Patent ID: 6427745
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B32B,D01D,D04H

Abstract:
An apparatus for the in-line manufacture of a laminate of thermoplastic layers comprising(a) first and second side-by-side stations, each station having (i) a vertically moveable support structure, (ii) an extruder mounted on the moveable support structure, (iii) a melt spinning die body mounted on the moveable support structure, said die body having a downwardly facing cavity formed therein, and (iv) means for delivering a polymer melt from the extruder to the die body; (b) a spunbond die insert mounted in the cavity of the die body of one of the stations and including means for receiving polymer melt from the die extruder and converting the melt into filaments; (c) a meltblowing die insert mounted in the cavity of the die body of the other of the stations and including means for receiving polymer melt from the extruder and converting the melt into meltblown filaments, said spunbond die insert and said meltblowing die insert being interchangeable; (d) a moveable filament collector positioned under the spunbond die insert and the meltblowing die insert for receiving filaments therefrom to form layers thereon; and (e) means for selectively moving each support structure to adjust the distance of the die-to-collector for each station.