Method and device for the uniform bonding of a nonwoven

Abstract

A discontinuous nonwoven formed by a carder or other nonwovens formed from filaments have a higher strength in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction on account of the longitudinally oriented lengths of fibres after the hydrodynamic needle punching, for example. This situation can be improved if the pre-bonded nonwoven undergoes a reorientation of the fibres, for example, during a lateral stretching treatment. The fibres already intertwined in the nonwoven are at least partially reoriented, for example, in the transverse direction. In this new position another hydrodynamic bonding treatment can then take place in order to fix this new position. In this way, the nonwoven is generally stronger than would be possible without this reorientation of the fibres.

Description

A nonwoven comprising cut fibres and/or filaments such as also spunbond fibres and/or mixed with natural fibres such as also pulp does not have a uniform distribution of fibres in the longitudinal and transverse direction as a result of the manufacturing conditions. The fibres are stretched substantially in the longitudinal direction of the nonwoven so that a lower strength after hydrodynamic needle-punching, for example, is obtained in the transverse direction.

The object of the invention is to find a method for obtaining a uniform bonded nonwoven over the surface in both MD and CD directions and thus obtaining a nonwoven having overall increased bonding.

This object is solved in that before, during and/or after a first hydrodynamic needle-punching and/or a subsequent hydrodynamic needle-punching over the width, the nonwoven at least partially undergoes a forced re-orientation of the fibres and the nonwoven is then subjected to a further water jet treatment. The re-orientation of the fibres can be produced during lateral stretching, during pressing and/or merely by surface treatment such as brushing or using water jets aligned such that they are laterally obliquely staggered or changing. In this way, the nonwoven acquires a higher strength than would be possible without this re-orientation of the fibres.

This treatment can take place many times in succession. Care should be taken here to ensure that the nonwoven is uniformly stretched over the width, for example, which is achieved if the nonwoven is supported over the complete surface during stretching, brushing or pressing and the forces acting on the nonwoven act uniformly on the nonwoven over the width. Devices for this purpose are known from the textiles field for treating woven fabric and knitted fabrics.

Claims

1. A method for uniform bonding of a nonwoven comprising cut fibres and/or filaments such as also synthetic fibres continuously laid immediately previously, possibly mixed with natural fibres such as also pulp, formed for example by a carder or by the air laying method and/or by means of the spun bond method and which fibres are then intertwined by means of hydrodynamic needle punching, wherein the nonwoven is exposed to a row of water jet bonding treatments on one or both sides, characterised in that before, during and/or after a first hydrodynamic needle-punching and/or a subsequent hydrodynamic needle-punching over the width, the nonwoven at least partially undergoes a forced re-orientation of the fibres and the nonwoven is then subjected to a further water jet treatment.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the nonwoven is stretched over the width to partially re-orientate the fibres.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the nonwoven is uniformly pressed over the width after a hydrodynamic needle-punching.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that after a hydrodynamic needle punching the nonwoven is brushed uniformly over the width transverse to the direction of transport, for example.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that after a hydrodynamic needle punching the nonwoven is exposed to water jets uniformly over the width transverse to the direction of transport.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that after a hydrodynamic needle punching the nonwoven is exposed to water jets which change transversely to the direction of transport, perpendicular to the plane of the nonwoven.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the nonwoven repeatedly undergoes successive hydrodynamic needle punching and is then stretched and/or pressed and/or brushed over the width and needle-punched again.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the stretching or brushing process is carried out uniformly over the width of the nonwoven when the nonwoven is completely supported over the width.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that another nonwoven is supplied to the nonwoven thus prebonded and both nonwovens are bonded together.

10. An installation for bonding a fibre nonwoven for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterised in that a device for water needle punching is combined with a following stretching device which strains the prebonded nonwoven uniformly over the width.

11. The installation according to claim 10, characterised in that the stretching device is again followed by a water needle punching device and so on.

12. The installation for bonding a fibre nonwoven for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterised in that a device for water needle-punching is combined with a following pressing and/or brushing device and/or hydrodynamic needle punching device which laterally changes the fibre orientation of the prebonded nonwoven uniformly over the width.