US 11,982,032 B2
Method and apparatus for making a nonwoven from crimped filaments
Tobias Wagner, Cologne (DE); Sebastian Sommer, Troisdorf (DE); Patrick Bohl, Hennef (DE); Andreas Roesner, Bonn (DE); and Hans-Georg Geus, Niederkassel (DE)
Assigned to REIFENHAEUSER GMBH & CO. KG MASCHINENFABRIK, Troisdorf (DE)
Filed by Tobias Wagner, Cologne (DE); Sebastian Sommer, Troisdorf (DE); Patrick Bohl, Hennef (DE); Andreas Roesner, Bonn (DE); and Hans-Georg Geus, Niederkassel (DE)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/118,186.
Application 18/118,186 is a continuation of application No. 16/940,975, filed on Jul. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,598,036.
Claims priority of application No. 19189215 (EP), filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0220594 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D01D 5/088 (2006.01); D01D 5/22 (2006.01); D01D 5/23 (2006.01); D01D 5/34 (2006.01); D01D 13/00 (2006.01); D01D 13/02 (2006.01); D02G 1/00 (2006.01); D02G 1/10 (2006.01); D04H 3/08 (2006.01); D04H 3/16 (2006.01)
CPC D04H 3/16 (2013.01) [D02G 1/004 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. A method comprising the steps of:
displacing an air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor in a horizontal travel direction;
spinning and then depositing crimped continuous filaments each having a crimp of 1.5 to 3.5 loops per centimeter as a web at a deposit region on the air-permeable mesh-belt conveyor by drawing air through the web and the conveyor at the deposit region at a first predetermined speed such that a nonwoven web is formed on the conveyor;
preconsolidating the web on the conveyor at a first preconsolidation stage downstream in the direction from the deposit region by drawing air at a temperature of 80° C. to 250° C. through the web and the conveyor at the first preconsolidation stage at a second predetermined speed;
preconsolidating the web on the conveyor at a second preconsolidation stage spaced downstream in the direction by a suction gap from the first preconsolidation stage by drawing air through the web at the second preconsolidation stage at a third predetermined speed; and
at the suction gap either
not drawing air through the web and the conveyor, or
drawing air through the web and the conveyor at a fourth predetermined speed equal at most to less than the second predetermined speed.