl Kristian Kobs Kroyer. In those prior art patents, fiber is passed through a static wire screen by using downward air flows and rotating paddles or impellers in an enclosed distributor or ~`
distributor head. After the fiber has passed through the static wire screen, it is formed on a moving forming-wire screen. The fiber is directed to the moving forming-wire screen by producing a suction under the forming-wire screen and particularly directly beneath the distri~utor. The front end of the distributor is the end which receives the moving forming-wire screen and the bac~ end of the distributor is the end which delivers the moving forming-wire screen with fibers forming a web thereon. The forming area is closed off by sealing rolls on the front and back ends of the distributor and by side seal deckles.
As the forming wire screen speed of a Kroyer machine increases, the sealing rolls build up electrostatic charges causing the fibers to stick to the rolls which disrupts the already-formed web. The sealing rolls perform well at screen speeds up to about 200 feet per minute, but their performance degrades as the speed increases so that by the time the moving forming-wire screen is moving between 500 and 700 feet per minute the formed web is totally disrupted by the sealing rolls.
Gaps between the sealing rolls and the side deckles also allow air to pass into the forming area from the outside atmosphere, disrupting the web edges. The disrupted edges then jam the next sealing roll with fiber locking into the gap between ~he sealing roll and the side seal deckle.

When two or more distributors, each having a pair of sealing rolls, are used, the fiber web or mat lifts off the wire at higher speeds because of windage and the fact that there is no vacuum under the moving forming-wire screen between the exit sealing roll of one distributor and the entxance sealing roll of the next distributor to hold the web down.
In a patent application filed concurrently herewith by Dennis L. Mielke, entitles APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF DRY
FIBERS ON A FORAMINOUS FORMING SURFACE, there is disclosed and claimed the concept of using a common tunnel for the forming area of two Rroyer type machines with a space between the machines.
Perforations are made in the top of the tunnel between the machines to minimize turbulence in that region and in the baffle below the moving forming-wlre screen in the region between the Kroyer machines to hold the ~eb on the forming-wire screen. Such a design has run successfully at 1,000 feet per minute with good web formation. However, in the areas between the distributors there occurred some air turbulence which resulted in fiber building on the sides. In unperforated areas of the top of the tunnel, when the build-ups became large enough they fell onto the web producing localized spots of high basis weights and high opacity which were readily noticable. In addition, such localized spots were proved to pic~ in the embossing process leading to a poorer running sheet. J
Further, the pulling of air through the web to hold it down in the areas between distributors is an energy wasteful process.
The following issued patents in addition to the above-mentioned Kroyer patents, are representative of the state of the art:
Austrian Patent 220,4~6 to Weyerhauser Timber Co. teaches a plurality of non-Kroyer type distributors for laying fibrous material.
United States Patent 3,825,381 to Danning teaches a . ~

!332 plurality of non-Kroyer type distributors for forming airlaid wood fiber webs.
United States Patent 3,645,457 to Greten, et al teaches two non-Kroyer type distributors depositing wood chips on a belt.
United States Patent 3,598,680 to Lee -teaches two non-Kroyer type distributors depositing fibers on a belt.
United States ~atent 3,080,617 to Lytton teaches a plurality of non-Kroyer distributors depositing consecutive layers of fibers on a belt.
United States Patent 3,071,822 to Meiler teaches a plurality of non-Kroyer felters delivering fibers to a belt.
United States Patent 2,165,280 teaches a plurality of non-~royer blowers delivering fibers to a belt.
A multi-distributor head is comtemplated by this invention wherein Kroyer type distributor heads are positioned side by side with a common tunnel therebeneath in the forming region. All of the sealing rolls are eliminated except those at the entrance and exit of the common tunnel. Further, the sealing roll at the en-trance may readily be eliminated, and that entrance end may be closed, leaving a small slot through which the forming-wire screen enters the tunnel. The degree of suction under the forming-wire screen is such that horizontal components of air at the ends of the tunnel are insignificant.
The use of a plurality of smaller distributor heads lays down a more uniform mat or web of fibrous material than one very large machine.
The present invention thus produces a more uniform fibrous web or mat of air laid dry fibrous material on a foraminous forming-wire screen.
The present invention may further produce such a uniform web or mat with a minimum of power or energy use.

The present invention may further minimize fiber build up ~il2832 in regions other than on the movlng foraminous wire screen.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for disposing a uniform web of dry fibers on a forming-wire screen, comprising: à plurality of fiber distributors including housings disposed in side by side relationship with no gap therebetween and having bottom openings disposed in side by side relationship; foraminous screens extending over said openings;
a forming tunnel disposed beneath said openings; a movable forming-wire screen disposed within said tunnel for travel therethrough sequentially beneath one then another of said openings; means for introducing dry fibers to said housings for discharge through said openings, and the screens extending thereover, onto said forming-wire screen as it is moved therepast; and sealing means on opposite ends of said tunnel accommodating movement of said forming-wire screen therethrough.
In a preferred embodiment thereof the apparatus further comprises means for maintaining a partial vacuum beneatn said movable forming-wire screen to draw fibers discharged from said bottom openings onto saia forming-wire screen.
Suitably the sealing means on at least the end of the tunnel from which said movable screen leaves comprises a sealing roll disposed to compress a web formed on said screen as it leaves said tunnel.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure l is a vertical side view of a plurality of distributor heads for delivering air laid dry fibers to a foraminous forming wire in a common tunnel having common side deckles; and Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure l, partly in section, and showing portions of the distributor heads in dashed outline.
The distributor heads include housings lO and 12 each ~$~ 32 having inlet conduits 14, 16, 18, 20 for delivering fibrous material thereto. The housin~s are provided with exit conduits 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 for retrieving fibrous material which is excessive in size and for returning it to a reservoirs or hammermill. Within the housings 10 and 12 are a plurality of impellers 38, 40, 42 and 44 which are rotatably driven on vertical shafts 46, 48, 47 and 49. The motive means is not shown. More than one impeller may be positioned on each of theshafts, and more than two snafts may be used. Typically the impellers turn in the same direction. Only half of the exit conduits 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 are used at any one time, depending upon the direction of rotation of the impellers 38, 40, 42, 44. When the impellers 38 and 40 are turning clockwise (i.e. right hand) from the view point of figure 2, exit conduits 22 and 28 are used while exit conduits 26 are blocked. When the impellers 38 and 40 are turning counter clockwise, the exit conduits 26 are used while conduits 22 and 28 are blocked.
The bottoms of the housing 10 and 12 are open with a foraminous screens stretched across the opening. Portions of the opening may be blocked, if desired. The openings of the bottoms of housings 10 and 12, and any additional housings which may be placed side by side with the two shown housings, open into a common -~
tunnel having common side deckles such as deckle 50. The tunnels are substantially sealed by rotatable sealing rolls 52, 54 at the ends of the tunnels. Only a small gap 56, 58 is allowed between the sealing rolls 52, 54 and the side deckles 50 and an additional deckle on the backside of figure 1 but not shown.
A moving foraminous forming wire screen 60 upon which a mat or web of fibrous material is formed travels from one end to the other of the tunnel sequentially beneath one then another as the openings and beneath the rolls 52, 54.

The roll 54 helps to compress the mat or web W of fibrous 1iL1~32 material as it leaves the tunnel. Tl~e direction of motion of the forming wire screen 60 and its supported mat or web is shown by the arrows 62.
A suction box 64 maintains a partial vacuum beneath the foraminous forming wire screen 60 to cause the descending fi.bers to form the mat or web (not shown) on the moving screen 60 and to hold the web on the screen.
If desired, in accomodation of movement of screen 60 through tne tunnel, the roll seal 52 may be eliminated, and that ].0 entrance end of the common tunnel 51 may be closed partially leaving a slot through which the screen 60 may enter the tunnel.
Thus, the apparatus of this invention lays down a mat or web of fibrous material onto a foraminous forming wire screen belt with the distributor housings side by side, leaving no gap there-between and delivering their fibers into a common tunnel 51, whereby fluffing of the mat or web within the tunnel 51 is eliminated, and sticking of the fibrous material to the walls and to the roller seals lS mlnlmlzed.

. 6 -

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for disposing a uniform web of dry fibers on a forming-wire screen, comprising: a plurality of fiber dis-tributors including housings disposed in side-by-side relationship with no gap therebetween and having bottom openings disposed in side-by-side relationship; foraminous screens extending over said openings; a forming tunnel disposed beneath said openings; a movable forming-wire screen disposed within said tunnel for travel there-through sequentially beneath one then another of said openings;
means for introducing dry fibers to said housings for discharge through said openings, and the screens extending thereover, onto said forming-wire screen as it is moved therepast; and sealing means on opposite ends of said tunnel accommodating movement of said forming-wire screen therethrough.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising means for maintaining a partial vacuum beneath said movable forming-wire screen to draw fibers discharged from said bottom openings onto said forming-wire screen.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further character-ized in that the sealing means on at least the end of the tunnel from which said movable screen leaves comprises a sealing roll disposed to compress a web formed on said screen as it leaves said tunnel.
CA329,900A 1978-06-15 1979-06-15 Multiple distributor heads for laying dry fibers Expired CA1112832A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/915,865 US4193751A (en) 1978-06-15 1978-06-15 Multiple distributor heads for laying dry fibers
US915,865 1978-06-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1112832A true CA1112832A (en) 1981-11-24

Family

ID=25436361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA329,900A Expired CA1112832A (en) 1978-06-15 1979-06-15 Multiple distributor heads for laying dry fibers

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US4193751A (en)
EP (1) EP0006327B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5512894A (en)
AT (1) ATE3451T1 (en)
CA (1) CA1112832A (en)
DE (1) DE2965425D1 (en)
DK (1) DK153530C (en)
IE (1) IE48577B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4180378A (en) * 1978-06-15 1979-12-25 American Can Company Apparatus for the deposition of dry fibers on a foraminous forming surface
US4353686A (en) * 1981-01-19 1982-10-12 Formica Corporation Apparatus for air-layer fibrous webs
FI832075L (en) * 1983-06-09 1984-12-10 Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Oy SYSTEM FOER BILDANDE AV EN BANDLIK AEMNESBANA AV LOESA FIBER ELLER PARTIKLAR.
US4634621A (en) * 1984-05-17 1987-01-06 The James River Corporation Scrim reinforced, cloth-like composite laminate and a method of making
US4636418A (en) * 1984-05-17 1987-01-13 James River Corporation Cloth-like composite laminate and a method of making
US4637949A (en) * 1984-07-03 1987-01-20 James River Corporation Scrim reinforced, flat cloth-like composite laminate and a method of making
DK162845C (en) * 1989-09-28 1992-05-04 Karl Kroeyer PLANT FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF A CURRENT FIBER PRODUCT
US5144729A (en) * 1989-10-13 1992-09-08 Fiberweb North America, Inc. Wiping fabric and method of manufacture
FI94967C (en) * 1991-09-18 1995-11-27 Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Oy Method and apparatus for dry forming a web of long-fiber material
DK168670B1 (en) * 1993-03-09 1994-05-16 Niro Separation As Apparatus for distributing fibers
US7078089B2 (en) * 2001-12-28 2006-07-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Low-cost elastic laminate material
US7694379B2 (en) * 2005-09-30 2010-04-13 First Quality Retail Services, Llc Absorbent cleaning pad and method of making same
US7962993B2 (en) * 2005-09-30 2011-06-21 First Quality Retail Services, Llc Surface cleaning pad having zoned absorbency and method of making same
US20070074365A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Carol Erdman Absorbent pad with cleaning cuffs and method of making the same
US20070074366A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Glaug Frank S Absorbent cleaning pad and method of making same
CN103741376A (en) * 2014-01-10 2014-04-23 江苏省仪征市海润纺织机械有限公司 Airflow vertical cutting and folding cross lapper

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3509604A (en) * 1967-10-03 1970-05-05 Int Paper Co Air laying system having a seal roll
US3598680A (en) * 1968-04-18 1971-08-10 Int Paper Co Tandem air former
US3748693A (en) * 1971-03-26 1973-07-31 Georgia Pacific Corp Apparatus for making nonwoven fibrous webs
GB1518284A (en) * 1974-10-31 1978-07-19 Kroyer K K K Apparatus for the deposition of a uniform layer of dry fibres on a foraminous forming surface

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IE791142L (en) 1979-12-15
EP0006327B1 (en) 1983-05-18
JPS5512894A (en) 1980-01-29
ATE3451T1 (en) 1983-06-15
JPS6253622B2 (en) 1987-11-11
DK153530B (en) 1988-07-25
EP0006327A1 (en) 1980-01-09
DK251379A (en) 1979-12-16
IE48577B1 (en) 1985-03-06
DK153530C (en) 1988-12-12
DE2965425D1 (en) 1983-07-07
US4193751A (en) 1980-03-18

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