Hydroentangled webs of this kind are to a great extent used for the manufacturing of disposable non-woven products of which can be mentioned, absorbent core material for feminine hygiene articles, - incontinence articles, - diapers, - table top napkins, - hospital products such as bed protection sheets, - wipes, and - towels.

During the hydroentangling process jets of water are, under the influence of a pressure as high as e. g. 100 bar, ejected through a number of nozzles towards a layer of fibre fluff which is air-laid by means of a forming head per se. During the hydroentangling process the fluff is conventionally supported by a base web, which in its turn is supported by a wire.

The base web has to be strong enough to withstand the heavy load from the water jets and is therefore normally produced of synthetic fibres.

In some cases the base web can be supplied to the forming head in form of a spunbonded/meltblown (SMMS) web, but usually it is formed of carded fibres which are hydroentangled and dried

before being used as base for the air-laid fibre fluff during the hydroentangling of this.

The carding of the synthetic fibre material is a relatively slow process causing therefore a limitation to the production rate of the total plant.

Besides, the price of synthetic fibres can e. g. be about three times the price of cellulose fibres. The base web therefore is rather costly.

A finished web of 60 g/m2 will typically consist of a base web of 30 g/m2supplied with a layer of cellulose fibres of 30 g/m2.

Such a web has, in relation to its high price, poor absorption properties as the costly synthetic fibres do not or only negligibly participate in the absorption process.

The total weight of a conventional web is typically between 20-60 g/m2 with a base web of between 10-30 glre and air-laid cellulose fibre and/or cellulose fibres and synthetic fibres of between 10-30 g/m2. The webs are relatively thin, for example about 0.5-0.6 mm.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hydroentangled fibre web of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, which is less expensive and has better absorption properties than hitherto known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydroentangled fibre web of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph having a weight of between 20-2000 g/m2.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and a plant of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph for producing a web, which is less expensive and has better absorption properties than hitherto known.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a method and a plant of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph for producing a web having a weight of between 20-2000 g/m2.

An inexpensive and good absorbing web according to the invention is obtained when it is produced without base web and therefore only consists of cellulose fibres, which if necessary can be mixed with synthetic fibres for strengthening the web.

Such a web could be produced by means of a method and a plant according to the invention by air-laying fibre fluff into a layer upon a forming wire, transferring the layer of fluff by means of an overlying second wire to a third wire having mesh count small enough for preventing the fibres from penetrating into the wire, and ejecting water jets towards the fluff on the third wire, thereby hydroentangling the fluff into a coherent web.

Preferably the mesh count of the third wire, on which the fluff is entangled, could be between 38 and 58 meshes at least at the top of said wire.

A web produced in this way could, according to the invention, in subsequent process steps be imparted further advantageous properties and obtain weights up to e. g. 2000 glum2.

The invention will be explained in greater details below where further advantageous properties and only exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of a plant according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of a plant according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of a plant according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a fourth embodiment of a plant according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a fifth embodiment of a plant according to the invention, Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a sixth embodiment of a plant according to the invention, Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a seventh embodiment of a plant according to the invention, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of an eight embodiment of a plant according to the invention.

The embodiments shown in the figures all comprise a forming station 1, which mainly consists of a forming head 2 placed above a forming wire 3 and a suction box 4 placed below the forming wire.

The forming wire runs, during operation, around four rolls 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow. A differential pressure is generated over the forming wire by means of a first-and second vacuum fan 6 and 7, which are connected to the suction box 4.

Fibres from a supply of fibres (not shown) are via a channel 8 carried into the forming head in a flow of air. The fibres are by means of said differential pressure deposited in a layer of fluff onto the forming wire.

The fluff normally contains fines, which are small fibre particles in order of 10-50. These fines make the

subsequent hydroentangling process troublesome and costly and moreover tend to reduce the quality of the finished web.

The forming station according to the invention is therefore arranged in such a way that at least most of the fines are removed from the fluff during the air-laying process in the forming station.

This advantageous effect is obtained by choosing the mesh count of the forming wire and the differential pressure between the forming head and the suction box such that mainly only fines contained in the fluff will pass through the forming wire.

The mesh count of the forming wire is, more definite, about 14 -30 meshes while the mesh count of a conventional forming wire normally is about 31-38 mesh.

The coarser forming wire according to the invention results in a reduction of the differential pressure from the conventional about 180-270 mm water head to about 80-150 mm water head.

The fluff on the forming wire is thereby deposited in a light and airy layer which easily is blown through by the flow of air with velocity so low that the fines but not the fibres are conveyed by the air which is flowing through the fluff and the forming wire.

A filter 9 is arranged between the first-and second vacuum fan 6 and 7 for removing fines from the flow of air. The removed fines are collected in a sack 10 or a similar device.

The cleaned fluff is, in this case, compacted between two compacting rolls 11 and sucked up upon an overlaying second wire 12 by means of a suction box 13 which is connected to a

vacuum fan 14. The second wire 12 runs, during operation, around four rolls 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The cleaned and compacted fluff is by means of the second wire transferred to a third wire 16 running, during operation, around four rolls 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

A suction box 18, which is arranged below the third wire 16, is connected to a vacuum fan 19.

An overlying fourth wire 20 is extending from the third wire 16. A suction box 21, which is arranged above the fourth wire, is connected to a vacuum fan 22. The fourth wire 20 runs, during operation, around four rolls 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Above the third wire 16 is, in the area of the suction box 18, placed a first set of hydroentangling nozzles 24. Another set of hydroentangling nozzles 25 is, in the area of the suction box 21, placed underneath the fourth wire 20.

During operation jets of water are, under influence of a pressure of e. g. 100 bar, ejected through the two sets of nozzles 24 and 25 towards the cleaned and compacted fluff on the third and fourth wire, respectively. The fluff is thereby entangled into a coherent web.

The second set of water nozzle is loosening the web from the third wire by ejecting water jet towards the lower side of the web on the third wire. That means that the hydroentangling performed by the second set of water nozzles at the same time also is loosening the web from the wire.

Jets of air from air nozzles can alternatively be used for loosening the web from the wire.

The fluff is, in this case, hydroentangled from both sides.

Alternatively, the fluff could be hydroentangled from only one side, for example the topside.

A hydroentangling process is known per se. But conventionally the hydroentangling is carried out from the top side with the fluff supported by a base web which usually is formed of carded synthetic fibres which are hydroentangled and dried before being used in the hydroentangling process.

The carding process reduces the possible production rate of the total plant, and the price of synthetic fibres is rather high. The base web is therefore costly and also has poor absorption properties as the synthetic fibres do not or only negligibly participate in the absorption process.

For remedying these drawbacks the third and fourth wire 16,20 are formed with mesh count small enough for preventing the fibres from penetrating into the wire. More specific, the mesh count is between 38-58 meshes while the mesh count of a conventional hydroentangling wire is between 25-35 meshes.

The hydroentangling process can, by using such a fine wire, now is carried out without using the conventional base web.

Thereby it surprisingly is obtained that a hydroentangled web with superior absorbing properties advantageously can be produced at a very low price.

The rate of water flowing through the nozzles 24 and 25 during hydroentangling the web is very high. In order to avoid that the water runs to waste it is recirculated (not shown) back to the nozzles for being reused.

Conventionally, the fluff will contain fines, which will be dispersed in the water flowing through the fluff being hydroentangled. The dispersed fines in the reused water tend

to get stuck in the fine nozzles, which then stop to function thereby causing a costly stop-down for the total plant.

The fines are therefore by means of a filter removed from the used water before this water is recirculated back to the nozzles. Filtering particles as small as fines require a costly and complex filter having a number of filtering steps.

The servicing of such filter also is very costly.

The above named drawbacks of the conventional hydroentangling technique is according to the invention remedied by removing the fines from the fluff already in the forming station in the way previously described.

For some applications it is, however, preferred to let the fines in the fluff remain in the web. In this case the process in the forming station is carried out in the conventional way, that means without separating the fines from the fluff.

The wet hydroentangled web is by means of the fourth wire 20 transferred to a fifth wire 26 running, during operation, around four rolls 27 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

On the fifth wire the web is dried by passing e. g. an oven 28 or similar heat source.

Finally, the finished web is wound up on a reel 29.

Fig. 2 shows a variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The fluff is, in this case, hydroentangled only from the topside on the wire 16 by means of the first set of nozzles 24.

The web is then transferred to a fourth wire 30 running over four rolls 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow. On the fourth wire 30 the second side of the web will be turned upwards and hydroentangled by means of the second set of nozzles 25.

Underneath the fourth wire 30 is placed a suction box 32, which is connected to a vacuum fan 33.

The wet hydroentangled web is transferred to a fifth wire 34 running, during operation, around four rolls 35 in the direction indicated by the arrow. On the fifth wire the web is dried by passing e. g. an oven 36 or a similar heat source.

The dried web is on a sixth wire 37 running over four rolls 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow finally transferred to the reel 29 and wound up on this reel.

Fig. 3 shows another variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hydroentangled and dried web is in this case transferred to a sixth wire 39 running, during operation, around four rolls 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow. A steam ejector 41 is arranged over the web and underneath the wire 39 is placed a suction box 42 connected to a vacuum fan 43.

On the sixth wire 39 the web is treated with steam from the steam ejector 41 for thereby binding dust on the web. The vacuum from the suction box ensures that the steam is directed against the surface of the web.

Before being wound up on the reel 29 the web is passing through a calender 44 where the web is compacted and possibly embossed with a wanted pattern.

Fig. 4 shows another variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hydroentangled and dried web is in this case transferred to a sixth wire 45 running, during operation, around four rolls 46 in the direction indicated by the arrow. A hot-melt applicator 47 is arranged over the web and underneath the wire 45 is placed a suction box 48 connected to a vacuum fan 49.

By means of the hot-melt applicator 47 a layer of hot-melted plastic is applied on the web on the sixth wire. A non-woven web 50 of e. g. cellulose fibres or synthetic fibres or cellulose fibres mixed with synthetic fibres is unwound from a reel 51 and applied upon the melted plastic on the web on the sixth wire, thereby forming a laminate of the originally hydroentangled web and said non-woven web.

Before being wound up on the reel 29 the laminate is passing through the calender 44 where the web is compacted and possibly embossed with a wanted pattern.

Fig. 5 shows still another variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hydroentangled and dried web is in this case transferred to a sixth wire 52 running, during operation, around four rolls 53 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Underneath the wire 52 is placed a suction box 54 connected to a vacuum fan 55 and above the wire is arranged a device 56 for applying a layer of spunbonded/meltblown fibres (SMMS), bicomponent fibres and/or a combination of these fibres upon the web on the sixth wire thereby producing a laminate of the originally hydroentangled web and said fibres.

Before being wound up on the reel 29 the laminate is passing through the calender 44 where the web is compacted and possibly embossed with a wanted pattern.

Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hydroentangled and dried web is in this case transferred to a sixth wire 57 running, during operation, around four rolls 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Underneath the wire 57 is placed a suction box 59 connected to a vacuum fan 60 and above the wire is arranged a device 61 for producing a carded web 62 which is bonded by e. g. a hot-melt application to the hydroentangled web thereby forming a laminate of said two webs.

Before being wound up on the reel 29 the laminate is passing through the calender 44 where the web is compacted and possibly embossed with a wanted pattern.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 6 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this case the plant of fig. 6 is supplied with a device 63 for further applying a non-woven web 64, which is bonded by e. g. a hot-melt application onto the lower side of the hydroentangled web.

By means of the plant shown in fig. 7 a laminate consisting of the originally hydroentangled web, a carded web on the upper side and a non-woven web on the lower side of the hydroentangled web can be produced.

In stead of the non-woven web 64 a film of e. g. a plastic can be applied to the lower side of the hydroentangled web or both a non-woven web and a film can be applied to the lower side of the hydroentangled web.

Fig. 8 shows a further variant of the embodiment of the plant shown in fig. 1 and identical components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The hydroentangled web is in this case transferred to a fifth wire 65 running, during operation, around four rolls 66 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Above the fifth wire is arranged an applicator 67 for applying a first layer of binder to the upper side of the fibre web on the fifth wire.

The web is then transferred to a sixth wire 68 running, during operation, around four rolls 69 in the direction indicated by the arrow. On the fifth wire the web is dried by passing e. g. an oven 70 or a similar heat source.

A seventh wire 71 is placed downstream of the sixth wire 65 for turning the lower second side of the web upwards. The wire runs during operation, around four rolls 72 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Above the seventh wire 71 is arranged another applicator 73 for applying a second layer of binder to the second side of the fibre web on the seventh wire.

The web is then transferred to an eight wire 74 running, during operation, around four rolls 75 in the direction indicated by the arrow. On the eight wire the web is dried by passing e. g. an oven 76 or a similar heat source.

The binder on the web is on a ninth wire 77 running over four rolls 78 in the direction indicated by the arrow cured by passing e. g. an oven 79 or a similar heat source whereafter the web is transferred to the reel 29 for being wound up on this reel.

The invention is described above by way of example and by means of eight different embodiments, which of course can be combined in many ways for thereby producing webs having a wanted structure and properties.

In one embodiment according to the invention the web only consist of hydroentangled cellulose fibres. This web has excellent absorption properties and also can be produced at a very low price owing to the low price of the cellulose fibres.

In another embodiment of the invention the cellulose fibres are mixed with synthetic fibres for strengthening the web by for example heat treating the web in such a way that the synthetic fibres are bonded to the cellulose fibres and to each other.

In a third embodiment of the invention the web only consist of hydroentangled synthetic fibres. This web is of course more expensive to produce, but for some applications can the advantages of the web compensate for this, e. g. when a very strong web with low absorption properties are desired.

In a further embodiment of the invention at least one side of the web is applied a binder for making this side dust free.

Alternatively the web is treated by steam for binding the dust.

An expedient web according to the invention has a structure with little or no fines.

As examples of products manufactured of such webs can be mentioned disposable non-woven products as e. g. feminine hygiene articles, incontinence articles, diapers, napkins, wipes and towels which all need to have good absorption properties and preferably also should have a low price.

The webs used for such products usually have a weight of about 20-80 g/m2 and are usually calendered.

By using the plant and method according to the invention it is, however, possible to produce webs having a weight of up to e. g. 2000 g/m2.

In one embodiment of the invention such heavy-duty webs only consist of hydroentangled cellulose fibre or synthetic fibres or cellulose fibres mixed with synthetic fibres.

In other embodiments said hydroentangled web is laminated with other layers of different kinds.

As an example of such other layers can be mentioned a hot melted layer of a plastic on at least one side of the hydroentangled web, and at least one non-woven web on the melted plastic.

In another example the other layers are comprising at least one layer of melt blown fibres (SMMS) or bicomponent fibres and/or a combination of these on at least one side of the web.

In a third example the other layers are comprising at least one carded web on at least one side of the web.

In a forth example the other layers are comprising at least one carded web on at least one side of the web, and a film of e. g. a plastic on at least one side of the web.

Heavy duty webs of the kind named above are usually calendered and can advantageously be used for producing e. g. corrugated board and heat-and/or sound insulating materials.