Abstract: A process for producing a filament assembly composed of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, includes the step of melt extruding a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer through an orifice nozzle into a high-speed fluid to thereby hold filaments spun right under the spinning nozzle at a high temperature, so that the filaments are taken up at a high draft ratio by the frictional force of the high-speed fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonwoven fabric of stretched filaments of different kind polymers, having a strength equal to that of a woven fabric and features including an elongation, a uniformity, good feeling, a bulkiness and a thinness, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric is provided with stretched filament webs comprising long filaments formed out of a plural kinds of thermoplastic polymers of different properties, the long filaments as a whole being aligned in one direction, and a method for manufacturing the same. The invention provides also a nonwoven fabric of stretched filaments having a high strength as well as a high bulkiness and comprising different kind polymers which is provided with a first web layer of crimped filaments and a second web layer of substantially non-crimped, stretched long filaments, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonwoven fabric of stretched filaments of different kind polymers, having a strength equal to that of a woven fabric and features including an elongation, a uniformity, good feeling, a bulkiness and a thinness, characterized in that the nonwoven fabric is provided with stretched filament webs comprising long filaments formed out of a plural kinds of thermoplastic polymers of different properties, the long filaments as a whole being aligned in one direction, and a method for manufacturing the same. The invention provides also a nonwoven fabric of stretched filaments having a high strength as well as a high bulkiness and comprising different kind polymers which is provided with a first web layer of crimped filaments and a second web layer of substantially non-crimped, stretched long filaments, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A device for transversely stretching a web includes a pair of pulleys arranged in the substantially same plane and rotating in the opposite directions to each other and a pair of belts running around the pulleys, respectively. The web is widthwise stretched, by gripping opposite side edges thereof by the pulleys and the belts and conveying the web in a divergent manner. At least one pair of pressing rolls are provided at an inclination relative to the belts for pressing the opposite side edges of the web onto the belts prior to being gripped between the pulleys and the belts. According to this structure, a device for transversely stretching a web is realized which is capable of effectively preventing the web from being dropped from the grip.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive web widening apparatus which is suitable for the manufacture of a widened web having a large width and a lightweight web while maintaining a high widening ratio and the uniformity of the web and can be operated with ease at a high efficiency comprises a widening tool in contact with the web, having first and second groups of widening plates arranged in a width direction of the web to face each other, at least one pair of cross guiders which can nip both side end portions of the web, and guide means for moving the widening plates of the first and second groups in such a manner that the interval between the widening plates expands gradually as they rotate and then narrows gradually.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a nonwoven fabric which is excellent in bulkiness and touch feeling as well as strength and dimensional stability and to provide a method for producing the above nonwoven fabric through a simple and convenient manner without employing any particular spinning device. The invention relates to a bulky nonwoven fabric composed of a stretched filament web which is prepared from either at least one layer of a stretched unidirectionally arranged filament web which is composed of almost unidirectionally arranged long fibers being stretched and shrunk or a stretched crosswise laminated filament web made of two or more layers of the stretched unidirectionally arranged filament webs and a short fiber web which is entangled with said stretched filament web and is crimped as a result of shrinkage of the long fibers, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A web spreading apparatus for transversely spreading a web, such as a split web formed of a longitudinally uniaxially stretched film, includes a spreading means arranged in a travelling path of the web for transversely spreading the web. The spreading means comprises a curved rod-like member and projections arranged generally circumferentially about an axis of the curved rod-like member. The curved rod-like member is arranged so that the concave side is directed forward and the convex side is directed rearward, in the web travelling direction, and the projections are rotatable about the axis of the curved rod-like member at a speed higher than the travelling speed of the web. In one aspect, the curved rod-like member comprises a curved shaft and an outer tube arranged about the curved shaft and rotatable relative to the curved shaft, the projections being formed between the grooves cut on the outer tube. In another aspect, the projections are formed of a spring arranged about the curved rod-like member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prepreg obtained by stretching a material including, as a main component, an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, to a total draw ratio of at least 20, subjecting the resulting stretched polyethylene material to a splitting treatment, and impregnating the resulting material with a thermosetting resin. The split stretched polyethylene material has improved adhesion to the impregnant resin and can be used as a good base material for prepreg.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the continuous production of a polyethylene material having high strength and high modulus of elasticity by rolling an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene film or film like material and then drawing the rolled material, wherein a thermoplastic resin film having incorporated therein at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a coloring agent, a weathering stabilizer, an antistatic agent, a hydrophilicity-imparting agent, an adhesion promoter and a dyeability-imparting agent is laminated to the film material in the rolling step and the resulting polyethylene material is further slit or split as required. This method makes it easy to color the polyethylene material having high strength and high modulus of elasticity and to impart weather resistance and other desirable properties thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prepreg obtained by stretching a material including, as a main component, an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, to a total draw ratio of at least 20, subjecting the resulting stretched polyethylene material to a splitting treatment, and impregnating the resulting material with a thermosetting resin, and a process for producing said prepreg. The split stretched polyethylene material has improved adhesion to the impregnant resin and can be used as a good base material for prepreg.

Abstract: The present invention provides a split polyethylene stretched material having a tensile strength of at least 0.7 GPa when twisted in the range of 50-500 times/m, which material is produced by subjecting a polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, i.e. an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene to stretching and then subjecting the stretched polyethylene to splitting, as well as a process for producing said material. The split polyethylene stretched material according to the present invention has a large surface area and accordingly can be easily laminated to other materials, and has a high strength and flexibility.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a perforated web comprising an endless masking plate arranged above a continuously conveyed web. The masking plate has a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern, the masking plate being adapted so as to be continuously circulated. The light is irradiated to the web via the masking plate so that apertures or slits are formed in the web corresponding to the apertures of the masking plate. The light may be a laser, an infrared light, or an ultraviolet light, and the light from the source is diverged transversely about the web and converged longitudinally about the web.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric is characterized by including a filament layer in which one or more continuous filaments composed of a polymeric material are spirally collected substantially along a shape obtained by offsetting an ellipse having an elongated major axis in a plane. This non-woven fabric can be obtained by spinning a filament composed of a polymeric material, vibrating the filament, amplifying vibration of the filament, and collecting the filament into an elliptic shape having an elongated major axis so that the filament is arranged in a direction of the major axis.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus which comprises:means for supplying a band-like member,means for stretching the band-like member in at least lateral direction thereof, the lateral stretch means comprising a unit for running the band-like member to spread out the member so that it forms a sector (an unfolded fan) and a unit for detachably gripping the regions (or margins) of the band-like member respectively near the opposite widthwise ends thereof so that they are detachable from the running unit, andmeans for winding the stretched band-like member around an article for the wrapping thereof.As one embodiment of the present invention, a method for wrapping an article with said wrapping apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A film is delivered from a delivery roller and another film is delivered from another delivery roller. The two films are introduced between a heater and a receiver. The heater presses the two films against the receiver to bond the films. Then, the rear end of the film is cut off with fusing and the front end of another film is cut off with fusing by wire heaters. The bonded film is transferred through drive and pinch rolls to an accumulator for storing the film and is spread to open slits by holding rolls to form a longitudinal web, which is laminated on a lateral web manufactured in another process to form a reticulate non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An improved method for producing a reticular nonwoven fabric in which the velocity of the transversely stretching line step can be much increased by providing the transversely stretching step with a longitudinally orienting step, thereby accelerating the whole production line. The method of the invention includes the continuous steps of: a first feeding step to feed a first film material; a longitudinally stretching step to stretch the first film material; a splitting step to split the longitudinally the stretched first film material; a laterally spreading step to spread the split film; a second feeding step to feed a second film material; a longitudinally orienting step to orient the second film material; a transversely slitting step to slit the oriented second film material; a transversely stretching step to stretch the slit second film material; and a laminating step to laminate the first film material with the second film material.

Abstract: A pair of stretching pulleys are rotatably mounted on a pair of support plates within a housing. A belt is wound around the upper part of the stretching pulley and a number of turn pulleys. A film introduced onto the stretching pulley is held between the belt and the stretching pulley and is transferred. Air flow generated by a fan and heated with a heater is blown against the film through a louver and circulates through bellows mounted to the housing to return to the fan. The stretching pulley is partially cooled in a water bath. The support plates are rotatably connected to screw shafts, thereby changing a distance and angle between the plates. The stretch width or stretch ratio of the film is thus adjusted with the change of the distance and angle.

Abstract: A rotary splitting tool for splitting a web of plastic material to fabricate a fibrillated web, comprising a rotatable body having a plurality of transverse ridges provided on the periphery in a circumferentially equidistant relationship and extending generally parallel to the central rotation axis, and rows of cutting edges provided on the transverse ridges, respectively. Convex walls are provided on the periphery of the body between the adjacent transverse ridges. The convex wall means receives a web to be split so that oscillation of the web during repeated operations of the cutting edges can be minimized to reduce noise and prevent irregular slits.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for heat-setting a non-woven fabric in which a warp web and a weft web is cross-laminated, the fabric is gripped at least at its opposite side edges by and between an outer peripheral surface of a hot cylinder and an endless belt normally tensioned against that outer peripheral surface. Widthwise shrinkage is fully prevented during travel of the fabric around the hot cylinder, and firm bonding of the warp and weft webs is attained.

Abstract: A method for the continuous preparation of a polyethylene having high strength and high modulus of elasticity is here disclosed which comprises the steps of mixing 100 parts by weight of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene powder having an intrinsic viscosity of 5 to 50 dl/g in decalin at 135.degree. C. with 2 to 50 parts by weight of a liquid organic compound having a boiling point higher than the melting point of the polyethylene, feeding the resulting mixture to between a pair of upper and lower endless belts facing each other, continuously compression-molding the mixture at a temperature less than the melting point of the mixture by pressing means disposed inside the endless belts, and rolling and then drawing the same.