Nickel Drum Perforation for Continuous Nonwoven Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for producing patterned nonwoven textile products face limitations in creating closed contours without metal bridges, resulting in discontinuous patterns, and struggle with line width restrictions and fiber displacement issues, leading to increased hairiness and poor surface finish.

Innovation Solution

A nickel drum with a low open surface and controlled perforations is used to create patterns with continuous contours and reduced hairiness, allowing for precise water flow management and bonding during the patterning process, enabling patterns with dimensions greater than 2 mm and uniform surface finishes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a solid body relief is welded or glued on a porous canvas, then the relief zone is full and water drainage is not possible, but this causes fibers to be moved around the solid by the flow of water and creates holes in the nonwoven when line width exceeds 2 mm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern line width controlVSAvoidfiber displacement and hairiness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drum surface is made porous with controlled perforations (0.1-1.2 mm diameter at 40-200 per cm²) instead of using solid body relief. This allows water to drain through the drum surface while still providing sufficient support for the nonwoven fabric, preventing fiber displacement and hole formation even at line widths greater than 2 mm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the drum surface from solid to controlled-porosity by precisely controlling perforation dimensions (0.1-1.2 mm) and density (40-200/cm²). This parameter optimization allows the drum to provide mechanical support while enabling water drainage, resolving the contradiction between pattern definition and fiber stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If existing marking technologies use a large open surface drum, then the drum structure is simple, but binding is not allowed and hairiness is increased during marking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrum structure simplicityVSAvoidhairiness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drum surface is configured with controlled perforations (0.1-1.2 mm diameter, 40-200 per cm²) that provide mechanical support for binding while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. The porous structure allows the drum to hold the nonwoven fabric securely during marking without excessive open surface, thereby reducing fiber displacement and hairiness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Ease of operation

If the drum has high open surface area, then water flow management is simple, but patterns cannot be delimited by continuous lines and closed contours cannot be created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater flow managementVSAvoidpattern continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes perforation parameters (0.1-1.2 mm diameter, 40-200 per cm² density) to create a balanced drum surface that enables both continuous pattern lines and adequate water drainage. The controlled porosity provides sufficient structural definition for continuous contours while maintaining water flow management capability through the perforated surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces hairiness and fiber displacement, achieving patterns with continuous contours and improved surface finish, while minimizing fiber loss and hydraulic energy, suitable for various nonwoven materials like cellulosic and polyester blends.

Implementation Method 1

Patterning can only be done effectively by precise management of the flow of water from its emission to its suction through the patterning drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic flow control: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The drum makes it possible to generate binding (bonding) at the same time as marking (patterning). Thus the ends of free fibers (hairiness) are limited in number because they are integrated into the fibrous mass (fibers bonded together)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic bonding: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP1885927B2Drum for a machine producing a patterned nonwoven fabric and obtained nonwoven fabric
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 RIETER PERFOJET
  • EP1885927B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1885927B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1885927B2 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The inventive nickel drum comprises a first part whose lateral surface is provided with perforations at the first level thereof and a second part whose lateral surface is provided with perforations at the second level different from the first level. Said invention can be used for producing nonwovens.