METHOD FOR PRODUCING A REARRANGED FABRIC HAVING IMPROVED CROSS-STRENGTH

• US 3,747,161 A
• Filed: 08/20/1971
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Kalwaites
• Original Assignee: Frank Kalwaites
• Inventors: Kalwaites, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Newton, Dorsey
• Application Number:
  US05/173,442
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 19/161R,161P 28/72NW
• US Class Current: 28/105
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/70 characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres

Abstract

A method for producing, from a layer of fibrous material such as a fibrous web, nonwoven fabrics that contain apertures or holes or other areas of low fiber density and a pattern of groups of fiber segments defining such apertures, said fabric having improved cross strength. The method includes the steps of treating the fibrous layer by directing fluid rearranging forces against the layer while it is supported, stretching the treated layer in its transverse direction and treating the stretched layer with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces while the stretched layer is supported to produce a fabric having a pattern of fiber bundles defining a pattern of apertures or holes or other areas of low fiber density.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a rearranged nonwoven fabric having improved cross strength comprising:

(a) treating a layer of fibers with a plurality of rearranging forces to move fibers into areas of lesser fiber density and areas of greater fiber density, (b) stretching the rearranged layer of fibers in its transverse direction, and (c) treating the stretched layer with a plurality of rearranging forces to form a plurality of interconnected bundles of fiber segments defining a pattern of areas of lesser fiber density.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of mechanical rearranging forces.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of rearranging forces used to treat the layer of fibers is produced by streams of water.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction from about 50 to 150 percent of its original width.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction uniformly across the width of the layer.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in the transverse direction uniformly across its width in an amount of from about 50 to 150 percent of its original width.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of the rearranging forces used to treat the stretched layer, are streams of water.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of water streams longitudinally and transversely spaced over the layer.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces, the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction from about 50 to 150 percent of its original width and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces, the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction, uniformly across the width of the layer, in an amount of 50 to 150 percent of its original width and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces and the stretch layer is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced water streams.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces, the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction from about 50 to 150 percent of its original width, and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced streams of water.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of fluid rearranging forces, the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in its transverse direction uniformly across its width in an amount of about 50 to 150 percent of its original width and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced streams of water.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the layer of fibers is treated with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced streams of water, the rearranged layer of fibers is stretched in a transverse direction uniformly across its width in an amount of about from 50 to 150 percent of its original width, and the stretched layer is treated with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced streams of water.