Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
  • B65H45/02—Folding limp material without application of pressure to define or form crease lines
  • B65H45/06—Folding webs
  • B65H45/10—Folding webs transversely
  • B65H45/101—Folding webs transversely in combination with laying, i.e. forming a zig-zag pile
  • B65H45/103—Folding webs transversely in combination with laying, i.e. forming a zig-zag pile by a carriage which reciprocates above the laying station
  • B65H45/105—Folding webs transversely in combination with laying, i.e. forming a zig-zag pile by a carriage which reciprocates above the laying station coacting with fold holders

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a layered, cross-lapped web from web material having a predetermined width.
• the present invention relates to a web forming system including conveyor means having a web support surface and moveable in a predetermined direction, cross-lapping means moveable relative to the conveyor means and adapted to fold the web material and deliver it to the web support surface to form a layered cross-lapped web on the conveyor means, and means disposed adjacent to the conveyor means web support surface and a web material fold adapted to induce a suction against the web material to position the fold at a predetermined location relative to the conveyor web support surface.
• the present invention includes conveyor means having a web support surface and moveable in a predetermined direction.
• Cross-lapping means is disposed above the conveyor means and adapted to told web material and deliver it to the web support surface to form a layered cross-lapped web on the conveyor means.
• On each side of the conveyor means a pair of Coanda nozzles are disposed, said nozzles being spaced from one another at distance substantially equal to the width of the web material.
• the nozzles of each pair of Coanda nozzles are oriented with respect to one another and with respect to the web material so as to induce a suction against the web material in directions tending to laterally spread the web material and straighten it along its line of fold.
• Additional Coanda nozzles are preferably provided to maintain the folds in position on the conveyor belt as it is transported thereby to a downstream work station where the web material is needle punched or otherwise secured together to form an integral web.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view, partially broken away, illustrating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
• the apparatus of the present invention includes an endless conveyor belt 12 constructed of any suitable material which is looped about rollers 14, 16 and 18, at least one of which is connected to a prime mover means (not shown) to transport the belt in the direction of the arrow, i.e. in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.
• a prime mover means not shown
• Disposed above conveyor belt 12 are a pair of lapping rolls 22 and 24 operatively associated with and mounted on lapping table or frame 26.
• the rotating lapping rolls 22 and 24 reciprocally move as a pair back and forth above the web support surface of conveyor belt 12 at right angles to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt web support surface.
• web material 30 Disposed between lapping rolls 22 and 24 is web material 30 which is delivered from a parent roll (not shown) to be cross-lapped and layered upon the web support surface of conveyor belt 12 to form a web of predetermined width and basis weight. This is accomplished by the reciprocal movement of rotating lapping rolls 22 and 24 which deliver the web material back and forth onto the web support surface of the moveable conveyor and form folds in the web material as the lapping rolls reach the end of each reciprocal path of movement near each edge of the conveyor belt 12.
• the lapping rolls 22 and 24 make several passes across the conveyor belt before the conveyor belt itself has moved a distance equal to the width of web material 30. In this manner, a multi-ply web 32 is formed. Phantom lines are used to illustrate the web material laps incorporated in the completed web and are identified by reference numeral 36.
• the conveyor belt 12 delivers layered, cross-lapped web 32 to a needle punch or other suitable device 40 utilized to secure the layers of the web 32 together.
• Coanda nozzles are utilized to position the folds of the web material.
• a pair of Coanda nozzles 44 and 46 are provided near the edge of conveyor belt 12 in the manner illustrated.
• Coanda nozzles 44 and 46 are spaced from one another a distance substantially equal to the width of web material 30.
• nozzles 44 and 46 are oriented substantially 90 degrees with respect to one another, or approximately 45 degrees relative to the direction of movement of conveyor belt 12.
• Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of nozzle 44. It will be appreciated that the same construction is utilized for the other nozzles employed in the system.
• Coanda nozzle 44 as disclosed, is what is known in the art as a two-dimensional Coanda nozzle. While any suitable two-dimensional Coanda nozzle may be utilized to practice the teachings of the present invention, the illustrated form is preferred because it may be readily constructed from "off the shelf" components.
• Nozzle 44 includes a foil element 50 having a generally smoothly curved fluid flow attachment surface 52. Attached to foil element 50, as by means of intermediate structural element 56 , is an L-shaped member 60 which extends along the full length of foil element 50.
• the downwardly extending leg of L-shaped member 60 forms a restricted opening in the form of a slit 62.
• means may be provided for adjusting the width of slit 62.
• a screw and lock nut arrangement such as that indicated by reference numeral 63 may be employed for this purpose.
• a conduit 66 is connected to L-shaped member 60 and the interior of conduit 66 is in fluid flow communication with the chamber.
• Conduit 66 is connected at its other end to a source of compressed air (not shown) whereby the nozzle chamber may be pressurized and the flow of a thin layer of compressed air induced downwardly through slit 62.
• the flow of compressed air will attach itself to fluid flow attachment surface 52 and proceed in the direction of the arrows.
• movement of the high speed pressurized air causes the entrainment of ambient atmospheric air and causes same to move in the same general direction.
• the nozzle be positioned so that the primary axis of its foil element will form an angle ⁇ with the conveyor belt web support surface falling within the range of about 20° to about 40°.
• Coanda nozzles 44 and 46 are oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the direction of movement of conveyor belt 12, when the fold of web material 30 is simultaneously entrained by nozzles 44 and 46, entrainment and suction generated thereby grab the corners of the disposited web material pulling them under the nozzles and toward the edge of the conveyor belt 12. Simultaneous lateral spreading of the web material fold is also produced so that the fold extends between the nozzles in a straight line. Since nozzles 44 and 46 are in alignment with the direction of movement of conveyor belt 12, the fold will also be so aligned.
• a third Coanda nozzles 70 is preferably positioned along the web material fold line between the nozzles 44 and 46 of the pair of nozzles. While nozzles 44 and 46 are preferably in the order of 12 inches long to provide a sufficient flow area over the edge of the web material, nozzle 70 may be only half as long since it is used solely for the purpose of web fold guidance. Nozzle 70 is preferably positioned so that its pressurized air exit slit barely touches the edge of the web fold. Suction generated by this nozzle pulls the fold down and guides it while it travels to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
• a fourth Coanda nozzle 76 is positioned at the end of conveyor belt 12 at the inlet of needle punch 40.
• Nozzle 76 being disposed at approximately 45 degrees to the web edge, guides and presses down the corners of the folds as they enter the needling apparatus.
• the length of nozzle 76 preferably approximates that of nozzles 44 and 46.
• One such nozzle 80 disposed at right angles to the direction of web movement, is illustrated. The degree to which the nozzles are pressurized depends upon such factors as slit size, web material basis weight, etc.
• nozzles 46 and 70 While the arrangement disclosed may be operated with the nozzles under continuous pressure, the use of pilot operated valves on nozzles 46 and 70, and possibly nozzle 44 also, may be desireable to minimize air consumption. Air flow to these nozzles would be turned on just before the approach of the oncoming lap and turned off a short time later through a conveniently suitable switch arrangement activated for example by the position and movement of lapping rolls 22 and 24.
• Coanda nozzles are operatively associated with the other edge of conveyor belt 12 that has been broken away and not illustrated for purposes of convenience and simplicity.

Landscapes

• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22201359

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (18)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1979
  • 1979-10-22 US US06/086,858 patent/US4279610A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1980
  • 1980-09-26 WO PCT/US1980/001286 patent/WO1981001136A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1980-09-26 JP JP55502563A patent/JPS6027617B2/ja not_active Expired
  • 1980-09-26 DE DE8080902149T patent/DE3068698D1/de not_active Expired
• 1981
  • 1981-05-04 EP EP80902149A patent/EP0038350B1/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (4)

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