Patent ID: 6491507
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: D01D,D04H

Abstract:
An apparatus for meltblowing at least first and second liquid materials into multi-component filaments, comprising:first and second outer manifold elements having respective opposed surfaces, each outer manifold element including a recess on its respective opposed surface, and an intermediate manifold element coupled between said respective opposed surfaces of said first and second outer manifold elements, said intermediate manifold element having first and second liquid supply inlets for receiving the first and second liquid materials, and having first and second outer manifold elements, said intermediate manifold element having first and second opposite surfaces each having a recess, said recesses on said first and second opposite surfaces respectively communicating with said recesses on said opposed surfaces to form first and second channels, said first and second channels in fluid communication with said first and second liquid supply inlets and having outlets for respectively discharging the first and second liquid materials, a die tip coupled to said outer manifold elements and said intermediate manifold element, said die tip including a plurality of multi-component filament discharge outlets, at least first and second liquid distribution passages adapted to receive the first and second liquid materials respectively from said outlets of said first and second channels, and a liquid combining member communicating between said first and second liquid distribution passages and said filament discharge outlets, said liquid combining member configured to receive the first and second liquid materials and combine the first and second liquid materials into respective multi-component filaments, and air discharge outlets positioned adjacent said filament discharge outlets for supplying pressurized air to impinge the multi-component filaments upon discharge from said die tip, and first and second pumps mounted to said intermediate manifold element, said first pump configured to supply the first liquid material to said first liquid supply inlet and said second pump configured to supply the second liquid material to said second liquid supply inlet.