Machines systems and methods for making random fiber webs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814754-B2
Application number	US-201917250595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2019
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems of forming a random fiber web using pneumatic fiber feeding system are disclosed. The method can optionally comprise: providing a plurality of moveable apparatuses including a lickerin and a feeder, the lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to adjacent the lickerin by the feeder; doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system; communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the doffing; and collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a random fiber web using a pneumatic fiber feeding system, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of moveable apparatuses including a lickerin and a feeder, the lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to the lickerin by the feeder;
doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system, wherein the doffing location is adjacent a termination point of a nose bar;
communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers;
separating the plurality of doffed fibers from the air supply, using an air deflector assembly, wherein the air deflector assembly is mounted to a housing of the pneumatic fiber feeding system, and wherein the air deflector assembly is positioned between the lickerin and a saber roll, wherein the air deflector assembly and the lickerin define a space that comprises the doffing location, and wherein the air deflector assembly is positioned and configured to deflect the air supply away from the doffing location;
entraining the plurality of doffed fibers in the air supply, wherein the plurality of fibers move through the space and are entrained in the communicated air supply after passing an end of the air deflector assembly; and
collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling an amount of the air supply to at least one of the doffing location and downstream of the doffing location as defined by a direction of flow of the air supply, wherein controlling the amount of air supply includes providing one or more of a damper, a nose bar extension, an airfoil and one or more passages in a housing of the system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the doffing location and trajectory of the doffing to reduce contact of the air supply and the plurality of fibers with components of the system when the plurality of fibers are entrained and prior to the collecting.

4. A pneumatic fiber feeding system for forming a random fiber web, the system comprising:
a feeder;
a lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to the lickerin by the feeder and configured to doff the plurality of fibers from the lickerin;
a channel communicating an air supply to a first space adjacent the lickerin, the first space including a doffing location where a doff of the plurality of fibers from the lickerin occurs;
a collector positioned to capture the plurality of fibers once doffed into the air supply, the plurality of fibers forming the random fiber web on the collector;
a nose bar assembly that extends along the lickerin and toward a saber roll; and
an air deflector assembly mounted between the lickerin and the saber roll, wherein the nose bar assembly is configured to extend the doffing location past the feeder and into a second space defined between the lickerin and the air deflector assembly, wherein the second space is distinct from the first space; wherein the air deflector assembly is positioned within the pneumatic fiber feeding system such that the air deflector assembly keeps the air supply and the plurality of fibers separated after the doffing location, until after the plurality of fibers clear an end of the air deflector assembly.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the channel downstream of the doffing location is defined by a direction of flow of the air supply, and is partially formed by a first plate, and wherein the first plate has a substantially planar surface along a channel interfacing extent thereof that is configured to substantially align with the direction of flow of the air supply.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a first end of the first plate extends past at least a majority of a doffer bar to adjacent the lickerin.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the channel downstream of the doffing location is additionally partially formed by a second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are shaped and positioned relative to one another to cause a restriction in the channel prior to the air supply with the plurality of fibers entrained therein reaching the collector.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second plate has a section that is convex in shape when viewed in cross-section to spread the air supply with the plurality of fibers entrained therein prior to the air supply reaching the collector.

9. The system of claim 4 , further comprising one or more passages that communicate with the channel downstream of the doffing location, wherein the one or more passages are configured to allow an amount of supplied air, from the air supply, to pass therethrough, and wherein the one or more passages are configured to allow an amount of an ambient air to pass therethrough and into the channel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more passages are formed by one of the first plate, a second plate, a side housing or a drum.

11. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
an airfoil positioned in the channel, the airfoil configured to be selectively moveable toward and away from the deflector assembly to selectively allow for passage of at least a portion of the air supply into a second space, wherein the second space is defined between the lickerin and the air deflector assembly.

12. The system of claim 4 , and further comprising a damper positioned in the channel and configured to be selectively moveable toward and away from the saber roll to selectively allow for passage of at least a portion of the air supply around a part of the saber roll that does not interface with the lickerin.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Klinzing William P
• Eaton Warren D
• Lindberg Jon A
• Raithel David C
• Baumgartner Kyle J
• Breister James C
• Dunbar Joseph A
• Endle James P
• Griffith Blake R
• Lalonde Sylvain M
• Martin Bernia Cristobal
• Seifert Jesse R
• Tibbits Joshua D

Classifications

• D01G15/20 Primary

  Feed rollers; Takers-in · CPC title

• D01G15/46

  Doffing or like arrangements for removing fibres from carding elements; Web-dividing apparatus; Condensers (lap-forming devices D01G25/00; fibre condensing guides D01H5/72) · CPC title

• D04H1/732 Primary

  by fluid current, e.g. air-lay · CPC title