Office Action 4: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-13)

CLAIMS:
IN THE CLAIMS

The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1170.0931.(Currently Amended) A fiber producing system, the system comprising:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
one or more air pumps positioned in the housing;
a peristaltic pump positioned in the housing, the peristaltic pump being coupled to the inlet of the housing for receiving polymer solution into the peristaltic pump;
a manifold positioned at the outlet of the housing, wherein the manifold is coupled to an outlet of the peristaltic pump and an outlet ofthe one or more air pumps, wherein the manifold includes:a nozzle coupled to he outlet of the one or more air pumps, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent- shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion to increase a velocity of air exiting an outlet of the nozzle; and a nosepiece coupled to the outlet ofthe nozzle, the nosepiece including a die with one or more individual passages for flow of the polymer solution from the outlet ofthe peristalticpumnp and wherein, in the manifold, a flow of the air from he nozzle round the die and the passages such that the air is being funneled around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages andte moves the polymer solution out of the assages toform fibers as the polymer solution exits the passages and the nosepiece.
2\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is a molded housing.

3\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle and the manifold are positioned in the housing.

4\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a handle.

5\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 1, further comprising a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.

6\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 5, wherein the hopper is configured to provide the polymer solution to the peristaltic pump.

7\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 1, wherein the peristaltic pump is configured to move the polymer solution into the manifold.

8\. (Cancelled).

9\. (Currently Amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the assages are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use.

10\. (Currently Amended) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the assages has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.

11\. (Currently Amended) The system of claim 1, further comprising a divider in at least one of the assages to divide the polymer solution and form multi-lumen fibers.

12\. (Original) The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable power source coupled to the pumps.

13\. (Currently Amended) A method of making fibers, comprising:providing a polymer solution to a peristaltic pump positioned in a housing;
generating a flow of air in the housing using an air pump positioned in the housing;

moving, using the peristaltic pump, the polymer solution into a nosepiece in a manifold in the housing, wherein the nosepiece includes a die having one or more assages;
moving, using the air pump, air into and through a nozzle in the manifold, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion that increases a velocity of the air exiting the nozzle; and
 funneling the air exiting the nozzle around the die and the passages such that the air with the increased velocity funnels around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages ante moves the polymer solution out of the passagesto form fibers as the polymer solution exits the passages and the nosepiece.

14\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 13, wherein the fibers have a shape and size determined by a shape and size of the one or more passages in the nosepiece.

15\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 13, wherein the fibers have a length greater than 1 micron.

16\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 13, further comprising extruding the polymer solution through the one or more assages to produce the fibers.

17\. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 13, wherein providing the polymer solution include providing the polymer solution to a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.

18\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the fibers onto a surface.

19\. (Original) The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling a temperature of the housing to control one or more properties of the fibers.

20\. (Original) The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the temperature using a heater positioned in the housing.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claims 1, 9-11, 13-16 and 18 have been amended by applicants.
Claim 8 has been canceled by applicants.
Claims 1-7 and 9-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments and amendment filed 1/29/2025 have been reconsidered and is persuasive over the prior art references.
It is noted that the amended claims have issues regarding the specific passages, as the die of claim 1 (and also claim 13) states of one or more individual passages, however, later on in the claim and in dependent claims, there is a reference to the passages.  The Examiner’s amendment below is to remedy the issues raised.
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Gareth Sampson on 2/3/2025.
The application has been amended as follows:
In the claims:
1.  (currently amended) A fiber producing system, the system comprising:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
one or more air pumps positioned in the housing;
a peristaltic pump positioned in the housing, the peristaltic pump being coupled to the inlet of the housing for receiving polymer solution into the peristaltic pump;
a manifold positioned at the outlet of the housing, wherein the manifold is coupled to an outlet of the peristaltic pump and an outlet of the one or more air pumps, wherein the manifold includes:
a nozzle coupled to
a nosepiece coupled to the outlet of the nozzle, the nosepiece including a die with one or more individual passages for flow of the polymer solution from the outlet of the peristaltic pump and wherein, in the manifold, a flow of the air from the nozzle around the die and the one or more passages such that the air is being funneled around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages and moves the polymer solution out of the one or more passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and the nosepiece.
9. (currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more passages are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use.
10. (currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more passages has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.
11. (currently amended) The system of claim 1, further comprising a divider in at least one of the one or more passages to divide the polymer solution and form multi-lumen fibers.
13. (currently Amended) A method of making fibers, comprising:
providing a polymer solution to a peristaltic pump positioned in a housing;
generating a flow of air in the housing using an air pump positioned in the housing;
moving, using the peristaltic pump, the polymer solution into a nosepiece in a manifold in the housing, wherein the nosepiece includes a die having one or more
moving, using the air pump, air into and through a nozzle in the manifold, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion that increases a velocity of the air exiting the nozzle;
and funneling the air exiting the nozzle around the die and the one or more passages such that the air with the increased velocity funnels around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and moves the polymer solution out of the one or more passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and the nosepiece.
Clean copy of the amended claims:
1. A fiber producing system, the system comprising:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
one or more air pumps positioned in the housing;
a peristaltic pump positioned in the housing, the peristaltic pump being coupled to the inlet of the housing for receiving polymer solution into the peristaltic pump;
a manifold positioned at the outlet of the housing, wherein the manifold is coupled to an outlet of the peristaltic pump and an outlet of the one or more air pumps, wherein the manifold includes:
a nozzle coupled to
a nosepiece coupled to the outlet of the nozzle, the nosepiece including a die with one or more individual passages for flow of the polymer solution from the outlet of the peristaltic pump and wherein, in the manifold, a flow of the air from the nozzle around the die and the one or more passages such that the air is being funneled around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages and moves the polymer solution out of the one or more passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and the nosepiece.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more passages are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more passages has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.
11.  The system of claim 1, further comprising a divider in at least one of the one or more passages to divide the polymer solution and form multi-lumen fibers.
13. (Currently Amended) A method of making fibers, comprising:
providing a polymer solution to a peristaltic pump positioned in a housing;
generating a flow of air in the housing using an air pump positioned in the housing;
moving, using the peristaltic pump, the polymer solution into a nosepiece in a manifold in the housing, wherein the nosepiece includes a die having one or more
moving, using the air pump, air into and through a nozzle in the manifold, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion that increases a velocity of the air exiting the nozzle;
and funneling the air exiting the nozzle around the die and the one or more passages such that the air with the increased velocity funnels around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and moves the polymer solution out of the one or more passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the one or more passages and the nosepiece.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter over the prior art references:
The prior art references fail to teach the claimed invention, particularly in light of the latest amendment.  Wherein, the features of the housing with peristaltic pump, air pump(s), and the claimed nozzle arrangement in relation to the die, housing, and nosepiece.
The closest prior art include:
Ikegaya (US 2020/0173057), wherein Ikegaya teaches of nozzle head 20 and having solvent storage 11, and gas ejection unit 13, and gas flow passage 26, and raw material flow passage 25, and in Figures 2-27 of various different arrangements of the nozzle head and in Figures 25-26 with plural flow passages, and further in another embodiment, see Figures 28-40, with an extruder device with cylinder 63 and supply pipe 68 for gas, with the nozzle head 70, and with the plural gas passages 76 and the raw material passages 75.  Ikegaya does not specifically teach of the particularly claimed convergent, divergent nozzle design, of the particular positioning all the elements within a housing,
Weigel (US 2008/0038979), only teaches of a convergent and then divergent portions of the nozzle, the Weigel reference teaches of the nozzle forming a venturi effect.  In analogous prior art in the related teaching of forming filaments, the Weigel reference teaches in Fig. 2, see [0035], with the funnel in forming a venturi nozzle, and includes a funnel portion, which would encompass the claimed convergence portion.  Wherein, the divergence occurs via at the end 5.  Here, the fibre inlet 1 and further opening 3 provides for air.   The Weigel reference does not teach the claimed arrangement and of the particular die and passage design.
Fong (US 2019/0292685), regarding the use of a peristaltic pump, Fong teaches of the use of a spinneret and electrospinning system in forming fibers.  Wherein, the solution is provided from the reservoir via a peristaltic pump, see [0096], that further the pump can be either a positive displacement pump or peristaltic pump, [0095].  The Fong reference does not teach the claimed arrangement and of the particular die and passage design.
Wright (US 11207510), see housing of Wright, and further, a molded housing is a known type of forming such particularly when the housing is formed from a plastic material which is a known type of material used in constructing said elements.  Further, Wright teaches a variety of pumps used for transporting the raw materials within the system.  The Wright reference does not teach the claimed arrangement and of the particular die and passage design.
Fournier (US 2019/0390374), in regards to the hopper, Fournier, see [0292] teaches of feeding hopper that includes peristaltic pump.  Wherein, the concept of the polymer supply being from a hopper and further associated with a pump would have been obvious as a known alternate configuration in supplying the polymer solution further into the system.  The Fournier reference does not teach the claimed arrangement and of the particular die and passage design.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Applicant is in receipt of the Final Office Action mailed April 18, 2024.
Claims 1-7 and 9-20 remain pending. Claims 1, 9-11, 13, 14-16, and 18 have been amended. Support for the amendments is found at least in FIGS. 2-4 along with the accompanying description at least in paragraphs [0019]-[0030]. No new matter has been added.
Reconsideration of the present case is respectfully requested in view of the following remarks.
Section 103 Re
j
ections:
The Office Action rejects claims 1, 7, 9, 11, 13-14, 16, and 19-20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over lkegaya (US 2020/0173057) in view of Weigel (US 2008/0038979) and Fong (US 2019/0292685). The Office Action rejects claims 2-4, 10, 12, 15, and 18 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over lkegaya in view of Weigel and Fong and further in view of Wright (US 11207510). The Office Action rejects claims 5, 6, and 17 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over lkegaya in view of Weigel and Fong and further in view of Fournier (US 2019/0390374). Applicant respectfully disagrees with these rejections.
In order to reject a claim as obvious, the Examiner has the burden of establishing a prima facie case of obviousness. In re Warner et al., 379 F.2d 1011, 154 USPQ 173, 177-178 (C.C.P.A. 1967). To establish prima facie obviousness of a claimed invention,
all the claim limitations
must be taught or suggested by the prior art. In re Royka, 490 F.2d 981, 180 U.S.P.Q. 580 (C.C.P.A. 1974), MPEP §2143.03.
Claim 1 recites, in part:
a manifold positioned at the outlet of the housing, wherein the manifold is
coupled to an outlet of the peristaltic pump and an outlet of the one or more air
pumps, wherein the manifold includes:
a nozzle coupled to the outlet of the one or more air pumps, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent- shaped portion to increase a velocity of air exiting an outlet of the nozzle;
and
a nosepiece coupled to the outlet of the nozzle, the nosepiece including a die with one or more individual passages for flow of the polymer solution from the outlet of the peristaltic pump, and wherein, in the manifold, a flow of the air from the nozzle around the die and the passages such that the air is being funneled around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages and moves the polymer solution out of the passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the passages and
the nosepiece.
Claim 13 recites, in part:
moving, using the air pump, air into and through a nozzle in the manifold,
wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent- shaped portion that increases a velocity of the air exiting the nozzle; and
funneling the air exiting the nozzle around the die and the passages such
that the air with the increased velocity funnels around the polymer solution as the polymer solution exits the passages and moves the polymer solution out of the passages to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the passages and the
nosepiece.
The cited art does not appear to teach or suggest at least the above-quoted features of the claims, in combination with the other features of the claims. Specifically, beginning with Ikegaya, as noted in the Office Action Ikegaya merely teaches the use of gas flow passages (e.g., "gas flow passage 26" or "gas flow passage 76") that receive gas from a supply pipe (e.g., "supply pipe 68"). While Ikegaya teaches that the gas flow passages are positioned in a nozzle head (e.g., "nozzle head 20" or "nozzle head 70"), Ikegaya has no teaching regards to increasing the velocity of the gas using such gas flow passages or has any designs that changes the flow of gas in the nozzle heads. For instance, Ikegaya merely states:
A plurality of the gas flow passage 76 communicates with a gas supply pipe 68 in the nozzle head 70, and high-pressure gas supplied from the gas ejection unit flows the gas supply pipe 68 and a plurality of gas flow passages 76 and is ejected from the opening of the plurality of the gas flow passages 76 on the gas discharge
surface 73.
(Ikegaya, paragraph [0111]).
As shown above, Ikegaya is limited to using a supply of high-pressure gas without any modifications to the flow of gas within the system itself. Accordingly, Ikegaya fails to teach or suggest the use of a nozzle to increase a velocity of air in the device where that increase velocity
of air is funneled around a die and passages with polymer solution exiting the passages, as described in claims 1 and 13 above.
Applicant further notes that Ikegaya fails to teach or suggest the feature of air being "funneled around" the polymer solution. For instance, Ikegaya teaches that "gas flow passages 76" are positioned on one side of "raw material flow passages 75" (see, e.g., Figs. 31-34) or the gas flow passages are positioned in a center and surrounded by the raw material flow passages (see, e.g., Figs. 35-38). Neither of these arrangements allows the air to be "funneled around" a polymer solution exiting passages of the nosepiece. Applicant notes that Applicant's claimed combination and specific arrangement of the nozzle and the nosepiece contributes the described advantages that enable a hand held portable apparatus to produce fibers without any rotating parts and without any electric fields. The device of Ikegaya relies on large parts and high volumes of material to produce fibers, which cannot be replicated in a small, hand held apparatus such as Applicant's claimed invention.
With respect to Applicant's claimed nozzle that increases the velocity of air for funneling around polymer solution exiting passages, the Office Action cites Weigel to overcome the deficiencies in Ikegaya. Applicant respectfully disagrees that Weigel teaches or suggest a nozzle that increases the velocity of air for funneling around polymer solution exiting passages. Referring to FIG. 2 of Weigel, Weigel teaches a funnel that uses a Venturi nozzle design to produce a low pressure in the funnel to move fiber from one end of the funnel to the other. Accordingly, the only use of air in the funnel of Weigel is to move the fiber through the funnel from "inlet 1" to "lower end 5". For instance, Weigel states:
FIG. 2 shows the construction of a slot-shaped funnel according to the
invention. The fibre can be introduced into the mentioned funnel via the fibre inlet 1. Conveyance of the fibre through the funnel is thereby made possible by a Venturi nozzle which replaces the water jet principle. The supply of water, air or also a mixture thereof is effected through the opening 3, which, because of the Venturi profile, flows past the channel 4 such that a low pressure is produced which conveys the fibre through the channel 4. At the lower end 5 of the funnel there is situated the fibre outlet from where the filament yarns can then be conveyed
further.
(Paragraph [0035])(Emphasis added).
As clearly shown by the above description, Weigel is teaching the use of the Venturi effect to lower pressure in a long channel to move fiber through the channel. Weigel has no teaching or suggestion for increasing the velocity of air moving through the funnel. Further, Applicant notes that, as stated clearly, the intended use of the funnel of Weigel is for moving fiber while Applicant's claimed nozzle is used solely for the purpose of moving and increasing the velocity of air so that the air with the increased velocity can then be used to interact with polymer solution (e.g., "funneled around" the polymer solution) to form fibers. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would lack motivation to combine the features of Weigel with the features of Ikegaya despite both devices being in the same field of forming fibers since the funnel of Weigel is used to interact with already formed fibers.
Fong and Wright also fail to overcome the above-described deficiencies in Ikegaya and Weigel.
For at least the above reasons, Applicant submits that the cited does not teach or suggest at least the above-quoted combinations of features in the claims. Accordingly, Applicant submits that claims 1, 13, and the claims dependent thereon are patentable over the cited art.
CONCLUSION


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20200173057: Claims:
1. An apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising
a raw material discharge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged, and a gas discharge surface which is arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°) toward said raw material discharge surface and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passage meets gas ejected from said gas flow passage.
2. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 comprising one or more flow passage sat of said one raw material flow passage and said one gas flow passage.
3. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of flow passage sets are provided and these flow passage sets are arranged in one direction so that said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged on two linear lines parallel each other.
4. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of flow passage sets are provided and the plurality of flow passage sets are arranged annularly so that said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged on the circumference of two circles which become concentric.
5. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 wherein an axis line of said raw material flow passage and an axis line of said gas flow passage are provided on a plane.
6. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 comprising one or more flow passage sets of a plurality of said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage.
7. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 6 wherein said flow passage set comprises said gas flow passage having a slit-like shape and extending in one direction, and said plurality of raw material flow passages arranged in said one direction.
8. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 6 wherein said flow passage set comprises said gas flow passage and a plurality of said raw material flow passage arranged around said gas flow passage.
9. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 wherein a discharge pipe projecting from said raw material discharge surface is provided and said raw material flow passage is arranged inside thereof.
10. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 wherein a discharge pipe projecting from said gas discharge surface is provided and said gas flow passage is arranged inside thereof.
11. An apparatus for producing nanofibers claimed in claim 1 comprising a first portion having said raw material discharge surface, and a second portion having said gas discharge surface, wherein said first portion and said second portion are connected detachably.
12. An apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising
a raw material discharge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged, a gas discharge surface which is arranged downwardly from said raw material discharge surface and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, a connecting surface which is connected with said raw material discharge surface and said gas discharge surface, and is arranged with an angle β (0≤β<90°) toward said raw material discharge surface, wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, an opening of said gas flow passage contacts with said connecting surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passage reaches to the opening of said gas flow passage along said connecting surface.
13. A nozzle head used for an apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising:
a raw material discharge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged, and a gas discharge surface which is arranged with an angle α (0<α≤90°) toward said raw material discharge surface and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passage meets gas ejected from said gas flow passage.
14. A nozzle head used for an apparatus for producing nanofibers comprising:
a raw material discharge surface on which a raw material flow passage for discharging a liquid raw material is arranged, a gas discharge surface which is arranged downwardly from said raw material discharge surface, and on which a gas flow passage for ejecting gas is arranged, a connecting surface which is connected with said raw material discharge surface and said gas discharge surface, and is arranged with an angle β (0≤β<90°) toward said raw material discharge surface, wherein said raw material flow passage is orthogonal to said raw material discharge surface, said gas flow passage is orthogonal to said gas discharge surface, an opening of said gas flow passage contacts with said connecting surface, and said raw material flow passage and said gas flow passage are arranged so that said liquid raw material discharged from said raw material flow passage reaches to the opening of said gas flow passage along said connecting surface.
Ref US20080038979: Claims:
1. Method for the production of non-woven fabrics, in which a lyotropic solution of cellulose carbamate in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMNO) is spun into a plurality of filament yarns by means of extrusion through a nozzle block containing at least 20 openings via an air gap into a regenerating bath, said filament yarns being intermingled subsequently by being subjected to a flow with gaseous medium and/or fluid.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a nozzle block with at least 10,000 openings is used.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio of length to diameter of the nozzles is from 1 to 20.
4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the width of the air gap between nozzle and regenerating bath is 5 to 150 mm, in particular 10 to 50 mm.
5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the filament yarns are guided downwards after spinning into a slot-shaped funnel, the intermingling with the gaseous medium and/or fluid being effected at the outlet of the funnel.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that a further intermingling of the filament yarns is achieved by a shaking movement of the funnel.
7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that air and/or water are used as gaseous medium and/or fluid.
8. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the filament yarns are laid on a conveyor belt after the intermingling.
9. Method according to 8, characterised in that a further intermingling of the filament yarns is achieved by a shaking movement of the conveyor belt.
10. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the cellulose carbamate proportion of the lyotropic solution is at least 20% by weight, in particular 22 to 27% by weight, relative to the solution.
11. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the lyotropic solution is produced by swelling of the cellulose carbamate in a 40 to 70%, in particular a 50% solution of NMMNO in water and subsequent removal of the water up to a ratio of NMMNO to water between 80:20 and 90:10.
12. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the regenerating bath comprises a solution of NMMNO in water with an NMMNO proportion of 0.5 to 25% by weight, in particular 5 to 15% by weight, relative to the solution.
13. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the extrusion is effected at a temperature between 80 to 110° C., in particular 85 to 95° C.
14. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the non-woven fabric is subsequently washed, pressed and dried.
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the washing is effected by a water jet at high pressure.
16. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the cellulose carbamate is regenerated into cellulose in a regenerating bath.
17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that the regenerating bath comprises 0.3 to 1% by weight sodium hydroxide in water and the regeneration is effected at a temperature of 60 to 95° C.
18. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that the regeneration is implemented between extrusion and intermingling.
19. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that the regeneration is implemented after the intermingling.
20. Non-woven fabric comprising a random orientation of filament yarns made of cellulose carbamate.
21. Non-woven fabric according to claim 20, characterised in that the filament yarns have a strength of at least 60 cN/tex.
22. Non-woven fabric according to claim 20, characterised in that the non-woven fabric can be produced according to the method according to a method for the production of non-woven fabrics, in which a lyotropic solution of cellulose carbamate in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMNO) is spun into a plurality of filament yarns by means of extrusion through a nozzle block containing at least 20 openings via an air gap into a regenerating bath, said filament yarns being intermingled subsequently by being subjected to a flow with gaseous medium and/or fluid.
23. Non-woven fabric comprising a random orientation of filament yarns made of regenerated cellulose.
24. Non-woven fabric according to claim 23, characterised in that the residual N-content is from 0.3 to 0.5%, in particular 0.1 to 0.2%.
25. Non-woven fabric according to claim 23, characterised in that the non-woven fabric has a pore structure with a porosity of 1 to 10%.
26. Non-woven fabric according to claim 23, characterised in that the non-woven fabric has a specific internal surface between 20 and 50 m2/cm3, measured by means of small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS).
27. Non-woven fabric according to claim 23, characterised in that the non-woven fabric can be produced with a method for the production of non-woven fabrics, in which a lyotropic solution of cellulose carbamate in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMNO) is spun into a plurality of filament yarns by means of extrusion through a nozzle block containing at least 20 openings via an air gap into a regenerating bath, said filament yarns being intermingled subsequently by being subjected to a flow with gaseous medium and/or fluid characterised in that the cellulose carbamate is regenerated into cellulose in a regenerating bath.
28. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 in medicine, in particular as operating sheets, bed sheets, surgical dressings, gauzes or cotton wool pads.
29. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 as hygiene materials or as household wipes.
30. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 as decorative non-woven fabrics, in particular tablecloths, serviettes or curtains.
31. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 as non-woven liners in the clothing industry.
32. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 as reinforcing mats or isolating jackets in the building industry.
33. Use of the non-woven fabrics according to claim 20 as reinforcing material for fibre-reinforced thermoplastic and duroplastic plastic materials.
Ref US20190292685: Claims:
1. An air-assisted electrospinning spinneret comprising:
a spinneret needle, wherein the spinneret needle is electrically conductive and comprises a tip; an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a nozzle that the spinneret needle passes through; and a plurality of air holes in the nozzle, wherein each air hole defines an air path converging at the spinneret needle tip.
2. The spinneret of claim 1, further comprising a spin dope plenum; wherein the spin dope plenum is housed within the enclosure, and wherein the spinneret needle is in fluid communication with the plenum.
3. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein the needle is made of a metal.
4. The spinneret of claim 2, wherein the spinneret needle further comprises an outer sleeve that forms a channel.
5. The spinneret of claim 4, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with a spin dope plenum or a spin dope reservoir.
6. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air holes is between 4 and 12 air holes.
7. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein there are an even number of air holes.
8. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein the spinneret needle has an inner diameter between about 0.4 mm and about 1.5 mm.
9. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein the spinneret needle is between about 0.5 inches in length and about 10 inches in length.
10. The spinneret of claim 1, wherein the spinneret needle extends beyond the enclosure a distance of between about 0.2 inches and about 4 inches.
11. A spinneret array comprising:
two or more air-assisted electrospinning spinnerets of claim 1, wherein the spinneret needles are separated to form a distance between the spinneret needles, and wherein the spinneret needles form a row or a circle.
12. The spinneret array of claim 11, wherein there are six or more spinnerets and the spinnerets are circularly arranged, or wherein the two or more spinnerets are in a row.
13. The spinneret array of claim 12, wherein the spinnerets are in a row, and wherein the row comprises between 3 spinnerets and 1000 spinnerets.
14. The spinneret array of claim 11, wherein the spinneret array when electrically charged produces a stable electrical field, and wherein the spinneret needles are spaced apart in a ratio of the non-adjacent spinneret needles to adjacent spinneret needles of between about 3:1 and about 4:1.
15. A method of preparing an electrospun nanofibrous mat with a spinneret of claim 1 comprising:
transferring a spin dope to the spinneret needle;
providing air pressure for an air-assist;
electrically charging the spinneret needle;
forcing the spin dope from within the spinneret needle to the needle tip and converging an air stream at the needle tip from the air-assist to form a Taylor Cone on the spinneret needle tip;
forming a filament from the Taylor Cone; and
collecting the filament on a collector.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the spinneret further comprises a spin dope plenum; wherein the spin dope plenum is housed within the enclosure, and wherein the spinneret needle is in fluid communication with the plenum.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the spinneret needle further comprises an outer sleeve that forms a channel, and wherein the channel is in fluid communication with a spin dope plenum or a spin dope reservoir.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein there are an even number of air holes.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising blowing the filament.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising venting solvent vapor from the filament.
Ref US20190390374: Claims:
1. A method for melt-preparation of lignin-based fibers, comprising:
a/ the intimate blending of the components of a formulation comprising:
lignin,
a plasticizer miscible with said lignin,
and a cross-linking agent capable of cross-linking with said lignin,
 in conditions in which no cross-linking of the cross-linking agent and of the lignin occurs, b/ the spinning of the intimate blend thus obtained in a hot extrusion device comprising an extrusion head in a terminal part, in order to form continuous threads, by application in said extrusion device of conditions such that:
the temperatures applied in said extrusion device are higher than the glass-transition temperature of said intimate blend,
and the temperatures, the residence time of said intimate blend in said extrusion device and the residence time of said intimate blend in said extrusion head are such that the cross-linking reaction of the cross-linking agent and lignin is initiated only in the extrusion head,
 c/ when appropriate, the drawing of the threads obtained in order to form lignin-based fibers of great length, with the cross-linking agent being chosen in such a way that the cross-linking reaction thereof with said lignin is initiated in a time less than said residence time of said intimate blend in said extrusion head at temperatures above a temperature at least 10° C. greater than the glass-transition temperature of said intimate blend of said lignin and of said plasticizer.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step a/ of intimate blending of the components of said formulation comprises the following sub-steps:
a1/ preparation of said formulation, by blending of said lignin, said plasticizer and said cross-linking agent, a2/ the blending by extrusion of the components of said formulation, at a temperature greater than the glass-transition temperature of the lignin and than a softening temperature of the plasticizer, in order to form an extrudate in which the lignin, the plasticizer and the cross-linking agent are in an intimate blend.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b/ of spinning of the intimate blend of the components of the formulation, it is applied in the extrusion head a temperature that is greater than the glass-transition temperature of said intimate blend by a value of between 10 and 150° C.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin and the plasticizer are such, and in proportions such, that the glass-transition temperature of said intimate blend of said lignin and of said plasticizer is between 0 and 180° C.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin has a weight average molecular weight between 1,000 and 100,000 g/mol.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is a polymer, or blend of polymers.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is a fusible acrylonitrile polymer.
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the plasticizer has a glass-transition temperature, where applicable glass-transition temperatures, of less than 150° C.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cross-linking agent is chosen in the group consisting of:
benzoxazines, epoxies, oxazolines, polyoxymethylenes, aldehydes, hexamethylenetetramine and hexamethylenemethoxymelamine; compounds that have a functionality greater than or equal to two, of which the chemical functions are chosen in the group consisting of the functions: benzoxazine, epoxy (glycidyl ether in particular), isocyanate, anhydride, carboxylic acid, methylol and ester, with these chemical functions being identical or different, or any blend of such compounds.
10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cross-linking agent is capable of initiating a cross-linking reaction with the lignin in less than 10 minutes at a temperature between 30 and 190° C.
11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cross-linking agent is capable of cross-linking with the lignin at ambient temperature.
12. Method according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises the following percentages by weight, with respect to the total weight of the formulation:
50 to 98% of lignin, and/or 1 to 49% of plasticizer, and/or 1 to 25%, preferably 2 to 10%, preferentially 2.5 to 5%, of cross-linking agent.
13. Method according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises one or several additives chosen in the group consisting of carbon fillers of nanometric size, alone or in a mixture.
14. Method according to claim 1, wherein a final step of storage of said lignin-based fiber at ambient temperature.
15. Formulation for the implementing of a method of melt-preparation of lignin-based fibers according to claim 1, 
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