Jerry Ray Wright

US Patent:

42670020, May 12, 1981

Filed:

Mar 5, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/017744

Inventors:

Cephas H. Sloan - Kingsport TN
Jerry A. Wright - Kingsport TN
Gerald P. Morie - Kingsport TN

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B22B 3100

US Classification:

156276

Abstract:

Thermoplastic materials are converted directly into thermally bonded, coherent fibrous products by melt blowing techniques. The fibrous product is in the form of a rod having a relatively dense, rigid skin in which the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the product, and a less dense core where the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the product. The products are made by melt blowing fibers and intercepting them by a fiber collecting and forming device which permits a relatively heavy build-up of fiber mass in the central portion and a relatively light build-up of fibers in a lip portion surrounding the central portion. As fibers are continuously deposited on the collecting and forming device, the product thus formed is withdrawn at a rate synchronized with collection of fibers such that the aforesaid build-up is maintained, and such that the lip portion is folded back over the central portion by the collecting and forming device to form the rod as described.

US Patent:

43573797, Nov 2, 1982

Filed:

Mar 19, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/245462

Inventors:

Cephas H. Sloan - Kingsport TN
Jerry A. Wright - Kingsport TN
Gerald P. Morie - Kingsport TN

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 512

US Classification:

428113

Abstract:

Thermoplastic materials are converted directly into thermally bonded, coherent fibrous products by melt blowing techniques. The fibrous product is in the form of a rod having a relatively dense, rigid skin in which the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the product, and a less dense core where the fiber portions are oriented primarily in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the product. The products are made by melt blowing fibers and intercepting them by a fiber collecting and forming device which permits a relatively heavy build-up of fiber mass in the central portion and a relatively light build-up of fibers in a lip portion surrounding the central portion. As fibers are continuously deposited on the collecting and forming device, the product thus formed is withdrawn at a rate synchronized with collection of fibers such that the aforesaid build-up is maintained, and such that the lip portion is folded back over the central portion by the collecting and forming device to form the rod as described.