Patents by Inventor Jean-Christophe Laune
Jean-Christophe Laune has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240117532Abstract: Apparatus for forming a fibre mat including a fibre web-forming device (card), a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and cross-lapper to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device including at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the path of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Jean-Christophe LAUNE, Hugues LEROY, Frédéric NOELLE
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Patent number: 11885046Abstract: Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-tapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device comprising at least one output belt (1, 2) for at least one web (5, 6), and preferably two output belts (1, 2) for two webs (5, 6), an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-hipper has an input belt (7) for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the arrangement is such that the path of the web, or of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includType: GrantFiled: November 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Andritz Asselin ThibeauInventors: Jean-Christophe Laune, Hugues Leroy, Frédéric Noelle
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Publication number: 20230042283Abstract: Method for operating a needle loom comprising at least one needle board in which a web or lap of fibres is passed in front of the needles, said web or fibre moving in a so-called feed direction, or machine direction or MD, between two end positions in which the free ends of the needles have a zero speed, and the at least one needle board and/or needles are driven in a back-and-forth movement in a direction other than the feed direction, particularly in the perpendicular direction, or a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lap or web, such that the free ends of the needles have, in a first interval extending in the lap or web between an outer surface of the web or lap of fibres and an end position, a first movement having a first speed profile as an absolute value for a first duration, then, in a second interval extending in the lap or web between said one end position and said one outer surface, a second movement having a second speed profile as an absolute value for a second duraType: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Frédéric DEMANGE, Jean-Christophe LAUNE
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Patent number: 11499256Abstract: A needling machine to consolidate a fleece. The machine includes one or more needle plates having an array of needles; one or more columns coupled to the needle plates; and driving means configured to impart an elliptical to and fro motion to each needle plate so that the needles pass first in one direction, then the other, over the fleece passing before it in the machine. The machine further comprising a sealed housing enclosing part of each column and driving means; and one or more guide pots within the sealed housing. Each driving means including a longitudinal driving means imparting to each column a straight to and fro motion. Each needle plate oscillates in relation to each respective column. The driving means further comprise transverse driving means imparting to a point on each needle plate a to and fro motion essentially parallel to the machine direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: ANDRITZ ASSELIN-THIBEAUInventors: Frédéric Demange, Eric Potdevin, Jean-Christophe Laune
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Patent number: 11421362Abstract: Needle machine comprising at least one needle plate, from which projects an array of needles, means for imparting an elliptical, reciprocating motion to the needles and at least one support table drilled with an array of through holes, or which it is intended to pass in a direction MD, being supported on it, a fabric or web of fibres to be consolidated by needling, the each executing an elliptical, reciprocating motion in the respective through holes, each having an upper respective opening on the fabric support side, a lower respective opening on the opposite side and an inner sidewall extending between the two upper and lower openings, characterised in that each hole is machined so that there is a longitudinal section with a greater dimension MD in which the upper respective opening of the hole has a greater dimension in the direction MD and, in this longitudinal section of greater dimension MD, the inner sidewall of the hole is defined, at least in its upper region, by two left and right lines inclined toType: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: ANDRITZ ASSELIN-THIBEAUInventors: Frédéric Demange, Jean-Christophe Laune
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Publication number: 20210332513Abstract: Needling machine to consolidate a fleece or web of fibres, in particular non-woven, by needling, comprising: one or more needles plates having an array or bank of respective needles; one or more columns with longitudinal, in particular vertical axis, coupled to the respective needle plate; drive systems configured to impart an elliptical to and fro motion to each needle plate and/or needles so that the needles pass first in one direction, then the other, over the fleece or web of fibres passing before it in the machine or drive MD direction to consolidate it; a sealed housing enclosing part of each column and drive system; and one or more guide pots fitted in an opening in the sealed housing, each column passes through the housing through a guide pot, sliding in it, characterised in that, the drive systems comprise a longitudinal drive system configured to impart to each column a straight to and fro motion parallel to the longitudinal, in particular vertical axis; each needle plate can oscillate in relatType: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Frédéric DEMANGE, Eric POTDEVIN, Jean-Christophe LAUNE
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Publication number: 20210017683Abstract: Needle machine comprising at least one needle plate, from which projects an array of needles, means for imparting an elliptical, reciprocating motion to the needles and at least one support table drilled with an array of through holes, or which it is intended to pass in a direction MD, being supported on it, a fabric or web of fibres to be consolidated by needling, the each executing an elliptical, reciprocating motion in the respective through holes, each having an upper respective opening on the fabric support side, a lower respective opening on the opposite side and an inner sidewall extending between the two upper and lower openings, characterised in that each hole is machined so that there is a longitudinal section with a greater dimension MD in which the upper respective opening of the hole has a greater dimension in the direction MD and, in this longitudinal section of greater dimension MD, the inner sidewall of the hole is defined, at least in its upper region, by two left and right lines inclined toType: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Frédéric DEMANGE, Jean-Christophe LAUNE
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Publication number: 20190368088Abstract: A facility for forming a fibre batt, in particular nonwoven, provides a device for producing at least one fibre web, and a crosslapper which provides the fibre batt. The production device provides a carding drum and at least one doffer roller collecting the fibres on the drum and supplying the at least one web to at least one outfeed belt. The crosslapper provides an infeed belt for the introduction of the web in the crosslapper, which supplies the fibre batt formed of a stack of layers of the at least one web, and first control means of the profile of the thickness and/or of the area bulk density and/or of the bulk density of the web or of each web. A drafting means is arranged downstream of the outfeed belt of the production device and upstream of the infeed belt. Second control means may be provided to control drafting means.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LAUNE, Wael Jabri
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Publication number: 20190271102Abstract: Apparatus for forming a fibre mat, in particular a non-woven mat, comprising a fibre web-forming device, for example a card, a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and the cross-lapper in order to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to thereby adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper. The web-forming device provides at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt for receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) and the arrangement is such that the path of the web between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2017Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Jean-Christophe LAUNE, Hugues LEROY, Frédéric NOELLE
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Patent number: 10100447Abstract: An installation for consolidating a batt of fibers, for example a nonwoven web, includes a mechanical consolidation workstation using needlepunching from which the fiber batt emerges in a machine or MD direction. A device is provided downstream of the consolidation workstation for stretching in the cross or CD direction which is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the machine direction, and parallel to the plane of the batt, particularly before it is wound onto a reel. A consolidated nonwoven that can be obtained by the installation is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: ANDRITZ ASSELIN-THIBEAU S.A.S.Inventors: Jean-Christophe Laune, Hugues Leroy
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Publication number: 20160083882Abstract: An installation for consolidating a batt of fibers, for example a nonwoven web, includes a mechanical consolidation workstation using needlepunching from which the fiber batt emerges in a machine or MD direction. A device is provided downstream of the consolidation workstation for stretching in the cross or CD direction which is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the machine direction, and parallel to the plane of the batt, particularly before it is wound onto a reel. A consolidated nonwoven that can be obtained by the installation is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Jean-Christophe LAUNE, Hugues LEROY
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Patent number: 6434795Abstract: An installation includes a carding machine (1), and a distributor-layer (2) depositing the card (1) web (6) in a reciprocating motion on a delivery belt (8) moving transversely. The resulting intermediate lap (16) is conveyed to a needling loom (3) to produce a consolidated lap (24). A measuring station (28) scans the consolidated lap (24) profile and transmits it to a processing unit (32) where the profile is compared to a set reference input by a terminal (33). The variations in width cause a corresponding modification in the width deposited by the distributor-layer (2) by a link (36). The local surface weight variations cause a corresponding modification of the controls applied to the carding machine (1) capable of longitudinally profiling the web (6). The invention is useful for controlling an installation for obtaining a finished product.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: AsselinInventors: Bernard Jourde, Robert Jean, Jean-Christophe Laune
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Patent number: 6195844Abstract: A carding machine or other web production device [(1)] supplies a crosslapper [(2)] with two elementary webs [(15a, 15b)] constituting a lappable web [(16)] which is deposited in a reciprocating manner on a transverse output belt [(26)]. In the device [(1) means of] adjustment of the speed of rotation of doffers [(13a, 13b)], of condensers [(17, 18)], of detachers [(19a, 19b)], of the drum [(4)] and/or of the feeder [(7)], and/or [means of] adjustment of the drum-doffer spacing affect the weight per unit area of the elementary web produced taking account of the weight per unit area desired at each point in the width of the fleece [(67)] to be formed on the output belt [(26)]. There is determined the delay length exhibited by each elementary web cross-section undergoing the adjustment of weight with respect to the section of lappable web in the process of being deposited.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1997Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: AsselinInventors: Bernard Jourde, Jean-Christophe Laune, Robert Jean
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Patent number: 5819383Abstract: A brush conveyor, such as a velvet needling machine, has an assembly of contiguous brushes disposed in transverse rows, and a drive source for this assembly of brushes which forms a conveying plane having a predetermined direction of displacement to constitute an upper face of the conveyor. Each brush includes a body including, on its upper face, holes which are provided for receiving a tuft of hair and, on its lower face, connecting apparatus to fasten this brush to a drive source. The drive source has several parallel drive belts or chains placed between at least two drive cylinders running in the same direction. The conveyor also has a support structure for supporting the brush bodies forming the conveying plane. This support structure includes a support table having several flat support parts separated by spaces provided for the drive belts or chains.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: AsselinInventors: Bernard Jourde, Jean-Christophe Laune, Robert Jean
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Patent number: 5476703Abstract: A lap is produced in a spreading lapping machine (2) by successively folding a fiber web from a card (1), whereafter the lap is drawn in a drawing machine (4). The drawing machine (4) is provided with rotatable devices having peripheral fittings with spikes that are driven into the core of the lap. The degree of drawing is adjusted in such a way that most fibers in the drawn product are arranged in two directions which are substantially symmetrical relative to the lengthwise direction of said drawn product, and lie at an angle of 30.degree.-60.degree. C. relative thereto. The method is particularly useful for improving the mechanical properties of lapped products.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: December 19, 1995Assignee: Asselin (Societe Anonyme)Inventors: Jean-Rene Wattel, Jean-Christophe Laune, Bernard Jourde
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Patent number: 5454145Abstract: A high-quality nonwoven product is manufactured by making use of an intermediate product in which the majority of fibers are distributed in two orientations which form an angle with each other. The intermediate product is fed to a spreading and lap-forming machine (13A, 13B) which deposits the intermediate product in alternate pleats on its delivery belt so as to form a lap of superposed layers such that the majority orientations of the fibers within each layer form an angle with the majority orientations of the fibers of the contiguous layers, and the lap is subjected to a fixing treatment, for example by means of a needle-punching machine (14A, 14B).Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Asselin (Societe Anonyme)Inventors: Jean-Rene Wattel, Jean-Christophe Laune, Bernard Jourde