초록 ▼

A method and plant for producing an air-laid non-woven web of cellulose fibers or of cellulose fibers mixed with synthetic fibers that includes at least one air-laying section for depositing fiber fluff into a layer upon a forming wire, an overlying second wire for transferring the layer of fluff to

A method and plant for producing an air-laid non-woven web of cellulose fibers or of cellulose fibers mixed with synthetic fibers that includes at least one air-laying section for depositing fiber fluff into a layer upon a forming wire, an overlying second wire for transferring the layer of fluff to a third wire having a mesh count small enough for preventing the fibers from penetrating into the wire, and at least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the fluff on the third wire, thereby hydroentangling the fluff into a coherent web. By the method and plant according to the invention, it is possible to produce hydroentangled fiber webs which are less expensive and have better absorption properties than hitherto known. The webs can be produced with weights between about 20 and 2000 g/m2.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for producing an air-laid non-woven web comprising cellulose fibers, which method comprises:air-laying cellulose fiber fluff into a layer upon a forming wire that has a mesh count of between 14 to 30 mesh, providing a differential pressure of between 80 and 150mm water head across the fi

1. A method for producing an air-laid non-woven web comprising cellulose fibers, which method comprises:air-laying cellulose fiber fluff into a layer upon a forming wire that has a mesh count of between 14 to 30 mesh, providing a differential pressure of between 80 and 150mm water head across the fiber fluff on the forming wire, transferring the layer of fiber fluff to a further wire, and directing at least one water jet towards the fluff on the further wire to hydroentangle the fluff into a coherent web. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulose fiber fluff includes both cellulose and synthetic fibers.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber fluff layer is transferred to the further wire by an overlying second wire, and wherein the mesh count of the further wire is between 38 and 58 mesh at least at a top portion of the wire.4. The method of claim 1, which further comprises compacting the fluff before directing the water jet towards the fluff.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the further wire is a third wire, and at least one first water jet is directed towards an upwards facing first side of the fluff on the third wire.6. The method of claim 5, which further comprises directing at least one second water jet against a downward facing second side of the fluff.7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second water jet is directed towards the downward facing second side of the fluff which is sucked upon a lower side of an overlying fourth wire.8. The method of claim 7, which further comprises turning the second side of the web upwards by means of the fourth wire prior to directing at least one second water jet towards the upward facing second side of the fluff on the fourth wire.9. The method of claim 8 which further comprises drying the hydroentangled web on a fifth wire.10. The method of claim 1 which further comprises directing steam towards at least one side of the hydroentangled web for bonding dust onto the web.11. The method of claim 1 which further comprises forming a laminate by melting a layer of plastic on at least one side of the hydroentangled web, and applying a non-woven web to the melted plastic layer.12. The method of claim 1 which further comprises forming a laminate by applying at least one layer of melt blown fibers, bicomponent fibers, or a combination thereof to at least one side of the hydroentangled web.13. The method of claim 1 which further comprises forming a laminate by applying at least one carded web to at least one side of the hydroentangled web.14. The method of claim 1 which further comprises forming a laminate by applying at least one carded web upon at least one side of the hydroentangled web, and applying a film or non-woven web on at least one side of the hydroentangled web.15. The method of claim 1 which further comprises applying a layer of binder to one side of the hydroentangled web, followed by drying the web.16. The method of claim 1 which further comprises applying a first layer of binder to a first side of the hydroentangled web, drying the web, turning over the dried web, applying a second layer of binder to a second side of the web, drying the web, and curing the binder.17. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-woven web includes a mixture of cellulose and synthetic fibers and which further comprises heat treating the entangled web in such a way that the synthetic fibers bond both to the cellulose fibers and to each other.18. The method of claim 1 which further comprises loosening the web from the wire upon which the web is hydroentangled by water jets.19. The method of claim 1 which further comprises loosening the web from the wire upon which the web is hydroentangled by an air flow.20. The method of claim 1 which further comprises calendering the hydroentangled web.21. The method of claim 1 which further comprises winding the hydroentangled web upon a reel.22. The method of claim 1 which further comprises removing at least a major part of fines contained in the fiber fluff before hydroentangling the web.23. The method of claim 1 which further comprises drying the hydroentangled web.24. The method of claim 23, which further comprises calendering the dried hydroentangled web.25. The method of claim 23 which further comprises winding the dried hydroentangled web upon a reel.26. A plant for producing an air-laid non-woven web comprising cellulose fibers, the plant comprising:at least one air-laying section for depositing cellulose fiber fluff into a layer upon a forming wire having a mesh count between 14-30 mesh, means for adjusting the differential pressure through the layer to between 80-150 mm water head, an overlying second wire for transferring the layer of fluff to a third wire, and at least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the fluff on the third wire for hydroentangling the fluff into a coherent web. 27. The plant of claim 26 further comprising means for compacting the fluff before it is hydroentangled.28. The plant of claim 26, wherein the mesh count of the third wire, on which the fluff is entangled, is between 38 and 58 mesh at least at a top portion of the wire.29. The plant of claim 26 further comprising at least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the upwards facing first side of the fluff on the third wire.30. The plant of claim 26 further comprisingat least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the upwards facing first side of the fluff on the third wire, and at least one other nozzle for through the third wire directing a water jet towards the downward facing second side of the fluff. 31. The plant of claim 26 further comprisingat least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the upwards facing first side of the fluff on the third wire, an overlying fourth wire with a suction box for suctioning the web from the third wire up upon the lower side of the fourth wire, and at least one other nozzle for directing a water jet towards the downwards facing second side of the fluff hanging on the lower side of the fourth wire. 32. The plant of claim 26 further comprising at least one nozzle for directing a water jet towards the upwards facing first side of the fluff on the third wire,a fourth wire for turning the second side of the web upwards, and at least one other nozzle for directing a water jet towards the upwards facing second side of the fluff on the fourth wire. 33. The plant of claim 32 further comprising a fifth wire placed downstream of the fourth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fourth wire, and drying means for drying the web on the fifth wire.34. The plant of claim 33 further comprising a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fifth wire, and means for directing steam towards at least one side of the web on the fifth wire for bonding dust onto the web.35. The plant of claim 33 further comprising a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fifth wire, means for hot melting a layer of plastic upon at least one side of the web on the sixth wire, and means for applying a non-woven web upon the melted plastic on the web on the sixth wire.36. The plant of claim 33 further comprising a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fifth wire, and means for applying at least one layer of spunbonded/melt blown fibers, bicomponent fibers or a combination thereof upon at least one side of the web on the sixth wire.37. The plant of claim 33 further comprising a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fifth wire, and means for applying at least one carded web upon at least one side of the web on the sixth wire.38. The plant of claim 33 further comprising a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web leaving the fifth wire, means for applying at least one carded web to at least one side of the web on the sixth wire, and means for applying a film or a non-woven web to at least one side of the web on the sixth wire.39. The plant of claim 31 further comprising means for applying a binder to the upwards facing side of the fiber web on a fifth wire, and means for drying the web on a sixth wire.40. The plant of claim 31 further comprising a fifth wire placed downstream of the fourth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fourth wire, means for applying a first layer of binder to the upper side of the fiber web on the fifth wire, a sixth wire placed downstream of the fifth wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the fifth wire, means for drying the web on the sixth wire, a seventh wire placed downstream of the sixth wire for turning the lower second side of the web leaving the sixth wire upwards, means for applying a second layer of binder to the second side of the web on the seventh wire, an eight wire placed downstream of the seventh wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the seventh wire, means for drying the web on the eight wire, a ninth wire placed downstream of the eight wire for supporting the web while this web is leaving the eight wire, means for curing the binder on the ninth wire.41. The plant of claim 26, wherein the fiber fluff comprises a mixture of cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers, and further comprising means for heat treating the fiber fluff in such a way that the synthetic fibers are bonded both to the cellulose fibers and to each other.42. The plant of claim 26 further comprising at least one second water nozzle for loosening the web from the third wire by directing at least one second water jet towards the lower side of the fluff on the third wire.43. The plant of claim 26 further comprising nozzles for loosening the web from the wire upon which the web is hydroentangled by directing water jets towards the fluff during the hydroentangling process.44. The plant of claim 26 further comprising means for removing at least a major part of fines contained in the fiber fluff on the forming wire.45. The plant of claim 26 further comprising a forming head, which is placed above the forming wire and arranged for air-laying fiber fluff into a layer upon the forming wire, at least one channel for carrying, in a flow of air, fibers from a supply of fibers into the forming head, a suction box placed at the lower side of the forming wire, at least one vacuum fan connected to the suction box for generating an air flow from the forming head, through the fluff, the forming wire, and the suction box to the vacuum fan, characterized in that the mesh count of the forming wire mainly allows only fines contained in the fluff to pass the forming wire.46. The plant of claim 45, further comprising a first vacuum fan connected to the suction box for generating an air flow from the forming head, through the fluff, the forming wire, and the suction box to said first vacuum fan, a filter connected to the first vacuum fan for removing fines from the air supplied to the filter by the first vacuum fan, and a second vacuum fan connected to the filter for removing the filtered air from the filter.47. The plant of claim 46, further comprising a collector device for collecting fines which by means of the filter is removed from the air flow.48. The plant of claim 26 further comprising a calender for calendering the web.49. The plant of claim 26 further comprising a reel for winding up the web.50. The plant of claim 45, wherein the differential pressure is provided between the forming head and the suction box.51. The plant of claim 46, wherein the differential pressure is provided between the forming head and the suction box.52. The plant of claim 26 further comprising drying means for drying the web.