EP3896207B1 - Needle machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a needling machine for needling a textile fabric, such as a non-woven fabric, woven fabric or scrim.

Needle machines are well known and for example in Lünenschloss and Albrecht: "Vliesstoffe", Georg-Thieme-Verlag Stuttgart, 1982, p. 122 to 129 or also in Albrecht, Fuchs, Kittelmann: "Vliesstoffe", Wiley-VCH Verlag Weinheim, 2000, p. 270 ff. described.

DE 3304392 A1 discloses a needling machine having upper and lower fabric support and guide means, each formed by a plurality of parallel tensioned wires movable in the conveying direction of the machine.

When needling textile fabrics, in particular nonwovens, it is desirable to achieve needling that is as uniform as possible without patterns being formed in the textile fabric as a result.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a needling machine with which a textile fabric can be needled particularly uniformly.

This object is solved by the subject matter of claim 1.

The needling machine according to the invention for needling a textile fabric comprises at least one needle bar arranged in a needling zone, on which at least one needle board is arranged, with a large number of needles protruding from the at least one needle board. In addition, the needling machine includes at least one drive device for the at least one needle bar, which is designed to move the at least one needle bar at least in a reciprocating stroke movement. The needling machine also comprises upper and lower support and guide means for the fabric, which extend at least in the area of the needling zone, wherein a space for the passage of the fabric is formed between the upper support and guide means and the lower support and guide means . The upper support and guide means are each formed by a multiplicity of tensioned wires arranged in parallel, between which upper passage openings for the needles of the at least one needle board are arranged, and the lower support and guide means are each formed by a multiplicity of tensioned wires arranged in parallel , between which lower passage openings for the needles of the at least one needle board are arranged. The wires of the upper and lower support and guide means are mounted in such a way that they are immovable in a conveying direction of the needling machine.

Such a needling machine is particularly suitable for ensuring a high penetration density of the needles into the textile fabric and for effecting a particularly uniform needling of the textile fabric.

Preferably, the wires of the upper and lower support and guide means are fixed in the needling machine. The wires do not move and the fabric slides through the needling zone along the upper and lower support and guide means formed by the wires.

The needling machine is designed in such a way that it moves the textile fabric in the conveying direction at least through the needling zone. In other words, the conveying direction of the needling machine corresponds to the conveying direction of the textile fabric, at least in the needling zone.

The wires of the upper and lower support and guide means are arranged in a stationary manner, at least in the conveying direction. The wires can be completely stationary. However, the wires of the upper and lower support and guide means can also be mounted so as to be movable relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the needling machine towards or away from one another. As a result, the gap can be adapted to different thicknesses of the textile fabric.

In order to move the fabric in the conveying direction through the needling zone, the needling machine generally in each embodiment preferably comprises a conveying device for the fabric. The conveying device can comprise conveying means which are arranged upstream of the needling zone in the conveying direction and are set up to feed the textile fabric to the needling zone. These conveying means arranged upstream of the needling zone comprise, for example, a conveyor belt and/or conveying rollers. Furthermore, the conveying device can additionally or alternatively comprise conveying means which are arranged downstream of the needling zone and are set up to transport the textile fabric or a consolidated textile fabric pick up after the needling zone and move forward. These conveying means arranged downstream of the needling zone comprise, for example, a conveyor belt and/or conveying rollers.

A simple construction of the needling machine is favored by the fact that the needling machine itself has no conveying means for the textile fabric in the needling zone.

In a preferred embodiment, the number of wires of the upper support and guide means arranged next to one another is at least 250 per meter of working width transverse to the conveying direction, preferably at least 400 per meter of working width, more preferably at least 500 per meter of working width, and the number of wires arranged next to one another of the lower ones support and guide means is at least 250 per meter of working width transverse to the conveying direction, preferably at least 400 per meter of working width, more preferably at least 500 per meter of working width. In this way, textile fabrics with the usual widths can be safely guided and supported in the needling zone.

In all embodiments, the wires of the upper support and guide means and the wires of the lower support and guide means are preferably finite and each have a first free end and a second free end. Preferably, the first free end of each wire is defined upstream of the needling zone in the needling machine and the second free end of each wire is defined downstream of the needling zone in the needling machine.

It is preferred that the wires of the upper support and guide means and the wires of the lower support and guide means are parallel to each other. In this way, the guidance of the textile fabric in the needling zone is optimized.

Each wire preferably runs in the conveying direction F of the textile fabric. A longitudinal direction of each wire is then aligned parallel to the conveying direction of the textile fabric. The wires are thus mounted immovably in the needling machine in the conveying direction and in their longitudinal direction.

The wires can also run at an angle to the conveying direction of the textile fabric. A longitudinal direction of each wire is then aligned obliquely to the conveying direction of the textile fabric. The longitudinal direction of each wire then has a component parallel to the conveying direction and a component perpendicular to the conveying direction. Consequently, in this case too, the wires are mounted in the needling machine in such a way that they cannot move in the conveying direction and preferably also perpendicularly to the conveying direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the wires of the upper support and guide means and the wires of the lower support and guide means are vertically aligned. This ensures that all needles do not collide with the wires of the upper support and guide means and the lower support and guide means during the piercing process.

In all embodiments, the needling machine preferably comprises at least one hold-down plate and at least one needle plate, which are arranged in the needling zone. The hold-down plate and the throat plate then consist of the upper support and guide means and the lower support and guide means. For example, the upper support and guide means form a hold down plate relative to the needle bar for holding down the fabric when the needles of the needle bar are withdrawn from the fabric, and the lower support and guide means form a needle plate relative to the needle bar for supporting and restraining the fabric Fabric when the needles of the needle bar penetrate into and penetrate the fabric. It goes without saying that the upper support and guide means can also form a needle plate and the lower support and guide means can form a hold-down plate when the needle bar is arranged below the textile fabric. It is also possible that in a double-needle machine with an upper needle board and a lower needle board, both the upper support and guide means and the lower support and guide means have both a hold-down plate for the needles of one needle board and a throat plate for the needles of the respective form other needle boards.

In order to enable the simplest possible construction of the needle machine, all the stitch and hold-down plates of the needle machine are preferably exclusive in all embodiments formed by the wires of the upper and lower support and guide means. Additional stitch or hold-down plates are not provided.

It is preferred that the upper passage openings between the wires of the upper support and guide means have a width of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 0.8 mm and 5 mm.

Alternatively or in combination with this, it is preferred that the lower passage openings between the wires of the lower support and guide means have a width of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 0.8 mm and 5 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the wires of the upper support and guide means have a diameter of between 0.4mm and 2mm, preferably between 0.5mm and 1.5mm, more preferably between 0.6mm and 1.2mm .

Alternatively or in combination herewith it is preferred that the wires of the lower supporting and guiding means have a diameter of between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, more preferably between 0.6 mm and 1 .2 mm.

The small diameters of the wires favor a particularly tight stitch pattern and a particularly evenly bonded end product.

In a preferred embodiment, the needles are arranged in rows which are parallel to an extension direction of the wires of the upper supporting and guiding means and which are arranged at a distance from one another which corresponds to a spacing of the wires of the upper supporting and guiding means. In this way, it is ensured that exactly one row of needles can be accommodated in a passage opening, as a result of which the support and stripping function of the upper support and guide means is ensured in a particularly reliable manner. In particular, this effectively prevents fibers from being entrained when the needles are pulled out of the textile fabric.

In a preferred embodiment, the needling machine also has a cleaning device for each wire. This is particularly suitable for removing fibers adhering to the wire, which are pulled out of the textile fabric during the needling process, and thus ensuring that the needling process runs smoothly.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device has a nose that runs obliquely in the direction of the respective wire and contacts it on a side of the respective wire that faces away from the gap formed between the upper and lower support and guide means. As a result, threads on the wire, which are moved in the conveying direction due to the conveying movement of the textile fabric, are lifted off the respective wire, thereby preventing the gap between the upper and lower support and guide means from becoming blocked in a simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the needling machine also has a tensioning device for each wire. Preferably, the first and/or the second end of each wire is attached to a tensioning element. The tightening member, such as a bolt or pin, may be pivoted and the first or second end of a wire is wrapped around the tightening member so that the wire can be tightened by rotating the tightening member. Thus, in the manner of piano strings, the wire tension can be readjusted and wires replaced in a simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment, a deflection device for each wire is also arranged between the tensioning device and the needling zone, by means of which the respective wire is rotated at an angle of between 60° and 120°, preferably between 70° and 110°, more preferably between 80° and 100° , is deflected based on its arrangement in the needling zone. As a result, the wires are deflected upwards or downwards in an area outside the needling zone and release the textile fabric unhindered.

In a preferred embodiment, the needles in each needle board are at a density of at least 500 needles/dm ² , preferably at least 1000 needles/dm ² , more preferably at least 1,500 needles/dm ² arranged. Such high needle densities lead to a particularly even stitch pattern in the solidified end product.

In a preferred embodiment, the needles are arranged in needle modules, with each needle module having a large number of needles, and with the needle modules being accommodated in recesses or carriers of the at least one needle board and fastened there. The arrangement of the needles in needle cartridges has several advantages. In this way, individual needle modules can be replaced if there are defective needles and the entire needle board does not have to be removed to retrofit new needles. The needle modules can also be slidably arranged in the needle board and thus the stitch pattern and the needle board assembly can be designed variably. In addition, the needle modules can be arranged so close together that there is no gap between the individual needle modules.

In all of the embodiments, the wires are preferably in the form of metal wires, in particular steel wires, which are preferably non-rusting.

In all of the embodiments, the needling zone preferably extends in the conveying direction F over a range of 20 cm to 200 cm, more preferably 25 cm to 80 cm.

In all of the embodiments, the needling zone extends transversely to the conveying direction F, preferably over a range of 200 cm to 500 cm, more preferably 250 cm to 400 cm.

Each needle module may have a single row of needles or may have multiple rows of needles.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht der wesentlichen Komponenten einer Nadelmaschine;

Fig. 2

zeigt einen Ausschnitt der Vernadelungszone einer erfindungsgemäßen Nadel-maschine in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 3

zeigt einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Nadelmaschine gemäß Fig. 2 in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 4

zeigt einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Nadelmaschine aus Fig. 3 in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 5a

zeigt eine mögliche Ausgestaltung einer Reinigungseinrichtung für die Drähte in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 5b

zeigt die Reinigungseinrichtung aus Fig. 5a in einer Querschnittsansicht;

Fig. 6a

zeigt eine vergrößerte Draufsicht auf parallel zueinander verlaufende Drähte in der Vernadelungszone; und

Fig. 6b

zeigt eine Draufsicht auf Drähte aus Fig. 6a in weiter vergrößerter Darstellung.

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

1

shows a schematic side view of the essential components of a needling machine;

2

shows a section of the needling zone of a needling machine according to the invention in a perspective view;

3

shows an enlarged section of the needle loom according to FIG 2 in perspective view;

4

shows an enlarged section of the needle loom 3 in perspective view;

Figure 5a

shows a possible embodiment of a cleaning device for the wires in a perspective view;

Figure 5b

shows the cleaning device Figure 5a in a cross-sectional view;

Figure 6a

shows an enlarged plan view of parallel wires in the needling zone; and

Figure 6b

shows a top view of wires from Figure 6a in a further enlarged view.

In 1 the schematic structure of a needling machine 1 is shown in a side view. A textile fabric 2, such as a fleece web, is fed to an inlet of the needling machine 1 and conveyed to a needling zone V. In the area of the needling zone V, a needle bar 4 is arranged with a needle board 6 attached to it, which is equipped with needles 8 for solidifying the fabric 2 . In this area, the textile fabric 2 to be needled is guided in a gap 7 between upper support and guide means 10 for holding down the textile fabric 2 and lower support and guide means 12 for supporting the textile fabric 2 in the needling zone V. The needles 8 compact the fabric 2 by being pierced into the textile fabric 2 and pulled out again at high frequency. The needles 8 pass through the upper and lower passage openings 30, 32 in the upper support and guide means 10 and the lower support and guide means 12, see FIG Figure 6a . while in 1 the upper and lower support and guide means 10, 12 are only sketched schematically, is the actual design of the upper and lower support and guide means 10, 12 according to the present invention are shown in more detail in the following figures.

As in 1 is shown, for moving the needles 8 up and down in a puncture direction E, a drive device 14 is preferably provided, which is designed, for example, as a connecting rod drive.

In order to avoid distortions forming in the fabric 2 while the needles 8 are in the fabric 2 and this is being moved further in a conveying direction F, the needle board 6 with the needles 8 can, in a preferred embodiment of a needling machine 1, make a horizontal stroke H parallel run to conveying direction F. The needle board 6 with the needles 8 can be moved in the conveying direction F together with the textile fabric 2 . In particular, while the needles 8 have pierced the textile fabric 2 , the needles 8 are moved with the fabric 2 in order to minimize relative movement between the needles 8 and the fabric 2 . In order to bring about the horizontal stroke H, either an auxiliary drive acting on the needle board 6 can be provided, or the drive device 14 can be designed accordingly or coupled to the needle bar 4 in a specific way, as is known to the person skilled in the art.

The resulting product is a consolidated textile fabric 16, for example a fleece.

A wide variety of needle looms 1 are known to those skilled in the art, including double-needle looms in which two needle bars 4 are used for needling from above and below, needling looms with one or more needle boards 6 per needle bar, or needling looms with and without a horizontal stroke. It is understood that the present invention can be applied to different forms of needling looms and is not limited to the embodiment of a needling loom 1 described herein.

In Figures 2 to 4 an exemplary embodiment of the needle loom according to the invention is shown in greater detail. The needle machine shown is a double-needle machine with an upper needle board 6 and a lower needle board 6. Here, the lower support and guide means 12 also have a hold-down function for the needles 8 of the needle board 6 arranged below the fabric 2. In such a configuration, the needles 8 of both needle boards 6 are alternately pierced into the textile fabric 2 and thus impede one another the time lag of the lancing movements. In such a case, the needles 8 on both needle boards 6 are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane lying between the needle boards 6, but they can also be arranged offset to one another.

In Figures 2 to 4 a puncture position of the needles 8 of the upper needle board 6 is shown, in which these needles 8 pass through the passage openings 30, 32 in the upper support and guide means 10 and in the lower support and guide means 12. In a puncture position of the needles 8 of the lower needle board 6, the lower needles 8 would have passed through the passage openings 30, 32 accordingly. The needles 8 in Figures 2 to 4 are shown with blunt tips for clarity. In reality, the tips of the needles 8 are pointed.

How best 3 As can be seen, the needles 8 are each accommodated in needle modules 18 which in turn are accommodated in receptacles or carriers 20 of the needle board 6 . In the example shown, C-shaped carriers 20 are provided for accommodating a thicker section of the needle module 18. The carrier 20 has two shoulders at its open end, which extend inwards toward one another. After the needle module 18 has been pushed into the C-shaped carrier 20 , a form-fitting connection is created which prevents movement of the needle module 18 in the puncture direction E relative to the carrier 20 .

The needle modules 18 can be arranged in rows and columns in the needle board 6, as shown in FIG 2 emerges. The arrangement of the needle modules can be almost arbitrary, as long as the respective needles 8 always hit through openings 30, 32 of the support and guide means 10, 12 during the lancing movement. In this way, rows of needles with several dozen or several hundred needles 8 can be formed in the conveying direction F of the textile fabric 2 .

However, it is also conceivable to use conventional needle boards 6 in which the needles are placed directly in the needle board 6 but no needle modules 18 are present.

Each needle bar 4 can have exactly one needle board 6 or also have two or more needle boards 6 . Several needling machines can also be arranged one after the other in the conveying direction F.

How best 4 such as Figures 6a and 6b As can be seen, the upper support and guide means 10 and the lower support and guide means 12 are each formed according to the invention by tensioned wires 22 running parallel. The wires 22 preferably run in the conveying direction F of the textile fabric 2. The arrangement of the wires 22 in the upper support and guide means 10 and in the lower support and guide means 12 preferably corresponds to one another, so that the through-openings 30 are also arranged with the through-openings 32 correspond. As can be seen from the enlarged plan views in Figures 6a and 6b shows, the passage openings 30, 32 between the wires 22 of the upper and lower supporting and guiding means 10, 12 have a width B of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm. The wires 22 of the upper and lower support and guide means 10, 12 respectively have a diameter D of between 0.4mm and 2mm.

In the present embodiment, a needle 8 corresponding to a passage opening 30, 32 is arranged transversely to the conveying direction F. However, it is also possible for two or more needles 8 to pass side by side transversely to the conveying direction F through one of the passage openings 30 , 32 during the puncture movement of the needles 8 .

As in 2 is shown schematically, the wires 22 are bent upwards or downwards at the front and rear end of the needle bar 4 and are brought under tension for each wire 22 there by means of suitable tensioning devices 24 (shown only schematically here). Out of 2 only the course of the wire at the rear end of the needle bar 4 can be seen. At the front end, the wire course is symmetrical to this. How also from 2 shows, a deflection device 26 is provided between the tensioning device 24 and the needling zone V, by means of which the respective wire 22 is deflected by an angle of between 60° and 120°, based on its arrangement in the needling zone V. The angle is preferably 90°. This results in a U-shape for the course path of the wires 22 .

Finally, the needling machine also includes a cleaning device 28 for each wire 22, which is preferably arranged downstream of the needling zone V. A possible configuration of this cleaning device 28 is shown in Figures 5a and 5b shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning device 28 is formed by a nose 29 which runs obliquely from above or from below in the direction of the respective wire 22 and obliquely counter to the conveying direction F and touches the wire 22 . It is preferred that each nose 29 has a groove at its tip, in which the wire 28 is at least partially accommodated. This also ensures good guidance of the wires 22 . With such an arrangement, fibers moving along a wire 22 can be guided upwards from the nose 29 into a recess, thereby preventing a blockage in the exit area of the support and guide means 10, 12.

It may be necessary for the cleaning device 28 to include additional components that ensure that the fibers that are routed into the recesses are permanently removed from there. Brushes or blowers, for example, can be used for this.

As in Figures 5a and 5b shown, the cleaning device 28 can also be connected in one piece to the deflection device 26 or to a section of the deflection device 26 .

If, within the scope of the invention, several needle boards 6 are arranged one after the other or several needling machines 2 are arranged one after the other, it is advantageous if the rows of needles of the following needle board 6 are offset in relation to the rows of needles of the preceding needle board 6 in a direction transverse to the conveying direction F. In this way, a particularly even stitch pattern is obtained.

Claims (15)

1. Needle loom for needling a textile planar structure (2), comprising:

   at least one needle beam (4) which is disposed in a needling zone (V) and on which at least one needle board (6) is disposed, wherein a multiplicity of needles (8) protrude from the at least one needle board (6);

   at least one drive device (14) for the at least one needle beam (4), said drive device (14) being designed to move the at least one needle beam (4) at least in a reciprocating up and down lift movement; and

   upper and lower supporting and guiding means (10, 12) for the textile planar structure (2), said supporting and guiding means (10, 12) extending at least in the region of the needling zone (V), wherein an intermediate space (7) for the textile planar structure (2) to pass through is formed between the upper supporting and guiding means (10) and the lower supporting and guiding means (12);

   wherein the upper supporting and guiding means (10) are in each case formed by a multiplicity of tensioned wires (22) disposed in parallel, upper passage openings (30) for the needles (8) of the at least one needle board (6) being disposed therebetween; and

   wherein the lower supporting and guiding means (12) are in each case formed by a multiplicity of tensioned wires (22) disposed in parallel, lower passage openings (32) for the needles (8) of the at least one needle board (6) being disposed therebetween;

   characterized in that

   the wires (22) of the upper and the lower supporting and guiding means (10, 12) are mounted in such a manner that said wires (22) are immovable in a conveying direction (F) of the needle loom.
2. Needle loom according to Claim 1, characterized in that the number of wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) that are disposed next to one another is at least 250 per metre working width transverse to the conveying direction (F), preferably at least 400 per metre working width, more preferably at least 500 per metre working width, and in that the multiplicity of wires (22) of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) that are disposed next to one another is at least 250 per metre working width transverse to the conveying direction (F), preferably at least 400 per metre working width, more preferably at least 500 per metre working width.
3. Needle loom according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) and the wires (22) of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) run so as to be mutually parallel and preferably in the conveying direction (F).
4. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wires of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) and/or the wires of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) in the needling zone (V) per se, i.e. without additional structural elements, form a stripper plate, or a stitching plate, respectively, of the needle loom.
5. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) and the wires (22) of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) are conjointly aligned in the vertical direction.
6. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper passage openings (30) between the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) have a width (B) of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 0.8 mm and 5 mm, and/or in that the lower passage openings (32) between the wires (22) of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) have a width (B) of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 0.8 mm and 5 mm.
7. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10) have a diameter (D) of between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, more preferably between 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm, and/or in that the wires (22) of the lower supporting and guiding means (12) have a diameter (D) of between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, more preferably between 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm.
8. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needles (8) are disposed in rows, wherein the rows run so as to be parallel to a direction of extent of the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10), and wherein the rows are disposed at a mutual spacing which corresponds to a spacing of the wires (22) of the upper supporting and guiding means (10).
9. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said needle loom furthermore has one cleaning installation (28) for each wire (22).
10. Needle loom according to Claim 9, characterized in that the cleaning installation (28) is disposed downstream of the needling zone (V).
11. Needle loom according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the cleaning installation (28) has a nose (29) which, on a side of the respective wire (22) that faces away from the intermediate space (7) formed between the upper and lower supporting and guiding means (10, 12), runs in each case obliquely in the direction of the respective wire (22) and contacts the latter.
12. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said needle loom furthermore has one tensioning installation (24) for each wire (22).
13. Needle loom according to Claim 12, characterized in that a deflection installation (26) for each wire (22), by means of which installation the respective wire (22) in terms of the disposal thereof in the needling zone (V) is deflected at an angle of between 60° and 120°, preferably between 70° and 110°, more preferably between 80° and 100°, is provided between the tensioning installation (24) and the needling zone (V).
14. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needles (8) in each needle board (6) are disposed at a density of at least 500 needles/dm², preferably at least 1000 needles/dm², more preferably at least 1500 needles/dm².
15. Needle loom according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needles (8) are disposed in needle modules (18), wherein each needle module (18) has a multiplicity of needles (8), and wherein the needle modules (18) are received in recesses or carriers (20) of the at least one needle board (6).

Images