EP4168616B1 - Method for the continuous production of nonwoven fabric, and associated nonwoven fabric production apparatus and nonwoven board - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a continuous fiber fleece production process and the associated fiber fleece production arrangement and fiber fleece board made from fiber mixtures of carrier fibers and binding fibers.

A non-woven fabric is a structure made of limited length fibers, filaments or chopped yarns. Since a variety of raw materials can be used for fiber nonwovens and there are a variety of manufacturing processes, fiber nonwovens can be tailored to a wide range of application requirements.

There are fiber fleeces with a weight of several kilograms per square meter for insulation and also fleeces with a weight of less than one gram per square meter, so-called nanofleeces.

The fiber fleeces differ in their structure depending on the requirements.

For example, nonwovens with high absorption are dense, have a high flow resistance and consist of thin or very thin fibers. A special version of these is meltblown nonwovens. In the meltblown process, the polymer strand emerging from the nozzle is immediately stretched by hot air flowing in the direction of the filaments' exit. The fibers swirled by the air flow are deposited on a sieve belt. The deposition process can produce a fine nonwoven made of entangled polymer fibers.

Electrostatically formed nonwovens are created by the formation and deposition of fibers from polymer solutions or melts under the influence of an electric field.

Nonwovens for thermal insulation, on the other hand, are more voluminous. Meltblown nonwovens can also be combined with staple fibers to create a voluminous structure.

If nonwoven fabrics are subject to mechanical stress and have elastic properties, they preferably have fibers aligned in the direction of the stress. Such nonwoven insulation is used, for example, in vehicles under the carpet or behind the bulkhead, or for the production of air-permeable mattresses.

The fibers in the nonwoven fabric can be oriented in different ways. Usually they are more or less parallel to the surface. A distinction is made between oriented nonwovens, where the fibers are very strongly oriented in one direction, cross-layer nonwovens, where the fibers are preferably oriented in two directions by laying individual fiber piles or nonwovens with a longitudinal orientation of the fibers on top of each other to form the overall nonwoven fabric using cross-layers. oriented and random-layer nonwovens, in which the fibres or filaments can take any direction.

In the prior art, a distinction is made between different manufacturing processes in the production of nonwovens from staple fibers. Mechanically formed nonwovens are those that are produced using carding or carding or using airlay processes. The carding or carding process is a dry manufacturing process in which several layers of fleece are placed on top of each other. The fibers are mostly flat, parallel to the surface. Depending on how the fleeces are laid, oriented fleeces or cross-layered fleeces are created. If special cards are used, random fleeces can also be formed.

Aerodynamically formed fleeces are those that are formed from fibers using an air stream on an air-permeable base. If the fleeces are produced using airlay systems, the fibers are sucked onto an air-permeable belt and lie oriented in the surface. Depending on the placement and the belt transport speed, the fibers can be positioned at an angle of between 70° and 80° to the surface without being completely vertical. The fibers take on an opposite angle on both surfaces, which causes the fibers to bend significantly.

In hydrodynamically formed nonwovens, fibers are suspended in water and laid on a water-permeable base. This process is also known as the wet process.

Fibers that are perpendicular to the surface can be obtained using the Struto process, which is also known as the Wavemacker or V-Lap process. This is a process in which a flat fleece with vertical folds is created from a carded fleece with a horizontal fiber layer.

Various options are known as methods for the subsequent solidification of the nonwovens created in the manner described above, such as the possibility of a frictional connection or the combination of a frictional and a positive connection in a mechanical manner or the possibility of a material connection, which is achieved both chemically by adding a binder and can also be achieved thermally through the use of thermoplastics. The most commonly used method for solidification is the use of thermoplastics in the form of low-melting plastic, preferably in fiber form. These so-called binding fibers have a melting range of 100 - 200 °C and are preferably present as compact fibers or as bicomponent fibers.

The publication EN 10 2010 034 159 A1 discloses a discontinuous solution for the production of nonwoven components with fibers oriented perpendicular to the surface, in which the fibers are transported into a mold provided with flow openings via an air stream wherein the mold is divided and is moved apart before filling, after filling the fiber material is compressed by closing the mold and then the fiber material is heated by hot air until the fibers have bonded together, wherein the fibers in the mold are oriented perpendicular to the feed direction and in the direction of the air flowing out of the mold before compression.

Furthermore, the publication WO 2006/092029 A1 a textile lapping machine is known having an inclined comb which deposits a vertically sloping fibrous web onto a wire belt of a continuous conveyor passing through a furnace. The reciprocating pusher bar pushes the folds formed by the comb into a shark unit which extends across the width of the mesh belt. The unit has a toothed plate which initially slows down the folded web and longitudinal fingers which overlie the conveyor forming a flat overlap zone. A textile card feeds the fibrous web to the lapping zone and the furnace fuses any low melting synthetic fibres in the web to the surrounding fibres to give a web having a density of 80-2000 g/m ^2. The comb web direction remains constant and the pusher bar and shark unit are moved towards and away from the comb. The drives to the comb and pusher are independent.

In the print US 2004/0097155 A1 A process, an arrangement and a board are described where crimped staple fibers are mixed into meltblow fibers directly during the manufacturing process. By pulling the fleece apart in two porous waves using air, a structure is created with two surfaces where the fibers lie flat and a thinned central area where the fibers assume a C-shaped orientation.

In print WO 2009/056745 A1 An aerodynamic process is described in which the fibers are transported between at least one moving porous wall by means of an air flow and the air is sucked out from the outside. Long fibers are preferably deposited along the porous wall, while predominantly short fibers are deposited perpendicular to the air flow.

The publication further discloses WO 00/66824 A1 an airy nonwoven material comprising a nonwoven web having a plurality of substantially continuous fibers oriented in a z direction of the nonwoven web, and a method of making the airy nonwoven material from the materials described in z -Direction shaped fibers.

The Cormatex company has a system that deposits the fibers into a channel and also sucks them off to the side.

The problems in the prior art are that all processes for producing nonwoven fiber boards from staple fibers with fibers oriented perpendicular to the surface have an equal density along and across the board during scattering.

Further disadvantages exist in the disclosed technology of the publication WO 2006092029 A1 in that due to the same density along and across the board, only two-dimensional deformation is possible due to the formation of folds. The fleece splits.

In the revelations of the printed books WO 2009056745 A1 and US 20040097155 A1 as well as in the process described by Comatex, nonwovens are disclosed which have different densities and fiber orientations over the fleece thickness, with the fibers in the surface areas being plane-parallel in the central area, largely perpendicular to it, which in turn makes later deformation of the nonwoven into a three-dimensional component more difficult .

The processes used to manufacture nonwoven fabric boards based on the Airlay principle ( WO 2009056745 A1 , US20040097155 A1 and Comatex - with fibers oriented perpendicular to the surface) allow only small differences in density along and across the board.

The disadvantage of all of these processes with the same density across the width and length is that after shaping with different thicknesses, the density in the thin areas is significantly higher than in the starting material. On the one hand, this leads to a higher weight and, on the other hand, the thin areas become stiffer and often less acoustically effective.

Fleece manufactured using a well-known airlay process ( WO 2009056745 A1 , US20040097155 A1 and Comatex) always have fibres lying parallel to the surface due to the manufacturing process, which has a negative impact on three-dimensional deformation.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a simple and efficient, economical, continuous, aerodynamic manufacturing process and an arrangement for producing nonwoven fabrics with fibers oriented perpendicular to the surface and defined fiber orientation and preferably also density distribution over the length and width of the nonwoven fabric and a corresponding nonwoven fabric therefor.

This object is achieved with a continuous nonwoven fabric production process from fiber mixtures of carrier fibers and binding fibers according to the main claim and an associated nonwoven fabric production arrangement and nonwoven fabric board according to the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the subclaims.

1. a. Zuführen von Fasern;
2. b. Auflösen / -kämmen und Öffnen der Fasern;
3. c. Mischen der Fasern;
4. d. Einsaugen der Fasern zwischen zwei sich gegenüberliegenden, mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit laufenden, luftdurchlässigen Transportbändern, in der Art, dass die Luft von außen im vorderen Abschnitt der Transportbänder, so abgesaugt wird, dass der Luftstrom durch zeitliche und über die Breite örtlich unterschiedliche Luftabsaugung immer durch das abgelegte Vliesmaterial parallel zu den Transportbändern abgesaugt wird, und damit das Faservlies senkrecht zur Oberfläche der Transportbänder angelagert ist;
5. e. thermisches Verfestigen des entstandenen Faservlieses durch Erwärmen mittels Heißluft oder kurzwelliger Strahlung und Kühlen.

The continuous nonwoven fabric manufacturing process from fiber mixtures of carrier fibers and binding fibers comprises the following steps:

1. a. Addition of fibres;
2. b. dissolving/combing and opening the fibres;
3. c. Mixing the fibres;
4. d. Suction of the fibres between two opposing, at the same speed running, air-permeable conveyor belts, in such a way that the air is sucked out from outside in the front section of the conveyor belts in such a way that the air flow is always sucked out through the laid down nonwoven material parallel to the conveyor belts by means of air suction that varies over time and across the width, and so that the fiber fleece is deposited perpendicular to the surface of the conveyor belts;
5. e. thermal consolidation of the resulting nonwoven fabric by heating with hot air or short-wave radiation and cooling.

Depending on the air flow, the orientation of the fibers in the front area of the belts running parallel to each other can be controlled. When the fibers are vacuumed directly at the beginning of the belts, the fibers are preferably deposited parallel to the belts and form a layer. Depending on the amount of air extracted, the ratio of parallel to vertical fibers can be controlled.

The air extraction can be moved in the front area of the conveyor belts, from the beginning of the conveyor belts along the belts. This makes it possible to change the orientation of the fibers from parallel to the conveyor belts to a perpendicular orientation of the fibers to the conveyor belts.

If the suction area along the belts is different on both sides of the conveyor belts, boards with a layer of fibers lying parallel to the belts can be produced.

In order to prevent the fibers from being deposited flat on the belts, the filling quantity and the belt speed are controlled so that the fiber condensation always occurs directly at the beginning of the belts.

By controlling the process during start-up, the parallel positioning of the fibers on the belts can be prevented, which brings significant advantages when forming the fleece.

During the start-up process, the fleece build-up is stopped until the belt is filled and then the process continues continuously (see also Fig. 9 to 11 ).

With a suction power that varies over time, the density can be varied across the length of the fleece. The density and thus the properties of the resulting fiber fleece can be adjusted using the speed of the conveyor belts. If suction power and belt speed are coupled, the desired effect of density and property change is increased. By varying the intensity of the suction line locally and over time across the width of the fiber fleece, density distribution is also possible across the width. This means that fleece with locally limited density differences can be produced lengthways and crossways within a board.

The fleece thickness can be adjusted in the range from 5 mm to 100 mm by means of a defined, adjustable distance between the bands. The fleece can be pre-compressed by changing the band gap.

The fleece is preferably heated using hot air. In one variant, the fleece can be heated using short-wave rays.

Depending on the further use of the fleece, the heating and cooling process differs.

In a first step, the fleece is heated so that all binding fibers are activated and the maximum mechanical properties are achieved when cold. The optimal parameters can be determined through preliminary tests. The fleece is then cooled with air and cut to size according to the subsequent use. Fig. 8 shows the compression hardness versus heating time for a 50 mm thick fleece.

In another version, the fleece is only heated for a short time, the fleece strength is then adjusted so that the fleece can be transported and stacked. In picture 3, the first heating time would be sufficient for this fleece. Here, too, the fleece is then cooled and cut to size according to the subsequent use.

In another special version, the fleece is completely heated and, when fully heated, is placed directly into a final mold for shaping and cooling, thus producing a finished component.

The fiber fleece production arrangement has a feed arrangement for carrier fibers, a feed arrangement for binding fibers, at least one opening/combing arrangement or a fiber opener for combing, separating, loosening and loosening the carrier and/or binding fibers, at least one mixing system for mixing the dissolved fibers, as well as a transport system with air extraction in the front section of the transport system for aligning and depositing the fibers consisting of air guide channels and pressure control nozzles and with a heat source in the rear section of the transport system with a subsequent cooling source for thermally solidifying the resulting fiber fleece; wherein the front section of the transport system with air suction consists of opposing, air-permeable conveyor belts running at the same speed and the loosened and mixed fibers are sucked in between the opposing conveyor belts and the fibers are in different densities over the width and length of the fiber fleece due to the air suction Arrange from outside on the conveyor belts perpendicular to the conveyor belts. The band gap can be changed via automatic or manual control.

A conveyor belt for transporting the fiber fleece can be arranged downstream of the transport system with air extraction and heat source.

Furthermore, a cutting device for longitudinal and cross-cutting can be coupled to the conveyor belt.

Furthermore, tools with three-dimensional contours for producing molded parts can be arranged downstream of the conveyor belt and the cutting device.

Preferably, the two conveyor belts run parallel. The distance between the air-permeable conveyor belts can be changed to adjust the fleece thickness.

In a further embodiment, the distance between the bands can be reduced over their length and the fleece can thus be pre-compressed.

The air extraction area is divided across its width into individual, separately controllable areas. The control can take place via changes in cross-section at the same suction pressure or via a change in the suction pressure.

In conjunction with the belt speed and the central suction pressure, fleece with defined, locally different densities can be achieved.

In a first embodiment, the fleece leaves the belt in a cooled state without being transferred to another transport system.

In another embodiment, the heated fleece is cut into blank sections, placed in the lower half of a 3-D mold, which is moved along the bottom, the tool is closed with the upper half of the tool, the product is pressed into the final shape and the three-dimensional shaped product is cooled.

Furthermore, the cooling source for thermal solidification can be arranged downstream of the heat source in the rear section of the transport system or to cool the contents of the three-dimensional molded part.

Various approaches can be chosen as a heat source and also a cooling source for thermal solidification. The heat source can be designed, for example, in the form of a hot air stream. In a special version, the fleece is heated using short-wave rays.

The cooling of the fleece can be done via cold air or via contact, preferably in the 3-D forming tool.

The fiber fleece board has a defined density distribution over the length and width, particularly if it has been manufactured accordingly (by means of the method according to the invention and/or by means of the arrangement).

Abb. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der senkrechten Ausrichtung der Fasern zwischen zwei parallel verlaufenden, luftdurchlässigen Transportbändern;

Abb. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Faservliesplatine;

Abb. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Faservlies-Herstellungsanordnung mit getrennten Zufuhranordnungen von Trägerfasern und Bindefasern, gemeinsamen Mischsystem und parallel verlaufenden, luftdurchlässigen Transportbändern;

Abb. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer über die Breite differenzierte Luftführung und -saugung;

Abb.5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des hinteren Abschnittes einer Faservlies-Herstellungsanordnung mit parallel verlaufenden, luftdurchlässigen Transportbändern, einer Wärmequelle, einer Kühlquelle und einer Zerschneidevorrichtung;

Abb. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des hinteren Abschnittes einer Faservlies-Herstellungsanordnung mit parallel verlaufenden, luftdurchlässigen Transportbändern, einer Wärmequelle, einer Zerschneidevorrichtung und einem dreidimensionalen Formteil;

Abb. 7

eine mögliche Dichteverteilung für eine Bodenisolation eines Personenkraftwagens;

Abb. 8

die Stauchhärte in Abhängigkeit von der Durchwärmzeit;

Abb. 9

das Einsaugen der Fasern in zwei mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit laufenden Bändern in der Art, dass die Fasern parallel zu den Bändern eingesaugt werden;

Abb. 10

die Steuerung der Faser-Füllung bei Produktionsbeginn;

Abb. 11

die Faseranordnung in den Bändern bei kontinuierlicher Produktion und

Abb. 12

die Faseranordnung in den Bändern bei räumlich unterschiedlicher Faserabsaugung entlang der Bänder im vorderen Bereich.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in the figure description , whereby these are intended to explain the invention and are not necessarily to be considered limiting:
Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of the vertical alignment of the fibers between two parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a nonwoven fabric board;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a nonwoven fabric production arrangement with separate feed arrangements for carrier fibers and binding fibers, a common mixing system and parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of air flow and suction differentiated across the width;

Fig.5

a schematic representation of an embodiment of the rear section of a nonwoven fabric production arrangement with parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts, a heat source, a cooling source and a cutting device;

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of an embodiment of the rear section of a nonwoven fabric production arrangement with parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts, a heat source, a cutting device and a three-dimensional molded part;

Fig. 7

a possible density distribution for floor insulation of a passenger car;

Fig. 8

the compression hardness as a function of the heating time;

Fig. 9

the suction of the fibres in two belts running at the same speed in such a way that the fibres are sucked in parallel to the belts;

Fig. 10

controlling the fiber filling at the start of production;

Fig. 11

the fiber arrangement in the ribbons during continuous production and

Fig. 12

the fiber arrangement in the bands with spatially different fiber suction along the bands in the front area.

At this point it should be noted that components with the same function are provided with the same reference symbols.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment with vertically oriented fibers 3 between two parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4'.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a nonwoven fabric board 2 having vertically oriented fibers 3.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a nonwoven fabric production arrangement 1 with separate feed arrangements 5, 5' of carrier fibers and binding fibers, separate fiber openers 6, 6`, common mixing system 7 and air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4` running parallel at the top and bottom. The fibers are each fed from the feed arrangement 5, 5' into a fiber opener 6, 6'. The fiber openers 6, 6' are followed by a common mixing system 7 for mixing the fibers for a homogeneous distribution.

Fig. 4 shows a front view of a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a fiber fleece production arrangement 1 with separate feed arrangements 5, 5 'of carrier fibers and binding fibers, separate fiber openers 6, 6', common mixing system 7 and air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4' running parallel at the top and bottom. The fibers are each guided from the feed arrangement 5, 5' into a fiber opener 6, 6'. The fiber openers 6, 6' are followed by a common mixing system 7 for mixing the fibers for a homogeneous distribution.

Using a system consisting of several fans 15-1 - 15-4, the air and fiber flow is guided via a deflection channel 16 into the two parallel, air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4`.

An air extraction system 8, 8', 81 - 8.10 on the outside of the air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4' extracts air across the width of the fleece at different rates and at different times, and the fibers condense perpendicular to the surface of the conveyor belts at different densities. The start of the air extraction system 81 - 8.10 is at the beginning of the conveyor belts and the end of the air extraction system 82 is directly in front of the thermal bonding system area. A heat source 9 and a cooling source 10 are connected in series for thermal bonding. The finished fiber fleece is then further processed in subsequent production steps.

In Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the rear section of an exemplary embodiment of a fiber fleece production arrangement 1 with air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4' running parallel at the top and bottom, a heat source 9, and a cooling source 10 and a subsequent conveyor belt 11 with cutting device 12. The finished fiber fleece boards 2 are collected in a product collection container 13. The end of the air extraction 82 is directly in front of the system area for thermal solidification with heat source 9 and cooling source 10.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of the rear section of an exemplary embodiment of a fiber fleece production arrangement 1 with air-permeable conveyor belts 4, 4' running parallel at the top and bottom, a heat source 9, a subsequent conveyor belt 11 with cutting device 12 and three-dimensional molded parts 14. The lower half of a three-dimensional molded part 14 is moved along under the warm and therefore easily formable fiber fleece boards 2. When the conveyor belt 11 ends, the sections are placed individually on the lower three-dimensional molded part halves. The upper molding halves are then pressed with a fixed pressure onto the lower molding halves, each filled with a fiber fleece board 2, and the fiber fleece board 2 is thus formed. The heated fiber fleece blanks formed in the three-dimensional molded parts 14 are cooled in the lower halves of the three-dimensional molded parts 14 before being transferred to a product collection container 13. A fully formed fiber fleece product is obtained.

Fig. 7 shows a possible density distribution for floor insulation in a passenger car. In the footrest areas, the density is higher for this example at 70 kg/m ³ , in the tunnel and under the seats at 30 kg/m ³ .

Fig. 8 the compression hardness depending on the heating time.

In Fig. 9 the suction of the fibers in two belts running at the same speed in such a way that the fibers are sucked in parallel to the belts is shown.

Next is in the Fig. 10 the control of the fiber filling at the start of production and in Fig. 11 The fiber arrangement in the strips is shown during continuous production.

Fig. 12 shows the arrangement of the suction with spatially different suction along the belts on the top and bottom and the arrangement of the fibers in the belts.

Reference symbol list

1

Nonwoven fabric manufacturing arrangement

2

Fiber fleece board

3

Vertically oriented fibers

4, 4'

air-permeable conveyor belt

5, 5`

Feed arrangement

6, 6`

Fiber opener

7, 7`

Mixing system

8, 8`

Air extraction 8-1 - 8-10

81

Start air extraction

82

End of air extraction

9

heat source

10

Cooling source

11

Conveyor belt

12

cutting device

13

Product collection container

14

Three-dimensional molded part

15-1 -15 -4

Fans for air control

16

deflection channel

Claims (13)

1. Method for the production of a continuous nonwoven fabric from fiber mixtures of carrier fibers and binding fibers,
   comprising the steps of:

   a. Feeding fibers;

   b. Breaking up / combing and opening the fibers;

   c. Mixing of the fibers;

   d. Sucking in the fibers between two opposing air-permeable conveyor belts running at the identical speed, such that the air in the front section of the conveyor belts is sucked from the outside in such a way that the air flow is always sucked through the deposited nonwoven fabric parallel to the conveyor belts by temporally and locally varying air suction over the width, and thus the fibers are deposited perpendicular to the surfaces of the conveyor belts;

   e. Thermal bonding of the created nonwoven fiber by heating by means of hot air or short-wave radiation and cooling.
2. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing method according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the suction power at the opposing, air-permeable conveyor belts (4, 4') is identical in each case.
3. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing method according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the suction power along the conveyor belt is different at the opposing, air-permeable conveyor belts (4, 4').
4. A nonwoven fabric production method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the suction power and/or the belt speed of the conveyor belts is adjusted over the production cycle according to a predetermined system, whereby a local and temporal variation can be realized.
5. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims,
   
   characterized in that
   the belt speed of the conveyor belts and the suction power of the air extraction system are coupled to each other.
6. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing method according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the distance between the belts is adjustable.
7. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the
   heating of the nonwoven is carried out via hot air and/or short-wave radiation.
8. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) comprising:

   - a supply arrangement (5, 5') for carrier fibers;

   - a supply arrangement (5, 5') for binder fibers;

   - at least one opening arrangement or opening/loosening combing arrangement or at least one fiber opener (6, 6') for combing, separating, loosening and detaching the carrier fibers and/or binder fibers;

   - at least one mixing system (7, 7') for mixing the loosened or detached fibers;

   - a transport system

   - with air suction (8, 8') in the front section of the transport system for aligning and
   depositing the fibers consisting of air guide channels and pressure control nozzles (15-1 - 15 - 4)
   and

   - with a heat source (9) in the rear section of the transport system with subsequent cooling source (10) for thermal bonding of the resulting nonwoven fabric,

   wherein

   the front section of the transport system with air suction (8, 8') consists of opposing airpermeable conveyor belts (4, 4') running at the same speed, and the loosened and

   mixed fibers are conveyed between the opposing conveyor belts, and the fibers are arranged in different density over the width and length of the nonwoven fabric on the transport belts perpendicular to the conveyor belts due to the air suction (8, 8') (8-1 -8-10) from the outside.
9. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim,
   characterized in that
   a conveyor belt (11) for transporting away the nonwoven fiber is arranged downstream of the transport system with air suction (8, 8') and heat source (9).
10. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) according to one of the two preceding claims,
    characterized in that a
    cutting device (12) for dividing the nonwoven fabric into sections / nonwoven fiber sheets or blanks is located on the conveyor belt (11).
11. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) according to one of the three preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    three-dimensional moldings (14) are arranged downstream of the conveyor belt (11) and the cutting device (12).
12. A nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) according to any one of the four preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the cooling source (10) for thermal bonding and consolidation is arranged

    - downstream of the heat source (9) in the rear section of the transport system
    or

    - for cooling the content of the three-dimensional molded part (14).
13. A nonwoven fabric sheet or board produced by means of a nonwoven fabric production method according to one of claims 1 to 7 or produced by means of a nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus (1) according to one of the five preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the nonwoven fabric sheet has a defined density distribution over the length and the width.

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