EP1643022B1 - Method for profiling a nonwoven fabric and profile forming device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for profiling a multilayer web and a profile forming device for such a nonwoven with the features in the preamble of the method and device main claim.

From the EP-A-0 315 930 It is known to change the thickness or density of the deposited by a nonwoven on his take-off belt multilayer web by relative changes of exit speed of the pile on the laying carriage and travel speed of the laying carriage. As the laying carriage travels faster than the pile exits, the pile deposited on the draw-off belt is stretched and thinned. Conversely, if the laying carriage runs slower than the Floraustrittsgeschwindigkeit, the deposited pile is thickened. Accordingly, the web thins or thickens. By appropriate control of Legewagen- and Floraustrittsgeschwindigkeit these effects can be locally and influence the height, which is created in the nonwoven itself the fleece thickness profile with the desired design. The WO 97/19209 shows a further developed embodiment.

From the EP-A-0 371 948 and the WO 99/24650 is a profile forming device known, which is integrated into the carding or carding. Here, the emerging on the card pile profile is varied in thickness or density by a variable Florabnahme on the card. This technique slows down the card and limits the working speed of the entire fiber array. The thickness or density changes of the pile are dependent on the position of the laying carriage on Nonwoven and produced with a corresponding lead time, so that they are then stored by the crosslapper at the respectively desired location on the take-off belt. The nonwoven thickness change and the nonwoven thickness profile are therefore generated and determined here in front of the nonwoven layer.

From the DE-C-43 04 988 It is also known to stretch or compress the pile fed by the carding machine at a continuous speed and thickness or density by varying the overall level of the level of the leveling machine in the area between the carding machine and the leveling machine. As the layer and infeed conveyor run faster than the pile delivered by the card, the pile is stretched. Conversely, if the layer is running slower than the pile fed from the card, the pile is braked and jammed or buckled, increasing the thickness or density.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a different and improved possibility of fleece profiling.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the method and device main claim. The profile-forming technique and the profile-forming device with the stripper to be pre-connected to the leveler, preferably a stretching device, has the advantage that the pile thickness influencing already takes place before the pile storage at the discharge conveyor of the web layer in a defined area and with improved effecting and particularly controllable influencing possibilities. The card can thus run constantly and produce a pile with constant speed and constant thickness or density, which is favorable for the pile quality. In addition, very high working speeds of 100 m / min and more can be achieved. The directly or indirectly The stretching device supplied pile is influenced only in the stretching device and thereby preferably stretched. This stretching and the concomitant thinning of the pile are precisely controllable and affect the pile in a gentle manner. At the same time, the thickness or density of the pile can be influenced within wide limits by means of a suitable design of the stretching device, so that there are very far-reaching control possibilities for the thickness or density of the nonwoven leaving the nonwoven layer.

The profile-forming device furthermore has a compensating device for the nonwoven to be followed by the nonwoven layer, which ensures a constant delivery speed of the nonwoven to a solidifying device to be followed, preferably a needle machine. As a result, the fluctuating with the speed level of the nonwoven layer during profile formation speeds of the discharge belt are compensated.

The equalizer can be integrated with new fleece layers or retrofitted to existing fleece layers. It also requires only a small construction cost and space requirements. It can be easily and precisely controlled. It is also inexpensive and economical.

The drafting device has the advantage that a precise definition of the drafting length can be created by at least two spaced-apart clamping points, within which the supplied pile is influenced in the desired manner for distortion formation and in particular is stretched. Deformation can be better and more accurately controlled by the defined delay length. The Florverzug can be controlled more precisely by location and size in the pile. This also allows the different Consider requirements of different types of pile and pile thickness.

By means of movable clamping points, the size of the delay length and, in particular, the stretch length can also be influenced and changed. This allows optimum adaptation to different types of pile and pile thickness. Elastic piles, which also generally have a larger pile thickness, are preferably treated with a short draft length or stretch length. As a result, a plastic deformation of the pile is achieved, which is not canceled after leaving the nips and the Verzugeinrichtung, but remains at the desired location and with the desired thickness in the pile. For elastic and thick fabrics, it is also advisable to make the speed difference between the conveying speeds at the clamping points relatively large. For stiffer and / or thinner fleece can be worked with larger draft or stretch lengths. As the sensitivity of the pile increases, so does the warp or stretch length used for distortion formation.

In addition, it is possible to divide the delay length or stretch length into several sections in order to achieve even greater distortion or För the speed differences at the terminal points.

Preferably driven pinch rollers are used at the nip points to achieve the desired clamping effects and speed differences, which can be adjusted to the desired degree to the pile and to a likewise driven counter-roller or a conveyor belt or the like. The clamping points can be created in different ways and at different locations, depending on the structural design of the fleece layer, the pile section or the pile fabric.

In a preferred embodiment, the stretching device consists of a plurality of roller arrangements, in particular drafting roller pairs, or a plurality of conveyor belt sections with deliverable pinch rollers, which clamp the pile between them and thereby elongate with increasing speed increases. Accordingly, the speed level of the downstream nonwoven layerer also changes, so that the influence of the pile takes place primarily in the stretching device and the nonwoven layer takes over the pile by the speed adjustment substantially without any further change of pile from the stretching device.

The stretching device is advantageously controlled via the Florweg and depending on the Legewagenstellung. The Florweg is always the same with a suitable design of the fleece between the inlet point and the exit point on the laying carriage, because the path changes of the laying carriage are compensated by appropriate path changes of the superstructure and the infeed conveyor or the belt loop between upper and laying carriages. This results in a particularly simple and accurate control option. In addition, product-specific changes in the laying width, the number of layers and the like can also be taken into account.

The stretching device has the advantage that it can not only be mounted on new fleece layers and even integrated instead of the previous feeder line. The stretching device can also be retrofitted to existing fleece layers without problems and without increased space requirements. The existing card or card can also be used here. Alternatively, an assignment to pile producers or the integration into an overall system can be given. It is not a remodeling of complete nonwoven plant as with the EP-A-0 371 948 or WO 99/24650 required. The stretching device also requires only a small space and construction costs. It represents a particularly cost-effective and economic as well as highly efficient option for targeted nonwoven profile formation.

Overall, the claimed profile-forming device has the advantage that it can be used without problems in existing fiber treatment plants together with a new fleece layer or an existing fleece layer. Neither the card, nor the needle machine must be adapted or changed. These machines can be designed as standard components, which is particularly inexpensive and economical. The entire profile formation of the nonwoven takes place in the area of the nonwoven layer, but the nonwoven layer itself does not have to make any contribution in this respect and, to that extent, can also be designed as a cost-effective standard machine.

In the subclaims advantageous embodiments of the invention are given.

Figur 1:

eine Profilbildungseinrichtung mit einem Vliesleger und einem Florerzeuger,

Figur 2:

eine Draufsicht auf die Profilbildungseinrichtung und den Vliesleger,

Figur 3:

eine Stirnansicht der Profilbildungseinrichtung mit dem Vliesleger und einer nachgeschalteten Verfestigungseinrichtung gemäß Pfeil III von Figur 2,

Figur 4 und 5:

verschiedene Geschwindigkeits- und Flordickendiagramme,

Figur 6:

eine Variante der Profilbildungseinrichtung von Figur 1 mit einer vereinfachten Verzugeinrichtung,

Figur 7:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung und eine Variante der Verzugeinrichtung von Figur 6,

Figur 8:

eine weitere Variante der Verzugeinrichtung mit unterteilten Förderabschnitten,

Figur 9 und 10:

weitere Abwandlungen der Verzugeinrichtung von Figur 8,

Figur 11:

eine Profilbildungseinrichtung gemäß Figur 1 mit einer Variante der Verzugeinrichtung von Figur 8 bis 10,

Figur 12 und 13:

Detaildarstellungen der Verzugeinrichtung von Figur 11,

Figur 14:

eine Variante der Profilbildungseinrichtung von Figur 3 und

Figur 15:

eine vergrößerte Detaildarstellung des Bereichs XV von Figur 14.

The invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically in the drawings. In detail show:

FIG. 1:

a profile forming device with a nonwoven layer and a pile producer,

FIG. 2:

a top view of the profile forming device and the nonwoven,

FIG. 3:

an end view of the profile forming device with the nonwoven and a downstream hardening device according to arrow III of FIG. 2 .

FIGS. 4 and 5:

different speed and creasing charts,

FIG. 6:

a variant of the profile forming device of FIG. 1 with a simplified delay device,

FIG. 7:

an enlarged view and a variant of the delay device of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8:

Another variant of the delay device with divided conveyor sections,

FIGS. 9 and 10:

further modifications of the delay device of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 11:

a profile forming device according to FIG. 1 with a variant of the delay device of FIGS. 8 to 10 .

FIGS. 12 and 13:

Detailed representations of the delay of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 14:

a variant of the profile forming device of FIG. 3 and

FIG. 15:

an enlarged detail of the area XV of FIG. 14 ,

In Figure 1 to 3 . 6 to 10 and 11 to 15 In various embodiments, a fiber treatment plant or nonwoven production device (101) is shown which consists of a pile producer (2,103), eg a carding machine or carding machine, a downstream nonwoven layering machine (3,102) and a subsequent downstream solidification device (4), eg a needle machine. By integration or retrofitting, the nonwoven layer (3, 102) is assigned a profile-forming device (1), which consists of at least one drafting or stretching device (5, 104) and optionally also a compensating device (6).

The invention relates to the profiling method and the profiling device (1). In addition, however, it also detects the fleece layer (3,102) equipped with a profile-forming device (1) and the entire fiber-treatment plant or fleece-producing device (101).

From the pile generator (2,103), one or more single-web thin webs (8, 107) are formed from a loose fibrous material, which are fed to the web laying machine (3, 102) in the direction of web flow (23). The nonwoven layer (3,102) places the individual pile (8,107) or the plurality of pile (not shown) on its transverse discharge belt (17,116) into a multi-layer nonwoven fabric (9,108).

The fleece (9, 108) then passes in the fleece running direction (24) into the subsequent solidifying device (4), where it is solidified in a suitable manner by needling or by sprayed-on chemicals, by thermal influence or the like. The solidification device (4) may be of any suitable type. Preferably, it is a needle machine shown in the drawings.

The nonwoven layer (102) may be formed in any suitable manner. In the embodiment shown of FIG. 1 . 6 and 11 it is a so-called non-woven band, the two endless and revolving driven conveyor belts (114,115) which are guided over two main cars, namely a superstructure (110) and a lower laying carriage (16,111) and thereby in the area between the two main cars (110 , 16,111) receive and guide the fed pile (8, 107) between them. In the embodiments shown, it is a corotating web laying (3,102), in which the two main cars (110,16,111) always move in the same direction. Alternatively, it may also be an opposite crosslapper with counter-moving main car (110,16,111), as he eg in the DE-C 43 04 988 is shown. The fleece-laying machine (3, 102) may also have one or more auxiliary carriages (112) which keep the conveyor belts (114, 115) stretched. The pile (8, 107) supplied by the pile fabricator (2, 103) via the profiling device (1) and its drafting or stretching device (5, 104) is deposited by the reciprocating laying carriage (16, 111) on a take-off belt (17.116) extending transversely to the laying carriage movement and aufgetäfelt, wherein from the single-ply pile (8,107) a multilayer web (9,108) on the take-off belt (17,116) is formed.

The pile (8, 107) is received in the fleece layer (3, 102) on an integrated feed belt (109) or upstream infeed belt (15) in the direction of pile travel (23) and fed, for example, in the open position to a belt inlet (113) on the upper carriage (110) , The feed belt (109) in the illustrated and preferred embodiment is a portion of the one conveyor belt (114). At the belt inlet (113), the second conveyor belt (115) is added, wherein between the conveyor belts (114,115) an inlet funnel is formed on the superstructure (110). In the embodiment shown, the nonwoven layer (3,102) corresponds to that of WO 97/19209 known embodiment. Alternatively, he can also according to the EP-A-0 517 568 or the WO 91/156018 be educated. In a further variant, it may also be a so-called Wagenleger, in which the conveyor belts are not performed together on both main cars.

The fleece layer (3,102) has florführer drives, which are connected to a common control (7,131). These thriving drives that are in FIG. 1 shown with motors M and in FIG. 6 are indicated for clarity only by arrows, for example, consist of one or more drives for the movements of the upper carriage (110), the laying carriage (16, 111) and possibly existing auxiliary carriage (112). The flour driving drives also include one or more drives that set the conveyor belts (114,115) in circulation and drive. The drive of the take-off belt (17,116) is one of the thriving drives.

The pile generator (2,103) may also be of any type and design. It may, for example, be a card or card. The pile generator (2, 103) has a likewise arbitrarily formed pile removal device (117), with which the pile is removed from a tambour or the like and to the nonwoven layer (102) is passed over the preferably interposed Florzuführung (10) or conveyor line (120).

For the formation of the Florabnahmeeinrichtung (117) there are various possibilities. In the in FIG. 6 variant shown, for example, a so-called hacker (119) for the Florabnahme available. In the variant of FIGS. 7 to 10 Instead of the hacker one or more take-off rollers (118) are provided for the Florabnahme.

For profiling the nonwoven fabric (9, 108) formed in the fleece layer (3, 102), the profiling device (1) is provided. It includes a drafting or stretching device (5 104) for the pile (8, 107), which is arranged between the nonwoven layer (3, 102) and the pile fabricator (2, 103). The profile-forming device (1) can also have a compensating device (6) for the fleece (9), which is arranged between the non-woven layer (3,102) and the solidification device (4).

The stretching device (5, 104) serves to change the thickness or density of the web (8, 107) which is fed by the pile producer (2, 103), preferably with constant thickness and constant speed, via a web feed (10). The stretching device (5, 104) preferably thins the pile (8, 107). With appropriate design, it can possibly also compress and compact or thicken it. The profiling device (1) has a controller (7), to which also the nonwoven layer (3,102) is connected. The stretching device (5, 104) and the nonwoven applicator (3, 102) are hereby jointly controlled, wherein the profiling of the nonwoven (9) explained in more detail below is preferably controlled via the pile path.

The controller (7) may be incorporated into the controller (131) of the web laying machine (3, 102) or the controller of the nonwoven web, e.g. be integrated as a software module. However, it can also be arranged separately and connected only to the existing controller (131) of the nonwoven layer (3,102).

The stretching device (5) has in the variant of Figure 1 to 3 a conveyor line with a plurality of roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) arranged in succession in the direction of the pile guide (23) and having controllable drives M5, M4 and M3. In the embodiment shown, there are three roller assemblies. But it can also be more or less, as for example in below FIG. 6 and 7 shown ..

The roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) form three clamping points and serve to dilute and stretch the pile (8). They each consist of opposing pairs of rollers that pinch the pile (8) between them and promote with adjustable speed. The drives M5, M4 and M3 preferably drive in each case both rollers of the roller pairings (11, 12, 13). Alternatively, however, they may only be one roller at a time, e.g. drive the lower roller of the roller pairings (11,12,13), wherein the associated upper rollers are each designed as freely rotatable, revolving pinch rollers. The rollers may be formed as smooth-walled rollers. But you can also have a roughened or equipped with stretch needles surface.

Before and / or behind the roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) one or more guide rollers (14) can be arranged with their own drives M1, M2, which likewise act on the pile (14). The input-side guide roller (14) is arranged above the pile feed (10) and in particular above the rear clamping roller of the Pile feeder (10). This guide roller (14) and its drive M2 are coupled to the speed of the pile feed (10) and the delivery speed of the pile generator (2). The pile (8) is clamped and conveyed between this guide roll (14) and the pile feed (10).

The output-side guide roller (14) is assigned with its drive M1 to the infeed conveyor (15) of the nonwoven loader (3) and is preferably located above the front deflection roller of this infeed conveyor (15). The drive M1 is coupled to the speed or the drive of the infeed belt (15), so that the guide roller (14) and the infeed belt (15) always run synchronously and convey the pin (8) clamped between them.

The stretching device (5) can be switched back and forth between a normal pass stage and one or more draw stages. In the pass-through stage, there is no stretching of the pile (8), so that the pile (8) retains its thickness and density determined by the pile producer (2). In this pass-through stage, the roller arrangements (11, 12, 13), the guide rollers (14) and also the infeed conveyor (15) of the web laying machine (3) have a preferably constant speed level adapted to the web feed speed of the pile generator (2). In this case, although the rolls, belts and other conveyors for the pile (8) arranged one behind the other in the direction of pile travel (23) can have a gradually increasing speed level in order to keep the pile (8) under constant tension without significantly stretching it , The other drives M of the nonwoven applicator (3) are then set to normal laying function via the control (7), so that a multi-layered nonwoven fabric (9) also follows through the continuous pile (8) on the discharge belt (17) constant thickness or density is formed.

In the stretching stage (s), the pile (8) in the stretching device (5) is thinned and stretched. In this case, the drives M5, M4 and M3 of the roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) are set to stepwise increasing speeds in the direction of the web direction (23). This has the consequence that the pile (8) at the pile feed (10) and the local guide roller (14), starting from the one to the next roller assembly (11,12,13) transported faster and thereby put under train and thus stretched. Due to the clamping connection between the pairs of rollers, it is safely conveyed and held.

The nonwoven applicator (3) is coupled in particular with its infeed conveyor (15) and on the other thrusting drives M via the control (7) to the drive M3 of the last roller arrangement (13). This is also the output side guide roller (14) coupled to its drive M1. The infeed belt (15) and the guide roller (14) thus run just as fast or only slightly faster in the interest of a constant light tensile load than the last roller arrangement (13) of the stretching device (5).

By the stretching device (5) dilutions in the web (8) are formed in the one or more draw stages partially, which are stored by the laying carriage (16) at predetermined positions of the laying width on the discharge belt (17). The tuning and the forward travel determined via the route control are determined via the controller (7) and the profiling program stored and aborted there.

FIG. 4 illustrates these processes in a diagram in which the velocities of the individual drives, ie the peripheral speeds of the respective funding and the flange thickness d are plotted along the path s. As the Diagram illustrates, are initially in the pass stage, the velocities V of the Florzuführung (10) and the roller drives M, M1 to M5 the same. Accordingly, the thickness d of the pile (8) is constant. In the drawing stage, the speeds V of the roller drives M1, M3, M4, M5 and the flour driving drives M of the batt (3) are increased, wherein a predetermined acceleration ramp is traversed. Here, the individual roller speeds are increased gradually. The roller drives M1 and M3 run faster than the roller drive M4 and this in turn faster than the roller drive M5. The roller drive M2 and the speed of the Florzuführung (10) remain constant. Due to these speed changes, the pile (8) is stretched and thinned, which is reflected in the reduction in the thickness d shown in the diagram.

The drafting stage remains constant for a distance s predetermined by the profile-forming program and is then withdrawn, the increased roller speeds being taken back to the level of the pass-through stage. Accordingly, the board thickness d rises again to the original level.

The in the diagram of FIG. 4 In turn, the speed and pile thickness changes shown may be varied in steps or continuously up or down to produce different sized changes in board thickness d. Depending on the program specification, the stretching stages may also be present over a longer or shorter distance s.

The nonwoven layer (3) deposits the pile thickness changes at the predetermined positions of the width of the sheet to form the multi-layer nonwoven fabric (9). Here, for the forward and return of the laying carriage (16) an equal or a different laying behavior can be driven.

Preferably, especially in the edge regions of the fleece (9), the pile thicknesses are reduced, which is preferably done at each on the discharge belt (17) deposited pile position in the forward and reverse of the laying carriage (16) on both fleece edges. As a result, the multilayer nonwoven (9) is given a convex profile in which the nonwoven thickness in the middle is greater than at the edges. In addition, profile changes can also be made in the intermediate fleece area.

The formation of a fleece profile can serve different purposes. On the one hand, it is thus possible to react to peculiarities of the solidification device (4), in particular a needle machine. Needle machines usually have the peculiarity that due to the necessary delay the fleece (9) jumps in across the width and this width shrinkage leads to thickening in the edge region, whereby the end product emerging from the needle machine (4) has an uneven thickness or density over the laying width Has. This is specifically counteracted by the formation of the aforementioned nonwoven profile. In addition to these edge effects, other inhomogeneities of the needling machine (4) or another hardening device generated within the laying width can be taken into account. Alternatively, by the profile formation technique, the non-woven end product coming from the solidification device (4) instead of a uniform thickness, a deliberately different thicknesses are given in places, if this final product should already have a certain own cross-sectional profile for further processing.

The compensating device (6) consists in the embodiment shown of an endless storage belt (18) -k with a variable slack of the upper strand (19) and two separately adjustable drives M6 and M7 for one roller (20,21) at the rear and front end of Storage tape (18). With the compensation device (6) fluctuations in the delivery speed of the discharge belt (17) are compensated, which are due to the above-described extension of the pile (8). In this way, the fleece (9) of the downstream in the running direction (24) hardening device (4) and the nonwoven feed (22) with at least substantially constant speed and flow rate is supplied. The compensation of the output fluctuations of the fleece layer (3) is caused by a variable sag of the upper run (19). FIG. 5 shows a speed diagram.

The drive M6 of the rear roller (20) is coupled to the delivery speed of the discharge belt (17) and oscillates with its speed with this up and down. The drive M7 of the front roller (21) is set in contrast to a preferably constant speed, which corresponds to the mean value of the speed fluctuations of the drive M6.

If the stretching device (5) thins the pile and the nonwoven layer (3) with its discharge belt (17) runs correspondingly faster, the drive M6 also runs faster than the drive M7. This creates the in FIG. 3 shown maximum slack of the upper run (19). In this case, the nonwoven (9) delivered by the discharge belt (17) is stored in the upper run loop. As soon as the stretching device (5) is again switched to the throughput stage and the speed of the discharge belt (17) is reduced accordingly, the speed of the drive M6 also decreases until it reaches its mean value and is equal to the speed of the drive M7. At this stage, the slack of the upper run (19) decreases in FIG. 3 shown middle position, wherein the fleece (9) is conveyed through without storage. When the stretching device (5) has reached the passage stage and thus also the discharge belt (17) on the Throughput speed and thus the minimum speed is reached, the drive M7 of the front roller (21) runs faster than the now minimal speed of the drive M6. This has the consequence that the upper run (19) is streamlined. Here, the previously stored in a large slack amount of fleece is removed and the compensation device (6) emptied. The movements of the upper run (19) are compensated in a corresponding manner by tightening or slack of the lower run of the storage tape (18), which for clarity in FIG. 3 not shown.

In the described setting of the profile forming device (1), elongations and dilutions are formed in the pile (8) and accordingly also in the deposited multi-layer nonwoven fabric (9). As a result, most of the practical applications of profiling can be covered. The maximum fleece thickness is determined by the normal and uninfluenced pile thickness. Alternatively, it is also possible to allow the stretching device (5) to work continuously on an extension of the pile (8) and to produce pile dilutions by further stretching and speed increase as well as pile thickening by lowering the speed to the pass stage. Furthermore, it is possible to design the stretching device (5) differently and also to stow and thicken or to densify the pile (8) if required. As a result, both dilutions and thickening of the pile (8) can be generated. The compensation device (6) is adjusted accordingly in these cases.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of the profile forming device (1) and the drafting or stretching device (5,104) of Figure 1 to 3 , The nonwoven production device (101) can also have a conveying path (120) between the nonwoven layer (102) and the pile producer (103).

Alternatively, this conveyor line (120) can also be integrated into the pile feed of the web laying machine (102).

The distortion device (104) is arranged between the fleece layer (102) and pile fabric (103) and has in the same way as the previously described stretching device (5) of Figure 1 to 3 two or more in this area arranged clamping points (105,105 ', 106) for the Florerzeuger (103) supplied pile (107). The clamping points (105, 105 ', 106) form therebetween a defined draft length x, y for the pile (107), the pile (107) being conveyed at the clamping points (105, 105', 106) at different speeds.

Preferably, the Verzugeinrichtung (104) is designed as a stretching device, wherein the pile (107) on the nonwoven (102) facing nip (105) is conveyed at a faster rate than at the pile generator (103) facing the clamping point (106).

The nips (105,105 ', 106) are formed by pinch rollers (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129) which are deliverable and have their own controllable drive. In this case, the drives of the pinch rollers (124, 125, 126, 127, 128), which are arranged in the region of the fleece layer (102), are connected to its common control (131). The nonwoven-side clamping rollers (124,125,126,127,128) are coupled to the speed level of florführenden drives and can be changed uniformly in height with this speed level. At the other nip (106), which faces the pile generator (103), the pinch rolls (129) or take-off roll (118) are driven substantially at the conveying speed of the pile fabricator (103) and the pile taker (117), respectively. This speed is usually constant but may vary as well.

The conveyor line (120) is in the embodiment of FIG. 6 and 7 formed as a revolving single conveyor belt, which extends between the Florabnahmeeinrichtung (117) and the feed belt (109). The conveyor belt (120) is guided over end deflection rollers (130) and is driven. The drive speed can be constant or vary. It may, for example, correspond to the delivery speed of the pile picking device (117).

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 there is a nip (105) on the nonwoven layer (102) and on the feed belt (109). The associated pinch roller (124) is arranged opposite to the deflection point of the feed belt (109) and the local deflection roller. The pinch roller (124) is driven at the same peripheral conveying speed as the feed belt (109) and the conveyor belt (114), respectively. The pile (107) is here clamped between the pinch roller (124) and the conveyor belt (109) and conveyed on both sides at the same speed. The motor or drive of the pinch roller (124) is in this case connected to the controller (131). The pinch roller (124) also has a feed device with which it can be moved transversely to the feed belt (109) or to the adjacent deflection roller in order to adjust the required size of the clamping gap for the nap (107) can.

The other nip (106) is located at the rear and the Florerzeuger (103) facing the end of the conveyor belt (120). It is formed by a likewise driven and deliverable pinch roller (129) which is arranged opposite the rear deflection roller (130). The drive of the deflection roller (129) can also be connected to the common control (131). The same applies to the drive of the conveyor belt (120) (not shown). In the embodiment shown of FIG. 6 the conveyor belt (120) and the deflection roller (129) move with the delivery speed of the pile generator (103) or run slightly faster if necessary to produce a light permanent train.

To form the desired Florverzugs and in particular the Florstreckung the flourführenden drives of the webbing (102) and the pinch roller (124) on the conveyor belt (109) are raised together and uniformly in their speed level, while the conveying speed of the conveyor belt (120) and the pinch roller (129 ) stay constant. As a result of this speed difference, the web (107) located on the conveying path (120) is stretched and diluted accordingly. By the clamping points (105,106), in which the pile is clamped, a defined delay length x is formed, wherein the pile (107) on leaving the Verbergeinrichtung (104) on the way to the tape inlet (113) the introduced draft or the stretch reserves. The time and duration of the pile distortion or stretching depend on the desired shape of the multilayer nonwoven fabric (108). They are generated with such a long lead time that they are stored at the desired location on the discharge belt from the carriage (111). The distance from the nip (105) to the exit point on the laying carriage (111) is constant in this case.

FIG. 7 shows a variant of the default of FIG. 6 , Here, the nip (105) at the front and the nonwoven layer (102) facing the end of the conveying path (120) and is formed by an here deliverable and driven pinch roller (125). In addition, if necessary, the above-described pinch roller (124) may also be present on the feed belt (109). The rear clamping point (106) is located on the Florabnehmeeinrichtung (117) and is characterized by the output side take-off rollers (118) are formed, which also clamp the pile (107) between them and promote with the delivery speed of the pile generator (103). In this variant, the conveyor belt (120) is driven at variable speed, with its speed level varying uniformly with the speed level of the thrusting drives of the web (102). In order to create a pile stretch, the pinch roll (125) and the conveyor belt (120) move faster than the delivery speed of the pile fabricator (103) in synchronism with the floppy drives of the batt (102) at the desired height for profiling and for the desired duration.

In variation to the above-described function of the stretching device (104) of FIG. 7 the stretch length x can also be formed between the pinch rollers (124, 125) and the associated deflection rollers. To create a pile stretch, the pinch roller (124) and the feed belt (109) move in synchronism with the driving drives of the batt (102) while the pinch roller (125) and the conveyor belt (120) are synchronized with the pile generator (103).

FIG. 8 shows a further variant of the delay device (5,104), which to the variant of Figure 1 to 3 is ajar. Instead of the roller pairs (11,12,13) of Figure 1 to 3 is in FIG. 8 the conveyor line (120) into several, here preferably three conveyor sections (121,122,123) divided. Each conveyor section (121, 122, 123) is assigned at least one deliverable and driven pinch roller (126, 127, 128), these pinch rollers preferably being located at the front end and the nonwoven layer (102) facing end of the conveyor section. The conveyor sections (121, 122, 123) are in this case formed by short conveyor belts circulating in a triangle over deflection rollers (130) whose drive motors M3, M4, M5 are individually controllable and are preferably also connected to the common control (131) of the nonwoven layer (102) and the profile forming device (1).

In this subdivided conveying section (120), the clamping points (105, 106) and the stretching length x defined thereby can be changed in size and position. In the variant shown, the rear clamping point (106) is stationary and is as in FIG. 7 formed by the take-off rollers (118) of the Florabnahmeeinrichtung (117). The front clamping point (105), however, is spatially variable along the conveying path (120) and is formed by the respectively delivered pinch roller (126, 127, 128). In the embodiment shown of FIG. 8 the middle pinch roller (127) is delivered to its conveyor belt section (122) and forms the nip (105). The other two adjacent pinch rolls (126, 128) are raised and have no conveying contact with the pile (107). The drives of the pinch rollers 127 and the conveyor belt section 122 at the nip 105 are coupled to and are synchronously and uniformly raised and lowered at the level to produce the desired nap delay. Also, the conveyor belt section (121) closest to the direction of conveyance is raised and lowered synchronously in the speed level in the same way. The third conveyor belt section (123) can likewise be connected to the speed level of the fleece layer (102) or, alternatively, to the delivery speed of the pile taker (103) or the take-off rolls (118) or, in a further modification, to a differential speed between the conveyor speeds at the nip points (FIG. 105,106) are driven.

The delay device (104) of FIG. 8 can also be used in other designs and functions. FIGS. 9 and 10 show two Variants in which all clamping points (105,105 ', 106) are in the range of the conveyor line (120) and the conveyor sections (121,122,123). In the variant of FIG. 9 the two terminal clamping rollers (126, 128) are delivered to the pile (107) and to their associated conveyor belt sections (121, 123) and form the clamping points (105, 106). The middle pinch roller (127) is lifted and has no flördördernden contact. The in the Florzuführrichtung front pinch roller (126) and its conveyor belt section (121) are coupled to the florführenden drives of the web laying (102) and move with these synchronously in the speed level and down. The rear pinch roller (128) and its conveyor belt section (123) may be coupled to and move with the output speed of the pile fabricator (103) and the pile taker (117), respectively. However, the speed level at the nip (106) may also be set to a different value and be higher than the output speed of the pile generator (103).

In a variant of not shown FIG. 9 it is also possible to shorten the draft or stretching length x by the two front pinch rollers (126,127) are delivered to the pile (107) and the rear pinch roller (128) is lifted. With the delay device (104) of FIG. 8 Thus, the size and the position of the delay length or stretch length x can be changed as desired.

FIG. 10 shows a further variant in which all three pinch rollers (126,127,128) at three clamping points (105,105 ', 106) are in conveying engagement with the pile (107). In this variant, the draft or stretch length is divided into two sections x and y, with which different extensions are generated. The center pinch roller (127) and its conveyor section (122) travel faster than the rear pinch roller (128) and its Conveyor belt section (123). The front pinch roller (126) and its conveyor section (121) in turn travel faster than the middle pinch roller (127) and its conveyor section (122). The cascading speed levels are also determined by the common control (131) and raised and lowered in their grading uniformly with the speed of the thrusting drives of the web (102). In all the embodiments shown, warpage and, in particular, the stretching of the warp is canceled as soon as the flow-guiding drives of the fleece layer (102) and the synchronously coupled pinch rollers again run substantially at the delivery speed of the pile generator (103). In this case, the pile (107) is continuously fed without distortion.

FIGS. 11 to 15 show a third variant of the profile forming device 1 with modifications of the drafting or stretching device (5,104) and the compensation device (6).

In the nonwoven layer (3,102) of FIG. 11 the stretching device (5,104) is integrated to save space in the fleece layer and its housing at the inlet region (33) and takes the place of the previous inlet belt (15) of FIG. 1 one. As a result, the modified nonwoven layer (3,102) has substantially the same width as a conventional machine and can therefore be subsequently integrated into an existing fiber treatment plant (101) without major modifications.

As shown by the dashed lines, the stretching device (5, 104) can also be a retrofittable component with its own housing part. This can be subsequently attached to an existing conventional nonwoven layer (3,102), wherein additionally adapted to the control (131), exchanged or with the Control (7) of the profile forming device (1) is coupled. This nonwoven layer (3,102) preferably has an integrated pile storage.

The stretching device (5) and its conveying path (120) is similar to FIG FIGS. 8 to 10 in preferably three conveyor sections (121,122,123) divided, each consisting of spatially encircling conveyor belt sections. The conveyor belt sections (121, 122) are in this case designed to run around in the same way as in the previously described embodiment in a triangle over deflecting rollers (130), the triangular shape in the variant of FIG FIGS. 11 to 13 stretched in height and elongated. The conveyor belt sections (121, 122) together form a line which rises obliquely in the direction of web travel (23).

The pile fabric section (123) facing the pile producer or the pile infeed (10) is in a modification to FIG FIGS. 8 to 10 formed angled and designed as a swivel table (26), which is adjustable in height and can be adapted to the respective position of the Florzuführung (10) or Florabnahmeeinrichtung (117). The pivoting table (26) assumes the function of the inlet belt (15) in the variant of FIG. 1 , In this case, the conveyor belt section (123) is designed in the table area projecting out of the housing as a feed belt (25), which optionally can be held under tension by a tensioning roller.

FIG. 12 and 13 illustrate in an enlarged view the structure of the machine structure of the stretching device (5,104). In FIG. 11 and 12 For the sake of clarity, the pinch rollers (126, 127, 128) have been omitted. In FIG. 13 are they represented.

On the machine frame of the stretching device (5, 104), clamping rollers (126, 127, 128) are arranged in each case via the guide rollers (130) of the conveying sections (121, 122) in front of the guide in the direction of the web (23). On the third rear pinch roller (126) may optionally be omitted, which is indicated by the dashed line in FIG FIG. 13 is expressed. Alternatively, the middle pinch roller (127) may be omitted.

The pinch rollers (126, 127, 128) are fastened with their roller frame to vertical rows of holes in the machine frame and can thereby be brought into the required height position to the inclined ascending conveyor belt sections (121, 122, 123). The pinch rollers (126, 127, 128) are mounted on their roller racks in a height-adjustable manner by means of carriages and can be moved by means of a feed device (27), e.g. a cylinder against the pile (8,107) and their associated conveyor belt sections (121,122,123) are pulled in the required manner vertically down and employed.

The nip (106) facing the pile generator (2, 103) is formed by the inlet-side first angled conveyor belt section (123) and its pinch roller (128). Both essentially run at the Florabgabegeschwindigkeit. The second nip (105) is in FIG. 13 from the adjacent central conveyor belt section (122) and its pinch roller (127) created. Both move to the profiling of the pile (8,107) or fleece (9,107) in the manner described above faster or slower than the Florabgabegeschwindigkeit. When using three or more conveyor belt sections (121,122,123) and pinch rollers (126,127,128) may alternatively as in FIG. 10 also one or more further clamping points (105 ') are formed.

FIGS. 14 to 15 clarify an initial at FIG. 3 already indicated variant of the compensation device (6). In this case, the discharge belt (17,116) is connected directly to the fleece supply (22) of the needle machine (4) or other solidification device. The storage belt (18) with the variable slack of the upper run (19) of FIG. 3 deleted thereby. In the web feed (22) of FIG. 14 the upper run is always tense and is supported, for example, by a table or the like on at least a substantial part of its length.

In this variant of FIGS. 14 and 15 the controller (7, 311) of the nonwoven applicator (3, 102) or of the profiling device (1) transmits a constant conductance to the control (28) of the needle machine (4), which then drives the endlessly circulating conveyor belt of the nonwoven feed (22) via the drive (M8). with a corresponding constant fleece running direction (24) drives. The conductance is calculated by the controller (7, 311) as an average value from the various variable speeds of the thrusting drives M of the nonwoven applicator (3, 102).

The deflection rollers (29,30) of the discharge belt (17,116) and the nonwoven feed (22) are a piece laterally spaced apart from each other and form a gusset (31). In this gusset (31), depending on the differences in speed adjusting sag (32) of the web (9, 108) can be recorded variably.

The discharge belt (17,116) runs according to the profile formation of the web (9,108) with alternating speeds slower and faster. It can also be temporarily stopped, which happens, for example, when adapting to the carriage movement. When the laying carriage (16,111) stops at the ends of its path and changes direction, it remains according to the discharge belt (17,116) stand. It can also run completely synchronously with the laying carriage (16,111) and participate in its acceleration and braking phases.

If the draw-off belt (17, 116) runs temporarily faster than the speed-average moving conveyor belt of the fleece feed (22) during the profile formation, the fleece (9, 108) is temporarily jammed and forms the in FIG. 15 Dashed line (32) in the gusset (31). Then, when the speed of the discharge belt (17,116) drops again and falls below the mean value, the nonwoven feed (22) is faster and pulls the slack (32) flat again.

Modifications of the embodiments shown are possible in various ways. The drafting or stretching device (5,104) and the compensating device (6) may be structurally different. For example, the pusher means (5, 104) may operate with other stretching or stowing means in place of the roller assemblies (11, 12, 13) or the conveyor belt portions (120, 121, 122, 123). Likewise, in the compensating device (6), the fleece (9, 108) may also be buffered and delivered in a constant manner, compensating the fluctuations in output. Furthermore, between the various components of the fiber treatment plant (1) other units, for. B. fleece drawframes are installed. For example, the nonwoven fabric (9, 108) may also be discharged from the nonwoven layer (3, 102) to a roll store or the like instead of the solidification device (4).

In another embodiment, not shown, measuring devices can be arranged in front of and / or behind the nonwoven layer (3, 102) and possibly also behind the solidification device (4), which supports the Measure and detect the profile of the pile (8,107) and / or the fleece (9,108). Via the controller (7,131) or another suitable controller, these measured values can be compared with stored default values and used to control the profile formation.

In other modifications, the number of conveying sections (121, 122, 123) may vary and be smaller or larger than in the illustrated embodiment. Furthermore, the structural design of the conveyor line (120) and the conveyor sections (121,122,123) is variable. Instead of circulating conveyor belts, any other means of transport are possible. Alternatively, it can also be slippery and low-friction as well as stationary guide surfaces on which the pile (8, 107) slides along. Further, the nips (105, 106) may be formed in other ways than deliverable and driven pinch rolls (126, 127, 128). In addition, the design variants shown in the various embodiments can also be interchanged and changed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Profile educational institution

2

Pile fabric, card, card

3

lapper

4

Hardening device, needle machine

5

stretching device

6

balancer

7

control

8th

pile

9

fleece

10

Florzuführung

11

first pair of rollers

12

second pair of rollers

13

last pair of rollers

14

guide roller

15

infeed conveyor

16

laying carriage

17

Discharge Conveyor

18

storage tape

19

obertrum

20

rear roller

21

front roller

22

fleece feeding

23

Florlaufrichtung

24

Fleece direction

25

infeed

26

Rotary table

27

infeed

28

Control needle machine

29

Pulley Deductor

30

Guide roller fleece feed

31

gore

32

sag

33

intake area

101

Vliesherstellvorrichtung

102

lapper

103

web producer

104

Delay device, stretching device

105

nip

106

nip

107

pile

108

multilayer fleece

109

infeed

110

superstructure

111

laying carriage

112

auxiliary carriage

113

strip entry

114

conveyor belt

115

conveyor belt

116

off belt

117

Florabnahmeeinrichtung

118

off roll

119

hacker

120

Conveyor line, conveyor belt

121

Conveying section, conveyor belt section

122

Conveying section, conveyor belt section

123

Conveying section, conveyor belt section

124

Pinch roller on the feed belt

125

Pinch roller on the conveyor belt

126

Pinch roller on the conveyor belt section

127

Pinch roller on the conveyor belt section

128

Pinch roller on the conveyor belt section

129

Pinch roller on the customer

130

Deflection pulley conveyor belt

131

control

M

Drives of various nonwovens grain components

M1

Drive guide roller

M2

Drive Florzuführung

M3

Drive third pair of rollers, third conveyor section

M4

Drive second pair of rollers, second conveyor section

M5

Drive first pair of rollers, first conveyor section

M6

rear drive storage tape

M7

front drive storage tape

M8

Drive fleece feed

x

Warpage length, stretch length

y

Warpage length, stretch length

Claims (22)

1. Method for profiling a multi-ply nonwoven (9, 108) which is layered by means of a nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) from at least one web (8, 107) supplied by a web producer (2, 103), profiling taking place by means of the stretching and/or compressing of the supplied web (8, 107), characterized in that the web (8, 107) is stretched and/or compressed by means of a drafting device (5, 104) arranged between the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) and web producer (2, 103), the fluctuations in the discharge rate of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) which are caused by the stretching and/or compression of the web (8) being compensated in an equalization device (6) arranged between the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) and a consolidation device (4).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the nonwoven (9, 108) discharged by the nonwoven-layering apparatus (2, 103) at varying speeds is buffered in the equalization device (6) and is thereafter supplied at an essentially constant speed and conveying quantity to a consolidation device (4) which follows in the running direction (24).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the equalization of the discharge fluctuations of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3) is brought about by a variable sag of the upper strand (19) of an endless storage belt (18) of the equalization device (6).
4. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the equalization of the discharge fluctuations of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3) is brought about in the equalization device (6) by a variable sag (32) of the nonwoven (9, 108) in a gusset (31) between a lead-away belt (17, 116) of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3) and a nonwoven feed (22) of the consolidation device (4).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the web (8, 107) is stretched and/or compressed by the drafting device (5, 104) at at least two defined nips (105, 105', 106) arranged at a distance from one another.
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the nips (105, 105', 106) form between them at least one defined drafting length x, y for the web (8, 107), the web (8, 107) being conveyed at different speeds at the nips (105, 105', 106).
7. Method according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the local position of the nips (105, 105', 106) is varied in order to produce different drafting lengths x, y.
8. Profile-forming device (1) for a multi-ply nonwoven (9, 108) which is layered by means of a nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) from at least one web (8, 107) supplied by a web producer (2, 103), characterized in that the profile-forming device (1) has a drafting device (5, 104), to be arranged in the region between the web producer (2, 103) and nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102), for stretching and/or compressing the web (8, 107) and an equalization device (6) for the nonwoven (9, 108), which equalization device is to be arranged between the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) and a consolidation device (4) and compensates the fluctuations in the discharge speed of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) which are caused by the stretching and/or compression of the web (8).
9. Profile-forming device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the equalization device (6) has an endless storage belt (18) with a variable sag of the upper strand (19) and two separately adjustable drives (M6 and M7).
10. Profile-forming device according to Claim 9, characterized in that a rear drive (M6) is coupled to the variable nonwoven discharge speed of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102).
11. Profile-forming device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a front drive (M7) is set at an average value of the oscillating speed of the rear drive (M6).
12. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a front drive (M7) is coupled to the nonwoven feed (22) of the consolidation device (4).
13. Profile-forming device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the equalization device (6) has a gusset (31) for receiving a nonwoven sag (32) between spaced-apart deflecting rollers (29, 30) of a lead-away belt (17, 116) and a nonwoven feed (22) on the consolidation device (4), a speed guide value, averaged over the profiling, for the drive (M8) of the nonwoven feed (22) being capable of being output by the control (7, 131).
14. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the drafting or drawing device (5, 104) has at least two nips (105, 105', 106) for the web (8, 107) and has a control (7) to which the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) can also be connected.
15. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the drafting or drawing device (5, 104) is integrated into the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) at the entry region (33) of the latter.
16. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the drafting or drawing device (5, 104) and the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) are controlled for the formation of the profile of the nonwoven (9, 108) over the web travel.
17. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the nips (105, 105', 106) form between them at least one defined drafting length x, y for the web (8, 107), the web (8, 107) being capable of being conveyed at the nips (105, 105', 106) with different speeds.
18. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 14 to 17, characterized in that movable nips (105, 105', 106) for producing different drafting lengths x, y are provided.
19. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 14 to 18, characterized in that one or more driven nipping roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) or nipping conveyor-belt sections (120, 121, 122, 123) with nipping rollers (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129) with controllable drives (M5, M4 and M3) are arranged at the nips (105, 105', 106).
20. Profile-forming device according to Claim 19, characterized in that the nipping rollers (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129) are mounted so as to be capable of being advanced (27) in a controlled manner.
21. Profile-forming device according to Claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the roller arrangements (11, 12, 13) or conveyor-belt sections (121, 122, 123) are set with their drives (M5, M4 and M3) for stretching the web (8, 107) to speeds which rise in the web running direction (23).
22. Profile-forming device according to one of Claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the web-conducting drives (M) of the nonwoven-layering apparatus (3, 102) are coupled via the control (7, 131) to the drive (M3) of the last nipping roller arrangement (13) or of the last nipping conveyor-belt section (112) at the exit-side nip (105) and are jointly variable in their speeds.

Images