International Paper Company

The Kendall Company

Other

Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc.

Polymer Group, Inc.

Fiber Technology Corporation

John M Greenway

Herschel Sternlieb

Jodie M Siegel

Frank E Malaney

Russell H Hughes

Jackson Lawrence

James T Beaty

Walter E Schortmann

Dennis Metrick

Timothy J Connolly

Robert A Chiricosta

Deborah L Elsea

Zoltan Mate

Stephen P Lengyel

Thomas Higgins

Matthew James Greenway

Peter Mancini

Robert F Hammann

An apparatusand related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on membersand impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support membershaving open areaswhich are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.

Apparatus and method for hydroenhancing fabric

A suede-like micro-fibril finish is imparted to fibrillatable cellulosic materials by open width hydraulic treatment. Additional enhancement of the fabric finish is obtained by post hydraulic enzyme and wet processing treatments. Fluid treated fabrics of the invention are characterized by substantially uniform fibrillation of fibers within the fabric body and surface areas.

Uniformity and product improvement in lyocell fabrics with hydraulic

An anti-marking covering for use on a printing press transfer cylinder to prevent ink marking of printed sheets is made of a material having a high axial air permeability through the material parallel to its surface and a substantially uniform surface structure free of raised areas. A preferred material is 100% rayon hydroentangled nonwoven fabric subjected to comb-roll microcreped compressive forming of microcreped areas closely spaced about 1/16 inch apart. The preferred fabric has an axial air permeability of about 0.279 cfm. When the material is wrapped tightly onto a press cylinder, the high axial air permeability allows an air layer to be maintained under the printed sheets, and the uniform surface structure is free of high points that might protrude through the air layer and contact the printed sheets. Other fabrics and materials suitable for the anti-marking covering include woven and knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and open-celled foam. The preferred materials have an axial air permeability not less than about 0.138 cfm, and a surface structure with closely spaced features of a spacing not more than about 0.125 inch.

Anti-marking covering for printing press transfer cylinder

A combination screw and clearance drill is provided that in one mode of operation is able to drill a pilot hole for the screw threads through a top piece of material and then screw into a lower piece of material, thus enabling the two pieces of material to be screwed tightly together in a single operation. The screw is designed in such a manner that the ability of the screw to drill a clearance hole for the threads does not substantially effect the gripping ability of the screw. In one direction of rotation the screw is able to drill the clearance hole for the threads of the screw and by reversing rotation the screw is able to stop drilling a clearance hole and function as a regular screw. Flutes in the screw head cut a counter bore for the head when the head contacts the surface of the top piece of material.

Combined screw and clearance drill

An apparatus and related process for entangling a fibrous web which employs columnar fluid jets to eject a continuous curtain of fluid in an entangling station. The web is advanced through an entangling station on a conveyor which supports an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of void areas. Baffle members disposed in the void areas are provided which include radiused curvatures and define apertures having a frusto-conical configuration. Dynamic forces in the fluid curtain impact the web in discrete and controlled patterns determined by the baffling members to enhance efficient energy transfer and web entanglement. Textile-like fabrics having a uniform, non-apertured, surface cover are obtained by coaction of fluid curtain and baffle structures.

Textured nonwoven fabric

Method for producing textured nonwoven fabric

An apparatus 10 and related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on members 22, 34 and impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support members 22, 34 having open areas 26, 36 which are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.

The cross direction tensile strength of a carded web is increased by 30% to 50%, without a decrease in machine direction tensile strength, by realigning the fibers of the carded web at least partially in the cross direction. In the preferred embodiment, an air blower manifold is arranged above a scrambler roll onto which a carded web is transferred from a doffer roll at the output end of a conventional card. The air blower manifold has a plurality of louvers spaced across the width of the web in the cross direction for realigning the fibers in the cross direction. The increase in cross directional tensile strength is obtained in the resulting bonded, hydroentangled, and other nonwoven fabrics.

Apparatus and method for use in-line with a card to enhance tensile

An apparatus and related process for entangling a staple fibrous web which employs divergent fluid jets. The web is advanced through an entangling station on a conveying means which supports an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of fluid pervious void areas. The divergent jet sprays which are disposed above the entangling member direct a continuous curtain of fluid onto the web, coacting with the entangling member to entangle web fibers into a coherent lattice structure. The divergent jet sprays are provided by nozzles having wide orifice diameters which accommodate less complex fluid recirculation and filtration systems than employed in prior art columnar jet processes.

Apparatus for producing symmetrical fluid entangled non-woven fabrics

A nozzle for a tube comprising material to be expelled through the nozzle in a direction from the tube to an outlet at the end of the nozzle opposite the tube, the material being hardenable upon exposure to air and residual material at the tip of the nozzle forming a hardened plug, the nozzle comprising: a series of hollow members, the members having a first and second end wherein the first end has a first inner cross-sectional dimension and the second end has a second inner cross-sectional dimension, wherein the second dimension is at least as great as the first dimension, the first dimension being different for each member, wherein the member having the largest the first dimension is at one end of the nozzle and the member having the smallest dimension is at the other end of the nozzle, the members being positioned between the largest and the smallest dimensioned members in order of decreasing the dimensions in the direction of the material is to be expelled and, whereby the series forms a hollow vessel having a stepwise decreasing inner cross-sectional first dimension, wherein the largest dimensioned member comprises an opening at one end suitable for connection to the tube, and wherein the members are of a length greater than the length of the plug.

Caulking nozzle

Novel CD-tearable non-woven fabrics having striations or other patternwise areas of substantially depthwise bonding of the fibers whereby the fabric is characterized as being tearable substantially evenly in the unbonded areas, the fabric further being characterized as having substantially greater tensile strength in the MD than is obtainable after manufacture of the fabric and prior to bonding. Preferably, patternwise bonded areas are provided by impregnating the fabric with a bonding agent. This invention further includes adhesive tape and other products employing the aforementioned non-woven fabrics.

Novel tearable non-woven webs and products employing same

A stretchable textile-like fabric comprising at least one layer of nonwoven fibers hydroentangled into a diamond shaped structure so that a substantial number of fibers are oriented equally on all sides of the diamond. This fiber orientation results in a balanced fabric structure. Subsequent to entangling the fibers, they are compacted so as to arrange the fibers into a series of wave-like configurations. The combination of the diamond shape fabric structure and the wave-like configurations of the fibers permits multi-directional stretch in the fabric when tension is applied. Additionally, when the tension in the fabric is released, the inherent memory of the fibers causes the fabric to return to its original form without substantial permanent deformation.

Stretchable fabric

A blister bandage comprising at least one ply of an aerated latex microsized hydroentangled fabric, having an adhesive disposed on at least one surface of said fabric. The present invention has sufficient hydrophobicity in the fabric to be a barrier to liquid borne bacteria while preserving comfort, air permeability, and flexibility therein. In addition to the above properties, the bandage is sterilizable and will keep the skin beneath the bandage dry.

Blister bandage

A wound dressing comprising at least one ply of an aerated latex microsized hydroentangled fabric, having an adhesive disposed on at least one surface of the fabric, and a nonwoven fibrous pad material centrally mounted thereon. The present invention has sufficient hydrophobicity in the fabric to be a barrier to liquid borne bacteria while preserving comfort, air permeability, and flexibility therein. In addition to the above properties, the dressing is sterilizable, and will keep the skin beneath the dressing dry.

Growing community of inventors

Westwood, MA, United States of America

John M Greenway