An apparatus for controlling airflow in a fiber extrusion process includes a
fiber
flow region between an inlet through which extruded fibers are received and an
outlet through which the extruded fibers are discharged and at least one surface
providing a boundary between the fiber flow region and another region, wherein
the surface includes apertures permitting air to flow between the fiber flow region
and the other region to control airflow at the outlet of the fiber flow region.
The apparatus can include a housing which contains at least one chamber, with the
surface forming a boundary between the fiber flow region and the chamber, such
that the apertures permit air to flow between the fiber flow region and at the
chamber. In a spunbond process, the airflow control device receives drawn filaments
exiting an aspirator and deposits the filaments onto a web-forming surface with
reduced air disturbance.