JP2012122160A - Method and apparatus for producing fiber assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for producing a fiber assembly including means for fixing the fiber assembly which is hardly influenced by various characteristics such as a basis weight, an average fiber diameter and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be produced and by a method for producing the fiber assembly.SOLUTION: There is provided a method and an apparatus for producing a fiber assembly that can fix a fiber assembly on a collector by an electrical force. In order for that, they include means for fixing the fiber assembly that is hardly influenced by a basis weight, an average fiber diameter and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be produced, and by a method for producing the fiber assembly. Thus, deformation of the fiber assembly and scattering of fibers from the fiber assembly can be prevented.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a fiber assembly.

A fiber aggregate is manufactured by reducing the diameter of the polymer to fiberize it and collecting it in a collector. As a method for producing this fiber assembly, a molten polymer or a polymer solution in which a polymer is dissolved in a solvent is used as a spinning stock solution, and a gas flow is applied to the spinning stock solution to stretch the spinning stock solution to reduce the diameter. For example, a melt-blow method, a spunbond method with a satka (for example, a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-264347), a method for spinning by spinning a spinning solution and a gas flow in parallel (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-287138). The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.

  In such a fiber assembly manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus, the gas flow applied to the spinning dope also acts on the fiber assembly, causing deformation of the fiber assembly, or fibers falling off from the fiber assembly and scattering. There are things to do.

  When the fiber assembly is deformed or fibers are removed from the fiber assembly, there arises a problem that various properties such as basis weight, thickness, surface roughness, and porosity of the finally obtained fiber assembly are changed. In addition, when the fibers are scattered from the fiber assembly, there is a problem that the spinning environment is contaminated by the scattered fibers.

Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of such problems, in the prior art, for example, the following fiber assembly manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus have been studied.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the fiber assembly manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus according to the prior art when the fiber assembly (5) is manufactured by the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (100). explain.

The fiber assembly production apparatus (100) in FIG. 1 mainly includes a spinning start part (1) capable of discharging a spinning stock solution such as a nozzle and a melt blow die, a breathable collector (2) such as a mesh and a fabric, and the trap. A suction device (3) is provided so as to face the spinning start portion (1) with a collection (2) interposed therebetween. The suction device (3) plays a role of sucking gas.

  First, in the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (100) according to FIG. 1, the spinning solution is discharged from the spinning start section (1) by the action of gas flow, external force such as pressure, gravity or centrifugal force.

  Next, the spinning dope advances toward the collecting body (2) from the spinning start part (1) by the above-described external force and / or gas suction force of the suction device (3), so that the spinning dope (4 )

  The thinned spinning dope (4) is fiberized and brought into contact with the collection body (2), whereby a fiber assembly (5) is prepared on the collection body (2). FIG. 1 shows a fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (100) in which an apparatus capable of conveying a prepared fiber assembly (5) such as a conveyor is provided as a collecting body (2). In FIG. 1, the direction in which the collection body (2) conveys the fiber assembly (5) is illustrated as the A direction.

And the fiber assembly (5) prepared on the said collector (2) is fixed on a collector (2) by the suction of the gas by a suction device (3), and a fiber assembly (5) It is possible to prevent the fibers from being deformed and the fibers from being scattered from the fiber assembly.

  However, in the method of manufacturing a fiber aggregate in which the fiber aggregate (5) is fixed onto the collector (2) mainly by gas suction, the fiber aggregate (5) made of fibers with a heavy basis weight or a thin average fiber diameter When trying to manufacture a fiber assembly (5) with low air permeability, gas suction by the suction device (3) may be inhibited by the fiber assembly (5). Also, in order to increase the production rate and production volume of the fiber assembly (5), increase the discharge rate of the spinning dope from the spinning start section (1) or increase the amount and speed of the gas flow that acts on the spinning dope. In this case, gas suction by the suction device (3) may not be sufficiently performed.

As a result, in the prior art method for producing a fiber assembly which attempts to fix the fiber assembly (5) on the collector (2) mainly by gas suction, the deformation of the fiber assembly (5) or the fiber assembly From (5), it was not possible to sufficiently prevent the fibers from scattering.

Therefore, the fiber assembly (5) fixing method, which is hardly affected by various characteristics such as the basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly (5) to be manufactured and the manufacturing method of the fiber assembly (5). The manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of a fiber assembly provided with these are calculated | required.

The present invention provides a fiber assembly having a fiber assembly fixing method that is hardly affected by various properties such as basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be manufactured, and a method of manufacturing the fiber assembly. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus.

The method for producing a fiber assembly according to claim 1,
“(1) A process of reducing the diameter of the spinning dope by applying a gas flow to the spinning dope,
(2) collecting the thinned spinning dope into a collecting body to prepare a fiber assembly;
(3) A step of applying a charged liquid to the fiber assembly and fixing the fiber assembly to the collector by an electric force;
A method for producing a fiber assembly, comprising: "
It is.

The apparatus for producing a fiber assembly according to claim 2,
“(1) A spinning device that allows a gas flow to act on the spinning dope and stretch the spinning dough to reduce the diameter,
(2) a collecting body capable of collecting the thinned spinning dope and preparing a fiber assembly;
(3) a liquid application device capable of applying a charged liquid to the fiber assembly;
(4) The counter electrode that can be charged to the opposite charge to the charged liquid,
An apparatus for producing a fiber assembly, comprising: "
It is.

  The method for producing a fiber assembly according to claim 1 of the present invention includes the step of “applying a charged liquid to the fiber assembly and fixing the fiber assembly to the collector by an electric force”. Thus, the fiber assembly can be fixed on the collector by an electric force.

Therefore, the method for producing a fiber assembly according to the present invention is hardly affected by various properties such as the basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be produced, and the fiber assembly production method. Thus, it is possible to prevent deformation of the fiber assembly and scattering of the fiber from the fiber assembly.

  An apparatus for producing a fiber assembly according to claim 2 of the present invention includes a “liquid applying device capable of applying a charged liquid to a fiber assembly” and a “counter electrode capable of being charged with a charge opposite to the charged liquid”. Thus, the fiber assembly can be fixed on the collecting body by an electric force.

Therefore, the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is not easily affected by various properties such as the basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be manufactured, and the method of manufacturing the fiber assembly. The fixing device is provided, and it is possible to prevent the fiber aggregate from being deformed or scattered from the fiber aggregate.

It is a typical side view which shows the aspect by which the fiber assembly is prepared with the manufacturing apparatus of the fiber assembly based on a prior art. It is a typical side view which shows the aspect by which the fiber assembly is prepared with the manufacturing apparatus of the fiber assembly based on this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a mode in which a fiber assembly is prepared by a fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) capable of performing the manufacturing method with respect to the fiber assembly manufacturing method according to the present invention. It explains along.

The fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) according to the present invention includes a spinning start portion (1) and a collection body (2), as well as the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (100) according to the prior art, (9a) a power supply (8), a liquid application device (6, hereinafter referred to as a liquid application device) equipped with a liquid discharge unit such as a nozzle or a slit, and a grounded (9b) counter electrode (10) Configured. The power supply (8) functions to charge the liquid so that the charged liquid (7) can be discharged from the liquid application device (6).

  First, in the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) according to FIG. 2, the spinning dope is discharged from the spinning start section (1) by the action of gas flow, external force such as pressure, gravity, and centrifugal force.

Next, the spinning dope advances toward the collecting body (2) from the spinning start part (1) by the above-described external force and / or gas suction force of the suction device (3), so that the spinning dope (4 )

Then, the spinning dope (4) having a reduced diameter is made into a fiber and comes into contact with the collection body (2), whereby a fiber assembly (5) is prepared on the collection body (2).

  Next, a charged liquid (7) is prepared by applying a voltage from the liquid application device (6) to the liquid to be discharged by the power supply (8). As a result, a potential difference is generated between the charged liquid (7) and the counter electrode (10) provided to face the liquid application device (6) with the collector (2) interposed therebetween. An electric field is formed.

  The charged liquid (7) is attracted to the counter electrode (10) by an electric force due to the action of the electric field, and is discharged from the liquid application device (6) and flies toward the counter electrode (10).

  Then, the charged liquid (7) discharged from the liquid application device (6) comes into contact with the fiber assembly (5) in the course of traveling toward the counter electrode (10), so that the fiber assembly (5) A charged liquid (7) is applied.

The charged liquid (7) is attracted toward the counter electrode (10) by the action of an electric field, so that the fiber assembly (5) to which the charged liquid (7) is applied is electrically connected to the collector (2). The paper is fixed in the downward direction by the force of the paper. Note that the fiber assembly (5) to which the charged liquid (7) is applied can also be obtained by secondary effects such as the weight of the charged liquid (7) and the surface tension and viscosity of the charged liquid (7). , Fixed on the collector (2).

As described above, the method for producing a fiber assembly according to the present invention can fix the fiber assembly (5) on the collecting body (2) using a method that does not depend on the suction force by a suction device (not shown), for example. Therefore, it is difficult to be affected by various properties such as the basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be prepared, and the method of manufacturing the fiber assembly. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fiber assembly (5) from being deformed and the fibers from being scattered from the fiber assembly.

Next, details of each member constituting the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) according to the present invention will be described.

As the spinning dope, for example, a molten polymer obtained by melting a resin or a polymer solution obtained by dissolving a resin in a solvent can be used.

  The type of the resin is not particularly limited as long as it can be spun in the present invention. For example, polyolefin resin (polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, etc.), styrene resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, poly Ether resins (polyether ether ketone, polyacetal, modified polyphenylene ether, aromatic polyether ketone, etc.), polyester resins (polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, Polyarylate, wholly aromatic polyester resin, etc.), polyimide resin, polyamideimide resin, polyamide resin (for example, aromatic polyamide resin, aromatic polyether) Amide resin, nylon resin, acrylic resin, nitrile group resin (eg, polyacrylonitrile), urethane resin, epoxy resin, polysulfone resin (polysulfone, polyethersulfone, etc.), fluorine resin ( Known organic polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride), cellulosic resins, polybenzimidazole resins, or metal alkoxides (methoxides such as silicon, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, boron, tin, and zinc, ethoxide, A polymer obtained by polymerizing a known inorganic compound such as an inorganic polymer obtained by polymerizing propoxide, butoxide, or the like) can be used.

  These polymers may be either a linear polymer or a branched polymer, the polymer may be a block copolymer or a random copolymer, and the polymer has any three-dimensional structure or crystallinity. Even a thing is not specifically limited.

In addition, polymers other than those exemplified above can be used, and a spinning dope comprising two or more polymers including resins other than those exemplified can also be used.

When the above-described resin is dissolved in a solvent, the solvent varies depending on the resin used and the spinning conditions, and is not particularly limited. For example, water, acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl Sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, pyridine, N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, acetonitrile, formic acid, toluene, benzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride , Chloroform, trichloroethane, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, propylene carbonate, and the like. Solvents other than those exemplified can also be used, and mixed solvents in which two or more solvents are mixed, including solvents other than those exemplified, can also be used.

  When the spinning dope is obtained by dissolving the resin as described above in a solvent, the viscosity is particularly limited because it varies depending on the composition of the resin used, the molecular weight of the resin, the composition of the solvent, the concentration of the resin in the spinning dope, and the like. Although it is not a thing, from the point of the applicability to the apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is preferable that it is a density | concentration that a viscosity becomes the range of 10-6000 mPa * s, and it becomes the range of 20-5000 mPa * s. More preferred is the concentration. If the viscosity is less than 10 mPa · s, the viscosity is too low and the spinnability is poor, and there is a tendency that the fiber is difficult to be formed. Tend.

This “viscosity” refers to a value at a shear rate of 100 s ⁻¹ measured at a temperature of 25 ° C. using a viscosity measuring device.

  In the case of a resin in which the spinning dope is melted, the viscosity is not particularly limited because it varies depending on the composition of the resin used, the molecular weight of the resin, and the like. From the viewpoint of applicability to spinning by the spinning start section (1) described later, for example, a spinning stock solution in the case of using polypropylene as a molten resin has a melt index of 10 (g / 10 min) or more. preferable. If the melt index is less than 10 (g / 10 min), the spinning dope becomes difficult to be drawn and tends to be in a fiber shape. The melt index of the polypropylene spinning dope is more preferably 100 (g / 10 min) or more, and more preferably 1000 (g / 10 min) or more.

The melt index refers to the value of the extrusion amount (g / 10 min) when the molten resin is guided to a capillary rheometer and measured based on JISK7199. In order to adjust the viscosity at the time of melting, a viscosity modifier for the resin, an antioxidant, a light stabilizer, etc. so that the spinning dope at spinning or the prepared fiber aggregate (5) is not oxidized or modified by light. May be added.

  The spinning start section (1) refers to a member that can discharge a spinning dope and prepare a thin spinning dope (4). For example, a resin discharge nozzle in a spinning apparatus using a melt blow method or a spun bond method and peripheral members associated therewith, and a method of spinning by discharging a spinning stock solution and a gas flow in parallel (for example, JP 2009-287138 A) Nozzle) and peripheral members associated therewith.

  If the spinning start part (1) can prepare a fiber assembly (5) consisting of a thinned spinning stock solution (4), the spinning stock solution can be charged and discharged or the spinning stock solution can be charged. Alternatively, an electrically neutral spinning stock solution may be discharged. However, it is difficult to apply the charged liquid (7) to the fiber assembly (5) prepared from the charged spinning solution, and the charged liquid (7) causes the fiber assembly (5) to be collected on the collector (2). Therefore, the spinning start portion (1) is preferably a member that can electrically discharge a neutral spinning stock solution to prepare an electrically neutral fiber assembly (5).

  The number of spinning start sections (1) installed, the total amount of spinning stock solution (4) discharged from one or more spinning start sections (1) and its temperature, and the mode of gas flow acting on the spinning stock solution are as follows: Adjust as appropriate.

When a plurality of spinning start sections (1) are installed, different types of spinning stock solutions may be discharged from each spinning start section (1).

  The gas flow acts on the spinning dope, stretches the spinning dope, and plays a role in preparing a thin spinning dope (4).

  Although the kind of gas flow is not limited, For example, air, oxygen, nitrogen, a carbon dioxide, a noble gas, an acidic gas, a basic gas etc. can be prepared individually or in mixture. It is preferable to prepare a gas stream using a gas having low reactivity such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or a rare gas because oxidation or modification of the spinning dope or fiber assembly (5) during spinning can be prevented. .

Suitable modes to be applied to the spinning dope, such as the temperature and humidity of the gas flow acting on the spinning dope, the flow rate and flow rate of the acting gas flow, and the angle formed by the direction of discharge of the spinning dope and the direction of flow of the gas flow, are the required fibers Since it varies depending on the form of the aggregate (5), various physical properties of the spinning dope, temperature and humidity of the spinning environment, etc., adjust accordingly.

  The collection body (2) refers to a member that can collect the thinned spinning dope (4) in a fiberized form and directly accumulate it to prepare the fiber assembly (5).

The material or structure is not particularly limited, but is made of a conductive material such as metal or carbon, or a non-conductive material such as an organic polymer, or a breathable net or perforated plate or fabric (fiber web, Nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knitted fabric, etc.), or a film or flat plate that does not have air permeability can be used. In addition, the nonwoven fabric referred to in the present invention is, for example, entangled fibers by needle punching treatment or hydroentanglement treatment, etc., a binder is added to adhere the fibers, and the fibers are welded by heating. The fabric in which the fibers are integrated by the above method refers to a fabric in which the fibers are not integrated.

  When the material to be laminated with the fiber assembly (5) (for example, fiber web, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knitted fabric, net, film, flat plate, etc.) is used as the collector (2), the fiber assembly (5) And a laminate with the member can be prepared.

  In addition, in FIG. 2, the case where the movable collection body (2) which can convey a fiber assembly (5) is illustrated is illustrated, and the direction in which the fiber assembly (5) is conveyed by the collection body (2) Is shown as the A direction. When the collection body (2) is movable, such as a conveyor, the fiber assembly (5) can be prepared continuously. In particular, when a winding device (not shown) is provided at the end in the A direction of the collecting body (5), a long fiber assembly (5) can be prepared.

The optimum distance between the spinning start portion (1) and the collection body (5) varies depending on the fiber assembly (5) aspect to be obtained, various physical properties of the spinning dope, spinning conditions such as temperature and humidity, etc. adjust.

  The liquid applicator (6) can apply the charged liquid (7) to the fiber assembly (5) in the form of droplets, mist, column flow, or strips, nozzles or slits. A member having a liquid discharge portion.

The material and structure are not particularly limited, but if the liquid discharge portion is made of a conductive material (for example, metal) having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ω · cm or less, a power supply to be described later It is preferable to connect (8) to the discharge unit because the liquid can be charged.

In FIG. 2, a voltage is applied to the liquid by connecting the power supply (8) to the liquid applicator (6), but the counter electrode (10) described later is applied with a voltage by the power supply (not shown). In this case, a voltage may be applied to the liquid by grounding the liquid applicator (6) (not shown).

  In addition, when the charged liquid (7) is applied to the thinned spinning dope (4) before being collected on the collection body (2), the fibers constituting the fiber assembly (5) Various physical properties such as the fiber diameter and the manner in which the fibers are bonded or entangled with each other may change various properties such as basis weight, thickness, surface roughness, and porosity of the finally obtained fiber aggregate (5). There is.

Therefore, the charged liquid (7) discharged from the liquid application device (6) is not applied to the thinned spinning dope (4) before being collected by the collection body (2), and the fibers It is preferable to appropriately adjust the optimum distance and position between the liquid application device (6) and the fiber assembly (5) so as to be applied only to the assembly (5).

  The number of installed liquid applicators (6), the discharge flow rate, the total discharge amount, and the temperature of the charged liquid (7) discharged from one or more liquid applicators (6) are as follows. Adjust appropriately as it varies depending on the physical properties of (5), the spinning conditions such as the discharge speed and discharge rate of the raw spinning solution from the spinning start section (1), and the transport speed of the fiber assembly (5) in the A direction. .

When a plurality of liquid application devices (6) are installed, different types of liquids may be ejected from each liquid application device (6).

  The power supply (8) refers to a member that can apply a voltage to the liquid so that the charged liquid (7) can be discharged from the liquid application device (6). Although not particularly limited, a DC high voltage generator, a Van de Graf electromotive machine, or the like can be used.

Note that the liquid may be charged by connecting the power supply (8) to a liquid discharge unit such as a nozzle or a slit of the liquid application device or directly connected to the liquid.

  The amount of voltage applied to the liquid by the power supply (8) depends on the physical properties of the prepared fiber assembly (5), the spinning conditions such as the discharge speed and discharge amount of the spinning dope from the spinning start section (1), the fiber assembly Since it varies depending on the conveyance speed of the body (5) in the A direction, it should be adjusted appropriately. When the potential difference between the charged liquid (7) and the counter electrode (10) exceeds 10 kV / cm, the power supply (8) or the liquid application device (6) and the counter electrode (10) There is a tendency that dielectric breakdown tends to occur, and when it is less than 1 kV / cm, there is a tendency that the charged liquid (7) is difficult to be discharged from the liquid application device (6).

Therefore, the potential difference between the charged liquid (7) and the counter electrode (10) is preferably 1 kV / cm to 10 kV / cm, more preferably 2 kV / cm to 8 kV / cm. More preferably, it is / cm-6kV / cm.

Further, if a potential difference is generated between the charged liquid (7) and a counter electrode (10) described later, an electric field is formed between them. Therefore, the polarity that the power supply (8) charges the liquid may be different from the polarity that the counter electrode (10) is charged, or the same polarity as long as the charge amount is different from each other. Good.

  The counter electrode (10) refers to a member that is charged so that a potential difference exists between the counter electrode (10) and the charged liquid (7).

The material and structure are not particularly limited, but can be made of a conductive material having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ω · cm or less (for example, metal or carbon).

Although FIG. 2 shows the case where the ground (9b) is connected to the counter electrode (10), the above-mentioned charged liquid can be obtained by newly connecting a power supply (not shown) to the counter electrode (10). A voltage may be applied to the counter electrode (10) so that there is a potential difference with respect to (7).

In the present invention, the counter electrode (10) is provided so as to face the liquid application device (6) with the collector (2) interposed therebetween, but the position where the counter electrode (10) is provided is the prepared fiber assembly ( Spinning conditions such as the physical properties of 5), the spinning speed and discharge rate of the raw spinning solution from the spinning start section (1), the transport speed of the fiber aggregate (5) in the A direction, and the fiber aggregate (5). Since it varies depending on the amount of charged liquid (7) and the amount of charge, adjust accordingly.

  In addition, when the manufacturing apparatus (200) of the fiber assembly according to the present invention includes a fixing device that can fix the fiber assembly (5), which will be described later, on the collecting body (2), the fixing device is charged. It can also be used as a counter electrode (10).

When the fixing device is a suction device (not shown), a porous conductive material such as a metal mesh is provided at the gas suction port of the suction device (not shown), and this is connected to the counter electrode (10). can do. In order to prevent the suction device (not shown) from being damaged by charging, the porous conductive material is connected to the gas suction port through an insulator material (for example, rubber) having a volume resistivity greater than 10 ⁹ Ω · cm. Preferably it is provided.

  The charged liquid (7) is prepared by applying a voltage to the liquid described later from a power supply (8) or ground (not shown).

At this time, the polarity of the charged liquid (7) may be positive or negative as long as it is attracted to the counter electrode (10) by an electric force, but it is transformed into a fiber assembly (5). By adjusting the mode in which the voltage of the liquid application device (6) and the counter electrode (10) is applied so that the occurrence of the occurrence of sag and the scattering of the fibers from the fiber assembly (5) are preferably prevented It is preferable to confirm the polarity as appropriate.

  As the liquid, polar liquids such as water, N, N dimethylformamide and alcohol, and nonpolar liquids such as hexane and toluene can be selected or used in combination. Further, the temperature is preferably adjusted as appropriate so that the fibers are suitably prevented from scattering from the fiber assembly (5).

  At this time, an additive such as salt may be added to the liquid in order to improve the charging performance of the liquid. The type of additive to be used is preferably selected as appropriate, but a salt composed of an organic acid and a nitrogen compound that volatilizes at a temperature lower than the melting point of the resin component constituting the fiber assembly (5) is used as the additive. Is preferred.

By using such a salt, when removing the charged liquid (7) and the added salt from the fiber assembly (5), the fiber assembly (5) can be easily heated. The salt can be removed from the fiber assembly (5).

  In FIG. 2, the fiber assembly (5) can be fixed onto the collector (2), such as a suction device (not shown), which can fix the fiber assembly (5) to the collector (2) by suction of a gas flow. Although a fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) without a fixing device is shown, in the present invention, the fiber assembly (5) is further fixed on the collecting body (2) by using the fixing device together. You may be able to do it.

  At this time, the length in the A direction of the fixing device is preferably longer than the length of the counter electrode (10) so that the fiber assembly (5) can be efficiently fixed onto the collecting body (2). It is preferable that the length in the depth direction of the paper perpendicular to the A direction is longer than the length of either the collector (2) or the counter electrode (10).

In addition, the number of fixing devices installed in the fiber assembly manufacturing apparatus (200) according to the present invention is appropriately adjusted so that the fiber assembly (5) can be efficiently fixed onto the collection body (2).

When using, for example, a suction device (not shown) as another device that can fix the fiber assembly (5) on the collection body (2), the suction device (not shown) includes the collection body (2) and the counter electrode ( 10) or in the lower direction of the paper surface of the counter electrode (10).

In addition, a dust collecting device such as a suction device (not shown) that can collect dust and dirt floating during the production of the fiber assembly, fibers dropped from the fiber assembly (5), etc. The spinning space can be kept clean by installing it at the end of the paper surface in the depth direction perpendicular to the A direction.

  The prepared fiber assembly (5) is then subjected to a treatment for removing the charged liquid (7) from the fiber assembly (5) so that the fiber assembly (5) is in an electrically neutral state. The fibers can be used for various purposes, for example, by performing a treatment, entanglement, adhesion, or heating to integrate the fibers together.

Further, the fiber assembly (5) can be used for various applications without being subjected to the above-described treatment.

  As a method for removing the charged liquid (7) from the fiber assembly (5), for example, a liquid charged from the fiber assembly (5) by washing the fiber assembly (5) with another liquid. (7) removal method, ultrasonic wave or vibration is applied to remove the charged liquid (7) from the fiber assembly (5), or the fiber assembly (5) is naturally dried or heated. The removal method such as a method of removing the charged liquid (7) can be appropriately selected.

Examples of the apparatus that can be used when heating the fiber assembly (5) include known apparatuses such as a heating roller such as a can dryer and calendar, a hot air dryer, a hot air dryer, an electric furnace, and a heat plate. Moreover, the temperature conditions in the heat treatment are adjusted as appropriate.

Furthermore, the fiber assembly (5) prepared as described above is laminated with fabrics such as fiber webs, nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nets, films, flat plates, etc., and used as laminates for various applications. can do.

Since the present invention is provided with a method for fixing a fiber assembly, which is hardly affected by various properties such as the basis weight, average fiber diameter, and air permeability of the fiber assembly to be prepared, and the method for producing the fiber assembly. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber assembly that can prevent deformation of the formed fiber assembly and prevent the fibers from scattering from the prepared fiber assembly.

100 ... Manufacturing apparatus for fiber assembly according to the prior art
200 ... Manufacturing apparatus for fiber assembly according to the present invention
1 ... Spinning start part
2 ... Collector
3 ... Suction device
4 ... Thinned spinning dope
5 ... Fiber assembly
6 ... Liquid applicator
7 ... Charged liquid
8 ... Power supply
9a ... Power supply ground
9b ・ ・ ・ Gathering ground
10 ... Counter electrode
A: Direction in which the collecting body conveys the fiber assembly

Claims (2)

(1) A process in which a gas flow is allowed to act on the spinning dope and the spinning dope is stretched to reduce the diameter,
(2) collecting the thinned spinning dope into a collecting body to prepare a fiber assembly;
(3) A step of applying a charged liquid to the fiber assembly and fixing the fiber assembly to the collector by an electric force;
A method for producing a fiber assembly, comprising:
(1) A spinning device that allows a gas flow to act on the spinning dope and stretch the spinning dope to reduce the diameter,
(2) a collecting body capable of collecting the thinned spinning dope and preparing a fiber assembly;
(3) a liquid application device capable of applying a charged liquid to the fiber assembly;
(4) The counter electrode that can be charged to the opposite charge to the charged liquid,
An apparatus for producing a fiber assembly, comprising:

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