Debris Mitigation

Abstract

A debris mitigation system for mitigating debris, the system including sanitary tissue product converting equipment, a plurality of airflow sources, and a vacuum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris mitigation system for mitigating debris, the system comprising:
 nonwoven web converting equipment;   a plurality of airflow sources; and   a vacuum,   wherein at least one of the plurality of airflow sources is positioned to provide an airflow toward the vacuum.   
     
     
         2 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment is sanitary tissue product converting equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is disposed below at least one airflow source of the plurality of airflow sources. 
     
     
         4 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment is selected from the group consisting of a rewinder, an embosser, a laminator, an unwind stand, a combiner, a surface coater, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of airflow rate to vacuum suction flow rate is 1:20. 
     
     
         6 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of airflow sources oscillates. 
     
     
         7 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of airflow sources is disposed at a ground level. 
     
     
         8 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of airflow sources is disposed above equipment level. 
     
     
         9 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is disposed at a ground level. 
     
     
         10 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein an intake of the vacuum is disposed across from an output of at least one of the airflow sources. 
     
     
         11 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of airflow sources create an overlapping air flow region. 
     
     
         12 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of vacuums is disposed in the overlapping air flow region. 
     
     
         13 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of airflow sources has an air flow direction from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a machine direction of the sanitary tissue product converting equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a sanitary tissue web is substantially free from direct airflow from the airflow source. 
     
     
         15 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the sanitary tissue product converting equipment is at least partially enclosed by an enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure is at least partially formed by at least one enclosing air flow region that hinders airborne debris from escaping a perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure is at least partially formed by a sheeting material. 
     
     
         18 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 17 , wherein the sheeting material is plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of vacuums. 
     
     
         20 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of airflow sources are disposed to form an arc of airflow or debris directed toward the vacuum. 
     
     
         21 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum collects debris into a dust collection system. 
     
     
         22 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 21 , wherein the dust collection system comprises one or more of a bag house, drum filters, compactor, and a cyclone separator. 
     
     
         23 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the debris has a fall rate of at least about 0.1 inch/sec (0.254 cm/s) to about 10 inch/sec (25.4 cm/s). 
     
     
         24 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the airflow sources has an “on” and “off” cycle, selectively enabling the at least one airflow source to operate dependent upon certain stimuli, while other airflow sources run constantly. 
     
     
         25 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises a rewinder. 
     
     
         26 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises an embosser. 
     
     
         27 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises a laminator. 
     
     
         28 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises an unwind stand. 
     
     
         29 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises a combiner. 
     
     
         30 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web converting equipment comprises a surface coater. 
     
     
         31 . A debris mitigation system, comprising:
 sanitary tissue product converting equipment;   an airflow source;   a vacuum; and   wherein the airflow source creates an equipment cleaning zone, a fall zone, and a sweep zone.   
     
     
         32 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 31 , wherein the cleaning zone is formed by the airflow source directing air at the sanitary tissue product converting equipment. 
     
     
         33 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 31 , wherein the air directed at the sanitary tissue product converting equipment is moving at a velocity of about 5 m/s to about 50 m/s at an output of the airflow source. 
     
     
         34 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 33 , wherein a plurality of airflow sources are directing air at the sanitary tissue product converting equipment. 
     
     
         35 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 32 , wherein the fall zone is substantially free from direct air flow. 
     
     
         36 . The debris mitigation system of  claim 32 , wherein the sweep zone is formed by a second airflow source directing air toward the vacuum. 
     
     
         37 . A method of mitigating papermaking debris, comprising:
 using an airflow source to create an equipment cleaning zone, a fall zone, and a sweep zone proximate to sanitary tissue product converting equipment; and   vacuuming debris generated by the sanitary tissue product converting equipment.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the debris comprises cellulosic fibers resulting from converting sanitary tissue products. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the sanitary tissue products are selected from the group consisting of paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, and combinations thereof.