Patent ID: 6139308
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B01D,D04H,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for manufacturing a meltblown fibrous web, the apparatus comprising:(i) a collector comprising a generally cylindrical forming surface that can rotate about a longitudinal axis and that can simultaneously move parallel to the longitudinal axis such that a selected point on the forming surface can move in a helical pattern about and along the longitudinal axis from a first end of the collector to a second end of the collector, the helical pattern defining a helix angle relative to the longitudinal axis;(ii) a source that is capable of directing meltblown fibers at the forming surface; and(iii) a separator that can separate a tubular meltblown fibrous web formed on the forming surface in a direction generally parallel to the helix angle to convert the tubular meltblown fibrous web into a non-tubular meltblown fibrous web.