Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – Indefinite or running length flexible strand – rod – tube – or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-26
2001-05-15
Yao, Sam Chuan (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
Indefinite or running length flexible strand, rod, tube, or...
C156S474000, C156S510000, C425S083100, C425S369000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230776
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a unique and novel method and apparatus for producing filter media and more particularly to a unique method and apparatus for forming filter media into one or more of several preselected configurations and producing novel unit filter structure therefrom.
It has been long known in the filter art to collect filter media issuing from a filter media forming apparatus unto a drum or endless belt in a continuous, elongated sheet and to then process the elongated sheet into a preselected form for subsequent assembly into unit disposable or permanent flow-through frames. In this regard, attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,812, issued to Kyung-Ju Choi on Mar. 10, 1998 and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/677631, filed by Kyung-Ju Choi on Jul. 8, 1996, both of which teach methods of continuously forming fibrous filter media and collecting the endless fibers on a collector drum, including novel air distribution and unique air pulsing arrangements, respectively. In this regard, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be considered as limited to the novel, non-related fibrous forming method and collection arrangements disclosed on the aforementioned patent and patent application but that other fibrous forming methods can be utilized herewith, including well known chopped fiber forming arrangements which are not disclosed herein. In this regard, attention is further directed to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/038,744 filed by Kyung-Yu Choi on Mar. 11, 1998, which teaches an endless belt pleating arrangement and to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,849,241, issued to R. R. Butin et al on Nov. 19, 1974; 3,878,014, issued to J. J. Melead on Apr. 15, 1975; 4,042,740, issued to D. L. Krueger on Aug. 16, 1977; 4,656,081, issued to K. Ando et al on Apr. 7, 1987 and 4,936,934, issued to P. G. Buehning on Jun. 26, 1990. These five patents also teach various arrangements for continuously forming fibrous filter media and collecting the fibers on a collector drum, including respectively: controlling fiber material viscosity levels; varying pressures on the collecting drum; collecting fibers into a network of high density and pillowed low density regions; collecting fibers at an angle to the tangential line of the collecting surface; and collecting fibers on a perforated collector drum at equal air flow rates. None of these patents, either alone or in combination, however teaches or suggests the novel method, apparatus and product disclosed herein wherein fibers are collected on an interchangeable, preselectively contoured forming surface in a straight forward and economical arrangement requiring a minimum of parts and a minimum of operating steps heretofore unknown in the act. In addition attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,653, issued to H. L. Griesbach III, et al on Jul. 1997, which broadly teaches collecting randomly emitted fibers unto a moveable forming surface.
In accordance with the present invention, a unique fiber collector surface arrangement is provided which allows for ready interchangeability of the contour surface to be utilized and which, at the same time allows for ready velocity and temperature control. In addition, the present invention provides for a novel transferring, binder and temperature treating arrangement of the uniquely contour formed fibrous material and further provides a unique unit framing arrangement and unit product for the formed and treated material.
Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
More particularly the present invention provides a method of forming fibrous filter media comprising: selected and fastening a preselected, interchangeable, contoured surface on a moveable collector to be disposed in a forming zone; feeding filter media fibers in at least one separate and distinct layer from a spaced media supply zone unto the preselectively contoured surface on the moveable collector in the forming zone to contour shape a filter mat to conform with the preselectively corresponding contoured surface fastened on the moveable collector; and, feeding the conformed contour shaped filter mat from the forming zone to a further filter mat treating zone. In addition the present invention provides a novel apparatus for the forming fibrous filter media comprising: a fiber media forming means having a plurality of spaced die sets, each set including a plurality of spaced apertures arranged to dispense aligned fibrous strands therefrom in layer form; a mat forming collector means having an interchangeable contoured surface positioned in relatively movable spaced relation below the forming means to successively receive each aligned layer form from each die set at the forming means to preselectively contour shape stacked mat layers successively received from the forming means; and transfer means cooperatively positioned with respect to the collector means to receive contour-shaped mats therefrom to transfer the mats to other work stations for further processing. Further, the present invention provides novel flow-through frame members for the contour shaped fibrous filter media of disposable or permanent material including disposable and permanent holding members arranged to retain the contour shaped layers of fibrous filter media in fixed and stable position in the surrounding frame.
It is to be understood that various changes can be made by one skilled in the art in one or more of the several steps of the method and in one or more of the several parts of the novel apparatus and products as disclosed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 31599 (1984-06-01), Rasen et al.
patent: 3849241 (1974-11-01), Butin et al.
patent: 3878014 (1975-04-01), Melead
patent: 4042740 (1977-08-01), Krueger
patent: 4656081 (1987-04-01), Ando et al.
patent: 4936934 (1990-06-01), Buehning
patent: 5643653 (1997-07-01), Griesbach, III et al.
patent: 5725812 (1998-03-01), Choi
AAF International Inc.
Polster Lieder Woodruff & Lucchesi L.C.
Yao Sam Chuan
LandOfFree
Apparatus for forming fibrous filter media does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for forming fibrous filter media, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for forming fibrous filter media will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2491644