US 12,454,778 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)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/455,840.
Application 18/455,840 is a continuation of application No. 17/250,594, granted, now 11,814,763, previously published as PCT/US2019/045603, filed on Aug. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,069, filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0399780 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
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)] 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, a feeder, and a saber roll coupled to a moveable end cap, the moveable end cap being configured for eccentrically positioning the saber roll, and 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 lickerin doffing location within the system;
communicating an air supply to entrain the plurality of fibers with the air supply after the plurality of fibers are doffed, wherein the moveable end cap comprises a vent therein such that communicating the air supply comprises an amount of ambient air passing through the vent into a channel, wherein the amount of ambient air enters the channel at a point between the lickerin roll and the saber roll;
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, wherein passage is defined by a first end opposite a second end, wherein an entry of the doffed fibers from the lickerin doffing location to the air supply is configured to be at the second end of the passage; and
collecting the plurality of fibers on a collector from the air supply to form the random fiber web.