(19)
(11) EP 0 401 829 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
03.07.1991 Bulletin 1991/27

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.12.1990 Bulletin 1990/50

(21) Application number: 90110818.3

(22) Date of filing: 07.06.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: D04H 3/03, D01D 5/08, D01D 4/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 07.06.1989 US 362737

(60) Divisional application:
94115971.7 / 0633339

(71) Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION
Neenah, Wisconsin 54956-0349 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Dodge, Richard N, II
    Roswell, GA 30076 (US)
  • Wagner, Ann L.
    Cumming, GA 30130 (US)
  • Fowler, Larry C.
    Clearwater, Florida 34624 (US)
  • Allen, Martin A.
    Gainesville, GA 30501 (US)
  • Fetcko, John T.
    Dawsonville, GA 30535 (US)

(74) Representative: Diehl, Hermann O. Th., Dr. et al
Diehl, Glaeser, Hiltl & Partner Patentanwälte Postfach 19 03 65
80603 München
80603 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Process and apparatus for forming fibers


    (57) An apparatus (10) for forming a nonwoven web (26) from a fiber forming thermoplastic polymer resin which includes a reservoir (12) for supplying a quantity of melted fiber forming thermoplastic resin, a pump (14) for pumping the molten resin to a fiber forming die (16) and a die for forming a discrete resin stream to flow therefrom. The die includes a first fluid passageway (20) for forming a stream of fluid, such as air, in contact with and substantially surrounding the formed flow of resin for a predetermined distance within the die (16) and an interrupt system (18) for selectively cycling the flow of resin on and off and clearing the resin from the fiber forming die (16). A receiving belt (21) collects the fibers (22) formed from the resin flow below the first fluid passageway (20) spaced at a predetermined distance (A') from the die (16).






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