Needling device to consolidate a non-woven fleece or web of fibres by needling

Abstract

A needle-punching device for reinforcement, particularly of nonwoven fiber yarns or sheets, includes: needle plates each having a needle field; a column having a vertical longitudinal axis and connected to the respective needle plate; a drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to the needle plate and / or needles such that the needles have an elliptical path passing through in one direction and then through the fiber yarn or sheet along the machine direction or MD forward direction, thereby reinforcing; a housing housing the column or a portion thereof and the drive mechanism; and a needle guide box disposed in a respective opening of the sealed housing, simultaneously mounted inclined relative to the respective inclined axis and fixed relative to the housing and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and MD direction, the column sliding within and through the housing by means of the needle guide box, and the drive mechanism including a first longitudinal drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to the column in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, particularly reciprocating only vertically.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] For example, this type of acupuncture device is known from the applicant's EP-A1-1736586. A needle plate is integrally formed with a rod or column extending along a longitudinal axis and passes through a guide box through the housing wall. The needle plate slides within this guide box and moves simultaneously in both the vertical and MD directions, thereby causing the needle tip to move in an elliptical motion. The guide box is arranged to pivot relative to an axis extending in the CD direction (that is, perpendicular to both the vertical and MD directions).

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

[0004] However, this acupuncture device has the disadvantage of complex structure, namely, the device is particularly complicated and requires phase shift between two eccentric shafts to drive the column to have an elliptical path motion.

[0005] We aim to provide a needle-punching device that has the following advantages: it can be housed in a sealed housing, thereby ensuring good lubrication of the various drive components of the column, while having a more compact structure and lower complexity.

[0006] A needle-punching device is also known from FR-A1-2800396, comprising a needle plate; a column fixed to the needle plate; a drive mechanism configured to reciprocate the column; a housing housing a portion of the column and a portion of the drive mechanism; and a sleeve disposed in an opening in the housing, through which the column passes. In this complex device, the housing is not sealed, and a portion of the drive mechanism, i.e., those designed for lateral movement along the MD direction, is outside the housing. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, we have obtained a system that is less complex than existing systems, particularly from a mechanical point of view, and is also more compact. Specifically, phase shifting between two eccentric shafts is no longer required. At the same time, the possibility of integrating all drive mechanisms into a sealed housing is maintained, and even increased, thereby lubricating various mechanical parts and ensuring a long lifespan and high reliability of the device.

[0008] According to an advantageous preferred embodiment, the lateral drive device includes a control device that constitutes an invention independent of the aforementioned invention, but can be combined with the latter, comprising: a drive rod adapted to be connected to the needle and / or needle plate and / or an element integral with the needle plate or to the needle and / or tilting box to cause the needle to reciprocate in a substantially parallel direction to the MD; an eccentric shaft and a connecting rod that drives the connecting rod to rotate along a rotation axis, particularly extending in the direction perpendicular to the MD and perpendicular to the CD, the connecting rod being connected to the drive rod via an intermediate rod element that is integral or composed of multiple parts not hinged to each other and pivots about a pivot, particularly a rotation axis parallel to the eccentric shaft, the rod being directly hinged on the connecting rod, particularly along an axis parallel to the pivot and at a certain distance therefrom, and directly hinged on the drive rod, particularly at a point at a certain distance from the pivot, to cause it to reciprocate in the direction MD.

[0009] Preferably, the control device includes means for adjusting the reciprocating stroke of the drive rod.

[0010] In particular, the distance between the pivot axis of the adjusting rod and the drive rod and / or the distance between the pivot axis of the rod and the connecting rod.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the adjusting device includes a slider fixed to a drive rod or to a pivot axis of the rod, or to a hinge axis of a link and a rod. The slider and the rod are arranged to allow the slider to slide relative to the rod between multiple positions, and in each of these multiple positions, the slider is fixed to the rod.

[0012] According to a highly advantageous embodiment, the adjusting device includes guide slots through which a slider can slide between two extreme positions, specifically a high position where the drive rod is at the height of the pivot axis and a low position where the drive rod is at the horizontal level of the pivot axis. The drive rod is positioned as far away from the pivot axis as possible, so the reciprocating amplitude of the rod can be adjusted, particularly between zero amplitude (fixed rod) and maximum amplitude, depending on the position of the slider fixed in the slot of the rod.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the slot includes an adjusting rod connected to an adjusting rod, the adjusting linkage being hinged to an auxiliary adjusting eccentric shaft, the rotation of which allows adjustment and fixing of the position of the slider in the slot.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the slot includes an adjusting rod integral with a helical cam, via an auxiliary adjusting shaft in which a helical groove is formed, along which the adjusting rod can move.

[0015] According to yet another advantageous variation, the device for fixing the position of the slider in the slot includes an adjusting rod connected to an adjusting rod driven by a jack, thereby allowing linear movement of the adjusting link, which is mounted to be pivotable relative to the axis of the adjusting rod. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example: Figure 1 is a partially cut-away overall front view of the acupuncture device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1A is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a partial front sectional view of an acupuncture device according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A is a partial frontal sectional view of an acupuncture device according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an overall perspective view of the control system that forms the main connecting rod of the lateral drive device; Figure 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the control system according to the present invention; Figure 3B is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the control system according to the present invention; Figure 4A is an overall diagram of the changes in the system shown in Figure 3; Figure 4B is a rear view of the modified Figure 4A; Figure 5 is an overall diagram of another variation of the system shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B. Implementation

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the acupuncture device according to the present invention. The housing is shown in cross-section, and the remainder of the acupuncture device is shown in front view, with a portion of the needle guide box cut off.

[0018] The needle-punching device includes a needle plate 10 comprising needles 1 extending from its underside. The needles 1 are arranged in rows and columns, or in a random or pseudo-random manner, as is well known in the art. The needle plate 10 is supported by a crossbeam 2, referred to as a movable beam. The crossbeam 2 and the plate 10 are integral with each other but removable, so that the plate can be easily replaced with a new plate when the needles wear and / or break. The needle is designed to reciprocate perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fiber yarn or sheet, moving from top to bottom and from bottom to top, passing through in one direction. The needle's purpose is to have a reciprocating motion whose trajectory is perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fiber web, particularly from top to bottom and from bottom to top, so as to pass through in one direction and then in another direction the fiber yarn or sheet passes in front of the needle plate in the forward direction or MD direction, i.e., from left to right in the horizontal direction shown in the figure.

[0019] The column 3, which extends along the longitudinal axis 11 perpendicular to the plane of the plate, is fixed on the movable beam 2, so that the column 3, the movable beam 2, the needle plate 10 and the needle move in the same way, that is, they have the same elliptical path.

[0020] A drive mechanism is provided to transmit a force component having a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 and a force component along the MD direction to the column 3 (therefore also including the needle plate 10, the moving beam 2 and the needle 1), thereby having an elliptical needle path as shown in Figure 1.

[0021] A sealed housing 7 surrounds the drive unit and a portion of the column 3. A portion of the column 3 passes through the wall of the housing 7 via a needle guide box 4. The interface between the needle guide box 4 and the housing 7 is sealed by a seal. According to one possible embodiment, the column may take the form of a bellows seal 50. The needle guide box 4 is mounted at an angle relative to a fixed axis 5 of the housing 7, which is parallel to the CD direction (perpendicular to the MD direction and the longitudinal axis 11). The column 3 can slide within the needle guide box 4. A guide ring 16 is arranged on the inner wall of the needle guide box 4 to ensure sliding and lubrication between the column 3 and the needle guide box 4. The seal between the column 3 and the needle guide box 4 is provided by a seal (not shown) attached to the bottom of the needle guide box.

[0022] It is highly advantageous, especially in terms of the lifespan of the housing seal, that the axis 5 is positioned at approximately the height of the opening in the housing, through which the needle guide box 4 passes, particularly within the opening.

[0023] The drive mechanism includes a first longitudinal drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to the column in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. These first drive mechanisms include two systems 6 having an eccentric shaft 12, a connecting rod 13, and an intermediate connecting rod 9.

[0024] Shaft 12 drives the heads of the two connecting rods 13 by rotating in opposite directions (as shown by the two arrows at the top of Figure 1). The feet 14 of the two connecting rods 13 are respectively hinged to one end of the intermediate connecting rod 9 extending in the MD direction. The intermediate connecting rod 9 also includes a protrusion 15 extending downward at its center. The end of the protrusion 15 is hinged to the upper end of the column 3.

[0025] These first longitudinal drive mechanisms allow the column 3 to move back and forth only along the longitudinal axis.

[0026] A second lateral drive is also provided in the form of a main connecting rod 8 arranged along the MD direction. One end of the rod 8 is hinged to the needle guide box 4 at point 17 within the housing 17, which is a distance from the rotation axis 5 of the pot, specifically at the upper end of the needle guide box. Therefore, it is subjected to a reciprocating oscillating motion of the needle guide box 4, causing the column 3 to pass through the column 3 via a reciprocating motion along or substantially along the MD direction (as shown by the double arrows in Figure 1 above). The other end of the connecting rod 8 is coupled to a control system called the forward system, which can be particularly similar to those shown in Figures 3 to 5 below.

[0027] On the other hand, the system balance block 19 is connected to the needle guide box 4, which is attached to the side opposite to the side where the forward system is located.

[0028] Finally, the propulsion system is housed in a sealed housing, which can be operated by an independent electric motor or by one of the control shafts 6 of the first vertical drive unit, or by a connecting rod directly mounted on an eccentric integral with one of the control shafts 6 of the first drive unit.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the acupuncture device according to the invention. The housing is shown in cross-section, and the remainder of the acupuncture device is shown in front view, with a portion of the needle guide box cut off.

[0030] The needle-punching device includes two needle plates 10, each comprising needles 1 protruding from the bottom side of the needle plate. The needles are arranged in rows and columns or in a random or pseudo-random manner, as is well known in the art. Each needle plate 10' is supported by a respective crossbeam 2', referred to as a movable crossbeam. These needles are designed to move back and forth along an elliptical path, crossing vertically in one direction, and then, in another direction, passing a piece of cotton yarn or a piece of fiber cloth through the fiber cloth or cotton yarn in the forward direction or MD direction, i.e., from left to right along the horizontal direction in the figure.

[0031] Two 3" longitudinal columns, perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board, extend along the longitudinal axis 11. The columns 3' are respectively fixed to the movable beam 2', such that the movements of the columns 3', movable beam 2', needle plate 10', and needle are similar, or even identical, i.e., the same elliptical path or elliptical paths of the same shape but different sizes. The two trajectories can also be opposite, that is, the two ellipses are mirror images of each other.

[0032] A drive mechanism is provided so that each column 3' (and thus also the needle plate 10', the moving beam 2' and a needle) has a component force parallel to the longitudinal axis 11' and a component force along the MD direction, thus having an elliptical trajectory represented by the ellipse of the needle in Figure 2.

[0033] A sealed housing 7' encloses a portion of the drive unit and the column 3', which passes through the wall of the housing 7' via a corresponding needle guide box 4'. The interface between the needle guide box 4' and the housing 7' is sealed by a sealing device (not shown, but may be manufactured, for example, in the form of a bellows seal, as shown in FIG1A). Each needle guide box 4' is mounted at an angle relative to the axis 5', fixed relative to the housing 7', and parallel to the CD direction (perpendicular to the MD direction and the longitudinal axis 11'). Each column 3' can slide within its corresponding needle guide box 4'. A guide ring 16 is arranged on the inner wall of each needle guide box 4' to provide sliding and lubrication between the column 3' and the corresponding needle guide box 4'. The seal between the column 3' and the corresponding needle guide box 4' is provided by a seal (not shown) attached to the bottom of the needle guide box.

[0034] The drive mechanism includes a first longitudinal drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to each column in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. These first drive mechanisms consist of two systems with an eccentric shaft 12” and a connecting rod 13”.

[0035] Shaft 12' drives the heads of the two links 13' by rotating in opposite directions (as shown by the two arrows at the top of Figure 1). The bases 14' of the two links 13' are respectively hinged to one end of their respective columns 3'.

[0036] These first vertical longitudinal drive devices enable reciprocating motion to be applied to each column 3' in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0037] A second lateral drive mechanism, in the form of a main connecting rod 8' and an auxiliary connecting rod 9', is also provided, arranged along the MD direction and located within the housing 7'. One end of the rod 8' is hinged to one of the needle guide boxes 4' at point 17', away from the axis of rotation 5' of the pot, specifically at the upper end of the pot. The other end of the connecting rod 8' is coupled to a drive system called the forward drive system, which may be particularly similar to those shown below in Figures 3 to 5.

[0038] Both ends of the auxiliary link 9' are hinged to one of the needle guide boxes 4'. In particular, link 9' is also hinged to the end of link 8' at point 17', but this is not mandatory; the system will still function if the ends of links 8' and 9' are not in a movable state. Hinged at the same point, link 8' can be hinged via an independent shaft fixed to the guide pot.

[0039] Therefore, it is subjected to reciprocating vibration of two needle guide boxes 4', which causes the column 3' to pass through the column 3' by reciprocating motion along or substantially along the direction MD (as indicated by the double arrow above the link 8' in Figure 2).

[0040] On the other hand, a system balance block 19' is connected to the link 9, which is connected to the link 9 on the upper side between the two shafts 12'.

[0041] Finally, the forward system is housed in a sealed housing and can be actuated by a separate motor, by one of the control shafts 12' of the first vertical drive unit, or by a connecting rod directly mounted on the eccentric member. One of the control shafts 12' of the first drive unit has a first drive unit.

[0042] In particular, as shown in Figure 2A, which corresponds to a variation of the embodiment in Figure 2 but can also be applied to the embodiment in Figure 1, a mechanical connection is provided between the main link 8' and the lateral drive mechanism. Link 51 is driven by an eccentric shaft 12', one of two links and an eccentric shaft system 6', for example, as shown in Figure 2A, driven by eccentric shaft 12', which also drives the needle guide box 4', which is directly connected to link 8'. In this variation of Figure 2A, an intermediate rod 52 is provided, rotatably mounted relative to axis 53, which is fixed relative to housing 7', and directly hinged at both ends to link 51 and the main link 8', respectively.

[0043] In the above description, the first longitudinal drive device differs from the second lateral drive device. While there are advantages to separating them into two distinct devices, it is conceivable that a unique device performing the functions of both the first and second devices could be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0044] Figures 3, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 5 illustrate embodiments of the system that can be used to control the reciprocating motion of links 8 and 8' in the MD direction of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, respectively. However, this control system itself is not essential, and other systems known in the art for controlling the reciprocating motion of links 8 and 8' in the MD direction can be used, such as EP-A1-1736586, EP-B1-3372716, FR2738846, US6161269, etc.

[0045] In Figure 3, the system includes an eccentric shaft 21 connected to a connecting rod 22, which is directly hinged to a vertical, integral rod 23. Rod 23 pivots relative to a fixed pivot axis 24 and is located vertically below the hinge axis between connecting rod 22 and rod 23. A drive rod 27 is directly coupled to rod 23. The drive rod 27 is integral with a slider 25 and one end of rod 26, the axis of which extends parallel to axis 24.

[0046] The rod 26 can be adjusted by means of an adjustment system consisting of an auxiliary adjusting eccentric shaft 29 and an adjusting rod 28, and thus the relative position of the drive rod 27 with respect to the rod's pivot 24 in the vertical direction and / or with respect to the connecting rod 22 and the rod's hinge axis. The adjusting rod 28 is hinged to the eccentric shaft (or crankshaft) 29 at its upper end, while its lower end is pivotally mounted relative to the axis of the rod 26.

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

[0048] Depending on the position of the connecting rod 28 determined by the appropriate rotation of the crankshaft 29, the relative position of the slider 25 in the slot 30 can be selected and adjusted to adjust the distance along the vertical axis of the rod. This distance can vary between zero and zero values ​​(where the slider 25 is located at the top of the slot 30 so that the axis of the rod 26 is aligned with the axis of the 24, and at the maximum adjustment position where the slider 25 is located at the bottom of the slot 30).

[0049] The amplitude of the reciprocating motion of the drive rod 27 can be changed both during operation and at rest. This motion is reflected in the motion of the crankshaft 21 and the rod 22 and acts on the rod 23. As for the drive rod 27, it can be fixed or hinged to one or the other of the main connecting rods 8 and 8' in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2.

[0050] Figure 3A shows a variation of the arrangement in Figure 3. In this variation, the distance between the connecting rod 22 and the drive rod 27 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the slot 30 of the hinge shaft 31 of the connecting rod 22 on the rod 23. This allows adjustment of the distance between the hinge shaft 31 of the hinged connecting rod 22 and the fixed support shaft 24 of the rod. Consequently, the distance between the shaft 31 and the drive rod 27 can also be adjusted. In this variation, the distance between the drive rod 27 and the shaft 24 is fixed, whereas in the embodiment of Figure 3, the distance between the shaft 31 and the shaft 24 is fixed.

[0051] Figure 3B shows a variation of the arrangement in Figure 3. In this variation, the distance between the connecting rod 22 and the drive rod 27 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the slot 30' in the rod 23 formed along the fixed pivot axis 24 of the water tank. The axis 24 of the rod is integral with the slider 25' slidably mounted in the slot 30'. The connecting rod 22 is hinged to the rod 23 along the hinge axis 31, which is in a fixed position on the rod 23. The hinged end of the drive rod 27 to the rod 23 is in a fixed position (as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3). Similarly, the rod 26 from the adjusting rod 28 is hinged to the rod 23 in a fixed position. Therefore, the relative position of the axis 24 with respect to the rod 23 can be adjusted by the rod 28, thereby adjusting the relative position of the rod 27 with respect to the axis 24 and the relative position of the rod. The distance between the rods 22 and 23 is fixed relative to the axis 24, so the reciprocating stroke of the adjusting rod 27 is adjusted while the distance between the rods 27 and 23 remains fixed.

[0052] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment. The main difference between the embodiment in Figure 3 and the embodiments in Figures 4A and 4B lies in the manner in which the position of the slider 25 relative to the groove 30 is adjusted.

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

[0054] Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment in which a cylinder 41 is used instead of the crankshaft 29 of Figure 3, the rest of which is the same.

[0055] In the embodiments described in Figures 4A, 4B and 5, the arrangement of the distance between the shaft 24 and the drive rod 27 can be replaced by the arrangement shown in Figures 3A and 3B (as shown in the variation of Figure 3).

[0056] 1: Needle 1': needle 2: Liang 2': Beam 3: Columns 3': Post 4: Needle guide box 4': Needle guide box 5: Axis 5': Axis 6: System 6': Eccentric Shaft System 7: Shell 7': Shell 8: Main connecting rod 8': Main connecting rod 9: Intermediate connecting rod 9': Auxiliary Link 10: Needle plate 10': Needle plate 11: Vertical axis 11': Vertical axis 12: Eccentric shaft 12': axis 13: Linkage 13': Connecting rod 14: Feet 14': Base 15: Protrusion 16: Guide ring 17:00 17': point 19: System Balance Block 19': System Balance Block 21: Eccentric shaft 22: Linkage rod 23: Vertical one-piece pole 24: Pivot axis 25: Slider 25': Slider 26: Adjusting rod 27: Drive lever 28: Connecting rod 29: Eccentric shaft 30: Slot 30': Slot 31: Hinge shaft 40: Plate 41: Cylinder 50: Bellows seal 51: Linkage 52: Center rod 53: Axis

Claims

1. A needle-punching device for achieving reinforcement by needle-punching nonwoven fiber yarns or sheets, comprising: Two or more needle plates (10; 10'), the needle plate (10; 10') each has a needle field; two or more uprights (3; 3'), each upright (3; 3') having a longitudinal axis (11; 11'); a drive mechanism configured to apply reciprocating motion to one or more of the needle plates and / or needles, such that the needle has an elliptical path passing through in one direction and then through the fiber yarn or fiber sheet along the machine direction or MD forward direction, thereby securing it; a sealed housing (7; 7') housing the upright or a portion of the upright and the drive mechanism; and two or more needle guide boxes. (4; 4'), the needle guide box (4; 4') is arranged in the corresponding opening of the sealed housing, and the needle guide box (4; 4') is mounted inclined relative to the corresponding inclined axis (5; 5'), and the inclined axis (5; 5') is fixed relative to the housing (7; 7') and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the MD direction, while the needle guide box (4; 4') is inclined about the axis, the column slides in and through the housing by means of the needle guide box or the corresponding needle guide box, and the drive device includes longitudinal drive devices (6, 9, 12, 13, ... 14, 15; 6', 12', 13', 14'), the drive device is configured to reciprocate one or more of the columns in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, characterized in that the drive device further includes a transverse drive device (8; 8', 9'), which is configured to reciprocate one or more points (17; 17') of the needle guide box at a distance from its axis (5; 5') in a direction substantially parallel to the MD direction, wherein the points (17; 17') of the needle guide box are at a distance from its axis (5; 5') in a direction substantially parallel to the MD direction. The distance from the needle is greater than the distance from the needle to the axis (5; 5'), wherein the lateral drive device includes: a main link (8; 8'), one end of which is hinged to one or more of the needle guide boxes (4; 4') at point (17; 17'), and the other end having means for reciprocating it substantially parallel to the MD direction; and at least one second post, which is housed in a corresponding needle guide box and is provided with an auxiliary link (9'), both ends of which are hinged to the two corresponding needle guide boxes.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The inclined axes of the two or more needle guide boxes (4; 4') are located in the corresponding openings of the housing, through which the corresponding needle guide box (4; 4') passes.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The device includes two columns (3') and two needle guide boxes (4'), and the longitudinal drive device includes two eccentric linkage shaft systems (6', 12', 13', 14'), the head of the linkage (13') is hinged to the corresponding eccentric shaft (12'), and the linkage (13') is respectively hinged to the corresponding column (3').

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The eccentric shaft rotates at the same speed.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The eccentric shaft rotates in the opposite direction.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The hinge point of the main connecting rod (8') and the auxiliary connecting rod (9') coincides with the hinge point of the first needle guide box.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The longitudinal drive is configured to apply reciprocating motion to at least one of the columns only in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, A mechanical connection is provided between the main connecting rod (8; 8') and the transverse drive rod (51) driven by one of the two connecting rod and eccentric shaft systems (6; 6') eccentric shaft (12; 12').

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The device is equipped with two eccentric linkage shaft systems (6') and two needle guide boxes (4'). The eccentric shaft (12') that drives the linkage (13') is hinged to the needle guide box (4') that is directly connected to the linkage (8'). The eccentric shaft (12') also drives the transverse drive rod (51).

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The device is provided with an intermediate rod (52) which is mounted to rotate relative to an axis (53) fixed to the housing (7'). The intermediate rod (52) is connected to the connecting rod (51) and the main connecting rod (8') at its two ends respectively.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The longitudinal drive unit and the transverse drive unit are housed inside the sealed housing.

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