# US 12,180,630 B2 · Installation and method for producing a single- or multi-layer nonwoven > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,630 B2 - Document ID: US12180630B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/791,848 - Filed: 2020-12-03 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-10 - Assignees: TrüTzschler Group SE; Voith Patent GmbH - Applicants: TrüTzschler Group SE; Voith Patent GmbH - Inventors: Thomas Weigert; Kai Pöhler; Sven Thomßen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180630B2 ## CPC - D04H 18/04: with water jets - B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric} - B32B 5/06: characterised by a fibrous {or filamentary} layer {mechanically connected, e.g. by needling} to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper - B32B 5/067: {characterised by the fibrous or filamentary layer being mechanically connected by hydroentangling} - B32B 5/08: the fibres or filaments of a layer being of different substances {, e.g. conjugate fibres, mixture of different fibres} - B32B 5/10: characterised by a fibrous {or filamentary} layer reinforced with filaments - B32B 5/266: {next to one or more non-woven fabric layers} - B32B 5/271: {characterised by separate non-woven fabric layers that comprise chemically different strands or fibre material} - B32B 37/0038: {involving application of liquid to the layers prior to lamination, e.g. wet laminating (B32B37/12 takes precedence)} - B32B 37/0053: {Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers} - D04H 1/4374: using different kinds of webs, e.g. by layering webs - D04H 1/49: entanglement by fluid jet in combination with another consolidation means - D04H 1/492: by fluid jet (D04H1/49 takes precedence) - D04H 1/498: entanglement of layered webs - D04H 13/00: Other non-woven fabrics - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 2250/02: 2 layers - B32B 2250/03: 3 layers - B32B 2250/04: 4 layers - B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary - B32B 2250/40: Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA - B32B 2262/0253: Polyolefin fibres - B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres - B32B 2262/0276: Polyester fibres - B32B 2262/04: Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon - B32B 2262/067: Wood fibres - B32B 2262/144: Non-woven fabric - B32B 2262/16: Structural features of fibres, filaments or yarns e.g. wrapped, coiled, crimped or covered - B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength - B32B 2307/718: Weight, e.g. weight per square meter - B32B 2317/10: Natural fibres, e.g. wool, cotton - B32B 2323/10: Polypropylene - B32B 2367/00: Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate - B32B 2377/00: Polyamides - B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins - D04H 1/4258: Regenerated cellulose series - D04H 1/4291: Olefin series - D04H 1/4334: Polyamides - D04H 1/435: Polyesters - D10B 2201/24: Viscose - D10B 2321/022: polypropylene - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract An installation and a method for selectively producing a single-ply or alternatively a multi-ply nonwoven includes an inclined wire former configured to deposit a sheet of wet-laid fibre material on a first circulating belt, a further belt configured to receive the sheet of wet-laid fibre material from the first circulating belt, a roller card arranged downstream in the material transport direction and configured to introduce a roller card web into the installation, a hydroentanglement arranged downstream in the material transport direction and including at least one water beam configured to entangle, bond and/or structure a single sheet of fibres or a plurality of sheets of fibres, and a dryer arranged downstream in the material transport direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An installation for selectively producing either a single-ply or a multi-ply nonwoven, comprising: an inclined wire former configured to deposit a sheet of wet-laid fibre material on a first circulating belt for transporting the sheet of wet-laid fibre material in a material transport direction, wherein the sheet of wet-laid fibre material is one of a single and multi-layer wet-laid fibre material; at least one further belt configured to receive the sheet of wet-laid fibre material from the first circulating belt and to transport the sheet of wet-laid fibre material in the material transport direction; a roller card arranged downstream in the material transport direction and configured to introduce a roller card web into the installation, wherein the at least one further belt is located at least in part beneath the roller card, a hydroentangler arranged downstream in the material transport direction and having at least one water beam configured to at least one of entangle, bond and structure a single sheet of fibres or a plurality of sheets of fibres; and a dryer arranged downstream in the material transport direction from the hydroentangler, wherein either one or both of the sheet of wet-laid fibre and the roller card web comprise single-ply nonwoven and the installation is configured to enable selective transport by the at least one further belt to the hydroentangler of one of the sheet of wet-laid fibre material, the roller card web, and the sheet of wet-laid fibre material together with the roller card web. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The installation according to claim 1, further including an unwinding station arranged at least one of upstream of the at least one further belt and beneath the inclined wire former for selectively introducing into the installation, in addition or alternatively to the sheet of wet-laid fibre material a first additional web. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The installation according to claim 2, wherein the at least one further belt includes a first circulating belt and a further circulating belt arranged between the first circulating belt and the dryer and running through the hydroentangler. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The installation according to claim 3, further comprising a second unwinding station arranged downstream of the first circulating belt and upstream of the hydroentangler and configured to introduce at least one second additional web into the installation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The installation according to claim 4, wherein the installation is configured to selectively produce a single-ply nonwoven, which consists of one of the sheet of wet-laid fibre material, the roller card web, the first additional web and the second additional web. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The installation according to claim 4, wherein the installation is configured to selectively produce one of a two-ply nonwoven, consisting of one of the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the roller card web, the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the second additional web, the roller card web with the second additional web, the roller card web with the first additional web, and the first additional web with the second additional web. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The installation according to claim 4, wherein the installation is configured to produce a three-ply nonwoven, which consists of one of the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the roller card web and the second additional web, and the second additional web with the roller card web and the first additional web. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The installation according to claim 4, wherein the installation is configured to produce a four-ply nonwoven which consists of the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the first additional web, the roller card web and the second additional web as a cover layer. ### Claim 9 A method for producing a single- or multi-ply nonwoven, comprising the steps of: depositing a sheet of wet-laid fibre material on a first circulating belt; transporting the sheet of wet-laid fibre material downstream in a material transport direction to a further belt of a roller card; selectively depositing a roller card web from the roller card directly on one of further belt and the upper side of the sheet of the wet-laid fibre material being transported by the further belt; one of entangling, structuring and bonding by use of water jets one the wet-laid fibre material, the roller card web, and the roller card web on top of the wet-laid fibre material; and subsequently drying only one the sheet of wet-laid fibre material, the roller card web, and both the sheet of wet laid fibre material and the roller card web together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the single- or multi-layer nonwoven comprises a first additional web and the method further includes one of entangling, structuring and bonding the first additional web alternatively or in addition to the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the roller card web by use of water jets, and subsequently drying the same. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the single- or multi-layer nonwoven comprises a second additional web on which the sheet of wet-laid fibres or the first additional web rests with its underside, and the method further includes one of entangling, structuring and bonding the second additional web alternatively or in addition to the sheet of wet-laid fibre material with the roller card web and the first additional web by use of water jets, and subsequently drying the same.