Importance

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Abstract

A nonwoven fabric having alternating stripes of high fiber density and low fiber density is made in such a manner that substantially all of the fibers in the stripes of high fiber density are oriented in substantially one direction, for example the machine direction, while substantially all of the fibers in the adjacent stripes of low fiber density are oriented in a direction substantially normal to that direction. This phenomenon can be produced by passing a fluid-borne stream of discretely separated fibers over a set of finger-like striping bars that are disposed, equidistantly from each other, directly over a moving conveyor screen or by a set of impervious resist areas in the shape of bars, or the like, disposed directly on the moving screen. As the fluid-borne stream passes onto the section having the striping bars, or resist areas, a majority of the fibers in the stream are attracted to the spaces between the bars and are generally disposed in an orientation that follows the direction of the striping bars, while a lesser number of fibers are disposed across the bars and remain in a generally cross direction to those bars after the thusly formed web of fibers moves entirely onto the moving conveyor screen. Some of the fibers in the fabric may advantageously be of a thermoplastic nature so that, when heated, they will provide a binder for the fabric.

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First Claim