Abstract: A needling loom comprising needles actuated in reciprocating motion between a retracted position and a maximum penetration position through a stripping plate, a textile web to be consolidated, and a needling loom table. The stripping plate and the needling loom table bear rails and elements for rapid assembling and disassembling for either pressing the rails against fixed crosspieces for the needling loom to operate, or for releasing the pressure and cause the rails to rest on rollers for extracting and inserting the stripping plate and the table by simple transverse sliding in the passage direction of the web. The invention is useful for reducing the time for assembling and disassembling machine components such as the stripping plate and a needling loom table for maintenance operations, in particular cleaning operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns a needling loom comprising needles (8) actuated in reciprocating motion between a retracted position and a maximum penetration position (8a) through a stripping plate (1), a textile web to be consolidated (3), and a needling loom table (101). The stripping plate (1) and the needling loom table (101) bear rails (27, 127) and means for rapid assembling and disassembling (38, 138) for either pressing the rails (27, 127) against fixed crosspieces (34, 134) for the needling loom to operate, or for releasing said pressure and cause the rails (27, 127) to rest on rollers for extracting and inserting the stripping plate (1) and the table (101) by simple transverse sliding in the passage direction of the web (3).

Abstract: A distributor layer moving in a reciprocating motion to deposit a web coming from a card, on an output apron to form thereon a lap designed for subsequent mechanical bonding. A front conveyor belt transporting the web up to a folding carriage and a rear conveyor belt for supporting the other surface of the web up to a depositor carriage are driven so as to have identical moving speeds in a pinching zone. In the folding carriage the web is deviated by less than 90 degrees to move in a down slope along a section, then a turning of more than 90 degrees, is first exposed, then is externally supported by a support structure. The pinching zone slopes slightly downwards. The web is likewise exposed for the turning in the folding carriage then with external support by an arrangement in a second angular surface.

Abstract: An installation includes a carding machine (1), and a distributor-layer (2) depositing the card (1) web (6) in a reciprocating motion on a delivery belt (8) moving transversely. The resulting intermediate lap (16) is conveyed to a needling loom (3) to produce a consolidated lap (24). A measuring station (28) scans the consolidated lap (24) profile and transmits it to a processing unit (32) where the profile is compared to a set reference input by a terminal (33). The variations in width cause a corresponding modification in the width deposited by the distributor-layer (2) by a link (36). The local surface weight variations cause a corresponding modification of the controls applied to the carding machine (1) capable of longitudinally profiling the web (6). The invention is useful for controlling an installation for obtaining a finished product.

Abstract: A carding machine or other web production device [(1)] supplies a crosslapper [(2)] with two elementary webs [(15a, 15b)] constituting a lappable web [(16)] which is deposited in a reciprocating manner on a transverse output belt [(26)]. In the device [(1) means of] adjustment of the speed of rotation of doffers [(13a, 13b)], of condensers [(17, 18)], of detachers [(19a, 19b)], of the drum [(4)] and/or of the feeder [(7)], and/or [means of] adjustment of the drum-doffer spacing affect the weight per unit area of the elementary web produced taking account of the weight per unit area desired at each point in the width of the fleece [(67)] to be formed on the output belt [(26)]. There is determined the delay length exhibited by each elementary web cross-section undergoing the adjustment of weight with respect to the section of lappable web in the process of being deposited.

Abstract: The invention concerns a stretcher comprising a carriage (21) subjected to a back-and-forward motion (2) for depositing in successive segments (2a . . . 2d) a web of fibres (2) on an outgoing conveyor (6) moving along a direction (9). In order to produce ranges of different plies in the transverse profile of the lap (4) formed on the outgoing conveyor (6) by the web deposited in mutually overlapping segments, the points of inversion of direction (21) in the backward and forward motion of the carriage are different. As a result the successive folds (2ab, 2cd; 2bc, 2da) of the same direction are differently positioned, and the number of web plies in the lap is not the same over the whole width of the lap. The invention is useful for streamlining the lap freely and accurately.

Abstract: A needling machine for the fabrication of non woven products includes apparatus for needling a lap passing between two perforated steel plates, and introducing mechanism for introducing the fiber lap between the two plates, an extractor for extracting the lap downstream of the needling apparatus, a drive source for driving the needling apparatus with a periodical-striking motion, and a processing and control device connected to the needling drive source. The needling machine further includes an electromechanical speed control for driving at a variable speed the extractor, controlled by the processing and control device to provide the extraction means with an extraction speed modulated to the striking frequency at about an average extraction speed.

Abstract: The needling machine includes a support and a stripper defining a path for a lap. A needle board supported by sliding rods has a reciprocating motion between the represented maximum penetration position and the withdrawal position by means of two rod-eccentric devices, each having a rod hinged to the sliding rod. Each pair of rods is hinged to a crankshaft supported by bearings and carrying an equilibration device. The bearings are supported in a crankcase by partitions in a position situated axially between the eccentrics and the equilibration device. The crankshaft extends from the crankcase through simple sealing liners. An advantage of the present needling machine is that the crankcase is stiffened and crankshaft deformations are reduced to increase the striking rate.

Abstract: A needle loom including a support and a stripper defining a path for a fiber lap. A needle board supported by sliding shanks moves back and forth between a maximum penetration position and a retracted position, by means of a connecting rod/crank assembly including a connecting rod hingedly connected to the sliding shank. The shank is guided by slide bearings secured to a mounting which is angularly adjustable about the shank axis so that the axis of ovality can be moved periodically relative to the main direction in which lateral stress is exerted on the bearings as a result of the angular displacement of the connecting rod. The service life of the bearings may thus be extended, while reducing maintenance requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accurately guiding and treating textile strips of great width using a quasi-continuous roll which does not bend. The roll is used for guiding material presented in strip form, in particular a textile material which is in contact with a peripheral portion of the roll. The roll is sub-divided into tubular segments attached to one another by flanges supported by an inner ring of a ball bearing. An outer ring of the ball bearing is fixed in a collar integral with a support. In an angular region other than the one which is in contact with the material, the support, made from thin and flat sheet steel, extends radially outwardly to a region of attachment to the frame.

Abstract: A needle loom including a support and a stripper defining a path for a fiber lap. A needle board supported by sliding shanks moves back and forth between a maximum penetration position and a retracted position, by means of a connecting rod/crank assembly including a connecting rod hingedly connected to the sliding shank. A slide bearing remote from the needle board has a greater diameter than the other slide bearing, and engages a tubular portion of the shank. The hinge connection between the connecting rod and the sliding stank is located within the axial section covered by the slide bearing and the interval therebetween. For this purpose, the hinge is arranged in the tubular portion. Bearing wear, extraneous stress and vibration may thus be reduced.

Abstract: A brush conveyor, such as a velvet needling machine, has an assembly of contiguous brushes disposed in transverse rows, and a drive source for this assembly of brushes which forms a conveying plane having a predetermined direction of displacement to constitute an upper face of the conveyor. Each brush includes a body including, on its upper face, holes which are provided for receiving a tuft of hair and, on its lower face, connecting apparatus to fasten this brush to a drive source. The drive source has several parallel drive belts or chains placed between at least two drive cylinders running in the same direction. The conveyor also has a support structure for supporting the brush bodies forming the conveying plane. This support structure includes a support table having several flat support parts separated by spaces provided for the drive belts or chains.

Abstract: A brush conveyor, in particular for a velvet needle loom, includes an assembly of adjacent brushes forming a conveying plane and moving in a predetermined conveying direction. Each brush includes a body that is substantially elongated along a main axis, and each lower brush surface includes means for connecting the brush to a mechanical drive device while the upper brush surface has holes for receiving tufts of bristles. The brushes are arranged within the conveyor in such a way that their main axes are parallel to each other and lie at a predetermined angle to a transverse direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor may be used in needle looms for making nonwoven articles.

Abstract: Two needling assemblies have needle boards and alternating motion mechanisms. A motor is provided for each needling assembly. The needling assemblies are mechanically independent of each other. The motors are connected by an angular position servo-mechanism. The needling machine is used to eliminate the mechanical resonance between needling assemblies and to diversify and facilitate the adjusting possibilities.

Abstract: A lap is produced in a spreading lapping machine (2) by successively folding a fiber web from a card (1), whereafter the lap is drawn in a drawing machine (4). The drawing machine (4) is provided with rotatable devices having peripheral fittings with spikes that are driven into the core of the lap. The degree of drawing is adjusted in such a way that most fibers in the drawn product are arranged in two directions which are substantially symmetrical relative to the lengthwise direction of said drawn product, and lie at an angle of 30.degree.-60.degree. C. relative thereto. The method is particularly useful for improving the mechanical properties of lapped products.

Abstract: A high-quality nonwoven product is manufactured by making use of an intermediate product in which the majority of fibers are distributed in two orientations which form an angle with each other. The intermediate product is fed to a spreading and lap-forming machine (13A, 13B) which deposits the intermediate product in alternate pleats on its delivery belt so as to form a lap of superposed layers such that the majority orientations of the fibers within each layer form an angle with the majority orientations of the fibers of the contiguous layers, and the lap is subjected to a fixing treatment, for example by means of a needle-punching machine (14A, 14B).

Abstract: An unwinding carriage (14) is fed with a fiber web (4). This unwinding carriage (14) is displaced in a to-and-fro movement, causing it to deposit the web (4) on an exit conveyor (8) driven transversely to the movement of the unwinding carriage (14), so as to produce a lap (6) consisting of successive breadths of web inclined alternately in relation to the longitudinal direction of the exit conveyor (8), these breadths being joined by means of folds defining the edges of the lap produced (6). The advance of the exit conveyor (8) at the moments of the changes in direction of the unwinding carriage (14) is maintained. During these changes in direction, the unwound quantity of web (4) is restricted so as to exert on the fibers, between the exit conveyor (8) and the unwinding carriage (14), a pull tending to orient the fibers which form the folds of the web in the lap (6) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the exit conveyor (8). The invention is used particularly for making needled products.

Abstract: A web of fibers (4) is conveyed by conveyor belts (2, 5) which pass around rollers (32 to 43, 60 to 69). Some of these rollers are carried by main carriages (10, 14) which are capable of displacement in reciprocating motion above an apron (8) which moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers and collects the web (4) in the form of a lap. Auxiliary carriages (16, 18) are provided for maintaining the length of the paths of the conveyor-belts (2, 5) at a constant value in spite of the reciprocating movements of the main carriages (10, 14). Each main carriage (10, 14) is connected to an auxiliary carriage by coupling means (92, 96) which are less extensible than the conveyor-belts (2, 5) and are so arranged as to be put under tension under the action of the means (84, 88) for driving the carriages.The invention is applicable to the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A web of fibers (4) is conveyed by conveyor-belts (2, 5) which pass around rollers. A number of rollers are carried by an input carriage (10) and an output carriage (14), said carriages being capable of displacement in reciprocating motion above an apron (8) which moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers and collects the web (4) in the form of a lap (6). A guide roller (34) defines for the web (4) on a first conveyor-belt (2) a section (22) which is inclined towards the pinching line and is located upstream of said line, said pinching line being defined by two adjacent rollers (35, 61). The pinching roller (35) associated with the first conveyor-belt (2) causes it to make a turn through an angle (B) within the range of 90 degrees to 180 degrees. The pinching line is located in an intermediate angular position between the beginning and the end of said turn.The invention is applicable to the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A web of fibers (4) is conveyed by conveyor-belts (2, 5) which pass around rollers (32 to 43, 60 to 69). Some of these rollers are carried by main carriages (10, 14) which are capable of displacement in reciprocating motion above an apron (8) which moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers and collects the web (4) in the form of a lap. Auxiliary carriages (16, 18) are provided for maintaining the length of the paths of the conveyor-belts (2, 5) at a constant value in spite of the reciprocating movements of the main carriages (10, 14). Each auxiliary carriage (16, 18) is located within a bottom passageway (70) which extends beneath the apron (8) and is separated from the apron by at least one partition-wall (72).The invention is applicable to the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics.