Abstract: The invention relates to a process of hydroentangling a fibrous web (N) including of positioning the web on a porous moving support (10) in translatory movement or in rotation about an axis, and of treating at least one side of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web, characterized in that the row includes streams with a first cross-section (14A) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24A) different from the first. The invention also relates to a process including treatment of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in at least two rows perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. The rows include streams with a first cross-section (14, 16, 17, 18, 19) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39) different from the first cross-section, at least one row including streams the spacing of which is not constant.

Abstract: Nozzle beam on device for generating liquid jets for jet interweaving of the fibers of a fiber path, comprising an upper part that extends over the operational width of the fiber path, and a lower part that is attached to it in liquid-sealed fashion, wherein a) a pressure chamber is arrayed in the upper part over its length, to which liquid under pressure is fed, and b) a pressure-distributing chamber is provided parallel to chamber (a), which is connected with chamber (a) via liquid flow-through boreholes situated in an intermediate partition, and c) on the lower part, a nozzle strip having boreholes for the nozzle chamber is supported in liquid-sealed fashion, and d) (b) on the area that lies opposite the liquid flow-through boreholds runs out into a slot that terminates at the boreholes of the nozzle strip, and e) in (b) between the liquid flow-through boreholes and the slot, a baffle is situated over the length of the slot, which over its length and over its cross section is situated in (a) so as to al

Abstract: The invention relates to a fabric for a machine for producing and/or further processing a material web, in particular a fibrous web, having a carrier structure and a fiber batt, the fiber batt comprising fibers which, in order to form elongated fiber segments, can be split substantially along their longitudinal extent, at least in some sections, and/or which are split substantially along their longitudinal extent, at least in some sections, forming elongated fiber segments. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for producing the fabric and to a method for conditioning the fabric in the machine for producing the material web.

Abstract: A drum for processing nonwovens has a perforated lateral surface and an interior divided into first and second compartments, respectively associated with first and second lateral surface portions of the drum. A partial vacuum in each of the compartments aspirates and secures a tangentially-engaged nonwoven preform against the lateral surface of the drum for further processing. The drum may be incorporated in a production unit or installation including a spunbond tower for spinning filaments to form the nonwoven preform for tangential delivery to the drum. The resulting nonwoven may thereby be provided with uniform properties.

Abstract: A water needling device has a housing having an intake side and defining a generally horizontal transport direction extending downstream from the intake side. A support in the housing has an upwardly directed foraminous support face. Upstream and downstream reversible winders in the housing spaced apart in the direction flank a plurality of rollers. A textile web passesin the housing along a path starting at the intake, extending over the support face and the rollers, and then downstream out of the housing. A nozzle beam is directed downward at the surface to consolidate the web as it passes over the foraminous face. A threading-in conveyor strand secured to the winders and having a gripper attachable to the textile web extends over at least some of the rollers. This strand is attached at its ends to reversible winders.

Abstract: A method is provided for conditioning a tubular knitted fabric. The method includes the step of placing on a supported member a tubular knitted fabric formed of yarns, the yarns having fibers of a high cotton content. The layers of the fabric are arranged in overlying layered relation, each layer having an outer surface. The fabric is traversed at a preselected rate while subjecting the outer surfaces of the overlying layers to jets of fluid at pressures of about 40 bar absolute or lower. The fibers forming the overlying layers do not interlock the overlying layers and are separable by subsequent fabric finishing or laundering.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of an air laid web in which individual cellulose fibers or textile fibers or their blends can be conveyed and distributed by air uniformly onto a forming zone composed of either a foraminous screen or a fibrous melt blown matrix on top of a consolidating vacuum box.

Abstract: A manufacturing process of a composite nonwoven composed of two webs, respectively, a lower web comprising long artificial and/or synthetic fibres, the size of which is between 15 and 80 mm, and an upper web comprising short natural fibres, the size of which is between 0.5 and 8 mm, characterized, on-line, by: dispersing fist of all the natural fibres into the water; then, putting the aqueous dispersion thus obtained on a carded lower web that is about to form or has been manufactured beforehand; then filtering the excess water through the lower web; then interlacing the fibres of the upper web with the fibres of the lower web with water jets; finally drying and then reeling up the obtained nonwoven composite. An installation for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A process for hydro-entangling a layer of fibers into a web includes the steps of conveying a web from a supply to lie against a traveling hydro-entangling fabric. A layer of fibers is deposited onto a traveling forming fabric, the forming fabric supporting the fiber layer from below. The forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric converge at a combining location where the forming fabric and hydro-entangling fabric orient and travel adjacent each other such that the fiber layer and web are sandwiched between the forming fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric with the fiber layer supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and web. The forming fabric is separated from the fiber layer after the web and overlying fiber layer are supported from below by the hydro-entangling fabric and the hydro-entangling fabric is conveyed through a hydro-entangling station to hydro-entangle the fibers into the web.

Abstract: A device for air interlacing (10) of a yarn (Y), comprising an interlacing chamber (24), a first entrance channel (22) for receiving the yarn (Y) at the device (10) entrance and feeding it to the interlacing chamber (24), and a second exit channel (23) for receiving the yarn from the interlacing chamber (24) and releasing it at the device exit, in which the interlacing chamber (24) is delimited by a first emitting wall (24a) bearing a nozzle (26) for the emission of a continuous jet of compressed air (31), and a second deflecting wall (24b), opposite the first wall (24a), suitable for receiving and deflecting the jet of compressed air (31) emitted by the nozzle (26) and intersecting the yarn to be interlaced, and in which the second deflecting wall (24b) is concave in shape both on a transversal plane and on a longitudinal plane with respect to the feeding path (11) of the yarn (Y) through the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven web with superior initial tensile strength. The web constructed from at least one type of fiber that has been modified to increase its specific surface area. The fiber has a specific surface area of at least 55 m2/g. The invention also relates to use of the nonwoven web with superior initial tensile strength for the making of a disposable absorbent article. These include, diapers, training pants, incontinence pants, tampons, female hygiene pads and wipes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of hydroentangling a fibrous web (N) including of positioning the web on a porous moving support (10) in translatory movement or in rotation about an axis, and of treating at least one side of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in a row perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web, characterized in that the row includes streams with a first cross-section (14A) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24A) different from the first. The invention also relates to a process including treatment of the web by means of a plurality of streams of water arranged in at least two rows perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. The rows include streams with a first cross-section (14, 16, 17, 18, 19) and at least streams with a second cross-section (24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39) different from the first cross-section, at least one row including streams the spacing of which is not constant.

Abstract: A system for hydroentangling a fabric material, while reducing the incidence of jet streaks therein, is provided. Various embodiments of the present invention provide an elongate hydroentangling jet strip spaced apart from the fabric material and extending substantially across a width of the fabric perpendicular to the processing direction. The strip defines a first row of orifices, each having a first diameter. The first plurality of orifices is spaced apart along a width of the elongate strip. The strip further defines a second plurality of orifices disposed downstream from the first plurality of orifices in the processing direction and offset therefrom along the width of the elongate strip. The second plurality of orifices each define a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that fluid streams generated thereby impart a correspondingly smaller impact force on the fabric material than fluid streams generated by the first plurality of orifices.

Abstract: A microcreped wet laid nonwoven with recoverable stretch suitable for apparel applications such as waistbands and interlinings. The microcreping and heat setting improves dimensional stability after washing and drying cycles, minimizes shrinkage and substantially eliminates the surface wrinkling phenomenon, known in the industry as “alligatoring”, associated with wet laid and other apparel nonwovens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for strengthening a running non-woven web. For this purpose, the non-woven web is penetrated by a plurality of fluid streams. In order to create a surface structure, the fluid streams are generated by a movable nozzle beam, which is guided back and forth at a defined amplitude substantially transversely to the running direction of the non-woven web. In order to obtain enough flexibility and a sufficient volume in the non-woven web in spite of the strengthening effect, the amplitude for moving the fluid streams back and forth is selected in such a way according to the invention that the points of impact created in the non-woven web by adjacent fluid streams do not intersect an imaginary separating line in the running direction. To this avail, the amplitude of the back and forth movement of the nozzle beam is adjusted so as to be smaller than half the distance between two nozzle outlets disposed next to each other in the row.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric comprises continuous polymer filaments of 0.5-3 denier that have been hydroentangled in a complex matrix of interconnecting filament loops, and that is otherwise substantially free of knotting, or of otherwise wrapping about one another. A process for making a non-woven fabric comprises continuously extruding polymer filaments of 0.5-3 denier onto a moving support, pre-entangling the filaments with water jets, and entangling the filaments with a second set of water jets. An apparatus for making a nonwoven fabric comprises means for continuously extruding substantially endless polymer filaments of 0.5-3 denier onto a moving support to form an unbonded web, a pre-entangling station for entangling the web with a plurality of water jets, and a plurality of water jets for final entanglement of the filament web.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for decorating and fixing a non-woven material (15) in the form of a web of endless fabric, said device comprising a screening drum (6) and a decoration shell (7) which surrounds the screening drum (6) from outside. The fibres (15) of the non-woven material, located on the decoration shell (7), are needled and fixed according to the decoration formed by the holes of the decoration shell (7) by means of energy-rich water jets (14) or air flows. The invention is characterised in that the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) are interconnected by mechanical means (8, 9, 10) that can be easily detached. In a preferred embodiment, the decoration shell (7) comprises a counter-toothed ring (9) and the screening drum (6) comprises a toothed ring (8), said rings positively engaging in each other in such a way that a rotation of the decoration shell (7) and the screening drum (6) in relation to each other is prevented.

Abstract: A nozzle beam formed with an annular groove is fitted with a seal ring by an apparatus having an elongated support bar, a pair of holders fixed on the bar spaced apart sufficiently that the seal ring can be stretched between them, and a release element for pushing the seal ring off one of the holders.

Abstract: The nozzle beam is arranged on a device for generation of liquid streams for the treatment of fibres of a material web running along the nozzle beam. The nozzle beam comprises an upper piece (4), running across the working width of the web and a lower piece (5), which runs out into a liquid outlet slot (10). According to the invention, a nozzle strip (14) is arranged below the liquid outlet slot (10) and an easily detachable so-called masking strip (18) is mounted directly above the above in a liquid-tight manner, when viewed in the flow direction of the water jet. A part of the nozzle outlet opening on the nozzle strip is covered by the masking strip (18) and a part is left free, whereby liquid jets emerge from the part left free and form a continuous liquid curtain. According to the invention, a nozzle strip (14) with a maximum stream width is fitted to the nozzle beam.

Abstract: A tufted backing and a method of manufacturing a tufted backing from thermoplastic polymer fibers or filaments that are processed to yield a spunbonded nonwoven are described, the spunbonded nonwoven containing only fibers or filaments having a titer of 1 to 15 dtex, the mass per unit area of the tufted backing being 70 to 110 g/m2, its density being 0.18 to 0.28 g/cm3 and the 5% modulus value in the machine direction being >60 N/5 cm, but at least 0.6 Nm2/g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber laminate comprising two supporting fleeces and an absorptive fiber material which is disposed between the two supporting fleeces and is strengthened by means of a hydroentanglement process. Also disclosed are a method and a device for producing such a fiber laminate. The inventive fiber laminate is provided with sufficient stability against delamination and great absorptive capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of forming a nonwoven fabric with microsponges comprising obtaining a nonwoven base comprising fibers having a first side and a second side and having a weight of greater than about 2 oz/yd2, stitching the nonwoven base with a stitching yarn in elongated spaced apart rows of stitches, the rows of stitching having a stitch shape factor greater than 0.54 wherein the stitching yarn has a tenacity greater than 1 gf/denier. Next, a plurality of microsponges is formed by impinging the first side of the stitched nonwoven fabric with a collimated fluid stream with from about 100 to 200 joules per gram while supporting the stitched nonwoven fabric on a supporting member having areas impervious to the collimated fluid and pores in the supporting member which are pervious to the collimated fluid.

Abstract: A drum for forming relief patterns on a surface of a textile web has a tubular jacket rotatable about an axis and having a substantially cylindrical outer surface centered on the axis and formed with an array of raised portions separated by lands and with a multiplicity of radially throughgoing holes. The holes are elongated and extend at angles between 20° and 170° to midplanes extending perpendicular to the axis, the web engaging the drum. Liquid jets are directed radially inward at the web where it engages the drum for impressing the raised portions into a face of the web. Liquid is aspirated inward through the holes from the web where it engages the drum.

Abstract: A method for producing spunlace non-woven cloth includes the following steps: clearing cotton—carding—spreading the web—water jetting—bleaching—drying—rolling the finished products. This method improves the good ratio of the finished products of the whole procedure, reduces the producing cost, economizes raw materials and save the power as well as reduces the impurity content of products and ensures the hygiene of finished products and greatly reduces the bacteria content. Moreover, the direct products of the present invention have the advantages of being soft, having good skin tolerance, no toxic, no stimulation, no sensibility, having good absorbency, convenient and comfortable to use.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric comprises continuous polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier that have been hydroentangled in a complex matrix for interconnecting filament loops, and that is otherwise substantially free of knotting, or of otherwise wrapping about one another. A process for making a nonwoven fabric comprises continuously extruding polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support, pre-entangling the filaments with water jets, and entangling the filaments with a second set of water jets on a three-dimensional image transfer device. An apparatus for making a nonwoven fabric comprises means for continuously extruding substantially endless polymer filaments of 0.5 to 3 denier onto a moving support to form an unbonded web, a pre-entangling station for entangling the web with a plurality of water jets, and a plurality of water jets for final entanglement of the filament web on a three-dimensional image transfer device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nozzle suitable for jetting high pressure and high temperature steam, and a method and an apparatus for producing an entangled nonwoven fabric using the nozzle. According to the apparatus, a steam inlet side main conduit and a steam outlet side conduit are connected with both end parts of a tubular nozzle holder in a longitudinal direction provided integrally with nozzle members having a plurality of nozzle holes. A steam outlet side conduit is provided with an opening/closing valve and a trap conduit is branched from a conduit at an upstream side from the opening/closing valve. By opening the opening/closing valve, a rapid temperature rise of the nozzle holder can be enabled at a time of starting a production of a nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A cotton wool cleansing pad includes a panel of hydroentangled cotton material having a dry weight in the range 170-250 g per square meter impregnated with a cleansing liquid or the like. Preferably a number of the pads are formed in a interlinked strip of pads joined edge to edge by tear-away links and mounted in a dispensing pack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction device for liquids in hydroentangling machines, in which more than one water bar, which generate jets of liquid, are allocated to the exterior of the suction device. The suction device consists of a suction tube comprising one or more axial suction openings for each water bar, said openings being located along the working length of the tube. The liquid is sucked from the allocated water bar through said openings as a result of the negative pressure that is created in the tube. According to the invention, the suction openings that extend over the entire working width are configured to be sealed in relation to each respectively allocated water bar.

Abstract: Finite goods are continuously packed between two non-wovens by means of hydrodynamic needling and are fully sealed. When used, said wovens should not nap and should not become linked to the goods during packing. When packed, the volume of the goods should, wherever possible, remain unchanged. In order to achieve said aims, the covering non-wovens are prefixed by means of hydrodynamic needling. Particularly good results are achieved if perforated non-wovens are used to cover the finite products, the number of said perforations being approximately 5-20 perforations per inch, and when said non-wovens are joined to each other by means of water needling.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved To provide a method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather and substrate for artificial leather which is capable of providing the substrate for artificial leather having a sufficient shape stability by producing the nonwoven fabric for artificial leather without causing serious damages to the scrim. Means for Solving Problem A method of producing a nonwoven fabric for artificial leather, including a step of entanglement for uniting superposed fiber web and scrim by a needle punching, wherein the needle punching is performed in a manner satisfying the following formulae 1 and 2; S1<2P?S1/cos(D1×(?/180)) ??(1) S2<2P?S2/cos(D2×(?/180)) ??(2) wherein S1 is a diameter of warps constituting the scrim, S2 is a diameter of wefts constituting the scrim, D1 is an angle between the warps and barbs which penetrate the scrim, D2 is an angle between the wefts and barbs which penetrate the scrim, and P is a total barb depth of the barbs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nozzle suitable for jetting high pressure and high temperature steam, and a method and an apparatus for producing an entangled nonwoven fabric using the nozzle. According to the apparatus, a steam inlet side main conduit (c1) and a steam outlet side conduit (c3) are connected with both end parts of a tubular nozzle holder (11) in a longitudinal direction provided integrally with nozzle members (15, 16, 23) having a plurality of nozzle holes (16a, 26). A steam outlet side conduit (c2) is provided with an opening/closing valve (55) and a trap conduit (57) is branched from a conduit at an upstream side from the opening/closing valve (55). By opening the opening/closing valve (55), a rapid temperature rise of the nozzle holder (11) can be enabled at a time of starting a production of a nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising a conveyor for transmitting a mat to means designed to compact same in thickness and means designed to reduce the speed of the web while it is being compacted, by the compacting means, thereby obtaining an enhanced ratio of properties lengthwise relative to crosswise properties.

Abstract: A method for producing abrasive non-woven cloth includes forming a non-woven web of fibers including a first layer adjacent to a first surface of the web containing at least about 5% by weight of thermoplastic fibers. The web is patterned to generate raised regions and lowered regions in the first surface, and then heat treated to cause at least part of the thermoplastic fibers to form nodules, thereby imparting abrasive properties to at least the raised regions of the first surface. The non-woven web preferably includes a second layer adjacent to a second surface of the web made up primarily of fibers which do not form nodules under the heat treatment.

Abstract: A pile carpet after tufting or the like is usually provided on the back with a latex precoat for stabilization and then provided with a foam back or an additional jute fabric. This environmentally hazardous method and the problem of recycling the foam back as well as the latex layer can be avoided If a nonwoven is applied instead to the tufted back of the carpet by water needling. This is possible with water needling in that the solidification of the pile fibers in or on the primary carrier takes place but no nonwoven fibers reach the visible side of the carpet. The back layer to be needled can also be made thicker and mote voluminous. Instead of a carpet, any other pile goods can also be stabilized in this fashion.

Abstract: The novel product consists of hydrodynamically bonded non-woven layers of which at least four layers are stacked and are than joined to one another by only using hard water jets.

Abstract: Water needling is used to constantly subject the entire surface of a width of a goods line to water jets. However, it is also advantageous for units of commodity goods that are to be consolidated and optionally, if a cover nonwoven supporting these goods only needs to be consolidated around them or if a cover nonwoven is to be bonded around the goods. All possible patterns, such as line or strip consolidation, are advantageous. This is made possible by the invention, which provides for measures which specifically control, e.g. partially impede and/or interrupt the flow of the water jets from a water beam. This can occur by means of cover panels which advance with the line, supported by a screen or by means of a screen alone. Individually movable, computer-controlled nozzles are also advantageous for partial consolidation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a water spraying device comprising a filter and a perforated plate which can be removed by being slid respectively through an opening or a hole emerging into a well provided in the body. A pin being inserted in the well to maintain two plugs of the opening and of the holes when the pin is entirely inserted in the well.

Abstract: A drum for processing nonwovens has a perforated lateral surface and an interior divided into first and second compartments, respectively associated with first and second lateral surface portions of the drum. A partial vacuum in each of the compartments aspirates and secures a tangentially-engaged nonwoven preform against the lateral surface of the drum for further processing. The drum may be incorporated in a production unit or installation including a spunbond tower for spinning filaments to form the nonwoven preform for tangential delivery to the drum. The resulting nonwoven may thereby be provided with uniform properties.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic needling apparatus for use on a textile web moving in a longitudinal web-travel direction has a first array of needle-jet orifices emitting respective needle-jet sprays extending in the travel direction between the respective orifices and the web, the array extending transversely across a full transverse width of the web at a substantially constant spacing therefrom with the sprays forming an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with the web-travel direction. There is a similar second array of needle-jet orifices, but with it the orifices are directed at the same angle but oppositely to the sprays of the first array. Thus the sprays of the first array are directed to one side and the sprays of the second array to an opposite side from the respective arrays.

Abstract: An apparatus for the water-jet treatment of a textile web has a perforated drum having an outer surface, a coarse-mesh screen overlying the outer surface, and a fine-mesh screen or tube overlying the coarse-mesh screen. This fine-mesh tube has annularly continuous filaments shrunk so as to press the coarse-mesh screen against the outer drum surface.

Abstract: A non-woven hydroentangled textile is described formed in cross-section with a central area of low mass fiber density surrounded on both sides by areas of higher mass density. Further, a personal cleansing article is described wherein the hydroentangled textile is associated with a personal cleansing composition that includes a lathering surfactant. The composition is deposited onto, impregnated into or at least is partially enclosed by the textile. Also described is a process for producing the textile involving feeding into a hydroentangling unit a loose random assembly of fibers both above and below a fibrous screen modifying textile substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned and/or apertured nonwoven material wherein a web of continuous filaments are formed on a forming member, the continuous filaments being free from each other without any thermal or adhesive bonds therebetween, and applying a wetformed fiber dispersion containing natural and/or synthetic or regenerated staple fibers on top of the synthetic filaments. The web is hydroentangled, from the side on which the natural fibers and/or staple fibers are applied, in two subsequent hydroentangling stations and is between the hydroentangling stations transferred from a first hydroentangling wire having a mesh value of at least 20 mesh/cm, to a second hydroentangling wire, having a mesh value of no more than 15 mesh/cm.

Abstract: A nonwoven web of a wettable fiber matrix, wherein the wettable fiber matrix are thermoplastic polymeric fibers blended with at least one hydrophilic melt additive. In alternate embodiments, the nonwoven web further includes binder fibers which may be wettable or non-wettable or combinations of both.

Abstract: Provided are layered non-woven structures comprising a fibrous, water-permeable anchoring layer and a fibrous layer having fibers entangled about the anchoring layer, including patterned and non-patterned structures. Also provided are personal care products comprising the present structures and methods of making the structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating three-dimensional transparent patterns on a non-woven fabric or similar, whereby, for example, hot air is sucked through openings which form the pattern in the circumferential surface of a drum. The openings are straight or curved gaps instead of conventional holes and together with other openings form the desired pattern. The air or similar, flowing through the gaps, presses the fibres into the gaps and the vacuum on the inner side of the drum sucks said fibres onto the patterning.

Abstract: A water-permeable drum assembly for the hydrodynamic needling of textile materials in order to reinforce and structure the textile materials or refine the surface thereof has an intrinsically stable sieve drum provided with apertures and an outer tubular sieve-type cloth made of intersecting wires and pulled across and fixed to an outer surface of the drum. The outer sieve-type cloth has a coating that stabilizes intersections of the wires.

Abstract: A nonwoven product is made by passing a fiber web longitudinally along a treatment path and preconsolidating it at an upstream location along the path. Then the web is fully consolidated by liquid jets downstream of the location at longitudinally spaced and transversely extending discontinuous strips each interrupted at least two break points. The web is then fully consolidated by liquid jets downstream of the location at least two transversely spaced longitudinally extending strips extending a full length of the web and crossing the transverse strips at the break points. Subsequently the web is cut up into pieces along the strips.

Abstract: A fabric includes mutually transverse thread systems, with at least one of the thread systems including a differential shrinkage yarn C. The shrinkage yarn C has at least one effect component A that irreversibly elongates itself upon heat treatment, and at least one shrinkage component B that shortens itself upon heat treatment. The components A and B are bound together by nodes, wherein the number (y) of nodes per meter in the yarn C is predetermined as a function of the yarn count (x) of the transverse thread system so that the number (y) of nodes exceeds a minimum value and increases proportionally above the minimum value as a function of the yarn count (x).

Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional colourless designs in a non-woven fabric or like material entirely bonded includes subjecting the fibers to a blowing process through openings, since the fibers in the openings are only displaced therein with limited depth, and are subsequently needle bonded against a supplementary support.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on members 22, 34 and impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support members 22, 34 having open areas 26, 36 which are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.