초록 ▼

A segmented die assembly comprises a plurality of side-by-side and separate units. Each die unit, includes a manifold segment and a die module mounted thereon. The manifold segments are interconnected and function to deliver process air and polymer melt to the modules. Each module including a nozzle

A segmented die assembly comprises a plurality of side-by-side and separate units. Each die unit, includes a manifold segment and a die module mounted thereon. The manifold segments are interconnected and function to deliver process air and polymer melt to the modules. Each module including a nozzle through which the polymer melt is extruded forming a row of filament(s). The filaments from the array of modules are deposited on a substrate or collector. The die assembly is preferably used to apply a hot melt adhesive to a substrate, but also may be used to produce meltblown webs.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A segmented die assembly, comprising: (a) a plurality of manifold segments, each manifold segment having a polymer flow passage and an air flow passage formed therein; said manifold segment being interconnected in side-by-side relationship wherein said air passages and polyme

What is claimed is: 1. A segmented die assembly, comprising: (a) a plurality of manifold segments, each manifold segment having a polymer flow passage and an air flow passage formed therein; said manifold segment being interconnected in side-by-side relationship wherein said air passages and polymer passages are in fluid communication, respectively; (b) a die module mounted on each manifold segment, said die module comprising a die body having a polymer flow passage and an air flow passage in fluid communication with said polymer flow passage and said air flow passage of its associated manifold segment, respectively; and a die tip or nozzle mounted on said die body and having a polymer flow passage in fluid communication with said polymer flow passage of its associated die body for receiving the polymer melt and discharging a filament or filaments therefrom; (c) means for delivering a polymer melt to at least one manifold segment whereby the melt is distributed through said other interconnected manifold segments and flows through each die module discharging as a filament or filaments from each die tip or nozzle; and (d) means for delivering air to at least one manifold segment whereby air is distributed in said interconnected manifold segments and flows through each die module discharging through said die tip or nozzle. 2. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein said die tip or nozzle is selected from the group consisting of meltblowing die tip, spiral spray nozzle, spray nozzle, bead nozzle, and coating nozzle. 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said die tip on at least one module is a meltblowing die tip. 4. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein said die tip on each die module is air assisted having air passages formed therein, said air passages of said die tip being in fluid communication with said air flow passages of said die body on which it is mounted. 5. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein each die module has an air actuated valve mounted therein to open and close said polymer flow passage therein and each manifold segment having instrument air flow passages formed therein for delivering air to and from said air actuated valve, said assembly further comprising control means for selectively delivering air to and from said instrument air passages of said manifold segment. 6. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein said manifold segments are identical. 7. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly comprises from 2 to 100 die segments. 8. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein each manifold segment and said die module mounted thereon is from 0.25 to 1.5 inches in width. 9. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein each manifold segment includes electric heaters for heating said polymer and said air and wherein said air flow passage of a particular manifold segment is in fluid communication with said air passages of said other manifold segments whereby air flows through each manifold segment before flowing to said die module mounted on said particular manifold segment. 10. A meltblowing die comprising: (a) a manifold with at least two manifold segments, each segment having a polymer flow passage and an air flow passage, said polymer flow passages and air flow passages being interconnected, respectively; (b) a die module secured in each manifold segment, each die module having a polymer flow passage which registers with its associated manifold segment polymer flow passage, an air flow passage which registers with its associated manifold segment air flow passage, a die tip or nozzle for discharging polymer as a filament or filaments, and an air flow discharge for delivering air onto said filament or filaments; (c) means for delivering a polymer melt to at least one of said manifold segments whereby said melt flows through said interconnected polymer flow passages of each manifold segment and is delivered to said associated die modules; and (d) means for delivering air to at least one of said interconnected manifold segments whereby said air flows through each manifold segment and is delivered to said associated die modules. 11. The meltblowing die of claim 10 further comprising valve means for selectively controlling the flow of polymer melt through each die module independently. 12. A segmented die assembly comprising a plurality of separate air-assisted die units interconnected in side-by-side relationship, each die unit comprising: a) a manifold segment having formed therein (i) a process air flow passage, (ii) a polymer flow passage, and (iii) and instrument air flow passage, said process air flow passages and said polymer flow passages respectively being in fluid communication; b) a die module having a die body detachably mounted on said manifold segment, and an air-assisted die tip or nozzle mounted on said die body, said die body having formed therein (i) a process air flow passage, (ii) a polymer flow passage and (iii) an instrument air flow passage which, respectively, are in fluid communication with said process air flow passage, said polymer flow passage, and said instrument air flow passage of said manifold segment, said die body further having an air-actuated valve mounted therein for opening and closing said polymer flow passage thereof, which is in fluid communication with instrument air flow passage thereof; said tip having (i) a process air flow passage and (ii) a polymer flow passage which, respectively, are in fluid communication with said process air flow passage and said polymer flow passage of said die body; and c) means for selectively delivering air to and from said instrument air flow passages of said manifold segment for actuating said air-actuated valve. 13. The segmented die assembly of claim 12 wherein said die assembly comprises from 5 to 50 die units. id="INS-S-00001" date="20061114" 14. A die assembly comprising: a manifold having first and second sections, a fluid passageway in said first section for conveying therethrough a material to be dispensed, and an air passageway in said second section for conveying therethrough process air to be discharged adjacent the material being dispensed, first and second heaters respectively contained in said first and second sections and configured to separately heat the material in said fluid passageway and the process air in said air passageway to different temperatures, a plurality of holes positioned between said first and second sections to disrupt the flow of heat between said fluid passageway and said air passageway, a dispensing valve coupled with said manifold for receiving and dispensing the material conveyed through said fluid passageway of said first section and for receiving and discharging the process air conveyed through said air passageway of said second section. id="INS-S-00001" id="INS-S-00002" date="20061114" 15. A segmented die assembly comprising first and second side by side die units, each of said first and second die units comprising: (a) an integral manifold block formed from a single piece of material having first and second sections, a fluid passageway in said first section for conveying therethrough a material to be dispensed, an air passageway in said second section for conveying therethrough process air to be discharged adjacent the material being dispensed, a front wall and a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, (b) first and second heaters respectively contained in said first and second sections and configured to separately heat the material in said fluid passageway and the process air in said air passageway to different temperatures, (c) a thermal isolator hole positioned between said first and second manifold block sections to disrupt the flow of heat between said fluid passageway and said air passageway, and (d) a dispensing valve mounted upon said front wall of said manifold block for receiving and dispensing the material conveyed through said fluid passageway of said first section and for receiving and discharging the process air conveyed through said air passageway of said second section, and a fastener connecting one of said oppositely disposed side walls of said manifold block of said first die unit to one of said oppositely disposed side walls of said manifold block of said second die unit.id="INS-S-00002" id="INS-S-00003" date="20061114" 16. The segmented die assembly of claim 15, wherein said thermal isolator comprises a plurality of holes in said manifold block, said holes located between said first and second sections.id="INS-S-00003"