Equipment for preparing curved fibers

摘要

The invention is related in general to equipment and methods for preparing curved fibers in a batch or continuous process. Fiber strands comprising a thermoplastic material are placed on a cylindrical surface and heated such that they soften and become malleable. The fiber strands assume the curvature of the cylindrical surface and, upon cooling below their softening temperature, retain the curvature. The curved-fiber strands are then cut to a desired length.

主权项

1. An apparatus for preparing curved fibers, comprising:
i. a rotating cylindrical screw feeder for carrying one or more strands of a thermoplastic fiber; ii. a rolling zone comprising means for transporting and guiding the one or more strands of a thermoplastic fiber having a composition onto the screw feeder; iii. a heating zone comprising means for heating the fiber as the fiber is carried by the screw feeder through the heating zone, wherein the fiber composition reaches a temperature with its workability-temperature range; iv. a cooling zone comprising means for cooling the fiber as the fiber is carried by the screw feeder through the cooling zone, wherein the fiber composition is restored to a temperature below its softening temperature; v. an unrolling zone comprising means for guiding and transporting one or more strands of fiber away from the screw feeder; and vi. means for cutting the fiber,wherein the fiber is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellulose acetate, cycloolefin copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, acrylic/PVC alloy, polyacetal, polyacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polyamide-imide, polyaryletherketone, polybutadiene, polybutylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexone dimethylene terepthlalate, polycarbonate, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyketone, polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketoneketone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyethylenechlorinate, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylpentene, polyolefins, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphtalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride and styrene-acrylonitrile.