MECHANICAL TREATMENT OF NATURAL FIBROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO OBTAIN FIBRES OF FILAMENTS, e.g. FOR SPINNING (crude extraction of asbestos fibres from ores B03B; apparatus for retting D01C)

Description

D01B covers mechanical processing of natural fibrous materials—such as cotton, wool, flax, hemp, and silk—to prepare them for spinning into yarn. The classification encompasses techniques including opening, cleaning, carding, combing, and other preparatory operations that separate, align, and condition fibers while removing impurities and foreign matter. This subclass addresses both the machinery and processes involved in fiber preparation but excludes chemical or bleaching treatments, which are covered elsewhere in the D section.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass D01B recorded 2,484 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 51 in 2013 to 180 in 2023 (+253%), peaking at 384 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class D01 are TORAY INDUSTRIES (1,268 applications), MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER (1,200 applications) and NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY (955 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings