JP2003268665A - Apparatus for producing fiber web, method for producing fiber web and nonwoven fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for producing a fiber web having an excellent weave using a compressed gas, a method for producing the same and a nonwoven fabric having the excellent weave. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for producing the fiber web is equipped with a nozzle, a means for introducing a compressed gas, a collision member, and enclosure member having a cross-sectional shape continuously changing from a circular shape to a rectangular shape, and a collecting member. The cross-sectional area of the enclosure member is preferably not changed so much. The method for producing the fiber web comprises using the apparatus for producing the fiber web. The nonwoven fabric is obtained by using the fiber web produced by the method for producing the fiber web. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fiber web manufacturing apparatus, a fiber web manufacturing method, and a nonwoven fabric. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus capable of producing a fibrous web having an excellent texture, a manufacturing method thereof, and a nonwoven fabric having an excellent texture.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Nonwoven fabrics can be given various functions by appropriately combining constituent fibers, methods for forming fiber webs, and methods for bonding fiber webs, and are therefore applied to various purposes.

As a fibrous web which is the basis of such a nonwoven fabric, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 50-160563 discloses "a bundle of continuous rigid fiber of the same kind or different kinds having the same length, or a fiber bundle having two or more unequal lengths and short fibers. The action of a roughly frusto-conical hood attached to the vortex jet fumarole at the same time as continuously feeding the high-speed vortex jet generator to defibrate or open the short fiber bundle by the vortex jet Discloses a mixed mat of different kinds and a short fiber mat of mixed fiber length for a fiber reinforced composite material substrate, characterized in that it is uniformly dispersed and mixed and dropped in a predetermined range, and is suctioned and collected.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned publication, the shape of the hood, the distance between the hood and the net for collecting and collecting air by suction, the suction amount, etc. have a great influence on the uniform dispersibility of the fibers. Is disclosed to be excellent in uniform dispersibility when is substantially frustoconical.

However, according to the study by the inventors of the present application, even if the hood having a substantially truncated cone shape as described in the above publication is used, the fibers cannot be uniformly opened, and only a nonwoven fabric having a poor texture is produced. I knew I couldn't.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an apparatus capable of producing a fibrous web having an excellent texture by using a compressed gas, a method for producing the same, and a nonwoven fabric having an excellent texture. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

A fiber web manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a nozzle capable of jetting fibers, a compressed gas introducing means for the nozzle, and a nozzle located in front of the jet outlet of the nozzle. A collision member capable of colliding with the jetted fibers to disperse the fibers, an enclosing member surrounding the collision member, guiding the dispersed fibers by the collision with the collision member, and collecting the fibers guided by the enclosing member. A collecting member capable of forming a fibrous web, and a fiber web manufacturing apparatus comprising: the enclosing member extending in the collecting member direction, and a cross-sectional shape at an end of the enclosing member on the collision member side. The fiber web manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the end portion of the enclosing member on the collecting member side is different. Thus, the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, by providing a collision member, and by changing the cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member, the uniform dispersibility of the fibers is improved, as a result it is possible to produce a nonwoven fabric having an excellent texture. I found it.

The method for producing a fiber web according to the present invention is described as follows: "Fiber and / or fiber aggregate is supplied to a nozzle capable of ejecting fibers, and compressed gas is introduced into the nozzle so that the fiber and / or fiber aggregate is discharged from the nozzle. The process of ejecting the body,
The step of causing the fibers and / or fiber aggregates ejected from the nozzle to collide with a collision member located in front of the ejection port of the nozzle to disperse the fibers, and the dispersion member by the surrounding member surrounding the collision member. A step of guiding the fibers thus made,
A method for producing a fiber web, comprising the step of forming a fiber web by collecting the guided fibers with a collection member,
As the enclosure member, extending in the direction of the collecting member,
A method for producing a fibrous web, characterized in that a cross-sectional shape of the end member of the enclosure member on the side of the collision member and a cross-sectional shape of the end member of the enclosure member on the side of the collecting member are different from each other. It is. As described above, the fiber web manufacturing method is basically a method using the fiber web manufacturing apparatus, and thus a fiber web having an excellent texture can be manufactured.

The non-woven fabric of the present invention is a non-woven fabric excellent in texture since it uses the fibrous web excellent in texture produced by the above-mentioned production method.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention taken along a plane perpendicular to the collecting member and parallel to the flow direction of the collecting member, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 3 when cut along a plane perpendicular to the collecting member and parallel to the width direction of the collecting member. Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention excluding the collecting member. As is clear from these figures, the fiber web manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a nozzle 2, a compressed gas inlet 3, a collision member 4, an enclosure member 5, and a collection member 6.

In the nozzle 2 in FIG. 1, the supplied fiber and / or fiber aggregate is supplied from the nozzle ejection port 21 to the surrounding member 5 described below by the action of the compressed gas described below.
It spouts into the space formed by.

The nozzle 2 in FIG. 1 has a constant cross-sectional area from the compressed gas supply side (on the surface of the paper, the upper side) toward the nozzle ejection port 21, but the nozzle in the present invention is limited to such a nozzle. Not, for example, from the compressed gas supply side to the nozzle ejection port 21, the nozzle whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously or discontinuously, the nozzle whose cross-sectional area increases continuously or discontinuously, continuous. Nozzles that increase in size or discontinuously increase in cross-sectional area and then decrease, or nozzles that increase in size continuously or discontinuously in cross-sectional area and then increase can also be used.
Among these, the nozzle ejection port 21 from the compressed gas supply side
Nozzles that have a continuously increasing cross-sectional area toward
It is preferable that the fibers are not clogged and the fibers can be uniformly dispersed. An example of such a nozzle is a Venturi tube.

A compressed gas inlet 3 is connected to the nozzle 2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, by introducing the compressed gas through the compressed gas introducing port 3 by the compressed gas introducing means, the fiber and / or the fiber aggregate can be supplied to the nozzle 2 from the material supply port 1 and the nozzle 2 The fibers and / or fiber aggregates can be opened and dispersed into individual fibers by the expansive force of the compressed gas when ejected. Examples of the compressed gas introducing means (not shown) include a compressor. As the compressed gas, any gas may be used, but it is preferable to use air for manufacturing.

When the compressed gas is supplied to the nozzle 2 by the compressed gas introduction means in a spiral shape, the fibers tend to be entangled with each other and the dispersibility of the fibers tends to be deteriorated. It is preferable to be able to supply the compressed gas to the nozzle 2 as if it were a laminar flow.

Further, it is preferable that the compressed gas is introduced so that the gas passage speed at the nozzle ejection port 21 is 100 m / sec or more so that the fiber openability and dispersibility can be enhanced. For the same reason, it is preferable to introduce the compressed gas at a pressure of 2 kg / cm ² or more. Further, by providing the enclosure member 5 as will be described later, the fibers easily adhere to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 and are easily deposited. Therefore, when the fiber web is manufactured for a long time, the deposited fiber deposits fall off, and the fiber web is removed. Therefore, compressed gas is introduced so that the gas flow velocity at the collecting member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5 as described below is 1 m / s or more (more preferably 2 m / s or more). It is preferable to use a compressed gas introduction means that can be used. In addition, this "nozzle jet 21
“Gas passage velocity in” is a value obtained by dividing the flow rate (m ³ / sec) of the gas ejected from the nozzle 2 at 1 atmospheric pressure by the cross-sectional area (m ² ) of the nozzle ejection port 21, and the “capture of the enclosing member”. The gas flow velocity at the end portion on the collecting member side is the amount of gas flowing out from the end portion 52 on the collecting member side of the enclosure member 5 (m ³ / se).
The value obtained by dividing c) by the cross-sectional area (m ² ) of the end 52 of the enclosing member 5 on the collecting member side.

The collision member 4 is arranged in front of the nozzle ejection port 21 as described above. Since the collision member 4 is arranged, the collision member 4 collides with the fibers and / or the fiber aggregate ejected from the nozzle 2 to promote the dispersion of the fibers. In FIG. 1, the collision member 4 is provided with a conical projection 41 and a flat collision part 42. In the case of the collision member 4, the fiber is opened due to the collision with the conical protrusion 41 and the collision with the flat collision part 42 when it reaches the flat collision part 42 along the surface of the protrusion 41. The direction of movement of the fibers and the fibers can be changed to promote the dispersion of the fibers. However, the collision member of the present invention is not limited to such a collision member, and, for example, a flat plate-shaped collision member, a bell-shaped collision member, a cone-shaped collision member, a bell-shaped projection portion and a flat plate-shaped collision portion may be used. An integrated collision member (a collision member in which the protrusion 41 of FIG. 1 or 2 has a bell shape) can be used. 1 or 2
For the same reason as that of the collision member 4, the collision member in which the bell-shaped protrusion and the plate-shaped collision portion are integrated can be preferably used.

The collision member 4 may be arranged in front of the nozzle ejection port 21 so as to collide with the ejected fibers, but it is excellent in fiber openability and dispersibility. The flat portion of the collision member 4 (for example, the surface of the collision portion 42 on the nozzle ejection port 21 side in FIG. 1 or 2, the bottom surface of the cone in the case of a conical collision member, the bell shape of a bell-shaped collision member). It is preferable to install so that the shortest distance between the bottom surface) and the nozzle ejection port 21 is 1 to 100 mm,
More preferably, it is installed so that it is 5 to 40 mm,
More preferably, it is installed so that it is 5 to 30 mm,
It is more preferable to set it to be 10 to 30 mm, and it is most preferable to set it to be 10 to 20 mm.

Further, the collision member 4 is a bell-shaped collision member, a conical collision member, a collision member in which a bell-shaped projection portion and a flat plate-shaped collision portion are integrated, or a conical projection portion 41 and a flat plate. When the colliding member 4 and the colloidal collision portion 42 are integrated with each other, the bell-shaped, conical, or projection-shaped axis of the nozzle ejection port 21 is provided so as to have excellent fiber openability and dispersibility. It is preferably arranged so as to coincide with the center. In addition, when these collision members 4 are installed, they are installed in a bell shape, a conical shape, or the apex of the protruding portion is opposed to the nozzle ejection port 21 so as to have excellent fiber openability and dispersibility. Preferably.

In the fiber web manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the fibers that surround the collision member 4 as described above and extend in the direction of the collecting member 6 as described later are dispersed by the collision with the collision member 4. Enclosure member 5 for guiding the collecting member 6 to the collecting member 6
Are arranged. In the present invention, as the surrounding member 5, a fiber having a different cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end portion 51 and a different cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end portion 52 is used to uniformly distribute the fibers. It is particularly characteristic in that it has been found that the nonwoven fabric can be dispersed, and as a result, a nonwoven fabric having an excellent texture can be produced.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the enclosure member 5 having a circular cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end 51 and a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end 52 is used. ing. In such an enclosure member 5,
The fibers can be dispersed in all directions by the collision member 4, and in addition, since the cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member 5 changes from a circular shape to a rectangular shape, a turbulent flow is generated immediately below the collision member. I think that the fibers can be dispersed uniformly. Therefore, it is not necessary for the enclosure member 5 to have a circular cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end portion 51 and a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end portion 52 as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. Enclosure in which the cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end 51 is circular, elliptical, or oval, and the cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end 52 is non-circular so that the dispersion of the fibers by the member 4 can be ensured. The member can be preferably used. In particular, an enclosing member having a circular cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end portion 51 and a non-circular cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end portion 52 is preferable. More specifically, the combination of (transverse cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end 51)-(cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end 52) is (circle)-(polygon), (circle).
-(Oval), (circle)-(oval), (oval)-(polygon), (oval)-(oval), (oval)-(polygon),
(Oval)-(oval) and the like.

The enclosure member 5 has the narrowest cross-sectional area (Smax) with respect to the widest cross-sectional area (Smax) of the enclosure member 5.
The ratio (Smin / Smax) of (min) is preferably 0.5 to 1. If this ratio (Smin / Smax) is less than 0.5, the amount of change in the cross-sectional area of the enclosure member 5 is large, so that the fibers easily adhere to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 and are deposited, and the deposition amount is constant. This is because when the amount exceeds the limit, it may fall off and impair the dispersibility of the fiber.
It is more preferably 6 or more. Ideal ratio (Smin
/ Smax) is 1, that is, any cross-sectional area of the enclosure member 5 is the same. If the widest cross-sectional area of the enclosure member 5 is the collision member side end portion 51 of the enclosure member 5 and the narrowest cross-sectional area is the collection member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5, the dispersibility of the fibers is reduced. A superior fiber web can be produced.

The distance from the nozzle ejection port 21 to the collecting member side end 52 of the surrounding member 5 is 3 cm or more and 10 cm.
The following is preferable. If this distance is less than 3 cm, the dispersibility of the fibers tends to be impaired due to the influence of turbulent flow around the collision member 4, and it is more preferably 4 cm or more. On the other hand, if this distance exceeds 10 cm, the flow of gas is disturbed or the flow velocity is slowed, so that the charged fibers are easily attached to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5,
9 cm because it may be deposited and fall off when the deposition amount exceeds a certain amount, impairing the texture of the fiber web.
The following is more preferable. This distance is the enclosure member 5
Of the nozzle jet port 21 and the end portion 5 of the enclosing member 5 on the collecting member side so as to pass through the center of the cross section at any position of
The path connecting the center of the surface formed by 2. If the path is bent or curved, the fibers are likely to adhere to the inner wall of the surrounding member 5, so the path is preferably straight.

The surrounding member 5 surrounds the collision member 4, but the state is not particularly limited, and the surrounding member 5 is surrounded by an appropriate distance so as not to hinder the dispersion of the fibers by the collision member 4. Good. This distance can be appropriately set by repeating the experiment. Also, the enclosure member 5
Is to prevent scattering of fibers dispersed by the collision member 4,
It is preferably connected to the nozzle 2 as shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

The enclosing member 5 extends in the direction of the collecting member, but the state is not particularly limited. For example, the fiber moving path is linear, the fiber moving path is curved, and the fiber moving path is A bent shape or a combination thereof can be mentioned. Among these, if the fiber movement path is linear, it is difficult for the fibers to adhere to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5, and this is a preferred embodiment.

The cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member 5 may change continuously or discontinuously in the fiber moving path direction, but it is difficult for the fibers to adhere to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5. In addition, it is preferable that the change of the cross-sectional shape is continuous.

A collecting member 6 is provided so that the fibers guided by the surrounding member 5 can be collected to form a fiber web. When the collecting member 6 is movable,
The fiber web can be produced continuously. The collecting member 6 is not particularly limited as long as it can collect fibers, but in FIGS. 1 and 2, a porous net is arranged. In addition, a porous roll, a non-porous film, a non-porous roll, etc. can also be used.
Among these, since the porous collection member (porous net, porous roll, etc.) allows gas to permeate to the back surface of the collection member, it is possible to stably form the fibrous web, and By sucking gas from below the collecting member to collect the fibers, a fiber web having an excellent texture can be formed, which is preferable. That is, since the pressure loss is high in the region where the fiber amount is large on the collecting member, the fiber amount is smaller, and the fibers are easily sucked into the region where the pressure loss is lower, so that it is possible to form a fiber web having a better texture. You can do it.

The above is the basic structure of the fiber web manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In addition to the above structure, in order to improve the dispersibility of the fibers, fibers and / or fiber aggregates are provided in front of the nozzle 2. A disentangling device (eg, a mixer) can be installed. When the collecting member 6 is porous such as a porous net or a porous roll, a suction device (for example, a suction box) capable of sucking fibers is installed below the collecting member 6. Is preferred. 1 to 2 is a mode in which one enclosing member 5 is used for one nozzle 2, but one enclosing member is used for two or more nozzles. Is also good. In addition, although the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is the fiber web manufacturing apparatus 10 including one nozzle 2 and one enclosure member 5, two or more sets of such fiber web manufacturing apparatuses 10 can be arranged. In this case, a wide fiber web can be manufactured, and the productivity of the fiber web can be dramatically improved. Further, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross-sectional shape of the end portion of the enclosing member 5 on the side of the collecting member is rectangular, and the long side direction thereof coincides with the width direction of the collecting member 6. It is not necessary to dispose such a structure, and even if the long side direction is arranged so as to coincide with the flow direction of the collecting member 6, it is possible to manufacture a fibrous web having a similarly excellent texture. Similarly,
When the cross-sectional shape of the end of the enclosing member 5 on the side of the collecting member is non-circular, a fibrous web having an excellent texture can be produced regardless of how the enclosing member 5 is arranged.

Further, by providing means (moving means) capable of moving the relative position between the collecting member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5 and the collecting member 6, the fiber having a better texture A web can be manufactured. The moving means may, for example, reciprocate the collecting member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5 in the flow direction and / or the width direction of the fibrous web, move it in a circular or elliptical manner, or collect the collecting material. The member 6 can be reciprocated in the flow direction and / or the width direction of the fiber web.

The fiber web manufacturing method of the present invention is basically a manufacturing method using the fiber web manufacturing apparatus 10 described above. That is, the fibers and / or
Alternatively, a step of supplying a fiber assembly and introducing a compressed gas into the nozzle 2 to eject the fiber and / or the fiber assembly from the nozzle 2, and a collision member 4 located in front of the ejection port of the nozzle 2. And a step of causing the fibers and / or fiber aggregates ejected from the nozzle 2 to collide to disperse the fibers, and a step of guiding the dispersed fibers by an enclosure member 5 surrounding the collision member 4, Collecting the guided fibers with a collecting member 6 to form a fiber web,
A method of manufacturing a fibrous web, comprising: as the enclosing member, extending in the direction of the collecting member, and having a cross-sectional shape at an end of the enclosing member on the collision member side, and the enclosing member side of the enclosing member. This is a method of using those having different cross-sectional shapes at the ends.

First, while supplying fibers and / or fiber aggregates to the nozzle 2 capable of ejecting fibers, the nozzle 2
Fibers (in the case of a fiber aggregate, individual fibers) supplied in a step of introducing compressed gas into the nozzle 2 and ejecting the fibers and / or the fiber aggregate from the nozzle 2 (hereinafter, may be referred to as “ejection step”). Is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include ultrafine fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 μm or less and a fiber length of 3 mm or less, and fine fibers having a fiber diameter of more than 4 μm and 50 μm or less and a fiber length of 10 mm or less. be able to. In the present invention, it is not limited to fibers and / or fiber aggregates, and various functional powders can be supplied together. The production method of the present invention has an effect that even ultrafine fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 μm or less and a fiber length of 3 mm or less can be uniformly dispersed.

As the fibers used in the production method of the present invention,
When the above ultrafine fibers are used, it is preferable that the adhesion rate of the adhered matter (surfactant, sizing agent, etc.) is 0.5 mass% or less. This is because the adhesion of the ultrafine fibers to each other can be reduced and the falling of the adhered matter can be suppressed by the small amount of the adhered matter, and as a result, a nonwoven fabric applicable to various applications can be manufactured. In addition, since the amount of the adhered substance is small, static electricity is generated due to friction with the nozzle 2, and the ultrafine fibers repel each other, so that the dispersibility of the ultrafine fibers is improved.
The smaller the adherence rate of the adhered matter, the more excellent the above-mentioned effect is. Therefore, 0.3 mass% or less, 0.1
mass% or less, 0.08 mass% or less, 0.06m
ass% or less, 0.04mass% or less, 0.02ma
It is preferably ss% or less, ideally 0 mass
%. When fibers other than ultrafine fibers are used, it is possible to use fibers having a low adherence rate of deposits as with the ultrafine fibers, or fibers having a high adherence rate of deposits. Depending on the application of the non-woven fabric, when it is used for applications where it is not desirable to remove the adhered matter (for example, filter media application, battery separator application), the fibers other than the ultrafine fibers have the same adherence rate of the adhered matter as the ultrafine fibers. Is preferably low.

The "adhesion rate of deposits" refers to the percentage of the mass of deposits to the mass of fibers. That is, it means the value obtained by the following formula. A = (ms / mf) × 100 Here, A means the adhering rate (%) of the adhering matter, ms means the adhering mass (g) of the adhering matter, and mf means the mass (g) of the fiber. Further, the "adhered matter" means both extracts obtained by immersing the fiber in hot water for 15 minutes and an extract obtained by immersing the fiber in hot methanol solution for 15 minutes. To do. As the former extract, a sizing agent (for example, acrylamide, sodium polyacrylate, sodium polyalginate, polyethylene oxide, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose,
Hydroxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, etc.), and the latter extract is a surfactant (a compound having both a hydrophilic group and a lipophilic group, for example, a nonionic surfactant). Such a state in which the amount of deposits is small can be achieved by washing the fibers with, for example, acetone, ethanol, or methanol.

The fibers which can be used in the production method of the present invention may be composed of any components, for example, polyamide resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyester resin. Resin, polyacrylonitrile-based resin, polyolefin-based resin (for example, polyethylene-based resin, polypropylene-based resin, etc.), polystyrene-based resin (for example, crystalline polystyrene, amorphous polystyrene, etc.), aromatic polyamide-based resin, polyurethane-based resin, etc. And an inorganic component such as glass, carbon, potassium titanate, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, aluminum borate, and wollastonite.

It is preferable that the fibers can be fused because the fibers can be fused to give strength to the nonwoven fabric.
In this fusible fiber, at least a part of the components constituting the fiber surface may be composed of a thermoplastic resin. For example, the component constituting the fiber surface is a crystalline resin such as a polyolefin resin (for example, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, etc.), polyvinylidene chloride resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, crystalline polystyrene resin, or the like. It may be composed of a thermoplastic resin or an amorphous thermoplastic resin such as a polyvinyl chloride resin, an amorphous polystyrene resin, a polyacrylonitrile resin, or a polyvinyl alcohol resin.

When the fusible fiber is composed of two or more kinds of components, even if one kind of component is melted, the fiber form can be maintained by at least one kind of component, which is preferable. is there. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber composed of two or more kinds of components may be, for example, a core-sheath type, an eccentric type, a sea-island type, a side-by-side type, a multiple bimetal type, an orange type, and particularly a core-sheath type. The eccentric type or the sea-island type is preferable.

The fiber may be in an unstretched state, but is preferably in a stretched state so as to have excellent strength.

The fiber aggregate is an aggregate of the above fibers, and the number thereof is not particularly limited. The aggregated state is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a bundled state in which fibers are regularly oriented in a fixed direction, and an aggregated state in which they are randomly oriented. Among these, the bundled state is preferable because the dispersibility of the fibers due to the action of the compressed gas described below is excellent.

Also, two or more kinds of fibers having different fiber diameters, fiber lengths or components may be supplied, and / or two or more kinds of fiber aggregates having different fiber diameters, fiber lengths or components may be supplied in combination. good. Further, the blending amount may be changed with the lapse of time.

The supply of such fibers and / or fiber aggregates to the nozzle 2 is carried out, for example, by introducing compressed gas into the nozzle 2. The compressed gas is preferably supplied to the nozzle 2 so that the fibers are not easily entangled with each other and the flow of the compressed gas is substantially laminar. Also,
The gas passage speed at the nozzle ejection port 21 is 100 m / se so that the fiber opening and dispersibility can be improved.
It is preferable to introduce so that it is not less than c. For the same reason, it is preferable to introduce the compressed gas at a pressure of 2 kg / cm ² or more. Further, in order to prevent fibers from adhering to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5, the compression is performed so that the gas flow velocity at the end 52 of the enclosure member 5 on the collecting member side is 1 m / s or more (more preferably 2 m / s or more). It is preferable to introduce a gas.

In this jetting step, the fibers and / or fiber aggregates are jetted vigorously from the nozzle 2 by the action of the compressed gas. Due to the interaction such as the expansion force of the compressed gas at the time of jetting, the pressure difference between the inside of the nozzle 2 and the outside of the nozzle 2, or the turbulent flow formed by the jetted compressed gas, each fiber is opened. Fine and dispersed.

Next, the fibers and / or the fiber aggregate ejected from the nozzle 2 are collided with the collision member 4 located in front of the nozzle ejection port 21 to disperse the fibers. Examples of the collision member 4 include a plate-shaped collision member, a bell-shaped collision member, a cone-shaped collision member, a collision member in which a bell-shaped projection portion and a flat-plate collision portion are integrated, and a conical projection. Part 4
1 and the flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 can be used as the collision member 4 and the like, and the collision member 4 in which the conical projection 41 and the flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 are integrated is preferably used. Can be used. When such a collision member 4 is used, the ejected fibers and / or fiber aggregates first have a conical projection 4
1 and the fibers are opened to reach the flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 along the surface of the protrusion 41, collide with the collision portion 42, and are further opened, and at the same time the moving direction of the fibers is changed. Altered, the fibers disperse.

In order that the collision member 4 as described above is excellent in fiber opening property and / or fiber aggregate dispersibility, the flat portion of the collision member 4 (for example, the collision portion 42 in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2). The distance between the bottom surface of the cone in the case of a conical collision member and the bottom surface of the bell in the case of a bell-shaped collision member) and the nozzle ejection port 21 is 1 to 100 mm (5 to 40 mm, 5 to 30 m).
m, 10 to 30 mm, and 10 to 20 mm are preferable in that order). Further, the collision member is a bell-shaped collision member, a conical collision member, a collision member in which a bell-shaped projection portion and a flat plate-shaped collision portion are integrated,
Alternatively, in the case of the collision member 4 in which the conical projection portion 41 and the flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 are integrated, a bell shape, a cone shape,
Alternatively, it is preferable to dispose the protrusion 41 so that its axis coincides with the center of the nozzle ejection port 21. Furthermore, it is preferable that these collision members 4 are installed in a bell shape, a cone shape, or the apex of the projection 41 is opposed to the nozzle ejection port 21.

The fibers dispersed by such a collision member 4 surround the collision member 4 and extend in the direction of the collecting member as will be described later, and the cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end portion 51 and the collecting member side. The end member 52 is guided to the collecting member 6 by the enclosure member 5 having a different cross-sectional shape. Since the movement path of the fibers is regulated by the enclosure member 5 in this manner, the fibers are reliably guided to the collection member 6, and the cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member 5 changes, so that a fiber web having an excellent texture is formed. Can be manufactured.

An enclosing member in which the cross-sectional shape of the collision member side end 51 is circular, elliptical, or oval, and the cross-sectional shape of the collection member side end 52 is non-circular can be preferably used.
In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the collision member side end portion 51 is circular,
An enclosing member having a non-circular cross-sectional shape of the collecting member side end portion 52 is preferable. More specifically, the collision member side end portion 51
(Cross section shape in) and (cross section shape in the collecting member side end portion 52) are (circle)-(polygon), (circle)-(oval), (circle)-(oval), ( (Oval)-(polygon), (oval)-(oval), (oval)-(polygon),
A (oval)-(oval) enclosure member can be used.

The enclosure member 5 has the narrowest cross-sectional area (Smax) with respect to the widest cross-sectional area (Smax) of the enclosure member 5.
The ratio (Smin / Smax) of (min) is preferably 0.5 to 1. It is preferable that the widest cross-sectional area of the enclosure member 5 is the collision member side end portion 51 of the enclosure member 5, and the narrowest cross-sectional area is the collection member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5. Further, from the nozzle ejection port 21 to the enclosure member 5
The distance to the collecting member side end portion 52 is preferably 3 cm or more (preferably 4 cm or more) and 10 cm or less (preferably 9 cm or less).

The enclosing member 5 surrounds the collision member 4, but the state is not particularly limited, and the enclosing member 5 is surrounded by an appropriate distance so as not to hinder the dispersion of the fibers by the collision member 4. Good. Further, the enclosure member 5 is preferably connected to the nozzle 2 in order to prevent the fibers dispersed by the collision member 4 from scattering.

The enclosing member 5 extends in the direction of the collecting member, but its state is not particularly limited. For example, the fiber moving path is linear, the fiber moving path is curved, and the fiber moving path is A bent shape or a combination thereof can be mentioned.

The change in the cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member 5 in the fiber moving path direction may be continuous or discontinuous.

The fibers thus guided can be collected by the collecting member 6 to produce the fiber web of the present invention.
The collecting member 6 may be any member as long as it can collect fibers,
Although not particularly limited, for example, a porous net,
A porous roll, a non-porous film, a non-porous roll, etc. can be used.

If a porous collecting member 6 such as a porous net or a porous roll is used and gas is sucked from below the collecting member 6, a fibrous web can be stably formed, Moreover, it is possible to form a fiber web having a better texture. The suction force at the time of suction can be appropriately adjusted depending on the desired fiber web, but is 1.1 with respect to the amount of compressed air blown from the nozzle jet outlet.
1 time or more, preferably 1.2 times or more, more preferably 1.
It is preferable to suction with a volume of air three times or more because a fibrous web having a better texture can be formed. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but it is economical to be 3 times or less of the blown air amount.

When the collecting member 6 is movable, the fiber web can be continuously manufactured. The moving speed can be appropriately adjusted depending on the desired areal weight of the fiber web, the fibers used, the capacity of the nozzle, and the like. For example,
The moving speed of the collecting member 6 may be slowed when producing a high-weight fiber web, and the moving speed of the collecting member 6 may be increased when producing a low-weight fiber web.

When the fibers are collected by the collecting member 6,
By moving the relative position between the collecting member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5 and the collecting member 6, it is possible to manufacture a fibrous web having a better texture. As this movement, for example,
Reciprocating movement of the end portion 52 of the enclosing member 5 on the collecting member side in the flow direction and / or the width direction of the fibrous web, circular movement or elliptical movement,
Alternatively, the reciprocating motion of the collecting member 6 in the flow direction and / or the width direction of the fiber web may be used.

The non-woven fabric of the present invention is a non-woven fabric excellent in texture since it uses the fiber web which is produced by the production method using the above-mentioned production equipment and has an excellent texture. Generally, the mechanical strength of a fibrous web is poor, so it is preferable to bond the fibrous webs into a nonwoven fabric. This binding method is not particularly limited, but for example, a method of fusing fibers, a method of adhering with a binder such as emulsion or latex, a method of entanglement with a fluid stream such as water stream or a needle, etc., alone, Alternatively, they can be combined and combined. Fusion of fibers,
If it is a method of bonding with a binder, it can be a bulky nonwoven fabric with a low degree of adhesion of fibers, and if it is a method of entanglement, it is a nonwoven fabric of a dense structure with a high degree of adhesion of fibers. You can

Since the nonwoven fabric of the present invention can form fiber webs having different degrees of close contact between fibers as described above, and can be bonded so that the degree of close contact between fibers is different, the nonwoven fabric of the present invention is 0 0.005-0.9 g / cm ³
It can take a wide range of apparent density. Since the fibrous web which is the basis of this non-woven fabric has an excellent texture, the non-woven fabric can have a basis weight of 1 to 100 g / m ² . Also, the thickness of the non-woven fabric is 0.001 mm to 5
It can be 0 mm. The “apparent density” in the present invention is a value obtained by dividing the weight per unit area (g / cm ² ) by the thickness (cm), and the “area weight” is based on JIS L1085: 1998.
The value of mass per unit area measured by the method specified in 6.2, "thickness" is JIS L1085: 1998,
The value obtained by the A method specified in 6.1 (thickness).

Since the nonwoven fabric of the present invention has excellent texture and excellent uniformity of various characteristics, it can be applied to various uses. For example, gas filtering materials (for example, hepa filter filtering materials, Ulpa filter filtering materials, intake filter filtering materials, chemical filter filtering materials, deodorizing filter filtering materials, deodorizing filter filtering materials, bag filter filtering materials). Etc.), filter material for liquid (for example, filter material for cartridge filter, filter material for affinity separation, filter material for ion exchange filter, etc.), filter material for mask (surgical, industrial etc.), filter press, surgical drape ,
It can be used in various applications such as surgical gowns, diaper coverings, battery separators, water absorbing sheets (for humidifiers, etc.), catalyst supporting materials and the like.

The nonwoven fabric of the present invention may be subjected to various post-treatments so as to suit various uses. For example,
Examples thereof include charging treatment, sulfuric acid treatment, hydrophilic treatment such as fluorine treatment, discharge treatment such as plasma treatment, and water repellent treatment.

Further, in order to add various functions, various functional powders may be fixed. For example, deodorant powder, deodorant powder, ion exchange resin powder, heavy metal adsorption powder, low-molecular chemical removal powder (catalyst that can adsorb or inactivate a trace amount of low-molecular substances (solvents, oligomers, etc.)) , Degassed powder (catalyst capable of adsorbing or inactivating a trace amount of gaseous impurities), adhesive powder and the like. In addition,
The functional powder is supplied to the nozzle together with the fiber and / or the fiber aggregate to be mixed when forming the fiber web, and even if it is fixed, the functional powder is applied to the fiber web and fixed. May be.

Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0060]

[Example] (Example 1) In a sea component composed of polylactic acid,
A sea-island type fiber (fineness: 1.7 dtex, cut into a length of 1 mm) obtained by a composite spinning method having 25 island components composed of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene was prepared. This sea-island type fiber is dipped in a 10 mass% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to extract and remove polylactic acid as a sea component by hydrolysis, and then air-dried to obtain ultrafine fiber A in which high density polyethylene and polypropylene are mixed.
(Fiber diameter: 2 μm, fiber length: 1 mm, unfibrillated, stretched, having substantially the same diameter in the fiber axis direction, deposition rate of deposits: 0.02 mass
%, Cross-sectional shape: sea-island type).

Sea-island type fibers (fineness: 1.7 dtex, length 1 mm) obtained by the composite spinning method in which 25 island components made of polypropylene are present in the sea component made of polylactic acid.
Prepared). 10 of this sea-island fiber
After immersing in a mass% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to extract and remove polylactic acid as a sea component by hydrolysis, it is air-dried, and ultrafine fibers B made of polypropylene (fiber diameter:
2 μm, fiber length: 1 mm, unfibrillated, stretched, having substantially the same diameter in the fiber axis direction, adhesion rate of deposits: less than 0.02 mass%, cross-sectional shape: sea-island type) I got an assembly.

Then, an ultrafine fiber web-wet non-woven fabric composite was produced by the fiber web producing apparatus 10 as shown in FIGS. That is, the bundle of the ultrafine fibers A and the bundle of the ultrafine fibers B are supplied to the mixer at a mass ratio of 50:50 to be melted and mixed, while the cross-sectional shape of the nozzle ejection port 21 is obtained. Is circular (diameter: 8.5m
m), the compressed bundle (pressure = 6 kg / cm ² , substantially laminar flow) is introduced from the compressor to the Venturi tube through the compressed gas inlet 3, whereby the unraveled bundle-like aggregate is discharged from the material supply port 1. It is supplied to a Venturi tube, and a bundle of ultrafine fibers A and a bundle of ultrafine fibers B are jetted into the air from the Venturi tube (gas passage velocity at the jet port of the Venturi tube: 147 m / s, from the jet port). Ejection amount: about 0.5 m ³ / min.), And provided with a conical projection 41 and a flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 (transverse cross-sectional shape: circular, diameter: 25 mm) provided in front of the venturi tube ejection port. The ultrafine fibers A and the ultrafine fibers B were dispersed by colliding with the collision member 4. The collision member 4 has a distance to the flat plate-shaped collision portion 42 of 15 mm, and the apex of the projection 41 is aligned with the nozzle ejection port 21 so that the axis of the projection 41 coincides with the center of the nozzle ejection port 21. Arranged to face each other.

Then, the dispersed ultrafine fibers A and ultrafine fibers B are connected to the Venturi tube while surrounding the collision member 4, and are linearly formed in the direction of the net in which the ultrafine fibers A and ultrafine fibers B can be accumulated. Folding enclosure member 5
(The ratio (Smin / Smax) = 0.92, one surrounding member 5 surrounds one collision member 4) to supply the net (collecting member 6) and place it on the moving net. An ultrafine fiber web-wet non-woven fabric composite was formed by accumulating on a wet non-woven fabric composed of polyethylene terephthalate fibers (unit weight: 10 g / m ² , average fiber diameter: 3.2 μm). It should be noted that, with a suction box arranged below the net, 0.7 m ³ / min. I sucked in. Further, the enclosing member 5 has a circular cross-sectional shape at the collision member side end 51 (inner diameter: 50 mm, cross-sectional area 19.6 cm ² ) and a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the collection member side end 52 (30 mm.
The cross-sectional shape was continuously changed so that the cross-sectional area was × 60 mm and the cross-sectional area was 18 cm ² . The distance from the nozzle ejection port 21 to the collecting member side end portion 52 of the enclosure member 5 is 8 cm, and the collecting member side end portion 5 of the enclosure member 5 is.
The air flow velocity at 2 was 4.6 m / s. Further, the collecting member side end portion 52 of the collision member 4 is arranged so that the long side of the rectangle is parallel to the width direction of the net.

During formation of this ultrafine fiber web-wet non-woven fabric composite, the amount of the ultrafine fibers attached to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 was small and the exfoliation did not occur, so that the ultrafine fiber web having an excellent texture could be formed. .

(Embodiment 2) As the enclosure member 5, the cross-sectional shape at the end 51 on the collision member side is circular (inner diameter: 50 m).
m, a cross-sectional area of 19.6 cm ² ) and a lateral cross-sectional shape of the collecting member side end portion 52 is rectangular (20 mm × 60 mm, cross-sectional area: 12 cm ² , ratio (Smin / Smax) = 0.6.
1, one enclosing member 5 encloses one collision member 4), and a microfiber web under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the cross-sectional shape was continuously changed. A wet nonwoven composite was formed. At the time of this production, the amount of the ultrafine fibers attached to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 was small and the exfoliation did not occur, so that the ultrafine fiber web having an excellent texture could be formed.

(Embodiment 3) The enclosure member 5 has a circular cross section at the end 51 on the collision member side (inner diameter: 50 m).
m, a cross-sectional area of 19.6 cm ² ) and a lateral cross-sectional shape of the collecting member side end 52 is rectangular (70 mm × 60 mm, cross-sectional area: 42 cm ² , ratio (Smin / Smax) = 0.4.
7, one enclosing member 5 encloses one collision member 4), and a microfiber web under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the cross-sectional shape was continuously changed. A wet nonwoven composite was formed. In this production, although the amount of the ultrafine fibers adhered to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 was slightly larger than those in Examples 1 and 2, it was possible to form an ultrafine fiber web having an excellent texture.

(Comparative Example) As the enclosing member 5, a covering member (inner diameter: 50 mm, cross-sectional area 19.6 cm ² ) of which both cross-sectional shapes of the collision member side end 51 and the collecting member side end 52 are circular (inner diameter: 50 mm). Except that the ratio (Smin / Smax) = 1, one enclosure member 5 encloses one collision member 4)
An ultrafine fiber web-wet nonwoven fabric composite was formed under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1. At the time of this production, although the amount of the ultrafine fibers attached to the inner wall of the enclosure member 5 is small, the obtained ultrafine fiber web has a large amount of the ultrafine fibers in the central portion, and has a very small amount of the ultrafine fibers at both ends. It was inferior.

[0068]

The fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can manufacture a fiber web having an excellent texture.

The method for producing a fibrous web of the present invention can produce a fibrous web having an excellent texture.

The nonwoven fabric of the present invention has excellent texture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is cut along a plane perpendicular to the collecting member and parallel to the flow direction of the collecting member.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the fiber web manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is cut along a plane perpendicular to the collecting member and parallel to the width direction of the collecting member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an enclosure member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Material supply port 2 nozzles 21 nozzle outlet 3 Compressed gas inlet 4 collision member 41 Projection 42 Collision part 5 Enclosure member 51 Collision member side end 52 collecting member side end 6 Collection member 10 Fiber web manufacturing equipment

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) A61L 15/00 D06M 9/02 AF term (reference) 4C080 AA03 BB04 CC01 HH05 JJ06 MM22 QQ03 4C081 AA01 BB09 CA011 CA151 CD011 CD32 4L031 AB34 BA11 CA01 DA00 4L047 AA14 AA21 AB08 BA21 BA23 BA24 CA02 DA00 EA22

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle capable of ejecting fibers, a means for introducing compressed gas to the nozzle, and a collision member located in front of the ejection port of the nozzle and capable of colliding with the fibers ejected from the nozzle to disperse the fibers. , Surrounding the collision member,
An enclosing member that guides fibers dispersed by collision with the collision member, a collecting member that can collect fibers introduced by the enclosing member to form a fibrous web, and a fiber web manufacturing apparatus comprising: The enclosure member extends in the direction of the collecting member, and the cross-sectional shape at the end of the enclosure member on the side of the collision member is different from the cross-sectional shape at the end of the enclosure member on the side of the collection member. , Fiber web manufacturing equipment. 2. The cross-sectional shape at the end of the enclosure member on the side of the collision member is circular, and the cross-sectional shape at the end of the enclosure member on the side of the collecting member is non-circular. The described fiber web manufacturing apparatus. 3. The cross-sectional shape of an end of the enclosure member on the side of the collision member is circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the end of the enclosure member on the side of the collecting member is rectangular. Item 3. The fiber web manufacturing apparatus according to Item 2. 4. The widest cross-sectional area (Sma) of the enclosure member.
ratio of the narrowest cross-sectional area (Smin) to (x) (S
min / Smax) is 0.5 to 1, wherein the fiber web manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The fiber web according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the nozzle ejection port to the end of the surrounding member on the collecting member side is 3 cm or more and 10 cm or less. Manufacturing equipment. 6. The compressed gas introducing means to the nozzle can introduce the compressed gas so that the gas flow velocity at the end of the enclosing member on the collecting member side is 1 m / s or more. The fiber web manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The compressed gas introducing means to the nozzle can supply the compressed gas to the nozzle so that the flow of the compressed gas is substantially laminar. The described fiber web manufacturing apparatus. 8. A step of supplying a fiber and / or a fiber assembly to a nozzle capable of ejecting the fiber and introducing a compressed gas into the nozzle to eject the fiber and / or the fiber assembly from the nozzle, and the nozzle. A step of causing fibers and / or fiber aggregates ejected from the nozzle to collide with a collision member located in front of the ejection port of, to disperse the fibers,
A method for producing a fibrous web, comprising: a step of guiding the dispersed fibers by a surrounding member surrounding the collision member; and a step of collecting the guided fibers with a collecting member to form a fibrous web. Yes, as the enclosure member, extending in the direction of the collecting member, and the cross-sectional shape of the end member side end portion of the enclosure member is different from the cross-sectional shape of the enclosure member side end portion A method for producing a fibrous web, comprising: 9. A non-woven fabric using the fiber web produced by the method for producing a fiber web according to claim 8.