Device and method for profiling a fibrous web or a nonwoven

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for profiling a fibrous web (2) or nonwoven on a fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or a fiber-guiding working roller (14), having at least one drum (4) which is subjected to suction and / or is covered with needles, teeth, or brushes and is designed to remove fibers from the fibrous web (2) or nonwoven over the entire working width or over portions of the working width, the relative speed and / or the distance and / or angle of the at least one drum (4) relative to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding working roller (14) being adjustable.

Description

[0001] Title: Device and method for profiling a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a device and a method for profiling a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric on a fiber-carrying conveyor belt or a fiber-carrying work roller, comprising at least one vacuum-fed and / or needle-equipped drum, which is designed to remove fibers from the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric over the entire working width or over partial areas of the working width. The device can be arranged upstream or downstream of a fiber-processing machine, for example, a carding machine, a nonwoven fabric layer, or a needle-punching machine.

[0004] The production of nonwovens in fiber nonwoven machines begins with a carding machine, where a carded nap is generated. In the subsequent layup machine, the carded nap is folded or laid multiple times over itself and then bonded in a subsequent consolidation stage, such as a needle punching machine. Throughout the entire production process, an uneven distribution of the basis weight of the final product across its width can occur. This unevenness is referred to as a bathtub profile or "smile effect" because the edge areas have a higher basis weight. However, a constant basis weight across the width is the desired outcome. At the carding machine exit, the carded nap typically has a lower basis weight at the edges. This edge area is often removed by edge vacuuming, resulting in an almost rectangular basis weight profile.In the outfeed of a nonwoven fabric layer, thickened edges can occur due to the deflection of the pile. Even if a desired rectangular profile with a uniform basis weight is achieved here, subsequent consolidation processes, such as needling, will still result in a narrowing in the width direction. This leads to a thickening of the edge areas, and the basis weight profile takes on a so-called bathtub shape. This can be further intensified through several needling stages.

[0005] Numerous solutions exist to counteract the formation of a bathtub profile. A widely used solution involves cyclically warping the pile so that the nonwoven fabric layer deposits a fiber pile with a lower basis weight in the edge areas. This creates a convex basis weight profile, the opposite of the bathtub profile. This type of manipulation of the basis weight profile is also known as profiling. These methods rely on warping, meaning the fiber pile is stretched lengthwise and thus thinned. This occurs either between two rollers or pairs of rollers, before being laid down on the conveyor belt, or later in the process. The effectiveness of the warping is generally determined by the distance between the clamping points where the warping takes place.Another well-known method is based on a short-term change in the take-off speed at the carding machine in order to achieve a lower basis weight cyclically or in intervals.

[0006] The cyclical profiling of the basis weight by means of warping requires subsequent components to dynamically speed up and decelerate in order to compensate for the lengthening or shortening caused by warping or compression. This dynamic load increases component wear or necessitates a more robust design of the components involved, such as drives. The associated control system is correspondingly complex. A second option for compensating for speed fluctuations is a buffer system, but this requires additional machine components such as a dynamic pile storage table. Even with this solution, the control system of the downstream fiber processing machine must be adapted, at least by adjusting the infeed speed to the average speed of the fiber processing machine.

[0007] German patent DE 4304988 C1 describes a method and a device for producing a nonwoven fabric with a thickness that varies across the laying width. The pile coming from a carding machine is stretched or compressed upon entering a nonwoven layer. For this purpose, the speed of the pile-guiding drives of the nonwoven layer is uniformly increased or decreased relative to the discharge speed of the carding machine. The distortion of the pile is generated with a definable lead time, which is calculated and controlled by a central control system. A disadvantage of the method described here is the complex control system required to coordinate the carding machine and the nonwoven layer, as well as the aforementioned stress on the nonwoven layer.

[0008] EP 1381721 B1 describes a method and a device for profiling a multi-layered nonwoven fabric. According to this document, at least two defined clamping points, spaced apart, are arranged between the carding machine and the fabric layer, at which the pile is stretched or compressed. This method has the disadvantage that a large distance between the carding machine and the fabric layer is required to integrate the two clamping points.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for producing nonwoven fabrics that is inexpensive to construct, compact, easily retrofitted, and ensures reliable adjustment of the basis weight profile. The invention achieves this object through the teaching according to claims 1 and 10; further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized by the dependent claims.

[0010] The device according to the invention for profiling a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric on a fiber-guiding conveyor belt or a fiber-guiding work roller comprises at least one suction-fed and / or needle-, tooth-, or brush-equipped drum, which is designed to remove fibers from the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric across the entire working width or across partial working widths. The drum has an adjustable relative speed and / or is designed to be adjustable in distance and / or angle to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt or the fiber-guiding work roller.

[0011] The change in the basis weight of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric is achieved solely through fiber removal, without any distortion of the fiber pile or nonwoven. This allows the fiber pile or nonwoven to be transported at a high, continuous speed without the need for deceleration or acceleration due to distortion. The system can be built more cost-effectively because the components required for distortion, such as drives, rollers, storage tables, and measuring devices, are not needed. Only one or more drums, positioned above the fiber pile or nonwoven, are controlled in terms of distance or relative speed to the fiber-carrying components. This allows for the subsequent integration of at least one drum with a suction system into an existing system without interfering with the control of the existing components.Only the position data from the plant control system needs to be passed on to the control system of the drum drive so that the fibers are removed at the correct locations.

[0012] Due to the high transport speed of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric, air currents are generated that can cause a lightweight fiber pile to lift off the conveyor belt. The device incorporates means designed to prevent the fiber pile from lifting off the fiber-carrying conveyor belt or the work roll. These means can be designed as a suction box beneath the conveyor belt, as a suction system within the work roll, or as a cover or pressure rollers positioned above the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric, either over the conveyor belt or the work roll. For example, the work roll can also be at least partially enclosed in a sheet metal housing to prevent fibers from being sucked out or the fiber pile from lifting off the work roll.

[0013] The covers or pressure rollers can be designed to be adjustable to the surface of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric, thus enabling compaction or smoothing of the surface. A trough can be used to at least partially cover the drum, preventing the removed fibers from being flung back onto the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric by the airflow.

[0014] The drum, at least one of which can be connected to a suction system designed to remove the removed fibers from the drum's circumference, is cleaned by this process. The drum's yarn, needles, or brushes are then free to pick up new fibers. The suction system allows the removed fibers to be reintroduced into the process. This suction system can be located above or inside the drum.

[0015] The device for profiling the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric can be positioned before or after a fiber processing machine, which may be a carding machine, a lay-up machine, or a needle-punching machine. When positioned between a carding machine and a lay-up machine, the surface profiling can be easily retrofitted. This is where the highest transport speeds occur, and the fiber removal effect can be achieved with simple means. When positioned after the needle-punching machine, the bonded nonwoven fabric is profiled at a significantly lower transport speed. The influence of airflow is less pronounced here because the nonwoven fabric already has a higher basis weight and increased strength due to the needle-punching process.

[0016] The device is controlled by a control system designed to adjust the relative speed and / or distance and / or angle of the at least one drum to the fiber-carrying conveyor belt or the fiber-carrying work roller, depending on the mass distribution or basis weight of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric across the working width. The control system interacts with a measuring device, which can be positioned upstream or downstream of the drum in the material transport direction and determines the basis weight of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric. This allows for precise control of the relative speed and / or the drum's position within the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric, enabling the generation of an optimal basis weight without changing the transport speed.

[0017] The inventive method for profiling a fiber pile or nonwoven fabric on a fiber-guiding conveyor belt or a fiber-guiding work roller is designed to remove fibers from the fiber pile across the entire working width or across partial areas of the working width using at least one drum equipped with suction and / or needles, teeth, or brushes. The fiber removal is achieved by adjusting the relative speed and / or the distance of the at least one drum to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt or the fiber-guiding work roller. Without distortion or a change in the speed of the fiber-guiding components, the change in the basis weight of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric is achieved solely through fiber removal, thus avoiding any distortion of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric.This allows the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric to be transported at a high, continuous speed without the need for deceleration or acceleration due to the introduction of a delay. The system can be built more cost-effectively because the components required for delay, such as drives, rollers, storage tables, and measuring devices, are not needed. Only one or more drums, positioned above the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric, are controlled in terms of distance or relative speed to the fiber-carrying components. This allows for the subsequent integration of at least one drum with a suction system into an existing system without interfering with the control of the existing components. Only the position data from the measuring device for fiber removal needs to be transmitted to the drum drive control system.

[0018] The fiber pile or nonwoven fabric can be held on the fiber-guiding conveyor belt or work roller by means of suction or mechanical elements. Due to the high transport speed, undesirable air currents can occur, which can cause at least a light part of the nonwoven fabric to lift off the transport element; this is prevented by this method.

[0019] Extracting the removed fibers via the circumference of the at least one drum or via the inner diameter of the at least one drum enables cleaning of the drum and return of the fibers to the processing process.

[0020] By continuously or intermittently adjusting the distance of at least one drum to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt or the fiber-guiding work roller, it is possible to create thin spots in the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric that extend across the working width or parts of the working width, thus enabling targeted surface profiling.

[0021] A control system is designed to change the relative speed of the at least one drum or its distance to the fiber-carrying conveyor belt or the fiber-carrying work roller before or after the at least one drum, depending on the mass distribution or the basis weight of the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric. This allows the fiber pile or nonwoven fabric to be profiled based on a measured mass distribution across its surface. Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, along with a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures.

[0022] They show:

[0023] Fig. 1: a schematic view of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a

[0024] conveyor belt;

[0025] Fig. 2: a second embodiment of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a conveyor belt;

[0026] Fig. 3: a third embodiment of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a conveyor belt;

[0027] Fig. 4: a fourth embodiment of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a conveyor belt;

[0028] Fig. 5: a fifth embodiment of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a conveyor belt;

[0029] Fig. 6: a schematic view of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on a

[0030] Roller;

[0031] Fig. 7: a schematic view of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on the

[0032] Tambour of a junk;

[0033] Fig. 8: a schematic view of the surface profiling of a fiber pile on the

[0034] Filing belts of junk.

[0035] Figure 1 reveals a conveyor belt 1 on which a fiber web 2 is transported, for example, from a carding machine (not shown) to a fiber processing machine 3. The fiber processing machine 3 can be designed as a nonwoven fabric layer or a needle-punching machine. In the transport direction (arrow), a rotating drum 4 is arranged upstream of the fiber processing machine 3, which is designed to remove fibers from the fiber web 2. The fibers can be removed by abrading, by providing the drum 4 with circumferential needles. Alternatively, the fibers can be removed by suction, by perforating the drum 4 and suctioning fibers across the working width of the conveyor belt 1. The fiber removal can be localized, for example, only at the edges or in the middle of the fiber web, or across the entire working width. The fiber web 2 is thereby profiled by abrading / removing fibers, i.e.,Thin areas are created. Generally, thin areas are needed across the entire working width of the fiber pile 2, so that, for example, in the cross-laid product, they can be positioned at the points where subsequent, process-related compaction needs to be compensated for. Alternatively, the thinning of only specific areas, such as the edges, may be desired.

[0036] The profiling component can be, for example, a decorated drum 4 extending over part or all of the working width. The drum 4 is positioned above the fiber web 2, which is transported beneath the drum 4 to the fiber processing machine 3. The fiber web 2 is transported on the conveyor belt 1 at a speed of 50 m / min to 250 m / min. The drum 4 can have a diameter of 100 mm to 400 mm and has a peripheral speed that, when rotating in the direction of material transport, is higher than the transport speed of the fiber web 2. When the drum 4 rotates against the material transport direction of the fiber web 2, the peripheral speed of the drum 4 can be significantly slower, for example, between 5 m / min and 100 m / min.

[0037] The distance between drum 4 and conveyor belt 1 or fiber web 2 is adjustable, either manually, according to a predefined curve, or through measurement and control. The latter involves measuring the bonded nonwoven fabric behind the fiber processing machine 3 or the bonding stage of the basis weight or mass distribution across the working width, for example, using a radiometric measuring method. Additionally, the fiber web can be measured before, below, and / or after drum 4, for example, its height, density, or mass distribution across the width, using a standard measuring method and incorporated into a control system. The drum 4 can be permanently set at a specific distance from conveyor belt 1 or fiber web 2 to level the surface of the fiber web 2. However, the drum 4 can also be set cyclically.This process can be carried out at intervals to create thin spots at predefined intervals. Similarly, the alignment of drum 4 relative to conveyor belt 1 can be controlled by a system that processes the mass distribution measurements across the working width in front of drum 4. This can be achieved, for example, by placing a radiometric measuring device between the carding unit and drum 4, or alternatively, by placing a belt scale between a box feeder and the carding unit that produces the fiber web. Alternatively, drum 4 can be adjusted at an angle to the fiber web 2 or nonwoven fabric, for example, to level only the edge areas.

[0038] Through contact between the drum 4 and the fiber pile 2, fibers are removed and transported away. Preferably, a drum 4 is used as the profiling component, rotating either with or against the material transport direction of the fiber pile 2. The amount of fiber removed depends not only on the design of the component itself (i.e., diameter, trim, etc.) but also on the distance of the profiling component from the fiber pile 2, as well as the direction and speed of rotation. All these parameters can be controlled automatically or manually adjustable. Teeth, needles, or brush bristles are preferably used as the trim, capable of picking up, storing, and releasing fibers. Alternatively, a suction drum 4 can be used, which draws some of the fibers from the surface of the fiber pile 2 and releases them to a suction device 5 during its rotation.The extraction system 5 can be arranged as a funnel hood above the drum 4 or as a suction slot, both extending across the entire working width. Both embodiments are designed to return the extracted fibers to the processing process. Both embodiments are also designed to locally limit the suction force in order to reduce air turbulence. A combination of a decorated drum 4 with internal drum extraction or external fiber extraction is also possible.

[0039] Since the fiber pile 2 is suitable for processing in the fiber processing machines 3, weighing between approximately 10g / m² 2 up to heavy, with approximately 400g / m² 2Since the speed of the fibers can vary, they must be held in place on the conveyor belt 1 during removal. Because the speed of the conveyor belt 1 can range from 50 m / min to 250 m / min, a very disruptive airflow occurs, particularly for lightweight fiber piles 2, which can cause the fiber pile 2 to lift off the conveyor belt 1. The peripheral speed of the drum 4, which, when rotating in the direction of material transport, must be somewhat higher than the transport speed of the fiber pile 2 for diameters of 100 mm to 400 mm, also creates its own airflow. Simultaneously, it must be ensured that the fiber pile 2 is not slipped or distorted on the conveyor belt 1 at the removal point. In a first embodiment shown in Figure 1, a suction box 9 can be arranged under the upper run of the conveyor belt 9 to hold the fiber pile 2 in place.

[0040] In Figure 2, rollers or rods 10a, 10b are arranged before and after the drum 4, with which the fiber pile 2 is pressed onto the conveyor belt 1. The roller or rod 10b, arranged after the drum 4 in the material transport direction (arrow), can be designed to smooth the surface of the fiber pile 2. The rollers 10a, 10b can be rotatable or designed as stationary rods.

[0041] Figure 3 shows two drums 4a, 4b for fiber removal, spaced apart from each other, in the material transport direction (arrow). Angled covers 6a, 6b are arranged in front of the drums 4a, 4b, which press and hold the fiber web 2 onto the conveyor belt 1 in front of the rollers 4a, 4b. Downstream of the drum 4b, the cover 6c can be aligned parallel to the surface of the conveyor belt 1 and can have a skid-shaped or rounded contour at both ends, which can also be used to smooth the surface of the fiber web 2. Instead of the two drums 4a, 4b shown here, several drums can also be used, removing the fibers across the entire working width, or each drum can remove only a predetermined surface area of ​​the fiber web, with each drum being individually controllable with regard to rotational speed and feed into the fiber web 2.

[0042] Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the drum 4 in a double-sided trough 7. The trough 7a, located in front of the drum 4 in the material transport direction, has an inlet ramp that presses the fiber web 2 onto the conveyor belt 1. The trough 7b, located downstream of the drum 4 in the material transport direction, has a small gap to the drum 4's lining over a circumferential area, preventing fibers carried along by the drum 4 from being flung back onto the fiber web 2. The distance between the trough 7b and the tip of the needles or teeth is limited to a few millimeters. The underside of this trough 7b can also be designed to smooth the upper surface of the fiber web 2. The removed fibers are removed from the drum 4 so that it can continue to function, for example, by scraping and / or vacuuming the fibers from the drum 4's lining. The fibers can then be returned to the previous process and recycled.

[0043] Figure 5 shows the arrangement of a smoothing roller 8 after the drum 4, which lightly compacts and levels the surface of the fiber pile 2. The smoothing roller 8 can also rotate or be designed as a stationary, non-rotating roller.

[0044] In all embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5, the removal of fibers from the fiber pile 2 on the conveyor belt 1 can be carried out using at least one drum 4, or with several drums arranged one behind the other. The drums 4 can remove the fibers across the entire working width, or only interact with the fiber pile 2 in partial areas of the working width. All embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5 can be combined with one another as desired.

[0045] Preferably, the profiling of the basis weight of the fiber pile 2 is carried out by means of the drum 4 across the entire working width, with the device positioned in front of the nonwoven fabric layer. For this purpose, the drum 4 has a covering of teeth, needles, brushes, or a suction system across its entire working width. Alternatively, the profiling can also be carried out only in partial areas, for example by angling the drum 4 so that fibers are only removed in the edge areas.

[0046] The profiling of the basis weight of a bonded nonwoven fabric after the needle punching machine, however, only takes place at the two edge areas of the nonwoven. For this purpose, the drum 4 can have a dense punching or suction at its circumference in the area of ​​the end faces, which decreases continuously towards the center of the drum 4. A more advantageous design is the drum 4 with adjustable suction across the working width, where the suction power can be adapted to the basis weight profile. Alternatively, the use of inclined drums 4 with needle punching is also possible, whereby the insertion depth and the inclination of the drums 4 can be adjusted via a control system.

[0047] Figure 6 shows a work roll 14 on which a fiber web 2 is processed. The work roll 14 can be designed, for example, as a tambour, take-up roll, upsetting roll, scrambling roll, or similar and has a trim, teeth, or needles. The work roll 14 can pick up the fiber web 2 from a previous roll or, by means of worker / turning rolls, form the fiber web 2 on its circumference and transfer it to another roll. In this embodiment, the drum 4 is arranged above the work roll 14 to remove fibers from the fiber web 2. As shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 5, the drum 4 can rotate in the material transport direction of the fiber web 2, which is determined by the direction of rotation of the work roll 14. The drum 4 can be continuously or intermittently positioned at a distance from the work roll 14 and thus remove fibers from the fiber web 2 over the transport length. The drum 4 can also be cyclically orThe fibers are fed onto the work roller 14 at intervals, thereby creating a single thin spot 11 in the fiber web 2, which in this embodiment extends across the entire working width. The position, in particular the distance of the drum 4 to the fiber-guiding work roller 14, is adjustable, controllable, and adjustable. Likewise, its speed and direction of rotation are adjustable, controllable, and adjustable both absolutely and relative to the fiber-guiding work roller 14. A suction system 5 is arranged above the drum 4, which removes the removed fibers from the drum 4.

[0048] In the case of use upstream of the take-up rollers, i.e., on the work roller 14, which is designed as a drum, the intermittent removal of fibers by the drum 4 results in the subsequent take-up roller removing fewer fibers from the drum, thus creating a thin spot 11 in the fiber web 2. When a drum 4 is used on or after the take-up roller, the thin spot 11 is created directly in the fiber web 2 already removed by the drum.

[0049] For all embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8, the profiling of the fiber web 2 can be carried out in two ways, which can also be used in combination. Firstly, the degree of removal, i.e., the quantity of fibers taken from the fiber web 2, can be determined by the relative speed of the drum 4 to the fiber-guiding work roller 14 or to the conveyor belt 1. Secondly, the distance of the drum 4 to the work roller 14 or to the conveyor belt 1 also determines the degree of discharge, i.e., the quantity of fibers to be removed. The position of the drum 4 can be determined manually, based on a predefined curve, or by measurement and control or measurement and regulation. The latter involves measuring the consolidated nonwoven, for which the mass distribution or basis weight across the working width is determined.Additionally, measurements of the fiber pile 2 can be taken before, under and / or after the drum 4, for example the height, density or mass distribution across the width, and incorporated into a control or regulation system.

[0050] The relative direction of rotation of the drum 4 to the work roller 14 or the conveyor belt 1 depends on the selected configuration and its tip orientation. In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, the drum 4 acts as a taker, meaning it only takes a portion of the fibers from the fiber-carrying work roller 14. The fibers taken from the fiber-carrying work roller 14 or the conveyor belt and transferred to the drum 4 are completely transferred / removed by the drum and either returned to the production process or disposed of. The removal rate can be influenced not only by the relative speed but also by the relative position. For example, the distance between the drum 4 and the work roller 14 or the conveyor belt 1 can be changed to influence the removal rate, as can their relative positions. This can be achieved, for instance, through a simple up-and-down movement or an elliptical motion of the drum.

[0051] Figure 7 shows a drum of a carding machine as the fiber-guiding work roller 14, which has two take-off rollers 12a, 12b, each of which takes a portion of a fiber web 2a, 2b from the drum. A drum 4 with a suction unit 5 is arranged on the circumference of the drum upstream of the first take-off roller 12a. This suction unit is designed to remove fibers from the fiber web 2. The removal can occur in intervals to create individual, targeted thin spots 11. Since, in this illustration, the drum 4 removes the fibers from the surface of the fiber web 2, a larger thin spot 11 will be taken from the upper take-off roller 12a and transferred to the subsequent discharge conveyor. The thin spot 11 will be smaller or will not occur at all when the fiber web 2 is removed from the lower take-off roller 12b at the same position.Figure 8b below clearly shows how the parts of the fiber pile 2a are brought together on the take-up belts 13a, 13b and how the thin section 11 is arranged in the two partial layers of the fiber pile 2a, 2b.

[0052] Depending on the required thinness of the thin spot 11 and the product structure, it may be sufficient if only one of the fiber layers 2 removed by the drum or work roller 14 has such a thin spot 11. Such a thin spot 11, twice as thin, in one fiber layer 2 would achieve the same result as placing a thin spot 11 in the upper 2a and a thin spot 11 in the lower fiber layer 2b on top of each other. To create thin spots 11 on each partial layer of the fiber layer 2a, 2b, a further drum 4 (not shown) with a suction system 5 can be arranged between the take-off rollers 12a, 12b to create a small thin spot 11 from each part of the fiber layer 2a, 2b by removing fibers. In Figure 8a, the two partial layers of the fiber pile 2a, 2b are brought together on the take-off belts 13a, 13b and are ideally arranged at the same length position of the fiber pile 2.

[0053] Reference sign

[0054] 1 conveyor belt

[0055] 2, 2a, 2b Fiber pile

[0056] 3 fiber processing machine 4, 4a, 4b drum

[0057] 5 Extraction

[0058] 6a, 6b, 6c Cover

[0059] 7a, 7b Mulde

[0060] 8 Smooth roller 9 Suction box

[0061] 10a, 10b Roller / Bar

[0062] 11 Thin spot

[0063] 12a, 12b Customer

[0064] 13a, 13b Take-off belt 14 Working roller

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 5 March 2026 (05.03.2026) 1. Device for profiling a fiber pile (2) or nonwoven fabric on a fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or a fiber-guiding work roller (14), comprising at least one suction-fed and / or needle-, tooth-, or brush-equipped drum (4) designed to remove fibers from the fiber pile (2) or nonwoven fabric over the entire working width or over partial working widths, characterized in that the relative speed and / or the distance and / or the angle of the at least one drum (4) to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding work roller (14) is adjustable, wherein the device interacts with a control system designed to adjust the relative speed and / or the distance and / or the angle of the at least one drum (4) to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding work roller (14) depending on the mass distribution orto adjust the basis weight of the fiber pile (2) or nonwoven across the working width, wherein the control system interacts with a measuring device that is arranged in the material transport direction before or after the drum (4).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by means which are designed to prevent the fiber pile (2) from lifting off the fiber-carrying conveyor belt (1) or the working roller (14).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the means are designed as a suction box (9) under the upper run of the conveyor belt (1), as a suction of the working roller (14) in the interior, or as a cover (6a, 6b, 6c) or rollers or rods (10a, 10b) which are arranged above the fiber pile (2) or nonwoven.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover (6a, 6b, 6c) is adjustable at an angle to the surface of the fiber pile (2) or nonwoven fabric.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one drum (4) is at least partially covered by a recess (7a, 7b).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one drum (4) interacts with a suction device (5) which is designed to suction the removed fibers from the circumference of the drum (4).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the extraction (5) is arranged above or inside the drum (4). 16 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by an arrangement before or after a fiber processing machine (3), which may be designed as a nonwoven fabric layer or needle-punching machine.

9. Method for profiling a fiber web (2) or nonwoven fabric on a fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or a fiber-guiding work roller (14), in which at least one suction-fed and / or needle-, tooth- or brush-equipped drum (4) is formed, removing fibers from the fiber web (2) over the entire working width or over partial areas of the working width, wherein the removal of the fibers is effected by adjusting the relative speed and / or the distance and / or the angle of the at least one drum (4) to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding work roller (14), wherein a control system is designed to change the relative speed of the at least one drum (4) or its distance to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding work roller (14) depending on the mass distribution or the basis weight of the fiber web (2) or the nonwoven fabric before or after the at least one drum (4).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the fiber pile (2) or the nonwoven fabric is held on the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or the fiber-guiding work roller (14) by means of suction or by mechanical elements.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the removed fibers are suctioned away over the circumference of the at least one drum (4) or over the inner diameter of the at least one drum (4).

12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the adjustment of the distance of the at least one drum (4) to the fiber-guiding conveyor belt (1) or to the fiber-guiding work roller (14) is carried out continuously or in intervals.

13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the fiber pile (2) on the fiber-guiding work roller (14) is divided into several partial layers (2a, 2b) and the removal of the fibers takes place on individual or all partial layers before the partial layers (2a, 2b) are brought together again to form a fiber pile (2). 17 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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