EP2129630A1 - Method and arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, and the use of the arrangement - Google Patents

Method and arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, and the use of the arrangement

Info

Publication number
EP2129630A1
EP2129630A1 EP08736777A EP08736777A EP2129630A1 EP 2129630 A1 EP2129630 A1 EP 2129630A1 EP 08736777 A EP08736777 A EP 08736777A EP 08736777 A EP08736777 A EP 08736777A EP 2129630 A1 EP2129630 A1 EP 2129630A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibre web
mineral
conveyor
blow
collecting member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08736777A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Tommy Lindgren
Jarmo Zinck
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Paroc Hold Oy AB
Original Assignee
Paroc Oy AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Paroc Oy AB filed Critical Paroc Oy AB
Publication of EP2129630A1 publication Critical patent/EP2129630A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/42—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
    • D04H1/4209—Inorganic fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H51/00—Forwarding filamentary material
    • B65H51/16—Devices for entraining material by flow of liquids or gases, e.g. air-blast devices
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/42—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
    • D04H1/4209—Inorganic fibres
    • D04H1/4218—Glass fibres
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/70—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/31—Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the manufacture of mineral fibres according to the preambles of the independent claims presented further below, and the use of the arrangement.
  • Mineral fibres are manufactured by melting suitable mineral-rich raw materials, such as diabase, limestone or slag in a melting furnace. The obtained melt is led to a fiberising apparatus, where it is formed into mineral fibres.
  • a cascade-type fiberiser can typically be used as a fiberising apparatus, which cascade-type fiberiser typically comprises four fiberising rotors which rotate around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis. The axes of the fiberising rotors are typically arranged on different heights. Melt is fed to the mantle surface of the first fiberising rotor, where a part of it adheres. The rest of the melt is thrown towards the mantle surface of the second fiberising rotor.
  • the melt which has gotten a hold of each of the rotors' mantle surface, is by means of centrifugal force formed into fibres, which detach from the melt circuits on the fiberising rotors.
  • Mineral fibres can also be manufactured by feeding mineral melt into a rotating cup-like centrifuge. Holes have been arranged on the outer circumference of the centrifuge cup, through which holes mineral melt is thrown, at the same time forming mineral fibres.
  • stone wool fibres are manufactured using a cascade method and glass wool fibres using a cup method.
  • the detachment of the fibres, their trajectory after detachment and also their qualitative properties can be assisted by arranging air blows near or around the fiberising apparatus, the force and the direction of which air blows can be used to make an impact also on the properties of the formed fibres.
  • the fibres are directed from the fiberising apparatus to a collecting means, for example to an inclined conveyor or a rotating drum, arranged in front of the fiberising apparatus, in the second end of the collecting chamber. Binder is also generally added to the fibres before their collection. A mineral fibre web is thus formed on the collecting member, which web is with the aid of conveyors moved from the collecting member to be processed further.
  • the conveyors following the collecting means are formed of several narrow belts arranged next to each other. Impurities can easily get between these belts, which may disturb the function of the conveyor or even cause it to break down. Impurities, which have ended up between the belts, may stretch the belts, in which case they break easily. A broken belt may in its turn cause the primary web to break or be damaged.
  • Another object of the present invention is a method and an arrangement, with the aid of which the disadvantages caused by the mechanical breaking of the conveyors can be minimized.
  • the formed mineral fibre web is transported with a conveyor away from the collecting member for further processing, whereby after the collecting member the formed mineral fibre web is transported a certain distance supported by gas blows formed on the transport surface of the conveyor.
  • a typical arrangement according to the present invention for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web comprises
  • the transport surface of the conveyor comprises blow-off means, the gas blows produced by which blow-off means are arranged to transport the mineral fibre web.
  • the arrangement according to the invention is used for transporting a mineral fibre web obtained immediately from the collecting member.
  • a conveyor equipped with gas blows needs to be cleaned and serviced less than a conveyor, which is composed of separate parallel belts.
  • a conveyor according to the invention thus comprises a transport surface, which is at least partly composed of blow-off means, which produce gas blows, with the aid of which the mineral fibre web is transported forward without contact. During the transporting the mineral fibre web thus "floats" supported by air blows at a distance from the transport surface of the conveyor.
  • blow-off means are used to blow air in order to move the mineral fibre web.
  • the blow-off gas may naturally also be some other gas.
  • the blow-off gas may also be exhaust air, which is generated in the manufacturing of the mineral fibre.
  • the blow-off air does not need to be heated to a certain temperature, usually the temperature of the blow-off air used is 10-50 0 C.
  • the conveyor comprises a transport surface, wherein has been arranged suitable openings for blowing air.
  • the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface thus comprises a perforated planar surface.
  • the transport surface of the conveyor may be formed out of for example a plate, where has been arranged a perforation for blowing gas towards the web to be transported and for supporting it.
  • the holes have preferably been arranged in rows, the distance between the rows being 15-200 mm, typically 20-100 mm, more typically 25-75 mm.
  • the distance between the rows of blow holes is normally measured from the edge of a hole in the first row to the edge of the closest hole in the next row.
  • the distance between the blow holes in the same blow-off row is typically 7-30 mm, more typically 10-15 mm.
  • the transport surface of the conveyor may have been formed for example of perforated metal plate or the like.
  • the transport surface may also be manufactured from Teflon® or another like material with a slippery surface.
  • Blow holes have then been arranged to this surface at an appropriate distance from each other for example by drilling or punching.
  • the largest diameter of the blow holes arranged in the planar surface is typically 3-20 mm, more typically 5-10 mm.
  • the shape of the holes may be round, preferably oval-shaped.
  • the holes are preferably also slightly inclined in the travel direction of the web in order to direct the air flow.
  • the inclination angle of the holes may preferably be for example 45-90° in relation to the travel direction of the conveyor, or any other angle between these values. When the inclination angle is 90° the air flow is directed straight upwards.
  • the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface comprise a number of blow boxes or individual separate nozzles, which have been arranged next to each other, transversely in relation to the travel direction of the fibre web.
  • the separate nozzles are usually arranged in rows, but they may, when necessary, also be arranged in some other pattern or order.
  • Blow boxes may have one or several elongated blow slots, which typically extend from the first end of the blow box to its second end, i.e. typically in a conveyor the nozzle slots extend from the first edge of the fibre web to its second edge transversely in relation to the travel direction of the fibre web.
  • transversely arranged blow boxes or separate nozzles may be arranged to be inclined in order to achieve a desired floating height and speed.
  • the blow boxes or individual separate nozzles may be grouped into divisions, the air volume of which divisions may be adjusted irrespective of each other, for example with separate dampers.
  • blow-off means arranged to the transport surface of the conveyor are arranged inclined, so that the blows led from their blow holes, nozzles or nozzle arrangements are arranged in the travel direction of the mineral fibre web.
  • a pressure balancing chamber has been arranged on the side of the transport surface of the conveyor, which is away from the transported fibre web, which pressure balancing chamber is in contact with the blow-off means of the transport surface.
  • the mineral fibre web is transported supported by gas blows a certain distance immediately following the collecting member.
  • the conveyor provided with blow-off means is arranged immediately after the collecting member, so that the collected mineral fibre web is transferred from the collecting member directly on to the conveyor, on the transport surface of which is arranged a blow-off mean/means.
  • the advantage of the embodiment is that the newly formed mineral fibre web can be transported as gently as possible immediately after the formation of the web, when it is susceptible to damage and tearing.
  • the weight of the primary mineral fibre web obtained from the collecting member is 50-500 g/m 2 , more typically 100- 400 g/m 2 .
  • the velocity of the gas blows generated by the conveyor's blow-off means is adjusted to be such that the travelling speed of the mineral fibre web conforms to the used process rate.
  • the travelling speed of the collecting member is for example generally approximately 80-150 m/min, typically approximately 130 m/min.
  • the blowing velocities of the conveyor provided with blow-off means, which is situated immediately after the collecting member, are selected so that the fibre web can be transferred as evenly as possible from the collecting member to the conveyor. If the blowing velocity is too low, the fibre web may accumulate in the space between the collecting member and the conveyor. If the blowing velocities are too high, the web has a tendency to "stretch" on the conveyor.
  • the velocity of the gas blows coming from the conveyor's blow-off means is 1-8 m/s, preferably 2-5 m/s.
  • the travel direction of the mineral wool web is changed with the aid of the conveyor by 5°-90°, preferably approximately 90°.
  • the web is directed from the conveyor provided with blow- off means to a conveyor arranged beneath it, whereby the original upper surface of the web becomes the lower surface, and the travel direction of the web is turned 90°.
  • the current turning conveyors are complicated mechanical solutions, which easily fail or get dirty, thus causing process breaks or damage to the transported web.
  • the transport surface of the conveyor may thus be arranged to be curved in proportion to the above-mentioned degrees, whereby the conveyor functions in the process as a turning conveyor, with which the travel direction of the mineral fibre web is changed as desired.
  • the conveyor may be arranged to be slanting at its second end, the latter end as seen in the travel direction, whereby the fibre web is transferred first from the short end of the conveyor to another conveyor, which is arranged on a lower level than the first conveyor.
  • the travel direction of the fibre web turns 90° and the surface of the fibre web which was originally away from the conveyor ends up against the transport surface of the second conveyor.
  • the arrangement further comprises an auxiliary nozzle or an auxiliary blow box, which is arranged in front of or behind the conveyor, which is equipped with blow-off means.
  • a blow may be arranged, which is stronger, i.e. "greater” than the blows of the conveyor provided with blow-off means.
  • the blowing velocity achieved by the auxiliary nozzle or blow box may also differ from the blowing velocity of the conveyor's blow-off means.
  • the auxiliary nozzle or blow box is arranged before the conveyor provided with blow-off means, a disturbance-free detaching of the mineral fibre web from the preceding process device, for example the collecting conveyor, and its transfer to the conveyor provided with blow-off means, may be ensured.
  • an auxiliary nozzle or blow box arranged after the conveyor provided with blow-off means ensures the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web to the next process device.
  • a rotating roller which is perpendicular against the travel direction of the fibre web, is arranged after the fiberiser, on the transport surface of which are arranged blow-off means.
  • the roller facilitates the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web to the next process step and the next process device.
  • the roller can be made of any material suitable for the purpose, for example metal or plastic.
  • the cross diameter of the roller is typically 200-400 mm, more typically 250-350 mm.
  • the peripheral speed of the roller is normally adjusted to be the same as the velocity of the fibre web, sometimes it may be adjusted to be 1-5 % higher than the travel speed of the mineral fibre web.
  • One embodiment of the present invention also enables the transport surface of the conveyor to be divided into at least two separate sections, the blow-off means and the gas blows of the blow-off means of which sections are independently controllable.
  • the conveyor is divided into successive sections in the travel direction of the fibre web.
  • the transport velocity achieved by the conveyor may vary in different sections of the conveyor.
  • the transport velocity may be raised or lowered gradually with the same conveyor in the travel direction of the mineral fibre web.
  • the conveyor may be divided into sections also against the travel direction of the fibre web.
  • the blows influencing the transport of the fibre web may be controlled in the transverse direction of the fibre web, which may be advantageous if for example a property of the mineral fibre web, such as the surface weight, varies between the middle part of the fibre web and its edges.
  • the edges of the fibre web may be supported with stronger gas blows than the middle part of the fibre web.
  • the present invention may be applied in the manufacturing processes of both stone wool and glass wool.
  • mineral fibres are manufactured using a so-called cascade method, i.e. by feeding mineral melt to the mantle surface of the first rotor of a fiberising apparatus, wherefrom the mineral melt is thrown to the mantle surface of the second rotor, and thence onwards to the mantle surface of a possible subsequent rotor.
  • the fiberising apparatus thus comprises at least two, typically three or more, fiberising rotors which rotate around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis.
  • the formed fibres are blown from the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus towards a collecting member, which is arranged at a distance from the fiberising apparatus.
  • Blow-off means are generally used for the blowing, which blow-off means are arranged to surround the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus and which are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the active mantle surfaces. In that case is typically manufactured so-called stone wool.
  • the mineral fibres are manufactured by using one or more cup-like fiberising devices, which rotate around a vertical axis, into which devices melted glass mass is led.
  • the glass mass is pressed out of the holes arranged in the outer edges of the cup-like fiberising devices, whereby mineral fibres are formed. These fibres are generally led towards the collecting member with the aid of blows arranged in a suitable manner. In that case is typically manufactured so-called glass wool.
  • the conveyor provided with blow-off means is at least partly, preferably completely or almost completely, covered with a hood.
  • a hood With the aid of the hood it is possible to reduce the dust coming loose from the fibre web entering to the plant space, and thus the working conditions may be improved. At the same time the need for cleaning of the process devices is naturally reduced.
  • binder is added to the mineral fibres before they are collected onto the collecting member and before the primary mineral fibre web is formed.
  • the transported web thus generally comprises binder.
  • the binder is cured later in the process, usually by curing in a hardening furnace.
  • the primary mineral fibre web may be processed further after the collection in many different ways. Very commonly the primary fibre web is folded by using pendulum conveyors or the like. The primary fibre web can also be compressed partly or completely both longitudinally in the travel direction of the web or perpendicularly against the travel direction of the web.
  • Figure 1 shows a side-view of an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a side-view of another embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 3 shows a side-view of a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a side-view of an embodiment of the invention, where a mineral fibre web 1 is supported and transported with the aid of a conveyor 2.
  • the transport surface 2' of the conveyor 2 comprises blow-off means (not shown), the gas blows produced by which blow-off means are arranged to transport the mineral fibre web.
  • the arrows portrayed in Figure 1 symbolise the gas blows produced with the blow-off means, which gas blows are preferably directed slightly inclined according to the travel direction of the mineral fibre web 1.
  • Arrow A shows the travel direction of the web.
  • the conveyor 2 is divided into sections 3, 3', 3", 3'".
  • Each section 3, 3', 3", 3'" has been provided with an air feeding connection 4, 4', 4", 4'", through which air is fed to the blow-off means of the section in question.
  • a desired amount of air may be fed into each section, irrespective of the amount of air fed into the adjacent section.
  • the air blows of each section 3, 3', 3", 3"' are independently controllable and may be optimised to suit prevailing process conditions.
  • the gas blows are directed so that the travel direction of the web is turned by 90°.
  • Figure 2 shows a side-view of another embodiment of the invention.
  • the parts shown in Figure 2 correspond to the parts shown in Figure 1 , although with the distinction that the gas blows are produced with nozzles 5, 5', arranged on the transport surface 2' of the conveyor 2.
  • the nozzles 5, 5' are arranged inclined according to the travel direction of the mineral fibre web 2.
  • Figure 3 shows a side-view of a third embodiment of the invention.
  • the parts shown in Figure 3 correspond to the parts shown in Figure 1 , although with the distinction that a roller 6 has been arranged in the end 2a of the conveyor 2, to facilitate the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web 1 from the conveyor 2. It is obvious to a man skilled in the art that the invention is not limited merely to the above-described examples but the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presented below.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web. In the method, mineral fibres are manufactured using a fiberising apparatus, the mineral fibres are transferred from the fiberising apparatus to a collecting member, a mineral fibre web is formed on the collecting member, and the formed mineral fibre web is transported with a conveyor away from the collecting member for further processing. According to the invention, the formed mineral fibre web is transported a certain distance after the collecting member, supported by gas blows formed on the transport surface of the conveyor.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSPORTING A MINERAL FIBRE WEB IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF A MINERAL FIBRE WEB, AND THE USE OF THE ARRANGEMENT
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the manufacture of mineral fibres according to the preambles of the independent claims presented further below, and the use of the arrangement.
Mineral fibres are manufactured by melting suitable mineral-rich raw materials, such as diabase, limestone or slag in a melting furnace. The obtained melt is led to a fiberising apparatus, where it is formed into mineral fibres. A cascade-type fiberiser can typically be used as a fiberising apparatus, which cascade-type fiberiser typically comprises four fiberising rotors which rotate around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis. The axes of the fiberising rotors are typically arranged on different heights. Melt is fed to the mantle surface of the first fiberising rotor, where a part of it adheres. The rest of the melt is thrown towards the mantle surface of the second fiberising rotor. Again a part of the melt gets a hold of the mantle surface and the rest of the melt is thrown towards the mantle surface of the third rotor. A part of the melt again adheres to the third mantle surface and the rest is thrown to the fourth mantle surface, where preferably the entire remaining melt mass gets a hold. The melt, which has gotten a hold of each of the rotors' mantle surface, is by means of centrifugal force formed into fibres, which detach from the melt circuits on the fiberising rotors. Mineral fibres can also be manufactured by feeding mineral melt into a rotating cup-like centrifuge. Holes have been arranged on the outer circumference of the centrifuge cup, through which holes mineral melt is thrown, at the same time forming mineral fibres. Typically stone wool fibres are manufactured using a cascade method and glass wool fibres using a cup method.
The detachment of the fibres, their trajectory after detachment and also their qualitative properties can be assisted by arranging air blows near or around the fiberising apparatus, the force and the direction of which air blows can be used to make an impact also on the properties of the formed fibres. The fibres are directed from the fiberising apparatus to a collecting means, for example to an inclined conveyor or a rotating drum, arranged in front of the fiberising apparatus, in the second end of the collecting chamber. Binder is also generally added to the fibres before their collection. A mineral fibre web is thus formed on the collecting member, which web is with the aid of conveyors moved from the collecting member to be processed further.
Nowadays the conveyors following the collecting means are formed of several narrow belts arranged next to each other. Impurities can easily get between these belts, which may disturb the function of the conveyor or even cause it to break down. Impurities, which have ended up between the belts, may stretch the belts, in which case they break easily. A broken belt may in its turn cause the primary web to break or be damaged.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or even eliminate the above- mentioned problems, which appear in the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an arrangement, with which transporting a mineral fibre web from the collecting member to further processing would be easy and simple.
Another object of the present invention is a method and an arrangement, with the aid of which the disadvantages caused by the mechanical breaking of the conveyors can be minimized.
The above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated or reduced, and the above- mentioned aims are attained with the present invention, which is characterised in what is defined in the characterising parts of the independent claims presented further below.
Some preferred embodiments according to the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims presented further below. In a typical method according to the present invention for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web
- mineral fibres are manufactured using a fiberising apparatus,
- the mineral fibres are transferred from the fiberising apparatus to a collecting member,
- a mineral fibre web is formed on the collecting member,
- the formed mineral fibre web is transported with a conveyor away from the collecting member for further processing, whereby after the collecting member the formed mineral fibre web is transported a certain distance supported by gas blows formed on the transport surface of the conveyor.
A typical arrangement according to the present invention for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web comprises
- a fiberising apparatus for manufacturing mineral fibres, - a collecting member for collecting the mineral fibres into a mineral fibre web,
- a conveyor for transporting the formed mineral fibre web on a transport surface of the conveyor from the collecting member to further processing, whereby the transport surface of the conveyor comprises blow-off means, the gas blows produced by which blow-off means are arranged to transport the mineral fibre web.
Typically the arrangement according to the invention is used for transporting a mineral fibre web obtained immediately from the collecting member.
Now it has surprisingly been found that by transporting the primary mineral fibre web obtained from the collecting member supported by gas blows, the damage to the fibre web caused by the breaking of the conveyor may be minimized. Thus the process interruptions caused by the breaking of the conveyor decrease remarkably and the quality of the produced fibre web is improved. It has also been noticed that a conveyor equipped with gas blows needs to be cleaned and serviced less than a conveyor, which is composed of separate parallel belts. A conveyor according to the invention thus comprises a transport surface, which is at least partly composed of blow-off means, which produce gas blows, with the aid of which the mineral fibre web is transported forward without contact. During the transporting the mineral fibre web thus "floats" supported by air blows at a distance from the transport surface of the conveyor.
Typically blow-off means are used to blow air in order to move the mineral fibre web. The blow-off gas may naturally also be some other gas. The blow-off gas may also be exhaust air, which is generated in the manufacturing of the mineral fibre. The blow-off air does not need to be heated to a certain temperature, usually the temperature of the blow-off air used is 10-50 0C.
According to one embodiment of the invention the conveyor comprises a transport surface, wherein has been arranged suitable openings for blowing air. In that case the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface thus comprises a perforated planar surface. The transport surface of the conveyor may be formed out of for example a plate, where has been arranged a perforation for blowing gas towards the web to be transported and for supporting it. The holes have preferably been arranged in rows, the distance between the rows being 15-200 mm, typically 20-100 mm, more typically 25-75 mm. The distance between the rows of blow holes is normally measured from the edge of a hole in the first row to the edge of the closest hole in the next row. The distance between the blow holes in the same blow-off row is typically 7-30 mm, more typically 10-15 mm.
The transport surface of the conveyor may have been formed for example of perforated metal plate or the like. The transport surface may also be manufactured from Teflon® or another like material with a slippery surface. Blow holes have then been arranged to this surface at an appropriate distance from each other for example by drilling or punching. The largest diameter of the blow holes arranged in the planar surface is typically 3-20 mm, more typically 5-10 mm. The shape of the holes may be round, preferably oval-shaped. The holes are preferably also slightly inclined in the travel direction of the web in order to direct the air flow. The inclination angle of the holes may preferably be for example 45-90° in relation to the travel direction of the conveyor, or any other angle between these values. When the inclination angle is 90° the air flow is directed straight upwards.
According to another embodiment of the invention the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface comprise a number of blow boxes or individual separate nozzles, which have been arranged next to each other, transversely in relation to the travel direction of the fibre web. The separate nozzles are usually arranged in rows, but they may, when necessary, also be arranged in some other pattern or order. Blow boxes may have one or several elongated blow slots, which typically extend from the first end of the blow box to its second end, i.e. typically in a conveyor the nozzle slots extend from the first edge of the fibre web to its second edge transversely in relation to the travel direction of the fibre web. Also transversely arranged blow boxes or separate nozzles may be arranged to be inclined in order to achieve a desired floating height and speed. The blow boxes or individual separate nozzles may be grouped into divisions, the air volume of which divisions may be adjusted irrespective of each other, for example with separate dampers.
Preferably the blow-off means arranged to the transport surface of the conveyor are arranged inclined, so that the blows led from their blow holes, nozzles or nozzle arrangements are arranged in the travel direction of the mineral fibre web.
According to one embodiment of the invention a pressure balancing chamber has been arranged on the side of the transport surface of the conveyor, which is away from the transported fibre web, which pressure balancing chamber is in contact with the blow-off means of the transport surface. Thus a gas flow to the blow-off means of the conveyor, which flow is as even as possible, can be guaranteed and the disturbances in the transportation of the fibre web caused by flow variations can be minimized.
According to one embodiment of the invention the mineral fibre web is transported supported by gas blows a certain distance immediately following the collecting member. In other words the conveyor provided with blow-off means is arranged immediately after the collecting member, so that the collected mineral fibre web is transferred from the collecting member directly on to the conveyor, on the transport surface of which is arranged a blow-off mean/means. The advantage of the embodiment is that the newly formed mineral fibre web can be transported as gently as possible immediately after the formation of the web, when it is susceptible to damage and tearing. Typically the weight of the primary mineral fibre web obtained from the collecting member is 50-500 g/m2, more typically 100- 400 g/m2.
The velocity of the gas blows generated by the conveyor's blow-off means is adjusted to be such that the travelling speed of the mineral fibre web conforms to the used process rate. The travelling speed of the collecting member is for example generally approximately 80-150 m/min, typically approximately 130 m/min. The blowing velocities of the conveyor provided with blow-off means, which is situated immediately after the collecting member, are selected so that the fibre web can be transferred as evenly as possible from the collecting member to the conveyor. If the blowing velocity is too low, the fibre web may accumulate in the space between the collecting member and the conveyor. If the blowing velocities are too high, the web has a tendency to "stretch" on the conveyor. Typically the velocity of the gas blows coming from the conveyor's blow-off means is 1-8 m/s, preferably 2-5 m/s.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention the travel direction of the mineral wool web is changed with the aid of the conveyor by 5°-90°, preferably approximately 90°. Thus the web is directed from the conveyor provided with blow- off means to a conveyor arranged beneath it, whereby the original upper surface of the web becomes the lower surface, and the travel direction of the web is turned 90°. The current turning conveyors are complicated mechanical solutions, which easily fail or get dirty, thus causing process breaks or damage to the transported web. In one solution according to the invention the transport surface of the conveyor may thus be arranged to be curved in proportion to the above-mentioned degrees, whereby the conveyor functions in the process as a turning conveyor, with which the travel direction of the mineral fibre web is changed as desired. According to one embodiment of the invention the conveyor may be arranged to be slanting at its second end, the latter end as seen in the travel direction, whereby the fibre web is transferred first from the short end of the conveyor to another conveyor, which is arranged on a lower level than the first conveyor. At the same time the travel direction of the fibre web turns 90° and the surface of the fibre web which was originally away from the conveyor ends up against the transport surface of the second conveyor.
In one embodiment of the invention the arrangement further comprises an auxiliary nozzle or an auxiliary blow box, which is arranged in front of or behind the conveyor, which is equipped with blow-off means. With the auxiliary nozzle or blow box a blow may be arranged, which is stronger, i.e. "greater" than the blows of the conveyor provided with blow-off means. The blowing velocity achieved by the auxiliary nozzle or blow box may also differ from the blowing velocity of the conveyor's blow-off means. In case the auxiliary nozzle or blow box is arranged before the conveyor provided with blow-off means, a disturbance-free detaching of the mineral fibre web from the preceding process device, for example the collecting conveyor, and its transfer to the conveyor provided with blow-off means, may be ensured. In a corresponding manner an auxiliary nozzle or blow box arranged after the conveyor provided with blow-off means ensures the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web to the next process device.
According to one embodiment of the invention a rotating roller, which is perpendicular against the travel direction of the fibre web, is arranged after the fiberiser, on the transport surface of which are arranged blow-off means. The roller facilitates the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web to the next process step and the next process device. The roller can be made of any material suitable for the purpose, for example metal or plastic. The cross diameter of the roller is typically 200-400 mm, more typically 250-350 mm. The peripheral speed of the roller is normally adjusted to be the same as the velocity of the fibre web, sometimes it may be adjusted to be 1-5 % higher than the travel speed of the mineral fibre web. One embodiment of the present invention also enables the transport surface of the conveyor to be divided into at least two separate sections, the blow-off means and the gas blows of the blow-off means of which sections are independently controllable. Generally the conveyor is divided into successive sections in the travel direction of the fibre web. Thus the transport velocity achieved by the conveyor may vary in different sections of the conveyor. The transport velocity may be raised or lowered gradually with the same conveyor in the travel direction of the mineral fibre web. In some embodiments the conveyor may be divided into sections also against the travel direction of the fibre web. Thus the blows influencing the transport of the fibre web may be controlled in the transverse direction of the fibre web, which may be advantageous if for example a property of the mineral fibre web, such as the surface weight, varies between the middle part of the fibre web and its edges. Thus for example the edges of the fibre web may be supported with stronger gas blows than the middle part of the fibre web.
The present invention may be applied in the manufacturing processes of both stone wool and glass wool. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention mineral fibres are manufactured using a so-called cascade method, i.e. by feeding mineral melt to the mantle surface of the first rotor of a fiberising apparatus, wherefrom the mineral melt is thrown to the mantle surface of the second rotor, and thence onwards to the mantle surface of a possible subsequent rotor. Thus mineral fibres are formed on the active mantle surfaces of the rotors. The fiberising apparatus thus comprises at least two, typically three or more, fiberising rotors which rotate around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis. From the fiberising apparatus the formed fibres are blown from the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus towards a collecting member, which is arranged at a distance from the fiberising apparatus. Blow-off means are generally used for the blowing, which blow-off means are arranged to surround the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus and which are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the active mantle surfaces. In that case is typically manufactured so-called stone wool. According to another embodiment of the invention the mineral fibres are manufactured by using one or more cup-like fiberising devices, which rotate around a vertical axis, into which devices melted glass mass is led. The glass mass is pressed out of the holes arranged in the outer edges of the cup-like fiberising devices, whereby mineral fibres are formed. These fibres are generally led towards the collecting member with the aid of blows arranged in a suitable manner. In that case is typically manufactured so-called glass wool.
In one embodiment of the invention the conveyor provided with blow-off means is at least partly, preferably completely or almost completely, covered with a hood. With the aid of the hood it is possible to reduce the dust coming loose from the fibre web entering to the plant space, and thus the working conditions may be improved. At the same time the need for cleaning of the process devices is naturally reduced.
Typically in most mineral wool manufacturing processes binder is added to the mineral fibres before they are collected onto the collecting member and before the primary mineral fibre web is formed. The transported web thus generally comprises binder. The binder is cured later in the process, usually by curing in a hardening furnace.
The primary mineral fibre web may be processed further after the collection in many different ways. Very commonly the primary fibre web is folded by using pendulum conveyors or the like. The primary fibre web can also be compressed partly or completely both longitudinally in the travel direction of the web or perpendicularly against the travel direction of the web.
In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the enclosed schematic drawings:
Figure 1 shows a side-view of an embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 shows a side-view of another embodiment of the invention, and Figure 3 shows a side-view of a third embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 shows a side-view of an embodiment of the invention, where a mineral fibre web 1 is supported and transported with the aid of a conveyor 2. The transport surface 2' of the conveyor 2 comprises blow-off means (not shown), the gas blows produced by which blow-off means are arranged to transport the mineral fibre web. The arrows portrayed in Figure 1 symbolise the gas blows produced with the blow-off means, which gas blows are preferably directed slightly inclined according to the travel direction of the mineral fibre web 1. Arrow A shows the travel direction of the web.
The conveyor 2 is divided into sections 3, 3', 3", 3'". Each section 3, 3', 3", 3'" has been provided with an air feeding connection 4, 4', 4", 4'", through which air is fed to the blow-off means of the section in question. A desired amount of air may be fed into each section, irrespective of the amount of air fed into the adjacent section. Thus the air blows of each section 3, 3', 3", 3"' are independently controllable and may be optimised to suit prevailing process conditions. At the end of the conveyor the gas blows are directed so that the travel direction of the web is turned by 90°.
Figure 2 shows a side-view of another embodiment of the invention. The parts shown in Figure 2 correspond to the parts shown in Figure 1 , although with the distinction that the gas blows are produced with nozzles 5, 5', arranged on the transport surface 2' of the conveyor 2. The nozzles 5, 5' are arranged inclined according to the travel direction of the mineral fibre web 2.
Figure 3 shows a side-view of a third embodiment of the invention. The parts shown in Figure 3 correspond to the parts shown in Figure 1 , although with the distinction that a roller 6 has been arranged in the end 2a of the conveyor 2, to facilitate the disturbance-free transfer of the fibre web 1 from the conveyor 2. It is obvious to a man skilled in the art that the invention is not limited merely to the above-described examples but the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims

1. Method for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, in which method - mineral fibres are manufactured using a fiberising apparatus,
- the mineral fibres are transferred from the fiberising apparatus to a collecting member,
- a mineral fibre web is formed on the collecting member,
- the formed mineral fibre web is transported with a conveyor away from the collecting member for further processing, characterised in that after the collecting member the formed mineral fibre web is transported a certain distance supported by gas blows formed on the transport surface of the conveyor.
2. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in that the mineral fibre web is transported supported by gas blows a certain distance immediately following the collecting member.
3. Method according to claims 1-2, characterised in that the travel direction of the mineral wool web is changed by 5-90° with the aid of the conveyor.
4. Method according to claims 1-3, characterised in that the velocity of the gas blows is 1-5 m/s.
5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport surface of the conveyor is divided into at least two separate sections, the gas blows of which sections are independently controllable.
6. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in that mineral fibres are manufactured by
- feeding mineral melt to the mantle surface of a first rotor of a fiberising apparatus, wherefrom the mineral melt is thrown to the mantle surface of a second rotor, and thence onwards to the mantle surface of a possible subsequent rotor, whereby mineral fibres are formed on the active mantle surfaces of the rotors, the fiberising apparatus comprising at least two, typically three or more, fiberising rotors which rotate around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis, - blowing the formed fibres from the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus towards a collecting member, which is arranged at a distance from the fiberising apparatus, and by using blow-off means for the blowing, which blow-off means are arranged to surround the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus and to be in their immediate vicinity.
7. Arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, which arrangement comprises
- a fiberising apparatus for manufacturing mineral fibres,
- a collecting member for collecting the mineral fibres into a mineral fibre web, - a conveyor for transporting the formed mineral fibre web on a transport surface of the conveyor from the collecting member to further processing, characterised in that the transport surface of the conveyor comprises blow-off means, the gas blows produced by which blow-off means are arranged to transport the mineral fibre web.
8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface comprises a perforated planar surface.
9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the blow holes of the planar perforated blow-off means are arranged in rows, the distance between which is 15-200 mm.
10. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that the blow-off means of the conveyor's transport surface comprise a number of blow boxes or nozzles, which have been arranged next to each other transversely in relation to the travel direction of the fibre web.
11. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a pressure balancing chamber has been arranged on the side of the transport surface of the conveyor, which is away from the transported fibre web, which pressure balancing chamber is in contact with the blow-off means of the transport surface.
12. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport surface of the conveyor is divided into at least two separate sections, the blow-off means of which sections are independently controllable.
13. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport surface of the conveyor is arranged curved.
14. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fiberising apparatus comprises at least two, typically three or more, fiberising rotors rotating around a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis, in which mineral melt is fed to the mantle surface of the first rotor, which mineral melt is thrown from the mantle surface of the first rotor to the mantle surface of the second rotor, and thence onwards to the mantle surface of a possible subsequent rotor, whereby mineral fibres are formed on the active mantle surfaces of the rotors, and that the arrangement further comprises blow-off means, which are arranged to surround the active mantle surfaces of the rotors of the fiberising apparatus and to be in their immediate vicinity for blowing fibres from the mantle surfaces towards a collecting member, which has been arranged at a distance from the fiberising apparatus.
15. The use of the arrangement according to claims 7-14 for transporting a mineral fibre web obtained immediately from the collecting member.
16. The use according to claim 15, characterised in that the weight of the fibre web is 50-500 g/m2.
EP08736777A 2007-03-21 2008-03-19 Method and arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, and the use of the arrangement Withdrawn EP2129630A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20070230A FI119381B (en) 2007-03-21 2007-03-21 Method and System for Conveying Mineral Fiber in the Mineral Fiber Manufacturing Process, and Using the System
PCT/FI2008/050128 WO2008113891A1 (en) 2007-03-21 2008-03-19 Method and arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, and the use of the arrangement

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EP2129630A1 true EP2129630A1 (en) 2009-12-09

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EP08736777A Withdrawn EP2129630A1 (en) 2007-03-21 2008-03-19 Method and arrangement for transporting a mineral fibre web in the manufacturing process of a mineral fibre web, and the use of the arrangement

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EP (1) EP2129630A1 (en)
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4343639A (en) * 1980-04-25 1982-08-10 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Process for production of fiber mats
FI85687C (en) * 1990-03-28 1992-05-25 Partek Ab PROCEDURE FOR EXHAUST FRAMSTAELLNING AV EN MINERALFIBERBANA.
FI85688C (en) * 1990-06-13 1992-05-25 Partek Ab FOERFARANDE FOER ATT VID MINERALFIBERFRAMSTAELLNING REGLERA EN VIKTRELATERAD PARAMETER HOS EN MINERALFIBERBANA.
DE19834963A1 (en) * 1998-08-03 2000-02-17 Pfleiderer Daemmstofftechnik G Device and method for producing mineral wool fleece

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Title
See references of WO2008113891A1 *

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WO2008113891A1 (en) 2008-09-25
FI119381B (en) 2008-10-31
FI20070230A (en) 2008-09-22

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