Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Harold Jay Koller

James Jay Tanner

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for fiberizing bales of pulp into substantially dry fibers and fiber aggregates, i.e., dry fluff, and metering the resulting dry fluff to a receptacle or other process, such as an airlaid process for making disposable absorbent articles. One version of an apparatus having features of the present invention includes: a bale support member for supporting a bale of pulp, the bale support member defining two openings; two rotatable fiberizing assemblies having disrupting elements protruding through the openings an adjustable distance above the bale support member to contact a surface layer of the bale of pulp, the surface layer having a dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiberizing assembly, each disrupting element extending longitudinally and substantially continuously along the fiberizing assembly for a distance of 100% or more of said surface-layer dimension; a transportation assembly for moving the bale of pulp back and forth along the bale support member and over the openings so that the disrupting elements contact a surface layer in the bale to form substantially dry, individual fibers and fiber aggregates, i.e. dry fluff; an adjustable reciprocating assembly attached to and providing a motive force for moving the transportation assembly, the adjustable reciprocating assembly permitting adjustment of the frequency by which the transportation assembly moves back and forth over the opening; and a conduction assembly for conducting the dry fluff to a hopper or other receptacle, or another process such as an airlaid process. One method having features of the present invention involves using the aforementioned equipment to fiberize bales of pulp into dry fluff, and meter said fluff to a receptacle or another process, such as an airlaid process.

Method of forming and metering fluff pulp

An apparatus for fiberizing bales of pulp into substantially dry fibers and fiber aggregates. One embodiment includes: a bale support member for supporting a bale of pulp, the bale support member defining two openings; two rotatable fiberizing assemblies having disrupting elements protruding through the openings an adjustable distance above the bale support member to contact a surface layer of the bale of pulp, the surface layer having a dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiberizing assembly, a transportation assembly for moving the bale of pulp back and forth along the bale support member and over the openings so that the disrupting elements contact a surface layer in the bale, an adjustable reciprocating assembly permitting adjustment of the frequency by which the transportation assembly moves back and forth over the opening.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Harold Jay Koller