Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Bryan David Haynes

Jark Chong Lau

Jeffrey Lawrence McManus

Darryl Franklin Clark

Michael Charles Cook

Matthew Boyd Lake

Douglas Jay Hulslander

Kevin Edward Smith

Justin Max Duellman

Charles John Morell

Eric Edward Lennon

Oomman Painummoottil Thomas

Ty Jackson Stokes

Samuel Edward Marmon

Charles Allen Smith

Chad Michael Freese

Lee Cullen Boney

Robert James Baldy

Michael Tod Morman

Thomas Harold Roessler

Jeffrey Eldon Fish

Howard Martin Welch

Debra Jean McDowall

David Lewis Myers

Christopher Cosgrove Creagan

Kurtis Lee Brown

Hannong Rhim

Xin Ning

Thomas Gregory Triebes

Jerome Joseph Schwalen

Craig A Barnes

Thomas William Brock

Brian Stephen Forbes

Mark Michael Mleziva

Ann Louise McCormack

Roger Bradshaw Quincy, Iii

Lamar Heath Gipson

James Russell Fitts, Jr

Wing-Chak Ng

David Craige Strack

Stephen Michael Campbell

Laura Elizabeth Keck

John Joseph Lassig

Gabriel Hamman Adam

Robert James Gerndt

Christopher Dale Fenwick

David A Palzewicz

Simon K Poruthoor

Jose Siqueira

Karen Goeders

Donald V Willitts

Braulio Arturo Polanco

Billy Dean Arnold

Todd Christopher Larson

Stephen Harding Primm

Rebecca Willey Griffin

Daniel Kenneth Schiffer

Leslie D Dobbins

Ryan Clinton Frank

James Austin

Stephen C Meyer

Irwin Jerold Singer

Adrian Roy Eggen

April Montoya Vaverka

Lisa Sanabria

Christopher Laslie

Kenneth Randall Suggs

Kevin James Kastner

Rick Leon Busby

Paul Allan Giles

Allen F Vater

Sara Honarbakhsh

Matthew B Lake

Caroline L Miller

Julia Carter

Iris V Schumacher

Vicky Susan Smith

Jerome J Schwalen

Jose A Siqueira

Michael C Cook

Thomas W Brock

Brian S Forbes

Jr James Russell Fitts

A system and method for providing a plurality of fibers from a spinneret; subjecting the fibers to quench air; attenuating the fibers through a closed stretching unit; reducing a velocity of the plurality of fibers in a diffuser that is spaced apart from an exit of the closed stretching unit in a direction of travel of the fibers, the diffuser having opposed diverging sidewalls; and subjecting the fibers to an applied electrostatic charge before the fibers enter the diffuser, wherein the electrostatic charge is applied by one or more electrostatic charging units.

Spunbond system and process

A method of making nonwoven webs comprising providing a spinneret including a pattern of conduits forming an extrusion region; directing only a first stream of molten propylene polymer into a region adjacent the first side of the spinneret, directing only a second stream of molten propylene polymer into a region distal to the first side of the spinneret, extruding only the first stream propylene polymer through the exit openings in a first zone where the exit opening comprises exit ports in the first zone having a first density; extruding only the second stream propylene polymer through the exit openings of a second zone where the exit opening comprises exit ports in the second zone having a second density less than the first density; and the second zone is distal to the first side with the first zone being between the second zone and the first side.

Method of making uniform spunbond filament nonwoven webs

A fiber forming device is disclosed that is well suited to producing nonwoven webs having excellent barrier properties. In one aspect, the fiber forming device can be used to produce meltblown webs or coform webs. The fiber forming device includes a die head containing multiple rows of polymer nozzles for forming fibers. Air flow paths are positioned on either side of the rows of polymer nozzles. In addition, an air flow path is positioned in between the rows of polymer nozzles. The air flow paths produce an attenuating gas stream that attenuates fibers being produced by the polymer nozzles and directs the fibers onto a forming surface for forming nonwoven webs.

Fiber forming device and process using same

The present invention discloses a nonwoven web and methods for manufacturing the nonwoven web. One aspect of the invention includes a plurality of outwardly facing nozzles that are positioned at various angles with respect to the axis of a pipe the nozzles are located on. Another aspect of the invention pertains to perturbing at least a portion of a fiber matrix prior to the fiber matrix collecting on a forming surface. The perturbed fiber matrix provides for an increase in cross-machine direction fiber strength of the nonwoven web.

Nonwoven web with increased CD strength

Disclosed herein are improvements to processes and equipment for the manufacture of composite nonwoven webs comprising a mixture of two or more different fibers and formed from at least two streams of air-entrained fibers. Adjacent the perimeter of an exit port of one of the fiber streams are located a series of spaced tabs and apertures. As a first stream of air-entrained fibers pass the series of tabs and apertures, vortices are formed therein. When mixed with a second stream of air-entrained fibers, the vortices within the first stream of fibers causes increased mixing of the fibers, helping to drive the first fibers deeper into the second stream of air-entrained fibers.

Methods of making composite nonwoven webs

An elastic nonwoven laminate that contains an elastic film laminated to one or more nonwoven facings is provided. The nonwoven facing contains a conventional polyolefin and can also contain a polyolefin-based plastomer. The laminate is activated by grooving to decouple the nonwoven facing from the elastic film. To reduce fiber-pull out that can result due to activation by grooving, the laminate can be post-bonded at room or elevated temperatures and a specific range of pressures to compact the fibers of the facing and minimize fiber pull-out/fuzziness while not sacrificing the softness, elasticity, and feel of the laminate.

Method of making post-bonded grooved elastic materials

Post-bonded grooved elastic materials

An elastic composite formed from a lightweight nonwoven facing that has a low degree of strength in the cross-machine direction ('CD') is provided. Through selective control over certain parameters of the materials employed in the composite and the formation process, the present inventors have discovered that such low strength and lightweight facings may be readily laminated to an elastic film without significantly damaging their integrity. For example, in one embodiment, the elastic film may possess a multi-layered construction that includes an elastomeric elastic layer positioned adjacent to a strength-enhancing thermoplastic layer. The polymer content and thickness of the thermoplastic layer are generally selected to impart additional strength and integrity to the film. Likewise, the polymer content of the elastic layer may also be selected so that the film possesses a sufficient tack for adhering to the facing. In certain cases, it may be desirable to position the layer between two elastic layers so that the strength-enhancing layer does not substantially contact the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the strength-enhancing layer may avoid substantial damage during the lamination process.

Elastic composite containing a low strength and lightweight nonwoven facing

The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven web, the method including the steps of providing plurality of fibers and subjecting the fibers to a pneumatic attenuation force which imparts a velocity to the fibers, reducing the velocity of the fibers in a diffusion chamber which is formed substantially between opposed diverging sidewalls, subjecting the fibers to an applied electrostatic charge, and thereafter collecting the fibers into a web on a moving forming surface. The invention also provides an apparatus for forming nonwoven webs, the apparatus comprising a source of fibers, a fiber attenuation chamber, a diffusion chamber formed substantially between opposed diverging sidewalls, the diffusion chamber located below the fiber attenuation chamber, and a forming surface for collecting the fibers as a nonwoven web.

Method for the production of nonwoven web materials

The present invention provides a method of making a nonwoven web with desired fiber orientation, the method including the steps of providing a source of fibers, subjecting the fibers to an electrostatic charge, deflecting the fibers with a non-contacting deflecting device, collecting the fibers on a moving forming surface to form the nonwoven web. The invention also provides an apparatus for forming fibrous nonwoven webs, the apparatus comprising a source of fibers, a device for applying an electrostatic charge to the fibers, a non-contacting fiber deflecting device adapted to affect the fibers while the fibers are under the influence of the applied electrostatic charge, and a forming surface for collecting the fibers as a fibrous nonwoven web.

Method and apparatus for the production of nonwoven web materials

Described herein are 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. The charging of the pins is controlled so that not all pins remain at maximum charge during a cycle with the result that extended run times may be obtained.

Use of a pulsating power supply for electrostatic charging of nonwovens

The invention provides a method for controlling the width of a plurality of extruded filaments comprising providing a polymer supply and an extrusion die comprising a plurality of extrusion capillaries and a plurality of counterbores allowing fluid communication between the extrusion capillaries and polymer supply, providing an adjustable insert for interrupting fluid communication between the polymer supply and at least one extrusion capillary, providing at least one fluidized polymer, conveying the polymer through the polymer supply, counterbores and extrusion capillaries to extrude a plurality of filaments, and interrupting the fluid communication between the polymer supply and at least one extrusion capillary by adjusting the insert. An apparatus for extruding filaments is also provided, comprising an extrusion die, polymer supply, extrusion capillaries, counterbores allowing fluid communication between the capillaries and polymer supply, and an adjustable insert for interrupting fluid communication between the polymer supply and at least one extrusion capillary.

Apparatus and method for controlled width extrusion of filamentary curtain

An apparatus for forming meltblown material from a molten polymer includes a die configured with channels in the tip of the die through which molten polymer is extruded for forming meltblown fibers. Air plates are disposed relative to the die tip to define air channels proximate to the die tip for directing attenuating air against the molten polymer fibers extruded from the tip. The air channels include a zone of convergence adjacent the apex of the die tip at an included angle that is within a range of about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees such that each of the air channels defines a convergence angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the polymer channels of between about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees.

Low turbulence die assembly for meltblowing apparatus

High loft, low density nonwoven webs are produced by forming substantially continuous, spunbond, crimped, bicomponent fibers of A/B bilateral morphology in an unheated fiber draw unit. The fibers are then heated and cooled in the absence of impeding forces to achieve maximum crimp in the z-direction and produce a web of lofted material. The resultant material is particularly suitable for use as an insulator. Particulates may be added to the webs if desired.

High loft low density nonwoven webs of crimped filaments and methods of making same

Disclosed is an apparatus for producing nonwoven fibrous webs. The apparatus comprises an extrusion die, first and second fluid supplies in cooperation with the die, first and second extrusion capillaries, first counterbores allowing fluid communication between first capillaries and first supply and second counterbores allowing fluid communication between second capillaries and second supply, each first counterbore having at least two first capillaries extending therefrom.

Apparatus for nonwoven fibrous web

Growing community of inventors

Cumming, GA, United States of America

Bryan David Haynes