Elliptical needle-punching device with sealed housing and needle guide box

Abstract

A needle-punching device for reinforcement, particularly of nonwoven fiber yarns or sheets, comprising: needle plates each having needle fields; columns having vertical longitudinal axes connected to the respective needle plates; a drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to the needle plates and / or needles; a sealed housing housing the columns or portions thereof and the drive mechanism; and a needle guide box disposed in an opening of the sealed housing, through which each column passes and slides within the housing, wherein the drive mechanism includes a longitudinal drive mechanism configured to cause linear reciprocating motion of the columns in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes a longitudinal drive mechanism configured to cause linear reciprocating motion of each column in a vertical direction. The columns corresponding to each needle plate may be mounted at an angle; and the drive mechanism includes a transverse drive mechanism configured to cause reciprocating motion of the needle plate or a point of the needle plate or an element integral with the needle plate in a direction substantially parallel to the MD direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a needle-punching device for achieving reinforcement, particularly of nonwoven fiber yarns or sheets, by needle-punching. The needle-punching device includes at least one needle plate that passes through the fiber yarn or sheet in the machine direction or MD forward direction. A drive mechanism is configured to apply a reciprocating motion to the needle plate and / or each needle, such that the needle has an elliptical path passing through in one direction before passing through the fiber yarn or sheet in the machine direction or MD forward direction. Background Technology

[0002] The acupuncture device known in the applicant's EP1736586. A needle plate is integral therein with a rod or post extending along a longitudinal axis and passes through the outer shell wall via a needle guide box. The needle plate slides therein and moves in both the vertical and MD directions, thereby causing the needle tip to move in an elliptical motion. The needle guide box is arranged to be able to pivot relative to an axis extending in the direction CD (perpendicular to the vertical direction and perpendicular to the MD direction).

[0003] The advantage of this prior art needle-punching device is that it can house most of the components (i.e., the main part of the column and the column drive) in a sealed housing, thereby allowing lubrication of the various parts and mechanical joints, thus ensuring a longer service life and reliable installation.

[0004] However, this acupuncture device has the disadvantage of complex structure. The device is particularly complicated. On the one hand, it is necessary to implement phase shift between two eccentric shafts, which drive the column to move in an elliptical trajectory. On the other hand, it is necessary to seal between the inclined needle guide box and the outer shell.

[0005] We aim to provide a needle-punching device that has the following advantages: it can be housed in a sealed housing, thereby ensuring good lubrication of the various drive components of the column; it is also more compact, less complex, and has better reliability, especially reducing the possibility of accidental blockage during operation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, we have obtained a system that is less complex than existing systems, particularly from a mechanical point of view, and is also more compact. Specifically, phase shifting between two eccentric shafts is no longer required. At the same time, we retain the possibility of integrating most of the drive mechanism and at least one column into a sealed housing, thereby lubricating various mechanical components and ensuring a longer lifespan and higher reliability of the device. Furthermore, the drive system of the present invention has the additional advantage that the needle remains vertically oriented throughout its elliptical trajectory, thus reducing the risk of accidental jamming of the acupuncture device.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first drive device includes two eccentric connecting rod shaft systems.

[0008] The device includes two columns and two needle guide boxes. The first drive mechanism includes two eccentric link-shaft systems, with the head of the link hinged to a corresponding eccentric shaft and the foot of the link supported. Each eccentric shaft is hinged to its respective column and rotates in opposite directions at the same speed.

[0009] According to another preferred embodiment, the device includes a column and a needle guide box. The first drive device includes two eccentric linkage shaft systems, with the eccentric shafts rotating in opposite directions at the same speed. The heads of the linkages are respectively hinged to the corresponding eccentric shafts, and the feet of the linkages are respectively hinged to a T-shaped rod, while the round column is mounted on the middle rod of the T-shape.

[0010] According to an advantageous preferred embodiment, the lateral drive device includes a control device, which itself constitutes an invention unrelated to the above-described invention but can be combined with the latter, comprising: a drive rod adapted to be coupled to a needle and / or a needle plate and / or an element integral with the plate or needle for reciprocating motion in a direction substantially parallel or parallel to the MD direction; an eccentric shaft and a connecting rod, the eccentric shaft driving the connecting rod to rotate along a rotation axis, the rotation axis extending particularly in the direction perpendicular to the MD direction and perpendicular to the CD direction; the connecting rod being connected by an element forming an intermediate lever, the intermediate lever being hinged to the connecting rod on one hand, particularly along an axis parallel to and at a distance from the pivot axis, and on the other hand, to the connecting rod. The drive rod, particularly at a point at a distance from the pivot axis, applies reciprocating motion in the direction MD.

[0011] The control device includes a mechanism for adjusting the reciprocating motion of the drive rod.

[0012] The adjusting device adjusts the distance between the pivot of the lever and the drive rod and / or the distance between the pivot of the lever and the connecting rod.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the adjusting device includes a slider fixed to a drive rod or pivot axis or a hinge axis of a lever, the slider and lever being arranged to allow the slider to slide relative to the slider. At each of the plurality of positions, the control lever further includes a securing device for securing the slider to the control lever.

[0014] According to a highly advantageous embodiment, the adjusting device includes guide slots through which a slider can slide between two extreme positions, particularly a high position where the drive rod is at the height of the pivot axis and a low position where the drive rod is at the horizontal level of the pivot axis. The drive rod is positioned as far away from the pivot axis as possible, so that the reciprocating motion amplitude of the lever can be adjusted, particularly between zero amplitude (fixed rod) and maximum amplitude, depending on the position of the slider fixed in a slot of the lever.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the slot includes an adjusting rod connected to an adjusting rod, the adjusting linkage being hinged to an auxiliary adjusting eccentric shaft, the rotation of which allows adjustment and fixing of the position of the slider in the slot.

[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the groove includes an adjusting rod integral with a helical cam, the helical cam including a disk driven to rotate by an auxiliary adjusting shaft, in which a helical groove is formed, along which the rod adjuster can move.

[0017] According to yet another advantageous variation, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the slot includes an adjusting rod connected to an adjusting rod driven by a jack, allowing linear movement of the adjusting rod, which is mounted to pivot relative to the axis of the adjusting rod. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the invention are now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional overall front view of an acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a needle-punching device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 It is an overall perspective view of the drive or control system of the auxiliary linkage;

[0022] Figure 3A This is a perspective view of another embodiment of the control system according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3B This is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the control system according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4A yes Figure 3 An overview of the system's changes;

[0025] Figure 4B yes Figure 4AThe changed rear view; and

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 , Figure 4A and Figure 4B An overview of another change in the system. Detailed Implementation

[0027] exist Figure 1 The image shows an embodiment of the acupuncture device according to the present invention. The housing is shown in cross-sectional view, while the rest of the acupuncture device is shown in frontal view.

[0028] The needle-punching device includes two needle plates 10, each comprising needles 1 extending from the underside of its respective plate. The needles are arranged in rows and columns, or in a random or pseudo-random manner, as is well known in the art. Each needle plate 10 is supported by a beam 2, referred to as a movable beam. The corresponding beam 2 and needle plate 10 are integrally formed with each other to facilitate easy replacement of the old plate with a new one in the event of needle wear and / or breakage. The reciprocating motion of the needles is elliptical, from top to bottom and from bottom to top, crossing in one direction and then in another, forming a mesh or fibrous yarn that travels in one direction along the feed direction or MD, i.e., from left to right in the horizontal direction.

[0029] Two longitudinal columns 3, extending along the vertical axis 11 perpendicular to the plane of the plate, are respectively connected to the corresponding movable beams 2 via two vertical intermediate connectors 9.

[0030] Each intermediate connector 9 is hinged at its upper end to the lower end of the corresponding column 3, and at its lower end to point 17 on the upper part of the corresponding movable beam 2.

[0031] A first longitudinal drive device is provided to give each column 3 a linear reciprocating motion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 11, which remains vertical throughout the motion.

[0032] A sealed housing 7 surrounds the first drive unit and a portion of each column 3, each column 3 passing through the wall of the housing 7 via its respective needle guide box 4. Each needle guide box 4 is fixedly mounted relative to the housing. Each column 3 slides within its respective needle guide box 4 during its vertical reciprocating motion. A guide ring 18 is arranged on the inner wall of the needle guide box 4 to ensure sliding and lubrication between each column 3 and its corresponding needle guide box 4. The seal between the columns 3 and the needle guide boxes 4 is provided by a lip seal (not shown) attached to the bottom of the needle guide box.

[0033] The first longitudinal drive mechanism includes two systems 6 with eccentric shafts, the shafts of which drive the heads of two links to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions at the same speed. The feet of the two links are hinged to corresponding columns.

[0034] These first vertical longitudinal drive devices enable movement back and forth along only the vertical longitudinal axis to each column 3.

[0035] A second lateral drive device is also provided in the form of a main connecting rod 8 arranged along the MD direction. One end of the main connecting rod 8 is hinged to a hinge point 17 on the upper part of one of the movable beams 2, which is movable to the vertical connecting rod. Therefore, the movable beam 2 moves back and forth along or substantially along the MD direction (e.g., Figure 1 (As indicated by the double arrows above the main connecting rod 8). The other end of the main connecting rod 8 is connected to a control system, which is called the forward system. This control system can be particularly similar to the one shown below. Figures 3 to 5 As shown. In addition, the auxiliary link 20 is hinged on one hand at the end of the main link 8, particularly at point 17 of the movable beam 2, and on the other hand to another movable part, thereby also transmitting to the latter, reciprocating in the MD direction.

[0036] exist Figure 2 The image shows another embodiment of the acupuncture device according to the invention. The housing is shown in cross-sectional view, while the rest of the acupuncture device is shown in frontal view.

[0037] The acupuncture device includes a needle plate 10, which comprises needles projecting from the underside of their respective plates. The needle plates 10 are arranged in rows and columns, or in a random or pseudo-random manner, as is well known in the art. The needle plates 10 are supported by a crossbeam 2', referred to as a movable crossbeam. The beam 2' and the needle plates 10' are detachably connected so that the needle plates can be easily replaced with new ones when the needles wear and / or break. The reciprocating motion of the needles is elliptical, from top to bottom and from bottom to top, crossing in one direction and then in another, forming a mesh or fibrous yarn that travels in one direction along the feed direction or MD, i.e., from left to right in the horizontal direction.

[0038] The longitudinal column 3' extending along the vertical axis 11 perpendicular to the plane of the plate is connected to the movable beam 2' via a vertical intermediate connector 9'.

[0039] The intermediate connector 9' is hinged at its upper end to the lower end of the column 3, and at its lower end to point 17 on the upper part of the movable beam 2'.

[0040] A first longitudinal drive device is provided to apply linear reciprocating motion to the circular column 3' in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 11', and the motion remains vertical throughout the motion.

[0041] A sealed housing 7' surrounds a portion of the first drive unit and the support column 3', which passes through the wall of the housing 7' via a corresponding needle guide box 4'. The needle guide box 4' is fixedly mounted relative to the housing. The support column 3' slides within the needle guide box 4' during vertical back-and-forth movement. A guide ring 18 is arranged on the inner wall of the needle guide box 4' to provide sliding and lubrication between the support column 3' and the needle guide box 4'. The seal between the support column 3' and the needle guide box 4' is provided by a lip seal (not shown) attached to the bottom of the needle guide box.

[0042] The first longitudinal drive mechanism includes two eccentric shaft systems 6', which drive the heads of two links to rotate simultaneously at the same speed in opposite directions. The feet of the two links are hinged to a side branch of a 19T-shaped link, while the main branch or link of the T-link is hinged to a 3' column. These first vertical longitudinal drive mechanisms cause the column 3 to move back and forth along the vertical longitudinal axis.

[0043] A second lateral drive mechanism is also provided in the form of a main connecting rod 8' arranged along the MD direction. One end of the main connecting rod 8' is hinged to the upper part of the movable beam 2' at the hinge point 17' with the vertical connecting rod. Therefore, the movable beam 2' is reciprocated along or substantially along the MD direction (e.g., Figure 2 (As indicated by the double arrows above the main link 8'). The other end of the main link 8' is connected to a control system, referred to as the forward system, which may be particularly similar to the following: Figures 3 to 5 Those shown.

[0044] exist Figure 3 , 3A Embodiments of the system are shown in 3B, 4A, 4B, and 5, which can be used to control the reciprocating motion of the main link 8 in the MD direction during operation. However, this control system itself is not necessary, and existing technologies known in the art can be used for... Figure 1 Other control systems for the reciprocating motion of the main connecting rod 8 in the MD direction, such as EP-A1-1736586, EP-B1-3372716, FR2738846, US6161269, etc.

[0045] exist Figure 3 In this system, an eccentric shaft 21 is connected to a link 22, which is integrally and directly hinged to a vertical rod 23 (or may consist of multiple elements not hinged to each other). The eccentric shaft 21 is arranged such that its other end is perpendicular to a fixed pivot axis 24, which is offset in the vertical direction below the hinge axis from the link 22 to the lever 23. A link 27 is directly connected to the lever 23. The link 27 is integral with a slider 25 and one end of a rod 26, the axis of which extends parallel to axis 24.

[0046] The adjusting system, consisting of an auxiliary adjusting eccentric shaft 29 and an adjusting link 28, allows for the adjustment of the lever 26, and thus the relative position of the link 27 with respect to the lever's pivot 24 in the vertical direction and / or with respect to the hinge axis of the lever and the link 22. The adjusting link 28 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the eccentric shaft (or crankshaft) 29, while its lower end is pivotally mounted relative to the axis of the lever 26.

[0047] The lever has an opening in the form of a slot 30, and the slider 25 slides integrally with the rod 26 in the slot 30.

[0048] Depending on the position of the connecting rod 28 determined by the appropriate rotation of the crankshaft 29, the relative position of the slider 25 in the slot 30 can be selected and adjusted to adjust the distance along the vertical axis of the lever. This distance can vary between zero values ​​(the position where the slider 25 is at the top of the slot 30 so that the axis of the rod 26 is aligned with the axis of the connecting rod 22) and the maximum adjustment position where the slider 25 is at the bottom of the slot 30.

[0049] The amplitude of the reciprocating motion of lever 27 can change both during operation and at rest, and this motion is reflected in lever 23 from the motion of eccentric shaft 21 and connecting rod 22. As for connecting rod 27, it can be fixed or hinged to... Figure 1 and 2 On the main link of the embodiment shown.

[0050] exist Figure 3A In, it is shown Figure 3 The arrangement is changed. In this change, the distance between the connecting rod 22 and the drive rod 27 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the slot 30 of the hinge shaft 31 of the connecting rod 22 on the lever 23. This allows adjustment of the distance between the hinge shaft 31 of the hinge connecting rod 22 and the fixed support shaft 24 of the lever. This also allows adjustment of the distance between the hinge shaft 31 and the drive rod 27. In this variation, the distance between the drive rod 27 and the shaft 24 is fixed, while... Figure 3 In this embodiment, the distance between the hinge shaft 31 and the shaft 24 is fixed.

[0051] exist Figure 3B In, it is shown Figure 3 The arrangement is changed. In this change, the distance between the connecting rod 22 and the drive rod 27 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the slot 30' in the lever 23 with the fixed pivot shaft 24. The shaft 24 of the lever is integral with the slider 25' which is slidably mounted in the slot 30'. The connecting rod 22 is hinged to the lever 23 along the hinge shaft 31, which is in a fixed position on the lever 23. The connection end of the drive rod 27 and the lever 23 is in a fixed position (e.g., Figure 3 (In the implementation method). Similarly, rod 26 from link 28 is hinged to lever 23 in a fixed position. Therefore, the relative position of shaft 24 with respect to lever 23 can be adjusted via link 28, thereby adjusting the relative position of drive rod 27 with respect to shaft 24 and the relative position of link 22 with respect to shaft 24, thereby adjusting the reciprocating motion of drive rod 27, in which the distance between drive rod 27 and link 22 remains fixed.

[0052] exist Figure 4A and 4B Another implementation is shown in the figure. Figure 3 Implementation methods and Figure 4A and 4B The main difference between the implementation methods lies in the way the position of the slider 25 relative to the slot 30 is adjusted.

[0053] In this embodiment, a helical cam consisting of a disk 40 is used, along which a helical groove is formed, and a rod 26 can move. During rotation of the disk 40, the rod 26 follows the contour of the slot 30, which allows the rod 26 to slide and the slider 25 to move along the slot. Depending on the position selected for the rod 26 along the helix, the rod 27 achieves its maximum reciprocating stroke.

[0054] exist Figure 5 Another embodiment is shown, in which a cylinder 41 is used instead of... Figure 3 The crankshaft 29 is the same in this embodiment, and the rest is the same.

[0055] exist Figure 4A , 4B In the implementation described in section 5, the following can be provided: Figure 3A and 3B A variation in the arrangement to replace the distance between shaft 24 and drive rod 27 (e.g.) Figure 3 (as shown in the changes).

[0056] In this specification, we have described a first drive unit produced using a two-eccentric-shaft system to achieve pure longitudinal movement of the column. Other methods, such as cylinder systems or eccentric camshafts, can be considered.

Claims

1. A needle-punching device for reinforcing fiber sheets by needle-punching, comprising: One or more needle plates, the needle plates having a needle field; One or more vertical posts, the posts having a longitudinal axis vertically connected to a corresponding needle plate; A drive device configured to apply reciprocating motion to one or more of the needle plates and / or needles, such that the needles have an elliptical path passing through in one direction and then through the fiber sheet in the machine direction, thereby reinforcing it; A sealed housing that houses the column or a portion thereof and the drive mechanism; One or more needle guide boxes, the needle guide boxes being arranged in an opening of the sealed housing. Each of the uprights passes through the housing via the needle guide box and slides inside it, characterized in that... The drive mechanism includes a longitudinal drive mechanism configured to apply linear reciprocating motion to one or more of the columns in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each of the needle plates can be installed at an angle relative to each of the columns; and The drive mechanism includes a lateral drive mechanism configured to reciprocate each of the needle plates or an element integral with each of the needle plates in a direction substantially parallel to the machine direction. The lateral drive mechanism is configured to apply a reciprocating motion substantially parallel to the machine direction to a point on each of the needle plates or an element integral with each of the needle plates, the point being located outside the housing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lateral drive device includes a main connecting rod that is hinged to one or more of the needle plates on one side, and connected to a device for controlling reciprocating motion parallel to the machine direction on the other side.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The device consists of multiple columns and needle plates, and is equipped with one or more auxiliary connecting rods, which are hinged between two corresponding needle plates or on a component that is integral with two corresponding needle plates.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The hinge point of the first needle plate of the main connecting rod and the auxiliary connecting rod coincides with the hinge point of the component that is integral with the first needle plate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tilting of one or more needle plates relative to the corresponding one or more posts is achieved by a corresponding intermediate link sandwiched between one or more posts and one or more needle plates.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the intermediate links is hinged at its upper end to the corresponding column and at its lower end to the corresponding needle plate or is an integral element thereof.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The needle guide box is fixedly installed relative to the housing.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The longitudinal drive unit is located inside the sealed housing, and the transverse drive unit is located outside the housing.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The fiber sheet is a nonwoven fabric.

Images