Eastman-kodak Company

Jerry A Wright

Cephas H Sloan

Gerald P Morie

Thermoplastic materials are converted directly into thermally bonded, coherent fibrous products by melt blowing techniques. The fibrous product is in the form of a rod having a relatively dense, rigid skin in which the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the product, and a less dense core where the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the product. The products are made by melt blowing fibers and intercepting them by a fiber collecting and forming device which permits a relatively heavy build-up of fiber mass in the central portion and a relatively light build-up of fibers in a lip portion surrounding the central portion. As fibers are continuously deposited on the collecting and forming device, the product thus formed is withdrawn at a rate synchronized with collection of fibers such that the aforesaid build-up is maintained, and such that the lip portion is folded back over the central portion by the collecting and forming device to form the rod as described.

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Jerry A Wright