US 11,814,754 B2
Machines systems and methods for making random fiber webs
William P. Klinzing, West Lakeland, MN (US); Warren D. Eaton, St. Paul, MN (US); Jon A. Lindberg, Prairie du Chien, WI (US); David C. Raithel, Hudson, WI (US); Kyle J. Baumgartner, Strawberry Point, IA (US); James C. Breister, Oakdale, MN (US); Joseph A. Dunbar, Woodbury, MN (US); James P. Endle, New Richmond, WI (US); Blake R. Griffith, Oakdale, MN (US); Sylvain M. Lalonde, Ontario (CA); Cristobal Martin Bernia, Madrid (ES); Jesse R. Seifert, New Richmond, WI (US); and Joshua D. Tibbits, Eagan, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/250,595
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/045604
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/033617, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,095, filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0355615 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. D01G 15/20 (2006.01); D01G 15/46 (2006.01); D04H 1/732 (2012.01)
CPC D01G 15/20 (2013.01) [D01G 15/46 (2013.01); D04H 1/732 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a random fiber web using a pneumatic fiber feeding system, the method comprising:
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 the lickerin by the feeder;
doffing the plurality of fibers from the lickerin at a doffing location within the system, wherein the doffing location is adjacent a termination point of a nose bar;
communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers;
separating the plurality of doffed fibers from the air supply, using an air deflector assembly, wherein the air deflector assembly is mounted to a housing of the pneumatic fiber feeding system, and wherein the air deflector assembly is positioned between the lickerin and a saber roll, wherein the air deflector assembly and the lickerin define a space that comprises the doffing location, and wherein the air deflector assembly is positioned and configured to deflect the air supply away from the doffing location;
entraining the plurality of doffed fibers in the air supply, wherein the plurality of fibers move through the space and are entrained in the communicated air supply after passing an end of the air deflector assembly; and
collecting the plurality of fibers from the air supply to form the random fiber web.