JPH0380906B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing fiber-entangled sheets using high-speed fluid flow, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing fiber-entangled sheets that improves surface smoothness, surface density, and entanglement. be.

Conventionally, the needle punch method has been widely used as an entangling treatment for fiber sheets, and has become a general-purpose technology in the field of nonwoven fabrics, especially artificial leather.

In recent years, the high-speed fluid punch method, which had been discovered for a long time as a unit technology, has been reviewed and put into practical use for entangling some fiber sheets.

In this conventional high-speed fluid punching method, a fiber sheet is placed on a conveyor net that moves at a constant speed, and a high-speed fluid flow impinges on the fiber sheet to cause entanglement. Punching with high-speed fluid makes it possible to highly entangle and densify thin fiber sheets, resulting in high-density products that cannot be obtained with conventional needle punching.

However, according to these conventional methods, in the part where the high-speed fluid collides with the sheet surface, the surface fibers move deep inside the fiber sheet to the back surface and are entangled, but the extent of entanglement on the fiber sheet surface is The surface uniformity was extremely poor because the flow was limited to the area where it collided, and that area remained deep like a groove, and remained as a line of depressions and depressions.

Furthermore, in order to provide strength also in the width direction of the sheet, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-30740, it is also known that the fluid jet nozzle is reciprocated in the width direction of the sheet. .

However, even with this method, a fiber entangled sheet with good surface uniformity cannot be obtained. In other words, in the above method in which the sheet surface is treated with a linear reciprocating trajectory of the injection nozzle, a regular and accurate high-speed fluid flow collision trajectory cannot be obtained, and the reciprocating movement of the nozzle creates a traverse pattern over the entire surface of the fiber sheet. Further, the sheet surface had entangled and unentangled portions, resulting in large irregularities on the sheet surface and poor smoothness and uniformity.

The trajectory of the injection nozzle described above is largely due to the performance of the swing actuator that swings the injection nozzle.
In other words, the swinging actuator of the nozzle head, which is inevitably heavy due to its high pressure-resistant structure, is required to have high output performance. It is conceivable to adopt a method such as a combination of a cylinder motor and a feed screw mechanism.

However, in the method of
The ON-OFF switching speed is as low as 200 to 300 times/min, making it impossible to oscillate at higher speeds.
When used in continuous operation, the durability of the equipment is extremely short due to seizure of the solenoid valve coil, and due to the time delay required for switching the solenoid valve, the accuracy of stop positioning is poor, making it difficult to obtain an accurate impact trajectory due to high-speed fluid flow. It has the disadvantage that it cannot be used.

In addition, in the method described above, due to the bumping of the threaded joint in the feed screw mechanism, the turning point of the swing is not determined and a sharp rise (triangular waveform) cannot be obtained, making it extremely difficult to set the striking pattern. This becomes more noticeable as the folding inertia increases under high-speed rocking conditions, and therefore, like the above method, it has the disadvantage that an accurate impact trajectory cannot be obtained.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to produce a dense fiber-entangled sheet with excellent surface smoothness and in which the fibers in the surface layer of the fiber sheet are extremely highly fibrillated and intertwined. The aim is to provide the equipment.

The structure of the present invention that achieves the above object is as follows: (a) Fluid injection holes are provided on the front side, facing a fiber sheet that is continuously moved, and in contact with many rows in the transverse direction of the sheet, and on the back side. A fluid injection nozzle body having a high-pressure fluid supply chamber, a support shaft coupled to the nozzle body, and a support element supporting the support shaft so that the nozzle body can swing in a transverse direction of the fiber sheet. (b) a hydraulic cylinder device with a built-in piston head, piston rod, and servo valve mechanism; (c) a stepping motor device having a drive shaft whose rotation direction is reversed; ) the support shaft of the fluid injection device and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder device are coupled, and
In the fiber entangled sheet manufacturing apparatus, the servo valve mechanism of the hydraulic cylinder device is coupled to the drive shaft of the stepping motor device.

The present invention will be explained in more detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the entire apparatus for manufacturing an entangled fiber sheet using the apparatus for manufacturing an entangled fiber sheet according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1, and shows an example of the fiber entangled sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a fiber entangled sheet manufacturing device 1, a conveyor device 2, a fiber sheet 3, and a conveyor net 4 for conveying the fiber sheet. A nozzle head 8 (see FIG. 2) equipped with a high-velocity fluid jet nozzle having an opening is located, and the nozzle head 8 is disposed opposite the surface of the conveyor net 4 in the width direction of the sheet. Conveyor net 4
is moved at a constant speed by a conveyor drive motor 5, a drive roller 6, and a driven roller 7, and conveys the fiber sheet 3 on the conveyor net 4 at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor net 4 has a convex shape with its apex at the impingement portion of the high-speed fluid jet jetted from the high-speed fluid jet jet nozzle mounted on the nozzle head 8. Furthermore, the conveyor 4
At the apex position of the convex shape, there is an opening 28 for allowing the high-speed fluid flow that has passed through the fiber sheet 3 and the conveyor net 4 to pass through and be discharged without being retained within the fiber sheet or between the fiber sheet and the conveyor net. A fluid discharge pipe 27 is arranged to collect and remove the fluid flow. The fluid discharge pipe 27 supports the conveyor 4 at the same time.

Here, it is preferable that the conveyor net 4 has an upwardly convex hanging structure when water is used as the high-speed fluid flow. In other words, out of the high-speed water flow that collided with the fiber sheet surface, the fluid discharge pipe 2
7, the remaining water such as reflected water that has not been drained can be easily flowed out along the convex surface of the conveyor 4. However, the conveyor net 4 may be stretched horizontally.

In the fiber entangled sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
1. Further, a rectifier plate 9, a high-speed fluid jet nozzle 10 having a plurality of high-speed fluid jet jet holes formed in the width direction of the sheet, a pressure plate 11 that supports the nozzle against high-pressure fluid, and the pressure plate The high-pressure fluid pressurized by a pressure pump (not shown) is supplied to the nozzle head 8 through the high-pressure fluid inlet hole 29.
Flows into the upper flow path 30, and the flow rate is distributed in the axial direction to the lower flow path 32 through the upstream and downstream flow communication holes 31, which are bored in the axial direction between the upper and lower flow paths. However, there is an influx. The high pressure fluid flows through the lower channel 32.
After being rectified by a rectifier plate 9 placed in the center of the flow path, the fluid becomes a high-speed fluid stream by passing through the injection hole of a high-speed fluid injection nozzle 10 placed at the end of a flow path that is connected to the lower flow path in a continuous slit shape. It is discharged.

The nozzle head 8 having the above-mentioned high-speed fluid flow generation mechanism has support shafts 1 at both ends of the nozzle head.
5, 16, furthermore, the support shafts 15, 1
6 is a bearing 1 having a built-in bearing 19 that can roll and guide reciprocating motion, rotational motion, and compound motion.
It is supported by 3. The bearing 13 bears the reciprocating rocking movement of the nozzle head 8, as well as the rotational movement when the nozzle head 8 is reversed to obtain an optimum working position when replacing the high-speed fluid jet nozzle 10.

An electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder 12, which is an actuator capable of linearly reciprocating the nozzle head 8 in the width direction of the sheet, is attached to the tip of the support shaft 15 via a rotatable joint 14 capable of applying tensile and compressive loads.

On the other hand, a spline groove is machined at the tip of the support shaft 16, and a spline shaft joint 17 is linearly guided and connected to the spline groove. The spline shaft joint 1
7 is fixed to the housing 20 with a key 22, and the tip of the housing 20 is
It is fixed to the output shaft of a worm reducer 18 used as a booster with a rotation prevention key and a set screw (both not shown).

The above spline shaft joint 17 and worm reducer 1
8, the rotational force around the axis generated by vibrations during the reciprocating rocking movement of the nozzle head 8 can be applied to the boosting mechanism of the worm reducer 18 via the spline shaft joint 17. Further, by the guided connection of the spline shaft joint 17, linear reciprocating rocking motion can be performed freely.

Furthermore, by rotating the input shaft of the worm reducer 18, torque is transmitted to the nozzle head 8 via the spline shaft joint 17 fixed to the output shaft, and the nozzle head 8 can be reversed to any angular position. This facilitates the reversal work of the nozzle head 8, which is required when replacing the high-speed fluid jet nozzle 10, and also allows the worm reducer 18 to be maintained in the reversible position by the boosting mechanism.

The feature of the device according to the present invention, in which the above-mentioned mechanism is arranged in the sheet width direction, is that due to its high pressure-resistant structure, the swinging actuator of the nozzle head 8, which is inevitably heavy (over 100 kg), has high output and high speed. This is due to the use of a responsive electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder 12.

Next, the structure and operating principle of the electrohydraulic stepping cylinder 12 will be explained using FIGS. 4 to 6.

4 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the structure of the electrohydraulic stepping cylinder 12. FIG. 4 shows the stopped state (hydraulic balance state), FIG. 5 shows the retracted state, and FIG. It is a figure showing an extrusion state.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 23 denotes an electric stepping motor whose rotation is controlled by pulses transmitted by a pulse generator (not shown), and in the present invention, a piston rod 26 that causes the motor and the injection nozzle to oscillate. In between, a hydraulic chamber surrounded by a cylinder 35 is formed. a screw shaft 24 attached to the tip of the motor shaft 23;
Valve spool (3-way valve) 25 screwed to
This constitutes a conversion mechanism that converts the step-like rotational displacement of the stepping motor 23 into a linear displacement, and this conversion mechanism is fitted into the hydraulic chamber. Further, hydraulic pressure is applied to the valve spool 25 in the hydraulic chamber to amplify the force of the piston rod via the piston head 33 fixed to the tip of the piston rod 26 connected to the valve spool 25, and the electric stepping motor 23 A driving force different from the driving force due to the rotational displacement of the piston rod 26 is applied to the piston rod 26.

The working oil pressure is Ps from a hydraulic pump (not shown).
is guided into the hydraulic chamber of the cylinder 35 through Pt
I'm starting to go back to the tank more.

In Figure 4, the pressure receiving area of cylinder B is
B ₁ , the supplied hydraulic pressure is Pb, the pressure receiving area of the cylinder C section is C ₁ , and the hydraulic pressure inside the cylinder C section is Pc, then the hydraulic pressure supplied from Ps to the cylinder B section at pressure Pb and the cylinder rod 26 are as follows. The pushing force is balanced in the state of , and it stops.

In other words, Pb×B ₁ (Pushing force on B side) = Pc×C ₁ (C
side pushing force), and the balance pressure at stop is Pc = Pb
×B ₁ /C ₁ keeps the electrohydraulic stepping cylinder 12 in a stopped state.

In FIG. 5, electric stepping motor 23
When the screw shaft 24, which is directly connected to the piston head 33, is rotated by a certain angle clockwise, the valve spool 25, which is screwed to the screw shaft 24, is rotated by the piston head 33 to prevent rotation.
4, the linear displacement Z ₁ occurs according to the rotation angle of the screw shaft 24. At this time, piston rod 2
From the _P2 hole of the piston head 33 fixed to 6,
Pressure oil is led to the tank via Pt, and cylinder C
The relationship between pressures Pc and Pb in parts and parts B is Pc<Pb
Therefore, the piston rod 26 is connected to the valve spool 2.
When the piston rod 5 is displaced by _Z1 , the hydraulic pressure is balanced and the piston rod 26 stops.

In FIG. 6, electric stepping motor 23
When the screw shaft 24 directly connected to the valve spool 25 is rotated counterclockwise by a certain angle, the valve spool 25 undergoes a linear displacement Z ₂ according to the rotation angle of the screw shaft 24. At this time, the piston head 33 fixed to the piston rod 26
Pressure oil is led to the cylinder C part from the _P1 hole of
Pc>Pb, and the piston rod 26 is pushed out. The piston rod 26 is connected to the valve spool 2
When the cylinder rod ₂₆ is displaced Z2 by the amount that the cylinder rod 5 has moved, the hydraulic pressure is balanced and the cylinder rod 26 stops.

As described above, the electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder in which a hydraulic servo valve is directly driven by a pulse motor has high output, high-speed response, and can precisely control the stop position.

For example, if the inner diameter of the cylinder 35 is 30 mmφ, thrust: speed 100 mm/sec, working oil pressure 70 Kg/cm, ² o'clock push/pull 140 kg, speed 60 mm/sec, working oil pressure 70
Kg/cm ² : 210Kg on both push and pull sides Resolution: 0.1mm/step Maximum speed: 100mm/sec (1000pps) Performance.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a nozzle swing pattern (triangular waveform) in the apparatus of the present invention.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the X axis (sheet width direction) represents the nozzle swing speed, and the Y axis represents the sheet advancing speed.

FIG. 7 shows a nozzle device in which nozzles with a high-speed fluid injection hole diameter d are arranged linearly in a row in the sheet width direction at an arrangement pitch P, which is oscillated in the X-axis direction with a vibration amplitude twice the nozzle pitch P. The swing turning angle α is set so that the impact traces a caused by the high-speed fluid flow of each nozzle overlap and there is no gap, and the impact locus is shown when the sheet surface is filled with impact traces a.

As shown in FIG. 7, an oscillation pattern in which the impact marks a caused by the high-speed fluid flow of each nozzle do not overlap or fill the sheet surface without gaps is referred to as 100% impact density.

The effective striking part is the central part L of the nozzle swing pattern shown in the figure, and both ends l (corresponding to the swing amplitude) are cut off as ears in a later process.

Similar to FIG. 7, FIG. 8 shows a 100% impact trajectory, but the swing amplitude is set to 10 times the nozzle arrangement pitch P.

Figures 9 and 10 show examples of nozzle swing patterns in the case of multiple strikes with a striking density of 100% or more, and Figure 9 shows double strikes on the sheet surface in one nozzle swing process. FIG. 10 shows a swing pattern when the sheet surface is triple-impacted in one nozzle swing process.

In Fig. 9, nozzles N ₁ , N ₂ ...N _o having a diameter of high-speed fluid injection hole d are arranged in a row in the sheet width direction at equal pitches P, arranged in a row in the X-axis direction, and arranged in a row in the X-axis direction. is swung in the direction.

Here, 50% of the impact trace area of nozzle N ₁ is impacted by nozzle N ₂ adjacent to nozzle N ₁ ,
This part becomes the double impact part e (shaded part). Further, of the impact trace area of nozzle N ₂ , 50% of the remaining impact trace area that was not overlapped by nozzle N ₁ is struck by nozzle N ₃ adjacent to nozzle N ₂ , and this part is also the same as above. This becomes the double impact part e′. Thereafter, in the same way, adjacent nozzles N ₄ , N ₅ ... 50% sequentially by N _o
Continuous double striking parts e, e' . . . are constructed one by one.

As mentioned above, a swing pattern in which the sheet surface is continuously hit twice in one swinging process of the nozzle is referred to as a striking density of 200%.

Next _, in FIG. 10, _the nozzle arrangement is the same as in FIG. Becomes a blow. More nozzles
Nozzle N ₃ adjacent to N ₂ impacts the remaining 1/3 of the area of the impact trace of nozzle N ₁ , and this impact area becomes a triple impact area f (hatched area). Thereafter, in the same way, triple striking portions f' . . . of 1/3 portion are successively formed by the adjacent nozzles N ₄ , N ₅ . . . _No.

As mentioned above, the swing pattern in which the sheet surface is continuously hit three times in one swinging process of the nozzle is referred to as a striking density of 300%.

Although not shown, either the nozzle rocking speed X can be made faster relative to the sheet advancing speed Y than the example shown in FIG. 10, or the sheet advancing speed Y can be made slower relative to the nozzle rocking speed X. By setting the nozzle turn-back angle α smaller than the one shown in the figure, the overlapping area of the impact trace area caused by adjacent nozzles in one swinging process is increased, and arbitrary high-density processing of 300% or more can be performed. Ru.
Furthermore, by setting the folding angle larger than shown in the figure, low-density processing of 100% or less can be easily performed.

In the above embodiment of the device of the present invention, an example is shown in which a conversion mechanism for converting the rotational displacement of the stepping motor is fitted into the fluid pressure chamber, but the conversion mechanism may be provided outside the fluid pressure chamber. .

Furthermore, the nozzle arrangement is not limited to the one-row linear arrangement illustrated here, but may be a linear arrangement of two or more rows, or even a staggered arrangement.

According to the device of the present invention, for a fiber sheet moving at a constant speed, (a) sheet movement speed, (b) nozzle injection hole diameter (impingement area of high-speed fluid flow on the fiber sheet surface), and (c) nozzle arrangement interval. (High-speed fluid flow jet density)
For each condition, the amplitude and swing are such that there is no unevenness in density after impact of the high-speed fluid flow, and the density after impact on the fiber sheet surface is set as necessary to uniformly fill the sheet surface. By setting the speed, processing can be performed by causing the high-speed fluid to collide with an extremely accurate trajectory while reciprocating the jet nozzle at a constant speed in the width direction of the sheet.

This makes it possible to obtain a fiber entangled sheet that is smooth with few uneven surfaces, has no unevenness in density, and is dense and highly entangled.

As for the oscillating waveform of the injection nozzle, a straight triangular fold is preferable because more accurate impact density can be obtained at the folding point, but a sine wave may be used to alleviate the inertial force of the fold.

In the high-speed fluid flow treatment of the present invention, the fluid used for the high-speed fluid flow may be liquid or gas, but water is most preferably used in terms of ease of handling, cost, and amount of collision energy as a fluid. Furthermore, organic solvents, alkali, acid aqueous solutions, etc. may also be used depending on the purpose.

This fluid is pressurized by a high-pressure pump and is jetted from a discharge hole with a small diameter, and is sprayed onto the fiber sheet surface as a high-speed columnar flow.

As for the pressure conditions, a range of about 5 to 300 kg/cm ² can be used. A preferred range is 20 to 200 Kg/cm ² , more preferably 30 to 150 Kg/cm ² .

Next, as the fiber sheet that can be used in the present invention, ordinary nonwoven fabrics, laminates of woven or knitted fabrics and nonwoven fabrics, laminates of nonwoven fabrics with different properties, etc. It can be manufactured by forming a sheet by a sheet forming method such as a web forming method or a paper making method, and further fixing the structure by a method such as needle punching or primary fluid punching, if necessary.

The fibers constituting the fiber sheet used in the present invention are:
Natural fibers, chemical fibers, synthetic fibers, or combinations thereof can be used.

By having the configuration described in detail above, the present invention achieves the following excellent effects.

In other words, because it uses an electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder that drives a hydraulic servo valve with the pulse motor used in the nozzle swing actuator, it has high output and high-speed response, so it can be used even if the non-rocking object is heavy. , enabling precise and high-speed positioning.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain an extremely accurate sheet surface impact pattern using a high-speed fluid flow, and it is possible to process the sheet surface without unevenness with arbitrary impact density. It is possible to dramatically increase the sheet processing speed, which is determined relative to the density.

Furthermore, since the swing conditions are set based on the rotation conditions of the electric stepping motor that drives the hydraulic servo valve, that is, the number of control pulses and frequency, the swing conditions are easy to set and can be controlled digitally. Operating conditions can be set accurately and in a short time.

Therefore, by colliding the high-speed fluid flow formed by the above-mentioned high-performance rocking actuator with the sheet surface, it is possible to achieve uniform impact density, high entanglement, excellent surface smoothness, and low surface density. A high quality fiber entangled sheet can be obtained.

The fiber entangled sheet obtained by processing with the high-speed fluid jet nozzle device of the present invention has a high density and uniform surface even as it is, and can be applied to industrial and material applications as a sheet with excellent flexibility. It can also be dyed and applied to clothing.

Furthermore, according to the processing using the apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a sheet made of ultrafine fiber bundles, and also to easily form a fibrillated entangled layer of ultrafine fiber bundles, which is suitable for the above-mentioned applications. In addition to its application in the field of silvered artificial leather, which has conventionally been made by laminating polyurethane films to form a silver surface, it is now possible to obtain a new fiber sheet with a surface made of fibrillated and entangled microfiber bundles similar to natural leather. It is possible. Therefore, the treated sheet obtained in the present invention can be widely used as a base material for artificial leather, such as silver-finished artificial leather, nubuck-like artificial leather,
It will be possible to develop applications for natural leather such as suede-like artificial leather.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an overall apparatus for producing an entangled fiber sheet using the intertwined fiber sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, showing an example of the fiber entangled sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the structure of the electrohydraulic stepping cylinder 12. FIG. 4 shows the stopped state (hydraulic balance state), FIG. 5 shows the retracted state, and FIG. It is a figure showing an extrusion state. FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a nozzle swing pattern (triangular waveform) in the apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a nozzle swing pattern in the case of multiple strikes with a striking density of 100% or more in the apparatus of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols in the drawings, a: impact trace, P: nozzle arrangement pitch, d: nozzle high-speed fluid jet injection hole diameter,
α: Swing folding angle, l: ear portion, L: effective striking portion, N ₁ to _{N o} : nozzle number, 1: nozzle device for manufacturing fiber entangled sheet, 2: conveyor device, 3: fiber sheet, 4: net Conveyor, 5: Net conveyor drive motor, 6: Drive roller, 7: Followed roller, 8: Nozzle head, 9: Straightening plate, 10: High speed fluid jet nozzle, 11: Pressure plate, 12: Electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder, 13 : Bearing, 14:
Joint, 15, 16: Support shaft, 17: Spline shaft joint, 18: Worm reducer, 19: Bearing, 20: Housing, 21: Pressure plate mounting bolt, 22: Key, 23: Electric stepping motor, 24: Screw Shaft, 25: Valve spool, 2
6: Piston rod, 27: Fluid discharge pipe, 2
8: opening, 29: high pressure fluid inlet hole, 30: upper passage, 31: upper and lower passage communication hole, 32: lower passage, 33: piston head, 34: valve spool rotation stopper, 35: cylinder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 (a) A front surface is provided with fluid injection holes that face a fiber sheet that is continuously moved and are in contact with a large number of rows in the transverse direction of the sheet, and a high-pressure fluid supply chamber is provided on the back side. a fluid ejecting device comprising: a fluid ejecting nozzle body having a fluid ejecting nozzle body; a support shaft coupled to the nozzle body; and a support element supporting the support shaft such that the nozzle body can swing in a transverse direction of the fiber sheet. (b) a hydraulic cylinder device incorporating a piston head, a piston rod, and a servo valve mechanism; (c) a stepping motor device having a drive shaft whose rotation direction is reversed; and (d) the fluid injection device. the support shaft of the hydraulic cylinder device is coupled to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder device, and
A fiber entangled sheet manufacturing device, wherein a servo valve mechanism of the hydraulic cylinder device is coupled to a drive shaft of the stepping motor device.