US 11,814,763 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); Blake R. Griffith, Oakdale, MN (US); 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. 17/250,594
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/045603
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/033616, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,069, filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0348317 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. D04H 1/732 (2012.01); D01G 15/20 (2006.01); D01G 15/46 (2006.01)
CPC D04H 1/732 (2013.01) [D01G 15/20 (2013.01); D01G 15/465 (2013.01)] 11 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 being 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;
providing a nose bar assembly extending between a portion of the feeder and the lickerin, wherein the nose bar assembly comprises a curved portion that, with a curvature of the lickerin, forms a passage for the plurality of fibers;
communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the plurality of fibers exit the passage, wherein the nose bar assembly is positioned between the lickerin and the air supply;
providing a vent in a saber roll assembly and communicating with the air supply, the saber roll assembly comprising a saber roll and a saber roll end cap, wherein the vent is formed by the saber roll end cap coupled to the saber roll, and wherein the saber roll end cap has a first portion, that receives the saber roll, and a second portion, that defines an edge of the vent; wherein the vent is moveable with movement of the saber roll assembly away from and toward the doffing location, and movement of the saber roll end cap causes a position of the vent to change relative to the lickerin; and
collecting the plurality of fibers on the collector from the air supply to form the random fiber web, wherein the collector is a condenser.