EP3739089B1 - Feeding device of a non-woven fabric formation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a feed device for feeding loosened fibers to a transport device, a web forming system comprising such a feed device, and a method for forming or profiling a material web.

When producing fiber webs, fiber tufts are usually delivered from a fiber tuft feeder to a transport device, which transports them further in the form of a fiber tuft mat to a pile producer, such as a carding machine, a fleece former or a bonding machine, such as a needling machine. As a rule, it is desirable to produce a nonwoven fabric with a very high level of uniformity. Appropriate options for intervention exist at various points in the system. For example, the weight of the fiber flock mat can be measured using a belt weigher and the feed speed of the pile generator can be adjusted on this basis. As an alternative to a very uniform fibrous mat, in some applications it is also desirable to form a mat with a surface profile.

From the EP 2 695 976 A1 discloses a feed device for feeding dissolved fibers or fiber tufts onto a transport device, which comprises a plurality of feed segments arranged horizontally next to one another and transversely to the transport direction. Each of these feed segments has its own draw-in roller, which interacts with an opening roller of the feed device to open a strand of a starting material, for example a fiber roving or a fiber fleece strip. It is thereby possible to adjust and vary the quantity of fibers or fiber tufts delivered by each feed segment of the feed device. Fibers can thus be released onto the transport device in a targeted manner across the width of the transport device transversely to its transport direction in order to compensate for defects or irregularities in a material web, such as a fiber flock mat or fleece web, or to produce a predetermined transverse profile.

Each feed segment is fed with its own strand of starting material, which is fed to the feed segment in the middle with respect to the width of its feed roller. The result of this is that the loosened fibers or fiber tufts are sometimes not completely evenly distributed over the width of the respective feed segment on the transport device be delivered, with more fibers or fiber tufts being delivered centrally than toward the edges of each feed segment.

Since each feed segment has its own feed roller, which is rotatably mounted and individually driven, appropriate installation space must be provided between the feed rollers of feed segments arranged next to one another, so that the feed rollers cannot usually connect directly to one another in the axial direction. There can therefore be places transverse to the transport direction of the transport device and thus of the material web to be formed, at which no fibers or fiber tufts are released by the feed device. This leads to reduced strength of the material web in the transverse direction and not all imperfections or irregularities can be reliably compensated for.

It is therefore sometimes not possible with known feeding devices to produce a material web, such as a fibrous web, fibrous web or fleece web, with the desired uniformity transversely to the transport direction or a desired transverse profile in the required resolution. In addition, the provision of bearing points and drives for each of the plurality of draw-in rollers leads to a complex construction of the feed device and to high costs.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a feed device, a nonwoven formation system and a method for feeding loosened fibers to a transport device, which enable the finest possible loosening of the fiber delivery transversely to the transport direction and lead to a less complex, more cost-effective construction of the feed device.

This object is achieved by a feed device according to claim 1, a nonwoven formation system according to claim 10 and a method according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

According to the invention, a feed device for feeding opened fibers to a transport device comprises a feed roller, which is set up to feed a plurality of strands of a starting material made of fibers, arranged next to one another in an axial direction of the feed roller, into the feed device, and an opening roller, which is connected to the feed roller for Dissolving the strands of the starting material interacts. The feed device also comprises a plurality of dosing devices assigned to the feed roller, each dosing device of the plurality of dosing devices being set up to regulate the supply of at least one strand of the starting material to the feed roller.

In this way, the supply of a strand of the starting material and thus the quantity of fibers produced from it and delivered to the transport device can be regulated without it being necessary to provide feed rollers that have to be stored and controlled individually for this purpose. Rather, a plurality of strands can be pulled in by means of the same draw-in roller, with the possibility of delivering different amounts of fibers transverse to the transport direction of the transport device (hereinafter also referred to as “transverse direction”) remaining. As a result, bearing points for draw-in rollers between the strands of starting material arranged next to one another can be dispensed with, so that fibers are delivered more evenly to the transport device, or a higher resolution of the fiber delivery to the transport device is achieved. By reducing the number of bearing points and the number of feed rollers that can be controlled individually and the corresponding drives, the costs for the feed device are also significantly reduced.

Preferably, the draw-in roller draws in at least two, preferably at least three, at least five, at least ten, or at least twenty strands of the fiber starting material arranged next to one another into the feed device. Accordingly, it is preferred that the feed device comprises at least two, preferably at least three, at least five, at least ten, or at least twenty metering devices arranged next to one another, which are distributed over the working width of the feed device. The working width of the feed device corresponds to the maximum width of the material web to be formed or profiled and is usually between 0.5 m and 6 m.

Each strand of the starting material can be formed, for example, by a roving, a yarn or a strip of non-woven fabric. The strand can be partially or completely opened by the interaction of the feed roller and the opening roller, so that either fiber flocks or individual fibers are formed, which are also referred to herein as "opened fibers".

For this purpose, the draw-in roller and the opening roller work together in a mutually facing area to open the starting material. Here, the starting material is drawn in between the respective feed roller and the opening roller and separated into individual components, such as individual fibers or fiber flocks. For this purpose, the feed roller and the opening roller usually have sets of teeth which engage in the starting material and pull it apart in order to loosen fibers or fiber flocks from the starting material. However, the feed and/or opening roller can also be rubberized and grasp the starting material by means of frictional engagement. The interaction of the draw-in roller and the opening roller and their preferred designs are known to those skilled in the art. An axial direction of the draw-in roller preferably extends parallel to an axial direction of the opening roller and transversely to the transport direction.

Depending on the desired application and arrangement of the feed device in the web formation process, the feed device can form a new material web on the transport device by feeding the loosened fibers onto the transport device, or feed loosened fibers to an existing material web that is conveyed along under the feed device on the transport device. In order to cover the various possibilities in general, the following section refers to a web of material, which can be, for example, a fibrous mat, a fibrous web or a fleece web. The material web is arranged on a substantially flat surface of the transport device. The axial direction of the draw-in roller and the opening roller preferably extends parallel to this flat surface and thus to the material web.

As already explained above, each of the plurality of dosing devices is set up to regulate the supply of at least one strand of the starting material to the feed roller. This means that the dosing device can change the supplied mass of the starting material in relation to the time or to one revolution of the feed roller, for example by inhibiting the supply, ie slowing it down or completely excluding it. Each metering device can also regulate the mass of feedstock supplied in relation to its length, for example by stretching the respective strand of feedstock.

In order to regulate the supply of at least one strand of the starting material, each dosing device can be arranged relative to the strand in such a way that it can influence, in particular inhibit or exclude, its infeed by the infeed roller.

It is preferred that at least one first metering device of the plurality of metering devices can be actuated independently of at least one second metering device of the plurality of metering devices. Even more preferably, each dosing device of the plurality of dosing devices can be actuated independently of all other dosing devices.

Since the dosing devices are arranged next to one another in an axial direction of the draw-in roller and are each set up to regulate the supply of at least one strand of the starting material to the draw-in roller independently of the other strands of the starting material, the supply of fibers to the transport device can be particularly precise in the transverse direction and adjusted with great flexibility.

However, it may also be desirable to actuate the metering devices of the plurality of metering devices partly or all together, e.g. in order to produce a new material web of very uniform thickness on the transport device.

The opening roller is driven, for example by a servo motor. The opening roller is preferably formed continuously transversely to the transport direction, but can also be formed by several opening roller sections aligned axially with respect to one another. The provision of an opening roller that is continuous transversely to the direction of transport leads to a particularly simple and cost-effective design.

In a preferred embodiment, the draw-in roller is designed to be continuous over the entire working width of the feed device. This means that the feed device comprises only a single draw-in roller, which minimizes the number of bearing points and drives. In this respect, the feeding device is then designed to be as simple and inexpensive as possible.

Alternatively, a plurality of feed rollers or feed roller segments can be provided transversely to the transport direction, with each feed roller Plurality of feed rollers or feed roller segments is nevertheless assigned a plurality of dosing devices. As a result, the number of bearing points and drives can be reduced compared to embodiments with an individual feed roller for each strand of the starting material.

The plurality of strands is fed to the draw-in roller in a feed direction, preferably by means of the dosing device. The feed direction can extend radially or tangentially with respect to the draw-in roller or at any desired angle to the surface of the draw-in roller. A certain holding effect on the strand can be brought about if the feed direction is aligned radially with respect to the draw-in roller and the strand is deflected by approximately 90° when it hits the draw-in roller.

Each dosing device of the plurality of dosing devices particularly preferably comprises a dosing element which can be moved between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the dosing element is set up to allow the at least one strand of the starting material to be fed to the feed roller. In the first position, the strand of starting material is guided along a feed path through the dosing device. In the second position, the dosing element is set up to inhibit or exclude the supply of the at least one strand of the starting material to the feed roller. As a result, the dosing device is of particularly simple design and can be easily integrated into the feeding device. The dosing element is preferably arranged in a stationary and fixed manner both in the first and in the second position, ie it does not move.

In the first position, the dosing element is preferably arranged in such a way that it essentially does not impede the infeed of the at least one strand of the starting material to the infeed roller by the infeed roller. For example, the dosing element is designed such that it guides the at least one strand of the starting material in the first position in a feed direction. In this case, the dosing element opposes the respective strand of the starting material with as little resistance as possible, preferably no resistance at all.

In the second position, the dosing element is arranged in such a way that it inhibits the infeed of the at least one strand of the starting material to the infeed roller by the infeed roller, ie possibly slows it down to a standstill, or the strand from home out does not lead into the engagement area of the feed roller. If the feed of the strand is blocked until it comes to a standstill or if the strand is not fed into the engagement area of the feed roller, the feed of further starting material to the feed roller is prevented.

The dosing element can be pivotable between the first and the second position, ie it can be moved in a rotary manner, or it can be displaceable, ie it can be moved linearly. The dosing element can also perform a combined rotary and linear movement by means of a suitable mechanism.

The infeed of the at least one strand of the starting material is inhibited or excluded by the dosing element essentially without changing the rotational speed of the draw-in roller, so that the other strands of the plurality of strands arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the draw-in roller continue to be fed to the draw-in roller and drawn in.

In order to be able to set the supply of a strand of the starting material as precisely as possible, the dosing element can be moved into any desired intermediate position between the first and the second position. Particularly preferably, the dosing element can be adjusted steplessly between the first and the second position. As a result, the at least one strand of the starting material can not only be fed in unhindered or braked completely, but also be decelerated at any desired rate.

On the one hand, the mass of the starting material supplied in relation to the time or to one revolution of the feed roller can be changed in this way. On the other hand, it is possible to stretch the strand of starting material. This can be achieved in that the feed roller draws in the strand faster than the dosing device allows.

In a preferred embodiment, the dosing element is designed as a clamping element which is set up to engage in the second position with the at least one strand of the starting material in a position which is arranged in front of the feed roller in the feed direction in order to facilitate the feeding of the at least one strand of the starting material Starting material to inhibit or exclude the feed roller. Preferably, the strand of starting material is moved along a feed path through the metering device when the dosing element is in the first position. In the second position, the dosing element is then at least partially arranged in the feed path of the strand. Preferably, the dosing device comprises a corresponding counterpart, which is opposite the clamping element with respect to the feed path of the strand of starting material. In the second position, the dosing element cooperates with the counterpart to at least partially clamp and thereby slow down or clamp the strand of starting material between the clamping element and the counterpart. The counterpart is preferably designed in such a way that it opposes as little resistance as possible, preferably no resistance, to the strand of starting material in the first position of the dosing element. The counterpart can be designed as part of the dosing element, the dosing device or the feed device. The counterpart is either arranged in a stationary manner or, analogous to the dosing element, can also be moved between a first and a second position.

By moving the dosing element between the first and the second position, the distance between the dosing element and the counterpart is increasingly reduced, as a result of which the respective strand of the starting material can be braked as desired. The strand of starting material can also be completely clamped between the clamping element and the counterpart, so that further feeding of the strand of starting material is ruled out.

In an alternative embodiment, the dosing element is designed as a trough which is set up to guide the at least one strand of the starting material into an engagement area of the feed roller in the first position and not to guide the at least one strand of the starting material into the engagement area of the feed roller in the second position lead to inhibit or exclude the supply of the starting material. The trough can be designed as a pedal trough, for example.

The engagement area of the feed roller is defined as the area in which the feed roller can grasp the fed strand of starting material. This is essentially the area that is accessible through the set of teeth on the feed roller. If the draw-in roller has no teeth, but instead is rubberized, for example, the engagement area in the radial direction of the draw-in roller is correspondingly smaller. Due to the draft inside the feeder due to the high speeds of rotation of the rollers, as well as due to possible vibrations of the strand of starting material, the engagement area can also be somewhat larger.

In order to guide the starting material along the feed roller to the opening roller, a guide surface of the trough facing the feed roller is adapted to the peripheral surface or the radius of the feed roller and is preferably designed to complement it.

In the first position, the trough is arranged at a first distance from the feed roller and feeds the at least one strand of the starting material to the engagement area of the feed roller and along part of the circumference of the feed roller. In the second position, the trough is arranged at a second distance from the feed roller in such a way that it does not guide the at least one strand of the starting material into the engagement area of the feed roller. The second distance is greater than the first distance. In particular, the distance between the guide surface of the trough and the peripheral surface of the feed roller is decisive.

With this arrangement, no active resistance is offered to the strand of starting material. Rather, further drawing in of the starting material by the draw-in roller is reliably prevented by means of suitable guidance of the strand of starting material.

The dosing element can particularly preferably also be designed as a combination of a clamping element and a trough as described above.

In a further embodiment, the dosing element therefore comprises a first and a second section. The first section is then designed as a clamping element which is set up to engage in the second position with the at least one strand of the starting material at a position which is arranged in front of the feed roller in the feed direction in order to stop the feeding of the at least one strand of the starting material inhibit or exclude. The second section is designed as a trough which is designed to guide the at least one strand of the starting material into an engagement area of the feed roller in the first position and the at least not feeding a strand of stock material into the engagement area of the feed roller to inhibit or preclude feed of stock material.

This ensures that the at least one strand of the starting material is reliably not drawn in any further in the second position of the dosing element, since it is no longer guided into the engagement area of the draw-in roller. On the other hand, it is ensured that the strand of the starting material is not pulled out of the feed device counter to the feed direction while it is not drawn in any further, since it is reliably clamped by the first section.

The first and second portions of the metering element may be integrally formed to form a single metering element. For example, the metering element can be pivoted in the feed device, with a first section of the metering element facing away from the feed roller being designed as a clamping element, while a second section of the metering element facing the feed roller is designed as a trough. The dosing element is to be designed such that pivoting it about the pivot axis into the second position causes the first section to move into the movement path of the strand of starting material and the second section to move at least in sections away from the feed roller.

However, the first and the second section of the dosing element can also be formed, for example, by two separate components which are preferably connected to one another in an articulated manner. As a result, the dosing element can be easily adapted to the conditions in the feeding device and the movements or effects of the first and second sections can be designed individually.

It is further preferred that each dosing device of the plurality of dosing devices comprises an actuating device for moving the respective dosing element between the first and the second position. As a result, the plurality of dosing devices can be controlled individually in a particularly simple manner.

Each actuating device preferably comprises a drive means, preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or a spindle drive. This means that easily available, inexpensive components can also be used.

According to the invention, a fleece formation system for forming or profiling a web of material comprises a transport device for conveying the web of material in a transport direction and at least one feed device according to the above statements for feeding opened fibers onto the transport device.

In this way, the advantages described with regard to the feeding device according to the invention can be used as desired in the fleece formation process. As already described, the web formation system can be used to form a new material web, to provide an existing material web with a surface profile in the transverse direction and/or in the longitudinal direction, or to compensate for any defects in an existing material web in order to form a material web that is as uniform as possible .

In one embodiment, the fleece formation system can comprise two or more feed devices, which are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the transport device. The fibers supplied by a feed device can differ from the fibers supplied by at least one further feed device in at least one property of the fibers. The at least one property of the fibers in which the fibers differ is preferably selected from: the color of the fibers, the type of fiber, the fiber material, the fiber diameter, the fiber length, the fiber treatment, the cross-sectional shape of the fibers, the roughness of the fibers or of fiber curl. For example, natural or synthetic fibers form different types of fibers. Different fiber materials can, for example, comprise different natural fibers or different synthetic fibers. With regard to the fiber treatment, chemical treatments of the fibers can be provided, for example. The properties of the fibers have a corresponding effect on the properties of the web of material formed by them, so that the mechanical properties or a pattern of the web of material can be influenced in a targeted manner. However, each feeding device can also feed fibers of the same starting material.

A method according to the invention for forming or profiling a material web by means of a

• Zuführen einer Mehrzahl von Strängen eines Ausgangsmaterials aus Fasern zur Einzugswalze, wobei die Stränge in einer axialen Richtung der Einzugswalze nebeneinander angeordnet sind;
• Einziehen der ihr zugeführten Mehrzahl von Strängen des Ausgangsmaterials in Richtung der Öffnerwalze durch die Einzugswalze;
• Auflösen der eingezogenen Mehrzahl von Strängen des Ausgangsmaterials durch die Öffnerwalze zur Bildung von aufgelösten Fasern;
• Abstreuen der aufgelösten Fasern auf eine Transportvorrichtung zum Bilden oder Profilieren der Materialbahn; und
• Regulieren der Zufuhr zumindest eines ersten und eines zweiten Strangs der Mehrzahl von Strängen des Ausgangsmaterials zur Einzugswalze relativ zueinander.

Feeding device, which comprises an infeed roller and an opening roller cooperating with the infeed roller, comprises the following steps:

• feeding a plurality of strands of a source material of fibers to the nip roll, the strands being juxtaposed in an axial direction of the nip roll;
• drawing in the plurality of strands of starting material fed to it in the direction of the opening roller by the feed roller;
• opening the drawn-in plurality of strands of stock material by the opening roll to form opened fibers;
• scattering the dissolved fibers onto a transport device for forming or profiling the material web; and
• Regulating the feed of at least a first and a second strand of the plurality of strands of stock material to the feed roll relative to each other.

In this way, the supply of a strand of the starting material and thus the quantity of fibers produced from it and delivered to the transport device can be regulated without it being necessary to provide feed rollers that have to be stored and controlled individually for this purpose. Rather, a plurality of strands can be drawn in by means of the same draw-in roller, with the possibility of delivering different fiber quantities transversely to the transport direction and/or in the transport device, ie in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction, remaining. As a result, bearing points for draw-in rollers between the strands of starting material arranged next to one another can be dispensed with, so that fibers are discharged more evenly onto the transport device or a higher resolution of the fiber discharge onto the transport device is achieved. By reducing the number of bearing points and the number of individually controllable feed rollers and corresponding drives, costs can also be significantly reduced.

By regulating the supply of at least a first and a second strand of the starting material to the draw-in roller, the quantity of fibers produced from these strands and scattered onto the transport device can be varied as desired. As a result, a profile of scattered fibers can be generated across the width of the transport device in the transverse direction and/or in the longitudinal direction, or alternatively a material web that is as uniform as possible can be formed by compensating for defects or material fluctuations.

The method is preferably carried out by means of a feed device as described above. All of the features and advantages described with regard to the feeding device according to the invention and the method steps carried out by it can thus be transferred analogously to the method according to the invention.

Regulating the supply particularly preferably includes changing a ratio of the supplied mass of the starting material to the time, to one revolution of the feed roller or to the length of the starting material of at least one of the first and second strands.

It is further preferred that regulating the feed includes allowing at least one of the first and second strands to be fed substantially unimpeded to the feed roller, or engaging at least one of the first and second strands at a position that is in a direction of feed ahead of the Feed roller is arranged to inhibit or exclude further feeding.

The intervention in at least one of the first and second strands can include braking the respective strand to a complete standstill. Thus, a very fine dosing of the supply of the starting material is possible. For example, the respective strand can be clamped to a greater or lesser extent in front of the feed roller in the feed direction. The respective strand is particularly preferably reliably clamped between two components if further drawing-in can be ruled out. At the same time, this ensures that the strand is held in the feed device, even if it is not drawn in any further, and the strand is prevented from being pulled out of the feed device. At least one of the first and second strands is engaged, for example, by a dosing device of the feeding device.

Additionally or alternatively, regulating the supply can also include guiding at least one of the first and second strands into an engagement area of the feed roller in order to allow further drawing-in, or guiding at least one of the first and second strands out of the engagement area of the feed roller. to inhibit or prevent further retraction. By guiding the respective strand out of the engagement area of the draw-in roller, the further drawing-in of the respective strand is very reliably avoided. In addition, it is ensured that the feed roller can pull the strand back in easily as soon as it is guided back into the engagement area of the draw-in roller.

Finally, it is preferred that the feed roller rotates at a constant speed during regulation. This makes it possible for only the supplied quantity of the respectively regulated strand of starting material to change, while the other strands fed to the same draw-in roller continue to be drawn in unchanged. The quantity of fibers delivered to the transport device can thereby be varied locally in the transverse direction and thus over the width of the material web, without changing the rotational speed of the draw-in roller.

Fig. 1

ist eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Vliesbildungsanlage;

Fig. 2

ist eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Teils einer Vliesbildungsanlage mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführvorrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform in einem ersten Zustand;

Fig. 3

ist eine schematische Seitenansicht der Vliesbildungsanlage nach Fig. 2 mit der Zuführvorrichtung in einem zweiten Zustand;

Fig. 4

ist eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Teils einer Vliesbildungsanlage mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführvorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform in einem ersten Zustand;

Fig. 5

ist eine schematische Seitenansicht der Vliesbildungsanlage nach Fig. 4 mit der Zuführvorrichtung in einem zweiten Zustand;

Fig. 6

ist eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Vliesbildungsanlage mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführvorrichtung gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform in einem ersten Zustand; und

Fig. 7

ist eine schematische Schnittansicht der Vliesbildungsanlage nach Fig. 6 mit der Zuführvorrichtung in einem zweiten Zustand.

Further features and advantages of the present invention result from the following description with reference to the drawings.

1

Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of a mat forming line;

2

is a schematic side view of a part of a fleece formation plant with a feeding device according to the invention according to a first embodiment in a first state;

3

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the nonwoven formation line according to FIG 2 with the delivery device in a second condition;

4

is a schematic side view of a part of a fleece formation plant with a feeding device according to the invention according to a second embodiment in a first state;

figure 5

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the nonwoven formation line according to FIG 4 with the delivery device in a second condition;

6

is a schematic sectional view of a fleece formation plant with a feeding device according to the invention according to a third embodiment in a first state; and

7

Fig. 12 is a schematic sectional view of the nonwoven formation line of Fig 6 with the delivery device in a second state.

1 shows a web formation plant 2 in a schematic side view. The nonwoven forming plant 2 is set up to form a material web 4, in particular a fibrous web or nonwoven web. The web formation system 2 comprises a transport device 6 for conveying the material web 4 in a transport direction T, and at least one feed device 8 for feeding dissolved fibers or fiber tufts onto the transport device 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the feed device 8 forms a new material web 4. In an alternative embodiment, a material web 4, e.g. any nonwoven intermediate product, can already be arranged on the transport device 6 upstream of the feed device 8 with respect to the transport direction T, and the nonwoven forming system 2 scatters additional fibers or Fiber flocks on this material web.

The transport device 6 is preferably moved continuously in the transport direction T. The transport device 6 can be designed as an endlessly circulating transport belt, preferably as a sieve belt with suction underneath. The speed of the transport device 6 is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 20 m/min, more preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 m/min.

One or more measuring devices (not shown) measuring the basis weight of the material web 4 across its width in the transverse direction Q can be provided upstream and/or downstream of the feeding device 8 in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The transverse direction Q extends transversely to the transport direction T, in 1 perpendicular to the drawing plane. Based on the information from these measuring devices, the transverse profile and, based on the movement of the transport device 6 in the transport direction T, also the longitudinal profile of the material web 4 can be determined.

The material web 4 formed can alternatively be supplied to various processing steps by means of the transport device 6 . In a first alternative, the material web 4 is fed to a pile producer, preferably a carding machine, and made uniform there. In a second alternative, the material web is directly a fleece former, such as a fed to aerodynamic web formers. In a third variant, the web of material is broken up again before further processing. In a fourth alternative, the web of material is fed directly to a bonding machine, eg a needling machine.

The web formation system 2 also includes a plurality of dispensing devices 12 for storing and dispensing a strand 10 of a starting material 14 made of fibers, for example a fiber roving or a fiber fleece strip. The dispensing devices 12 are in the transverse direction Q, i.e. transverse to the transport direction T and parallel to a support plane of the transport device 6 and thus in 1 arranged next to each other perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, which is why in 1 only one dispensing device 12 can be seen. In the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing device 12 is designed as a coil, but it can also be designed as a sliver can or the like.

The starting material 14 runs from the dispensing device 12 to a preferably rubberized storage roller 16, which preferably extends across the entire width of the feed device 8 in the transverse direction Q and horizontally. A winding of a strand 10 of the starting material 14 provided by the dispensing device 12 is wound around the storage roller 16 . The storage roller 16 is driven, preferably by means of a servo motor 18 and also preferably continuously at a relatively slow speed. In certain embodiments, the storage roller 16 can also be omitted.

The storage roller 16 can be designed in one piece. The storage roller 16 can also accommodate several strands 10 of the starting material 14 next to one another at the same time.

The web formation system 2 also includes a rotating, preferably trimmed, draw-in roller 20 to which the strands 10 of the starting material 14 are fed. The feed roller 20 draws a plurality of strands 10 of the starting material 14 arranged next to one another in an axial direction of the feed roller 20 into the feed device 8 . In the illustrated embodiment, the draw-in roller 20 pulls off the starting material 14 provided by the associated dispensing devices 12, either with the interposition of the storage roller 16 or directly. The feed roller 20 is preferably driven by a servo motor 22 . The draw-in roller 20 is preferably designed in one piece and extends in the transverse direction Q over the entire width of the feed device 8, preferably at least over the entire width of the material web 4 to be formed. However, the draw-in roller 20 can also comprise individual segments which are preferably aligned axially with one another in the transverse direction Q.

The starting material 14 moved along by the feed roller 20 is preferably guided to a garnished opening roller 26 by means of a trough 24 . The opening roller 26 can also be designed in one piece and can extend in the transverse direction Q over the entire width of the feed device 8, preferably over the entire width of the material web 4 to be formed. However, the opening roller 26 can also comprise individual segments which are aligned axially with one another in the transverse direction Q.

The opening roller 26 can be driven in the same direction of rotation as the feed roller 20. In addition, the opening roller 26 also has a set of protruding teeth. For example, the feed roller 20 includes a set of teeth projecting backwards with respect to the direction of rotation of the feed roller 20 and the opening roller 26 includes a set of teeth projecting forwards with respect to the direction of rotation of the opening roller 26 . However, the sets of teeth of the draw-in roller 20 and the opening roller 26 can also be designed in other conventional ways.

The opening roller 26 interacts with the feed roller 20 to open the starting material 14 . In particular, the opening roller 26 and the feed roller 20 dissolve the twisted or compacted starting material 14 of the strand 10, e.g. These fall into a corresponding discharge chute 28 and from there onto the transport device 6. Furthermore, a cleaning roller 30 can optionally be provided, which strips fibers or fiber tufts that have gotten caught on the teeth of the opening roller 26, so that these are also discharged into the discharge chute 28 .

In the Figures 2 to 7 a feed device 8 according to the invention with a plurality of dosing devices 32 assigned to a respective feed roller 20 is shown in each case. The feeding devices 8 shown can each be part of a nonwoven forming system 2, as described with reference to FIG 1 is described. Correspondingly, all features of the nonwoven forming system 2 are as follows 1 to the embodiments Figures 2 to 7 transferable, which differ essentially only in the embodiment of the respective dosing device 32 and their arrangement with respect to the opening roller 26.

The majority of the dosing devices 32 are shown in the side views according to FIG Figures 2 to 7 only one dosing device 32 can be seen in each case. The further dosing devices 32 of the plurality of dosing devices 32 are arranged in the axial direction of the respective draw-in roller 20 next to the dosing device 32 shown in each case.

In general, each dosing device 32 of the plurality of dosing devices 32 is set up to regulate the supply of at least one strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 . This means that each dosing device 32 is set up to change the quantity of starting material 14 fed in and opened up by the interaction of the feed roller 20 and the opening roller 26 without changing the rotational speed of the feed roller 20 for this purpose. Each dosing device 32 can also regulate the supply of a plurality of strands 10 arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the draw-in roller 20 to the draw-in roller 20, with the supply of this plurality of strands 10 then only being able to be regulated together.

It is preferred that each metering device 32 of the plurality of metering devices 32 includes a metering member 34 movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the dosing element 34 is set up to allow the at least one strand 10 of the starting material 14 to be fed to the feed roller 20 . In the second position, the dosing element 34 is set up to inhibit or exclude the supply of the at least one strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 . The dosing element 34 can also be moved into any intermediate positions between the first and the second position.

Each dosing device 32 can optionally also include a second dosing element 36 (see Fig. Figures 2, 3 ), which is movable between a first position and a second position corresponding to the first dosing element 34 . The advantage of providing a second metering element 36 within a metering device 32 is that the starting material 14 fed to the first metering element 32 can differ from the starting material 14 fed to the second metering element 36 in at least one property of the fibers. The at least one property of the fibers of the two starting materials in which the fibers differ is preferably selected from: the color of the fibers, the type of fiber, the fiber material, the fiber diameter, the fiber length, the fiber treatment, the cross-sectional shape of the fibers, the roughness of the fibers or the fiber crimp. For example, natural or synthetic fibers form different types of fibers. Different fiber materials can e.g. B. include different natural fibers or different synthetic fibers. With regard to the fiber treatment, chemical treatments of the fibers can be provided, for example. The properties of the fibers have a corresponding effect on the properties of the material web 4 formed by them. However, it is also possible for all metering elements 34, 36 to be supplied with the same starting material 14. Although only in the Figures 2 and 3 shown, the embodiments according to Figures 4 to 7 correspondingly include a second dosing element.

In general, it is also conceivable to arrange a plurality of dosing devices 32 along the circumference of the opening roller 26, which are aligned with one another in the circumferential direction and to which the same or a different starting material 14 is fed. This also ensures that different fibers can be sprinkled onto the transport device 6 alternately or in any mixing ratio at one point in the transverse direction Q of the material web 4 .

According to the first embodiment 2 and 3 the dosing element 34 is designed as a trough. In the embodiment shown, the dosing device 32 optionally includes the second dosing element 36, which is designed like the first dosing element 34 and is only offset in terms of its arrangement relative to the draw-in roller 20.

In 2 the first dosing element 34 is shown in the first position, in which it allows the strand 10 of the starting material 14 to be fed to the feed roller 20 . For this purpose, the dosing device 32 feeds the strand 10 of the starting material 14 in a feed direction Z to the feed roller 20 and along the feed roller 20 to the opening roller 26. The dosing element 34 is like that with reference to FIG 1 described trough 24 formed and formed at least partially complementary to the peripheral surface of the feed roller 20. The dosing element 34 guides the strand 10 of the starting material 14 into an engagement area of the feed roller 20 in which the feed roller 20 or its teeth or rubberized surface can grasp the strand 10 of the feed material 14 .

As continues in figure 2 As can be seen, the strand 10 of the starting material 14 fed to the first dosing element 34 is opened up in an area between the draw-in roller 20 and the opening roller 26 through the interaction of these and the opened fibers are scattered through the delivery chute 28 onto the transport device 6, where they feed the material web 4 form.

The optional second dosing element 36 is in 2 arranged in the second position in which it does not lead the strand 10 of the starting material 14 fed to it into the engagement area of the draw-in roller 20 . Rather, it keeps the strand 10 at a distance from the draw-in roller.

According to 3 the first dosing element 34 is in the second position in which it does not guide the strand 10 of the starting material 14 fed to it into the engagement area of the feed roller 20 and thereby inhibits or excludes the feed of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20.

This can be achieved in that the metering element 34 is arranged in the first position at a first distance from the feed roller 20, which is smaller than a second distance from the feed roller 20, in which the metering element 34 is arranged in the second position. The first distance is so small that the set of teeth or the rubberized lateral surface of the draw-in roller 20 grips the strand 10 of the starting material 14 . The second distance, on the other hand, is so large that the set of teeth or the rubberized outer surface of the feed roller 20 can essentially no longer engage in the strand 10 of the starting material 14 . The dosing element 34 thus no longer guides the strand 10 of the starting material 14 into the engagement area of the feed roller 20. Although the feed roller 20 continues to rotate, the strand 10 of the starting material 14 cannot be further conveyed by it.

The metering element 34 can be displaced substantially linearly between the first and second positions or can be pivoted between the first and second positions.

In order to prevent the further supply of the strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 even more reliably and to prevent the strand 10 from falling out of the feed device 8 slips, the strand 10 can also be clamped at a point in the feed direction Z in front of the draw-in roller 20. For example, the dosing element 34 can for this purpose comprise a first section 34a and a second section 34b which can be moved relative to one another in order to clamp the strand 10 between them. However, one of the first and second sections, in particular a stationarily arranged section of these, can also be formed by the feed device 8 or the dosing device 32 .

In the Figures 4 and 5 a second embodiment of a dosing device 32 is shown. According to this embodiment, the dosing element 34 of the dosing device 32 is designed as a clamping element. This dosing element 34 is set up to, in the second position ( figure 5 ) engage the at least one strand 10 of the starting material 14 at a position which is arranged in front of the feed roller 20 in the feed direction Z in order to inhibit or exclude the feeding of the at least one strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20.

As in 4 can be seen, the dosing element 34 designed as a clamping element in the first position allows the supply of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 essentially unhindered. Through the interaction of the feed roller 20 and the opening roller 26, the fibers of the starting material 14 are released from the strand 10, along the Circumferentially the opening roller 26 is conveyed into the discharge chute 28 and is scattered there onto the transport device 6 in order to form or profile the material web 4 .

According to figure 5 the dosing element 34 is arranged in the second position in which it inhibits or excludes the feed of the strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 . For this purpose, the dosing element 34 engages in the strand 10 of the starting material 14 . The dosing element 34 can be moved into the feed path of the starting material 14, along which the strand 10 is guided in the first position of the dosing element 34, and press the strand 10 against a corresponding counterpart. The counterpart can be part of the feed device 8 or the dosing device 32 . As shown, however, the dosing element 34 can also comprise a first section 34a and a second section 34b, which can be moved relative to one another, so that one of these sections 34a, 34b forms the corresponding counterpart.

If the dosing element 34 is only partially moved into the feed path of the strand 10 , the feed of the strand 10 of the starting material 14 is slowed down, so that less starting material 14 reaches the feed roller 20 . However, the strand 10 of the starting material 14 can also be clamped completely by the dosing element 34 or between the dosing element 34 and the corresponding counterpart, so that a further supply of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 20 is ruled out. Fibers of the starting material, which are arranged after the clamping point in the feed direction Z at the time of clamping, are combed out and drawn in by the draw-in roller 20 . Fibers that are pinched by the dosing element 34 at this point in time remain in the engagement area of the draw-in roller 20, but cannot be drawn in any further. If the dosing element 34 is opened again and thereby releases the starting material 14, these fibers can be caught by the draw-in roller 20, as a result of which the strand 10 of the starting material 14 is drawn in again.

As in the Figures 4 and 5 indicated, the metering element 34 designed as a clamping element can also optionally have a second distance from the feed roller 20 in the second position, which is greater than a first distance of the metering element 34 from the feed roller 20 in the first position. If the dosing element 34 is again arranged closer to the feed roller 20 in the first position, the renewed feed of the strand 10 of the starting material 14 is also ensured if this has fibers of a very short length.

In the third embodiment after 6 and 7 the dosing element 34 in turn comprises a first section 34a and a second section 34b. In this case, the first section 34a is designed as a trough which, in the first position 6 feeding the strand 10 of stock material 14 to the feed roller 20, feeding the stock material 14 into the engagement area of the feed roller 20 and along a portion of the circumference of the feed roller 20. In the area between the draw-in roller 20 and the opening roller 26, the strand 10 of the starting material 14 is opened and the opened fibers are conveyed along the circumference of the opening roller 26 into the delivery chute 28 and scattered onto the transport device 6 by this. The second section 34b of the dosing element 34 is arranged in the first position of the dosing element 34 in such a way that it allows the feed of the strand 10 of the starting material 14 to the feed roller 10 essentially unhindered.

In the second position according to 7 the first and the second section 34a, 34b of the dosing element 34 clamp the strand 10 of the starting material 14 by engaging in the strand 10 in a position which is arranged in front of the draw-in roller 20 in the feed direction Z. To this end, in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second sections 34a, 34b are hingedly connected together and rotated relative to each other to the second position such that the strand 10 is clamped therebetween. The first section 34a of the dosing element 34 can also be designed in such a way that in the second position it clamps the strand 10 of the starting material 14 with a corresponding counterpart of the feed device 8 or the dosing device 32, so that the second section 34b does not necessarily have to be present.

The first section 34a is preferably articulated in the feed device 8 or the dosing device 32 with the end facing away from the second section 34b in such a way that the movement of the first section 34a relative to the second section 34b into the second position also causes at least part of the first section 34a, away from the draw-in roller 20 and at a second, greater distance from the draw-in roller 20.

In the 6 and 7 an actuating device 38 for moving the metering element 34 between the first and the second position is also shown, as can also be used for the first and second embodiment.

The actuating device 38 comprises a drive, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, a spindle drive, etc. The actuating device 38 can be connected directly to the dosing element 34 and move it linearly or rotationally between the first and second positions. However, the actuating device 38 can also be connected to the dosing element 34 via a mechanism, which makes it possible to combine different forms of movement or to realize a movement of several components.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating device 38 is connected to the second section 34b of the dosing element 34 . The second section 34b is in turn connected in an articulated manner to the first section 34a of the dosing element 34 . As can be seen from a synopsis of the 6 and 7 results, causes the actuation of the actuating device 38 that an end of the second section 34b of the dosing element 34 that is connected to the actuating device 38 is displaced. As a result, on the one hand, the first and the second section 34a, 34b are pivoted relative to one another in order to engage in the strand 10 of the starting material 14. On the other hand, the first section 34a is pivoted relative to the draw-in roller 20 in order to no longer guide the starting material 14 into the engagement area of the draw-in roller 20 . This reliably prevents further starting material 14 from being fed to the draw-in roller 20 . In addition, it is ensured that the strand 10 of the starting material 14 is not pulled out of the feed device 8 since its end is clamped by the dosing element 34 .

The invention has so far been described with a continuous draw-in roller 20. However, it is also possible to provide several draw-in rollers next to one another, each of which draws in a plurality of strands of the starting material arranged next to one another in an axial direction of the draw-in roller.

It is also possible that several feed rollers, each of which draws in a plurality of strands of the starting material arranged next to one another in an axial direction of the feed roller, are arranged offset in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the opening roller. The draw-in rollers can be formed continuously across the width of the opening roller, or formed in an axial line along the circumference of the opening roller, or arranged offset in the axial direction of the opening roller.

Any combination of the options described in the last two paragraphs is also conceivable.

Finally, it is possible to arrange several feed devices according to the invention one behind the other in the transport direction of the material web.

Claims (15)

1. Infeed device (8) for feeding disentangled fibres onto a transport device (6), wherein the infeed device (8) comprises:

   an intake roller (20) which is specified for inducting a plurality of strands (10) of a basic material (14) of fibres into the infeed device (8), said strands (10) in an axial direction of the intake roller (20) being disposed axially beside one another; and

   an opening roller (26) which for disentangling the strands (10) of the basic material (14) interacts with the intake roller (20);

   characterized in that

   the infeed device (8) comprises a plurality of metering installations (32) which are assigned to the intake roller (20), wherein each metering installation (32) of the plurality of metering installations (32) is specified for controlling the infeed of at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) to the intake roller (20).
2. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one first metering installation (32) of the plurality of metering installations (32) is activatable independently of at least one second metering installation (32) of the plurality of metering installations (32).
3. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intake roller (20) is configured so as to be continuous across the entire working width of the infeed device (8).
4. Infeed device (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each metering installation (32) of the plurality of metering installations (32) comprises a metering element (34) which is movable between a first position and a second position,

   wherein the metering element (34) in the first position is specified for permitting the infeed of the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) to the intake roller (20), and

   wherein the metering element (34) in the second position is specified for impeding or excluding the infeed of the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) to the intake roller (20).
5. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the metering element (34) is movable to arbitrary intermediate positions between the first and the second position.
6. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the metering element (34) is configured as a clamping element which in the second position is specified for engaging with the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) at a position that in an infeed direction (Z) is disposed ahead of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude the infeed of the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) to the intake roller (20).
7. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the metering element (34) is configured as a trough which in the first position is specified for guiding the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) into an engagement region of the intake roller (20), and in the second position is specified for not guiding the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) into the engagement region of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude the infeed of the basic material (14).
8. Infeed device (8) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the metering element (34) comprises a first and a second portion (34a, 34b),
   wherein the first portion (34a) is configured as a clamping element which in the second position is specified for engaging with the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) at a position that in an infeed direction (Z) is disposed ahead of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude the infeed of the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14); and wherein the second portion (34b) is configured as a trough which in the first position is specified for guiding the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) into an engagement region of the intake roller (20), and in the second position is specified for not guiding the at least one strand (10) of the basic material (14) into the engagement region of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude the infeed of the basic material (14) .
9. Infeed device (8) according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that each metering installation (32) of the plurality of metering installations (32) comprises an activation installation (38) for moving the respective metering element (34) between the first and the second position.
10. Non-woven fabric formation plant (2) for forming or profiling a material web (4), wherein the non-woven fabric formation plant (2) comprises:

    a transport device (6) for conveying the material web (4) in a transport direction (T); and

    at least one infeed device (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 9 for feeding disentangled fibres onto the transport device (6).
11. Method for forming or profiling a material web (4) by means of an infeed device (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

    - feeding a plurality of strands (10) of a basic material (14) of fibres to the intake roller (20), wherein the strands (10) in an axial direction of the intake roller (20) are disposed axially beside one another;

    - inducting the plurality of strands (10) of the basic material (14) fed to said intake roller (20) by way of the intake roller (20) in the direction of the opening roller (26);

    - disentangling the inducted plurality of strands (10) of the basic material (14) by the opening roller (26) so as to form disentangled fibres;

    - sprinkling the disentangled fibres onto a transport device (6) so as to form or profile the material web (4); and

    - controlling in a mutually relative manner the infeed of at least one first and one second strand (10) of the plurality of strands (10) of the basic material (14) to the intake roller (20).
12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that the controlling of the infeed comprises the modification of a ratio of the infed mass of the basic material (14) in relation to time, to a revolution of the intake roller (20), or to the length of the basic material (14) of at least one of the first and the second strand (10).
13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the controlling of the infeed comprises permitting a substantially unimpeded infeed of at least one of the first and the second strand (10) to the intake roller (20), or comprises the engaging in at least one of the first and the second strand (10) at a position that in an infeed direction (Z) is disposed ahead of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude further induction.
14. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the controlling of the infeed comprises the guiding of at least one of the first and the second strand (10) in an engagement region of the intake roller (20), so as permit further induction, or comprises the guiding of at least one of the first and the second strand (10) out of the engagement region of the intake roller (20), so as to impede or exclude further induction.
15. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the intake roller (20) rotates at a constant speed during controlling.

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