Patent DE-10053622-A1 (DE)
Title: Fiber dispenser for the prodn of nonwovens has a filling shaft with fiber take-in rollers leading to a trough and roller with a lower drum to accelerate the fiber flow by its kinetic energy with adjustments for a structured flow
Inventor: WURLITZER HOLGER
IPC: D04H1/00
Filed: 2000-10-29
Abstract: The fiber dispenser, for the prodn. of nonwovens, has at least one take-in roller (2) with rotary speed control in the filling shaft (1). Under the take-in roller (2), a fiber flow with a define compression passes through a trough (5) with a rotating roller (4), with an adjustable gap between the roller (4) and trough (5). The fiber flow is taken by the kinetic energy of the drum (7) which accelerates it.  The fiber flow is carried through the filling shaft by at least one pair of take-in rollers (2) with an adjustable working gap between the rollers. The drum (7) under the working rollers acts as a fiber distribution cylinder, with acceleration of the fiber flow through the kinetic energy of the speed-controlled drum (7). The take-in rollers (2) in the filling shaft rotate against each other, with a decreasing gap between them down the shaft (1) to form a take-in gap for the fiber material. A pressure plate is in the filling shaft, in addition to the rollers (2), with a variable guide plane on the vertical or at an angle to the vertical which, with the following rollers (2), forms a tapering take-in gap. The position of the rollers (2) can be varied to the rigid guide plane, which is a flat component with a polished surface of metal, plastics or a compound material. The surface of the guide plane or pressure plate is solid or perforated. A sensor (3), near the take-in rollers (2), monitors the quality of the fiber flow. The gap between the drum (7) and the trough (5) can be altered selectively. The trough (5) and its roller (4) are in a mirror image array flanking the vertical axis through the filling shaft (1). An air flow control diaphragm (6) is between the protective housing for the drum (7) and at least one side wall of the filling shaft (1), with variable settings. At least one blowing channel (8) is between the protective housing for the drum (7) and the fiber outflow channel (9), to deliver a bonding agent which is hardened by light or pressure and/or heat and/or an air supply and/or additional fibers into the fiber flow. A bonding agent and/or additional fibers can be delivered into the filling shaft (1) above the rollers (2). The fiber outflow channel (9) has a quadratic, rectangular, circular or elliptical cross section, at least at its opening. The filling shaft geometry can be altered to change the direction of fiber outflow, in relation to the fiber dispenser axis, by changing the entry into the filling shaft (1) and/or the outflow channel (9) from it. The fiber dispenser can be linked to a robot, with a single or multiple axis, which gives the movements in relation to the nonwoven development station. An Independent claim is included for fiber dispenser applications, where it is used for the prodn. of nonwovens with a geometrical profile either for subsequent compression and/or hardening and/or profiling. Preferred Features: The dispenser is for the prodn. of nonwovens with zones of different densities and/or hardness and/or elasticity for subsequent compression and/or hardening and/or profiling. The dispenser is for the prodn. of nonwovens with selected zones of different qualities in relation to geometry and/or density and/or elasticity, in a geometric form or to be combined with a carrier nonwoven of a consistent quality and character. A number of fiber dispensers can be deployed side-by-side and/or in succession and/or offset from each other for the prodn. of nonwoven bodies with different surface qualities.