Abstract: Method for producing a nonwoven fabric from fibres. Continuous filaments are produced from thermoplastic material by at least one meltblown spinneret. Chopped pulp fibres are also produced by at least one pulping device. In the pulping device, at least one chopped-fibre/air stream is produced from the chopped pulp fibres, is passed through and discharged from an outlet channel and flows with an initial volumetric flow V1 and a flow direction S1 in the direction of an air-permeable depositing screen belt. The continuous filaments flow from the at least one meltblown spinneret as a filament/air stream with an initial volumetric flow V2 in the direction of the chopped-fibre/air stream. The filament/air stream and the chopped-fibre/air stream are brought together above the depositing screen belt in a contact zone and deposited as a mixture of continuous filaments and chopped fibres in a depositing region on the depositing screen belt to form the nonwoven fabric or nonwoven web.

Abstract: A nozzle has a body having a face extending in a longitudinal direction and transversely thereto in a transverse direction. The nozzle plate is provided with an array of melt openings and compressed-air openings on the face in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows and a plurality of transversely extending rows. A polymer melt to the nozzle openings to extrude the polymer melt downstream from the melt openings as polymer filaments and compressed air to the compressed-air openings to form air jets issuing downstream from the compressed-air openings between the polymer filaments. Only the polymer melt and no air is supplied to the melt openings such that only the polymer melt issues from the melt openings. Only compressed air and no polymer melt is supplied to the compressed-air openings such that only the compressed air issues from the compressed-air openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for making nonwoven has a mesh belt moving in a horizontal direction and upstream and downstream spinnerets spaced apart in the direction above the belt and having downwardly opening tips at respective vertical spacings above the belt and each emitting fibers that are deposited at locations on the belt directly below the spinnerets to form thereon respective nonwoven layers. A support carrying the belt can be moved vertically and pivoted to orient the belt into a position forming an acute angle with respect to horizontal and thereby vary the spacings.

Abstract: An extruder, such as a double-screw extruder includes a double cylinder and a double-lead screw arranged therein with a drive train for the screw. The drive train has a coupling with the screw. The extruder includes a sensor for recording a moment load having torque and/or bending moment and for generating electronic data from the recorded moment load. A controller is provided in operative connection to a drive for the drive train and the sensor is in data connection with the controller. The controller is adapted to evaluate the data on the recorded moment load and to trigger a protective action if a threshold value set in the controller is exceeded. The evaluation includes a bending moment calculation. A plastic molding plant produces a film with the extruder along with a nozzle unit and a cooling and wind-up unit or a compounding plant. A method for operating such a plant for manufacturing a film includes the extruder.