JPH05345358A - Production of cushioning member made of fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve form stability and to improve and stabilize strength, elongation and elastic recovery by opening fibers having a powdery hot-melt adhesive bonded to the surfaces thereof to transfer opened fibers by air and filling a lower mold with the fibers in a random oriented state to compact the fibers and melting the hot-melt adhesive to bond fiber groups. CONSTITUTION:Opened fiber groups 14 are preheated while transferred along with air streams to be sent into a mixer 4 and a powdery hot-melt adhesive 6 is bonded to the surfaces of fibers in the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4. One group among the hot-melt adhesive applied fiber groups 9 sent into a storage tank 8 from the mixer 4 is sent into the molding part 17a of a lower mold 17 by air streams. Further, the hot-melt adhesive 6 is heated to melting temp. while the fiber group received in the molding part 17a is compacted between the lower mold 17 and an upper mold to mold a fibrous cushioning member wherein fiber groups are mutually bonded by the hot-melt adhesive 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fiber cushion body applied to an automobile seat or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when manufacturing this kind of fiber cushion body, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, raw cotton 50 is defibrated by a defibrating machine 51 and sent to a card machine 52 and spun from the card machine 52. The fibrous web 53 is continuously folded and laminated, and the laminated body 54 laminated in 7 to 8 layers is temporarily compressed while being heated while being lightly compressed by the clamping device 55, and the compressed and provisionally set original fabric 56. Each piece 5 after being wound into a roll and then cut into a plurality of shapes
7 is dipped in the binder solution 59 in the dip tank 58, and then the binder-applied fragment 6 taken out from the binder solution 59.
0 was superposed and set on the molding die 61, and the binder-applied fragments 60 set in this state were heated under pressure to harden the binder to manufacture a fiber cushion body.

[0003]

In the above-described method for manufacturing a fiber cushion body, the fiber web 53, the laminated body 54,
Since each of the raw fabrics 56 has a planar shape and cannot form a molded product having a complicated three-dimensional shape, there is a problem that the shape of the product is limited and the thickness of the product depends on the number of laminated fiber layers. Since it is necessary to adjust the height, the number of man-hours increases and the work of switching the number of layers becomes complicated, and the fiber cushion body has a laminated structure in which fiber layers are laminated in multiple layers. Although the strength of the body in the ply direction is maintained, the problem of easy delamination due to insufficient strength in the thickness direction and the strength characteristics and cushioning properties of the cushion body because the constituent fibers are oriented in a certain direction as a whole However, there is a problem in that the directionality with respect to elongation and the like arises, and in particular the performance in the thickness direction deteriorates, and the cushioning properties required as a cushion body are lacking. The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[0004]

The present invention includes a predetermined amount or more of fibers having a powdery hot-melt adhesive adhered to the surface thereof, or fibers having a hot-melt type heat-bonding portion formed therein.
In the defibrated state, the fibers of the group are transferred by an air flow through a pipeline and fed into the molding part of the lower mold, and the fiber group filled in this molding part is clamped and heated between the lower mold and the upper mold, The fiber cushion body is manufactured in a state in which the fiber group is bonded by the hot melt adhesive or the heat bonding portion.

[0005]

[Function] A fiber group in which a powdery hot-melt type adhesive agent is fixed on the surface or a predetermined amount of fibers having a hot-melt type heat-bonded portion is transferred by an air flow after defibration, and its orientation state Fill the required amount in the molding part of the lower mold while keeping the random number, and press the fiber group filled in this molding part to melt the hot melt adhesive or the heat bonding part while molding the molded product. Then, the fiber group is bonded.

[0006]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it is possible to improve the morphological stability of the fibrous cushion body by adhering all the constituent fiber groups of the fibrous cushion body in a uniform state. At the same time, the fiber group is conveyed by the air flow and filled in the molding part of the lower mold to form a molded product, so that the constituent fiber groups of the fiber cushion body are randomly oriented and the directionality of the fiber group is lost. The various properties such as strength, elongation, elastic recovery, etc. of the fiber cushion body in the thickness direction and the length direction are made uniform, and the various properties of the fiber cushion body can be improved and stabilized. The quality can be improved. In addition, since the defibrated fiber group is fed into the molding portion of the lower mold to form a molded product, a molded product having an arbitrary three-dimensional shape and thickness can be manufactured, and a fiber cushion having a complicated shape can be manufactured. There is an effect that the body can be molded. Further, in the conventional fiber cushion manufacturing process, a fiber web spinning process,
Since each step such as the step of laminating the fiber web, the step of cutting the raw material, the step of immersing the cut pieces in the binder liquid, etc. is not required, the manufacturing process of the fiber cushion body is simplified and labor is saved to reduce the manufacturing cost. can do.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, one embodiment of the apparatus used in the present invention will be described. In a production line for producing a fiber cushion body C for an automobile seat, raw cotton fiber 1
The beater 1a is rotatably installed in the defibrating machine 1 for defibrating 0, and the defibrated fiber group 1 is provided at the outlet of the defibrating machine 1.
The base end portion of the first pipeline 12 that conveys 4 together with the air flow is connected.

A pump 2 having a fan 2a is installed near the base end of the first pipeline 12, and
A bent portion 12a bent in a zigzag shape is formed in the middle of the pipeline 12.

The bent portion 12a of the first pipeline 12 is inserted into a heater 3 for preheating the fiber group flowing therein to the melting temperature of the hot melt adhesive.

The tip portion of the first pipeline 12 is connected to a fiber feeding port of a mixer 4 for transferring the preheated fiber group and the powdery hot melt adhesive 6 while mixing them.

A hopper 5 for introducing the powdered hot melt adhesive 6 into the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4 is installed above the mixer 4, and a hot melt adhesive 16 is placed on the surface in the mixing chamber 4a. A screw 11 for transferring the fixed hot melt adhesive-attached fiber group 9 forward is horizontally rotatably installed.

A collecting pipe 7 is arranged between the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4 and the hopper 5 to collect the hot melt adhesive 6 that has not fallen onto the surface of the fibers and returns it into the hopper 5. ..

At the outlet of the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4, there is provided a second pipeline 19 in which a pump 13 is installed near the base end.
The base ends of are connected.

The tip of the second pipeline 19 is connected to the inlet of a storage tank 8 for cooling and storing the fiber group 9 with hot melt adhesive transferred from the mixer 4.

The outlet of the storage tank 8 is connected to a base end of a third pipeline 15 for transferring the fiber group 9 in the storage tank 8 to the lower mold 17 of the molding apparatus, which is installed midway. ing.

The tip of the third pipeline 15 is a lower mold 17.
The upper mold (not shown) which is arranged at a position facing the molding part 17a of the above, and which presses the fiber group 9 with hot melt adhesive filled in the molding part 17a between the lower mold and the upper mold 17. Is installed.

A large number of suction holes are formed through the molding portion 17a of the lower die 17, and the lower die 17 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) by a pipe line 18.

Next, a method of manufacturing the fiber cushion body C using the above-mentioned manufacturing line will be described. The fiber group 14 thrown into the defibrating machine 1 and defibrated is melted by the hot melt adhesive 6 and the fibers are melted while being conveyed into the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4 through the first pipeline 12 together with the air flow. After being preheated to a temperature at which it does not melt, it is fed into the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4.

The fiber group fed into the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4 is mixed with the powdery hot melt adhesive 6 dropped from the hopper 5 while being transferred by the screw 11, and the hot melt adhesive 6 is heated by the heat of the fiber. In the state of being melted and fixed to the surface of the fiber, the fiber group 9 with the hot melt adhesive is sent out from the mixing chamber 4a, sent into the storage tank 8 through the second pipeline 19 and cooled in the storage tank 8. And stored.

Of the fiber group 9 with hot melt adhesive in the storage tank 8, a group of fibers 9 with hot melt adhesive corresponding to the weight of one fiber cushion body C from the storage tank 8 is obtained. It is conveyed along with the air flow through the 3 pipeline 15 and sent into the molding part 17a of the lower mold 17 to be filled in the molding part 17a.

When a group of fibers 9 with a hot melt adhesive is filled in the molding section 17a, the air in the lower mold 17 is sucked and the group of fibers 9 with a hot melt adhesive in the molding section 17a is removed. While being adsorbed on the surface of the molding portion 17a, the fiber 9 with the hot melt adhesive in the molding portion 17a is moved to the lower mold 17
And the upper mold that has descended are clamped and heated to the melting temperature of the hot melt adhesive 6, and the molded product is press-molded into a predetermined shape in a state where the fiber groups are bonded to each other by the melted hot melt adhesive. After the molded product is cooled and taken out from the molded portion 17a of the lower mold 17, the fiber cushion body C can be manufactured.

Next, the operation and effect of the embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. In this example, the fiber group 14 that has been disentangled is preheated while being transferred along with the air flow, and then fed into the mixer 4, and in the mixing chamber 4a of the mixer 4, the powdered hot melt adhesive 6 and the fiber The hot melt adhesive 6 is fixed to the surface of the fiber while mixing with the group, and then,
One fiber group of the fiber groups 9 with hot melt adhesive fed from the mixer 4 into the storage tank 8 is fed into the molding portion 17a of the lower mold 17 by an air flow to be filled in the molding portion 17a. While pressing the above-mentioned fiber group between the lower mold 17 and the upper mold, it is heated to a temperature at which the hot melt adhesive 6 melts, and a fiber cushion body in which the fiber group is bonded to each other by the hot melt adhesive is formed. It is configured to be molded.

Therefore, the entire fiber group of the fiber cushion body C is adhered in an even state to bond the fiber cushion body C.
The shape stability of the fiber cushion body C can be improved, and the fiber group is conveyed by the air flow and filled in the molding portion 17a of the lower mold 17 to mold the molded product. Since the groups are randomly oriented and the directionality of the fiber group is lost, various characteristics such as strength, elongation and elastic recovery in the thickness direction and the length direction of the fiber cushion body C become uniform, and the fiber cushion body C It is possible to improve and stabilize various characteristics of the above, and in particular, the cushioning property can be improved.

Further, since the defibrated fiber group is fed into the molding portion 17a of the lower mold 17 to mold a molded product, a molded product having an arbitrary three-dimensional shape and thickness can be manufactured.
There is an effect that it is possible to form a fiber cushion body having a complicated shape.

Further, in the conventional manufacturing process of the fiber cushion body, each process such as the spinning process of the fiber web, the laminating process of the fiber web, the cutting process of the raw material, the dipping process of the cut piece in the binder liquid, etc. is unnecessary. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the fiber cushion body can be simplified and omitted, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. In this example, a fiber cushion body C is used.
A hot-melt type heat-adhesive fiber group or a fiber group containing a predetermined amount or more of the heat-adhesive fiber is used as the constituent fibers.

As the heat-adhesive fibers, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a hot-melt type heat-adhesive portion 20a for covering the non-heat-adhesive portion 20b of the core portion is formed in the surface layer portion so as to have a core-sheath structure. Fiber 20 is applied.

[0028] The raw cotton 21 of the heat-adhesive fiber 20 or the raw cotton mixed with a predetermined amount or more of the heat-adhesive fiber 20 is used for the defibrating machine 1.
The fiber group 22 that has been defibrated by the defibration is transferred together with the air flow through the first pipeline 26,
1 of the fiber groups 22 in the storage tank 8
A group of fibers 23 corresponding to the weight of the individual fiber cushion bodies C are transferred together with the air flow through the second pipeline 27 and fed into the molding section 17a of the lower mold 17, and the molding section 1
While heating the fiber group 23 filled in 7a between the lower mold 17 and the upper mold, the fiber group 23 is heated to a temperature at which the heat-bonded portion 20a of the heat-bondable fiber 20 melts, and the fiber group 23 is bonded to each other. Then, a fiber cushion body C molded into a predetermined shape is manufactured.

According to the method of the second embodiment, the manufacturing process of the fiber cushion body C can be further simplified and the labor can be saved. Since the other operations and effects of the second embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a production line for a fiber cushion body showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fiber cushion body.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a fiber with a hot melt adhesive.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heat-bondable fiber used in a second example.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a production line for a fiber cushion body according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a conventional production line for a fiber cushion body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Powdered Hot Melt Adhesive 9 Fiber Group with Hot Melt Adhesive 14,22 Fiber Group 17 Lower Mold 20 Thermal Adhesive Fiber 20a Thermal Adhesive Section 23 Fiber Group C Fiber Cushion

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B29L 31:58 4F

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A group of fibers containing a predetermined amount or more of fibers having a powdered hot-melt adhesive adhered to the surface or fibers having a hot-melt type heat-bonded portion are defibrated through air through a pipeline. Flow into the molding part of the lower mold, and the fiber group filled in the molding part is clamped and heated between the lower mold and the upper mold to melt the fiber group, or the hot-melt adhesive or A method for manufacturing a fiber cushion body, which comprises manufacturing a fiber cushion body molded in a state of being bonded by a heat-bonding portion.