Method and apparatus for making a nonwoven from continuous filaments

An apparatus for making nonwoven from continuous filaments, the apparatus comprising

• a spinner for spinning the filaments;
• a cooler for cooling the spun filaments;
• a mesh belt that moves in a generally horizontal travel direction and that passes through a deposition location where the spun and cooled filaments are deposited on the mesh belt to form thereon a nonwoven web;
• a nose roller defining a deflection zone over which the mesh belt is deflected from its travel direction;
• at least one lift roller above the mesh belt downstream of the deposition location and at or settable at a third spacing from the mesh belt, the and this third spacing is greater than 50% of a diameter of the lift roller for separating the nonwoven web from the mesh belt at a separation location at a first spacing upstream from the deflection zone of the nose roller;
• and
• a treatment device for the nonwoven web downstream of the mesh belt in the travel direction and receiving the nonwoven web from the lift roller.

An apparatus for making nonwoven from continuous filaments, the apparatus comprising

• a spinner for spinning the filaments;
• a cooler for cooling the spun filaments;
• a mesh belt that moves in a generally horizontal travel direction and that passes through a deposition location where the spun and cooled filaments are deposited on the mesh belt to form thereon a nonwoven web;
• a nose roller defining a deflection zone over which the mesh belt is deflected from its travel direction;
• at least one first lift roller above the mesh belt downstream of the deposition location for separating the nonwoven web from the mesh belt at a separation location at a first spacing upstream from the deflection zone of the nose roller;
• a treatment device for the nonwoven web downstream of the mesh belt in the travel direction and receiving the nonwoven web from the lift roller;
• and
• a second lift roller in addition to the first lift roller and between the first lift roller and the deposition location.

An apparatus for making nonwoven from continuous filaments, the apparatus comprising

• a spinner for spinning the filaments;
• a cooler for cooling the spun filaments;
• a mesh belt that moves in a generally horizontal travel direction and that passes through a deposition location where the spun and cooled filaments are deposited on the mesh belt to form thereon a nonwoven web;
• a nose roller defining a deflection zone over which the mesh belt is deflected from its travel direction;
• at least one lift roller above the mesh belt downstream of the deposition location and a fifth spacing upstream from the nose roller that is at least 50% of the diameter of the lift roller for separating the nonwoven web from the mesh belt at a separation location at a first spacing upstream from the deflection zone of the nose roller;
• and
• a treatment device for the nonwoven web downstream of the mesh belt in the travel direction and receiving the nonwoven web from the lift roller.

A method of making nonwoven, the method comprising the steps of:

• spinning continuous filaments;
• cooling the spun filaments;
• moving a mesh belt in a generally horizontal travel direction through a deposition location and there depositing the cooled filaments on the mesh belt to form thereon a nonwoven web moving in the direction with the belt;
• deflecting the belt from its travel direction over a nose roller in a deflection zone downstream of the deposition location;
• passing the nonwoven web over a lift roller and thereby separating the nonwoven web from the mesh belt at a separation zone where the nonwoven web deviates from the travel direction;
• vertically adjusting a position of the lift roller relative to the mesh belt;
• orienting the lift roller to position the separation location at a spacing upstream from the nose roller;
• and,
• passing the nonwoven web from the lift roller to a downstream device.