CPC Definition - Subclass D01D

Last Updated Version: 2022.01
MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
Definition statement

This place covers:

Mechanical methods and apparatus for the manufacture of artificial fibres and filaments.

It does also cover the physical and mechanical treatment of fibres and filaments during their production, e.g. before winding (after production: D01G, D02).

Relationships with other classification places

Many documents in the field disclose features related to both the mechanical (D01D) and the chemical (D01F) aspects of fibre manufacture. Two cases can be envisaged:

a) When a document is concerned with mechanical aspects but mentions specific polymers, a class should always be given in D01D and a class may be added in D01F when the chemical aspects are relevant or non-usual polymers or additives are used. No D01F class should be given when a long list of polymers is mentioned, even in the claims.

b) When a document is concerned with chemical aspects but mentions specific techniques (e.g. melt-blowing, electrospinning) a class should always be given in D01F and a class may be added in D01D when the specific technique plays an important role. No D01D class should be given when several unrelated techniques are mentioned, even in the claims.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Working or processing of metal wire

B21F

Production of metallic filaments

B22D 11/00, B22F 1/06

Production of glass fibres

C03B 37/00

Production of ceramic fibres

C04B 35/62227

Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments are classified

D01F 9/00

Processes starting from pre-made fibres or filaments, such as the production of yarns from single filaments

D02G, D02J

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Shaping foodstuffs by extruding

A23P 30/20

Synthetic grass (lawns for playground or sports grounds: E01C 13/08)

A41G 1/009

Artificial hair

A41G 3/0083

Bristles (production of filaments to make bristles: D01D/F)

A46D 1/00

Medical devices

A61L, A61F

Strings for tennis rackets

A63B 51/02

Filters (Cigarette filters: A24D 3/00)

B01D

Extrusion in general

B29C 48/00

Handling of filamentary materials (e.g. winding)

B65H

Composite materials - (chemical aspects) - (mechanical aspects)

C08J 5/00, B29C 70/00

Treatment of natural materials to make fibres-(mechanical) - (chemical)

D01B, D01C

Mechanical preliminary treatment of fibres (e.g. cutting, roughening, carding)

D01G

Spinning and twisting

D01H

Crimping or curling

D02G 1/00

Yarns and their applications (Tyre yarns see also B60C 9/00)

D02G 3/00

Finishing- (mechanical), - (chemical)

D02J, D06M

Nonwoven fabrics

D04H

Strings for musical instruments

G10D 3/10

Special rules of classification

A group in D01D is not automatically allocated whenever a specific technique is used or mentioned in a document, but only when important aspects are disclosed related to that technique, or when there is an inter-relationship with the technique used and the other features.

When a document is also related to a neighbouring field it should always be circulated to the related classifiers. In the cases where many different applications of the invention are claimed, the document should only be circulated to the exemplified or the most relevant technical field.

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Fibre

a relatively-short, elongated member of natural or artificial material;

Filament

an endless or quasi-endless, elongated member of natural or artificial material;

Thread

an assembly of yarns or filaments, usually produced by twisting.

Yarn

a unitary assembly of fibres, usually produced by spinning;

Treatment of filament-forming or like material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state, in general B29)
Definition statement

This place covers:

The treatment of the fibre-forming material before extrusion.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Working of plastics or substances in a plastic state, in general

B29

Spinnerette packs; Cleaning thereof ({D01D 5/0069}, D01D 5/24, D01D 5/253, D01D 5/28 take precedence)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Details about the constructional features and the cleaning of spinneret packs, i.e. the devices through which the polymer melt/solution is extruded

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Rotating spinnerets

D01D 5/18

Spinnerets for making hollow filaments

D01D 5/24

Spinnerets for making fibres with a non-round cross-section

D01D 5/253

Spinnerets for making conjugated filaments

D01D 5/30

Spinnerets for making hollow fibres membranes

B01D 69/085

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Extrusion dies

B29C 48/00

Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
Definition statement

This place covers:

Formation of filaments or the like

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Production of specific nonwoven fabrics (e.g. electrospun, spunbonded, melt-blown)

D04H

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Simultaneous stretching

the stretching is done while the fibres are not yet solidified, i.e. before quenching or the like

Further details of subgroups

spunbonding and melt-blowing

this group is not in use. Corresponding documents are classified in D01D 5/08 and its subgroups.

Continuous melt-spinning processes including a stretching step on the solid fibres

this group includes both centrifugal spinning and rotating spinnerets for making helically wound filaments (e.g. spiral wire).

e.g. thick-and-thin fibres, beads-on-a-string fibres.

Hollow fibre membranes are normally classified in B01D 69/00 or B01D 71/00 because they are not fibres in the classical sense. They might also get a class in D01D when specific aspects related to the fibre extrusion are mentioned. The production of hollow/tubular articles in general is classified in B29D 22/00- B29D 23/00. When additives are used to make hollow or porous fibres the D01F 1/08 should be given.

Collecting the newly-spun products ({D01D 5/0076 takes precedence;} collecting newly-spun products with the imparting of twist D01H)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Collecting the filaments or the like. Mechanical methods and apparatus for collecting fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or the like after spinning

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Electrospinning processes and apparatus characterized by the collector

D01D 5/0076

Collection with simultaneous imparting of twist

D01H

Physical treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture, i.e. during a continuous production process before the filaments have been collected (finishing D02J)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Physical treatment of the filaments or the like during their manufacture, i.e. during a continuous production process before the filaments have been collected.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Chemical or physicochemical treatment during manufacture

D01F 11/00

Mechanical treatment after manufacture

D01G, D02

Spinning of yarns

D01H

Yarns

D02G 3/00

Production of fabrics

D03, D04, D05

Complete machines for producing artificial threads
Definition statement

This place covers:

Machines including both mechanical apparatus for forming fibres or filaments and mechanical apparatus for assembling the fibres or filaments into threads.