Inventors:
Joel Peter Gotchel - Philadelphia PA
Henry James Norton - Wilmington DE
Aris Constantine Spengos - Wallingford PA
Lawrence Vaalburg - Brookhaven PA
Assignee:
Scott Paper Company - Philadelphia PA
International Classification:
D01G 2500
D04H 172
Abstract:
The invention resides in a method of forming a nonwoven web by employing a forming apparatus which includes a fiberizing roll for separating fibers from a feed mat and entraining them in a gaseous medium, a foraminous forming surface through which the gaseous medium passes and upon which the fibers are condensed to form a fibrous web, and a formation duct between the fiberizing roll and the forming surface for defining a flow path for the gaseous suspension of fibers from the fiberizing roll to the forming surface; the improvement wherein the formation duct includes front and back, substantially planar inner surfaces which may slightly converge in a direction from the fiberizing roll to the forming surface, but preferably diverge at an angle of up to about 41/2 degrees when the forming surface is a curved surface of a cylindrical drum, and up to about 11/2 degrees when the forming surface is a linear surface of a forming belt; the formation duct being inclined to the forming surface to define an incidence angle with the forming surface in the range of from about 10. degree. to about 30. degree. . The invention also resides in a method of forming a nonwoven web by employing the above-described apparatus.