Of Filament Patents (Class 264/210.8)
  • Patent number: 6764623
    Abstract: Polyester multi-filamentary yarn, useful as tire reinforcement, is produced by melting polyester resin at 290° C. or below including at least 90 mol % of polyethylene terephthalate with intrinsic viscosity of 0.7-1.2; filtering the molten resin for filtering retention time of ten minutes or below; spinning the filtered, molten resin by extrusion through a nozzle which has 250-500 holes, each ranging in diameter from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm with a length/diameter ratio from 2 to 5; primarily quenching the extruded yarn at a temperature of 100-195° C. in a zone of 50 mm or more distance directly below the nozzle; secondarily quenching the yarn with air at its glass transition temperature (Tg) or below; taking off the yarn at spinning stress of 0.3 g/d or greater; drawing taken-off yarn at total draw ratio of 1.3 or greater; and thermally treating the yarn at temperature 150-230° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Joong Kim, Gi Woong Kim, Seung Oh Lee
  • Patent number: 6756000
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for the manufacture of multifilament yarn, including the steps of extruding multifilaments of a polymer containing at least mole 85 percent L-lactide and not more than 15 mole percent glycolide, spinning the extruded multifilaments to form a spun yarn, passing the spun multifilament yarn through an orientation roll heated at a temperature of less than 98° C. and drawing the spun multifilament yarn to a draw ratio of at least 4:1 to form an oriented multifilament fiber, annealing the oriented multifilament yarn at a temperature greater than that of the orientation roll, and redrawing the annealed, oriented multifilament yarn by at least 10 percent at a temperature lower than the temperature of annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Antal, Gaoyuan G. Chen, Dominick Egidio, Anthony Tiano, Edward Walker
  • Publication number: 20040119187
    Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for spinning polyaniline fiber, a method for spinning electrically conductive polyaniline fiber, a method for exchanging dopants in polyaniline fibers, and methods for dedoping and redoping polyaniline fibers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Mattes, Phillip N. Adams, Dali Yang, Lori A. Brown, Andrei G. Fadeev, Ian D. Norris
  • Patent number: 6752945
    Abstract: A process of making polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, including (a) providing polytrimethylene terephthalate, (b) melt spinning the melted polytrimethylene terephthalate at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments, (c) quenching the filaments, (d) drawing the quenched filaments, (e) crimping the drawn filaments using a mechanical crimper at a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm), (f) relaxing the crimped filaments at a temperature of 50-120° C., and (g) cutting the relaxed filaments into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm), and polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, yarns and fabrics. Further, a process of optimizing the crimp take-up of a polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fiber including determining the relationship between denier and crimp take-up and manufacturing staple fibers having a denier selected based upon that determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Ismael A. Hernandez, Geoffrey David Hietpas, James M. Howell, Claudia Schultze
  • Publication number: 20040113309
    Abstract: New fibrous nonwoven webs are taught that comprise a mass of polyethylene terephthalate fibers that exhibit a double melting peak on a DSC plot: one peak is representative of a first molecular portion within the fiber that is in non-chain-extended crystalline form, and the other peak is representative of a second molecular portion within the fiber that is in chain-extended crystalline form and has a melting point elevated over that of the non-chain-extended crystalline form. Webs comprising fibers having such a morphology have a unique combination of durability and dimensional stability. The fibers are generally autogenously bonded at points of fiber intersection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Delton R. Thompson, David A. Olson, David C. Brownlee, Pamela A. Percha, Myles L. Brostrom
  • Publication number: 20040113308
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making yarns, fibres and filaments based on polyamide, and yarns, fibres and filaments obtainable by said method. The invention concerns a method for making yarns, fibres and filaments based on a polyamide composition having a molecular structure for enhancing overall productivity of the spinning process, in particular by improving the capacity for drawing the yarns produced thereby providing, for example, for a single identical spinning speed a much higher yarn meterage produced per time unit after drawing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Florence Clement, Arnaud Koscher, Pierre Pak
  • Patent number: 6743505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of forming bioabsorbable, multifilament yarn from Lactide-rich copolymers, including the steps of extruding and spinning a Lactide-rich copolymer to form a spun multifilament yarn, pre-tensioning the spun multifilament yarn to form a pre-tensioned yarn, heating the pre-tensioned yarn to form a pre-tensioned, preheated yarn, annealing and drawing the pre-tensioned, preheated yarn for a first time, annealing and drawing the yarn for a second time, cooling the twice-drawn yarn to a lower temperature, and taking-up the cooled multifilament yarn, to yarns prepared by the process and to medical devices prepared from such yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Antal, Gaoyuan Chen, Dominick Egidio, Anthony Tiano, Edward Walker
  • Patent number: 6743388
    Abstract: A method including forming a semi-crystalline polymer material into a lamella; and stretching the lamella into a polymer including a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation. A method including extruding a pseudo-gel including an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material into a lamella; stretching the lamella into a polymer including a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation; and annealing the polymer at a temperature sufficient to define the node and fibril orientation. An apparatus including a body portion formed of a dimension suitable for a medical device application and including a semi-crystalline polymer arrayed in a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation. An apparatus including a body portion including an ultra-high molecular polyethylene material arrayed in a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasan Sridharan, Murthy V. Simhambhatla
  • Publication number: 20040099985
    Abstract: A process for forming flexible noise attenuating cutting line for use in rotary vegetation trimmers formed of at least two monofilament polymer strands bonded together in a twisted disposition or a single strand twisted about its central axis in which the strand or strands are extruded in a molten disposition through a single die that is rotated during the extruding step either to twist the two strands together about a central longitudinal axis or a single strand about its own longitudinal axis such that upon cooling, stretching and heating, a flexible noise attenuating line is created in a continuous online process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Richard A. Proulx, William P. Conley, Rodger D. Thomason
  • Patent number: 6740404
    Abstract: HMLS filaments consisting of a polyester, from 0.1 to 2.5% by weight of an incompatible, thermoplastic, amorphous, polymeric additive having a glass transition temperature of from 90 to 170° C. and a ratio of its melt viscosity to that of the polyester component of from 1:1 to 7:1, and from 0 to 5.0% by weight of conventional additives, where the polymeric additive is present in the filaments in the form of fibrils having a mean diameter of ≦80 nm. Process for the production of these HMLS filaments by static mixing with shearing of the polyester and of the polymeric additive and, optionally, of the additives, spinning of the mixture at a spinning take-off speed of from 2500 to 4000 m/min to give spun filaments which are stretched, heat-set and wound up, where the concentration of the polymeric additive is determined as a function of the pre-specified spinning take-off speed and the desired birefringence of the spun filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Zimmer AG
    Inventors: Joachim Cziollek, Werner Mrose, Dietmar Wandel, Helmut Schwind, Wolfgang Janas, Werner Ude
  • Patent number: 6740270
    Abstract: This invention is a spin draw process for making partially oriented yarn from polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) which comprises the steps of: (a) extruding and spinning PTT in forming a monofilament or multifilament yarn therefrom, (b) heating the yarn by contacting it with a first pair of godets moving at a speed in and at a temperature set to give a yarn temperature above the glass transition temperature and less than the cold crystallization temperature of PTT, (c) drawing the yarn between the first godet pair and a second pair of godets moving at a speed and a temperature of from 45 to 120° C. and having a draw ratio of 0.7 to 3.0, and (d) winding the yarns at the speed of 1 to 15% less than that of the second godet pair at a yarn temperature less than the glass transition temperature of PTT yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Charles Chiu-Hsiung Hwo, Hoe Hin Chuah, Houston Slade Brown, Kailash Dangayach, Paul Karol Casey
  • Patent number: 6740722
    Abstract: An acrylic fiber having cotton-like properties with modified, internal void structure and optical characteristics, the acrylic fiber comprising a BYK Gardner Luster (BYL) reflectance measurement of less than about 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Capone, Danny W. Carter, C. Wayne Emerson
  • Patent number: 6737009
    Abstract: A system and process for producing spunbond nonwoven fabric in which two or more polymeric components are separately melted and are separately directed through a distribution plate configured so that the separate molten polymer components combine at a multiplicity of spinnerette orifices to form filaments containing the two or more polymer components. Multicomponent filaments are extruded from the spinnerette orifices into a quench chamber where quench air is directed from a first independently controllable blower and into contact with the filaments to cool and solidify the filaments. The filaments and the quench air are directed into and through a filament attenuator and the filaments are pneumatically attenuated and stretched. The filaments are directed from the attenuator into and through a filament depositing unit and are deposited randomly upon a moving continuous air-permeable belt to form a nonwoven web of substantially continuous filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Taylor, Robert C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6737004
    Abstract: A microfiber substrate of improved carding ability and its manufacturing method, and more particularly a micro-fiber spun by conjugated melting of crystallization difference of high crystallization polymer and low crystallization polyester, drawn to form an unsplit microfiber staple having a layer of thin film in its surrounding, the microfiber staple which is still kept in unsplitting state during opening, carding and lapping treatment, will be split just at the layer of thin layer of its surrounding of the microfiber staple by spunlace to completely split from the microfiber, knitted to form water-jet punch web, then subject to hot water to shrink to densification. The microfiber nonwoven web excellent in the wiping effect, cleaning effect and microfiber artificial leather excellent in the hand feeling and fluff compaction without environment pollution is enabled to offer the artificial leather more cheaply and easily finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: San Fang Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Tang Wang, Mong-Ching Lin, Kuo-Kuang Cheng, Chin-Yi Lin
  • Publication number: 20040084802
    Abstract: Improvements in preventing heat- and moisture-shrink problems in specific polypropylene tape fibers are provided. Such tape fibers are basically manufactured through the initial production of polypropylene films or tubes which are then slit into very thin, though flat (and having very high cross sectional aspect ratios) tape fibers thereafter. These inventive tape fibers (and thus the initial films and/or tubes) require the presence of relatively high amounts of certain compounds that quickly and effectively provide rigidity to the target polypropylene tape fiber. Generally, these compounds include any structure that nucleates polymer crystals within the target polypropylene after exposure to sufficient heat to melt the initial pelletized polymer and allowing such an oriented polymer to cool. The compounds must nucleate polymer crystals at a higher temperature than the target polypropylene without the nucleating agent during cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Brian G. Morin, Martin E. Cowan, Jack A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040084796
    Abstract: A side-by-side or eccentric sheath-core bicomponent fiber wherein each component comprises a different poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composition and wherein at least one of the compositions comprises styrene polymer dispersed throughout the poly(trimethylene terephthalate), and preparation and use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Jing C. Chang, Joseph V. Kurian, Ray W. Miller
  • Patent number: 6723267
    Abstract: The invention relates to a highly oriented polyolefin fiber containing polyolefin with an intrinsic viscosity of at least 5 dl/g, which fiber has a tensile strength of at least 26 cN/dtex and a modulus of tension of at least 700 cN/dtex, a process for the preparation thereof and the use in ropes or anti-ballistic shaped articles. The invention also relates to improved ropes and anti-ballistic shaped articles. The highly oriented polyolefin fiber according to the invention has improved properties in applications such as, in particular, anti-ballistic shaped articles since the fiber contains 0.05-5 wt. % of a solvent for the polyolefin (relative to the total fiber weight).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: DSM N.V.
    Inventors: Joseph A. P. M. Simmelink, Jacobus J. Mencke
  • Patent number: 6719937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing polyamide fibers having properties suitable and compatible for use as fibers for the manufacture of felt for paper machines. The process of the invention relates more particularly to the addition of stabilizers to the polyamide in order to obtain polyamide fibers having high properties, especially high resistance to light, heat and aggressive environments. The process of the invention consists in adding the stabilizer directly to the polyamide, without producing a preblend, and then in mixing the polyamide with the additive in an extruder for feeding the composition into a die for obtaining filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Rhodia Performance Fibres
    Inventors: Hartmut Kratzke, Jürgen Lasch
  • Publication number: 20040061253
    Abstract: An electro spinning process yields uniform, nanometer diameter polymer filaments. A thread-forming polymer is extruded through an anodically biased die orifice and drawn through an anodically biased electrostatic field. A continuous polymer filament is collected on a grounded collector. The polymer filament is linearly oriented and highly uniform in quality. The filament is particularly useful for weaving body armor, for chemical/biological protective clothing, as a biomedical tissue growth support, for fabricating micro sieves and for microelectronics fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: James Kleinmeyer, Joseph Deitzel, James Hirvonen
  • Patent number: 6709623
    Abstract: Improvements to processes and equipment for the manufacture of nonwoven webs useful in numerous applications including personal care, protective apparel, and industrial products. The fiber and/or filaments used to form the nonwoven fabric are deposited on a forming surface in a controlled orientation using application of an electrostatic charge to the fibers and/or filaments in combination with directing them to an electrode deflector plate while under the influence of the charge. The plate may be made up of teeth with a separation and angle orientation that are selected in accordance with the desired arrangement of the fibers and/or filaments in the nonwoven web. As a result, properties of the web such as relative strengths in the machine direction and cross-machine direction can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan David Haynes, Matthew Boyd Lake, Hannong Rhim
  • Publication number: 20040051200
    Abstract: Process for producing fibres, film, casings and other products from modified soluble cellulose wherein the initial cellulose is hydrothermally treated at a temperature in the 100-200° C. range, under a pressure in the range from about 0.1 to 1.5 Mpa in a water/cellulose ration on a weight basis of at least 1:1 in the presence of a complex activator composed of Lewis acids and/or bases and/or their salts in an amount of at least 0.0001% by weight calculated on cellulose. The obtained modified cellulose pulp after, a possible purification, is in a dry or never dried condition, dissolved in an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxides. The dissolving is carried out at a temperature not lower than 0° C. for 1-120 minutes to obtain a homogenous spinning solution with the cellulose concentration at least 1% by weight. The alkaline cellulose solution is filtered, deaerated and coagulated by contacting it with water or aqueous acidic solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Henryk Struszczyk, Dariusz Wawro, Alojzy Urbanowski, Wlodzimierz Mikolajczyk, Pawel Strarostka
  • Publication number: 20040048065
    Abstract: Provide a manufacturing method for polyester yarn excellent in yarn transferring, packaging and loosing with no white powder occurred when weaving, which is heating polyester polymer of inherent viscosity (IV) 0.5˜0.7 and melting point of 245˜265° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Zo-Chun Jen
  • Publication number: 20040041307
    Abstract: A method of forming 3-dimensional fibers into a web is disclosed. The method includes the steps of co-extruding a first component and a second component. The first component has a recovery percentage R1 and the second component has a recovery percentage R2, wherein R1 is higher than R2 The first and second components are directed through a spin pack to form a plurality of continuous, molten fibers. The molten fibers are then routed through a quenching chamber to form a plurality of continuous cooled fibers. The cooled fibers are then routed through a drawing unit to form a plurality of continuous, solid linear fibers. Each of the solid fibers is then stretched by at least 50 percent before it is allowed to relax. The relaxation step forms the linear fibers into a plurality of continuous 3-dimensional fibers each having a coiled configuration over at least a portion of its length. The continuous 3-dimensional, coiled fibers are then deposited onto a moving support to form a web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev, Bernhardt Edward Kressner, Gregory James Wideman
  • Publication number: 20040041308
    Abstract: A method of forming bicomponent fibers into a web is disclosed. The method includes the steps of co-extruding a first component and a second component. The first component has a recovery percentage R1 and the second component has a recovery percentage R2, wherein R1 is higher than R2 The first and second components are directed through a spin pack to form a plurality of continuous, molten fibers. The plurality of molten fibers is then routed through a quenching chamber to form a plurality of continuous cooled fibers. The plurality of continuous cooled fibers is then routed through a drawing unit to form a plurality of continuous, solid linear fibers. The linear fibers are then deposited onto a moving support, such as a forming wire, to form an accumulation of fibers. The accumulation of fibers are stabilized and bonded to form a web. The web is then stretched by at least 50 percent in at least one direction before being allowed to relax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev, Susan Elaine Shawver, Gregory James Wideman, Matthew Joseph Graham
  • Publication number: 20040032048
    Abstract: A hollow quench stick tube capable of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments comprises in one embodiment a hollow cooling tube connected to a hollow support tube, a finish applicator that substantially surrounds the hollow support tube, and a spoiler skirt that substantially surrounds the hollow cooling tube and that is spaced apart from the finish applicator to define a spoiler void. In operation, the spoiler skirt diverts a flow of air to create a partial vacuum in the spoiler void that draws a filament stream inwardly against the finish applicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Terence Ernest Turner, Jeffrey Emmett Stine, Sidney Henry Goode
  • Patent number: 6692601
    Abstract: A unique isotropic sub-denier spunbond nonwoven product created by an apparatus and method comprising a unique multi-head resin metering system, a spinneret head with spinning sections, separated by a quench fluid extraction zone, a two sided, multilevel quench system, a fluid volume control infuser system which automatically guides the filaments into the filament drawing system while conserving energy by using a portion of the quench fluid as part of the drawing fluid and also minimizing turbulence at the entrance to the draw slot. The filament drawing system comprises a draw jet assembly with adjustable primary and secondary jet-nozzles and a variable width draw jet-slot. The entire draw jet assembly is moveable vertically for filament optimization. The offset, constant flow secondary jet-nozzle system provides an unexpectedly high velocity increment to the filaments by oscillating the filaments and increasing their drag resulting in remarkably low fiber denier on the order of 0.5 to 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald C. Najour, Gregory F. Ward
  • Patent number: 6692671
    Abstract: A process for producing a polyester fiber by melt spinning a polyester having at least 90% or more by weight of poly(trimethylene terphthalate), the process including rapidly cooling to solidify molten filaments extruded from a spinning nozzle, winding the solidified filaments around a first roll heated at from 30 to 80° C. and having a peripheral speed of from 300 to 3,500 in/mm without the filaments being wound thereon, delivering the filaments to a second roll heated at from 100 to 160° C. to be wound around its peripheral surface, whereby the filaments are drawn at a draw ratio of 1.3 to 4 between the first roll and the second roll having a peripheral speed higher than that of the first roll, and subsequently winding the filaments on a take-up winder having a peripheral speed lower than that of the second roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Fujimoto, Jinichiro Kato
  • Patent number: 6692687
    Abstract: Highly crimped, fully drawn bicomponent fibers, prepared by melt-spinning, followed by gas-flow quenching, heat treatment and high speed windup, are provided, as are fine-decitex and highly uniform polyester bicomponent fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Jing Chung Chang, Joseph V. Kurian, Young D. Nguyen, James E. Van Trump, George Vassilatos
  • Publication number: 20040026818
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing and winding POY filaments not less than 90% by weight PET, based on the total weight of the POY, at spinning takeoff speeds above 3 800 m/min, which comprises
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Alexander Klein, Dietmar Wandel
  • Publication number: 20040013877
    Abstract: A self-crimping multicomponent fiber is manufactured utilizing the same-polymer components including at least one polymer component having a higher viscosity than at least one other polymer component. Crimping of the fiber is induced during fiber formation by achieving an effective crystallinity differential between the differing viscosity polymer components. The effective crystallinity differential may be obtained by varying a number of parameters during fiber formation, including the viscosity differential between polymer components and the transverse cross-sectional geometries of the differing viscosity components. Other factors, such as selecting a suitable drawing tension for the fiber can influence the crystallinity differential between differing viscosity components and thus resultant fiber crimp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Vikas Nadkarni
  • Patent number: 6680021
    Abstract: A meltblowing method and system for dispensing first and second fluids from corresponding first and second orifices of a die assembly to form a meltblown first fluid filament. The die assembly directs the first and second fluid flows parallelly, or divergently, or directs two second fluid flows convergently toward a common first fluid flow, whereby the first and second fluids are dispensed from orifices at equal first fluid flow rates and equal second fluid flow rates. The die assembly is compressably retained between opposing end plates coupled to an adapter for further coupling to a main manifold having a fluid metering device for supplying first fluid to the die assembly. The meltblown filaments are depositing onto a moving substrate by vacillating the filament non-parallel to a direction of substrate movement, whereby vacillation a first fluid flow is controllable by an angle between the first fluid flow and one or more flanking second fluid flows, among other variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Toolworks Inc.
    Inventors: Kui-Chiu Kwok, Edward W. Bolyard, Jr., Leonard E. Riggan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040007794
    Abstract: Improved polypropylene fibers exhibiting greatly reduced heat- and moisture-shrink problems and including certain compounds that quickly and effectively provide rigidity to the target polypropylene fiber after heat-setting are disclosed herein. In such a manner, the “rigidifying” compounds provide nucleation sites for polypropylene crystal growth. After drawing the nucleated composition into fiber form, the fiber is then exposed to sufficient heat to grow the crystalline network, thus holding the fiber in a desired position. The preferred “rigidifying” compounds include dibenzylidene sorbitol based compounds, as well as less preferred compounds, such as sodium benzoate, certain sodium and lithium phosphate salts (such as sodium 2,2′-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, otherwise known as NA-11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Brian G. Morin, Nathan A. Mehl, William S. Parks
  • Publication number: 20040009352
    Abstract: A process for preparing poly(trimethylene terephthalate) fibers comprising (a) providing a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composition comprising about 0.05 to about 5 mole % tetramethylene terephthalate repeat units and (b) spinning the polymer composition to form fibers. Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) fiber comprising poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composition comprising about 0.05 to about 5 mole % tetramethylene terephthalate repeat units, as well as yarns, fabrics (e.g., woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics) and carpets. A poly(trimethylene terephthalate) composition comprising about 0.05 to about 5 mole % tetramethylene terephthalate repeat units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jing C. Chang, Joseph V. Kurian
  • Patent number: 6669889
    Abstract: The invention relates to high-strength polyethylene fibers of mainly ethylene component having an intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;], when fibrous, of no less than 5, and having a strength of no less than 20 g/d and an elasticity modulus of no less than 500 g/d, and, in the measurement of the temperature variance of the dynamic viscoelasticity of the fibers, the &ggr; dispersion loss modulus peak temperature is no greater than −110° C. and the loss tangent (tan &dgr;) is no greater than 0.03.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: DSM N.V.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohta, Godo Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6669888
    Abstract: Process of making polypropylene fibers obtained from an isotactic polypropylene homopolymer with an isotactic index of 90-99%, through melt-spinning or through drawing after melt-spinning, and shows two differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) endothermic peaks between 155 and 170 ° C. When being thermally bonded with each other, the fibers are made into non-woven fabrics which have excellent strength in addition to being soft. A high quality of the non-woven fabrics can be produced in a high speed carding machine with high yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Pyung Yul Park, Won Jun Chey
  • Patent number: 6667003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of synthetic fibers from a melt mixture of fiber forming matrix polymers, wherein at least one second amorphous additive polymer, which is immiscible with the fiber forming matrix polymer, is added to the fiber forming matrix polymers in a quantity of 0.05-5 wt % (with reference to the total weight of fiber forming matrix polymer and the additive copolymer). The additive polymer is obtained by multiple initiation. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to the synthetic fibers produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Zimmer A.G.
    Inventors: Helmut Schwind, Werner Ude, Wolfgang Janas, Alexander Klein, Bernd Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 6667096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production and for the spooling of preoriented polyester filaments comprising at least 90 weight %, relative to the total weight of the polyester filament, of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and/or polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTMT), preferably of PTMT, characterized in that: a) the spinline extension ratio is set in the range of 70 to 500; b) the filaments, immediately after exiting from the spinning nozzles, pass through a cooling delay zone from 30 mm to 200 mm in length; c) the filaments are cooled off to below the solidification temperature; d) the filaments are bundled at a distance of between 500 mm and 2500 mm from the lower side of the spinneret plate; e) the tension of the thread in front of and between the draw-off galettes is set to between 0.05 cN/dtex to 0.20 cN/dtex; f) the thread is spooled with a tension of the thread of between 0.025 cN/dtex to 0.15 cN/dtex; g) the spooling speed is adjusted to between 2200 m/min. and 3500 m/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Zimmer A.G.
    Inventors: Dietmar Wandel, Achim Dulling, Ulrich Mirwaldt, Alexander Klein
  • Patent number: 6663806
    Abstract: Fine denier poly(trimethylene terephthalate) feed yarns and drawn yarns wherein the drawn yarns are characterized by a denier per filament less than 1.5 and are drawn such that the actual draw ratio is within 10 percent of the predicted draw ratio determined according to: [(elongation to break of the feed yarn)+115]/[(elongation to break of the drawn yarn)+115)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: James M. Howell, Joe Forrest London, Jr., Michelle H. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6663823
    Abstract: A process for making a nonwoven fabric in which continuous fibers are evenly distributed and neither bundles nor lumps of the fibers, includes a guide box for continuous fibers being provided between extruding nozzles adapted to discharge the continuous fibers under hot air blast and a conveyor belt. The box has an upper end opening and a lower end opening being larger than the upper end opening. The continuous fibers are subjected to a suction effect provided from below the guide box so that the continuous fibers may be secondarily stretched and thereby thinned within the guide box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Kobayashi, Satoru Tange
  • Patent number: 6660218
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a draw jet for drawing thermoplastic polymer filaments including a drawing slot defined by an entrance member including a converging passageway communicating with a continuing passageway, terminating at an outlet portion, a drawing member including an inlet portion having a drawing gap width of about 2.0 to about 10 mm communicating with the outlet portion of the entrance member, and at least one air nozzle for directing high speed air onto the filaments in a downstream direction positioned between the outlet portion of the entrance member and the inlet portion of the drawing member, and with a nozzle gap width wherein the gap ratio of the drawing gap width to the combined width of all of the nozzle gaps is from about 1.0 to about 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Davis, Edgar N. Rudisill, Michael John Moore, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030222374
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric of synthetic fiber with scented matter. The process consists of producing a molten mass of thermoplastic resin, inserting a base mixture into the mass containing microcapsules of a scented substance, extruding the mass and drawing the extruded filaments, and using the extruded threads to create a web of nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Massimiliano Castellari, Silvia Ferranti
  • Patent number: 6656583
    Abstract: High strength polyester fibers comprising from 0.1 to 2.0 by weight of an incompatible, thermoplastic amorphous, polymeric additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer AG
    Inventors: Joachim Cziollek, Werner Mrose, Dietmar Wandel, Helmut Schwind, Wolfgang Janas, Werner Ude
  • Patent number: 6657033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermal bondable fibers comprising a random polymer of propylene with one or more olefins comonomers different from ethylene, to the process for preparing said fibers, and to the thermally bonded articles obtained from said fibers. Fibers of certain thermoplastic materials are used widely in the manufacturing of thermally bonded products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franco Sartori, Giancarlo Braca
  • Publication number: 20030219595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making polyamide filaments, such as nylon 6,6, having high tensile strength. The invention also relates to yarns and other articles formed from such filaments. The invention is particularly useful for providing a filament yarn with tenacity equal or superior to the prior art at high spinning process speeds while retaining the ability to draw the yarn. The invention further relates to providing a filament yarn extruded from a delustered or pigmented polyamide polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: K. Ranjan Samant, George Vassilatos
  • Publication number: 20030219596
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of forming bioabsorbable, multifilament yarn from Lactide-rich copolymers, including the steps of extruding and spinning a Lactide-rich copolymer to form a spun multifilament yarn, pre-tensioning the spun multifilament yarn to form a pre-tensioned yarn, heating the pre-tensioned yarn to form a pre-tensioned, preheated yarn, annealing and drawing the pre-tensioned, preheated yarn for a first time, annealing and drawing the yarn for a second time, cooling the twice-drawn yarn to a lower temperature, and taking-up the cooled multifilament yarn, to yarns prepared by the process and to medical devices prepared from such yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Attila Antal, Gaoyuan Chen, Dominick Egidio, Anthony Tiano, Edward Walker
  • Patent number: 6652800
    Abstract: A method for producing fibers from a molten thermoplastic material includes the steps of extruding the molten thermoplastic material from a material outlet having a longitudinal axis and producing a stream of pressurized fluid that exists a fluid tube removably securable to a die head assembly and including an outlet coaxial with the material outlet longitudinal axis and extending at least into the material outlet. The method may be carried out using various material outlet and fluid tube configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Fish, Jark C. Lau, Bryan D. Haynes
  • Patent number: 6649263
    Abstract: A polyester resin, a method for its preparation, the polyester prepared by the method, a method for manufacturing therefrom at increased productivity a dimensionally stable polyester yarn having a low fray count, and the yarn thereby produced. The polyester resin is prepared from high purity terephthalic acid having a particle size distribution described by a Weibull function with narrow ranges of characteristic size and shape factor. The polyester resin has a low filter-blinding index. The polyester yarn is useful for tires, industrial products and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Y-T. Tam, Samir Z. Abdalla, James G. Neal, John A. Young, Hong-Jian J. Sha, Hu Zhixuan
  • Patent number: 6645621
    Abstract: PTT staple fibers which are characterised by a novel combination of properties. In combination with novel stress-strain properties and modulus parameters, staple fibers or textiles or home textiles having extremely desirable aesthetics and service quality are obtained. Economical two-stage process for the production of PTT staple fibers. The melt spinning is carried out at a high polymer throughput and a spinning take-off speed of at least 600 m/min. In a separate fiber drawing frame, the stretching, heat-setting, crimping and drying are carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer AG
    Inventors: Ingo Cordes, Christian Kellner, Ulrich Mirwaldt, Dietmar Wandel
  • Patent number: 6645619
    Abstract: The present invention provides poly(trimethylene terephthalate) copolymerized with ester-forming sulfonate and a fiber thereof. The polymer of the present invention is high in melting point, small in loss of melting viscosity and has a high molecular weight. The fiber of the present invention is high in toughness, excellent in whiteness and dyeable with a cationic dye, whereby it is useful for clothing, carpets or non-woven sheets, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jinichiro Kato, Tetsuko Takahashi, Shinichi Okajima, Katsuhiro Fujimoto, Kenji Imura
  • Patent number: 6641773
    Abstract: An electro spinning process yields uniform, nanometer diameter polymer filaments. A thread-forming polymer is extruded through an anodically biased die orifice and drawn through an anodically biased electrostatic field. A continuous polymer filament is collected on a grounded collector. The polymer filament is linearly oriented and highly uniform in quality. The filament is particularly useful for weaving body armor, for chemical/biological protective clothing, as a biomedical tissue growth support, for fabricating micro sieves and for microelectronics fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James Kleinmeyer, Joseph Deitzel, James Hirvonen