A spinneret for melt-spinning polymeric fibers including a spinneret body defining a plurality of orifices extending through the spinneret body, wherein the plurality of orifices each comprise a capillary that open at a face of the spinneret body for polymer filament extrusion therefrom. The plurality of orifices include (i) a first group of orifices each having a first capillary having a first capillary length (L) and first capillary hydraulic diameter (D.sub.H) defining a first L/DH ratio; and (ii) a second group of orifices each having a second capillary having a second capillary length (L) and second capillary hydraulic diameter (D.sub.H) defining a second L/DH ratio, in which the first L/D.sub.H ratio is larger than the second L/D.sub.H ratio. The first group of orifices define at least one first zone at the face of the spinneret body, and the second group of orifices define at least one second zone at the face of the spinneret body.

A nonwoven web is made by displacing an air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor in a horizontal travel direction and spinning and then depositing crimped continuous filaments as a web at a deposit region on the air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor. A first preconsolidation stage is provided downstream of the deposit region and a second preconsolidation separated by a suction gap from the first stage. Air is drawn air through the web and the conveyor at the deposit region at a first predetermined speed, the first and second consolidation stages at a second and third predetermined speeds, and at the suction gap either not at all or at a fourth predetermined equal to at most substantially less than the second predetermined speed.

The present invention is directed to a method and a system for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising means for mixing a polymer (1) with a first solvent yielding a mixture; means for homogenizing the mixture; means for rendering the mixture inert (21, 22, 23); means for dipping the mixture into a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture reaches the quenching bath (30) liquid surface forming at least one polymeric yarn; means for drawing (41) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; means for washing (5) the at least one polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; means for heating the at least one polymeric yarn (6); means for drawing at room temperature (7) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; and means for heat drawing (8) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once. The instant invention also concerns a system and method of dosing a polymer mixture with a first solvent into an extruder (26), a device (5), a system and a method of solvent extraction from at least one polymeric yarn, and a method and system of mechanical pre-recovery (4) of at least one liquid in at least one polymeric yarn.

The present invention is directed to a method and a system for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising means for mixing a polymer (1) with a first solvent yielding a mixture; means for homogenizing the mixture; means for rendering the mixture inert (21, 22, 23); means for dipping the mixture into a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture reaches the quenching bath (30) liquid surface forming at least one polymeric yarn; means for drawing (41) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; means for washing (5) the at least one polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; means for heating the at least one polymeric yarn (6); means for drawing at room temperature (7) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; and means for heat drawing (8) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once. The instant invention also concerns a system and method of dosing a polymer mixture with a first solvent into an extruder (26), a device (5), a system and a method of solvent extraction from at least one polymeric yarn, and a method and system of mechanical pre-recovery (4) of at least one liquid in at least one polymeric yarn.

A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying apparatus and system, method, and portions thereof, comprised of a durable portion of the hand-held apparatus and a consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus. The consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus, which may contain the solution to be output in electrospin or electrospray fashion, may be replaced in whole or in part to provide additional or alternative solution. A base station may be provided, and can output high voltage and communication signals to the hand-held apparatus to enable the electrospin or electrospray operation by the hand-held apparatus.

A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying apparatus and system, method, and portions thereof, comprised of a durable portion of the hand-held apparatus and a consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus. The consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus, which may contain the solution to be output in electrospin or electrospray fashion, may be replaced in whole or in part to provide additional or alternative solution. A base station may be provided, and can output high voltage and communication signals to the hand-held apparatus to enable the electrospin or electrospray operation by the hand-held apparatus.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing humidity of air adjacent to a nozzle of an electrospinning apparatus, charged solution output by the nozzle, a solution path between the nozzle and a deposit surface, and/or the deposit surface. The apparatus can be configured to controllably output the charged solution and gas of a predetermined dryness for deposit of the charged solution on the deposit surface. The gas of the predetermined dryness can be provided adjacent to a nozzle tip of the nozzle from where the charged solution is output. The gas of the predetermined dryness may be output in a predetermined direction toward a focal point at, in front of, or behind the nozzle tip.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing humidity of air adjacent to a nozzle of an electrospinning apparatus, charged solution output by the nozzle, a solution path between the nozzle and a deposit surface, and/or the deposit surface. The apparatus can be configured to controllably output the charged solution and gas of a predetermined dryness for deposit of the charged solution on the deposit surface. The gas of the predetermined dryness can be provided adjacent to a nozzle tip of the nozzle from where the charged solution is output. The gas of the predetermined dryness may be output in a predetermined direction toward a focal point at, in front of, or behind the nozzle tip.

An electrospinning device is provided with a container for holding a liquid comprising a polymer melt or a polymer solution, and a nozzle arranged to outlet a stream of the liquid from the container. A collector collects electro spun material during electrospinning so as to form a fibrous structure. The device comprises an optical measurement system that measures a baseline distance between the collector and the optical measurement system for at least one location on a surface of the collector, and also measures a momentary distance between the optical measurement system and a momentary top layer of the fibrous structure during the electrospinning process. A processor calculates a momentary thickness of the fibrous structure. Once a required thickness is reached the electrospinning can be stopped.

Methods and systems include providing a modular frame having a plurality of frame sections that are connectable to each other at a joint area. A pin extends from the joint area of the modular frame. A polymer solution is dispensed through a syringe, and the pin passes by and contacts a droplet of the polymer solution as the modular frame rotates. Fibers are formed by using the pin to draw out the fibers from the droplets of the polymer solution. The fibers are deposited on the modular frame. In some cases, the plurality of frame sections of the modular frame are arranged on a base in a first arrangement. After the fibers are deposited, the plurality of frame sections are reconfigured into a second arrangement different from the first arrangement to form a fiber component of an air flow device.