Stephen J Primm

US Patent:

56879164, Nov 18, 1997

Filed:

Nov 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/554177

Inventors:

Lawrence James Romano - Marietta GA
Stephen Harding Primm - Cumming GA

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B02C 1900

US Classification:

241 1

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for reducing a nonwoven fabric to flakes which can be recycled into the spinning system of a meltblowing, spunbonding or carding process. The process according to this invention is a noncontact one, involving the use of a hot air knife. The hot air knife emits a jet, or stream, of heated air under pressure at a high flow rate. A nonwoven fabric is contacted with the jet of air and as a consequence, the nonwoven web is physically broken into small pieces, or flakes. The resultant flakes are brushed off the conveyor and collected in a reclaim hopper; they are readily reprocessable due to their small size.

US Patent:

60662212, May 23, 2000

Filed:

Jun 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/877377

Inventors:

Samuel Edward Marmon - Alpharetta GA
Christopher Cosgrove Creagan - Marietta GA
Stephen H. Primm - Cumming GA
Thomas Gregory Triebes - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 6510
B32B 3126
D04H 148
D04H 154

US Classification:

156148

Abstract:

A zoned hot air knife assembly and process include a plurality of discrete, spaced apart air knives is useful for the inter-filament bonding of nonwoven webs, for the thermal bonding of laminates including nonwoven webs, and other applications. The zoned hot air knife assembly and process facilitate the manufacture of low bond area, low density nonwoven webs and laminates having high structural integrity. The zoned hot air knife also reduces the amount of heated air and, thus, energy required for the production of thermally bonded nonwoven webs and laminates.

US Patent:

59355123, Aug 10, 1999

Filed:

Dec 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/993470

Inventors:

Bryan David Haynes - Cumming GA
Kevin James Kastner - Clarkesville GA
Jark Chong Lau - Roswell GA
Samuel Edward Marmon - Alpharetta GA
Charles John Morell - Roswell GA
Stephen Harding Primm - Cumming GA
Thomas Gregory Triebes - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D01D 5092
D01D 514

US Classification:

264555

Abstract:

Improved equipment and method for spinning filaments for nonwovens using an integral spinbank including one or more spinplates producing filament bundles separated by one or more central conduits for quench air. Embodiments include high velocity quench air driven into the central conduit or quench air blown or drawn in from outside the filaments into the central conduit. Means may also be provided for removal of undesired waxes and/or other condensates through a central exhaust removal using the central conduit. As quench air velocity is increased through the central conduit, the streams tend to improve total quench flow by deflecting opposing flows into a uniform stream. Other variations include division of quench air into flow zones that may be independently controlled and varying the angle of quench air flow and/or the spinplates to maintain separation distance between quench air and filament bundles.