ELECTROSPUN FIBRE COLLECTION AND HANDLING

摘要

Apparatus is provided for collecting electrospun fibres extending between counter electrodes of a primary collector onto a secondary collector in a manner that results in the formation of a generally continuous array in which the fibres extend generally lengthwise in the array that may then be fed to a yarn forming unit. The electrospinning apparatus includes a primary collector consisting of two or more generally parallel travelling counter electrodes that are spaced apart and continuously receive generally parallel spun fibres from an electrically charged electrospinning apparatus such that fibres span a gap between between the travelling counter electrodes. A secondary fibre collection arrangement comprises an endless movable transport surface generally located near the end towards which the counter electrodes of the primary collector move so as to collect the longitudinally extending fibres and move them in a direction away from the primary collector with the fibres in aligned arrays.