The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1999
Robert B. Rau, Allison Park, PA (US);
PPG Industries Ohio, Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for forming fiber strands comprising a fiber forming device, a gathering shoe device and a winder device, the improvement comprising a gathering shoe device which includes at least one gathering shoe having an annular groove for receiving the fibers from the fiber forming device, the gathering shoe having a generally circular cross section at the annular groove and a diameter at the annular groove ranging from about 2.54 to about 6.35 mm. Another aspect of the present invention is a gathering shoe comprising a rod member having a longitudinal axis; and a groove extending circumferentially about the rod member, wherein the rod member has a diameter at the groove in the range of about 2.54 to about 6.35 mm. Still, another aspect of the present invention is a method of forming fiber strands comprising the steps of attenuating fibers, gathering the fibers into at least one strand on a gathering shoe, and winding the strand, wherein the strand forming imparts a tension in the fibers, the improvement comprising the step of gathering the fibers on a gathering shoe having an annular groove for receiving the fibers, a generally circular cross section at the annular groove and a diameter at the annular groove ranging from about 2.54 to about 6.35 mm to reduce the strand tension.