Three-belt spreader

Abstract

Title: Three-belt spreader-lapper Spreader-lapper, comprising an inlet or front belt (1) through which a web of fibers, in particular non-woven, is introduced, the inlet belt being arranged so as to convey the web towards an inlet or accumulator carriage (4), having a back and forth movement and in which the web undergoes a reversal, in particular 180°, to be returned, by means of a rear belt (6), into a depositing carriage (3), which has a movement which deposits the accumulated web on an outlet apron (2), transversely in one direction and in the other relative to the direction of movement of the outlet apron, to thus obtain the web, the depositing of the web taking place at the level of a depositing gap (7) formed between the inlet belt (1) and the rear belt (6),characterized in that the spreader-lapper comprises an intermediate belt (8) arranged so as to transport the web conveyed by the entry belt (1) until it is turned over in the entry carriage (4), and to sandwich the web with the rear belt (6) at least after it has been turned over. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Three-belt lapper

[0001] The present invention relates to a crosslapper comprising an inlet or front belt through which a web of fibers, in particular non-woven, is introduced, the crosslapper having the function of stacking this web on itself to provide at the outlet a web consisting of the stack, the inlet belt being arranged so as to convey the web towards an inlet or accumulator carriage, having a back and forth movement and in which the web undergoes a reversal, in particular at 180°, to be returned, by means of a rear belt, to an outlet or depositing carriage, which has a movement which deposits the accumulated web on an outlet apron, transversely in one direction and in the other relative to the direction of movement of the outlet apron, to thus obtain the web, the depositing of the web taking place at the level of a depositing gap formed between the inlet belt and the rear belt.

[0002] Spreader-lappers of this type are already known from the prior art, for example from EP1367166 A1, in the name of the applicant. These spreader-lappers of the prior art do not withstand high flow rates well, and in particular, as soon as the production rate is increased, and therefore the speed of the input and output carriages, the quality, in particular the homogeneity, of the sheet obtained decreases.

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a crosslapper of the type mentioned above which makes it possible, at a constant production rate, to increase the quality of the web leaving the crosslapper, and / or, at equal quality of the web, to increase the production rate of the crosslapper.

[0004] According to the invention, the lapper comprises an intermediate belt arranged so as to transport the web conveyed by the front belt until it is turned over in the entry carriage, and to sandwich the web with the rear belt at least after it has been turned over, preferably before, during and after it has been turned over, in particular up to the exit carriage.

[0005] Thus, the web is introduced into the depositing carriage between two belts at a speed which does not depend on the movement of the entry carriage, the web being geometrically stabilized by partial expulsion of the air contained within it before turning over while being held by the two belts, respectively entry and intermediate, on either side of the web.

[0006] Preferably, the turning is carried out in the input carriage around a turning roller with an axis secured to the input carriage.

[0007] Preferably, the intermediate mat is an air-permeable mat, in particular a perforated mat.

[0008] Preferably, the front and rear mats are air-impermeable mats, in particular so-called solid carpets, i.e. without perforation.

[0009] Preferably, the input carriage is split into two parts, at a distance from each other, the turning taking place in the first part, in particular the axis of the turning roller being integral with the first part, and a second part comprising a first axis roller integral with the second part, around which the intermediate belt passes.

[0010] Preferably, the second part of the input carriage comprises a second axle roller integral with the second part, around which the input belt passes.

[0011] Preferably, the two parts are integral in translation with each other, moving according to the same speed laws.

[0012] Preferably, a compensation carriage is provided, the movement of which is synchronized with the translational movement of the depositing carriage, in particular by having a speed equal to half the speed of the depositing carriage.

[0013] Preferably, the compensation carriage comprises two rollers with respective axes integral with said compensation carriage and around which the entry belt passes respectively before and after having passed around the second roller with an axis integral with the second part of the entry carriage.

[0014] Preferably, the intermediate belt comprises an entry section extending between the entry carriage and the entry belt, this entry section of the intermediate belt being in particular parallel to a section of the entry belt supplying the intermediate belt with web.

[0015] Preferably, the rear belt sandwiches the web with the intermediate belt, in particular with the entry section of the intermediate belt, at least from a point called the pinch point upstream of the entry carriage.

[0016] Preferably, the section of the rear belt which sandwiches the web with the intermediate belt at the pinch point is inclined relative to the entry section of the intermediate belt.

[0017] Preferably, the intermediate belt comprises an outlet section which extends after the turning roller and which sandwiches the web with a section of the rear belt at least up to the depositing carriage.

[0018] Preferably, at least one motorized roller drives the inlet belt, at least one motorized roller drives the rear belt, and the intermediate belt is free, without its own motorization. However, the present invention is not limited to this characteristic and it may be possible to consider motorizing the intermediate belt.

[0019] Preferably, an input carriage drive belt, or input belt, extends from a first portion of the input carriage to a second portion of the input carriage, both ends of the belt being secured to a respective one of the first and second portions and the belt being further translationally secured to a carriage front auxiliary, itself integral in translation with a detour roller of the rear conveyor mobile in translation.

[0020] Preferably, a deposit carriage drive belt, or output belt, extends between two fixed points relative to the frame of the lapper and is secured in translation to the deposit carriage and, in the lower part, to a rear auxiliary carriage, itself secured in translation to a deflecting roller of the entry belt movable in translation. However, the present invention is not limited to this characteristic of the two fixed points and it may be envisaged that one of the points is not fixed but secured, for example attached, to the belt tensioning system.

[0021] Preferably, the output drive belt passes around two rollers integral in translation with the compensation carriage, preferably the two rollers being the last rollers around which the belt passes before its attachment to the respective fixed points.

[0022] Preferably, after having passed around each of the two rollers integral with the compensating carriage, the output belt extends in opposite directions to each other, towards the respective fixed points.

[0023] By way of example, a preferred embodiment of a crosslapper according to the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig.l] is an elevational view of an embodiment of a crosslapper according to the invention, the drive belts of the various carriages and the rollers of these belts not being shown;

[0025] [Fig.2] is an elevational view of the lapper of [Fig.l] without the inlet, outlet and intermediate belts and their rollers;

[0026] [Fig.3] represents the speed curves of the different carriages over a round trip period of the deposit carriage;

[0027] [Fig. 4] is an elevational view of the lapper of Figures 1 and 2 in which the assembly of the carriages and the belts, respectively the input, output and intermediate, and their rollers are shown, the drive belts of the carriages and the rollers of these belts being shown in dotted lines; and

[0028] [Fig. 5] is an elevational view of another embodiment of a lapper in which the assembly of carriages and belts respectively for entry, rear and intermediate are shown, as well as their rollers, the drive belts of the carriages and the rollers of these belts being shown in dotted lines.

[0029] The figures show elevation views of crosslappers according to the invention.

[0030] An endless inlet or front belt 1 allows the introduction of a non-woven web, for example from a card upstream of the crosslapper, to form on an apron 2 at the outlet of the spreader, a sheet consisting of a stack of the veil in successive sections inclined relative to each other, being alternately placed transversely to the apron in one direction and in the other.

[0031] The web is placed on the apron 2 by means of a placement or exit carriage 3, which performs back and forth movements transversely to the direction of movement of the apron 2, which is also the lengthwise direction of the sheet formed by the zigzag stacking of the web.

[0032] From the inlet belt 1, the web is conveyed to an inlet carriage 4, in which it undergoes a 180° turn around a turning roller 5 with an axis integral with the carriage 4. The inlet carriage 4 also undergoes a back and forth movement in the same direction as the depositing carriage 3 and in correspondence with it to thus accumulate a section of web which is conveyed to the depositing carriage 3 which then deposits it on the apron 2.

[0033] A rear, endless belt 6 is arranged so as to support the web after it has been turned over by the turning roller 5 and this up to the depositing carriage 3. The carriage 3 deposits the web on the apron 2 at the level of a depositing gap 7 formed between the rear belt 6 and the entry belt 1, between two respective rollers 9.5 and 5.2 around which the two belts 1 and 6 extend, the two respective rollers having their respective axis secured to the depositing carriage 3.

[0034] The lapper further comprises an intermediate belt 8. This intermediate belt 8 comprises a first rectilinear section 8.1 which conveys the web to the turning roller 5. On this first section 8.1, the web is sandwiched with a first rectilinear section 6.1 of the rear belt.

[0035] During the turning, the two belts 6 and 8, by semicircular sections extending around the roller 5, sandwich the web until the end of the turning, then, by second horizontal rectilinear sections, convey, still sandwiching it, the web to the depositing carriage 3. After the turning, it is the rear belt 6 which supports the web, whereas before the turning, it is the intermediate belt 8.

[0036] In the depositing carriage 3, the rear belt 6 has a third inclined rectilinear section which extends to the depositing gap, while the intermediate belt 8 has a third inclined rectilinear section which stops sandwiching the web with the rear belt 6 before the end of the third section of the rear belt.

[0037] The rear endless belt 6 further comprises fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth rectilinear sections which extend between the third section and the first section 6.1 to form the endless outlet belt 6. The fourth, eighth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth sections are horizontal, parallel to the inlet section 1.1 of the belt 1 Before.

[0038] The various rectilinear sections of the rear belt 6 are separated from each other, in addition to the semi-circular section around the turning roller 5, by sections in the form of a circular arc extending around rotating detour rollers 5.1 to 5.12, of which only the drive roller 5.4 is driven by a motor.

[0039] The deflecting roller 5.7 of the rear belt 6 is mounted so as to be movable in translation, being integral with an auxiliary carriage 10 which is connected by belts to the entry carriage 4, the movement of the auxiliary carriage along a horizontal rail allowing the rear belt 6 to maintain a constant tension, the auxiliary carriage 10 following, for this purpose, the back and forth movement of the entry carriage 4. The axes of the rollers 5.1, 5.2 are mounted integral with the depositing carriage 3, so that their axis undergoes a back and forth movement in translation horizontally. The other rollers around which the rear belt extends have an axis of rotation which is fixed.

[0040] The endless inlet belt 1 comprises, in addition to the first inlet section 1.1, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth rectilinear sections which extend with the first section 1.1 to form the endless inlet belt 1. The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, tenth and eleventh rectilinear sections are horizontal, parallel to the first inlet section 1.1 of the front belt 1.

[0041] The rectilinear sections of the inlet belt 1 are separated from each other by arc-shaped sections which extend around rotating detour rollers 9.1 to 9.14, of which only roller 9.7 is driven by a motor.

[0042] The roller 9.10 for diverting the entry belt 1 is mounted to be movable in translation while being integral with an auxiliary carriage 11 which is connected by belts to the depositing carriage 3, the movement of the auxiliary carriage 11 along a horizontal rail allowing the entry belt 1 to maintain a constant tension, the auxiliary carriage 11 following, for this purpose, the back and forth movement of the depositing carriage 3. The axis of rotation of the roller 9.5 is mounted integral with the depositing carriage 3.

[0043] The deposit gap 7 is defined between the two belts 1 and 6 between their respective rollers 5.2 and 9.5.

[0044] The intermediate belt 8, in addition to the first 8.1, second and third rectilinear sections, comprises fourth, fifth and sixth rectilinear sections. The rectilinear sections of the intermediate belt 8 are separated from each other, in addition to the semicircular section around the roller 5 and the arcuate section around the roller 5.1, by arcuate sections extending around rollers 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 14.4 to together form the endless intermediate belt. The axes of the rollers 14.3 and 14.4 are fixed. The axis of the roller 14.2 is mounted integral with the second part 13 of the inlet carriage 4, while the axis of the roller 14.1 is mounted attached to the removal trolley 3.

[0045] None of the rollers around which the endless intermediate belt 8 extends is driven in rotation by a motor.

[0046] The input carriage 4 is in two parts 12 and 13, at a distance from each other and integral in translation by being connected by a crosspiece 20. The first part 12 comprises the drive roller 5 while the second part 13 comprises the roller 14.2, around which the intermediate belt 8 passes, the axis of rotation of the roller 14.2 being integral with this second part 13 of the input carriage.

[0047] The second part 13 also includes the roller 9.3, around which the entry belt 1 passes, the axis of the roller 9.3 being integral with this second part 13.

[0048] The lapper also comprises a compensation carriage 14, the speed R of which of back and forth movement is linked to that X of the depositing carriage 3. In particular, the respective mounting of the different rollers 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 carried by the second part 13 of the entry carriage 4 and by the compensation carriage 14 means that, in the embodiment described in the figures, the speed R of the compensation carriage 14 is equal to half the speed X of the depositing carriage, knowing that depending on the positioning, the number and the size of the rollers, a ratio different from ^2 can be achieved.

[0049] The intermediate mat 8 is an air-permeable mat, in particular a perforated mat, while the front mats 1 and 6 rear mats are air-impermeable mats, in particular so-called solid mats, that is to say without perforation.

[0050] In Figures 1, 2 and 4, the two parts of the input carriage 4 are secured to each other by a rigid connection in the form of a crosspiece 20 fixed at its two ends to each of the parts.

[0051] In [Fig. 5], unlike in [Fig. 4], the two parts of the input carriage 4 are not directly secured to each other, but are each secured to the same drive belt.

[0052] In [Fig.2], the lapper is shown without the three inlet, rear and intermediate belts shown in [Fig.l] respectively, but with the belts allowing the movement of the different carriages of the lapper.

[0053] In [Fig. 2], a so-called input belt 30, preferably notched, extends from the first part 12 of the carriage 4 to the second part 13 of the carriage 4, having its two respective ends fixed by respective flanges 31, 32 to the two parts 12 and 13. The flanges may in particular be made up of two plates, at least one of which is notched. One of the plates is secured to the carriage, in particular by welding, and the other plate, in particular the notched plate, is tightened against the other plate by sandwiching the belt 30, preferably notched, and the tightening may in particular be carried out by screws.

[0054] The belt 30 is also secured in translation to the auxiliary carriage 10, in particular as described in patent EP3138945B1 in the name of the applicant, namely by means of a flange 33 formed by a notched plate sandwiching with a flat part (which can also be made up of a flat plate secured to the carriage, in particular by welding) of the carriage 10 the belt 30, preferably itself notched, the notched plate, the flat part and the notched belt being tightened together by screws.

[0055] Instead of a belt, whether toothed or not, a cable can also be provided which can be fixed by the flanges 31, 32 and 33 or equivalent fixing means.

[0056] The belt 30 extends around rollers 30.1 to 30.7, at least one of the rollers being driven by a motor. In particular, it is possible to provide for two rollers to be driven, one controlled by torque and the other by speed, the torque setpoint being able in particular to come from the speed regulation, as according to the installation described in EP3138945B1. However, it is also possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to provide only one motor, or on the contrary three or more motors.

[0057] A belt 40 called the output belt (shown in dotted lines) extends between its two front and rear ends, each fixed by a respective flange, at two respective front and rear points 41 and 42 which are fixed relative to the frame of the lapper. The belt 40 is furthermore secured in translation to the depositing carriage 3 by means of a flange 43 of the same type as the flanges 31, 32 and also secured in translation to the auxiliary carriage 11 by means of a flange 44 of the same type as the flange 33.

[0058] The belt 40 extends, starting from the front fixed point 41, around rollers 40.1 to 40.8, up to the rear fixed point 42. The two end rollers 40.1 and 40.8 have their respective axes secured to the compensation carriage 14. At least one of the rollers is driven by a motor. In particular, it is possible to provide for two rollers to be driven, one controlled by torque and the other by speed, the torque setpoint being able in particular to come from the speed regulation, as according to the installation described in EP3138945B1. However, it is also possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to provide only one motor, or on the contrary three or more motors.

[0059] The compensation carriage 14 is not driven by any motor, its speed being a function of that of the depositing carriage 3.

[0060] In [Fig.3], the curves of the speeds of the different carriages during an operating cycle of the lapper are shown.

[0061] In the first part of the cycle (on the left in the figure), the motor 5.4 driving the rear belt 6 has a zero speed Q=0, while the motor 9.7 driving the entry belt 1 has a speed P=2X(t), X(t) corresponding to a hat-shaped speed law consisting, starting from a zero speed, of a linear acceleration section, of a substantially linear section in the form of a plateau at constant speed followed by a deceleration section until reaching zero speed again.

[0062] In the second part of the cycle (on the right in the figure), the motor 9.7 driving the entry belt 1 has a zero speed P= 0, while the motor 5.4 driving the rear belt 6 has a speed Q=2X(t), X(t) corresponding to a hat-shaped speed law consisting, starting from a zero speed, of a linear acceleration section, a substantially linear section in the form of a plateau at constant speed followed by a deceleration section until reaching zero speed again.

[0063] The speed of the depositing carriage is thus equal to X(t), while the speed of the compensation carriage 13 is X / 2.

[0064] In [Fig. 3], the input speed Ve and the speeds of the different carriages are thus represented, namely U the speed of the input carriage 4, AVI the speed of the compensation carriage 14 and W the speed of the deposit carriage 3.

[0065] In [Fig. 5], the first and second parts 12 and 13 of the carriage 4 are secured in translation, not as in the embodiment of figures 1, 2 and 4 by a crosspiece 20, but by the fact of both being secured to the belt 30.

[0066] Thus, in this embodiment, the lower belt 30 extends between two points of the first part 12, the two ends of the belt 30 being fixed at these points of the first part by end flanges 31 and 35. In addition, the second part 13 is secured to the belt 30 by an intermediate flange 32. The remainder of this embodiment of a lapper is identical to the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 4.

Claims

Claims

1. Lapper, comprising an inlet or front belt (1) through which a web of fibers, in particular non-woven, is introduced, the inlet belt being arranged so as to convey the web towards an inlet or accumulator carriage (4), having a back and forth movement and in which the web undergoes a reversal, in particular at 180°, to be returned, by means of a rear belt (6), into a depositing carriage (3), which has a movement which deposits the accumulated web on an outlet apron (2), transversely in one direction and in the other relative to the direction of movement of the outlet apron, to thus obtain the web, the depositing of the web taking place at the level of a depositing gap (7) formed between the inlet belt (1) and the rear belt (6),characterized in that the spreader-lapper comprises an intermediate belt (8) arranged so as to transport the web conveyed by the input belt (1) until it is turned over in the input carriage (4), and to sandwich the web with the rear belt (6) at least after it has been turned over.,

2. Lapper according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate belt (8) sandwiches the web with the rear belt (6) before, during and after its turning.

3. Lapper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate belt (8) sandwiches the web with the rear belt (6) after it has been turned over to the depositing carriage (3).

4. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turning takes place in the input carriage around a turning roller (5) with an axis secured to the input carriage (4).

5. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet carriage (4) is in two parts, at a distance from each other, the turning taking place in the first part, and the second part (13) comprising a first roller (14.2) with an axis integral with the second part, around which the intermediate belt (8) passes.

6. Lapper according to claim 5, characterized in that the second part (13) of the entry carriage (4) comprises a second roller (9.3) with an axis integral with the second part, around which the entry belt (1) passes.

7. Lapper according to claim 6, characterized in that the two parts of the input carriage (4) are at a distance from each other, being integral in translation with each other.

8. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compensation carriage (14) is provided, the movement of which is synchronized with the translational movement of the depositing carriage, in particular by having a speed equal to half the speed of the depositing carriage.

9. Lapper according to one of claims 5 to 7 and claim 8, characterized in that the compensation carriage (14) comprises two rollers (9.2, 9.4) with respective axes integral with said compensation carriage (14) and around which the entry belt (1) passes respectively before and after having passed around the second roller (9.3) with an axis integral with the second part (13) of the entry carriage.

10. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate belt (8) comprises an entry section extending between the entry carriage and the entry belt, this entry section of the intermediate belt being in particular parallel to a section of the entry belt supplying the web to the intermediate belt.

11. Lapper according to claim 10, characterized in that the rear belt (6) sandwiches the web with the intermediate belt (8), in particular with the entry section of the intermediate belt, at least from a point called the pinch point upstream of the entry carriage.

12. A lapper according to claim 11, characterized in that the section of the rear belt which sandwiches the web with the intermediate belt at the pinch point is inclined relative to the entry section of the intermediate belt.

13. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one motor roller drives the inlet belt, at least one motor roller drives the rear belt, and the intermediate belt is free, without its own motorization.

14. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate belt is an air-permeable belt, in particular a perforated belt.

15. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front and rear mats are impermeable mats. the air.

16. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an input drive belt (30) extends from a first part of the input carriage to a second part of the input carriage, the two ends of the belt being fixed to a respective one of the first and second parts and the belt being furthermore secured in translation to a front auxiliary carriage, itself secured in translation to a detour roller of the rear belt movable in translation.

17. Lapper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an output drive belt (40) extends between two fixed points relative to the frame and is secured in translation to the depositing carriage and to a rear auxiliary carriage, itself secured in translation to a deflecting roller of the entry belt movable in translation.

18. Lapper according to claim 17 and claim 8, characterized in that the output drive belt passes around two rollers integral in translation with the compensation carriage, preferably the two rollers being the last rollers around which the belt passes before its attachment to the respective fixed points.

19. Lapper according to claim 18, characterized in that after having passed around each of the two rollers integral with the compensating carriage, the output belt (40) extends in opposite directions to each other, towards the respective fixed points.

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