Machine for forming non-woven fibre webs

摘要

714,283. Forming fibre webs. CURLATOR CORPORATION. Jan. 30, 1952 [Feb. 2, 1951], No. 2549/52. Class 120(1) [Also in Groups VIII and XXX] A machine for forming a non-woven, i.e. random, fibre web comprises a toothed. rotor, means for feeding stock material to the rotor so that in its rotation the rotor doffs fibres from the material, an air duct into which the rotor projects, a movableforaminous condenser in the form of an endless foraminous belt both the forward and return reaches of which extend across the full width and height of the duct at a position spaced from the rotor in the direction of air flow, and means disposed beyond the belt in the direction of air flow for sucking air past the rotor and through both the forward and return reaches of the belt. As shown, stock fibre is fed from a hopper or in lap form over a feed plate 21 to a highspeed saw-tooth lickerin 25 which picks fibres from the stock and delivers them into an air duct 30 wherein they are conveyed by an air stream and deposited in web form on a wire-mesh condenser belt 60. Duct 30 continues through both the forward and return reaches of belt 60, and the two ends of the duct communicate with a fan 31 so that a continuous circulation of air is provided. Belt 60, together with rolls 65, 66, over which it travels, duct members 55, 56 and side plates to which the latter are secured are slidable as a whole into and out of position between the side frame members of the machine. The fibre web, as it emerges from duct 30, is compressed by a pressure roller 85, and then continuously removed from belt 60, and suction pipes 90, 95 are provided for cleaning the inside and outside respectively of belt 60. The edges of belt 60 are provided with inwardlyprojecting rubber flanges which engage corresponding shoulders on rollers 65, 66 to prevent lateral creep of the belt. Ground cork or other granular material (e.g. a granular bonding agent) may be incorporated in the web by feeding it into the air stream from a hopper 120 and associated feeding device (see Group XXX); alternatively the granular material feeding device may be located adjacent the forward run of belt 60 in the middle of duct 30, so that granular material is sandwiched between layers of fibre web deposited on belt 60 fore and aft of the feeding device. Specifications 632,226, 708,803 and 708,839 are referred to.