Abstract: There is described a needle board (1) for a device for needling a web, comprising a board body (2) of a light metal alloy, in particular a magnesium-aluminum alloy, and a plastic coating (3) cast onto the board body (2) on the side of the board facing the needle tips. To create advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the board body (2) preferably consisting of a cross-cut extruded section has undercut grooves (7) at its edges on the side of the board covered by the plastic coating (3), where the plastic coating (3) cast thereon positively fills the undercut grooves (7).

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: A transition part is provided for a felt needle between the clamping part and the working part, which transition part is designed as elongated, narrow truncated cone. The length of this transition part is at least as long as twice the length of the working part. As a result, a very narrow transition region is formed, which has little tendency to pull out and accumulate fibers from the fibrous web. Should fiber deposits still form, these can be removed easily.

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 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: A needle board storage apparatus is used for the removal, storage, and transport of needle boards during replacement in a needle loom. The apparatus includes a two stage magazine designed to accommodate two full compliments of needle boards for any needle zone in a given needle loom. One stage of the magazine provides independent storage for spent needle boards as they are removed from the needle loom, while the other stage contains replacement needle boards that will later be loaded into the loom. An assembly allows the entire magazine to be moved from a first stage position for unloading spent needle boards to a second stage position for loading replacement needle boards. Needle board receiver openings on the magazine in registration with each stage are positioned at the exact height of the needle zones of the needle loom so the operator can roll the needle boards directly to or from the loom into the magazine with minimal or no handling in-between.

Abstract: A device for needling a web (9), comprising at least one needle board (2) reciprocatingly movable in stitching direction, a stitch base (6) opposite the needle board (2) and a stripper (10) disposed between the stitch base (6) and the needle board (2), which stripper has through holes (11) for the needles (3) of the needle board (2). To create advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the stripper (10) should define a compressed-air space (13), which is disposed subsequent to the stripper (10) on the side opposite the stitch base (6) and can be connected with a compressed-air source (16).

Abstract: A device for needling a prebonded web (1), comprises at least one needle board (3) reciprocatingly movable in a stitching direction, a stitch base (2) between a feed roller (6) and a discharge roller (7), which stitch base is located directly opposite the needle board (3) and forms a web guide that is convex in a direction of web movement. The stitch base (2) consists of blades (9) extending transversely to the direction of web movement and having end faces (10) defining a continuously curved enveloping surface. The end faces (10) constituting a web support, and between which blades there engage at least two needle rows extending tranversely to the direction of web movement engage between adjacent blades during their reciprocation.

Abstract: A device for needling a prebonded web (1), comprises at least one needle board (3) reciprocatingly movable in a needling direction, and a web support (2) disposed opposite the needle board (3) between a feed roller (7) and a discharge roller (8). To avoid a stripper it is proposed that the needle board (3) be disposed directly opposite the web support (2), that the web support be provided with a continuous convex curvature in direction of web movement (6), and that the discharge rate of the discharge roller (8) exceed the feed rate of the feed roller (7).

Abstract: In an apparatus for needling a fibrous web passing through the apparatus in one direction, which comprises a needle board driven back and forth in a needling direction, and a support opposite the needle board and having a surface facing the needle board, the support surface comprises surface sections inclined in different directions with respect to the needling direction transversely to the one direction and further surface sections following the surface sections in the one direction and inclined in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers while at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for needling a fibrous web passing through the apparatus in one direction, which comprises a needle board driven back and forth in a needling direction, needles carried by the needle board and extending in the needling direction, and a stationary support opposite the needle board in the needling direction. The stationary support comprises in the range of the needles two support sections inclined in opposite directions in the one direction and a transitional support section between the two support sections and smoothly merging into the two oppositely inclined support sections.

Abstract: In a method of making a carbon fibre preform such as for use in the manufacture of a friction disc a compressible body of carbon fibre or carbon fibre precursor material is acted upon by compressing means to compress the body to a required thickness and then operated upon by means such as a barbed needle-punch needle for a stitching thread which penetrates substantially the whole thickness of the body whereby the compressed preform may be removed from action by the compressing means in a free-standing and compressed state. If the method uses carbon fibre precursor material, that is then subjected to carbonization.

Abstract: The described apparatus for needling a nonwoven web comprises a slider-crank mechanism, which is connected to a rocker and serves to actuate at least one needle board, which is secured to the rocker, and web-guiding means comprising a web support, which is opposite to the needle board, and a stripper, which extends between the web support and the needle board. To provide a high needle density it is proposed that the needle board is arranged to extend at right angles to the direction of the mean inclination of the penetration paths of the needles of the needle board when the slider-crank mechanism is in a midstroke position in the middle of its stroke.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which serves to needle a nonwoven web and comprises a slider-crank mechanism, which is coupled to a rocker pivoted on a pivotal axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web, and at least one needle board, which is secured to the rocker and carries needles, each of which comprises a shank and a working portion. To ensure a satisfactory penetration of the needles, the working portion of each of needle is curved in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the rocker at least approximately along an arc of a circle that is centered adjacent to the pivotal axis of the rocker.

Abstract: An apparatus which serves to needle a nonwoven web and comprises at least one needle beam for carrying at least one needle board, a rocker, which carries the needle beam and comprises at least two parallel arms, which are pivoted to a frame, and a slider-crank mechanism, which is coupled to the rocker or the needle beam. To permit an adjustment of the lift of the needle beam it is proposed that the slider-crank mechanism is adapted to be pivoted to the needle beam or the rocker at different distances from the pivotal axis of the rocker.

Abstract: The described apparatus for needling a nonwoven web comprises at least one needle beam carrying a needle board, a rocker for guiding the needle beam, and a slider-crank mechanism for actuating the needle beam. For a first-order mass balancing it is proposed that the slider-crank mechanism comprises two parallel crankshafts or eccentric shafts, which are adapted to be driven to rotate in mutually opposite senses, and associated connecting rods, which are connected by connecting rods to a link, which is pivoted to the rocker, and the arrangement is such that when the slider-crank mechanism is in a mid-position at the middle of its strike the plane of symmetry between the two crankshafts or eccentric shafts is at least approximately at right angles to a plane which contains the instantaneous overall center of gravity of the oscillating masses and the pivotal axis of the rocker.

Abstract: Method of fabricating a multi-ply carbon fibre fabric, preform or composite material from a layer of unidirectionally aligned carbon fibres of ultra-high modulus and a layer of low modulus carbon fibre comprising the steps of: arranging in superimposed relationship the layer of unidirectionally aligned carbon fibres of ultra-high modulus and the layer of low modulus carbon fibres so that at least a substantial number of the fibres of low modulus are disposed transversely of the fibres of the ultra-high modulus fibre layer, and connecting the two layers by interlacing fibres of the layer of low modulus fibres with those of the layer of ultra-high modulus fibres by needle-punching using felting needles orientated and configured so that their barbs snag only the low modulus fibres during passage through the layers.

Abstract: Apparatus for tacking a yarn in a predetermined pattern onto a needled fleece, which lies on a support consisting of brushes and which is supported by the free ends of the brush bristles comprising a pressure plate unit which is movable parallely to the support and having a yarn channel extending basically vertically therethrough, yarn supply structure for supplying the yarn along a yarn path from a yarn supply into the yarn channel, a needle having laterally protruberant projections, which are suitable for piercing yarn fibers into the needled fleece, a needle support connected to the pressure plate unit and mounting the needle, and drive structure for moving up and down the needle support in a direction towards and from the pressure plate unit. The device is suitably combined with a needle loom, which pierces the fibers of the yarn tacked to the needled fleece by the device through the needled fleece. (FIG.

Abstract: In order to decrease the resistance to the pulling of a nonwoven web in an apparatus for needling nonwoven webs, a perforated plate is proposed, in which at least those through holes which are formed in the perforated plate at least adjacent to its upstream end have downstream edge portions which are disposed in recesses, which are formed in that surface of the plate which faces the nonwoven web and which gradually taper to said planar surface of the plate in the downstream direction.

Abstract: To permit a change of the needle boards of an apparatus for needling nonwoven webs, a magazine is provided, which supports the needle boards in superposed slide tracks. The needling apparatus comprises an assembling track, which extends on both sides of vertically movable board carriers, which are arranged in a row and to which the needle boards are detachably secured. The assembling track serves to guide the needle boards, which are adapted to be interconnected by tension-resisting coupling means.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous flexible material includes a needled web having a front outer surface and a non-glazed back surface disposed opposite thereof. The web includes interengaged first fibers and second thermoplastic fibers with the outer surface being substantially free of the second thermoplastic fibers. The web also has a plurality of weld joints between the second thermoplastic fibers and at least a portion of the first fibers proximate the back surface.

Abstract: In order to produce a needled nonwoven web having an improved surface quality, the needle board (1) of an apparatus for needling a nonwoven web should be provided with needles in a higher needle density. To that end the needles (2) of the needle board (1) are arranged in groups having a higher needle density and a perforated plate (5) of the stripper (4) and a perforated plate of the backing member (3) are provided in association with each group of needles with a common receiving hole (7). The needles (2) of each group are arranged in a longitudinal row generally extending in the direction of travel of the nonwoven web and are transversely offset from each other.

Abstract: In an apparatus for needling a web, which apparatus comprises a brushlike web support consisting of individual brush plates, it is desired to substantially eliminate an influence of the joints between the brush plates on the surface pattern of the needled nonwoven web. To that end the bristle tufts of those rows of tufts which extend adjacent to and along the joints between the brush plates are carried individually or in groups in alternation by the two brush plates which are disposed on opposite sides of the joint.

Abstract: It is desired to use different needle pitches in the operation of an apparatus for needling a web without a need for replacing the needle board, the stripper and the optionally perforate backing. This is accomplished in that the holes provided in the needle board and serving to receive the needles, the holes of the perforate stripping plate and the holes in an optional perforate backing plate are arranged in at least two groups of holes and the holes in each row of each group are uniformly distributed over the working width of the apparatus.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric and a process for making a nonwoven fabric consisting essentially of:(a) forming a carded web of staple fibers selected from the group consisting of polypropylene fibers, cellulose acetate fibers, nylon fibers, acrylic fibers, and combinations of two or more thereof, having a denier in the range of from about 11/2 denier to about 10 denier;(b) crosslapping said carded web to for a suitable batt;(c) needling said batt with a needle punch density of from about 500 to about 2000 needle punches/square inch to form a fabric having a first smooth fabric surface and a second fabric surface opposite to said first surface;(d) fusing said second surface in a manner which provides a light fusion of the staple fibers making up said second surface;thereby providing a nonwoven fabric weighing in the range of from about 6 ounces/square yard to about 10 ounces/square yard with a thickness of from about 65 millimeters to about 90 millimeters.

Abstract: A method for producing a nonwoven fibrous, flexible panel having a textured outer surface, including the steps: of providing a needled web comprised of interengaged first fibers and second thermoplastic fibers; needlepunching the web to produce the textured outer surface; and passing a fluid, at a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the second thermoplastic fibers, through the web in a direction from the textured outer surface to produce a plurality of weld joints of the melted second thermoplastic fibers, the textured outer surface thereafter being substantially free of the second thermoplastic fibers. A nonwoven fibrous panel produced by the methods characterized herein is also described.

Abstract: A needle board for an apparatus for needling a non-woven fabric comprises a carrier plate, which is provided with an elastic layer for retaining needles, which are detachably inserted in through holes and have angled needle butts, which are supported on the surface of the board. In order to ensure an improved guidance and retention of the needles the elastic layer is provided on that surface of the board which is remote from the needle butts.

Abstract: This invention relates to needling of continuous glass yarn mats.The invention consists in subjecting the mat to the action, preferably simultaneous action, of needles of different diameters. Thus perforations of different dimensions, preferably regularly distributed, are made in the mat.This mat is intended to be used as reinforcement in composite materials with a base of thermoplastic resins, in particular in laminates.

Abstract: A device on needling machines for the production of needle-bonded fabric webs or the like, having above the fiber fleece to be needled a holding-down means provided with openings for the needles, with plugs of elastic material, to be pierced by the needles, being inserted into the needle openings of said holding-down means, which plugs surround the needle shafts, and their lower faces are flush or approximately flush with the underside of the holding-down means.

Abstract: In order to increase the latitude regarding the distribution of needles in a needle board in a direction which is transverse to the direction of travel of a web which is to be needled in an apparatus for needling the web while it is supported by a deck provided with a grate of parallel blades, it is proposed to arrange the blades of the grate so that they extend transversely to the direction of travel of the web.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and product thereof, and an apparatus, for converting a twisted, continuous filament, multifilament yarn into a staple-like yarn. The process is carried out by needling the yarn with a barbed needle in order to break yarn filaments. The broken yarn filaments protrude from the yarn after the needling process. The protruding filament ends give the resulting yarn the appearance of a spun yarn.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing endless needled paper machine felts comprising at least one ply formed by a plurality of overlapping loops of a sliver web comprises a needling machine having a working width corresponding to the width of the paper machine felt, and a sliver web feeder which is adapted to be reciprocated throughtout the working width of the needling machine. To ensure that the needling can be properly effected without a formation of wrinkles, a needling device having a working width corresponding to that of the feeder is provided between the feeder and the needling machine and is adapted to be reciprocated in unison with the feeder throughout the working width of the needling machine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein a nonwoven fabric composed at least in part of thermally fusible fibers is at least partially fused and then is punched by needles to produce a soft, fluffy fabric that resists mechanical wear.

Abstract: The invention refers to a machine for the production of velour needlefelt webs through processing a fiber fleece bonded through needling, using velour or fork needles forming pile loops, wherein at least one fiber fleece band consisting of several layers is helically wound to form a tube continuously developing in axial direction, said tube rotating about its own axis, wherein the individual layers of the fleece band partly overlap on each wind and the lower or inner-lying layers of the wound tube are bonded in a width which is smaller, preferably up to half the width of the width of the fleece band in a known manner using felting needles and from the upper or outer-lying loose fiber layer of the wound tube, the fibers forming the pile loops are pushed through the pre-bonded lower or inner-lying fiber layer in a known manner using fork needles and wherein the finished processed tube is cut open in axial direction, laid flat and the so-formed material web wound up.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacture of a nonwoven fabric wherein a nonwoven fabric web is passed through a needle punching zone wherein the nonwoven fabric web is needle punched in such a manner that the number of needle punches per unit area in the edge portions of the nonwoven fabric web is less than the number of needle punches per unit area in the medial portion of the nonwoven fabric web, and the thus needled nonwoven fabric web is passed through a tentering zone wherein it is stretched transversely relative to its direction of movement to thereby reduce the weight per unit area of the edge portions to approximately the weight per unit area of the medial portion so that a nonwoven fabric of substantially uniform thickness and weight per unit area is produced.

Abstract: A felting needle having a wedge-like tip with an open double barb formed in the leading edge of the tip. The double barb includes a pair of opposed outwardly diverging fiber-engaging surfaces with precisely formed angles. One outwardly diverging barb angle extends to one side of the needle, and the other outwardly diverging barb angle is disposed symmetrically and diametrically opposite thereto. Unlike ordinary barbs formed in a lateral edge of a felting needle, the double-barb of the present invention allows fibers to slip off to either side of the needle and thus prevent fiber damage.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacture of a nonwoven fabric wherein a nonwoven fabric web is passed through a needle punching zone wherein the nonwoven fabric web is needle punched in such a manner that the number of needle punches per unit area in the edge portions of the nonwoven fabric web is less than the number of needle punches per unit area in the medial portion of the nonwoven fabric web, and the thus needled nonwoven fabric web is passed through a tentering zone wherein it is stretched transversely relative to its direction of movement to thereby reduce the weight per unit area of the edge portions to approximately the weight per unit area of the medical portion so that a nonwoven fabric or substantially uniform thickness and weight per unit area is produced.

Abstract: A fiber glass reinforced thermoplastic laminant of high flexural strength and a method of preparing the laminant is described in which special needling of the fiber glass mat used as the reinforcement is undertaken to minimize damage to the strands making up the mat during needling while insuring that the strands are moved during needling of the mat to provide strands in the mat that are transverse through the long axis of the mat after needling. The mat upon completion of the needling is then laminated with a thermoplastic resin to produce a sheet product having improved tensile characteristics.

Abstract: A woven fabric made from flat warp and weft tapes of polypropylene, such as is currently used as a primary carpet backing, is subjected to a repeated needling operation which breaks down each warp and weft component into a multiplicity of fibrils. This fibrillation of the warp and weft in the woven fabric produces a marked change in the surface of the fabric from a relatively shiny to a relatively matt finish. The fibrillated fabric may be rendered dyeable to a good coloration (similar to the color of dyed face yarns of a carpet) either by including a dyeable material in with the polypropylene from which the tapes are originally formed, or by adhering a dyeable coating to the fibrillated fabric. Further repetition of the needling operation reduces the denier of the fibrils still more and produces a generally softer fabric.

Abstract: A felting needle, with thousands of its counterparts, must be identically reproducable and uniform so that consistent duplication of the finished product of felted material is possible. The method of the present invention, as well as the apparatus of this invention for practicing the method, have the capability, for the first time, of exact duplication of a felting-needle barb, with rounded contours on all faces and edges which contact the fibers, and with uniform size, shape and finish, all produced by a method which is essentially a one-step process reducing the number of steps of the manufacturing procedure to a minimum. Thus the apparatus and process provide a barb-forming tool which has a recess or cavity formed therein which is the exact mirror image or mating counterpart of the shape or outline of the barb and barb-recess to be formed in the needle, and which, with such contour-controlling and material-constraining cavity, produces an exact cavity, throat and barb each time the tool strikes the needle.

Abstract: A felting needle with a barb having a fiber deflecting section and a fiber gripping section. The barb is within a triangular blade needle and has a fiber gripping section disposed in the bottom portion of the trailing edge of the barb and disposed at approximately a 70 degree undercut angle relative to the needle axis and the fiber deflecting section extends upwardly and rearwardly from the fiber gripping section at approximately 30 degrees to the needle axis. The effective depth of the gripping section is less than approximately 75% of the total barb depth. With this arrangement, owing to the barb fiber gripping edge positioned within the triangular blade and with no kick-up, the backing material fibers are protected and fiber distortion is reduced.

Abstract: A felting needle, having a body with a crank at one end, a tip at the opposite end, and a blade between crank and tip, the formed end of the blade having a generally "H" shaped cross-sectional configuration to provide opposed longitudinal grooves adjacent the tip, and having a slot in the tip to define two points with the slot aligned with the grooves in the blade portion.

Abstract: A felting needle, with thousands of its counterparts, must be identically reproducible and uniform so that consistent duplication of the finished product of felted material is possible. The method of the present invention, as well as the apparatus of this invention for practicing the method, have the capability, for the first time, of exact duplication of a felting-needle barb, with rounded contours on all faces and edges which contact the fibers, and with uniform size, shape and finish, all produced by a method which is essentially a one-step process reducing the number of steps of the manufacturing procedure to a minimum. Thus the apparatus and process provide a barb-forming tool which has a recess or cavity formed therein which is the exact mirror image or mating counterpart of the shape or outline of the barb and barb-recess to be formed in the needle, and which, with such contour-controlling and material-constraining cavity, produces an exact cavity, throat and barb each time the tool strikes the needle.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for the dry thermal transfer of organic compounds, preferably of textile finishing agents, onto webs of organic materials, in particular textile webs and carpets, by means of needle-bearing supports. The apparatus comprises means for:1. applying of a preparation which contains a transferable organic compound to the needle side of the support2. bringing said needle side of the support into contact with the web, whereby support and web rest against one another,3. subjecting the support and/or the web to that until the compound has transferred under atmospheric pressure to the web4. separating the treated textile web from the support.

Abstract: A felting needle, having a body with a blade, a tapered point at the outer end of the blade, the blade being non-circular in cross-section and the point being circular in cross-section near the tip, and at least one barb formed in the point area beyond the blade, said barb including a throat and a face, the throat disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the needle, and the face disposed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the needle.

Abstract: A non-woven textile fabric having a non-woven central web and tufts projecting from opposite faces of the web is produced by pushing through the central web simultaneously and from opposite sides thereof a plurality of needles constructed to displace strands of the web beyond opposite faces thereof.

Abstract: At least one barb is formed on the needle with a groove between the barb and the needle shaft. All of the surfaces of the barb and all of the surfaces of the groove are completely rounded in such a manner that no plane surfaces remain.In some preferred modifications, the angle included by the forward line of the inside surface of the barb and the needle axis is 90.degree. or more, and may range between 90.degree.-100.degree..The means for fixing the felting needle to a needle board may consist of a laterally deformed portion provided at the rear end of the needle shaft and extending transversely to the needle axis.