3m Innovative Properties Company

Joel R Slamkowski

Jonathan M Lise

Nader J Barjesteh

Systems and methods for automated fabrication of pleated filters that promote user-selected adjustment of the pleat spacing generated by the system. A lower conveyor of a pleat spacing station is operated at a selected conveyor rate. A gathered pleated segment of filter material is received at the pleat spacing station. The pleat spacing station expands a pleat spacing of the gathered pleated segment in forming a pleated filter segment. Expansion of the pleats at the pleat spacing station is accomplished by initially engaging the filter material along the lower conveyor, with the conveyor rate being alterable by a user, including on the fly alteration, to establish a desired pleat spacing and thus pleat density in the pleated filter.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Joel R Slamkowski