Patent · US Expired

Method and device for conveying planar ribbon of crimped fiber using air jets

US6402436B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
13References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2000
Grant dateJun 11, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2701/177
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and device for conveying a ribbon of crimped material includes an air mover, a plenum connected to the air mover to receive air from the air mover, a series of directional slits and side walls. The directional slits air in fluid communication with the plenum so that air from the plenum exits through the directional slits in a predetermined direction. The directional slits are arranged in a generally planar configuration to form a conveyance track. The sides walls are provided on either side of the conveyance track to extend above the conveyance track. The crimped material may be a planar band of crimped fiber, such as a planar band of crimped acetate fiber. The crimps may extend in an up-and-down direction or in a back-and-forth direction. The plenum may be formed of a pair of elongated support pieces with cutout portions in the elongated support pieces. In this case, the directional slits are formed by air knives fitting into the cutout portions of the elongated support pieces, and the elongated support pieces define the side walls. With the cutout portions, the position of the air knives within the cutout portions can be adjusted to vary the spacing between the air knive…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.