초록 ▼

A non-woven fabric having a pattern defined by an array of discrete areas having a reduced fibre density but which are substantially free of peforations is produced by supporting a freshly wet laid web of the non-woven fabric on a porous surface and directing spaced jets of fluid against the unsuppo

A non-woven fabric having a pattern defined by an array of discrete areas having a reduced fibre density but which are substantially free of peforations is produced by supporting a freshly wet laid web of the non-woven fabric on a porous surface and directing spaced jets of fluid against the unsupported side in order to displace fibres within discrete areas while maintaining in position a proportion of fibres that are within those areas and that are adjacent the porous surface. The fabric web may be supported on a Fourdrinier wire (1) and the jets of fluid (e.g. water) may be directed through the apertures in a perforated cylinder (6), the fluid being supplied under pressure from a water-knife device (11). The apertures in the cylinder (6) preferably have a cross-section that increases in the direction of the water jets. Vacuum may be applied through the Fourdrinier wire (1) by means of a vacuum box (10) and vacuum may also be applied within the cylinder (6) from means (17) in order to remove excess water from within the cylinder (6).

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for producing a patterned non-woven fabric, which apparatus comprises means defining a porous surface for supporting a non-woven web; an apertured member having a first surface adjacent the porous surface and a second surface remote from the porous surface, the first surface having aper

An apparatus for producing a patterned non-woven fabric, which apparatus comprises means defining a porous surface for supporting a non-woven web; an apertured member having a first surface adjacent the porous surface and a second surface remote from the porous surface, the first surface having apertures therein each communicating with a respective aperture in the second surface by means of a passageway extending therebetween; and means for directing a sheet of fluid at the second surface of the apertured member and thereby form discrete streams of fluid in respective passageways in the apertured member in the direction from the second surface to the first surface, characterized in that the apertured member is provided with passageways that increase in cross-sectional area as they lead to their respective apertures in the first surface of the apertured member and in that the means for directing a sheet of fluid at the second surface is provided with a slot through which the sheet of fluid issues with a thickness less than the corresponding dimension of the apertures in the second surface of the apertured member.