Abstract: There is provided a bellows adapted to be actuated by the movement of a wearer's body and force air into a personal care product in a region between the skin of the wearer and the product. The bellows may be located in the periphery of the personal care product and the discharge of the bellows is directed into the personal care product so air is forced into the product.

Abstract: Improved equipment and method for spinning filaments for nonwovens using an integral spinbank including one or more spinplates producing filament bundles separated by one or more central conduits for quench air. Embodiments include high velocity quench air driven into the central conduit or quench air blown or drawn in from outside the filaments into the central conduit. Means may also be provided for removal of undesired waxes and/or other condensates through a central exhaust removal using the central conduit. As quench air velocity is increased through the central conduit, the streams tend to improve total quench flow by deflecting opposing flows into a uniform stream. Other variations include division of quench air into flow zones that may be independently controlled and varying the angle of quench air flow and/or the spinplates to maintain separation distance between quench air and filament bundles.

Abstract: There is provided a high speed rotary valve which is relatively simple in design and which can effectively regulate the flow of fluid under high temperature conditions in such a manner as to produce perturbations in the fluid stream. Such a valve may be used to regulate the flow of fluid, e.g. air, toward a work piece to produce a perturbation in the piece for example. The clearance between the rotor and stator is such that the flow of fluid is never completely cut off, i.e., the valve continues to "leak through" the closed outlet port even when the rotor and stator openings are not aligned. Fluids having temperatures in the range of 40 to at least 900.degree. F. may be processed through this valve. The valve is also useful in creating aerosols of liquids and gases and in producing blown fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved high sorbency nonwoven fabric and its use particularly as an oilsorb material. The high sorbency nonwoven is preferably made by multi-bank meltblowing and different perturbing thermoplastic fibers of, for example, propylene polymers in separate banks to provide a fiber density gradient through the thickness of the fabric. The sorbent nonwovens have high bulk and strength, oil capacity and oil absorption rates making them particularly suited to such applications. Treatments and additives for such materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming artificial fibers and a non-woven web therefrom includes means for generating a substantially continuous fluid stream along a primary axis, at least one extrusion die located adjacent to the continuous fluid stream for extruding a liquified resin into fibers, means for injecting the fibers into the primary fluid stream, and perturbation means for selectively perturbing the flow of fluid in the fluid stream by varying the fluid pressure on either side of the primary axis to produce crimped fibers for forming the non-woven web. The inventive manufacturing method finely tunes non-woven web material characteristics such as tensile strength, porosity, barrier properties, absorbance, and softness by varying the fluid stream perturbation frequency and amplitude. Finally, the inventive method and apparatus may be implemented in combination with melt-blown, spunbond and coform techniques for producing non-woven webs.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming artificial fibers and a non-woven web therefrom includes a device for generating a substantially continuous fluid stream along a primary axis, at least one extrusion die located adjacent to the continuous fluid stream for extruding a liquefied resin into fibers, a member for entraining the fibers in the primary fluid stream, and a perturbation mechanism for selectively perturbing the flow of fluid in the fluid stream by varying the fluid pressure on either side of the primary axis to produce crimped fibers for forming the non-woven web. The inventive manufacturing method finely tunes non-woven web material characteristics such as tensile strength, porosity, barrier properties, absorbance, and softness by varying the fluid stream perturbation frequency and amplitude. Finally, the inventive apparatus may be implemented in combination with melt-blown, spunbond and coform techniques for producing non-woven webs.

Abstract: There is provided a fabric produced by a spunbond or a meltblown apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a pneumatic chamber having at least one wall containing a plurality of spaced protrusions. Preferably, both opposing walls contain protrusions aligned in staggered angled rows and the rows on one wall are angled opposite the rows on the opposing wall, thereby causing controlled lateral flow near the chamber walls. This lateral flow exhibits drag on the fibers, imparting rotational energy to the fibers. The fibers are imparted with rotational energy derived from the lateral component of the two turbulent airflow fields that oppose one another, and have a tendency to twist and crimp. Fabrics so produced have improved loft, drape, and feel and may be useable as a loop material for hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming artificial fibers and a non-woven web therefrom includes generating a substantially continuous fluid stream along a primary axis, at least one extrusion die located adjacent to the continuous fluid stream for extruding a liquified resin into fibers, injecting the fibers into the primary fluid stream, and selectively perturbing the flow of fluid in the fluid stream by varying the fluid pressure on either side of the primary axis to produce crimped fibers for forming the non-woven web. The inventive manufacturing method finely tunes non-woven web material characteristics such as tensile strength, porosity, barrier properties, absorbance, and softness by varying the fluid stream perturbation frequency and amplitude. Finally, the inventive method and apparatus may be implemented in combination with melt-blown, spunbond and coform techniques for producing non-woven webs.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved high sorbency nonwoven fabric and its use particularly as an oilsorb material. The high sorbency nonwoven is preferably made by meltblowing and perturbing thermoplastic fibers of, for example, propylene polymers. The sorbent nonwovens have high bulk and strength, oil capacity and oil absorption rates making them particularly suited to such applications. Treatments and additives for such materials are also disclosed.