US 12,404,142 B2
System and method for guiding fibers
Maurice Geli, Chesterfield, MO (US); and Arpad Rumy, Saint Peters, MO (US)
Assigned to Zoltek Corporation, Bridgeton, MO (US)
Appl. No. 17/632,430
Filed by Zoltek Corporation, Bridgeton, MO (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/045189
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 2, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/026344, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/883,832, filed on Aug. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281707 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 57/16 (2006.01); B65H 57/06 (2006.01); B65H 57/12 (2006.01); D01H 13/04 (2006.01); D02J 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 57/16 (2013.01) [B65H 57/06 (2013.01); B65H 57/12 (2013.01); D01H 13/045 (2013.01); D02J 1/18 (2013.01); B65H 2701/312 (2013.01); B65H 2701/313 (2013.01); B65H 2701/314 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber guide configured to guide fibers in a fiber processing system, the fiber guide comprising:
a surface defining a plurality of apertures through which fibers can pass in a direction from an upstream side of the surface to a downstream side of the surface, each of the apertures having an inlet positioned to receive fibers from the upstream side of the surface;
the plurality of apertures including at least one pair of first and second apertures adjacent to and spaced from one another;
the inlet of the first aperture of the at least one pair of first and second apertures being offset from the inlet of the second aperture of the at least one pair of first and second apertures, the offset being in the direction in which the fibers can pass from the upstream side of the surface to the downstream side of the surface, wherein a distance (d1) between the inlet of the first aperture and the inlet of the second aperture is larger than a distance (d2) between the first aperture and the second aperture measured transverse to the direction in which the fibers can pass;
a board defining the surface and a plurality of eyelets coupled to the board at positions corresponding to selected apertures, wherein the eyelets define the inlet of the selected apertures, and wherein the inlet of the first aperture is offset from the surface of the board.