3m Innovative Properties Company

James C Breister

Stanley C Erickson

William P Klinzing

Patrick J Sager

Bruce Brandon Wilson

Andrew W Chen

Roger J Stumo

William J Kopecky

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Olester Benson, Jr

Patrick R Fleming

Andrew R Fox

Kristin LaVelle Thunhorst

Diane North

David C Raithel

Joseph A Dunbar

Joshua D Tibbits

Warren D Eaton

Cristobal Martin Bernia

Michael G Schwartz

Yeun-Jong Chou

Jesse R Seifert

Bradley K Kucera

Blake R Griffith

Scott A Jerde

Kyle J Baumgartner

Jon A Lindberg

Robert L Brott

Douglas C Sundet

David W Meitz

Stephen W Mohn

Paul DeRoussel

Matthew S Linabery

Gregory H Van Erem

Richard C Allen

James P Endle

Harold E Rude

William L Kopecky

Sylvain M Lalonde

Kristin L 3M Center Thunhorst

Methods apparatuses and systems of forming a random fiber web using pneumatic fiber feeding system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can optionally comprise: providing a plurality of moveable apparatuses including a lickerin and a feeder, the lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to adjacent the lickerin by the feeder; doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system; communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the doffing; and collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.

Machines systems and methods for making random fiber webs

Methods and systems of forming a random fiber web using pneumatic fiber feeding system are disclosed. The method can optionally comprise: providing a plurality of moveable apparatuses including a lickerin and a feeder, the lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to adjacent the lickerin by the feeder; doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system; communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the doffing; and collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.

Apparatus and methods for delivering a heated fluid. The apparatus includes at least a preheat zone, an expansion zone, and an expanded zone comprising a plurality of trim heaters, at least one fluid flow-distribution sheet, and an outlet. The apparatus may be used for delivering the heated fluid onto a moving fluid-permeable substrate.

Apparatus and methods for delivering a heated fluid

Polymeric fibers along with methods and systems for extruding polymeric fibers are disclosed. The extrusion process preferably involves the delivery of a lubricant separately from a polymer melt stream to each orifice of an extrusion die such that the lubricant preferably encases the polymer melt stream as it passes through the die orifice.

Melt extruded fibers and methods of making the same

Methods and apparatus for meltblowing utilize an auxiliary manifold to dispense a fluid between an orifice of a die that is expelling polymeric fibers and an exit of a duct that is dispensing a secondary flow of gas onto the fibers. The fluid dispensed from the auxiliary manifold reduces a recirculation zone of the secondary flow between the exit and the orifice that, absent the fluid from the manifold, results in errant fibers that are blown back into the face of the die by the recirculating secondary flow.

Methods and apparatus for meltblowing of polymeric material utilizing fluid flow from an auxiliary manifold

A composite polymer fiber comprises a polymer filler material and a plurality of polymer scattering fibers disposed within the filler material. At least one of the filler material and the scattering fibers is formed of a birefringent material. The refractive indices of the filler material and the scattering fibers can be substantially matched for light incident in a first polarization state on the composite polymer fiber and unmatched for light incident in an orthogonal polarization state. The scattering fibers may be arranged to form a photonic crystal within the composite fiber. The composite fibers may be extruded and may be formed into a yarn, a weave or the like. If the filler material is soluble, it may be washed out of the yarn or weave, and the scattering fibers may then be infiltrated with a resin that is subsequently cured.

Composite polymer fibers

Manifolds are designed to deliver fluid through multiple orifices of the manifold such that for a given inlet fluid pressure the fluid being output from the multiple orifices has a desired mass flow profile. The desired mass flow profile includes a desired mass flow rate and a desired direction and distribution of flow in three-dimensional space. The manifold is first modeled as a two-dimensional representation to determine manifold parameters necessary to achieve the desired mass flow profile within the two dimensions. Then, the manifold is modeled as a three-dimensional representation based on the parameters previously determined for the two-dimensional representation to determine manifold parameters of the third dimension that are necessary to achieve the desired mass flow profile within the three dimensions.

Manifolds for delivering fluids having a desired mass flow profile and methods for designing the same

Melt blown or spun bond nonwoven webs are formed by flowing fiber-forming material through a die cavity having a substantially uniform residence time and then through a plurality of orifices to form filaments, using air or other fluid to attenuate the filaments into fibers and collecting the attenuated fibers as a nonwoven web. Each die orifice receives a fiber-forming material stream having a similar thermal history. The physical or chemical properties of the nonwoven web fibers such as their average molecular weight and polydispersity can be made more uniform. Wide nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities in a side-by-side relationship. Thicker or multilayered nonwoven webs can be formed by arranging a plurality of such die cavities atop one another.

Nonwoven web forming apparatus

Methods and systems for extruding polymeric fibers are disclosed. The extrusion process preferably involves the delivery of a lubricant separately from a polymer melt stream to each orifice of an extrusion die such that the lubricant preferably encases the polymer melt stream as it passes through the die orifice.

Lubricated flow fiber extrusion

The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a fluid synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface with a slot die apparatus. The invention further relates to a slot die apparatus.

Method of making retroreflective sheeting and slot die apparatus

A polarizer is formed with an arrangement of polymer fibers substantially parallel within a polymer matrix. The polymer fibers are formed of at least first and second polymer materials. At least one of the polymer matrix and the first and second polymer materials is birefringent, and provides a birefringent interface with the adjacent material. Light is reflected and/or scattered at the birefringent interfaces with sensitivity to the polarization of the light. In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are formed as composite fibers, having a plurality of scattering polymer fibers disposed within a filler to form the composite fiber. In other embodiments, the polymer fiber is a multilayered polymer fiber. The polymer fibers may be arranged within the polymer matrix as part of a fiber weave.

Optical elements containing a polymer fiber weave

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

James C Breister