Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-woven fabric, comprises: opening and mixing different input fibres to form a uniform fibre mixture having predetermined proportions of the different input fibres; carding the fibre mixture to form a uniform web of predetermined thickness travelling in a first direction; laying onto the web high tenacity yarns which extend in the first direction and are spaced apart transversely of the first direction; depositing fixed lengths of the web in alternating fashion on a conveyor travelling in a second direction transverse to tile first direction to form on the conveyor a mat consisting of overlapping lengths of the web; and needle-punching the mat to form the non-woven fabric. Apparatus for performing this method of manufacture is also provided.

Abstract: A fabric for the forming, press and dryer sections of a paper machine, for use as a reinforcing base for a polymeric-resin-coated paper-processing belt or as a corrugator belt, or in other industrial settings where a material is being dewatered, is formed from a monofilament yarn, which is spirally wound in the form of a closed helix, adjacent turns thereof being abutted against and joined securely to one another. The monofilament yarn has a first side and a second side which are oppositely and correspondingly shaped, so that, when spirally wound in a plurality of turns, the first side fits closely into or against the second side of an adjacent and abutting turn, and adjacent spiral turns are secured to one another at the abutting first and second sides to form the fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of forming fibrous structures by needling processes. A process is provided for achieving a desired Z-fiber distribution in a fibrous structure by controlling transport depth during formation of the fibrous structure in a series of needling passes. Each needling pass generates a portion of Z-fiber bundles that penetrate adjacent fibrous layers, the Z-fiber bundles penetrating only those adjacent fibrous layers that need more Z-fiber bundles to attain a predetermined number of Z-fiber bundles within each fibrous layer.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for needling a non-woven (2) with at least one support (6) for a needleboard (4) held in a frame (12) and with two parallel eccentric drives (7, 8) which are disposed between the frame (12) and the needleboard support (6) and are made of two parallel eccentric shafts (9 and 10) each for the needleboard drive in the needling direction on the one hand and in the direction of passage of the non-woven on the other hand. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that an intermediate support (13) is provided between the needleboard support (6) and the frame (12) and that the intermediate support (13) is guided with respect to the frame (12) and the needleboard support (6) with respect to the intermediate support (13) in circular paths by way of the two eccentric drives (7, 8) which are disposed on the one hand between the frame (12) and the intermediate support (13) and on the other hand between the intermediate support (13) and the needleboard support (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a structured textile material made of at least two different, needled base nonwoven fabrics. The base nonwoven fabrics have a structure obtained by needling from at least one side. The needles used for the structure needling are fork needles or crown needles, and the depth of the forks and barbs, respectively, is so selected that, when piercing through, they completely fill up with fibers of the base nonwoven fabric facing the needles. The textile material have unmixed, pure fibers in the pattern, in the background and on the reverse side.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for strengthening a textile web (8), especially a felt web, by needling parallel yarns (11) in the longitudinal direction are described. In order to provide an advantageous structure of the textile web (8) it is proposed that the yarns (11) are needled onto the textile web (8) at a lateral distance from one another and with a needling limited to the yarn zones.

Abstract: The description relates to a facility for needling of fleece with at least one needle board driven to and fro in stitching direction, which can be additionally driven in pendulum fashion in fleece feed direction (15) by means of an eccentric drive, which is provided with a connecting rod (3) articulated to a rocker arm (4) and a connecting pitman (8) to the needle board effective on this connecting rod assembly. To be able to easily adjust the rocking amplitude of the needle board in fleece feed direction (15) it is suggested that the swivel bearing (5) of the rocker arm (4) is seated on a rotatable crank arm (6) and that, for adjustment of the rocking amplitude of the connecting pitman (8), the neutral rocking position of the rocker arm (4) is adjustable via the crank arm (6) between an end position essentially running in the direction of the connecting pitman (8) and an end position running transverse thereto.

Abstract: A feeding device for preneedle punching of nonwoven fabrics that includes a stripper plate, a bed plate, a linear belt conveyer and a plurality of needles. The linear belt conveyer passes through a space between the stripper plate and the bed plate and conveys fiber batt to the space. Then, the needles punch and tangle the fiber batt in the space.

Abstract: There is disclosed a material or fabric making or processing operation involving needle penetration of a fiber, fabric or material layer (12) in which the needle penetration action is controlled by control means (18) by which the needle penetration characteristics can be varied within the penetration action and as between penetration actions.

Abstract: A system is provided for structurally reconstituting fibers from recycled waste fabric material, including cotton denim waste, wherein the reconstituted fibers are incorporated into a hydroentangled or needle punched product without binders or additives. A tearing line includes the application of steam and enzymes at a rate sufficient to remove surface additives from the fibers. The process completely opens the fibers and eliminates fraying, twisting and nonconformities. A fiber finishing process provides fibers which are substantially uniform with respect to a desired characteristic such as length, weight, type, or a desired blend thereof. The finishing process also provides a fiber web characterized by a uniform directional orientation of fibers, making the fibers more amenable to hydroentanglement. The resulting nonwoven product is characterized by high strength, fiber integrity and high uniformity and can be cross lapped to thereby provide greatly increased strength and absorbency.

Abstract: A soundproofing material made of nonwoven materials containing thermoplastic fibers for the acoustic frequency range of 100 to 5000 Hz is characterized in that the nonwoven material is permanently compacted to a specific flow resistance of RS=800-1400 Ns/m3 in two stages by a mechanical compaction process and a subsequent pressure/heat treatment.

Abstract: A machine for needling a textile structure made up of a plurality of superposed layers comprises a vertically movable needling table, a needling head having a determined number of barbed needles and disposed vertically above the needling table, and drive means for imparting vertical reciprocating motion to the needling head, defining a low point of maximum penetration of the needles. Measuring means are provided in the machine located in the needling head to measure the position of the top surface of the textile structure at the low point of maximum penetration of the needles. The measuring means are preferably disposed in a midplane of the needling head perpendicular to an advance direction of the textile structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a material or fabric making or processing operation involving needle penetration of a fiber, fabric or material layer (12) in which the needle penetration action is controlled by control means (18) by which the needle penetration characteristics can be varied within the penetration action and as between penetration actions.

Abstract: In a circular needling machine for needling an annular preform and comprising both a vertically movable needling table serving as a horizontal support for said annular preform, and a needling head having a determined number of barbed needles disposed over the needling table in a needling zone and driven with vertical reciprocating motion, provision is made for the annular preform to be placed directly on the needling table and for it to be driven in rotation on the needling table by drive means while the needling table remains rotationally stationary during said rotation. The drive means comprise a set of conical friction rollers kept continuously in contact with the annular preform.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for strengthening a yarn (6) is described which is provided with fibers at least in a sheath zone enclosing a core zone. In order to provide advantageous process conditions it is proposed that fibers are needled from the sheath zone through the core zone along the yarn (6).

Abstract: A machine for needling a textile structure built up from a wound strip of material to be needled that is delivered by strip supply means comprising a storage drum containing said wound strip of textile material, an unwinding assembly for continuously extracting said strip from said storage drum, and a helical chute or “twist” for taking up said extracted strip unwound from said drum and for bringing it up to a needling table where there are friction drive means. The storage drum and the helical chute have the same axis C as the needling table.

Abstract: A needled fiber structure is made by stacking fiber plies on a platen, by needling the plies as the stack of plies is built up by means of needles driven with reciprocating motion in a direction that extends transversely relative to the plies, and by varying the distance between the platen and an end-of-stroke position of the needles while building up the stack so as to obtain a desired distribution of needling characteristics through the thickness of the fiber structure. The instantaneous force exerted during needle penetration is measured (sensors) and a magnitude representative of needling force or penetration energy is evaluated on the basis of the instantaneous force, and the evaluated magnitude is verified for compliance with at least one predetermined condition to monitor proper operation of the process or to act on the way the distance between the platen and the end-of-stroke position of the needles is varied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structured textile material made of at least two different, needled base nonwoven fabrics. The base nonwoven fabrics have a structure obtained by needling from at least one side. The needles used for the structure needling are fork needles or crown needles, and the depth of the forks and barbs, respectively, is so selected that, when piercing through, they completely fill up with fibers of the base nonwoven fabric facing the needles. The textile material have unmixed, pure fibers in the pattern, in the background and on the reverse side.

Abstract: A machine for needling a textile structure built up from a helical strip delivered by strip supply means, said machine comprising a needling table, a needling head, cutting means for cutting the helical strip, and conical roller drive means for rotating said strip on the needling table, at least a fraction of said conical roller drive means being retractable so as to release an empty space on said needling table enabling ejector means to remove the textile structure from the needling table.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing mop trimmings from a twisted yarn (7) which is cut into pieces is described. In order to prevent any untwisting of the yarn pieces it is proposed that the twisted yarn (7) is subjected to a needling prior to cutting.

Abstract: A process for producing yarns that have enhanced resistance to unraveling and linting. The yarns are moved along guides through a needle loom where a series of needles engage the yarns. This engagement of the yarns by the needles causes the fibers of the yarns to become intermixed.

Abstract: The description refers to a facility for needling of a patterned width of felt (1) by means of a needling equipment comprising at least one needle board (6, 7) and a felt guide between a felt bed (9) and a stripper (11), with the felt bed (9) consisting either of lamellas (10) running in felt feed direction (3) or of a circulating brush-type bed moving along with the width of felt (1) in felt feed direction (3). To create favorable construction features, it is suggested that the needling equipment is provided with at least two independently driven needle boards (6, 7) arranged in tandem at a distance in felt feed direction (3), with needle distributions for preferably different patterns, and that the two needle boards (6, 7) are assigned to one common continuous felt bed (9) between them.

Abstract: A device is known in which the bulky nonwoven arriving on a continuous belt for water needling is slowly compressed between a needling drum and another belt and at the same time is wetted by a first water curtain from the nozzle bank; its water jets first flow through the continuous belt and then the fiber web and ultimately the needling drum. There is a simpler and thus more economically producible device of this type when instead of the needling drum this compacting unit consists only of two continuous belts which however should be guided such that at the inlet the two working sides of the continuous belts slowly compact and press the incoming nonwoven, and then the belts lying on one another are moved past the nozzle bank as they are held pressed. Additional deflection rollers are used for this purpose.

Abstract: A nonwoven, metal fabric is formed by providing a mass of loose fibers with sufficient lubricating oil for them to be carded without disintegration of the fiber web. The fiber web is then lapped and needled to form a metal fabric of superior strength, density, and thermal insulation properties.

Abstract: There is disclosed a material or fabric making or processing operation involving needle penetration of a fibre, fabric or material layer (12) in which the needle penetration action is controlled by control means (18) by which the needle penetration characteristics can be varied within the penetration action and as between penetration actions.

Abstract: A process for personalizing a mounting plate of a plurality of layers of a mounting plate material and a plurality of layers of fibrous material layered over the layers of mounting plate material, which involves joining the fibrous material layers to the mounting plate material layers by penetrating a predetermined number of wick-like extensions of the fibrous material into the mounting plate material to a predetermined depth in the mounting plate material.

Abstract: The description relates to a facility for needling of fleece with at least one needle board (2) that can be driven to and fro in stitching direction (4) by means of pushing rods (3) borne displaceable in one guide sleeve (10) each, and with an additional drive (11) reciprocating in fleece feed direction (9) and effective on the movably borne guide sleeves (10), which is equipped with two parallel eccentric shafts (12, 13). To achieve simple constructional features it is suggested to bear the guide sleeves (10) via two brackets (16, 17) on the eccentrics (18) of the two equidirectionally driven eccentric shafts (12, 13), and to connect them non-rotatable with at least one of these brackets (16, 17).

Abstract: A fiber glass mat adapted to reinforce thermoplastic polymeric molding material is provided with improved flow properties in the molding process without sacrificing strength and without unduly increasing loft of the mat. The improvement is achieved by needling the mat from both sides with the number of needle punches per unit area on one side being greater than that on the opposite side.

Abstract: A process for personalizing a mounting plate of a plurality of layers of a mounting plate material and a plurality of layers of fibrous material layered over the layers of mounting plate material, which involves joining the fibrous material layers to the mounting plate material layers by penetrating a predetermined number of wick-like extensions of the fibrous material into the mounting plate material to a predetermined depth in the mounting plate material.

Abstract: A process for producing a manufactured item of a material at least partly recycled comprises the following steps: setting a primary continuous layer (2a); setting a filling material (3); associating a predetermined amount of filling material (3) with the primary continuous layer (2a); mechanically linking the filling material (3) to the primary continuous layer (2a) to define the manufactured item.

Abstract: A near netshape carbon preform is provided comprising a polar woven fabric of a plurality of carbon yarns, said polar woven fabric having a helical shape and an adjustable fiber orientation distribution, said polar woven fabric being laid down, turn by turn, into a near net shape preform, and each layer of said fabric being needled to produce a near net shape preform with increased interlaminar strength, an adjustable fiber orientation distribution and enhanced thermal conductivity. A method for manufacturing a near net shape carbon preform with a polar woven substrate is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of forming fibrous structures by needling processes. A process is provided for achieving a desired Z-fiber distribution in a fibrous structure by controlling transport depth during formation of the fibrous structure in a series of needling passes. Each needling pass generates a portion of Z-fiber bundles that penetrate adjacent fibrous layers, the Z-fiber bundles penetrating only those adjacent fibrous layers that need more Z-fiber bundles to attain a predetermined number of Z-fiber bundles within each fibrous layer.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for changing the needle boards (3) of a needling machine, comprising a mounting guide (4) for the needle boards (3) to be coupled to each other in a tension-proof way on both sides of the needle bars disposed one behind the other in direction of the working width of the needling machine, to which needle bars the needle boards (3) are replaceably fixed, comprising a feeding guide (2) for the needle boards (3) in extension of the mounting guide (4) on one side of the needling machine, and comprising a step conveyor (5) associated to the feeding guide (2), which step conveyor has engageable and disengageable carriers for the needle boards (3). To create advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the carriers of the step conveyor (5) constitute centering pins (9) which engage in centering bushes (10) of the needle boards (3).

Abstract: A three-dimensional fiber structure is formed by superposing layers of felt and by bonding them together by needling, then the structure is compressed to obtain a preform having a fiber volume fraction of not less than 20%. The preform is held in its compressed state by being impregnated with a liquid composition containing a bonding agent capable of bonding the fibers of the preform together. Thereafter, the preform consolidated in this way is densified, e.g. by chemical vapor infiltration.

Abstract: Duplex layers of carbon fiber each comprising a lower portion of uni-directional filaments and an upper staple fiber portion are laid one on top of the other in an annular form. Needles are reciprocated through the layers to cause the staple fiber to be pushed downwardly to interconnect the layers. The base supporting the layers being assembled is gradually lowered until there comes a time when the bottom of the needle stroke no longer passes through all of the layers. At that time additional layers comprising staple fiber only are added and needled down into the stack to enrich the lower layers. After that enrichment the stack is then built up by adding further duplex layers. When all of the duplex layers have been added, further staple fibers may be added to the stop of the stack and needled in order to enrich the upper layers with interconnecting staple fibers, which upper layers would otherwise be deficient in interconnecting staple fiber.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for the needle bar of a needle machine includes a first drive mechanism connected with the needle bar and which applies a first movement component extending perpendicular to the needle bar, a second drive mechanism connected with the needle bar which applies second movement component parallel to the needle bar, and an additional mechanism for varying the movement stroke of the parallel component. Two eccentric shafts are assigned to the second drive mechanism, these eccentric shafts being driven at the same speed and the eccentric sections of which having a connecting rod supported thereon converting the rotating movement of the associated eccentric section into a linear oscillating movement. The two linear oscillation movements are supplied to a coupling bridge at two first and second hinge points spaced apart from one another. The coupling bridge is coupled with the needle bar or a carrier thereof at a third hinge point arranged between the first and second hinge points.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for needling a fiber fleece, the needles are rotated around their own axes at least during their stitching-in motion into the fiber fleece, in order to produce a mutual twisting of fibers within the fiber fleece. In an embodiment of the invention, the needles are moreover moved in parallel to the fiber fleece in two directions orthogonal with respect to one another by drive means which are controllable independently from one another. Thereby, various variation alternatives are provided to influence the formation of stitches.

Abstract: A felt provides a uniform paper-supporting surface having good water storage and water release properties. These qualities are effected by a bat including one or more layers of fine fibers being needled onto a base containing perforations and cavities. The free surfaces of the bat fibers needled into the cavities are reduced in a special production step following the needling operation.

Abstract: To provide various members such as filter cloth for dust collection which assures small pressure loss and easy shaking down of dust particles and is excellent in friction property and mechanical strength, sliding member excellent in sliding property, water repellent member excellent in water repellency, non-sticking member excellent in non-sticking property and member for supplying mold releasing agent in electrophotographic apparatuses which is excellent in air permeability, heat resistance and oil resistance, and provide a multilayered felt used therefor and a process for producing the multilayered felt. The multilayered felt is obtained by placing a layer of a web comprising polytetrafluoroethylene staple fibers on at least one surface of a felt and then joining the polytetrafluoroethylene staple fibers and fibers which form the felt by intermingling through water jet needling and/or needle punching.

Abstract: Dual glass fibers can be processed into coherent webs and felts by first blending the dual glass fibers with an equal or greater amount of uncrimped fibers. Optionally, other crimped fibers can be added without significant impact on processibility.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for attaching in a needling apparatus, such as a needle loom, tacker and the like, a plurality of needle boards to a plurality of needle beams in alignment therewith. A plurality of needle boards having upwardly extending attachment members are supported on a plurality of needle board carts which are movable into the needling apparatus to a position underling one of the needle beams for attachment thereto. The carts are supported by the stripper plate as they move through the needle zone. Each of the carts includes a locator member for alignment of the needle board therewith when supported on the cart. The carts and support needle boards are raised for engagement with the needle beam by operation of the stripper plate. The needle beams include a support plate having a plurality of openings for receiving therethrough the attachment members of a corresponding needle board, thereby aligning the needle board at a predetermined position to the needle beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making thick fibrous structures. More particularly, the invention relates to a simplified needle-felting process wherein loose fiber is accreted into a thick fibrous structure by repeatedly driving a multitude of felting needles into the loose fiber, the felting needles penetrating all the way through the fibrous material at the beginning of the process, and penetrating only part way through the fibrous material at the end of the process. The processes according to the invention eliminate one or more intermediate steps of forming coherent fibrous layers that were previously thought necessary in the prior art in order to form a thick fibrous structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for needling a fiber fleece web has a plurality of needle bars, the drive means thereof being individually associated to the individual needle bars or a group of closely adjoining needle bars which belong to one of a plurality of needling zones, and wherein said drive means are connected to a common control means which enables an individual control of the movement of the needle bars or needle bar groups. The needle bars or needle bar groups can in particular be moved in three directions orthogonal with respect to one another, and the needles can possibly be supported rotatably, and can perform a controlled rotary movement during the stitching movement.

Abstract: An improved headliner material is formed of two layers formed from two types of polyester fibers. The polyester layers include both binder and non-binder fibers. The binder fibers are provided by an adhesive sheath that melts to secure the binder and non-binder fibers together. The layers are provided with different percentages of binder fibers. One layer is provided with 20% to 30% of binder fibers, with the remainder being non-binder fibers. This layer is less rigid, and provides loft and sound absorption to the headliner material. The other layer is provided with a greater percentage of binder fibers, and preferably, 40% to 60% binder fibers. This layer provides structure and rigidity to the headliner material.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of forming fibrous structures by needling processes. A process is provided for achieving a desired Z-fiber distribution in a fibrous structure by controlling transport depth during formation of the fibrous structure in a series of needling passes. Each needling pass generates a portion of Z-fiber bundles that penetrate adjacent fibrous layers, the Z-fiber bundles penetrating only those adjacent fibrous layers that need more Z-fiber bundles to attain a predetermined number of Z-fiber bundles within each fibrous layer.

Abstract: The invention proposes to provide interrupted individual filaments by a subsequent treatment in a flat element made of aligned filaments. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing a flat structure useful as a reinforcing surface in a building element made of a composite material with aligned layers of individual filaments. The invention provides for individual filaments to be interrupted by a subsequent treatment.

Abstract: A process for treating a fibrous material which includes the steps of: 1) providing a liquid suspension composed of fibrous material; 2) intermixing the liquid suspension of fibrous material with a treatment over a time period T.sub.1 --wherein the treatment requires a period of time T.sub.R sufficient to treat the fibrous material; 3) depositing the liquid suspension of fibrous material and intermixed treatment onto a forming surface to form a layer and removing a substantial portion of the liquid, over a period of time T.sub.2 ; and 4) applying pressurized jets of a liquid to the layer of fibrous material to wash unused treatment from the fibrous material within a period of time T.sub.3. Periods of time T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 are immediately consecutive and amount to a total period of time at least as great as T.sub.R.

Abstract: A method for making a textile product from a web of fibers and/or filaments moving in a feed direction. The method comprises a pre-looping step in which the fibers and/or filaments are individually transversely looped relative to the feed direction and optionally transversely stretched, whereafter they pile up in the form of a crimped pseudo-yarn in which the fibers and/or filaments are parallelized. Prior to the pre-looping step, the method comprises a crimping step in which the fibers and/or filaments are crimped with a spacing and a depth that are a multiple of the spacing and depth of the "crimp" formed in the pre-looping step.

Abstract: Fiber preforms for use in the manufacture of composite material annular ps are made by winding superposed layers of a strip of cloth (10) of spiral or helical shape comprising substantially helical warp threads and substantially radial weft threads. The mass per unit area of the warp of the helical cloth increases between its inside diameter and its outside diameter, and the layers of the strip of cloth are needled so as to be bonded together by fibers pulled from the yarn of the cloth, the increase in mass per unit area of the warp at least approximately compensating, in terms of density per unit volume of the preform, the decrease in density of the weft between the inside diameter and the outside diameter.

Abstract: Semifinished material consisting of symmetrically-needled glass-fiber mat impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer. The glass mat can be made by, for instance, needling continuous filament web from above and below at the same time with a double needling machine.