Consolidating unit for consolidating a textile web

Abstract

The invention relates to a consolidation plant (1) for consolidating a textile web (2), comprising a conveyor belt (3) for transporting the web (2) between two plant components for the production or processing of the textile web (2), comprising at least one nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c) which is designed to consolidate the web (2) by means of water jets (6) under high pressure, characterized in that a movable device (8) is arranged between the nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c) and the web (2), which is designed to interrupt the water jets (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a consolidation plant for consolidating a textile web.

[0002] The consolidation of a textile web can be achieved using various methods, one highly efficient of which is the use of high-pressure liquid jets that interlock the fibers or filaments. The web is conveyed by a liquid-permeable conveyor belt under at least one nozzle bar, through which numerous water jets strike the web, interlocking its fibers. The nozzle bar extends perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web. A suction system is located below the conveyor belt to remove excess water. Because the water jets continuously impact the web, fine, visually visible longitudinal grooves are created, which are not always desirable.Additionally, the resulting nonwoven fabric exhibits altered strength, which can differ significantly between the longitudinal direction (MD = Main Direction) and the transverse direction (CD = Cross Direction). Depending on the intended use of the produced nonwoven fabric, a balanced and therefore uniform strength in both directions is desirable, which is not achievable with conventional waterjet bonding without technical modification or subsequent cross-laying of the nonwoven.

[0003] To overcome this disadvantage, documents EP 0967315 B1 and US 6782589 B2 propose moving or vibrating the water beams transversely to the material conveying direction (MD). This can be achieved with a single water beam or with multiple water beams whose vibration frequencies and amplitudes are offset. It is also known to attach all water beams to a frame and vibrate this frame transversely to the material conveying direction. Implementing these solutions is very complex, as each water beam can weigh several hundred kilograms depending on its working width, placing particular demands on the structural integrity of this system component and the associated water connections.

[0004] EP 1364087 B1 discloses stationary water beams, wherein a segmented part of the material conveyor belt is set into vibration transversely to the material transport direction, with the web of material beneath the water beams. A disadvantage is the division of the material conveyor belt into a stationary and a vibrating or moving part transverse to the material transport direction. Since the fibers to be consolidated do not necessarily have to be bound in a carded nap, but can also be loose, wet or dry fibers, the transition from the stationary to the moving material conveyor belt can also be detrimental to the material properties due to the open tension.

[0005] The object of the invention is to further improve the strength of the nonwoven fabric during water jet bonding using simple means.

[0006] This problem is solved by a solidification plant with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention relates to a consolidation system for consolidating a textile web, which is transported by a conveyor belt between two system components for the production or processing of the textile web. The consolidation system has at least one nozzle bar designed to consolidate the web by means of water jets under high pressure.

[0008] The core concept of the invention is the interruption of water jets by a movable device. This interruption prevents the formation of prominent longitudinal grooves in the bonded textile web. The movable device deflects and interrupts the water jets, thereby influencing and improving the MD / CD ratio of the fibers in the textile web.

[0009] The device can be designed as a grid structure or as pins movable transversely to the material transport direction of the textile web. The pins can move parallel to the surface of the web between the nozzle bars and the web. Alternatively, the pins can be attached to a circulating belt or chain that is moved transversely to the material transport direction above the web by means of driven rollers.

[0010] The grid structure features grid bars arranged to form grid openings. Water jets pass through these openings and strike the web. As the grid structure moves, the grid bars deflect and interrupt the water jets. The grid structure can be made of wire or sheet metal, is very lightweight, and can be retrofitted between the nozzle bars and the web. The deflection of the water jets can be varied by adjusting the size of the grid openings and the spacing between the pins. Similarly, the speed of movement of the grid structure and the pins can influence the deflection of the water jets.Both can be interdependent: a large grid opening or, alternatively, a large pin spacing with a high movement speed, or conversely, small grid openings and short pin spacing with a low movement speed. Alternatively, the grid openings and pin spacing can correspond to the spacing of the water jet nozzles, or the grid openings and pin spacing can be irregular. Depending on the textile web being processed (lightweight, heavyweight, material selection), this can at least influence the surface structure and, for lightweight webs (10 g / m² < to 80 g / m² <), the MD / CD ratio.

[0011] By means of a support device over which the pins slide, deformation of the pins and the belt or chain can be reduced, so that the pins do not come into contact with the textile web.

[0012] The grid structure can be flat or curved. Its movement can be generated by a drive that produces an oscillating, rotating, or pendulum motion. Depending on the properties of the textile web and the material transport speed, the speed of the oscillating or pendulum motion can be adjusted.

[0013] The movement of the grid structure can be perpendicular to or in the direction of material transport, thus influencing the MD / CD ratio of the fibers in the web.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the grid structure can be cylindrical and surround the nozzle bar. The cylindrical shape allows for a greater variety in the arrangement and shape of the grid openings. Since the cylindrical grid structure rotates around the nozzle bar, more possibilities, or rather a larger recurring path, are available around the circumference of the cylinder to change the MD / CD ratio. From a drive perspective, the rotation of a cylinder around the nozzle bar is more advantageous than oscillation, as the movement is continuous and therefore introduces fewer vibrations into the solidification system.

[0015] Additionally, the cylindrical grid structure can oscillate perpendicular to the material transport direction, allowing two directions of movement to overlap. This completely eliminates optical longitudinal grooves.

[0016] Preferably, the grid openings can correspond to the arrangement of the nozzles of the nozzle bar. This interrupts all water jets simultaneously, resulting in a uniform visual appearance of the solidified web.

[0017] The grid openings can have a square, rectangular, round, triangular or diamond-shaped contour, which facilitates the manufacture of the grid structure.

[0018] Preferably, the nozzle bars have a suction device designed to absorb splashing water. Depending on the fiber quality and material thickness, uncontrolled dripping of water onto the compacted web is undesirable, which is thus avoided.

[0019] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below together with a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1: A schematic side view of a solidification system with three nozzle bars; Fig. 2: A schematic front view of the solidification system showing the first nozzle bar; Fig. 2a: A sectional view below the first nozzle bar, showing the web in plan view; Fig. 3: A schematic side view of the solidification system with three nozzle bars in a second embodiment; Fig. 4a-4: A third embodiment of a device with which the water jets are briefly interrupted.

[0021] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a consolidation system 1 in which a textile web 2 is conveyed on a conveyor belt 3 in the material transport direction T. The consolidation system 1 can be arranged between a system for forming a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric and a further system for processing the consolidated web 2. The system for forming a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric can, for example, be a carding, meltblown, airlaid, or wetlaid system. The subsequent system for processing the consolidated web 2 can, for example, be a dryer, layerer, cutting device, or winder. The conveyor belt 3 is designed as a liquid-permeable perforated belt.

[0022] In this embodiment, the consolidation system 1 has three nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c, which are arranged above the web 2 and use high-pressure water jets 6, for example from 20 bar to 400 bar, to swirl and thus consolidate the fibers of the web 2. A suction device 7 is arranged below the upper run of the conveyor belt 3, with which the water from the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c is extracted. Interchangeable nozzle strips 5 can be arranged within the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c, with which the size, arrangement, and spacing of the water jets 6 can be varied. In this embodiment, each nozzle bar 4a, 4b, 4c has one nozzle strip 5 for two rows of water jets 6 arranged one behind the other. These can be arranged offset from each other in the material transport direction T at each nozzle bar 4a, 4b, 4c, whereby the distances of the water jets 6 can also vary transversely to the material transport direction T.Between the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c and the web 2, grid structures 8 are arranged, designed to briefly interrupt the water jets 6. Each grid structure 8 can consist of a wire or sheet metal grid, the shape and spacing of which can correspond to the spacing of the water jets 6. However, the spacing of the grids can also be irregular and independent of the spacing of the water jets 6. In this embodiment, the grid structures 8 are designed as a flat surface, movably arranged below the water bars 4a, 4b, 4c to briefly interrupt the water jets 6. For this purpose, a drive device (not shown) is provided, with which the grid structures 8 briefly interrupt the water jets 6 transversely to or in the material transport direction T. The movement of the grid structures 8 can be oscillating, pendulum-like, or rotating.

[0023] In Figure 2Figure 1 shows a view in the material transport direction T of the first nozzle bar 4a, which extends across the working width of the conveyor belt 3. A grid structure 8 in the form of a planar grid is arranged between the material web 2 and the nozzle bar 4a. This grid structure is moved in an oscillating motion transversely to the material transport direction T by means of a drive (not shown). Alternatively, the grid structure 8 can also be suspended from pendulums and swing below the nozzle bar 4a in or transversely to the material transport direction T. A rotating movement in the plane of the grid structure 8 is also possible. The grid structure 8 interrupts the nozzle jets at the frequency of the movement or oscillation, so that the water jets 6 no longer strike the material web 2 in a continuous line or row. The water jets 6 are deflected by the grid struts 8b, rebound, and strike the material web 2 again through a grid opening 8a.By deflecting and interrupting the water jets 6, the linear markings in the web 2 are interrupted and the fibers are aligned to a greater extent perpendicular to the material transport direction T. Figure 2aIn a top view of the grid structure 8, the arrangement of the grid webs 8b is visible, corresponding to the grid openings 8a of the nozzle strip 5. Each grid opening 8a is associated with a nozzle, or in this representation, a water jet 6, which is interrupted by a grid web 8b due to the oscillating, rotating, or pendulum movement of the grid structure 8. This results in the deflection and interruption of the water jets 6, which can influence the MD / CD ratio in the solidified web 2. In this embodiment, the grid webs 8b form square grid openings 8a. The grid structure 8 can have any geometric opening shape, so that the multiple water jets 6 can be interrupted at different times even with the same movement of the grid structure 8. The grid openings 8a can also be round, triangular, diamond-shaped, etc.This can be easily achieved using a wire or sheet metal construction. Instead of an oscillating movement perpendicular to the material transport direction T, the movement can also occur in the material transport direction T. Instead of an oscillating movement, the grid structure 8 can also be suspended and swing or oscillate perpendicular to or in the material transport direction T. A convexly curved grid structure 8 can be used here, the radius of which corresponds to or differs from the length of the pendulum.

[0024] In Figure 3The grid structures 8 are designed in cross-section as cylindrical cages that rotate around the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c. These cylindrical cages allow the arrangement of the grid webs 8b to be varied so that the water jets 6 impinge on the web in a linear fashion in certain areas and are then interrupted again by a circumferential angle of the grid structure 8. The rotational movement of the cylindrical grid structure 8, in conjunction with an oscillating movement transverse to the material transport direction T, enables a high degree of variability in influencing the MD / CD ratio of the fibers in the web.

[0025] The invention provides a flat, curved, or cylindrical grid structure 8 with which the water jets 6 are briefly interrupted. This avoids the optical effect of linear markings or grooves in the web and influences the MD / CD ratio. Compared to the prior art, only small masses need to be moved, and the grid structure can be retrofitted into existing systems without significant effort. Advantageously, a suction device can be arranged on the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c to draw the rebounding water back upwards.

[0026] A further third embodiment is described in the Figures 4a and 4bThe diagram shows that the water jets 6 are briefly interrupted by pins 10, which move parallel to the surface of the web 2 between the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c and the web 2. The pins 10 are attached to a circulating belt 9, which is moved transversely to the material transport direction T above the web 2 by means of driven rollers 9a. This and the other illustrations are schematic and not to scale, as the distance between the web and the underside of the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c is only a few centimeters. The pins 10 extend below the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c, so that nozzle strips 5 with several rows of water jets 6 are also briefly interrupted by the movement of the pins 10. The spacing of the pins 10 in the circumferential band 9a can correspond to the spacing of the water jets 6 perpendicular to the material transport direction T, or deviate completely from it.For example, a small number of pins 10 can be arranged with large distances between them in the circulating belt 9a, but these can be moved at high speed under the nozzle bar 4a, 4b, 4c transversely to the material transport direction T. Alternatively, the pins 10 can be spaced close together, even closer than the nozzle spacing for the water jets 6, and move at a lower speed. Irregular spacing of the pins 10 in the circulating belt 9a can also be advantageous. The pins 10 with the circulating belt 9a are arranged in the material transport direction T in front of the nozzle bars 4a, 4b, 4c, so that a spring effect of the pins 10 from the impacting water jets 6 does not damage the web 2.Since the forces exerted by the water jets 6 at a pressure of up to 250 bar can momentarily bend both the circulating belt 9a and the pins 10 in this device, a support device 11 can be provided, which is arranged between the circulating belt 9a and the water jets 6 to prevent deformation of the circulating belt 9a and the pins 10. The pins 10 slide on this support device, thereby reducing their deflection. Simultaneously, the support device 11 can also be designed as a splash guard to collect any rebounding water.

[0027] The advantage of the three embodiments described here lies in their simple and retrofittable implementation for influencing the MD / CD ratio. This has the additional benefit that the web is free of waterjet lines before further processing, thus improving its feel and appearance. Compared to the prior art, no large masses need to be moved, and the properties of the textile web can be influenced using simple means. Reference sign

[0028] 1Consolidation system 2Material web 3Conveyor belt 4a, 4b, 4cNozzle bar 5Nozzle strips 6Water jet 7Suction 8Grid structure 8aGrid opening 8bGrid web 9Revolving belt 9aRollers 10Pins 11Support device Material transport direction

Claims

1. Consolidation plant (1) for consolidating a textile web (2), comprising a conveyor belt (3) for transporting the web (2) between two plant components for the production or processing of the textile web (2), comprising at least one nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c) which is designed to consolidate the web (2) by means of water jets (6) under high pressure, characterized by the fact that A movable device is arranged between the at least one nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c) and the web of goods (2), which is designed to interrupt the water jets (6).

2. Solidification plant according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the device is designed as a grid structure or as pins (10) movable transversely to the material transport direction (T) of the textile web (2), in particular wherein the speed of movement of the device can be varied depending on the design of the grid structure or the distances of the pins to each other.

3. Solidification plant according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the lattice structure (8) has lattice webs (8b) whose arrangement forms lattice openings (8a).

4. Solidification plant according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the lattice structure (8) is flat or curved.

5. Solidification plant according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by the fact that the grid structure (8) is moved oscillating or pendulum-like under the nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c).

6. Solidification plant according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the movement of the lattice structure (8) is transverse to or in the material transport direction (T).

7. Solidification plant according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the lattice structure (8) is cylindrical and surrounds the nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c).

8. Solidification plant Claim 7, characterized by the fact that the cylindrical lattice structure (8) rotates around the nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c).

9. Solidification plant according to claim 8, characterized by the fact thatA movement oscillating perpendicular to the material transport direction is introduced into the lattice structure.

10. Solidification plant according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized by the fact that the grid openings (8a) correspond to the arrangement of the nozzles of the nozzle bar (4a, 4b, 4c).

11. Solidification plant according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by the fact that the grid openings (8a) have a square, rectangular, round, triangular or diamond-shaped contour.

12. Solidification plant according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the pins (10) are arranged on a circulating belt (9a) or chain that extends across the web of goods (2) and is driven by at least one circulating roller (9).

13. Solidification plant according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the distances of the pins (10) may correspond to or differ from the distances of the nozzles for the water jets (6).

14. Solidification plant according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by the fact that the pins (10) are guided over a support device (11).

15. Solidification plant according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the fact that the nozzle bars (4a, 4b, 4c) have a suction device designed to absorb splashing water.

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