Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus suppresses material being left in a material supply conduit while manufacturing sheets with uniform grammage. A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a rotatable, foraminous drum unit; a web forming unit configured to form a web using material including fiber that has passed through the holes in the drum unit; and a material supply conduit having a connector that connects to the drum unit, and carrying material including fiber into the drum unit by air flow; the velocity of the flow in the connector being lower than the velocity of the flow on the upstream side of the connector.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber-containing element, said method comprising the steps of: providing fibers, at least some of which are first fibers, such as mineral fibers, polymer fibers, cellulose fibers, or other types of fibers, in an amount of from 3 to 98 wt % of the total weight of starting materials in the form of a collected web, providing a binder in an amount of from 1 to 30 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, subjecting the collected web of fibers to a disentanglement process, suspending the fibers in a primary air flow, mixing the binder with the fibers before, during or after the disentanglement process, providing a filler, such as a fire retardant, in an amount of 1 to 55 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, adding the filler at any suitable step of the method, such as before, during or after the disentanglement process, collecting the mixture of fibers, filler and binder and pressing and curing the mixture to provide a consolidated composite with a density of from 120

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mineral fiber-containing composite and the novel mineral fiber-containing element produced by that method.

Abstract: A particle generator is able to generate pure particles for solid or liquid materials with melting points over several hundred degrees Celsius. The material is heated to generate the vapor in a small chamber. Heated nitrogen or some inert gas is used as the carry gas to bring the mixture into a dilution system. As the super saturation ratio of the material is large enough and over a critical value, particles are formed in the dilution system by homogenous nucleation, and grown in the same dilution system as well. The different size distributions and concentrations of the particles can be obtained by varying dilution parameters, such as residence time and dilution ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fine-fibers-dispersed nonwoven fabric comprising dispersed fine fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 ?m or less and a fiber length of 3 mm or less, wherein an adhesion rate of substances adhered to the nonwoven fabric is 0.5 mass % or less. Further, a process and an apparatus for manufacturing the fine-fibers-dispersed nonwoven fabric, as well as a sheet material comprising the fine-fibers-dispersed nonwoven fabric are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a forming head for an apparatus for the production of a non-woven fabric by depositing fibers on a conveyor belt, comprising a fiber feeder which opens into a fiber processing chamber and which has a lower deposit opening for the delivery of fibers, wherein arranged in the fiber processing chamber are interengaging needle rollers with longitudinal axes oriented in mutually parallel relationship, which can rotate about their respective longitudinal axis, and the interengaging needle rollers enclose an inner chamber and are arranged with respect to the fiber feeder and the deposit opening in such a way that fibers fed to the forming head in operation enter the inner chamber by passing through between interengaging needle rollers and leave the inner chamber also by passing through between interengaging needle rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming air-laid fibrous articles. The apparatus can have a core pocket. The core pocket can have a shield. The core pocket can further have a central opening defined by a void in the shield. The core pocket can further have a central forming chamber in air-flow communication with the central opening and having a central forming chamber periphery. The core pocket can further have a central foraminous forming surface in air-flow communication with the central forming chamber. The core pocket can further have a pair of edge openings extending along the shield. The core pocket can further have an edge forming chamber disposed about the central forming chamber periphery and in air-flow communication with the edge openings. The core pocket can further have an edge foraminous forming surface in air-flow communication with the edge forming chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming air-laid fibrous articles. The apparatus can have a core pocket operatively related with an air-distribution manifold that can apply different air pressures to different portions of the core pocket. The core pocket can have a shield and a central opening defined by a void in the shield. The core pocket can have a central forming chamber in air-flow communication with the central opening and have a central forming chamber periphery. The core pocket can have a central foraminous forming surface in air-flow communication with the central forming chamber. The core pocket can have a pair of edge openings extending along the shield. The core pocket can have an edge forming chamber disposed about the central forming chamber periphery and in air-flow communication with the edge openings. The core pocket can have an edge foraminous forming surface in air-flow communication with the edge forming chamber.

Abstract: A forming box for use in dry forming of a mat of fibrous material, and a forming method. The forming box comprises a housing with an open bottom providing direct access for fibers onto an underlying forming wire and a vacuum box underneath said forming wire; an inlet for supplying fiber material into the inside of the housing; and a number of fiber separating rollers in one or more rows in the housing between the fiber inlet and the housing bottom. An endless belt screen is provided inside the housing having an upper run between two rows of spike rollers and a lower run closer to the open bottom of the forming box. Fiber clumps captured on the lower run of the belt screen are conveyed above fiber separating rollers and are released from the upper run of the belt screen into contact with the fiber separating rollers.

Abstract: A new system for making agglomerates of chopped glass fiber strand segments is disclosed and claimed. The agglomerates, made by feeding wet chopped fiber strand segments into a wave chamber having a vibrating curved surface that produces a wave-like flow pattern in the segments and agglomerates, have a substantially higher bulk density and greatly improved flow characteristics than conventional chopped strand reinforcements. The wet agglomerates are usually dried in any conventional dryer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming tow-based absorbent structures having a single casing sheet are disclosed. The apparatus has a tow supply mechanism for providing tow material, a particulate matter supply mechanism for providing particulate matter, and a casing sheet supply mechanism for providing casing sheet material. The apparatus also has a vacuum draw roll having a foraminous center surface that has a width defined by a first edge and a second edge and is rotatable about a first axis. The vacuum draw roll is positioned to receive the tow material, the particulate matter and the casing sheet material to form a open core composite supply. The apparatus also has one or more angled surfaces positioned to create one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply, and one or more folders to further fold the one or more obtuse angles in the open core composite supply to form a folded core composite supply.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member includes a forming chamber adapted to receive a fluent fibrous material and a forming surface moveable within the forming chamber and adapted to collect fibrous material to form the absorbent member. A source of reinforcing web is disposed exteriorly of the forming chamber. A delivery tube has an inlet end open to the forming chamber exterior, a discharge end open to the forming chamber interior, and a central passage extending between the inlet end and the discharge end. At least a portion of the delivery tube adjacent the discharge end extends within the forming chamber interior. The delivery tube is arranged for receiving the reinforcing web from the source of reinforcing web into the central passage of the tube at the inlet end and for guiding the web to the discharge end for conveyance within the forming chamber toward the forming surface.

Abstract: A plant which serves to produce a nonwoven web of fibers out of a fibrous material, such a cellulose pulp. The plant comprises a hammer mill for defibrating the fibrous material and a forming head for forming a web of fibers on an endless forming wire, which, during operation, runs mainly horizontally, a first transport fan for transporting defibrated fiber to the forming head via a first air duct and a second transport fan to extract nits from the forming head via a second air duct. Furthermore, the plant comprises a separator, which is connected to the second air duct and arranged for separating the nits and the well-opened fiber, a third transport fan for returning the separated, well-opened fibers to the forming head, and a nits-opener for converting the separated nits into well-opened fiber. The separated nits are transported from the nits separator to the nits-opener by means of a fourth transport fan via a fourth air duct.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for preparing an absorbent core for use in absorbent garments is disclosed. The apparatus includes a funnel having a first end and a second end, the second end being narrower in diameter than the first end, and a nozzle having a straight section, a curved section, and a tip. The straight section of the nozzle is operatively associated with the second end of the funnel. The apparatus further includes a diverter plate operatively associated with the curved section of the nozzle. The invention provides a more uniform distribution of super absorbent particles within the fluff pulp used to make the absorbent core, thus improving performance of the absorbent core. An absorbent garment made using an absorbent core made with the apparatus of the invention also is disclosed. The absorbent garment provides better leakage protection than absorbent garments incorporating conventional absorbent cores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nonwoven fiber composite for the manufacture of filters in the tobacco industry, wherein the method feeds separated fiber materials to a fluidized bed and the separated filter material inside the fluidized bed are transported to a rod-forming device, essentially by a transport air flow flowing in the direction of the rod-forming device and the filter material is compiled on the rod-forming device prior to forming the compacted fiber filter elements.

Abstract: A method for filling a receiver with expanded fibers includes the steps of feeding at least one bundle of fibers from at least one roving; introducing the at least one bundle into a portable tool having a manual gripping element, a spray nozzle, an air supply device connected for supplying air to the nozzle, an extraction system configured to hold the at least one bundle and feed the at least one bundle to the nozzle, and an inlet guide positioned to guide the at least one bundle to the extraction system; and using the air supply device to expand the fibers of the at least one bundle in said spray nozzle, and spray the expanded fibers into the receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for forming a fibrous web (50) includes a movable, foraminous forming surface (22) and a substantially stationary, vacuum-commutator duct system (24) which is located substantially subjacent the forming surface (22). The vacuum-commutator duct system (24) has an entrance opening (26) that changes in configuration along a longitudinal dimension (30) of the entrance opening (26).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting paper fiber articles into molded parts. The method and apparatus are particularly advantageous in converting paper fiber cores, utilized for winding and unwinding large quantities of paper products, into plugs which are inserted into the ends of the paper fiber cores. The method and apparatus are advantageous in that the material of the paper fiber cores is converted into a molded product without requiring repulping or slurrying of the paper fiber material as in conventional paper recycling methods. The method and apparatus also do not require the introduction of adhesives, and the paper fiber material is preferably maintained substantially dry throughout the process and apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for smoothing out the surface weight distribution of one or multilayer mats containing lignocellulose and/or cellulose with a binding agent dispersed therein for manufacturing of shaped articles, in particular in the form of wood chipboard, wood fiberboard or the like, wherein at least one vertically adjustable reverse brushing unit which extends over the width of the web is associated with a mat carrier which is fed via at least one scattering head. This apparatus is characterized, above all, by the reverse brushing unit comprising at least one vertically adjustable brushing roller having flexible bristles of a plastic material such as polypropylene, Teflon or the like which cooperates with a cleaning brush or a cleaning strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screen pipe to be used in dry forming of web material in order to distribute fiber material blown into the screen pipe through a jacket (2) of the pipe onto a wire arranged to move under the pipe. The fiber material provided inside the screen pipe is made to move for example by means of a spiked roll placed inside the pipe, so that the movement of the fiber material has both a radial and a tangential component with respect to the jacket (2) of the screen pipe. The jacket comprises on its inner surface profiled grooves (8) in the pipe's axial direction. The edge (8a) of the profiled groove is situated downstream with respect to the tangential component of the fiber flow. The upstream edge (8b) of the groove is positioned downstream with respect to the tangential component of the fiber flow. The bottoms of the profiled grooves comprise holes or slots (9) through which the fibers are discharged from the screen pipe.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a nonwoven cellulose fabric is disclosed. The fabric is made from fibers formed by extrusion of a solution of cellulose through a spinning jet. The extruded fiber is attenuated with a high velocity gas flow, and the attenuated fiber is collected on a surface (such as the curved surface of a rotating drum) on which the fiber web is subsequently coagulated. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed. The method and apparatus permit the manufacture of a nonwoven lyocell fabric web in which fibers are bonded together without the use of a binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for perforating a web of material intended to form an outer casing sheet of absorbent articles. As the web is advanced, the web is first provided with a large number of mutually separated cuts in the nip defined between raised plateaus on a matrix cylinder and circumferentially extending knife-edges of a cutting cylinder. The web is then deformed transversely to its plane at parts which border on each cut. The invention also relates to a perforated outer casing sheet which includes recesses in the form of mutually adjacent elongated channel-like grooves.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly distributing a disintegrated material on a fiber layer forming surface comprising a cylindrical housing having a perforated plane-surfaced bottom wall; an inlet opening for a stream of air containing suspended fibers and a stirrer having impellers rotating a short distance above the perforated bottom wall.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for molding clusters of fibers, including at least some thermoplastic fibers, into products at a cost, quality, and performance level acceptable for commercial production. The clusters are dedensified 10 and then placed 12 into an empty mold 20. The mold 20 has apertures 28 to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy through the mold 20. A linear conveyor 32 is used to transport the mold through a plurality of process locations on a continuous or semi-continuous basis. Included is a heating location 48 wherein the mold 20 is heated 14, providing an influx of thermal energy sufficient to fuse the thermoplastic fibers to form a heated product. A cooling location 50 follows the heating location 48, wherein the mold 20 and the heated product contained therein are cooled 16 to produce a cooled product. The cooled product is then ejected 18 from the mold 520.

Abstract: This process and apparatus use at least one chopper unit. The fiber choppers may be laser beam choppers or existing standard chopper units. The process and apparatus for producing a fiber-reinforced molded composite comprises providing a moldable composition, sequentially spraying a moldable composition into the mold, subsequently providing chopped fibers to the moldable composition and depositing the moldable composition and chopped fibers in mold and molding the moldable composition and fibers in the apparatus under heat and pressure to form the molded composite. One industrial application for these choppers is compression molding of interior trim panels for automobile doors. The choppers spray chopped glass fiber strands into a resin mixture. The glass and a polyol, isocyanate (—NCO) urethane resin mixture at the proper glass loading, distribution and pattern is fed to the mold.

Abstract: This process and apparatus use at least two chopper units. The fiber choppers may be laser beam choppers or existing standard chopper units. The process and apparatus for producing a fiber-reinforced molded composite comprises providing a moldable composition, a first fiber chopper providing chopped fibers to the apparatus from a first direction, a second fiber chopper providing chopped fibers to the apparatus from a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction and molding the moldable composition and fibers in the apparatus under heat and pressure to form the molded composite. One industrial application for these choppers is compression molding of interior trim panels for automobile doors. The choppers spray chopped glass fiber strands into a resin mixture. The glass and a polyol, isocyanate (—NCO) urethane resin mixture at the proper glass loading, distribution and pattern is fed to the mold.