Pneumatic Fiber Feeding for Non-Woven Web Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for forming non-woven air-laid webs suffer from non-uniform deposition of fibers on the condenser, leading to costly additional processing steps and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Modifications to the machine design, including the removal or modification of the doffer plate and lower slide plate, addition of a nose bar and nose bar extension, and incorporation of air venting passages, to improve fiber deposition uniformity on the condenser.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the machine uses a traditional doffer plate and lower slide plate configuration, then the fiber doffing process is simple, but the fiber deposition on the condenser becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber deposition uniformityVSAvoidmachine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the doffer plate and lower slide plate from the traditional machine configuration to eliminate the problem of fiber clumping and non-uniform deposition. By extracting these problematic components, the fiber doffing process is simplified and deposition uniformity is improved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using plates to guide and constrain fiber flow as in traditional designs, the patent inverts the approach by using open空间的 doffing zones where fibers are allowed to enter the air stream more freely, achieving better deposition uniformity through the opposite design philosophy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional processing steps are added to correct non-uniform deposition, then deposition uniformity improves, but processing costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber deposition uniformityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by designing the doffing mechanism to achieve uniform fiber deposition directly at the source, preventing the need for subsequent corrective processing steps. The modified doffing configuration ensures fibers are evenly distributed before they reach the condenser, eliminating the requirement for post-deposition uniformity corrections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the doffer plate and lower slide plate are removed or modified, then fiber deposition uniformity improves, but the machine structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber deposition uniformityVSAvoidmachine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the doffer plate and lower slide plate to eliminate the root cause of non-uniform deposition. This extraction of problematic components simplifies the overall structure while improving deposition quality, as the removed plates were creating fiber clumping issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies geometric parameters of the remaining structure, such as adjusting the position and configuration of the nose bar and air supply components, to compensate for the removed plates and achieve optimal fiber deposition uniformity without adding complex new structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves more uniform fiber deposition on the condenser, reducing the need for additional processing steps and lowering costs.

Implementation Method 1

The lickerin 12 then doffs the combed fibers therefrom using centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The doffed fibers are carried entrained in the air supply AS to a condenser 18

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir entrainment: Air Entrainment

Implementation Method 3

The fibers are deposited on the condenser 18 in a random fashion to form the non-woven fiber web

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiber deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3833808B1Machines systems and methods for making random fiber webs
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP3833808B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3833808B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3833808B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods apparatuses and systems of forming a random fiber web using pneumatic fiber feeding system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can optionally comprise: providing a plurality of moveable apparatuses including a lickerin and a feeder, the lickerin configured to remove a plurality of fibers from a fibrous mat delivered to adjacent the lickerin by the feeder; doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system; communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the doffing; and collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.