Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Robert James Baldy

Bryan David Haynes

Jark Chong Lau

Lee Cullen Boney

Douglas Jay Hulslander

Daniel Kenneth Schiffer

Described herein are improvements to processes and equipment for the manufacture of nonwoven webs useful in numerous applications including personal care, protective apparel, and industrial products. The fiber and/or filaments used to form the nonwoven fabric are deposited on a forming surface in a controlled orientation using application of an electrostatic charge to the fibers and/or filaments in combination with directing them to an electrode deflector plate while under the influence of the charge. The plate may be made up of teeth with a separation and angle orientation that are selected in accordance with the desired arrangement of the fibers and/or filaments in the nonwoven web. As a result, properties of the web such as relative strengths in the machine direction and cross-machine direction can be controlled. The charging of the pins is controlled so that not all pins remain at maximum charge during a cycle with the result that extended run times may be obtained.

Use of a pulsating power supply for electrostatic charging of nonwovens

An apparatus and method for increasing the heating efficiency of a nonwoven web using heated air are provided. A flow modifier including a turbulence inducing bar arrangement is positioned between the heated air supply and the nonwoven web. The flow modifier increases the turbulence of the heated air before it contacts the nonwoven web, resulting in more thorough penetration of the web by the air, and better convective heat transfer between the heated air and the nonwoven web.

Method for heating nonwoven webs

Apparatus for heating nonwoven webs

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Robert James Baldy