Web forming apparatus and method

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Forming apparatus of this invention include a fiberizing roll for separating fibers from a feed mat and entraining them in a gaseous medium, a foraminous forming surface through which the gaseous medium passes and upon which the fibers are condensed to form a fibrous web, and a formation duct between the fiberizing roll and the forming surface for defining a flow path for the gaseous suspension of fibers from the fiberizing roll to the forming surface; the improvement wherein the formation duct includes front and back, substantially planar inner surfaces which may slightly converge in a direction from the fiberizing roll to the forming surface, but preferably diverge at an angle of up to …