Nozzle head for producing filaments

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle head for producing filaments, in particular from a polymer melt made of thermoplastic. The nozzle head is configured as a meltblown blow head and has a plurality of nozzle openings. A portion of the nozzle openings is configured as polymer discharge openings and a portion or another portion of the nozzle openings is configured as blowing air discharge openings. The polymer discharge openings and the blowing air discharge openings are arranged in a regular pattern and / or irregularly spaced apart from one another.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a nozzle head for producing filaments, particularly from polymer melts made of thermoplastics, the nozzle head being constructed as a meltblown blower and having a plurality of nozzle openings. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabrics and a method for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabrics using such an apparatus or such nozzle head. In producing filaments with a meltblown blower, the polymer melt exiting from the nozzle openings or polymer discharge openings is typically loaded with a temperature-controlled blowing airflow. The polymer melt or the molten plastic filaments are analogous to being extruded into a rapid blowing airflow. Background Technology

[0002] Nozzle heads or meltblown nozzles of the type described at the beginning are known in practice, in various implementations. In conventional meltblown methods, the curtain of extruded plastic filaments is loaded with a plane of blowing air from the side or from opposite sides. A corresponding nozzle head having multiple polymer discharge openings arranged in a single row and two air supply slits extending parallel to them and inclined toward the direction of the polymer discharge opening row is also called a single-row nozzle head. Such single-row nozzle heads have proven effective in principle. However, they are generally not suitable for large polymer throughputs. In addition, multi-row nozzle heads are known, in which multiple rows of polymer discharge openings are provided. In one design of such a multi-row nozzle head, each individual polymer discharge opening or each individual extruded plastic filament is loaded with a separate blowing air flow from a blowing air discharge opening arranged coaxially with and therefore directly assigned to the polymer discharge opening, such that each individual filament is loaded with a blowing air flow that surrounds the filament in a jacket-like manner. This nozzle head is also known as the Biax nozzle head from Biax-FiberFilmCorporation, Inc., and has proven effective in principle. Multi-row nozzles, or biax nozzles, are especially designed for large polymer throughput.

[0003] However, it has been shown that known nozzle heads or meltblown nozzles are not optimally suited for all meltblown methods. Typically, the filament-airflow, comprising the generated filament and the blowing air, flows from the nozzle head toward the layup belt positioned below it. Known nozzle heads or meltblown nozzles generally cannot specifically influence the characteristics, and especially its geometry, of the outflowing filament-airflow. This is particularly true for individual areas of the filament-airflow, such as edge regions. Nozzles or meltblown nozzles known in practice typically influence the filament-airflow only through parameters such as polymer throughput, blowing air throughput, and the inflow angle of the blowing air relative to the filament. Therefore, the interference effects experienced by the filament-airflow along its flow path from the nozzle head to the layup belt cannot be adequately suppressed. For example, inhomogeneities, such as vortices, may occur in the edge regions of the filament-airflow. Furthermore, when the nozzle head or meltblown nozzle is positioned at an angle or tilt relative to the layup belt, an additional gravitational effect is introduced, which can affect the flow of the filament-airflow and also cause vortices.

[0004] Furthermore, some meltblown methods specify that multiple filament-airflows and / or short fiber-or particle flows converge between corresponding nozzle heads and layup belts and are laid up as filament-mixtures or filament-short fiber mixtures. Vortexing should be avoided as much as possible during the convergence of these flows. For this purpose, it is necessary to specifically influence the characteristics or geometry of the filament-airflow. It has been shown that such targeted influence on the characteristics or geometry of the filament-airflow cannot be achieved, or cannot be achieved to a sufficient degree, using known nozzle heads or meltblown nozzles. Therefore, it is not possible to specifically avoid or correct interference effects or factors associated with the filament-airflow. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In contrast, the technical objective of this invention is to provide a nozzle head of the type described at the beginning, by which the aforementioned disadvantages can be effectively and reliably avoided, and in particular, the nozzle head can specifically influence the generated filament-airflow to suppress interference effects on the flow path, such as eddies, while still allowing a high polymer throughput. Furthermore, the technical objective of this invention also lies in an apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric using at least one such nozzle head and a method for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric using such an apparatus or such a nozzle head.

[0006] To address this technical task, the present invention proposes a nozzle head for producing filaments, particularly from polymer melts made of thermoplastics, wherein the nozzle head is configured as a meltblown nozzle and has a plurality of nozzle openings—preferably arranged in at least two, more preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four rows or longitudinal rows—a portion of the nozzle openings is configured as polymer discharge openings and a portion or other portions of the nozzle openings are configured as blown air discharge openings, the polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings being spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern and / or irregular arrangement.

[0007] The nozzle head of the present invention is particularly suitable for producing continuous filaments or meltblown continuous filaments. The resulting continuous filaments or meltblown continuous filaments preferably have an average filament diameter between 0.1 and 15 μm, preferably between 0.5 μm and 10 μm. Continuous filaments differ from short fibers based on their nearly continuous length, which have significantly smaller lengths, for example, 10 mm to 60 mm. The resulting filaments or continuous filaments are preferably formed from at least one thermoplastic, preferably selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, especially polyethylene terephthalate, polylactide, and polyvinyl alcohol. According to an alternative embodiment, the resulting filaments are formed from lyocell or a lyocell solution. Within the scope of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the resulting filaments or continuous filaments are formed from a polymer melt made of a thermoplastic, particularly preferably polypropylene and / or polyethylene, and very particularly preferably polypropylene.

[0008] Furthermore, the nozzle openings of the nozzle head according to the invention are preferably disposed in or on the nozzle plate. Preferably, the nozzle openings are disposed in at least two, preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four rows or longitudinal rows on the nozzle head or nozzle plate. More preferably, the nozzle openings are disposed in at least five, very particularly preferably at least six, for example at least seven rows or longitudinal rows on the nozzle head or nozzle plate. The nozzle openings can be disposed in at least eight, especially at least ten, preferably at least twelve, preferably at least fourteen rows or longitudinal rows on the nozzle head or nozzle plate. Within the scope of the invention, the term "row" or "longitudinal row" refers to a row of nozzle openings that extends in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head and, in this respect, has a greater extension and / or more number of nozzle openings compared to transverse rows of the nozzle head that are arranged transversely, especially perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal rows, which are generated by a plurality of longitudinal rows arranged side by side. In meltblown equipment, where the nozzle head is disposed above the laying belt, the longitudinal rows of the nozzle head preferably extend transversely, especially perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the machine direction or the conveying direction of the laying belt.

[0009] According to the invention, the polymer discharge openings and the blown air discharge openings are arranged in a regular pattern and / or irregularly, spaced apart from each other. A regular pattern here refers specifically to a uniform, repetitive sequence in the sense of a repeating unit order, where the polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings are distributed. An irregular arrangement here refers specifically to a non-uniform or random distribution of the polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings without such repeating units. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to have a regular pattern of polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings in a region or section of the nozzle head and an irregular arrangement of polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings in other regions or sections of the nozzle head.

[0010] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the polymer discharge opening is configured such that only the polymer melt is discharged therefrom. Preferably, the polymer discharge opening is supplied with the polymer melt. Particularly preferred is that the polymer discharge opening is configured such that the polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening, especially in the absence of a blowing air flow coaxial with the corresponding polymer discharge opening. According to this preferred embodiment, the nozzle opening configured as the polymer discharge opening is provided only for discharging the polymer melt, so that no blowing air is discharged from the polymer discharge opening along with the polymer melt. Within the scope of the invention, the filament discharged from the polymer discharge opening is preferably loaded only by blowing air from a blowing air discharge opening spaced apart from the polymer discharge opening. Therefore, the polymer melt is preferably similar to being extruded into an airflow having a cross-section (corresponding to the planar extension of the nozzle head or determined by the arrangement of the blowing air discharge openings).

[0011] The blow-air outlets are preferably not assigned to a single polymer outlet. Therefore, the filaments exiting from the polymer outlets are not loaded with blow-air from a blow-air outlet coaxially arranged with the corresponding polymer outlet. This embodiment is based on the understanding that the resulting filament-airflow can be reliably controlled or influenced by separating or decoupling the polymer outlets and the blow-air outlets, and by their regularly spaced and / or irregularly spaced arrangement on the nozzle head.

[0012] Furthermore, the blown air outlet is preferably configured such that only blown air is discharged from it. Therefore, within the scope of the invention, the blown air outlet is provided solely for discharging blown air, and not for discharging it along with the polymer melt. Preferably, the blown air is temperature-controlled and is preferably warm or hot blown air.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, of the blown air outlets, and very particularly preferably all of the blown air outlets, are each allocated to at least two polymer outlets. Within the scope of the invention, allocating one polymer outlet to one blown air outlet specifically means that one blown air outlet and one polymer outlet are arranged directly adjacent to each other, with no other nozzle openings between them. Therefore, the blown air discharged from the corresponding blown air outlet is not allocated to only one single polymer outlet, but is (respectively) allocated to at least two polymer outlets. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, and very particularly preferably all of the polymer outlets are each allocated to at least two blown air outlets.

[0014] Particularly preferred within the scope of this invention is that the spacing between directly adjacent nozzle openings in at least one nozzle head direction is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head. Within the scope of this invention, the spacing between two nozzle openings specifically refers to the center-to-center distance between the nozzle openings. Within the scope of this invention, directly adjacent nozzle openings of a nozzle head specifically refer to nozzle openings arranged side-by-side in one nozzle head direction, with no other nozzle openings between them. The nozzle openings may be directly adjacent, for example, in the longitudinal direction, transverse direction, or oblique or diagonal direction of the nozzle head. "The spacing between directly adjacent nozzle openings in one nozzle head direction is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head" specifically refers within the scope of this invention to all spacings of directly adjacent nozzle openings in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head being the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head and / or all spacings of directly adjacent nozzle openings in the transverse direction of the nozzle head being the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head and / or all spacings of directly adjacent nozzle openings in an oblique or diagonal direction of the nozzle head being the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head. Furthermore, within the scope of this invention, the spacing between directly adjacent nozzle openings in at least two nozzle head directions is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head.

[0015] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the spacing between directly adjacent blow air discharge openings in at least one nozzle head direction and / or the spacing between adjacent polymer discharge openings in at least one nozzle head direction is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head. Adjacent polymer discharge openings, within the scope of the invention, specifically refer to two polymer discharge openings that are not directly adjacent, but without any additional polymer discharge opening between them. Furthermore, it should be understood that the blow air discharge openings may be directly adjacent to each other, for example, in the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, or the inclined or diagonal direction of the nozzle head, and the polymer discharge openings may be adjacent to each other, for example, in the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, or the inclined or diagonal direction of the nozzle head. Within the scope of the invention, the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head specifically refers to the direction of the maximum longitudinal extension of the nozzle head, while the transverse direction specifically refers to a direction transverse to, and particularly perpendicular to, or substantially perpendicular to, the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head. Within the scope of the invention, the inclined or diagonal direction of the nozzle head specifically refers to each direction not corresponding to the longitudinal or transverse direction of the nozzle head. In meltblown equipment, the nozzle head is positioned above the laying belt, and the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head preferably extends transversely to, especially perpendicularly to, or substantially perpendicular to the machine direction or the conveying direction of the laying belt.

[0016] Within the scope of this invention, the proportion of polymer discharge openings to the total number of nozzle openings is between 10% and 50%, preferably between 12% and 45%, and more preferably between 15% and 40%. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle head has only polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings as nozzle openings. The embodiment having the above-mentioned proportion of polymer discharge openings to the total number of nozzle openings is based on the understanding that the characteristics or geometry of the resulting filament-airflow can be very reliably influenced and / or controlled through this proportion of polymer discharge openings.

[0017] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by having at least one row or longitudinal row of nozzle openings having only a blown air outlet. Preferably, at least two, particularly preferably at least three, and very particularly preferably at least four rows or longitudinal rows having only a blown air outlet are provided on the nozzle head. Preferably, a row or longitudinal row having a polymer outlet is followed by a row or longitudinal row having a polymer outlet. Suitablely, at least two, preferably at least three, and particularly preferably at least four rows or longitudinal rows having polymer outlets are provided on the nozzle head. Rows or longitudinal rows having only a blown air outlet and rows or longitudinal rows having polymer outlets are particularly preferably alternately arranged throughout the nozzle head in the transverse direction. In this case, the nozzle head particularly includes a plurality of rows or longitudinal rows having only a blown air outlet and a plurality of rows or longitudinal rows having polymer outlets. A row or longitudinal row having a polymer outlet specifically indicates that the row or longitudinal row has at least one polymer outlet as a nozzle opening. Within the scope of the invention, two rows or longitudinal rows succeeding each other particularly means that the rows or longitudinal rows are directly succeeding each other in the transverse direction of the nozzle head.

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, preferably in all rows or longitudinal rows having polymer discharge openings, both polymer discharge openings and blowing air discharge openings are provided, and the polymer discharge openings and blowing air discharge openings are preferably alternately and / or irregularly arranged in the respective rows or longitudinal rows. Therefore, it is preferable that the nozzle head has rows or longitudinal rows in which only blowing air discharge openings are provided, and that the nozzle head has rows or longitudinal rows in which both polymer discharge openings and blowing air discharge openings are provided. In such a row, the polymer discharge openings and blowing air discharge openings may be arranged partially or alternately in certain sections, and partially or irregularly in certain sections.

[0019] In principle, within the scope of this invention, it is also possible for all nozzle opening rows or longitudinal rows to have both polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings, and in this case, the polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings are preferably arranged alternately and / or irregularly in all rows or longitudinal rows.

[0020] According to an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably in all rows or longitudinal rows having polymer discharge openings, only polymer discharge openings are provided. Within the scope of this alternative embodiment, directly adjacent polymer discharge openings may exist on the nozzle head—particularly in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head. Within the scope of this embodiment, rows or longitudinal rows having only blown air discharge openings and rows or longitudinal rows having only polymer discharge openings are preferably alternately arranged throughout the nozzle head in the transverse direction. Furthermore, in this case, within the scope of the invention, the polymer discharge openings of the rows or longitudinal rows having only polymer discharge openings are offset relative to the blown air discharge openings of the rows or longitudinal rows having only blown air discharge openings in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle head.

[0021] Preferably, the blown air outlet has a diameter between 0.05 and 2 mm, more preferably between 0.1 and 1.5 mm, and more preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm. It is recommended that all blown air outlets of the nozzle head have the same or substantially the same diameter. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, the nozzle opening of the nozzle head is configured to be smooth or circular.

[0022] Within the scope of this invention, the diameter of the polymer discharge opening deviates from the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening by a maximum of 15%, preferably a maximum of 10%. Preferably, all polymer discharge openings of the nozzle head have the same or substantially the same diameter. Within the scope of this invention, the diameter of the polymer discharge opening may preferably be larger or smaller than the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening, and the deviation from the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening is a maximum of 15%, preferably a maximum of 10%. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the deviation from the diameter of the polymer discharge opening to the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening is a maximum of 5%. Suitablely, the deviation from the diameter of the polymer discharge opening to the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening is 2% to 20%, preferably 5% to 15%. According to an embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the polymer discharge opening is substantially equal to the diameter of the blowing air discharge opening, thereby, in particular, all nozzle openings of the nozzle head have the same or substantially the same diameter.

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the nozzle head has an opening protrusion that protrudes beyond the nozzle head surface of the nozzle head, and a polymer discharge opening is preferably provided at the end of the opening protrusion facing away from the nozzle head surface. "The opening protrusion protrudes beyond the nozzle head surface of the nozzle head" specifically means, within the scope of the invention, that the opening protrusion extends beyond the nozzle head surface and that the polymer melt is discharged from the opening protrusion or the polymer discharge opening at the end of the opening protrusion facing away from the nozzle head surface. Within the scope of the invention, the nozzle head surface is particularly formed of a nozzle plate. Preferably, the blowing air discharge opening is provided in the nozzle head surface or in the nozzle plate. It has proven effective that the distance between the end of the opening protrusion facing away from the nozzle head surface and the nozzle head surface is equal to 0.05 to 10 times, preferably 0.1 to 5 times, the diameter of the polymer discharge opening.

[0024] If the nozzle head has an opening protrusion according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is suitable that the outer diameter of the opening protrusion at its end opposite to the nozzle head surface—where the polymer discharge opening is preferably located—deviates from the diameter of the blown air discharge opening by a maximum of 15%, preferably a maximum of 10%. Suitablely, the outer diameters of all opening protrusions in this region are the same or substantially the same. Within the scope of the invention, the outer diameter of the opening protrusion at its end opposite to the nozzle head surface may be greater than or less than the diameter of the blown air discharge opening. According to a preferred embodiment, the deviation of the outer diameter of the opening protrusion in this region from the diameter of the blown air discharge opening is a maximum of 5%. Suitablely, the deviation of the outer diameter of the opening protrusion at its end opposite to the nozzle head surface from the diameter of the blown air discharge opening is between 2% and 20%, preferably between 5% and 15%. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer diameter of the opening protrusion at its end opposite to the nozzle head surface is equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the blown air discharge opening.

[0025] To address the aforementioned technical task, the present invention also proposes an apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric, particularly from polymer melt made of thermoplastic plastic, having at least one nozzle head for outputting filaments, particularly the aforementioned nozzle head, with a continuously movable laying belt disposed below the nozzle head, on which the filaments can be laid into meltblown nonwoven fabric, the nozzle head being configured as a meltblown blown head and having a plurality of nozzle openings—preferably arranged in at least two, preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four rows or longitudinal rows extending transversely, particularly perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the laying belt—a portion of the nozzle openings being configured as polymer discharge openings and a portion or other portions of the nozzle openings being configured as blown air discharge openings, the polymer discharge openings and blown air discharge openings being spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern and / or irregular arrangement.

[0026] The preferred laying belt is a laying screen belt, and especially a continuously moving laying screen belt. Furthermore, it is preferable to have a suction device, particularly a suction blower, located below the laying belt or laying screen belt, especially below the filament laying area, by means of which air or process air can be drawn from below through the laying screen belt. Additionally, within the scope of the invention, the device has at least two nozzles or meltblown nozzles for outputting filaments. In this case, it is preferable that the two generated filament-air flows converge in the contact area along the flow path between the nozzles and the laying belt or laying screen belt. Furthermore, it is preferable to mix short fibers, such as short fiber pulp (Pulp-Kurzfasern), into the filament-air flow, more specifically, particularly in the aforementioned contact area. For this purpose, the device preferably has a means for outputting short fibers or short fiber pulp. Within the scope of the invention, the term "pulp" specifically refers to cellulose-based fibrous materials.

[0027] The nozzle head or meltblown nozzle, especially multiple nozzle heads or meltblown nozzles, may be arranged obliquely or at an angle relative to the laid screen belt, such that the resulting filament-airflow preferably flows obliquely or at an angle toward the laid belt or its surface and / or toward the short fiber-airflow or short fiber pulp-airflow, and then these flows preferably converge in the contact area and subsequently, particularly preferably, flow as a converging flow in a flow direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the laid screen belt.

[0028] To address the aforementioned technical task, the present invention also proposes a method for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric using the aforementioned equipment, wherein filaments are produced using at least one nozzle head, particularly a polymer melt made of thermoplastic, and the filaments are laid out on a continuously moving layup belt to form a meltblown nonwoven fabric. Within the scope of the method according to the invention, it is preferable that short fibers, particularly short fiber slurry, are added to the flow path between the at least one nozzle head and the layup belt, preferably in the contact area, so that the filament-short fiber mixture is laid out on the layup belt to form a meltblown nonwoven fabric.

[0029] The present invention also relates to the application of the above-described nozzle head in a method for manufacturing nonwoven or meltblown nonwoven fabrics from filament or meltblown filament and short fiber pulp.

[0030] This invention is based on the understanding that the characteristics or geometry of the generated filament-airflow can be functionally, reliably, and specifically influenced by the nozzle head according to the invention. By separating the blown air outlet and the polymer outlet (wherein avoiding directly assigning each blown air outlet to only one unique polymer outlet), the characteristics or geometry of the generated filament-airflow can be influenced to a sufficient extent to avoid or suppress interference during the flow of the filament-airflow. The similarly free distribution of the blown air outlet and the polymer outlet on the nozzle head allows for application-specific arrangements of the nozzle openings or the polymer outlet and the blown air outlet. The ratio of the polymer outlet to the blown air outlet can also functionally and reliably influence the generated filament-airflow. The nozzle head according to the invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabrics in which interference with the filament-airflow in the flow path between the nozzle head and the layup tape can be avoided, for example, avoiding eddies in the edge regions of the filament-airflow. This is particularly advantageous when multiple filament-airflows converge or when one or more filament-airflows converge with short fibers, especially short fiber pulp. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that the measures according to the invention are not very complex, and in particular, the cost is not very high; therefore, the nozzle head according to the invention is characterized by high economic efficiency. Finally, it should be noted that the nozzle head according to the invention is highly variable, because the nozzle head allows the polymer discharge opening to be modified into a blowing air discharge opening, and vice versa, through relatively simple measures. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The invention will now be described in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only one embodiment. The drawings are as follows:

[0032] Figure 1 A bottom view of the nozzle head according to the invention in the first embodiment is shown;

[0033] Figure 2 A bottom view of the nozzle head according to the invention, according to a second embodiment, is shown;

[0034] Figure 3 A bottom view of the nozzle head according to the invention in a third embodiment is shown;

[0035] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the nozzle head according to the invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 5 A vertical cross-sectional view of an apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabrics according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Figures 1 to 3A preferred embodiment of a nozzle head 1 according to the invention is shown for producing filaments 2, particularly from polymer melts made of thermoplastics. The nozzle head 1 is configured as a meltblown nozzle and has a plurality of nozzle openings arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows 3. A portion of the nozzle openings is configured as polymer discharge openings 4. These polymer discharge openings 4 are located in… Figures 1 to 3 The center is shown as a solid circle. The other part of the nozzle opening is constructed as air exhaust openings 5. These air exhaust openings 5 ​​are... Figures 1 to 3 The circle in the middle is shown as an unfilled circle.

[0038] According to Figure 1 and 3 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the polymer discharge opening 4 and the blowing air discharge opening 5 are spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern or arrangement. According to... Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the polymer discharge opening 4 and the blowing air discharge opening 5 are irregularly arranged or distributed at intervals from each other. Within the scope of the invention and in this embodiment, the nozzle openings of the nozzle head 1 are arranged or distributed in or on the nozzle plate 9. Preferably, and in the embodiment according to the drawings, the nozzle head 1 has only the polymer discharge opening 4 and the blowing air discharge opening 5 as nozzle openings.

[0039] According to Figure 1 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the nozzle openings, or polymer discharge openings 4 and blown air discharge openings 5, are arranged in seven longitudinal rows 3 on the nozzle head 1 or nozzle plate 9. According to... Figure 2 In one embodiment, the polymer discharge opening 4 and the blowing air discharge opening 5 are arranged in six longitudinal rows 3 on the nozzle head 1 or nozzle plate 9. According to... Figure 3 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the polymer discharge opening 4 and the blowing air discharge opening 5 are arranged or distributed in eleven longitudinal rows 3 on the nozzle head 1 or the nozzle plate 9.

[0040] Within the scope of this invention, the term "longitudinal row 3" refers to a row of nozzle openings that extend in the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1 and, in this respect, have a greater extension and / or more number of nozzle openings than the transverse row of the nozzle head 1 arranged in the transverse direction Q, which is generated by a plurality of longitudinal rows 3 arranged side by side. Therefore, suitably and in this embodiment, the transverse direction Q of the nozzle head 1 extends transversely to, particularly perpendicular to, or substantially perpendicular to, the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1. Continuous filaments can be produced, in particular, by means of the nozzle head 1 according to the invention. The produced filaments 2 or continuous filaments are preferably formed from a polymer melt made of a thermoplastic, particularly preferably polypropylene.

[0041] Suitably and in the embodiment according to the drawings, the polymer discharge opening 4 is configured such that only polymer melt is discharged from it. Particularly preferred and in this embodiment, the polymer discharge opening 4 is configured such that polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening without a blowing air flow coaxially discharged with the corresponding polymer discharge opening 4. Furthermore, preferably and in this embodiment, the corresponding polymer discharge opening 4 is not assigned only to a single blowing air discharge opening 5, or in other words, is not assigned only to a single blowing air flow. Moreover, within the scope of the invention and in this embodiment, the blowing air discharge opening 5 is configured such that only blowing air is discharged from it.

[0042] According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and in accordance with Figure 1 and 3 In the embodiments, at least 80% of the blown air outlet openings 5, preferably all blown air outlet openings 5, are each assigned at least two polymer outlet openings 4. Within the scope of the invention, assigning a polymer outlet opening 4 to a blown air outlet opening 5 specifically refers to a polymer outlet opening 4 being directly adjacent to another blown air outlet opening 5, with no other nozzle openings between them. Within the scope of the invention, the direct adjacency of two nozzle openings can exist in the longitudinal direction L, the transverse direction Q, or the diagonal or oblique direction of the nozzle head 1.

[0043] Furthermore, within the scope of this invention, at least 85% of the polymer discharge openings 4 are respectively provided with at least two blown air discharge openings 5. Preferably, and according to... Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, each polymer discharge opening 4 is provided with at least two blown air discharge openings 5.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention and in the embodiment according to the drawings, the proportion of the polymer discharge opening 4 to the total number of nozzle openings is between 10% and 50%, preferably between 12% and 45%. Figure 1 and 3 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the polymer discharge opening 4 accounts for approximately 30% of the total number of nozzle openings. According to... Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, the polymer discharge opening 4 accounts for approximately 20% of the total number of nozzle openings.

[0045] Particularly preferred within the scope of this invention is that the spacing between directly adjacent nozzle openings of the nozzle head 1 in at least one nozzle head direction is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head 1. The spacing between two nozzle openings, within the scope of this invention and in this embodiment, specifically refers to the center-to-center spacing of the nozzle openings. The nozzle openings may be directly adjacent in the longitudinal direction L, the transverse direction Q, the oblique direction, or the diagonal direction of the nozzle head 1. Direct adjacency of two nozzle openings here specifically means that no additional nozzle opening is provided between these two nozzle openings.

[0046] According to Figure 1 In a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1, for example, all the spacing b1 of the nozzle openings that are directly adjacent in the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1 is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head 1. Furthermore, preferably, and according to... Figure 1 In the embodiment of nozzle head 1, the spacing b2 of all nozzle openings directly adjacent to each other in the lateral direction Q of nozzle head 1 is the same or substantially the same throughout nozzle head 1. Furthermore, it is recommended that, and according to... Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment, all spacings b1 and b2 are the same or substantially the same.

[0047] Further preferably, the spacing b of the blowing air discharge openings 5 ​​that are directly adjacent in the direction of at least one nozzle head is... b The entire nozzle head 1 is the same or substantially the same. Figure 2 and 3 For example, it can be seen that all the spacing b between the directly adjacent blown air discharge openings 5 ​​in the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1 is... b It is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head 1.

[0048] Furthermore, it is recommended and based on Figure 1 and 3 In a preferred embodiment, the spacing b between adjacent polymer discharge openings 4 in at least one nozzle head direction p The entire nozzle head 1 is identical or substantially identical. Adjacent polymer discharge openings 4 refer to two polymer discharge openings 4 that are not directly adjacent, but without any additional polymer discharge opening 4 between them. According to... Figure 3 In one embodiment, for example, all the spacing b between adjacent polymer discharge openings 4 in the lateral direction Q of the nozzle head 1 p The entire nozzle head 1 is the same or substantially the same. According to... Figure 1 In one embodiment, for example, all spacing b of adjacent polymer discharge openings 4 in the diagonal or inclined direction of the nozzle head. p It is the same or substantially the same throughout the nozzle head 1.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1 according to the invention, and in accordance with... Figure 1 and 3 In one embodiment, at least one longitudinal row 3 of nozzle openings is provided, each having only a blown air discharge opening 5. According to... Figure 1 In the embodiment, there are three longitudinal rows 3 having only blown air exhaust openings 5 ​​and according to Figure 3 In one embodiment, there are six longitudinal rows 3 having only blown air outlet openings 5. Preferably, in the transverse direction of the nozzle head 1, after one longitudinal row 3 having only blown air outlet openings 5, there is a longitudinal row 3 having a polymer outlet opening 4. Figure 1 and 3 Preferred and according to Figure 1 and 3 In one embodiment, longitudinal rows 3 having only blowing air discharge openings 5 ​​and longitudinal rows 3 having polymer discharge openings 4 are alternately arranged on the entire nozzle head 1 in the transverse direction Q.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the at least one longitudinal row 3 having a polymer discharge opening 4, preferably and according to Figure 1 In this embodiment, all longitudinal rows 3 having polymer discharge openings 4 are provided with both polymer discharge openings 4 and blown air discharge openings 5. Suitably and according to Figure 1 In one embodiment, polymer discharge opening 4 and blown air discharge opening 5 are alternately arranged in the longitudinal row 3 having polymer discharge opening 4 and blown air discharge opening 5.

[0051] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the at least one longitudinal row 3 having a polymer discharge opening 4, preferably only one polymer discharge opening 4 is provided in all longitudinal rows 3 having a polymer discharge opening 4. Figure 3 This is the case in the preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1. Furthermore, according to... Figure 3 In a preferred embodiment, the polymer discharge opening 4 of the longitudinal row 3 having only a polymer discharge opening 4 is offset from the air discharge opening 5 of the longitudinal row 3 having only a blowing air discharge opening 5 in the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1. According to... Figure 3 Within the scope of the embodiments, particularly in the longitudinal direction L of the nozzle head 1, there are directly adjacent polymer discharge openings 4.

[0052] Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that all the nozzle openings in the longitudinal row 3 have both polymer discharge openings 4 and blowing air discharge openings 5. For example, according to... Figure 2 This is the case in the preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1. Furthermore, according to... Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment, the polymer discharge openings 4 and the blown air discharge openings 5 ​​are irregularly arranged in all longitudinal rows 3.

[0053] Suitably and in this embodiment, the blown air outlet 5 has a diameter d1 between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm. In an embodiment according to the drawings, the blown air outlet 5 may have a diameter d1 of about 1 mm. Figure 1 According to a preferred embodiment, and in this embodiment, the deviation between the diameter d2 of the polymer discharge opening 4 and the diameter d1 of the blown air discharge opening 5 is at most 10%. In this embodiment ( Figure 1 The diameter d2 of the polymer discharge opening 4 is about 10% smaller than the diameter d1 of the blown air discharge opening 5.

[0054] A particularly preferred embodiment of the nozzle head 1 according to the invention is characterized in that the nozzle head 1 has an opening protrusion 10 that protrudes from the nozzle head surface 6 of the nozzle head 1 and preferably, in this embodiment, a polymer discharge opening 4 is provided at the end of the opening protrusion opposite to the nozzle head surface 6. Figure 4 Within the scope of the invention, this specifically refers to the opening protrusion 10 extending beyond the nozzle head surface 6 and the polymer melt being discharged from the opening protrusion 10 or the polymer discharge opening 4 at the end of the opening protrusion 10 facing away from the nozzle head surface 6. Suitably and in this embodiment, the nozzle head surface 6 of the nozzle head is formed by the nozzle plate 9 of the nozzle head 1. More preferably and in this embodiment, the blowing air discharge opening 5 is disposed in the nozzle plate 9 or in the nozzle head surface 6. It has proven effective that the distance 'a' between the end of the opening protrusion 10 facing away from the nozzle head surface 6 and the nozzle head surface 6 corresponds to 0.05·d² to 10·d², preferably to 0.1·d² to 5·d², where d² is the diameter of the polymer discharge opening 4. Figure 4 In a preferred embodiment, the distance 'a' between the end of the opening protrusion 10 and the nozzle head surface 6 may be approximately 2 d2. The outer diameter of the opening protrusion 10 at the end opposite to the nozzle head surface 6 of the nozzle head 1 preferably deviates from the diameter d1 of the air outlet opening 5 by a maximum of 15%, preferably a maximum of 10%, and particularly preferably a maximum of 5%. Suitablely, the outer diameter of the opening protrusion 10 at the end opposite to the nozzle head surface 6 of the nozzle head 1 is equal to or substantially equal to the diameter d1 of the air outlet opening 5.

[0055] Figure 5An apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric 8 according to the invention is shown, the apparatus having at least one nozzle head 1 for outputting filaments 2. Below the nozzle head 1 is a continuously movable laying belt 7, preferably, and in this embodiment, a continuously looping laying belt, on which the filaments 2 can be laid into meltblown nonwoven fabric 8. The nozzle head 1 is constructed as a meltblown blown head and has a plurality of nozzle openings arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows 3 extending transversely to, and in particular perpendicularly to, or substantially perpendicularly to, the conveying direction F of the laying belt 7. Suitably and according to... Figure 5 In the embodiment, the nozzle head 1 is the nozzle head 1 according to the present invention described above.

Claims

1. A nozzle head (1) for producing filaments (2), the nozzle head (1) being configured as a meltblown blown head and having a plurality of nozzle openings, a portion of the nozzle openings being configured as polymer discharge openings (4) and a portion or other portion of the nozzle openings being configured as blown air discharge openings (5), the polymer discharge openings (4) and the blown air discharge openings (5) being spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern and / or irregularly arranged. The nozzle head (1) has an opening protrusion (10) that protrudes from the nozzle head surface (6) of the nozzle head (1), and a polymer discharge opening (4) is provided at the end of the opening protrusion facing away from the nozzle head surface (6). The polymer discharge opening (4) is configured such that only polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening and the polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening without a blown air flow coaxial with the corresponding polymer discharge opening.

2. The nozzle head according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least 70% of the blown air outlets (5) are each assigned at least two polymer outlets (4).

3. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The spacing between the nozzle openings of the nozzle head (1) that are directly adjacent in at least one nozzle head direction is substantially the same throughout the nozzle head (1).

4. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The proportion of the polymer discharge opening (4) to the total number of nozzle openings is between 10% and 50%.

5. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one longitudinal row (3) of nozzle openings having only a blown air discharge opening (5) is provided, followed by a longitudinal row (3) in which a polymer discharge opening (4) is present.

6. The nozzle head according to claim 5, characterized in that, In at least one longitudinal row (3) having a polymer discharge opening (4), both a polymer discharge opening (4) and a blown air discharge opening (5) are provided.

7. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The blown air outlet (5) has a diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

8. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The maximum deviation between the diameter of the polymer discharge opening (4) and the diameter of the blown air discharge opening (5) is 15%.

9. The nozzle head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The distance between the end of the protruding opening (10) away from the nozzle head surface (6) and the nozzle head surface (6) corresponds to 0.05 to 10 times the diameter of the polymer discharge opening (4).

10. The nozzle head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nozzle head is used to produce filaments from polymer melts made of thermoplastics.

11. The nozzle head according to claim 3, characterized in that, The spacing between directly adjacent blown air discharge openings (5) in at least one nozzle head direction and / or the spacing between adjacent polymer discharge openings (4) in at least one nozzle head direction are substantially the same throughout the nozzle head (1).

12. The nozzle head according to claim 5, characterized in that, The longitudinal rows (3) having only a blown air discharge opening (5) and the longitudinal rows (3) having a polymer discharge opening (4) are alternately arranged on the entire nozzle head (1) in the transverse direction of the nozzle head.

13. The nozzle head according to claim 6, characterized in that, The polymer discharge opening (4) and the blown air discharge opening (5) are alternately and / or irregularly arranged in the corresponding longitudinal rows (3).

14. The nozzle head according to claim 9, characterized in that, The distance between the end of the opening protrusion (10) facing away from the nozzle head surface (6) and the nozzle head surface (6) corresponds to 0.1 to 5 times the diameter of the polymer discharge opening (4).

15. An apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric, the apparatus having at least one nozzle head (1) for outputting filaments (2), a continuously movable laying belt (7) disposed below the nozzle head (1), the filaments (2) being laid on the laying belt to form meltblown nonwoven fabric (8), the nozzle head (1) being configured as a meltblown blown head and having a plurality of nozzle openings, a portion of the nozzle openings being configured as polymer discharge openings (4) and a portion or other portions of the nozzle openings being configured as blown air discharge openings (5), the polymer discharge openings (4) and the blown air discharge openings (5) being spaced apart from each other in a regular pattern and / or irregularly. The nozzle head (1) has an opening protrusion (10) that protrudes from the nozzle head surface (6) of the nozzle head (1), and a polymer discharge opening (4) is provided at the end of the opening protrusion facing away from the nozzle head surface (6). The polymer discharge opening (4) is configured such that only polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening and the polymer melt is discharged from the polymer discharge opening without a blown air flow coaxial with the corresponding polymer discharge opening.

16. The apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric according to claim 15, characterized in that, This equipment is used to manufacture meltblown nonwoven fabric from polymer melts made of thermoplastic plastics.

17. The apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The nozzle head (1) is the nozzle head according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

18. The apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The nozzle openings are located in at least two longitudinal rows (3) extending transversely to the conveying direction of the laying belt (7).

19. The apparatus for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The nozzle openings are located in at least two longitudinal rows (3) extending perpendicular to the conveying direction of the laying belt (7).

20. A method for manufacturing meltblown nonwoven fabric using the equipment according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that, Filaments (2) are produced using at least one nozzle head (1), and the filaments (2) are laid out on a continuously moving laying belt (7) to form a meltblown nonwoven fabric (8).

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, Add short fibers to the filament (2) in the flow path between the at least one nozzle head (1) and the laying belt (7) so that the filament-short fiber mixture is laid on the laying belt (7) to form a meltblown nonwoven fabric (8).

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The short fibers are short fiber pulp.

23. The use of the nozzle head according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in a method for manufacturing nonwoven fabric or meltblown nonwoven fabric (8) from filament (2) or meltblown filament and short fiber pulp.

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