Cross-lapper with three conveyor belts

Abstract

A cross-laying machine includes a feed conveyor belt (1') that introduces a fiber web, particularly a nonwoven web, into an input carriage (4') or collector having a reciprocating motion, in which the fiber web is tumbled, particularly 180°, to advance via a rear conveyor belt (6') to a laying carriage (3'), which moves in a transverse reciprocating manner relative to the direction of movement of an output platform, such that the web is laid on an output platform (2') to obtain a roll, characterized in that the feed conveyor belt (1') is arranged to convey the web until the web is tumbled in the input carriage (4'), and such that it clamps the web between the rear conveyor belt (6') before, during and after the web is tumbled, particularly until the laying carriage (3').

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a cross-laying machine that has the function of stacking fiber webs, particularly nonwoven fiber webs, to provide a roll formed by the stacks at the output end. The cross-laying machine includes an input carriage or collector with reciprocating motion, into which the fiber web is fed by a feed conveyor belt, and in which the fiber web is flipped, particularly 180°, to advance by a rear conveyor belt to an output or laying carriage. The output or laying carriage has a movement to lay the fiber web on an output table, and the movement of the output or laying carriage relative to the output table is transverse in one direction and in another direction, thereby obtaining a roll.

[0002] This type of cross-laying machine is known from the prior art, for example from the applicant's EP1367166A1. The web is introduced into the cross-laying machine via an input / feed conveyor belt, where it is fed into an input carriage. The conveyor belt tumbles in the input carriage, after which the web is sandwiched between the input / feed conveyor belt and the rear conveyor belt until it reaches the laying carriage. In the area of ​​the roll gap formed in the laying carriage between the input / feed conveyor belt and the rear conveyor belt, the web is laid onto the output conveyor belt. These prior art cross-laying machines do not handle high productivity well; in particular, as productivity increases, the speeds of the input and output carriages, the quality of the obtained rolls, and especially the uniformity decrease.

[0003] A cross-laying machine is known from EP197528A1, in which a web is fed onto a feed conveyor belt 20 via an input conveyor belt 6, thereby feeding the web into an input carriage 4. In the input carriage, the web is flipped, being sandwiched between the input conveyor belt 6 and the feed conveyor belt 20 before flipping, and between the feed conveyor belt 20 and annular conveyor belt 14 after flipping, until a laying roller gap is formed in the laying carriage 5 that lays the web onto the conveyor belt 1. This laying roller gap is formed between annular conveyor belt 14 and another annular conveyor belt 23. The cross-laying machine is subject to the same disadvantages as described above.

[0004] A cross-laying machine is known from EP0786545A2, in which a net is introduced into the machine via an input conveyor belt 1 or 2, which flips the net to lay it on an intermediate conveyor belt 11. The net is then flipped again around the intermediate conveyor belt before entering a laying carriage 5, which lays the net on a platform 14 in the area of ​​the roller gap formed between the two input conveyor belts 1 and 2. The net is held by the two input conveyor belts 1 and 2 during the first flip, and then held by the input conveyor belts 1 and 2 and the intermediate conveyor belt 11 before and after the second flip. This cross-laying machine suffers from the same disadvantages as described above.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing a cross-laying machine of the above type, which can improve the quality of the rolls at the output end of the web laying machine at a constant productivity, and / or improve the productivity of the cross-laying machine while maintaining the same roll quality.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a cross-laying machine is adapted to stack fiber webs, particularly nonwoven fiber webs, on itself to provide a roll formed of the stack at the output end. The cross-laying machine includes an input carriage or collector having a reciprocating motion, in which the web is flipped, particularly flipped 180°, to be fed via a rear conveyor belt to an output or laying carriage that moves in a transverse reciprocating motion relative to the direction of movement of an output platform, such that the web is laid on the output platform to obtain a roll. The web is characterized by being fed into the input carriage via a feed conveyor belt, and before, during, and after the web is flipped, the web is sandwiched between the feed conveyor belt and the rear conveyor belt, particularly being fed all the way to the laying carriage.

[0007] Therefore, the net is introduced into the laying carriage between two conveyor belts at a speed independent of the movement of the input carriage. The net is geometrically stabilized by the partial exhaust of air contained within it before it is flipped, and the net is held on either side of the net by the two conveyor belts.

[0008] Preferably, the flipping occurs in the input carriage, around a flipping roller having a shaft integral with the input carriage.

[0009] Preferably, the rear conveyor belt clamps the net between itself and the feed conveyor belt at least from a point upstream of the input carriage, called the roll gap point.

[0010] Preferably, in the area of ​​the roller dust collector point, the portion of the rear conveyor belt clamped between the rear conveyor belt and the input portion of the feed conveyor belt is tilted relative to the input portion of the feed conveyor belt, particularly tilted at an angle of several degrees, for example, between 1° and 10°.

[0011] Preferably, the feed conveyor includes an output section that extends after the turning roller and clamps the mesh between at least a portion of the feed conveyor and the rear conveyor and the laying carriage, the two sections being particularly parallel to each other and particularly parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0012] Preferably, the feed conveyor belt is a breathable conveyor belt, especially a perforated conveyor belt, which further improves the geometric stability of the net entering the laying carriage due to the expulsion of air contained within the feed conveyor belt, especially before turning.

[0013] Preferably, the rear conveyor belt is an airtight conveyor belt, especially a so-called solid conveyor belt, i.e., without perforations.

[0014] According to an advantageous development, it constitutes another aspect of the invention, which is independent of the above-mentioned aspect but can be combined with it in an advantageous manner, wherein the input carriage is divided into two parts spaced apart from each other, the flipping occurs in the first part, in particular the shaft of the flipping roller is integral with the first part, and the second part includes a roller having a shaft integral with the second part, the feed conveyor belt passing around the shaft, and the laying carriage is preferably located between the first and second parts.

[0015] Preferably, the two components of the input frame are linked in a translational manner relative to each other, so as to move according to the same dynamic laws.

[0016] According to a first preferred embodiment, the net is introduced into the cross-laying machine via an input conveyor belt, which supplies the net to the feed conveyor belt.

[0017] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the input conveyor belt and the rear conveyor belt form a laying roller gap.

[0018] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the second component of the input carriage includes a second roller having a shaft integral with the second component, and the input conveyor belt passes around the shaft.

[0019] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, a compensating carriage is provided whose movement is synchronized with the translational movement of the laying carriage, and in particular, has a speed equal to half the speed of the laying carriage.

[0020] Preferably, the compensating carriage includes two rollers, each having a shaft integral with the compensating carriage, and the input conveyor belt passes over these two rollers before and after passing over a second roller, which has a shaft integral with a second component of the input carriage.

[0021] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the feed conveyor belt includes an input portion extending between the input carriage and the input conveyor belt, said input portion of the feed conveyor belt being particularly parallel to the portion of the input conveyor belt that supplies the mesh to the feed conveyor belt.

[0022] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, at least one drive roller drives the input conveyor belt, at least one drive roller drives the rear conveyor belt, and the feed conveyor belt is free and has no drive of its own. However, the invention is not limited to this feature, and it is conceivable to mechanize the intermediate or feed conveyor belts.

[0023] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the drive belt or input belt of the input carriage extends from the first component of the input carriage to the second component of the input carriage, the two ends of the belt are fixed to one of the first and second components respectively, and the belt further translatesly links the front auxiliary carriage, the front auxiliary carriage itself translatesly links the steering roller of the rear conveyor belt, and the rear conveyor belt can translate.

[0024] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the drive belt or output belt of the laying carriage extends between two points fixed relative to the frame of the cross-laying machine, and is translatably linked to the laying carriage, and is lowerly linked to a rear auxiliary carriage, which itself is translatably linked to a guide roller of the input conveyor belt, the guide roller being capable of translational movement. However, the invention is not limited to the features of these two fixed points, and it is conceivable that one of the points is not fixed to the belt tensioning system but is integrated with the belt tensioning system, for example, attached to the belt tensioning system.

[0025] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, the output drive belt passes around two rollers that are translatably linked relative to the compensation bracket. Preferably, the two rollers are the last rollers that the belt passes around before being fixed to the corresponding fixed point.

[0026] Preferably, according to the first embodiment, after passing over each of the two rollers integral with the compensation bracket, the output belt extends toward the corresponding fixing point in opposite directions.

[0027] According to the second preferred embodiment, which constitutes another aspect of the invention, this embodiment is independent of the above aspects but can be combined with the above aspects in an advantageous manner, wherein the net is introduced into the cross-laying machine by a feed conveyor belt.

[0028] Preferably, according to the second embodiment, a front laying conveyor belt is provided, which together with the rear conveyor belt defines a roller gap, at which the net leaves the laying carriage so as to fall onto the platform.

[0029] Preferably, according to the second embodiment, the front and rear conveyor belts are airtight conveyor belts, particularly so-called solid conveyor belts, i.e., without perforations.

[0030] Preferably, according to the second embodiment, the laying carriage is belt-driven, particularly fixed to the front and rear ends of the laying carriage, and the front and rear end rollers, which are respectively mounted around the front and rear conveyor belts, are mounted to be able to translate and move in conjunction with each other during their translational movement, particularly by mounting their respective shafts on the front and rear compensating carriages or on a single rigid carriage, the front and rear conveyor belts extending around the two end rollers respectively, and the two compensating carriages being fixed to the drive belt of the laying carriage respectively.

[0031] Preferably, according to the second embodiment, the input carriage is driven by a drive carriage belt. In particular, the drive carriage belt is fixed to the two front ends and the rear ends of the first component of the input carriage, and the second component is also fixed to the drive carriage belt.

[0032] Preferably, according to the second embodiment, at least one drive roller drives the rear conveyor belt, at least one drive roller drives the front conveyor belt, and the feed conveyor belt is free and has no drive of its own. However, the invention is not limited to this feature, and it is conceivable to mechanize the feed conveyor belt.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, independent of the foregoing aspects but advantageously compatible with each, any two, or all of the foregoing aspects, the cross-laying machine includes a feed conveyor belt through which the fiber web, particularly a nonwoven fiber web, is introduced into an input carriage or collector having a reciprocating motion, wherein the web is flipped, particularly flipped 180°, to advance via a rear conveyor belt to a laying carriage having a movement to lay the accumulated web onto an output table, the movement of the laying carriage being transverse relative to the direction of movement of the output table. The process is repeated to obtain a roll, and the web is laid in the area of ​​the roll gap. The characteristic feature is that the laying carriage includes four rollers, namely two pressure rollers and first and second guide rollers, a rear conveyor belt and a feed conveyor belt, in particular the input conveyor belt of the first device or the front laying carriage conveyor belt of the second device respectively bypasses the two pressure rollers, the roll gap is respectively defined between the front and rear pressure rollers, the rear conveyor belt and the feed conveyor belt together with the web sandwiched between them bypass the first guide roller in the direction of the roll gap, and after bypassing the first guide roller, the feed conveyor belt itself bypasses the second guide roller in order to change its route from the roll gap.

[0034] Preferably, the arrangement of the four pressure rollers and guide rollers within the laying carriage is such that the portions of the rear and feed conveyor belts extending between the first guide roller and the rear pressure roller and between the first guide roller and the second guide roller are inclined relative to the reciprocating direction of the laying carriage, particularly relative to the horizontal direction, particularly at an angle between 30° and 60°, particularly at an angle equal to 52°.

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, which is independent of the foregoing aspects but can advantageously be combined with each of them, or with any two or three of them, or with all of them, a cross-laying machine includes a feed conveyor belt through which a fiber web, particularly a nonwoven fiber web, is introduced into an input carriage or collector having a reciprocating motion, and in the feed conveyor belt, the web is tumbled, particularly 180°, to advance via a rear conveyor belt to a laying carriage having a motion of laying the accumulated web onto an output table, the motion of the laying carriage relative to the output... The movement of the platform is transverse and reciprocating to obtain a roll. The feature is that the laying carriage is driven by a belt, specifically fixed to the front and rear ends of the laying carriage, and the front and rear end rollers around which the front laying conveyor belt and the rear conveyor belt extend are mounted to be able to translate, while being linked to each other in their translational movement, specifically by mounting the corresponding shafts of the two end rollers on the front auxiliary compensation carriage and the rear auxiliary compensation carriage or on a single carriage, each auxiliary compensation carriage being fixed to the drive belt of the laying carriage. The web is preferably introduced into the cross-laying machine by a feed conveyor belt.

[0036] A preferred embodiment of the cross-laying machine according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is a front view of an embodiment of the cross-laying machine according to the present invention, without showing the drive belts of various carriages and the rollers of the belts; Figure 2 It is based on Figure 1 A front view of a cross-laying machine, without input, output, and intermediate conveyor belts and their rollers; Figure 3 The speed curves of each carriage during the return stroke of the carriage laying are shown; Figure 4 yes Figure 1 and 2 A front view of a cross-laying machine, showing all the carriages and their corresponding input, output and input (or intermediate) conveyor belts, as well as their rollers. The drive belts of the carriages and the rollers of the carriages are indicated by dashed lines. Figure 5 This is a front view of another embodiment of the cross-laying machine, showing all the carriages and their corresponding feed (or intermediate), input (or front) and rear conveyor belts, as well as their rollers. The drive belts of the carriages and the rollers of the carriages are indicated by dashed lines. Figure 6 This is a front view of another embodiment of the cross-laying machine, showing all the carriages and the corresponding feed (or intermediate), rear and input (or front) conveyor belts, as well as their rollers and the drive belts of the carriages; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion; Figure 8 This is another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The same view, but with the feed conveyor belt ventilated; Figure 9 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion; and Figure 10 This is another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 The view of the component corresponding to the component shown.

[0037] The attached figure is a front view of the cross-laying machine according to the present invention.

[0038] A ring-shaped input or front conveyor belt 1 allows non-woven fiber webs to be introduced into a cross-laying machine, the non-woven fiber webs originating, for example, from a carding machine upstream of the cross-laying machine, to form rolls on the output table 2 of the cross-laying machine consisting of stacks of continuous portions of fiber webs, the continuous portions being inclined relative to each other and alternately placed transversely to the table in one direction and another.

[0039] The net is laid on the platform 2 by a laying or output carriage 3. The laying or output carriage reciprocates transversely to the movement direction of the platform 2, which is also the longitudinal direction of the roll formed by the zigzag stacking of the net.

[0040] The net is conveyed from the input conveyor belt 1 to the input conveyor belt 8 of the input carriage 4, where it is rotated 180° around the turning roller 5, which has a shaft integral with the carriage 4. The input carriage 4 also reciprocates in the same direction as and corresponding to the laying carriage 3, thereby accumulating a portion of the net, which is then conveyed to the laying carriage 3, and then laid on the platform 2.

[0041] The annular rear conveyor belt 6 is configured to support the net after it has been flipped by the flipping roller 5, up to the laying carriage 3. The carriage 3 lays the net on the conveyor belt 2 in the area of ​​the laying roller gap 7, which is formed between the rear conveyor belt 6 and the input or front conveyor belt 1 and located between two corresponding rollers 9.5 and 5.2, around which the two conveyor belts 1 and 6 extend, and the two corresponding rollers have corresponding shafts integral with the laying carriage 3.

[0042] The cross-laying machine also includes a feed conveyor belt 8. The feed conveyor belt 8 includes a straight first portion 8.1 that conveys the net to the turning roller 5. On the first portion 8.1, the net is clamped by a straight first portion 6.1 of the rear conveyor belt.

[0043] During the flipping process, two conveyor belts 6 and 8 clamp the net through a semi-circular section extending around roller 5 until the flipping is complete. The still-clamped net is then conveyed to the laying carriage 3 through a horizontal, straight second section. After the flipping, the rear conveyor belt 6 supports the net, while before the flipping, there is a feed conveyor belt 8.

[0044] In the laying carriage 3, the rear conveyor belt 6 includes a third inclined straight portion extending to the laying roller gap, and the feed conveyor belt 8 includes a third inclined straight portion that stops clamping the net with the rear conveyor belt 6 before the third portion of the rear conveyor belt stops.

[0045] The annular rear conveyor belt 6 also includes fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth straight sections that extend between the third section and the first section 6.1 to form the annular output conveyor belt 6. The fourth, eighth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth sections are horizontal and parallel to the input section 1.1 of the front conveyor belt 1.

[0046] The straight sections of the rear conveyor belt 6 are separated from each other by a semi-circular section surrounding the flip roller 5 and by an arcuate section extending around the rotatable idler rollers 5.1 to 5.12, with only the drive roller 5.4 being driven by a motor.

[0047] The guide roller 5.7 of the rear conveyor belt 6 is mounted for translational movement and is integrated with the auxiliary carriage 10, which is connected to the input carriage 4 via a belt. The movement of the auxiliary carriage along a horizontal track allows the rear conveyor belt 6 to maintain constant tension. The auxiliary carriage 10 follows the reciprocating movement of the input carriage 4 for this purpose. The shafts of rollers 5.1 and 5.2 are integrally mounted with the laying carriage 3, allowing their shafts to reciprocate in a horizontal translational manner. The other rollers around which the rear conveyor belt extends have fixed axes of rotation.

[0048] In addition to the first input section 1.1, the annular input conveyor belt 1 also includes second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth straight sections, which extend together with the first section 1.1 to form the annular input conveyor belt 1. The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, tenth, and eleventh straight sections are horizontal and parallel to the first input section 1.1 of the front conveyor belt 1.

[0049] The straight sections of the input conveyor belt 1 are separated from each other by arcuate sections extending around rotatable idler rollers 9.1 to 9.14, with only roller 9.7 being driven by a motor.

[0050] The guide roller 9.10 of the input conveyor belt 1 is mounted for translational movement and is integrated with the auxiliary carriage 11, which is connected to the laying carriage 3 via a belt. The movement of the auxiliary carriage 11 along the horizontal track allows the input conveyor belt 1 to maintain constant tension. For this purpose, the auxiliary carriage 11 follows the reciprocating movement of the laying carriage 3. The rotation axis of the roller 9.5 is mounted integrally with the laying carriage 3.

[0051] The laying roller gap 7 is defined between the two conveyor belts 1 and 6, between their respective rollers 5.2 and 9.5.

[0052] In addition to the first straight section 8.1, the second straight section, and the third straight section, the feed conveyor belt 8 (which may also be referred to as the intermediate conveyor belt in this embodiment) also includes a fourth straight section, a fifth straight section, and a sixth straight section. The straight sections of the feed or intermediate conveyor belt 8 are separated from each other and, together by a semi-circular section surrounding the turning roller 5 and an arcuate section surrounding roller 5.1, and arcuate sections extending around rollers 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, and 14.4, form an annular intermediate conveyor belt 8. The shafts of rollers 14.3 and 14.4 are fixed. The shaft of roller 14.2 is integrally mounted with the second part 13 of the input carriage 4, while the shaft of roller 14.1 is integrally mounted with the laying carriage 3.

[0053] The rollers extending around the annular central conveyor belt 8 are not driven to rotate by a motor.

[0054] The input carriage 4 consists of two parts 12 and 13 connected by a transverse member 20. These two parts are spaced apart from each other and move in conjunction with each other. The first part 12 includes a drive roller 5, while the second part 13 includes an intermediate conveyor belt 8 around which a roller 14.2 passes. The axis of rotation of the roller 14.2 is integral with the second part 13 of the input carriage.

[0055] The second component 13 also includes a roller 9.3 around which the input conveyor belt 1 passes, the shaft of which is integral with the second component 13.

[0056] The cross-laying machine also includes a compensating carriage 14, whose forward and backward movement speed R is related to the speed X of the laying carriage 3. In particular, the corresponding installation of the rollers 9.2, 9.3, and 9.4 carried by the second component 13 of the input carriage 4 and the compensating carriage 14 means that, in the embodiment described in the figures, the speed R of the compensating carriage 14 is equal to half the speed X of the laying carriage. It is known that ratios other than 1 / 2 can be achieved depending on the position, number, and size of the rollers.

[0057] The middle conveyor belt 8 is a breathable conveyor belt, especially a perforated conveyor belt, while the front conveyor belt 1 and the rear conveyor belt 6 are impermeable conveyor belts, especially so-called solid conveyor belts, i.e., without perforations.

[0058] exist Figure 1 , 2 In section 4, the two components of the input carriage 4 are fixed to each other by a rigid connection in the form of a transverse member 20, which is fixed to each component by its two ends.

[0059] exist Figure 5 In, with Figure 4 Conversely, the two components of the input carriage 4 are not directly fixed to each other, but are each fixed to the same drive belt.

[0060] Figure 2 A cross-laying machine was shown, which did not... Figure 1 The diagram shows three input conveyor belts, a rear conveyor belt, and a middle conveyor belt, but with conveyor belts that allow the individual carriages of the cross-laying machine to move.

[0061] exist Figure 2 In this design, the so-called input belt 30, preferably a toothed belt, extends from the first part 12 of the carriage 4 to the second part 13 of the carriage 4, with its two corresponding ends fixed to the two parts 12 and 13 by corresponding flanges 31 and 32. The flanges may be formed, in particular, by two plates, at least one of which is toothed. One plate is fixed to the carriage, in particular by welding, and the other plate, in particular a toothed plate, clamps the belt 30', preferably the toothed belt, onto the other plate, in particular by means of screws.

[0062] The belt 30 also moves in conjunction with the auxiliary support 10, particularly as described in the applicant’s patent EP3138945B1, namely, by means of a flange 33 formed by a toothed plate, which clamps the belt 30 (preferably toothed itself) between the flat portion of the carriage 10 (which may also be formed by a plate fixed to the carriage, particularly by welding), and the toothed plate, the flat portion and the toothed belt are clamped together by screws.

[0063] Alternatively, a cable can be used instead of a toothed or toothless belt, and the cable can be secured by flanges 31, 32 and 33 or equivalent securing devices.

[0064] A belt 30 extends around rollers 30.1 to 30.7, at least one of which is driven by a motor. Specifically, it can be configured to drive two rollers, one torque-controlled and the other speed-controlled; in particular, the torque setpoint can be derived from the speed regulation, as in the device described in EP3138945B1. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, only one motor may be provided, or conversely, three or more motors may be provided.

[0065] The so-called output strip 40 (indicated by dashed lines) extends between its two front and rear ends, each front and rear end being fixed by corresponding flanges at two corresponding front points 41 and rear points 42 fixed relative to the frame of the cross-laying machine. Furthermore, the strip 40 is translatably linked to the laying carriage 3 via flanges 43 of the same type as flanges 31 and 32, and also translatably linked to the auxiliary carriage 11 via flanges 44 of the same type as flanges 33.

[0066] The belt 40 extends from the front fixed point 41 around rollers 40.1 to 40.8, until the rear fixed point 42. The respective shafts of the two end rollers 40.1 and 40.8 are integral with the compensating carriage 14. At least one roller is driven by a motor. Specifically, it can be configured to drive two rollers, one torque-controlled and the other speed-controlled; in particular, the torque setpoint can be derived from the speed regulation, as in the case of the device described in EP3138945B1. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, only one motor may be provided, or conversely, three or more motors may be provided.

[0067] The compensating carriage 14 is not driven by any motor; its speed depends on the speed at which the carriage 3 is laid.

[0068] Figure 3 The speed curves of each carriage are shown during the operation cycle of the cross-laying machine.

[0069] In the first part of the cycle (on the left side of the diagram), the motor 5.4 driving the rear conveyor belt 6 has a zero speed Q=0, while the motor 9.7 driving the input conveyor belt 1 has a speed P=2X(t), where X(t) corresponds to the hat-shaped motion law, which starts from zero speed and is formed by a linear acceleration part, a basically linear plateau-like part with constant speed, and then a deceleration part, until it reaches zero speed again.

[0070] In the second part of the cycle (on the right side of the figure), the motor 9.7 driving the input conveyor belt 1 has a zero speed P=0, while the motor 5.4 driving the rear conveyor belt 6 has a speed Q=2X(t), where X(t) corresponds to the hat-shaped motion law, which starts from zero speed and includes a linear acceleration part, a basically linear plateau-like part with constant speed, followed by a deceleration part, until it reaches zero speed again.

[0071] The speed of laying the carriage is therefore equal to X(t), while the speed of the compensating carriage 13 is X / 2.

[0072] therefore, Figure 3 The input speed Ve and the speeds of the individual carriages are shown, i.e., U is the speed of the input carriage 4, AVI is the speed of the compensation carriage 14, and W is the speed of the laying carriage 3.

[0073] exist Figure 5 In the middle, the first and second components 12 and 13 of the carriage 4 are not as... Figure 1 , 2 As in the embodiment in 4, they are linked by the transverse members 20, but rather by their linkage to the belt 30, and thus move in a translational manner.

[0074] Therefore, in this embodiment, the lower conveyor belt 30 extends between two points of the first component 12, and both ends of the conveyor belt 30 are fixed to these points of the first component by end flanges 31 and 35. Furthermore, the second component 13 is fixed to the conveyor belt 30 by a central flange 32. The remainder of this embodiment of the cross-laying machine is similar to... Figure 1 , 2 The same as the embodiment in 4.

[0075] Figures 6 to 10 Another embodiment of the cross-laying machine according to the present invention is described. In this embodiment, in addition to the function of introducing the net into the input carriage, and particularly by supporting the input carriage, the feed conveyor also performs the function of introducing the net into the cross-laying machine, said function in Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, it occurs on the input conveyor belt.

[0076] The annular feed conveyor 1' allows the introduction of nonwoven web, for example, from a carding machine upstream of the cross-laying machine, to form a roll on the output table 2' of the cross-laying machine, consisting of continuous portions of web superimposed on each other, which are inclined relative to each other and deposited alternately transversely to the table in one direction and another.

[0077] The net is laid on the platform 2' by a laying carriage 3'. The laying carriage moves back and forth transversely to the direction of movement of the platform 2', which is also the longitudinal direction of the roll formed by the zigzag stacking of the net.

[0078] The net is conveyed by feed conveyor 1' to input carriage 4', in which the net is rotated 180° around a turning roller 5' having a shaft integral with carriage 4'. Input carriage 4' also reciprocates in the same direction as and corresponding to laying carriage 3', so as to accumulate a portion of the net conveyed to laying carriage 3', which then lays the net on table 2'.

[0079] An annular rear conveyor belt 6' is arranged to support the net after it has been flipped by the flipping roller 5', and supports the net up to the laying carriage 3'. The carriage 3' lays the net on the platform 2' in the area of ​​the laying roller gap 7' formed between the rear conveyor belt 6' and the front laying conveyor belt 8'. The laying roller gap 7' is between two pressure rollers 5.2' and 10.1' located at the front and rear, respectively. The two conveyor belts 6' and 8' extend around the pressure rollers. The two corresponding pressure rollers 5.2' and 10.1' have corresponding shafts integral with the laying carriage 3'.

[0080] The feed conveyor belt 1' includes a straight first section 1.1' that conveys the net to the turning roller 5'. On the first section 1.1', the net is sandwiched in the middle by the straight first section 6.1' of the rear conveyor belt 6'.

[0081] During the flipping process, two conveyor belts 6' and 1' clamp the net through a semi-circular section extending around roller 5' until the flipping ends. Then, the still-clamped net is conveyed through a horizontal, straight second section 1.2' and 6.2' until the carriage 3' is laid. After the flipping, the rear conveyor belt 6' supports the net, while before the flipping, the feed conveyor belt 1' supports it.

[0082] In the laying carriage 3', the rear conveyor belt 6' includes a third inclined straight portion 6.3' extending to the laying roll gap, while the feed conveyor belt 1' includes a third inclined straight portion 1.3' that stops before the third portion 6.3' of the rear conveyor belt stops, sandwiching the net between the rear conveyor belt 6' and the net. Specifically, portion 6.3' extends to the first pressure roller 5.2', while the third portion 1.3' extends to the first idler roller 9.1' arranged above the roll gap formed by the first pressure roller 5.2' and the second pressure roller 10.1'. The arrangement of the rollers inside the laying carriage 3' is such that portions 1.3' and 6.3' are inclined relative to the second portions 1.2' and 6.2', specifically at an angle between 30° and 60°, specifically equal to 52°, specifically inclined relative to the horizontal plane.

[0083] The annular rear conveyor belt 6' also includes four, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth straight sections that extend between the third section 6.3' and the first section 6.1' to form the annular rear conveyor belt 6'. The fourth, eighth, ninth, eleventh, and twelfth sections are horizontal and parallel to the input section 1.1' of the feed conveyor belt 1'.

[0084] The straight sections of the rear conveyor belt 6' are separated from each other by a semi-circular section surrounding the tilting roller 5' and by an arcuate section extending around the rotatable idler rollers 5.1' to 5.13', with only the drive roller 5.4' being driven by a motor.

[0085] The steering roller 5.7' of the rear conveyor belt 6' is mounted for translational movement and is integrated with the auxiliary carriage 10', which is fixed to the drive belt 30' of the laying carriage 3', specifically by opposing clamps arranged laterally on the carriage. The movement of the auxiliary carriage 10', particularly along a horizontal track (not shown), allows the rear conveyor belt 6' to maintain constant tension, and the auxiliary carriage 10' follows the reciprocating motion of the laying carriage 3' for this purpose. The shafts of rollers 5.1' and 5.2' are integrally mounted with the laying carriage 3', such that their shafts reciprocate in horizontal translation. The shafts of rollers 5' and 5.10' are integrally mounted with the input carriage 4', such that their shafts reciprocate in horizontal translation. Other rollers extending around the rear conveyor belt have rotational shafts that are translatably linked to the frame.

[0086] The annular feed conveyor belt 1' includes, in addition to the first input portion 1.1', second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth straight portions, which extend together with the first portion 1.1' to form the annular feed conveyor belt 1'. The second and fourth straight portions are horizontal and parallel to the first input portion 1.1' of the feed conveyor belt 1'.

[0087] The straight sections of the feed conveyor belt 1' are separated from each other by arcuate sections extending around rotatable idler rollers 5', 5.1', ​​and 9.1' to 9.8'. If necessary, one of these rollers, particularly roller 9.3', can be driven by a motor.

[0088] The laying gap 7' is defined between the rear conveyor belt 6' and the front conveyor belt 8' between the guide roller 5.2' of the pressure roller forming the rear conveyor belt 6' and the guide roller 10.1' of the pressure roller forming the front conveyor belt 8'.

[0089] The front-mounted conveyor belt 8' is an annular conveyor belt formed by eight straight sections and arc-shaped sections. The straight sections extend between guide rollers 10.1' to 10.8', and the arc-shaped sections extend around rollers 10.1' to 10.8' to collectively form the conveyor belt. The first section 8.1' is straight, and the second, sixth, and seventh sections are parallel to the first section 8.1'. Only roller 10.3' is motorized. Rollers 10.2', 10.3', 10.4', 10.5', 10.7', and 10.8' are fixed to the frame. Rollers 10.1' and 10.6' are translatably movable. Roller 10.1' is translatably fixed to the laying carriage 3', while roller 10.6' is mounted translatably movable and integrated with auxiliary carriage 11'. This auxiliary carriage is specifically fixed to the drive belt 40' of the laying carriage 3' by opposing clamps arranged laterally on the carriage. Auxiliary carriage 11' moves along a horizontal track, thereby allowing the front conveyor belt 8' to maintain constant tension. For this purpose, auxiliary carriage 11' follows the reciprocating motion of the laying carriage 3'. In this embodiment, two auxiliary carriages 10' and 11' are provided respectively to compensate for the movement of the rear conveyor belt 6' and the front conveyor belt 8'. However, since these two carriages are fixed to the same drive belt of the laying carriage and are therefore integrated with each other, they can advantageously be replaced by a single carriage, which will be fixed to the drive belt, and the two rollers 5.7' and 10.6' will translatably link this single carriage.

[0090] The input support 4 is formed by two parts 12' and 13', which are spaced apart from each other and move in a translational manner. Each part is specifically fixed to the drive belt of the input carriage 3 by corresponding opposing clamps. The drive belt is fixed to the front and rear of the first part 12' of the input support 3' and laterally fixed to the second part 13'. In addition to being fixed by the drive belt of the input carriage 3', the two parts 12' and 13' can also be connected by a transverse member. The first part 12' includes a drive roller 5', while the second part 13' includes a roller 9.2' around which the intermediate conveyor belt 8 passes, the axis of rotation of which is integral with the second part 13' of the input carriage.

[0091] The feed conveyor belt 1' is a breathable conveyor belt, particularly a perforated conveyor belt, while the front conveyor belt 8' and the rear conveyor belt 6' are impermeable conveyor belts, particularly so-called solid conveyor belts, i.e., without perforations. In particular, the permeability of conveyor belt 1' is greater than 100, particularly between 200 and 600 standard cubic feet per minute, while the permeability of impermeable conveyor belts, in standard cubic feet per minute, is close to zero, particularly less than 100, preferably less than 50, even more preferably less than 10, particularly equal to zero.

[0092] The drive belt 30' of the input carriage 4' is preferably toothed, extending from the front to the rear of the first component 12' of the carriage 4, with its two corresponding ends secured by corresponding flanges 31' and 32'. The flanges may be formed, in particular, of two plates, at least one of which is toothed. One plate is fixed to the carriage, particularly by welding, and the other plate, especially the toothed plate, clamps the belt 30', preferably the toothed belt, onto the other plate, particularly by means of screws. Furthermore, the belt 30' is laterally secured to the second component 13' by a flange 33' of the same type as the flanges 31' and 32'.

[0093] Instead of toothed or toothless belts, cables can also be provided, which can be secured by flanges 31', 32' and 33' or equivalent fixing devices.

[0094] A belt 30' extends around rollers 30.1' to 30.4', at least one of the rollers 30.1' being driven by a motor. Specifically, it can be configured to drive two rollers, one torque-controlled and the other speed-controlled; in particular, the torque setpoint can be derived from the speed regulation, as in the case of the device described in EP3138945B1. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, only one motor may be provided, or conversely, three or more motors may be provided.

[0095] The drive belt 40' for laying the carriage extends between its two front and rear ends, each front and rear end being secured at the front and rear of the laying carriage 3' by corresponding flanges 41' and 42'. Furthermore, the belt 40' translatably links the auxiliary carriages 10' and 11' via corresponding flanges 43' and 44'.

[0096] A belt 40' extends around rollers 40.1' to 40.6'. At least one of the rollers 40.3' is driven by a motor. In particular, it can be configured to drive two rollers, one torque-controlled and the other speed-controlled; specifically, the torque setpoint can be derived from the speed regulation, as in the case of the device described in EP3138945B1. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, only one motor may be provided, or conversely, three or more motors may be provided.

[0097] Figure 10 A portion of another embodiment is described, in which two carriages 10' and 11' are replaced by a single carriage 100' fixed to belt 40' via flange 45', and the shafts of two rollers 5.7' and 10.6', which are for the rear and front conveyor belts respectively, are integrally formed with the carriage.

[0098] In this invention, the permeable conveyor belt particularly has a permeability of 100 to 1,000 CFM, particularly 250 to 700 CFM, particularly 300 to 600 CFM, where the CFM value is the amount of material that passes through a conveyor belt or fabric in one minute (cubic feet per minute) at a pressure of 125 Pa. 2 The air volume at the surface, 1 CFM equals 5.1 liters / m³ 2 / s.

Claims

1. A cross-laying machine suitable for stacking fiber webs, particularly nonwoven fiber webs, on itself to provide a roll formed from the stack at an exit, the cross-laying machine comprising an input carriage (4; 4') or collector having a reciprocating motion, in which the fiber web is flipped, particularly flipped 180°, to advance via a rear conveyor belt (6; 6') to an output or laying carriage (3; 3'), the output or laying carriage moving in a transverse reciprocating manner relative to the direction of movement of an output table, such that the web is laid on the output table to obtain a roll, characterized in that... The net is introduced into the input carriage (4; 4') by the feed conveyor belt (8; 1'), and the fiber net is sandwiched between the input conveyor belt (8; 1') and the rear conveyor belt (6; 6') before, during and after the net is turned over, particularly until the carriage (3; 3') is laid.

2. The cross-laying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The input carriage is divided into two spaced-apart parts, the flipping occurs in the first part (12; 12'), in particular the shaft of the flipping roller is integral with the first part, and the second part (13; 13') includes a roller having a shaft integral with the second part, and the feed conveyor (8); 1') The laying carriage is preferably located between the first component and the second component, bypassing the axis.

3. The cross-laying machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The two components of the input carriage are linked in a translational manner relative to each other to move according to the same dynamic laws.

4. The cross-laying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The net is laid in the area of ​​the roll gap, and the laying carriage includes four rollers (5.2, 9.5, 5.1, 14.1; 5.2', 10.1', 5.1', ​​9.1'), namely two pressure rollers (5.2, 9.5; 5.2', 10.1') and two first and second guide rollers (5.1, 14.1; 5.1', ​​9.1'). The rear conveyor belt (6; 6') and the conveyor belt (1; 8') pass around the two pressure rollers respectively. The roll gap is defined between the two pressure rollers, namely the rear pressure roller and the front pressure roller. The rear conveyor belt and the feed conveyor belt, together with the net sandwiched therebetween, pass around the first guide roller along the direction of the roll gap. After passing around the first guide roller, the feed conveyor belt passes around the second guide roller alone in order to change its route from the roll gap.

5. The cross-laying machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The arrangement of the four pressure rollers and steering rollers within the laying carriage causes the portions of the rear conveyor belt and the feed conveyor belt extending between the first steering roller and the rear pressure roller, and between the first steering roller and the second steering roller, to be inclined relative to the reciprocating direction of the laying carriage, particularly relative to the horizontal direction, especially at an angle between 30° and 60°, and particularly at an angle equal to 52°.

6. The cross-laying machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The carriage is rotated around a tumbling roller, which has a shaft integral with the input carriage.

7. The cross-laying machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Starting at least from a point upstream of the input carriage, known as the roll gap point, the rear conveyor belt clamps the mesh between itself and the feed conveyor belt.

8. The cross-laying machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, In the region of the roll gap point, the portion of the rear conveyor belt that clamps the mesh between itself and the input portion of the feed conveyor belt is inclined relative to the input portion of the feed conveyor belt, specifically, at an angle of several degrees, for example, between 1° and 10°.

9. The cross-laying machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The feed conveyor belt is a breathable conveyor belt, especially a perforated conveyor belt.

10. The cross-laying machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The rear conveyor belt is an airtight conveyor belt, especially a so-called solid conveyor belt, i.e., without perforations.

11. The cross-laying machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The net is introduced into the cross-laying machine via an input conveyor belt (1), which supplies the net to the feed conveyor belt.

12. The cross-laying machine according to claim 11, characterized in that, The input conveyor belt (1) and the rear conveyor belt (6) form the laying roller gap.

13. The cross-laying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The net is introduced into the cross-laying machine via the feed conveyor belt (1').

14. The cross-laying machine according to claim 13, characterized in that, A front laying conveyor belt (8') is provided, which together with the rear conveyor belt (6') defines a roller gap at which the net leaves the laying carriage (3') to fall onto the platform.

15. The cross-laying machine according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The laying carriage (3') is driven by a belt (40'), and is fixed to the front and rear ends of the laying carriage. The front and rear end rollers, which are respectively mounted around the front and rear conveyor belts, are able to translate and move in conjunction with each other during translational movement. In particular, the corresponding shafts of the two end rollers are mounted on the front and rear auxiliary compensation carriages (10, 11') or on a single rigid carriage (100'). The front and rear conveyor belts extend around the two end rollers, and the two auxiliary compensation carriages are respectively fixed to the drive belt of the laying carriage.

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