Frank J Mcgee

US Patent:

48782785, Nov 7, 1989

Filed:

Apr 29, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/188296

Inventors:

Chien-Yeh Hsu - Greer SC
Frank J. McGee - Seneca SC
Roger L. Banks - Taylors SC

Assignee:

Wangner Systems Corporation - Greenville SC

International Classification:

D04H 146

US Classification:

28142

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for papermaking fabrics (W) with a machine direction fiber batt (24) is disclosed. A carding machine (B, B') is arranged with its carding cylinder (39) parallel to the axis of rotation (22) of carriage rollers (20) about which a base fabric (16) travels in a machine direction. A carded batt (24) with fibers (36) oriented in the machine direction is fed directly in the machine direction onto base fabric (16). An auxiliary needling unit (A) including an auxiliary needling module (44) lightly tacks machine direction batt (24) to base fabric (16) across its width. For this purpose, carding machine (B) and base fabric (16) move relative to one another in a direction transverse to the machine direction. In one embodiment, card (B) moves transversely in synchronization with auxiliary needling unit (A) while carriage (18) carrying the base fabric is stationary. In an alternate embodiment, carding machine (B') and auxiliary needling unit (A') are stationary while carriage (18') moves transversely to deposit machine direction oriented batt (24) in strips across the base fabric.