EP2158348B1 - Device for needling a nonwoven web - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for needling a nonwoven web having on the base thereof at least one needle bar comprising a needle board having a plurality of needles. The needle bar is held by a bar carrier on which a vertical drive engages for oscillating motion of the bar carrier for an up and down movement. A superimposed horizontal drive is also associated with the bar carrier, by which a back-and-forth movement is induced. The horizontal drive has two eccentric drives coupled to a horizontal guide. The eccentric drives are each formed by a connecting rod and a crankshaft coupled to a connecting head of the connecting rod. According to the invention, the connecting rods are coupled to the horizontal guide with the connecting rod ends thereof in a diagonal orientation, the center axes of the connecting rods forming an angle.

Description

The invention relates to a device for needling a nonwoven web according to the preamble of claim 1.

The known device is used for solidification and structuring of nonwovens. For this purpose, a nonwoven web is pierced with a plurality of needles, which are guided in an oscillating up and down movement. In the process, the needles are thus guided with an oscillating vertical movement in order to solidify the fiber material in the nonwoven web. In this process, the nonwoven web is continuously advanced with a feed, which is preferably carried out by rolling. Since the needles are not smooth but are provided with barbs that are open in the puncture direction, filaments of the fleece are caught during insertion and reoriented in the fleece. This produces the desired felting and consolidation effect in the web. In order to obtain during the immersion of the needles in the nonwoven web due to the advancement of the nonwoven web no unwanted deformations, for example, lead to a delay or a slot formation in the needled material, the needles are guided with a superimposed horizontal movement. Here, the movement of the needles in the feed direction of the nonwoven web is aligned. To carry out a vertical movement and a superimposed horizontal movement of the needles, basically two different drive variants are known in the prior art.

From the DE 197 30 532 A1 a generic device for needling a nonwoven web is known, in which a needle bar is connected to a vertical drive for performing an up and down movement and with a horizontal drive for performing a reciprocating motion. The horizontal drive is formed by two oppositely driven eccentric drives consisting of two parallel connecting rods and the connecting rods coupled crankshafts are formed. The phase angles of the crankshafts are mutually adjustable, so that the transmitted by the connecting rods on a coupling member horizontal stroke is adjustable in size. From the coupling member, the horizontal movement is transmitted directly to a beam carrier or by an intermediate coupling gear. However, the separate horizontal drive of the known device requires complicated mechanisms, which has an insufficient stability and insufficient guidance of the needle bar in particular at higher throughput speeds result. Thus, machine dynamics problems in the realization of higher stroke frequencies with simultaneous Hubverstellmöglichkeit be expected in the known device.

In a second variant of the drive technology of such devices, for example, from the DE 103 55 590 A1 is known, the vertical and horizontal movement is performed by a common drive. Here, two phase-adjustable crankshafts are used in conjunction with two mutually inclined connecting rods, the connecting rod eyes meet in one point. Depending on the phase rotation of the crankshaft thus results in an ellipse-like movement with variable horizontal and vertical stroke. However, such concepts have a lack of speed stability and also no parallel guidance of the needle bar to the nonwoven web is possible.

In practice, however, there is an increasing desire to needle-punch the nonwoven web at a high throughput speed and as variable a horizontal stroke as possible.

In order to produce the movement of a needle bar with separate vertical drive and horizontal drive, other devices are known in the prior art, such as in the DE 196 15 697 disclosed. Here, the horizontal drive is formed by an eccentric, which has a cooperating with a crankshaft connecting rod. The connecting rod acts with its connecting rod eye directly on a beam support on the underside of a needle bar is held. Although such devices allow higher throughput speeds the nonwoven web, but have the great disadvantage that the horizontal stroke is not variably adjustable.

From the DE 100 43 534 A1 Another device for needling a nonwoven web is known in which the beam support is formed by a guided in a pivot tube bumper. The pivot tube is pivoted back and forth relative to a pivot axis. In that regard, the beam carrier is pivoted about a pivot gear relative to the pivot axis. The device and the swivel gear are therefore not suitable for guiding the needle board or boards parallel to the nonwoven web.

It is an object of the invention to develop a device for needling a nonwoven web of the generic type such that nonwovens are vernadelbar at high throughput speeds with variable stroke and high stroke rates in high quality.

This object is achieved in that the connecting rods are coupled with their connecting rods in an inclined position with the horizontal link, wherein the connecting rods form an angle with their central axes.

Advantageous developments of the invention are defined by the features and feature combinations of the respective subclaims.

The invention has the particular advantage that the power transmission of the two eccentric drives of the horizontal drive is limited spatially to a very narrow compact attack area and thus leads to a stable guidance of the drive movement of the two eccentric drives. The invention is achieved by the proviso that a horizontal drive, which generates a vertical movement component in addition to the horizontal movement component, is completely unsuitable for a horizontal drive of the beam support. The vertical movement of the guided on the needle bar needles is carried out exclusively by the vertical drive, so that the horizontal drive to generate a pure horizontal movement has to compensate for the advancing movement of the nonwoven web. In that regard, a triggered by the horizontal drive vertical motion component is to be avoided. However, the invention has recognized that the combination of the rods held in an inclined position with the horizontal link can be advantageously used to transmit only the horizontally directed forces on the beam support. The motion component generated via the eccentric drives in the vertical direction is intercepted via the horizontal link and not transmitted to the beam carrier. In that regard, the high flexibility of the stroke settings caused by the two eccentric drives can advantageously be combined with a stability and rigidity of the force transmission.

An improved stability of the horizontal drive can be achieved in particular by the development of the invention, in which the connecting rods of the connecting rods are coupled by a double swivel joint with the horizontal link. Thus, the force intervention can focus on a coupling point, which is performed together on the eccentric drives. The double swivel joint is always guided by the eccentric drives on an ellipse-like path whose width and height depends on the phase angle of the two eccentric drives. As an extreme case, this results in either approximately a vertical or exactly one horizontal straight line for maximum or minimum horizontal stroke.

The double swivel joint for connecting the connecting rods can be formed either directly at one end of the horizontal link or advantageously on a coupling link of a coupling kinematics connected to the horizontal link.

When using a coupling kinematics is given the opportunity to reduce the force acting on the horizontal drive force. In addition, the axial guidance of the needle bar can be advantageously stabilized.

In order to obtain a higher flexibility in the arrangement and design of the eccentric drives, according to an advantageous development of the invention, alternatively, the possibility of the connecting rods of the connecting rods by two Coupling swivel joints with the horizontal link. Here, the hinges are preferably formed in close proximity or slightly offset from each other directly at one end of the horizontal link. However, it is also possible in principle to form the hinges of the two connecting rods on a coupling member, which is connected via a coupling kinematics with the horizontal link.

In order to change the size introduced by the eccentric lifting movement of the needle bar in size, in particular the development of the invention has proven itself in which the coupling kinematics is formed from a coupling member connected to the eccentric drives and a rocker arm held on a pivot bearing. Here, the coupling member as a push rod and the horizontal link preferably offset from each other to the tilt lever, so that the eccentric movements are transmitted with a translation to the needle bar. Thus, relatively large strokes on the needle bar and vice versa can be initiated even with relatively small eccentric movements of the eccentric drives.

In order to enable in addition to the stability and a sufficient horizontal movement of the eccentric drives, the inclined position of the connecting rods is chosen so that the angle between the center axes of the connecting rods is <180 ° according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. This arrangement can be realized, which represent a compromise between favorable motion and favorable power ratios at the connecting rods.

The crankshaft of the eccentric drives are driven in opposite directions, the phase angles of the two crankshafts are designed to adjust a stroke independently adjustable.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the crankshafts are assigned separate servo motors, by which the phase angle of the crankshaft is adjustable. The servomotors can be controlled via a common control device according to the desired stroke settings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the horizontal link is arranged with its end in a central region of the beam support and connected by a hinge to the beam support. Thus, regardless of the vertical movements of the beam support introduced for horizontal deflection thrust and tensile forces can bring directly to the beam support. A load on the beam carrier caused by bending moments as well as a transmission of the vertical movements generated by the eccentric drives can thereby be avoided.

In particular, the position of the horizontal link is suitable for making a guide of the beam carrier in the longitudinal direction of the beam. For this purpose, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the horizontal link is arranged substantially parallel to a transverse side of the beam carrier and executed with such a stiffening shape, so that the beam carrier is guided in the longitudinal direction. Thus, for example, the device can be operated safely even with non-activated horizontal drive. In this case, the beam carrier would only be driven by the vertical drive to move up and down.

In order to produce a high-quality needling of the nonwoven web, the needles in the vertical direction are preferably driven according to the embodiment of the invention with a vertical drive, which is formed by two eccentric drives, each having a crankshaft and a connected via a connecting rod to the crankshaft connecting rod. The connecting rods are connected with their connecting rod eyes via swivel joints with the beam support. Such a vertical drive provides a high degree of flexibility in setting and guiding the needle bar in order to needle-pick different nonwoven webs with different fibers.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1:

schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2:

schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 3:

schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 4 und Fig. 5:

schematisch weitere Ausführungsbeispiele eines Horizontalantriebes für die Ausführungsbeispiele nach Fig. 1, 2 und 3;

Fig. 6:

schematisch eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

They show:

Fig. 1:

schematically a side view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

schematically a side view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

3:

schematically a side view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

4 and 5:

schematically further embodiments of a horizontal drive for the embodiments according to Fig. 1 . 2 and 3 ;

Fig. 6:

schematically a side view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 a first embodiment of the inventive apparatus for needling a nonwoven web is shown. The embodiment of the device according to the invention Fig. 1 has a beam support 2, which holds a needle bar 1 on its underside. The needle bar 1 holds on its underside a needle board 3 with a plurality of needles 4. The needle board 3 with the needles 4 is associated with a tray 23 and a wiper 28, wherein between the tray 23 and the wiper 28, a nonwoven web 24 with substantially constant Feed rate is performed. The direction of movement of the nonwoven web 24 is characterized by an arrow.

On the beam support 2, a vertical drive 12 and a horizontal drive 5 engages. By the vertical drive 12, the beam support 2 is oscillated in the vertical direction, so that the needle bar 1 with the needle board 3 performs an up and down movement. The vertical drive 12 is formed by two parallel eccentric drives 12.1 and 12.2. The eccentric 12.1 and 12.2 have two parallel juxtaposed crankshafts 25.1 and 25.2, which are arranged above the beam carrier 2. The crankshafts 25.1 and 25.2 each have at least one eccentric section for receiving at least one connecting rod. In Fig. 1 are arranged on a beam support 2 connecting rods 13.1 and 13.2 shown, which are held with their connecting rod heads on the crankshafts 25.1 and 25.2. The connecting rods 13.1 and 13.2 are connected with their free ends by the pivot hinges 14.1 and 14.2 with the beam support 2. The crankshaft 25.1 forms with the connecting rod 13.1 and the crankshaft 25.2 with the connecting rod 13.2 each have an eccentric drive to guide the beam support 2 in an up and down movement. The crankshafts 25.1 and 25.2 are driven synchronously or in opposite directions synchronously, so that the beam support 2 is guided at least approximately parallel.

It should be expressly mentioned that on the beam support could also attack a plurality of vertical drives, so that would be coupled to both ends of the beam support 2 connecting rods via connecting pivot joints with the beam support 2. In that regard, an identical arrangement of the eccentric drives would be provided on an opposite end face of the beam support, not shown.

For superimposed horizontal movement of the beam support 2, the horizontal drive 5 engages with two eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 on the beam support 2. The horizontal drive 5 is connected via a horizontal link 15 with the beam support 2. For this purpose, a free end of the horizontal link 15 is arranged via a rotary joint 16 in the middle region of the beam support 2. The opposite end of the horizontal link 15 is connected via a double pivot 10 with the eccentric 5.1 and 5.2. In this embodiment, the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 are formed by two mutually parallel crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2. The crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 each have at least one eccentric section in order to drive at least one connecting rod in each case. Thus, the connecting rod 7.1 is coupled with its connecting rod 8.1 on the crankshaft 6.1. The connecting rod 7.2 is connected with its connecting rod 8.2 at the crankshaft 6.2 arranged at a distance. The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 are directed in an inclined position to each other, so that the connecting rod 9.1 of the Connecting rod 7.1 and the connecting rod eye 9.2 of the connecting rod 7.2 are connected together by the double pivot 10 with the horizontal link 15. The double swivel joint 10 thus forms a common coupling point for force transmission of the two eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2. For this purpose, the rotary joint 10 is located at the intersection of the center axes of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2, so that an angle is established between the center axes of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2. The angle between the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 is in Fig. 1 marked with the reference character α. The angle α is essentially dependent on the position of the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 and is preferably carried out in a value <180 ° in order to obtain a sufficient horizontal deflection at the common coupling point with maximum stroke adjustment of the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2. Here, the angle α and thus the arrangement of the connecting rods to each other chosen so that a compromise between favorable motion and favorable power ratios is achieved at the connecting rods.

To drive the beam support 2, the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 are driven synchronously in opposite directions. In this case, the double swivel joint 10 is guided as a common coupling point of the two connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 on an elliptical path.

The horizontal component of the movement is transmitted via the horizontal link 15 and the pivot 16 directly to the beam support 2. The vertical component of the movement generated by the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2, however, leads to the horizontal link 15 only to a rotational movement about the pivot 16. Thus, the vertical movements generated by the horizontal drive 5 remain in the double pivot 10 substantially without effect on the beam support 2 through The horizontal link 15 can be transmitted via the pivot 16 only horizontally directed forces that lead to a corresponding horizontal movement of the beam support 2.

The crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 can be driven together by a drive or separately via separate drives. To the hub of the horizontal Set movement of the beam carrier, the phase angles of the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 are adjusted to each other. The phase position and thus the desired horizontal stroke of the crankshaft take place in this embodiment by two servomotors 26.1 and 26.2, in Fig. 1 are shown schematically. The servomotors 26.1 and 26.2 are associated with the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 and connected in a common control device 27. By means of the control device 27, it is therefore possible to set any desired combinations of phase positions between the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2. The double pivot 10 is guided as a common coupling point while on an elliptical-like guideway whose width and height depends on the phase angle of the two crankshafts. As an extreme case, this results in either approximately a vertical or exactly one horizontal guideway for maximum or minimum horizontal stroke.

At the in Fig. 1 illustrated situation, the beam support 2 is in its horizontal position to the left of the neutral position and in the vertical direction in an upper intermediate position. As the drive progresses, the beam support 2 is reciprocated horizontally with the beam support 1 with a predefined stroke. In the case of immersed needles 4, the horizontal movement takes place in the nonwoven web 24 in the feed direction of the nonwoven web 24, so that essentially no deformations and no relative movements occur between the needles 4 and the nonwoven web 24. The horizontal link 15 causes at the same time a relation to the vertical drive 12 effective guidance of the beam support 2, in particular in the beam longitudinal direction. For this purpose, the horizontal link 15 is formed in a stiffening shape, which is represented by a stiffening rib 17 in this embodiment. The beam support 2 is guided by the arranged on the transverse sides of the beam support 2 horizontal link 15, so that the beam support 2 could be operated safely even without activation of the horizontal drive 5.

At the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, the vertical drive 12 and the horizontal drive 5 are synchronously driven for needling the nonwoven web 24, wherein the downward movement of the beam support 2 with a feed motion is combined so that the needles 4 within the nonwoven web 24 can perform a directed in the direction of the nonwoven web 24 movement.

At the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, a needle bar 1 is held on the beam support 2. In principle, however, it is possible to arrange a plurality of needle bars 1 on an underside of a beam support 2. A beam support 2 is guided by at least one vertical drive 12. In a machine, a majority of these units usually occurs, although not every beam support must also be guided by at least one horizontal drive. Thus, several beam carriers could be connected to a needle bar, so that only a horizontal drive unit would lead from a needle bar and several Balkenträgren in a machine.

In Fig. 2 is a further embodiment of the device according to the invention shown schematically in a side view. The embodiment according to Fig. 2 is essentially identical to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 , so that at this point only the differences will be explained and otherwise reference is made to the above description.

At the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment, two needle bars 1.1 and 1.2 are held on the beam support 2, each carrying a needle board 3 and a plurality of needles 4 on their undersides. The beam carrier 2 is coupled to a vertical drive 12, which is identical to the aforementioned embodiment. For horizontal movement of the beam support 2 of the beam support 2 is coupled via a central pivot 16 with a horizontal link 15. In this embodiment, the swivel joint 16 is arranged substantially with the Pleuelgelenken 14.1 and 14.2 at a common height on the beam support 2, so that the arranged to the transverse sides of the beam support 2 horizontal link 15 allow aligned to the power instructions on the beam support 2 leadership.

For the deflection of the horizontal link 15, a horizontal drive 5 is provided, which are formed by the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2. Here, the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 each have a crankshaft 6.1 and 6.2, which are arranged opposite to the previous embodiment above the beam support 2. Thus, there is the possibility that the crankshaft drives of the vertical drive 12 and the horizontal drive 5 can be arranged in a common machine plane.

For power transmission between the horizontal drive 5 and the horizontal link 15, a coupling mechanism 18 is provided. The coupling mechanism 18 consists in this embodiment of a rocker arm 20 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot bearing 21. The rocker arm 20 has at a free end below the pivot bearing 21, a rotary joint 22.2, with which the horizontal link 15 is connected to the tilt lever 20. The rocker arm 20 is L-shaped and has at a second free end a second pivot 22.1 on which a coupling member in the form of a push rod 19 engages. The push rod 19 is coupled to an opposite end by the double pivot 10 with the connecting rods 9.1 and 9.2 of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2. The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 are arranged in an inclined position and connected via their connecting rod 8.1 and 8.2 with the parallel juxtaposed crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2. The center axes of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 form the angle α, which also in this case has a size of less than 180 °.

The crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 are driven in opposite directions at the same speed, wherein the phase angles of the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 are set in relation to each other depending on a desired horizontal stroke. The adjustment of the phase angles in the crankshaft 6.1 and 6.2 can, as previously in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 described, done.

When driving the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2, the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 are deflected so that they move in the common coupling point, the double swivel joint on a guideway. This directly on the push rod 19 transmitted movement is transmitted from the push rod 19 via the rocker arm 20 to the horizontal link 15. Due to the staggered arrangement of the swivel joints 22.1 and 22.2 of the push rod 19 and the horizontal link 15, the stroke movement generated by the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 is transmitted to the beam support 2 with a translation. In relation to the double swivel joint 10, the beam carrier 2 thus carries out a stroke movement changed by a gear ratio, in this case smaller.

This in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment of the device according to the invention represents only one more way to connect the two eccentric 5.1 and 5.2 of the horizontal drive 5 via a coupling gear 18 with the horizontal link 15. In this case, both the power transmission of the horizontal link 15 on the beam support 2 and the lifting movement of the horizontal link 15 on the beam support 2 can be influenced. In addition, there is greater flexibility in the arrangement of the horizontal drive. Thus, the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 of the horizontal drive 5 and the eccentric 12.1 and 12.2 of the vertical drive 12 can be arranged in a common upper machine level.

Basically, however, there is also the possibility that in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment such that between the horizontal drive 5 and the horizontal link 15, a coupling mechanism 18 is arranged. Such an embodiment is for example in Fig. 3 shown. This in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment is largely identical to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and differs only by the interposition of a linkage 18. Here, the coupling mechanism 18 is formed by a rocker arm 20 and a coupling member 19, wherein the coupling member is also executed in this case as a push rod 19. The rocker arm 20 is held on a pivot bearing 21 and has at a lower end below the pivot bearing 21, a rotary joint 22 for connecting the horizontal link 15. At an upper end above the pivot bearing 21 of the rocker arm 20 via the rotary joint 22.1 with the Push rod 19 connected. The push rod 19 is coupled via the double swivel joint 10 with the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 of the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2.

The eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 of the horizontal drive 5 are identical to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 trained so that no further explanation for this is done. By the interposition of the linkage 18 between the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 and the horizontal link 15 can be adjusted depending on the design of the lever mechanism of the linkage 18 any desired ratios. Thus, the horizontal stroke and the force guide in the beam support 2 for guiding the needle bar 1.1 and 1.2 influence.

At the in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment, two needle bars 1.1 and 1.2 are held on the beam support 2. Each of the needle bars has a needle board 3 with a plurality of needles 4. The needle bars 1.1 and 1.2 are associated with a tray, not shown here, in which a nonwoven web is guided.

The acting on the beam support 2 vertical drive 12 is identical to the aforementioned embodiments, so that there is no further explanation.

At the in Fig. 1 to 3 illustrated embodiments of the device according to the invention, the movement of the horizontal drive 5 via the two connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 by a common coupling point, which is formed by the double pivot 10, submitted. In principle, however, it is also possible to connect the connecting rods 9.1 and 9.2 of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 in a staggered arrangement to a horizontal link 15 or a coupling link, for example a push rod 19. For example, in Fig. 4 shown an arrangement in which the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 of the eccentric 5.1 and 5.2 offset from each other by the hinges 11.1 and 11.2 are coupled to a horizontal link 15. The hinges 11.1 and 11.2 are with their axes of rotation offset from each other. The size of the offset is chosen here by way of example. The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 of the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 also form here with their central axes an angle α, wherein the axes of rotation of the hinges 11.1 and 11.2 need not necessarily be at the apex of the angle. At the in Fig. 4 illustrated embodiment, the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 offset from each other, so that the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 are formed with the same length. In principle, however, it is also possible to form the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 in different lengths so that the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 can be held in a vertically oriented machine plane.

In Fig. 5 a further variant for the formation of the horizontal drive 5 is shown. In this case, the hinges 11.1 and 11.2 for connecting the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 offset in the vertical direction to each other. About the hinges 11.1 and 11.2, the connecting rods 9.1 and 9.2 are coupled to the horizontal link 15. The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 associated crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 are connected via the connecting rod ends 8.1 and 8.2 with the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2.

At the in 4 and 5 illustrated variants for coupling the horizontal drive 5 to the horizontal link 15, the hinges 11.1 and 11.2 are each formed on the horizontal link 15. Basically, however, there is also the possibility that the hinges 11.1 and 11.2 on a coupling member of a linkage, for example, on the push rod 19 of the in Fig. 2 and 3 illustrated coupling gear 18 are formed.

In the Fig. 6 is a further embodiment of the device according to the invention shown schematically in a side view. The exemplary embodiment is essentially identical to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 2 , so that reference is made to the description of the device parts to the above description and at this point only the differences will be explained.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6 the horizontal drive 5 is formed by the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2. The crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 of the eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 are arranged above the beam support 2 together with the crankshafts 25.1 and 25.2 of the vertical drive 12 in a machine plane. The eccentric drives 5.1 and 5.2 of the horizontal drive associated connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 are connected via a coupling gear 18 with the horizontal link 15. The coupling mechanism 18 is formed by a rocker arm 20 and a push rod 19. The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 engage via a double pivot 10 at a free end of the push rod 19. At the opposite end of the push rod 19, the rocker arm 20 is connected via a rotary joint 22.1. The rocker arm 20, which has an elongated shape, is pivotally mounted in the middle region on a pivot bearing 21. At the opposite end to the rotary joint 22.1, the rocker arm 20 is connected by a further rotary joint 22.2 with the horizontal link 15.

The connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2 form with their central axes an angle α, which is <180 °.

According to the embodiment according to Fig. 2 is in the embodiment after Fig. 6 the horizontal drive 5 associated with a phase adjustment. For this purpose, a first servomotor 26.1 engages on the crankshaft 6.1 and a second servomotor 26.2 on the crankshaft 6.2. The servomotors 26.1 and 26.2 are independently controllable via a control device 27. By activating the servomotors 26.1 and 26.2 or only one of the motors, the phase positions of the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 can be adjusted relative to each other so that the trajectory of the double pivot 10 is changeable. The double swivel joint 10, which forms the coupling point of the connecting rods 7.1 and 7.2, always moves on an ellipsis-like path whose width and height depends on the phase angle of the two crankshafts. As an extreme case, this results in either approximately a horizontal or exact vertical straight line for maximum or minimum horizontal stroke. Thus can be adjusted by adjusting the phase angles of the crankshaft 6.1 and 6.2 advantageously each set a desired length of the horizontal stroke.

The movement of the connecting rods can be particularly advantageous over the push rod 19 and the horizontal link 15 and the tilt lever 20 transmitted to the beam support 2, so that reverses the direction of movement. This can be compensated for at least part of the horizontal inertia. By suitable choice of the length ratios of the influence of the horizontal link 15 can be compensated for the bar movement by the push rod 19, so that there is a straight track at a zero stroke with a very good approximation. In this embodiment, the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 of the horizontal drive 5 are driven in opposite directions. The direction of movement of the crankshafts 6.1 and 6.2 is in Fig. 6 indicated by an arrow.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying out mechanical needling of nonwoven webs with high production output and high production speeds with variable horizontal stroke. In particular, the high stability of the horizontal drive despite variable stroke adjustment can achieve a high uniform needling quality in the structuring of nonwovens, even at the highest production speeds. In addition, a very compact design with low space requirement is created. The simple transmission kinematics for controlling the horizontal link and the stiffening shape of the horizontal link for axial guidance of the beam support allow a structural design with few parts and low masses. Thus, very high movement frequencies of the beam support can be achieved, since the compact design allows a rigid structure of the machine frame.

The vertical drive and the horizontal drive can be operated both synchronously and asynchronously to move the beam carrier. This can be the Drive eccentric drives with any phase settings, so that a high flexibility in the motion control of the beam carrier is given.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1.1, 1.2

needle beam

2

beam support

3

needle board

4

needle

5

Horizontal drive

5.1, 5.2

eccentric

6.1, 6.2

crankshaft

7.1, 7.2

connecting rods

8.1,8.2

small end

9.1,9.2

connecting rod

10

Double-hinge

11.1, 11.2

swivel

12

vertical drive

12.1, 12.2

eccentric

13.1, 13.2

connecting rods

14.1, 14.2

joint to

15

Horizontal arm

16

swivel

17

stiffening rib

18

coupling gear

19

Coupling link, push rod

20

rocker arm

21

pivot bearing

22.1, 22.2

swivel

23

filing

24

nonwoven web

25.1,25.2

crankshaft

26.1, 26.2

servomotor

27

control device

28

scraper

Claims (13)

1. Device for needling of a nonwoven web with at least one needle bar (1), which has a needle board (3) with a number of needles (4) on its bottom, with a movably mounted bar carrier (2) for holding the needle bar (1), with a vertical drive (12) connected to the bar carrier (2) for oscillating movement of the bar carrier (2) in an up and down movement and with a separate horizontal drive (5) for oscillating movement of the bar carrier (2) in a back and forth movement, the horizontal drive (5) having at least one horizontal arm (15) connected to the bar carrier (2) and two eccentric drives (5.1, 5.2) connected to the horizontal arm (15), and in which the eccentric drives (5.1, 5.2) are formed by a connecting rod (7.1, 7.2) and a crankshaft (6.1, 6.2) coupled to a connecting head (8.1, 8.2) of the connecting rods (7.1, 7.2),
   characterized in that
   the connecting rods (7.1, 7.2) are coupled with their connecting rod eyes (9.1, 9.2) in an oblique position to the horizontal arm (15), the connecting rods (7.1, 7.2) forming an angle (α) with their center axes.
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the connecting rod top ends (9.1, 9.2) of connecting rods (7.1, 7.2) are coupled to the horizontal arm (15) via a double pivot point (10).
3. Device according to Claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the double pivot point (10) is formed directly on one end of the horizontal arm (15) or on a coupling element (19) of a coupling mechanism (18) connected to the horizontal arm (15).
4. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the connecting rod eyes (9.1, 9.2) of the connecting rods (7.1, 7.2) are connected to the horizontal arm (15) by two pivot points (11.1, 11.2).
5. Device according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the pivot points (11.1, 11.2) are formed directly on one end of the horizontal arm (15) or on a coupling element (19) of a coupling mechanism (18) connected to the horizontal arm (15).
6. Device according to Claim 3 or 5,
   characterized in that
   the coupling mechanism (18) is formed by a toggle lever (20) secured via a pivot bearing (21) and the coupling element (19), in which the coupling element (19) is connected as a pushrod with one end via the double pivot point (10) or the pivot points (11.1, 11.2) to the connecting rod eyes (9.1, 9.2) of the connecting rods (7.1, 7.2) and with the other end to the toggle lever (20), in which the horizontal arm (15) is connected to the toggle lever (20), and in which transmission in the coupling mechanism (18) is present via the arm lengths of the toggle lever (20).
7. Device according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the coupling element (19) and the horizontal arm (15) are connected offset relative to each other to the toggle lever (20) via pivot points (22.1, 22.2).
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the oblique position of the connecting rod (7.1, 7.2) is chosen so that the angle (α) between the center axes of the connecting rod (7.1, 7.2) is less than 180°.
9. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that
   the crankshafts (6.1, 6.2) of the eccentric drives (5.1, 5.2) can be driven oppositely, the phase position of the two crankshafts (6.1, 6.2) being designed adjustable for adjustment of a stroke.
10. Device according to Claim 9,
    characterized in that
    separate servomotors (26.1, 26.2) are assigned to the crankshafts (6.1, 6.2) to adjust the phase position, which are designed controllable independently of each other via control device (27).
11. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in that
    the horizontal arm (15) is connected with its end in a center area of the bar carrier (2) to the bar carrier (2) via a pivot point (16).
12. Device according to Claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the horizontal arm (15) runs essentially parallel to a transverse side of the bar carrier (2) and has a stiffening shape (17) to guide the bar carrier (6) in the longitudinal direction.
13. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 12,
    characterized in that
    the vertical drive (12) is formed by two eccentric drives (12.1, 12.2), each of which has a crankshaft (25.1, 25.2) and a connecting rod (13.1, 13.2) connected to the crankshaft, the connecting rods being connected to the bar carrier (2) via connecting arms (14.1, 14.2).

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