Method of nonwoven reclaim
US5687916A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB26F1/26
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for reducing a nonwoven fabric to flakes which can be recycled into the spinning system of a meltblowing, spunbonding or carding process. The process according to this invention is a noncontact one, involving the use of a hot air knife. The hot air knife emits a jet, or stream, of heated air under pressure at a high flow rate. A nonwoven fabric is contacted with the jet of air and as a consequence, the nonwoven web is physically broken into small pieces, or flakes. The resultant flakes are brushed off the conveyor and collected in a reclaim hopper; they are readily reprocessable due to their small size.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.