WO2015000690A1

WO2015000690A1 - Method and compact device for producing non-woven fabric

Info

Publication number: WO2015000690A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/062625
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert Aust; Kai PÖHLER; Egon FRIESENHAHN
Original assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-07-04
Filing date: 2014-06-17
Publication date: 2015-01-08

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a non-woven fabric, according to which a non-woven is formed in a former, the resulting web of non-woven material is dewatered further and the web of non-woven material dewatered further is subsequently dried using a thermal drying device, especially until the final dry content is obtained. According to the invention, the further dewatering of the web of non-woven material includes dewatering using a belt press, wherein the belt press comprises a roller around which at least one inner belt, which contacts the roller and is preferably in the form of a continuous belt, and an outer press belt, which is preferably in the form of a continuous belt, are wrapped in order to form an extended press gap, wherein the web of non-woven material is arranged between the inner belt and the outer press belt at least near the roller, and wherein to produce a mechanical pressure acting on the web of non-woven material situated between the two belts, the press belt is pressed against the roller with a belt tension of at least 15 kN/m, and in this way the web of non-woven material and the inner belt are pressed against the roller. According to the invention, the belt press is arranged directly upstream of the thermal drying device in the direction of travel of the web of non-woven material. A device suitable for carrying out the method is also provided.

Description

METHOD AND COMPACT DEVICE FOR PRODUCING

FLEECE The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a nonwoven fabric.

A nonwoven web is a web of limited length fibers, filaments or cut yarns of any kind and origin, which in some way form a nonwoven (ie, a fibrous web) and in some way have been joined together. Nonwoven fabrics include fiber webs made by interlacing yarns such as those used in weaving, knitting, knitting, lace making, braiding and the manufacture of tufted products. Also films and papers are not among the nonwovens.

Nonwovens and technical paper products are typically produced in installations with a high-density oblique wire former, followed by a transfer area, which makes it possible to transfer the nonwoven web of material formed from the nonwoven web without an open draw into a dryer section. In this case, the removal of the nonwoven material web from the forming fabric of the former takes place in the region and with the assistance of a suction tube or box or a suction roll.

The consistency in the headbox of the former is usually in the range of 0.01 to 0.1%. In this case, a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device is typically used as the drying device of the dryer section. puts. Suction boxes are usually installed in the transfer area to increase the dry content of the nonwoven web prior to entering the dryer section. However, the previous production facilities have the particular disadvantage that the thermal energy consumption in the dryer section is very high and the quality of the nonwoven fabric produced is impaired, which is particularly due to the fact that until the nonwoven material web enters the thermal drying device, typically TAD or air drying device, the drying section can not be maintained a uniform moisture cross profile.

The furnish in the former may be at least partially made from natural fibers such as northern bleached kraft pulp (NBKP), hardwood pulp (LBKP), abaca fiber or cotton pulp, at least partially from man-made fibers such as viscose, at least partially from synthetic fibers such as polyester or Polyamide, at least partially made of mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, at least partially made of carbon fibers and / or a mixture of any of the aforementioned substances, wherein the fibers used can be up to 40mm long.

The wide range of products produced by the relevant production equipment or machines includes, inter alia, Teabag paper, overlay papers, coffee filter paper for coffee pads, wrapping paper and / or the like. For some of these papers, synthetic fibers are used to meet the requirements of quality and technical properties.

Known processes for the production of nonwovens generally include nonwoven formation, nonwoven bonding and subsequent dewatering. Different methods of web formation are, for example, in WO 2007/018960 A2. In this case, the nonwoven can be formed in particular by a dry process, a wet process and / or an extrusion process. In principle, any combinations of such web-forming methods are also conceivable.

The subsequent nonwoven consolidation can be done, for example, by the so-called hydroentanglement process - which is also called "spunlacing". In this case, the formed nonwoven is solidified by entanglement of the fibers, wherein the entangling is effected by swirling, in particular by acting on the nonwoven focused high-pressure water jets.

In particular, after such a solidification by the hydroentanglement process, the formed nonwoven material web has a relatively high humidity, which subsequently has to be removed again from the material web.

In order to reduce the costs for the subsequent drying process and in particular a subsequent thermal drying, suction tubes or suction boxes subjected to vacuum have hitherto been used following the hydroentanglement. With such suction tubes or suction boxes wanted to increase the dry content of the nonwoven web as much as possible, without sacrificing volume.

However, such drainage using suction pipes or suction boxes brings a number of disadvantages. Thus, the desired uniform moisture cross profile of the nonwoven material web is destroyed or at least impaired, which is particularly due to air losses at the material web edges due to a non-constant width of the web and on the technology of some suction tubes or boxes. The air loss at the material web edges also brings a high energy consumption with it. Depending on basis weight, Nonwoven fabric composition and structure of the nonwoven material web, which may also be structured or perforated, for example, is limited to the dry content of the nonwoven material web obtained after dewatering. Due to the relatively high vacuum, it may be present on the transfer belt concerned, via which the nonwoven web is fed via the suction tubes or boxes, which is usually a cloth belt, a forming fabric or a nonwoven structuring and / or perforating structuring belt, come to a loss of fibers by so-called "fiber plucking". The plucked fibers pollute the wastewater and are lost to the manufacturing process. Fiber losses occur mainly due to air losses at the edges of the nonwoven web, cracking and / or breakage of the fibers and suction of the fibers into the suction boxes.

Fibers drawn into the dewatering system tend to contaminate the water used for water-jet solidification and make regeneration and filtration more difficult, particularly when using fiber pulp.

For example, DE 10 2006 042 507 A1 discloses the use of a shoe press for dewatering a nonwoven material web. Although such a shoe press, viewed in the web running direction, has an extended press nip or press nip, as compared to a nip. Due to the relatively high pressure of the shoe press, however, it comes before the press nip the shoe press to a disturbing water retention. In addition, the relatively high pressure of the shoe press leads to a reduction in the volume of the nonwoven fabric.

Another disadvantage of the known devices for nonwoven production is that they are very large and space-intensive. Therefore, the invention has for its object to provide a method and an apparatus of the type mentioned, with which the aforementioned problems are eliminated in the simplest and most reliable manner. In particular, in order to reduce the energy requirement in the thermal drying device, an efficient and cost-effective dewatering of the formed nonwoven material web should be achieved while avoiding water congestion before it enters the thermal drying device. In addition, the most uniform possible moisture profile of the material web should be maintained until the nonwoven material web enters the thermal drying device. Furthermore, the device necessary for carrying out the method should be as compact as possible or space-saving.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a device suitable in particular for carrying out the method having the features of claim 44.

Accordingly, the invention provides a process for the production of a nonwoven fabric in which a nonwoven is formed in a former, then the further dewatered nonwoven material web is further dehydrated and the further dewatered nonwoven web is subsequently dried by means of a thermal drying device, in particular to the final dry content. The further dewatering of the nonwoven material web comprises the dewatering by means of a belt press which comprises a roller around which at least one inner band resting against the roller and an outer press belt are wound to form a press nip or press nip extended in the running direction of the nonwoven material web. The nonwoven material web, together with at least the inner band and the press belt therebetween, is guided through the extended press nip of the belt press. The press belt is pressed against the roller with a belt tension of at least 15 kN / m in order to press the nonwoven material web and the inner belt against the roller, wherein the belt press is arranged in the running direction of the nonwoven material web immediately before the thermal drying device.

Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention as well as further features of the method and the device will become apparent from the subclaims and the following description.

The inner band and the outer press belt are, in particular, circulating endless belts, the nonwoven material web, as already mentioned, being guided together with at least these belts through the extended press nip of the belt press.

For the purposes of the present invention, nonwoven, in accordance with the technical use of this term, is understood to mean a nonwoven fabric having a still low consistency, whereas nonwoven fabric is to be understood as already a higher consistency and optionally an already solidified nonwoven.

For the purposes of the present invention, belt tension of the outer press belt is understood to mean the quotient of the tension applied to the press belt and the width of the press belt, in accordance with the usual use of this term.

Furthermore, an arrangement of the belt press directly from the thermal drying device is understood to mean that the belt press is arranged directly upstream, ie in the web running direction, of the drying device, ie in close proximity to the drying device, without being between the belt press and the drying device is a further device of the device. In particular, this arrangement of the belt press directly from the thermal drying device means that the Belt press of the thermal drying device at its two points closest to each other by not more than 0.5 m, preferably by not more than 0.3 m and preferably not more than 0.1 m apart, if it is in the thermal drying device is a TAD cylinder and / or a Yankee cylinder, or not more than 1, 5 m, preferably not more than 1, 2 m and preferably not more than 1, 0 m apart if the thermal drying device is a drying cylinder and / or a flat bed oven. Due to the inventive design of the method and the device results in a total more efficient, cost-effective drainage of the formed nonwoven material web before it enters the thermal drying device, whereby the energy consumption for the thermal drying device is reduced accordingly. In addition, until the entry into the thermal drying device see a uniform moisture profile of the

Nonwoven fibrous web maintained. After the belt press is arranged in the web running direction immediately before the thermal drying device, in addition, the total space required is reduced, so that the device provided for carrying out the method in the construction is correspondingly compact. In view of this compact structure, the solution according to the invention can be integrated very simply, in particular in production plants operating according to the so-called wet-laying process ("wet lay process"). A corresponding retrofitting is possible in particular without a relocation of the dryer section or other machine components, such as, for example, the wiping device, and without changes to the building accommodating the installation or machine in question.

Due to the solution according to the invention, the required dry content of the nonwoven material web is also achieved practically without affecting the volume and the porosity of the material web. While avoiding the so far If desired, a larger volume of the nonwoven fabric can be achieved, if desired, in comparison with the use of a shoe press, since the pressure in the extended press nip of the belt press is lower than in the case of a shoe press. However, as a result of the longer residence time of the nonwoven material web in the nip compared to the use of a shoe press, efficient drainage with a high degree of dewatering is ensured despite the lower compacting pressure. Because of this, a thermal drying device which may still be provided after the belt press, such as, for example, a TAD ("through air drying") device, a flat bed furnace, a dryer section with at least one drying cylinder or a Yankee cylinder, requires only a very small amount Amount of energy, which reduces pollution. In addition, in the inventive method and with the device according to the invention due to the belt press used in comparison to the known from the prior art methods and devices a very gentle and - based on the surface of the nonwoven material web - very uniform drainage achieved, so that a Deterioration or even destruction of the fiber structure is reliably prevented. As a result, fiber losses and contamination of the waste water are kept to a minimum.

The solution according to the invention also makes it possible to transfer the nonwoven material web with a higher solids content to the final, in particular thermal drying device, whereby the machinability in the dryer section is increased. Due to the reduced pressure in the belt press, the volume of the nonwoven web is reduced by no more than 10% in the dewatering. Thus, the solids content of the nonwoven material web can be increased by more than 10% relative to the water content in comparison to the usual dewatering by suction boxes, resulting in a higher production capacity, the energy consumption is reduced and the provision of additional or more expensive drying facilities is avoided. By additionally loading the nonwoven material web in the belt press with a drying fluid, the efficiency of gentle and uniform dewatering is further increased without any loss of volume.

In order to achieve the above advantages to a particularly high degree, it is preferred according to the present invention that a drying device with at least one drying cylinder is used as the thermal drying device and the roller of the belt press is at least partially disposed below the first drying cylinder of this drying device considered in the web running direction. In this way, a particularly compact nonwoven fabricating apparatus is obtained. Good results are obtained in this regard, in particular, if a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device, a flat bed furnace or a Yankee cylinder is used as the thermal drying device. In this case, the nonwoven material web can be brought by such a thermal drying device in particular to the final dry content.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roller of the belt press is arranged completely under the first drying cylinder of the thermal drying device viewed in the web running direction. In this way, an even more compact nonwoven fabricating apparatus is obtained.

According to a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, as (endless) tapes for the inner band and the outer press belt of the belt press against drying fluid and preferably against air and / or water vapor permeable (endless) tapes are used and is at the same time with the pressing Nonwoven material web against the roller or simultaneously With the mechanical pressurization of the nonwoven web, a drying fluid is forced through the permeable (endless) belts and nonwoven web. In this way, a particularly gentle and uniform drainage with a high degree of dewatering is achieved. Due to this, costly and bulky additional drainage devices can be dispensed with and the device can be made correspondingly space-saving and compact.

In addition, it is preferred that at least one (endless) strip wound around the roller of the belt press is permeable to water or designed to receive water in order to absorb the water produced during the mechanical pressing occurring in the belt press and / or to be allowed to pass. In this case, the drying fluid can be pressed in all manners through the permeable (endless) belts and the nonwoven material web, for example and preferably by creating a corresponding pressure difference between the roller and the outer press belt. Advantageously, the nonwoven material web is exposed to heat in the extended press nip of the belt press via the drying fluid and / or separately therefrom. For example, the roller of the belt press and / or at least one belt guided through its extended press nip can be heated to impinge the nonwoven material web with heat separate from the drying fluid. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to heat the nonwoven material web shortly before it enters the belt press.

In principle, any inert gas or aerosol can be used as the drying fluid, with good results, in particular with air and / or steam. If air is used as the drying fluid, it may, for example, have ambient temperature. Alternatively, hot air may be used as the drying fluid, preferably hot air at a temperature in a range of 50 ° C to 250 ° C, more preferably at a temperature in a range of 150 ° C to 250 ° C, and more particularly preferably at a temperature in a range of 175 ° C to 225 ° C, such as at a temperature of about 200 ° C. When water vapor is used as the drying fluid, it is preferably used in a steam weight / weight ratio of the nonwoven web of up to 2 kg steam / kg nonwoven web and preferably in a steam weight / nonwoven web weight ratio of 0.1 to 1 kg of steam / kg nonwoven material web, such as, for example, in a steam weight / weight ratio of the nonwoven material web of about 0.5 kg steam / kg nonwoven material web.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention wherein a drying fluid is forced through the nonwoven web in the belt press concurrently with the mechanical pressurization, the roller of the belt press will deliver or receive the drying fluid, as set forth above, with an open surface executed. It can be designed as a roller of the belt press in particular as a suction roll or as a blower roll.

If the roller of the belt press is designed as a suction roll, the drying fluid is expediently sucked or guided, starting from a drying fluid hood, at least through the permeable outer press belt, the nonwoven material web and the permeable inner band into the suction roll. In addition to the drying fluid, it is also expedient to remove the fluid which has dried in the belt press. te water sucked or guided in the suction roll or the permeable inner band. For this purpose, the suction roll is preferably with a negative pressure (ie, a difference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure prevailing in the suction roll) in the range of 0.25 bar to 0.6 bar and particularly preferably with a negative pressure in the range of 0.30 to 0.55 bar, such as with a negative pressure of about 0.45 bar, applied.

If the roller of the belt press is designed as a blow roll, the drying fluid is preferably blown out of the blow roll at least through the permeable inner (endless) belt, the nonwoven material web and the permeable outer (endless) belt preferably in a hood , In addition to the drying fluid, the water dewatered in the belt press is expediently also blown or guided into the hood or the permeable outer band. In this embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the drying fluid at a pressure in the range of 0.25 bar to 0.6 bar, and more preferably at a pressure in the range of 0.30 bar to 0.55 bar, such as with a pressure in the range of about 0.45 bar, is blown above the atmospheric pressure through the permeable inner band, through the nonwoven material web and through the permeable outer press belt to the hood.

When the nonwoven web in the belt press is pressurized with a drying fluid in addition to the pressurization, as stated above, the pressure exerted on the nonwoven web also depends on, among other things, the drying fluid flow. In order to achieve a particularly good, gentle and uniform drainage, it is proposed in a further development of the inventive concept in this embodiment that a drying fluid flow in a range of 100 m ³ / (min m ² ) to 300 m ³ / (min m ² ), preferably from 150 to 250 m ³ / (min m ² ), and more preferably from about 210 m ³ / (min m ² ) is generated. If the roller of the belt press is still surrounded by one or more other (endless) belts in addition to the inner and the outer (endless) belt, then these other (endless) belts must also be permeable to the drying fluid, provided that Nonwoven material web is to be acted upon in the belt press by such a drying fluid, which - as stated above - is particularly preferred.

On the one hand to achieve a sufficiently high degree of dewatering, but on the other hand perform the drainage as gently and evenly, it is provided according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention that at least serving as a press belt outer (endless) band with a band tension of 20 to 100 kN / m, preferably with a belt tension of 25 to 75 kN / m and particularly preferably with a belt tension of 40 kN / m to 50 kN / m is pressed against the roller of the belt press.

With regard to a sufficiently good, but at the same time as gentle and uniform dewatering, it is particularly advantageous if in the belt press on the nonwoven material web, a mechanical pressure of less than 140 kPa, in particular less than 100 kPa and preferably less than 90 kPa , but of more than 30 kPa and preferably more than 45 kPa is exercised. With such a low pressure, in particular a higher volume of the nonwoven fabric is achieved while avoiding the water accumulation occurring in shoe presses, because due to the low pressure no significant compaction of the

Nonwoven fabric and therefore no significant volume loss occurs.

Also in view of a sufficiently good, but at the same time as gentle and uniform drainage, it is proposed in development of the invention, the residence time of the nonwoven material web in the extended press nip of the belt press to between 0.05 sec. And 0.5 sec. adjust. With such a relatively long residence time, an efficient drainage is ensured despite the relatively low pressure and the correspondingly gentle treatment of the nonwoven material web. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nonwoven material web is dewatered in the belt press by at least 20%, preferably by 30 to 75% and particularly preferably by 33 to 50%. In this case, this degree of dewatering denotes the percentage weight loss in the dewatering based on the total weight of the nonwoven material web prior to dewatering in the belt press.

According to a preferred practical development of the invention, the nonwoven web formed from the web is transferred via a transfer belt from the former to the belt press, wherein the transfer belt forms the inner band and the nonwoven web passes through the belt press and then to the thermal drying device ,

In certain cases, it may be advantageous if the belt press with only two roll wrapping the (endless) provided bands and the nonwoven material web between these two (endless) bands and the bands is arranged touching. In this case, both the inner (endless) belt and the outer press belt contact the nonwoven web.

In an alternative embodiment, the band press can be provided with at least one other (endless) band wrapping around the roller at a predetermined wrap angle, in addition to the inner and the outer (endless) band. In this case, the at least one further (endless) band can be arranged in particular between the outer press belt and the nonwoven material web. Preferably, the (endless) bands wrapping the roller of the belt press comprise at least one felt belt and / or a fabric belt. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if a felt belt is used as the inner (endless) belt that wraps around the roller of the belt press. This also applies in particular if the nonwoven material web in the belt press is simultaneously passed through by a drying fluid and a suction roll is used as the roller of the belt press. If a blower roll is used as the roll, then in particular at least one outer (endless) band lying behind the nonwoven material web, viewed in the direction of flow of the drying fluid, can be provided as a felt belt. Dewatering on a felt belt results in a substantially more uniform moisture cross-section than is the case, for example, with drainage by means of a suction box. In addition, with the drainage of a felt and the fiber losses are reduced. In particular, in the case that the nonwoven material web in the belt press is preferably acted upon simultaneously by a drying fluid, all wound around the roller of the belt press (endless) belts for the drying fluid are made permeable or permeable. In addition, it is preferred that at least one (endless) band wrapped around the drum of the belt press is permeable to water or adapted to receive water to absorb and / or accumulate the water produced by the mechanical press in the belt press to let pass.

As an outer (endless) band of the belt press, for example, an at least substantially smooth belt and preferably a smooth forming belt can be used. If a structured and / or perforated nonwoven fabric is to be produced by the method according to the invention, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that at least one (endless) belt contacting the nonwoven material web and preferably at least the outer press belt of the belt press as a structured Band is provided by the nonwoven web is structured and / or perforated accordingly.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bands wrapping the roller of the belt press, in particular in the case of a roller designed as a suction roller and in particular in the direction of flow of the drying fluid, comprise a permeable belt, a textured forming fabric, a fabric belt and / or a felt belt. In principle, however, it is also possible to provide fewer or more (endless) bands and / or a different sequence of these (endless) bands.

The (endless) bands of the belt press are suitably looped around the roller over the same angle of wrap.

Regardless of whether the wrap angle of the individual bands are the same or different, it is proposed in development of the invention that the wrap angle of the inner band and / or outer press belt around the roller in a range of 90 ° to 180 ° and in particular in a Range of 100 ° to 120 ° is selected. As a result, a retention time of the nonwoven material web required for sufficiently high and at the same time gentle, even dewatering is achieved in the press nip of the belt press. In principle, the residence time of the nonwoven material web in the press nip at the same roll diameter and the same roll revolution speed is the greater the greater the wrap angle of the belts. According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the roller of the belt press is selected in a range of 500 mm to 1400 mm and preferably in a range of 750 mm to 1200 mm. Since the pressure exerted on the nonwoven web in the belt press depends, inter alia, on the wrap angle of the (endless) belts and on the diameter of the roller of the belt press, such a relatively large diameter results in a relatively long press nip and correspondingly efficient dewatering the longer residence time of the nonwoven web in the press nip. In principle, the greater the diameter of the roll, the greater the residence time of the nonwoven material web in the press nip at the same wrap angle of the belts and the same roll revolution speed.

The thermal drying device used is preferably a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device, a flat bed furnace or a Yankee cylinder. In this case, the nonwoven material web can be brought by such a thermal drying device in particular to the final dry content. If required, the nonwoven material web can be guided through an additional dewatering press between the belt press and the thermal drying device. In such an optional additional dewatering press, preferably a line force in a range of 20 kN / m to 100 kN / m, and more preferably a line force in a range of kN / m to 90 kN / m, is produced to be gentle and uniform, yet to achieve strong drainage.

In the former of the belt press former the nonwoven fabric is preferably with a relatively low consistency on a smooth or a structured, the nonwoven according structuring and / or perforating Formiersieb with a Solid content of 0.01 to 0.1 wt .-% based on 100 wt .-% of the resulting web formed. In this case, a so-called Schrägsiebformer is preferably used as a former. For structuring and / or perforating the nonwoven fabric, the forming fabric may in particular also be provided with printed elevations. By means of a structured forming fabric, the fibers of the nonwoven receive a three-dimensional orientation which leads to a structuring of the nonwoven with specific physical and visual properties.

In particular, a former with a multi-layer headbox can also be used to form a multilayer nonwoven. In this case, the various nonwoven layers can be produced in particular also with different fiber types.

In this case, the nonwoven fabric can be formed in the former by any method known to the person skilled in the art, preferably by a dry method, wet method and / or an extrusion method. In principle, any combinations of such web-forming methods are also conceivable.

Subsequently, ie after its formation in the former and before further dewatering, the formed web can be consolidated in a solidification device. The solidification can in principle be carried out by any known method and include, for example, a mechanical consolidation. However, it is preferred to consolidate the web into a nonwoven web by the hydroentanglement process. In this method, the formed web is solidified by entangling fibers to the nonwoven web, which is done by swirling, in particular by applying focused high pressure water jets to the web. Advantageously, the fleece can be simultaneously structured and / or perforated by the application of water jet. By appropriate structuring, in particular a nonwoven material web having a three-dimensional surface be generated. Thus, both solidification and structuring and / or perforation can take place simultaneously. However, hydroentanglement is not mandatory and may be omitted in particular if the nonwoven fibrous web is transferred in a closed train, for example by a single transfer belt, at least to the belt press.

The material input into the former can i) at least partially from natural fibers, preferably from northern bleached kraft pulp (NBKP), hardwood pulp (LBKP), pulp from abaca fibers or cotton, ii) at least partially from artificial fibers, preferably from viscose, iii) at least partially made of synthetic fibers, preferably of polyester or polyamide, iv) at least partially made of mineral fibers, preferably glass fibers, v) at least partially made of carbon fibers and / or vi) consist of a mixture of any of the aforementioned substances.

In this case, the substance entry into the former advantageously at least partially consist of fibers which are longer than 2 mm, preferably longer than 3 mm and particularly preferably longer than 4 mm and are up to 40 mm long. In the former, the pulp suspension in question is preferably completely dewatered by the flat or structured forming fabric to form the fleece.

In principle, the nonwoven fabric formed in the former can be transferred to a subsequent device part by any means known to those skilled in the art. For example, the nonwoven material web can be taken over by the forming fabric of the former onto the inner band simultaneously serving as a transfer belt in the region of a take-off suction box or pipe, wherein the removal suction box or the removal pipe is arranged within the loop of the circulating inner band. In an alternative embodiment, the nonwoven material web can be taken in the region of a Abnahmesaugwalze from the forming fabric of the former on the same time serving as a transfer belt inner band, which is disposed within the loop of the circulating inner band.

Regardless of how the web is removed from the former, it is preferred that the nonwoven web be transferred directly from the inner band to the thermal dryer, and preferably to its first dryer cylinder, immediately downstream of the roller of the belt press.

According to a further preferred and expedient embodiment of the method according to the invention, in particular for producing a nonwoven material web having a basis weight of greater than 50 g / m ² , preferably greater than 80 g / m ² and particularly preferably greater than 100 g / m ² the

Nonwoven material web before or after the belt press additionally guided over a vacuum applied suction roll.

In conclusion, i. after the last drying step, the nonwoven fabric can still be thermally and / or chemically solidified, if this requires the later use of the nonwoven fabric.

Another object of the present invention is an apparatus for producing a nonwoven fabric, which comprises a former for forming a nonwoven, a belt press for further dewatering of the resulting from the nonwoven

Nonwoven material web and a thermal drying device comprises, by means of which the further dewatered nonwoven web is then dried in particular to the final dry content. In this case, the belt press comprises a roller around which - at least one fitting against the roller - to form a press nip or press nip extended in the direction of travel of the nonwoven material web inner band and an outer press belt are wound. The nonwoven fabric web is passed along with at least the inner band and the press belt therebetween through the extended press nip. The press belt can be pressed with a belt tension of at least 15 kN / m to the roller and preferably pressed, wherein the belt press is arranged in the running direction (L) of the nonwoven material web immediately before the thermal drying device.

In order to achieve the above advantages to a particularly high degree, it is preferred according to the present invention that the thermal drying device is designed as a drying device with at least one drying cylinder and the roller of the belt press is at least partially disposed below the first drying cylinder of this drying device considered in the web running direction. In this way, a particularly compact nonwoven production device is obtained.

Good results are obtained in this regard, in particular, if the device as thermal drying device comprises a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device, a flat bed furnace or a Yankee cylinder. In this case, the nonwoven material web can be brought by such a thermal drying device in particular to the final dry content.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roller of the belt press is arranged completely below the first drying cylinder of the thermal drying device viewed in the web running direction. In this way, an even more compact nonwoven fabricating apparatus is obtained.

According to a very particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the (endless) belts of the belt press as compared to drying fluid and preferably to air and / or water steam permeable (endless) belts are designed so that simultaneously with the pressing of the nonwoven material web against the roller or simultaneously with the mechanical pressure loading of the nonwoven material web by the belt press, preferably by a pressure difference between the roller and the outer press belt , a drying fluid can be flowed through the permeable (endless) belts and the nonwoven web. In this case, as already mentioned, the roller of the belt press is designed in this embodiment with an open surface. In addition, it is preferred that at least one (endless) band wrapped around the drum of the belt press is permeable to water or adapted to receive water to absorb and / or accumulate the water produced by the mechanical press in the belt press to let pass.

Advantageously, the nonwoven material web in the extended press nip of the belt press on the drying fluid and / or separately or be acted upon with heat. For separate from the drying fluid admission of the

Nonwoven material web with heat can be heated, for example, the roller of the belt press and / or at least one guided through the extended press nip band. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to heat the nonwoven material web shortly before it enters the belt press.

As already stated, air or water vapor may be provided as the drying fluid, in the case of the use of air having this ambient temperature or as hot air, in particular at a temperature in a range of 50 ° C. to 250 ° C., preferably with a temperature in a range of 150 ° C to 250 ° C, and more preferably at a temperature in a range of 175 ° C to 225 ° C, such as at a temperature of about 200 ° C may be provided. If water vapor is used as the drying fluid in particular, this may be in a steam weight / weight ratio of the nonwoven web of up to 2 kg steam / kg nonwoven web and preferably from 0.1 to 1 kg steam / kg nonwoven web such as 0.5 kg steam / kg nonwoven web, are used. For this reason, it is preferred according to the invention that the device is designed such that one of the above-mentioned drying fluids can be flowed through the permeable belts and the nonwoven material web.

In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention wherein the apparatus is configured to press a drying fluid through the nonwoven web in the belt press simultaneously with the mechanical pressurization, the roller of the belt press is for dispensing or receiving the drying fluid as above set forth, executed with an open surface. In this case, the roller of the belt press in this embodiment can be configured in particular as a suction roll or as a blow roll.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the roller of the belt press is designed as a suction roll, wherein it is proposed in this embodiment in development of the inventive idea that the suction roll is designed so that the drying fluid, preferably starting from a drying fluid hood at least by the permeable outer Press belt, the nonwoven web and the permeable inner (endless) tape can be sucked into the suction roll. In addition, at least one (endless) belt is preferably designed so that, in addition to the drying fluid, the water dehydrated in the belt press can also be sucked or guided into the suction roll or the permeable inner belt. In this case, the suction roll is advantageously designed so that it can be acted upon with a reduced pressure in the range from 0.25 bar to 0.6 bar and preferably from 0.30 bar to 0.55 bar and particularly preferably from about 0.45 bar. According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the roller of the belt press is designed as a blow roll, wherein the roller in this embodiment particularly preferably designed so that the drying fluid from the blow roll at least by the permeable inner (endless) band, the nonwoven web and the permeable outer press belt may preferably be blown to a hood. In addition, at least one (endless) belt is preferably designed such that, in addition to the drying fluid, the water dewatered in the belt press can also be blown or guided into the hood or the permeable outer belt. In this embodiment, the device is preferably designed such that the drying fluid is at a pressure in the range of 0.25 bar to 0.6 bar and particularly preferably from 0.30 bar to 0.55 bar from the blow roll through the permeable inner ( Endless) tape, the nonwoven web and the permeable outer press belt is blown.

Advantageously, at least the outer press belt with a belt tension of 20 to 100 kN / m, preferably with a belt tension of 25 to 75 kN / m and particularly preferably with a belt tension of 40 to 50 kN / m can be pressed against the roller of the belt press.

It is also of particular advantage when the belt press is designed such that a mechanical pressure of less than 140 kPa, preferably less than 100 kPa, and particularly preferred, is applied to the nonwoven material web in the belt press or in the extended press nip of the belt press of less than 90 kPa on the nonwoven material web is exercisable.

In addition, it has proven advantageous in certain cases when the belt press is provided with only two (endless) belts that wrap around the roller and the nonwoven material web between these two (endless) belts can be arranged touching and preferably arranged. In this case, both the inner and outer press belts contact the nonwoven web.

However, in addition to the inner and the outer (endless) band, the band press may also be provided with at least one further (endless) band wrapping around the roller at a predetermined wrap angle. In this embodiment, the at least one further (endless) band is preferably arranged or arranged between the outer press belt and the nonwoven material web.

Furthermore, in the case of the device according to the invention, it is preferred that the (endless) belts that encircle the roller of the belt press comprise at least one nonwoven belt and / or at least one fabric belt. In this case, in particular, the inner (endless) belt that wraps around the roller of the belt press can be designed as a felt belt. If the nonwoven material web in the extended press nip of the belt press, which is preferred as outlined, is also traversed by a drying fluid in addition to the pressurization, it may be advantageous to use a permeable (preferably in contact) direction behind the nonwoven material web and preferably touching it. Endless) tape should be designed as a felt belt.

In particular, in the case of a nonwoven material web additionally flowed through by a drying fluid, it is preferable that all (endless) belts wound around the roller of the belt press are permeable or permeable to the drying fluid.

As an outer press belt of the belt press, for example, an at least substantially smooth belt and preferably a smooth forming belt can be provided. In a further development of the inventive concept, it is proposed that at least one band of the belt press, which contacts the nonwoven material web, and preferably at least the outer press belt is designed as a structured belt, by means of which the nonwoven material web can be structurally and / or perforated.

In addition, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the bands wrapping the roller of the belt press, in particular in the case of a roller designed as a suction roller and especially in the direction of flow of the drying fluid, comprise a permeable belt, a textured forming fabric, a fabric belt and / or a felt belt include.

Preferably, the (endless) belts of the belt press are looped around the roller over the same wrap angle.

Regardless of whether or not the tapes have the same wrap angle, it is preferable that the wrap angle of the inner tape and / or outer press belt around the roll is in a range of 90 ° to 180 °, and more preferably in a range of 100 ° to 120 ° ° is.

Particularly advantageous is also such an embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the diameter of the roller of the belt press is in a range of 500 mm to 1400 mm and in particular in a range of 750 mm to 1200 mm.

In a further development of the inventive concept, it is proposed to design the device in such a way that the residence time of the nonwoven material web in the press nip formed in the belt press is adjustable within a range of 0.05 to 0.5 sec. If the nonwoven material web in the extended press nip of the belt press, as preferred, also flows through a drying fluid in addition to the pressurization, then the apparatus is preferably designed such that a drying fluid flow in the band press in a range of 100 m ³ / ( min ^" m ² ) to 300 m ³ / (min-m ² ), preferably from 150 to 250 m ³ / (min m ² ) and particularly preferably from about 210 m ³ / (min m ² ) is generated.

In particular, for producing a nonwoven material web having a weight per unit area of greater than 50 g / m ² , preferably greater than 80 g / m ² and particularly preferably greater than 100 g / m ² , the nonwoven material web may additionally be provided before or after the belt press be guided over a vacuum applied suction roll.

In principle, the nonwoven fabric formed in the former can be solidified to a nonwoven material web without hydroentanglement.

If required, it can also be provided that an additional dewatering press is arranged between the belt press and the thermal drying device, in which preferably a line force in a range of 20 kN / m to 100 kN / m and preferably a line force in a range of 50 kN / m can be generated up to 90 kN / m.

In a further development of the inventive concept, it is proposed that the former for forming a nonwoven fabric of low consistency than Schrägsiebformer and also designed so that the fleece in the former on a smooth or textured, the nonwoven according structuring and / or perforating Formiersieb with a solids content from 0.01 to 0.1 wt .-% based on 100 wt .-% of the obtained web, the web is formed. To form a multilayer web, the former may, in particular, comprise a multi-layer headbox, which is preferably designed to produce the various nonwoven layers having different types of fibers. According to a preferred practical development of the invention, the inner band of the belt press belt is formed by a transfer belt to which the nonwoven material web is taken in the region of a decrease suction box or tube of the forming of the former, wherein the Abnahmesaugkasten or the Abnahmesaugrohr is disposed within the loop of the circumferential inner band.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the inner band which surrounds the roller of the belt press to be formed by a transfer belt onto which the nonwoven material web in the region of a pick-up suction roll is taken over by the forming fabric of the former, which is arranged inside the loop of the circulating inner band.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the nonwoven material web, viewed in the web running direction, is transferred directly from the inner belt to the thermal drying device directly behind the roller of the belt press and preferably to its first drying cylinder.

Preferably, the former is designed such that in this a nonwoven fabric by a dry process, a wet process and / or an extrusion process can be produced. In particular, the former can also be configured in such a way that a nonwoven fabric can be produced by any combination of such nonwoven forming processes. In addition, the device may comprise a hydroentangling device downstream of the former, ie in the web running direction downstream of the former, and upstream of the belt press, ie upstream of the belt press in the web running direction.

All the preferred embodiments described above apply equally - regardless of whether they have been explicitly described only for the method or only for the device - both for the method according to the invention and for the device according to the invention.

The invention will be described in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings; FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention for the production of a nonwoven fabric and FIG

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of another exemplary

Embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention for producing a nonwoven fabric.

In the apparatus 10, the web is formed in a former 28 by a particular method or combination of such methods. In this case, the nonwoven can be formed in particular by a dry process, a wet process and / or an extrusion process. In principle, any combinations of such web-forming methods are also conceivable. The former 28 can be designed to form a nonwoven fabric of low consistency, in particular as an oblique wire former, and furthermore in such a way that the nonwoven fabric in the former 28 is deposited on a smooth or structured forming fabric 14 structuring and / or perforating the nonwoven with a solids content of 0.01 to 0.1 wt .-% based on 100 wt .-% of the resulting web, the web is formed.

The former 28 includes a headbox 20, which may be a sizing or a multi-layer former. If a multi-layer headbox is used, the various nonwoven layers can also be produced, in particular, with different types of fibers.

The formed nonwoven may e.g. be solidified by means of a hydroentanglement device 32. However, such hydroentanglement is not always mandatory. The resulting from the web and optionally solidified nonwoven web 52 is then further dehydrated. The further dewatered nonwoven material web 52 is subsequently dried by means of a thermal drying device 46, in particular to the final dry content.

The further dewatering of the resulting from the nonwoven and optionally solidified, for example by the hydroentanglement process

Nonwoven material web 52 according to the invention comprises a dewatering by means of a belt press 34, through which the nonwoven material web 52 is passed to the former 28 and before its transfer to the thermal drying device 46 therethrough.

The belt press 34 comprises a roller 36, about which at least one roller 36 is in contact with the roller 36 for forming a press nip or press nip 38 extended in the running direction L of the nonwoven material web 52 over a respective wrap angle. inner band 40 and an outer press belt 42 which, as shown, are endless circulating belts. In this case, the nonwoven material web 52 is guided together with at least the inner band 40 and the outer press belt 42 between them lying through the extended press nip 38.

Serving as a press belt outer circumferential endless belt 42 of the belt press 34 is to generate a mechanical pressure on the lying between the two endless belts 40, 42 nonwoven web with a belt tension of at least 15 kN / m around the roller 36 stretched or to this roller 36th pressed. By this press belt 42, the nonwoven material web and the roller 36 touching inner circumferential endless belt 40 are pressed against the roller 36. Preferably, simultaneously with the mechanical pressurization of the nonwoven web by the press belt 42 of the belt press 34, a drying fluid is forced through the endless belts 40, 42 and nonwoven web 52 by creating a pressure differential between the roller 36 and the outer press belt 42. In order to make this possible, the endless belts 40, 42 in the present case are permeable to the drying fluid, ie for the

Drying fluid permeable, designed. In addition, in this embodiment, the roller 36 of the belt press 34 is provided with an open surface for discharging or receiving the drying fluid. In addition, it is preferred that at least one endless belt 40, 42 looped around the drum of the belt press is permeable to water or adapted to receive water to absorb the water generated by the mechanical pressing occurring in the belt press 34 and / / or to be allowed to pass. The nonwoven material web may be exposed to heat in the extended nip 38 of the belt press 34 via the drying fluid and / or separately therefrom. Heat can be applied to the nonwoven material web separately from the drying fluid, for example via the roller 36 of the belt press, at least one of the circulating belts 40, 42 and / or by the material web being heated shortly before it enters the belt press 34.

In particular, air or water vapor can be used as the drying fluid, it being possible to use air at ambient temperature or also hot air as the drying air.

In this case, the roller 36 of the belt press 34 can be designed in particular as a suction roll or as a blow roll. In the case of a suction roll, the drying fluid, starting from a drying fluid hood, is sucked or guided into the suction roll, at least through the permeable outer endless belt 42, the nonwoven material web and the permeable inner endless belt 40.

In the case of a blow roll, the drying fluid from the blow roll is blown into the hood through at least the permeable inner endless belt 40, the nonwoven web and the permeable outer endless belt 42.

As shown, the belt press 34 can be provided, for example, with only two endless belts 40, 42 wrapping the roller 36. The nonwoven material web lying between these endless belts 40, 42 is in this case touched by the two endless belts 40, 42.

In principle, however, the belt press 34, in addition to the inner and outer endless belts 40, 42, may also be provided with at least one further endless belt wrapping the roller 36 over a certain wrap angle. In this case, at least one such further endless belt, for example be arranged between the outer endless belt 42 and the nonwoven material web.

The endless belts 40, 42 embracing the roller 36 of the belt press 34 preferably comprise at least one felt belt and / or at least one fabric belt. In this case, in particular as the roller 36 of the belt press 34 looping inner endless belt 40 may be provided a felt belt. If the nonwoven material web in the belt press 34 is additionally additionally acted upon by a drying fluid, then at least one felt belt is provided behind the nonwoven material web at least in the direction of flow of the drying fluid.

In particular, in the case that the nonwoven material web in the belt press 34, which is preferred, in addition to a drying fluid is applied, as already mentioned, all wrapped around the roller 36 of the belt press 34 endless belts 40, 42 for the drying fluid permeable or permeable.

As an outer endless belt 42 of the belt press 34, for example, an at least substantially smooth belt, in particular smooth forming belt, can be used.

In certain cases, it is advantageous if at least one of the nonwoven material web contacting endless belt 40, 42 and preferably at least the outer press belt 42 of the belt press 34 is designed as a structured band through which the nonwoven material web is structured and / or perforated accordingly ,

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roller 36 of the belt press 34 looping endless belts 40, 42 include in particular in the case of a suction roller designed as a suction roller and in particular viewed in the direction of the drying fluid, a permeable endless belt, a textured forming fabric, a fabric belt and a felt belt. In principle, however, fewer or more endless belts and / or the endless belts may be provided in a different order than just mentioned.

The endless belts 40, 42 of the belt press can in particular be wound around the roller 36 over the same wrap angle.

After the belt press 34, the nonwoven material web can be guided through at least one thermal drying device 46, in particular a TAD ("through air drying") device, a flat bed furnace or a Yankee cylinder. In this case, the nonwoven material web can be dried in such a thermal drying device 46 in particular to the final dry content.

In the former 28, which is preferably in the form of an oblique screen former, the non-woven material having a solids content of in particular 0.01 to 0.1% can be formed on a smooth or structured forming fabric 14 which structurally and / or perforates the nonwoven fabric.

The fleece can also be structured and / or perforated at the same time by the optionally provided hydroentanglement device 32. Such a hydroentanglement device 32 is accordingly preferred, in particular in those cases in which the nonwoven or the nonwoven material web is additionally to be structured and / or perforated.

The furnish in the former 28 may be i) at least partially made from natural fibers, such as northern bleached kraft pulp (NBKP), hardwood pulp (LBKP), abaca fiber pulp, cotton or the like, ii) at least partially from man-made fibers, such as Viscose or the like, iii) at least partially made of synthetic fibers, such as in particular polyester, polyamide or the like, iv) at least partially of mineral fibers, in particular glass fibers or the like, v) at least partly of carbon fibers and / or vi) of a mixture of any of the aforementioned Consist of substances.

Advantageously, the substance entry into the former 28 at least partially consists of fibers which are up to 40 mm long. In particular for producing a nonwoven material web having a basis weight of greater than 50 g / m ² , preferably greater than 80 g / m ² and particularly preferably greater than 100 g / m ² , the nonwoven material web can be before or after Belt press 34 may be guided over a vacuum-applied suction roll.

Following the belt press 34 may additionally be provided a dewatering press 58, which is designed in the present case as a roller press. However, such an additional dewatering press 58 is also not mandatory.

According to the invention, the belt press 34, viewed in the direction of travel L of the nonwoven material web 52, is arranged directly in front of the thermal drying device 46.

The thermal dryer 46 may be e.g. be executed as a drying device with at least one drying cylinder 54. In the present embodiment, as the thermal drying device 46, for example, a

TAD or air drying device with not more than one drying cylinder 54 is provided. In the case of a thermal drying device 46 with one or more drying cylinders, the roller 36 of the belt press 34 is preferably at least partially below the first drying cylinder of this drying device considered in the web running direction L, in this case at least partially below it single drying cylinder 54 of the TAD or air drying device arranged. The roller 36 of the belt press 34 may in particular also be arranged completely below the first drying cylinder, in this case the single drying cylinder 54. In this way - as desired - a particularly compact Vliesherstellungs- device is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inner band 40 wrapping the roller 36 of the belt press 34 can be formed by a transfer belt onto which the nonwoven material web 52 in the region of a suction box or tube 16 from the forming screen 14 of the former 28 taken over and the nonwoven web 52 of the belt press 34 is supplied before the web is guided together with this inner band 40 and the outer press belt 42 between them lying through the extended press nip 38 of the belt press 34. In this case, the suction box or the suction tube 16 is arranged within the loop of the circulating inner band 40.

The nonwoven material web 52 is viewed in the web running direction L directly behind the roller 36 of the belt press 34 directly from the inner belt 40 to the thermal drying device 46 and preferably directly to the first drying cylinder, here for example the single drying cylinder 54 of a TAD or air drying device , to hand over.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a further exemplary embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention. Again, the inner band 40 wrapping the roller 36 of the belt press 34 is again formed by a transfer belt onto which the nonwoven material web 52 of the forming fabric 14 of the former 28 is taken over and through which the nonwoven material web 52 of the belt press 3 is fed before the web 52 is guided together with this inner band 40 and the outer press belt 42 between them lying through the extended press nip 38 of the belt press 34. In contrast to Embodiment of FIG. 1, the takeover of the nonwoven web 52 from the Formierieb 14 of the former 28 on the inner band 40 in the present case, however, in the region of a Abnahmesaugwalze 18. This Abnahmesaugwalze 18 is again arranged within the loop of the circulating inner band 40 is. Otherwise, the present embodiment according to FIG. 2 corresponds to that according to FIG. 1.

Corresponding parts are assigned the same reference numerals.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 device

14 forming screen

16 suction pipe / suction box

18 Take-off suction box or pipe

20 headbox

28 shaper

32 hydroentanglement device 34 belt press

36 roller

38 extended press nip or press nip

40 inner band, transfer band

42 outer press belt

46 thermal drying device (TAD)

52 nonwoven material web

54 drying cylinders

58 Drainage press L Web running direction

Claims

Patent claims

Method for producing a nonwoven fabric, in which a nonwoven fabric is formed in a former (28), the resulting nonwoven material web (52) is then further dewatered and the further dewatered nonwoven fabric web (52) is then dried by means of a thermal drying device (46), wherein the further dewatering of the nonwoven material web (52) comprises dewatering by means of a belt press (34), the belt press (34) comprising a roller (36) around which at least one inner belt (40) resting on the roller (36) and an outer press belt (42) are looped, the nonwoven material web (52) being arranged at least in the area of the roller (36) between the inner belt (40) and the outer press belt (42), the press belt (42) having a Belt tension of at least 15 kN/m is pressed onto the roller (36) and thereby the nonwoven material web (52) and the inner belt (40) are pressed against the roller (36), and the belt press (34) is pressed in the running direction (L ) the nonwoven material web (52) is arranged immediately in front of the thermal drying device (46).

Method according to claim 1,

characterized in that a drying device with at least one drying cylinder (54) is used as the thermal drying device (46) and the roller (36) of the belt press (34) is arranged at least partially under the first drying cylinder (54) of this drying device when viewed in the web running direction (L). .

Method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device, a flatbed oven or a Yankee cylinder is used as the thermal drying device (46).

Method according to claim 2 or 3,

characterized in that the roller (36) of the belt press (34) is arranged completely under the first drying cylinder (54) of the thermal drying device (46), viewed in the web running direction (L).

Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller (36) of the belt press (34) for dispensing or receiving the drying fluid is designed with an open surface and as belts (40, 42) of the belt press (34) against drying fluid and Belts (40, 42) that are permeable to air and/or water vapor are preferably used and, at the same time as the nonwoven material web (52) is pressed against the roller (36), a drying fluid is passed through the permeable belts (40, 42) and the nonwoven material web (52) is pressed, preferably by generating a corresponding pressure difference between the roller (36) and the outer press belt (42).

Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nonwoven material web (52) resulting from the nonwoven is transferred from the former (28) to the belt press (34) via a transfer belt, the transfer belt forming the inner belt (40). forms and the nonwoven material web (52) passes through the belt press (34) and then to the thermal drying device (36).

Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nonwoven material web (52) in the area of a removal suction box or tube (16) from the forming wire (14) of the former (28) onto the inner belt (40), which also serves as a transfer belt ) is taken over, the removal suction box or the removal tube (16) being arranged within the loop of the circumferential inner band (40).

Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that the nonwoven material web (52) in the area of a take-off suction roll (18) is transferred from the forming screen (14) of the former (28) to the inner belt (40), which also serves as a transfer belt, which is within the loop of the circulating inner Band (40) is arranged.

Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nonwoven material web (52), viewed in the web running direction (L), is directly behind the roller (36) of the belt press (34) directly from the inner belt (40) to the thermal drying device ( 46) and is preferably transferred to the first drying cylinder (54).

10. Device for producing a nonwoven, in particular for carrying out the method according to at least one of the preceding claims, with a former (28) for forming a nonwoven, with a belt press (34) for further dewatering of the nonwoven material web resulting from the nonwoven (52) and with a thermal drying device (46), by means of which the further dewatered nonwoven web (52) is then dried, the belt press (34) comprising a roller (36) around which at least one inner belt (40) resting on the roller (36) and an outer press belt (42) are looped, the nonwoven material web (52) being at least in the area of the roller (36) between the inner belt (40) and the press belt (42) can be arranged and is preferably arranged, wherein the press belt (42) can be pressed and is preferably pressed onto the roller (36) with a belt tension of at least 15 kN/m, and wherein the belt press (34) in the running direction (L) of the nonwoven -Material web (52) is arranged immediately in front of the thermal drying device (46).

Device according to claim 10,

characterized in that the thermal drying device (46) is designed as a drying device with at least one drying cylinder (54) and the roller (36) of the belt press (34) is arranged at least partially under the first drying cylinder (54) of this drying device, viewed in the web running direction (L). .

Device according to claim 10 or 11,

characterized in that the thermal drying device (46) comprises a TAD ("through air drying") or air drying device, a flatbed oven or a Yankee cylinder.

Device according to claim 11 or 12,

Device according to at least one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the roller (36) of the belt press (34) for dispensing or receiving the drying fluid is designed with an open surface and the belts (40, 42) of the belt press (34) as Belts (40, 42) which are permeable to drying fluid and preferably to air and/or water vapor are designed in such a way that simultaneously with the pressing of the nonwoven material web (52) against the roller (36) by a pressure difference between the roller (36) and the outer press belt (42) a drying fluid can be allowed to flow through the permeable belts (40, 42) and the nonwoven material web (52).

15. Device according to at least one of claims 10 to 14,

characterized in that the inner belt (40) wrapping around the roller (36) of the belt press (34) is formed by a transfer belt onto which the nonwoven material web (52) is transferred from the forming fabric (52) in the area of a removal suction box or tube (16). 14) of the former (28), the removal suction box or the removal suction pipe being arranged within the loop of the circulating inner belt (40), and/or that the inner belt wrapping around the roller (36) of the belt press (34) ( 40) is formed by a transfer belt onto which the nonwoven material web (52) is taken over by the forming screen (14) of the former (28) in the area of a take-off suction roller (18), which is arranged within the loop of the circulating inner belt (40). is.