# US 5,699,595 A · Apparatus for needling a fibrous web

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- Number: US 5,699,595 A
- Document ID: US5699595A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/733,023
- Filed: 1996-10-16
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-10-18
- Assignees: Textilmaschinenfabrik Dr. Ernst Fehrer Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Gunther Feyerl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699595A

## CPC

- D04H 18/02: with needles
- D04H 1/46: by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres (D04H1/45 takes precedence; needling machines D04H18/00)
- 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)

## Abstract

An apparatus for needling a fibrous web comprises a row of needle beams arrayed adjacently each other in a direction of an operating width. The needle beams may be attached to exchangeable needle boards and are driven with the needle boards up and down in a reciprocating motion path. The fibrous web is guided by a fibrous web support and a stripper positioned between the needle beams and the support. A conveyor conveys the exchangeable needle boards to and from the needle beams. The conveyor device extends alongside the row of needle beams and comprises revolving endless traction devices arranged at each side of the needle beams outside the reciprocating motion path, and needle board entrainment elements in the form of bearing flanges for supporting side edges of the needle boards. The bearing flanges are carried by the traction devices and are repositionable between a conveying position wherein they project into the reciprocating motion path and an inoperative position wherein they are outside the reciprocating motion path of the needle boards attached to the needle beams.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for needling a fibrous web, which comprises
(a) a row of needle beams arrayed adjacently each other in a direction of an operating width, the needle beams being adapted to be attachable to exchangeable needle boards,
(b) means for driving the needle beams with the needle boards up and down in a reciprocating motion path,
(c) guidance means for the fibrous web, the guidance means comprising
(1) a fibrous web support and
(2) a stripper positioned between the needle beams and the support, and
(d) a conveyor device for conveying the exchangeable needle boards to and from the needle beams, the conveyor device extending alongside the row of needle beams and comprising
(1) revolving endless traction means arranged at each side of the needle beams outside the reciprocating motion path, and
(2) needle board entrainment elements in the form of bearing flanges for supporting side edges of the needle boards, the bearing flanges being carried by the traction means and being repositionable between a conveying position wherein the flanges project into the reciprocating motion path and an inoperative position wherein the flanges are outside the reciprocating motion path of the needle boards attached to the needle beams.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The needling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revolving endless traction means is comprised of an upper conveying strand and a lower return strand.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The needling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bearing flanges are distributed over only a portion of the circumference of the revolving traction means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The needling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bearing flanges are distributed over half the circumference of the revolving traction means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The needling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bearing flanges are pivotally mounted on the traction means for repositioning the bearing flanges between the conveying and inoperative positions under the control of cams.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The needling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the revolving traction means serves as a carrier for a detachable cleaning device.