3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Stanley C Erickson

James C Breister

Patrick J Sager

Michael G Schwartz

Dennis L Krueger

Michael R Berrigan

James F Dyrud

Bruce Brandon Wilson

Luther E Erickson

David W Meitz

Stephen W Mohn

Roger J Stumo

Paul DeRoussel

Gregory H Van Erem

Thomas P Hanschen

William J Kopecky

Daniel E Meyer

Robert J Kinney

Scott M Purrington

Hassan Bodaghi

William L Kopecky

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

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

Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying attenuating fluid to a meltblowing die through an attenuating fluid distribution passage whose distribution characteristics can be changed while the die and manifold are assembled. By adjusting the distribution characteristics of the passage, the mass flow rate of attenuating fluid to channels in the meltblowing die and the temperature of the attenuating fluid at the die outlets can be made more uniform.

Attenuating fluid manifold for meltblowing die

Method for making a nonwoven web

Melt blown nonwoven webs are formed by supplying fiber-forming material to a planetary gear metering pump having a plurality of outlets, flowing fiber-forming material from the pump outlets through a plurality of inlets in one or more die cavities, and meltblowing the fiber-forming material. Each die cavity inlet 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.

Meltblowing apparatus employing planetary gear metering pump

Multilayer meltblown fibrous webs, as well as apparatus and methods of forming the webs. The webs are produced on a rotating collector that also moves parallel to its longitudinal axis. The webs are thus formed in a helical process, and the resulting tubular web is separated in a direction parallel to a helix angle. By separating the tubular web in a direction parallel to the helix angle, a flat multilayer meltblown fibrous web is provided that allows for incorporation of feathered edges formed during the article's manufacture.

Uniform meltblown fibrous web

Uniform meltblown fibrous web and methods and apparatus for manufacturing

Oriented microfibers and processes for making them are disclosed, together with blends of such microfibers with other fibers such as crimped staple fibers and non-oriented microfibers.

Oriented melt-blown fibers, processes for making such fibers and webs

A continuous web with longitudinaly displaced thick and thin zones. The thin zones being uniaxially orientated. The web is useful in forming diaper backsheet films where the thick zones act as a reinforced zone for attachment of a pressure-sensitive fastening tab.

Growing community of inventors

Scandia, MN, United States of America

Stanley C Erickson