SHIELDING DEVICE, SHIELDING PROCESS AND CROSSLAPPER

Abstract

A crosslapper, a process and a formed fabric web shielding device for a cross lapper shield a formed fabric web moved in the crosslapper. The formed fabric web has a bottom side, a top side and side surfaces located at formed fabric longitudinal edges. The crosslapper includes a displaceable main carriage and a crosslapper laying belt feeding the formed fabric web in a web direction to the displaceable main carriage with the formed fabric web bottom side located on the cross lapper laying belt. The shielding device includes a housing configured to be arranged in the crosslapper and configured to cover the side surfaces of the formed fabric web located on the laying belt and being fed to the displaceable main carriage, which side surfaces extend along the web direction, to shield the side surfaces of the formed fabric web against external environmental effects.

Claims

1. A formed fabric web shielding device for shielding a formed fabric web being moved in a crosslapper, the formed fabric web having a bottom side, a top side and side surfaces located at formed fabric longitudinal edges, the crosslapper including a crosslapper upper displaceable main carriage and a crosslapper laying belt feeding the formed fabric web in a web direction to the upper displaceable main carriage with the bottom side of the formed fabric web located on the cross lapper laying belt, formed fabric web shielding device comprising a housing configured to be arranged in the crosslapper and configured to cover the side surfaces of the formed fabric web which is located on the laying belt and is fed to the upper displaceable main carriage, which side surfaces extend along the web direction, and to shield the side surfaces of the formed fabric web against external environmental effects by defining an air flow barrier adjacent to the formed fabric web side surfaces located at formed fabric web longitudinal edges.

2. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be arranged or is arranged in the crosslapper such that the housing covers the formed fabric web located on the laying belt on all free surfaces, wherein the free surfaces comprise the top side and the side surfaces located at formed fabric longitudinal edges.

3. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing covers the formed fabric web located on the laying belt at a distance from formed fabric web at least on one side of the formed fabric web.

4. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air flow barrier of the housing comprises: a first side upright and elongated side wall and a first side bottom wall adjoining the first side upright and elongated side wall, the first side bottom wall laterally overlapping the laying belt at a longitudinal edge thereof; and a second side upright and elongated side wall and a second side bottom wall adjoining the second side upright and elongated side wall, the second side bottom wall laterally overlapping the laying belt at another longitudinal edge thereof.

5. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing has a box-shape configuration and with a C-shape cross section with a slot.

6. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 4, wherein: the housing is divided in a longitudinal direction into partial areas that are arranged one behind the other, the partial areas comprising a leading partial area and a following partial area; the bottom wall has different wall sections at the partial areas; the different wall sections have a different height position; and the housing is configured to extend under the laying belt in the leading partial area and to extend over the laying belt in the following partial area.

7. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a support device configured to support the web-carrying laying belt at a transition between the partial areas.

8. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be arranged in the crosslapper above the upper main carriage.

9. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a carrying device carrying the housing, wherein the carrying device is configured for a stationary arrangement of the housing in the crosslapper.

10. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be dimensionally adjustable.

11. A formed fabric web shielding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the housing is configured to end at an end area of the crosslapper on a feed side; the housing is configured to end at an end position of the travel path of the displaceable main carriage, which end position is located a farthest distance away from the feed side end area of the crosslapper.

12. A crosslapper comprising: a plurality of main carriages including a displaceable upper main carriage; a discharge belt; a laying belt guided over the upper main carriage and driven continuously to feed a formed fabric web on the laying belt in a web direction to the displaceable upper main carriage, wherein the formed fabric web has a bottom side, a top side and side surfaces located at formed fabric longitudinal edges, the bottom side of the formed fabric is disposed on the laying belt, the main carriages being displaceable over the discharge belt and laying the formed fabric web on the discharge belt with formation of a single-layer or multi-layer nonwoven; and a shielding device comprising a housing configured to be arranged in the crosslapper and configured to cover the side surfaces of the formed fabric web which is located on the laying belt and is fed to the upper displaceable main carriage, which side surfaces extend along the web direction, and to shield the side surfaces of the formed fabric web against external environmental effects by defining an air flow barrier adjacent to the formed fabric web side surfaces located at formed fabric web longitudinal edges.

13. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 12, wherein the housing extends in the crosslapper from an end area of the crosslapper on a feed side up to the upper main carriage.

14. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 13, wherein the housing extends above a point of entry at an upper main carriage of the formed fabric web.

15. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 12, wherein: the housing is divided into partial areas that are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, the partial areas comprising a leading partial area and a following partial area; the housing, viewed in the web direction, extends in the leading partial area under longitudinal edges of the laying belt and extends in the following partial area over longitudinal edges of the laying belt, whereby the housing covers the side surfaces of the formed fabric web located on the laying belt.

16. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 15, wherein a transition point is arranged between the partial areas in the area of an end position of the travel path of the displaceable upper main carriage, which end position is closest on a feed side.

17. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 15, wherein: the leading partial area is arranged with the laying belt extending over a portion of the housing in an area outside of the travel path of the upper main carriage; and the following partial area is arranged with the laying belt extending under a portion of the housing in an area within the travel path of the upper main carriage.

18. A crosslapper in accordance with claim 12, wherein the crosslapper further comprises one or more auxiliary carriages that are displaceable and are coupled with at least one of the plurality of main carriages, the one or more auxiliary carriages being displacebly arranged with a belt loop above the shielding device and/or the one or more auxiliary carriages being displacebly arranged with a belt loop below the shielding device.

19. A process for shielding a formed fabric web moving in a crosslapper, the process comprising the steps of: feeding the formed fabric web in a web direction on a laying belt of the crosslapper to a displaceable upper main carriage, the formed fabric web having a bottom side, a top side and side surfaces located at formed fabric web longitudinal edges and being located with the bottom side on the laying bel; and covering the side surfaces at the longitudinal edges of the formed fabric web, which formed fabric web is located on the laying belt and is being fed to the upper displaceable upper carriage along the web direction, by a housing and shielding the covered side surfaces at the longitudinal edges of the formed fabric web against external environmental effects based on the housing defining an air flow barrier adjacent to the formed fabric web side surfaces located at formed fabric web longitudinal edges.

20. A process in accordance with claim 19, wherein: the housing interacts with the laying belt and meshes with lateral longitudinal edges of the laying belt so as to overlap transversely to the web direction; the housing is divided in the web direction into partial areas; the housing extends in a leading partial area under longitudinal edges of the laying belt; the housing extends in a following partial area above the longitudinal edges of the laying belt; the side surfaces of the formed fabric web located on the laying belt are covered; a transition point between the leading partial area and the following partial area is arranged in an area of an end position of a travel path of the upper main carriage, which is closest on the feed side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] In the drawings:

[0070] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crosslapper with a shielding device;

[0071] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the crosslapper from FIG. 1;

[0072] FIG. 3 is a broken-up front view of the crosslapper from FIG. 1 with a shown formed fabric web;

[0073] FIG. 4 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view through the crosslapper and the shielding device from FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a housing of the shielding device;

[0075] FIG. 6 is a side view according to arrow VI from FIG. 5;

[0076] FIG. 7 is a broken-off perspective view of a transition point between extending-under and extending-over wall sections of the housing;

[0077] FIG. 8 is a broken-off front view of the arrangement from FIG. 7 according to section line VIII-VIII from FIG. 6; and

[0078] FIG. 9 is a simplified and abstracted view of the arrangement of a housing at a crosslapper.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0079] Referring to the drawings, the present invention pertains to a shielding device (3) for a moving formed fabric web (2) and for installation at a crosslapper (1). The present invention further pertains to a shielding process and to a crosslapper (1) equipped with the shielding device (3).

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a crosslapper (1) with a shielding device (3) for a moving formed fabric web (2). The formed fabric web (2) has a, e.g., cotton-like configuration and consists of fibers that are loose and arranged, e.g., in a tangled manner. It is configured as a nonwoven product. The fibers may be synthetic fibers or natural fibers. The formed fabric web (2) has a bottom side (6), a top side (5) and two side surfaces (4).

[0081] The formed fabric web (2) is fed in a feed direction (43) from a system component, not shown, e.g., from a formed fabric generator, especially from a card or from an airlay, to the crosslapper (1). The crosslapper (1) may have for this purpose a feed device (12), e.g., a feed belt. In the crosslapper (1), the fed single-layer or multi-layer formed fabric web (2) is laid on a discharge belt (23) to form a single-layer or multi-layer nonwoven (24) and discharged from this discharge belt (23) in the discharge direction (44) to a downstream system component, e.g., to a bonding device, especially a needling machine or a hydroentanglement device.

[0082] The crosslapper (1) shown is configured as a crosslayer. It has a machine frame (8) with a lateral cladding that is present in at least some areas. At one end face, the crosslapper (1) has an end area (9) on the feed side. This end area may be configured as an inlet area of the formed fabric web (2) being fed into the crosslapper (1) and the machine frame (8) thereof.

[0083] The crosslapper (1) has a plurality of, e.g., two main carriages (13, 14). The main carriages are arranged one above the other. The upper main carriage is designated below as upper carriage (13) and the lower main carriage is designated below as laying carriage (14). The main carriages (13, 14) move back and forth over the circulating discharge belt (23) transversely or obliquely to the discharge direction (44). They are in this case guided by means of a carriage guide (17) in the machine frame (8). The travel motions of the main carriages (13, 14) are directed transversely or obliquely to the direction of motion of the discharge belt (23) and to the discharge direction (44).

[0084] In the embodiment being shown, the crosslapper (1) is configured as a synchronous layer, wherein the main carriages (13, 14) always move in the same directions and in this case with different travel path lengths and speeds. The lower main carriage or laying carriage (14) moves back and forth over the width of the discharge belt (23) and in the process lays the fed formed fabric web (2) while forming the nonwoven (24) on the discharge belt (23). The upper main carriage or upper carriage (14) moves over half of the travel path distance of the lower main carriage or laying carriage (14) and moves in the process with half the travel speed.

[0085] The crosslapper (1) has one or more endless and continuously driven laying belts (10, 11). In the embodiment shown, two laying belts (10, 11) are present. As an alternative, the number of laying belts may be smaller or larger. The laying belts (10, 11) transport the formed fabric web (2). They are guided over the main carriages (13, 14) by means of deflection devices (19), e.g., rotatable deflection rollers. Such deflection devices (19) for the laying belts (10, 11) are also arranged in the machine frame (8). FIG. 4 shows the laying belt guide.

[0086] The one laying belt (10) picks up the fed formed fabric web (2) at the end area (9) and transports it in the web direction (7) to the upper main carriage or upper carriage (13). This laying belt (10) is designated as an infeed belt or as a web-carrying laying belt. The other laying belt (11) forms a counter belt, which is likewise guided over the upper main carriage or upper carriage (13). At the upper main carriage or upper carriage (13), the formed fabric web (2) being fed is deflected in the opposite direction, preferably by 180°, wherein it is then taken up between the laying belts (11, 10) and is transported to the lower main carriage or laying carriage (14).

[0087] The upper main carriage or upper carriage (13) has a point of entry (22) for the laying belt (10) or infeed belt and the formed fabric web (2). The counter belt (11) can be fed to the point of entry, which has a, e.g., funnel-like configuration. In the funnel area, a perforated pressing roller (45) may be arranged for pressing, compressing and ventilating the formed fabric web (2). The laying belt (10) and the formed fabric web lying on it are deflected by 180° via a plurality of, e.g., three deflection devices (19) at the main carriage or upper carriage (13).

[0088] The crosslapper (1) being shown has, in addition, one or more, e.g., two auxiliary carriages (15, 16), which are displaceable parallel to the main carriages (13, 14) at a preferably common carriage guide (17). The auxiliary carriages (15, 16) are configured, e.g., as tensioning carriages, which pull out each a belt loop (20) of a laying belt (10, 11). This is used for compensating fluctuations of the travel speeds of the main carriages (13, 14), e.g., for the profiling of the nonwoven (24) and for avoiding thickened edge areas of the nonwoven (24).

[0089] The auxiliary carriages (15, 16) are coupled in a suitable manner each with a main carriage (13, 14), e.g., by a pulling device or by coupled drives. The upper auxiliary carriage (15) is coupled with the upper main carriage (13) and pulls out the belt loop (20) in the counter belt (11). The lower auxiliary carriage (16) is coupled with the lower main carriage (14) and pulls out the belt loop (20) in the infeed belt (10).

[0090] The auxiliary carriages (15, 16) are arranged above the discharge belt (23). The one upper auxiliary carriage (15) is arranged with its belt loop (20) above the shielding device (3). The other auxiliary carriage (16) is arranged with its belt loop (20) below the shielding device (3). The auxiliary carriage (16) moves in an intermediate space between said main carriages (13, 14).

[0091] A drive device with separate or partially shared drive components are present for the main carriages and the auxiliary carriages (13, 14, 15, 16) and the laying belts (10, 11). These drive components have, e.g., controllable drives, e.g., electric motor servo drives or electric linear motors.

[0092] The crosslapper (1) has the mentioned shielding device (3). This shielding device may be installed during the manufacture of the crosslapper or be used to retrofit an existing crosslapper (1). The shielding device (3) has a protective function for the formed fabric web (2), which is moved and fed on the laying belt (10) to the upper main carriage or upper carriage (13). FIG. 9 shows a simplified and abstracted view of the crosslapper (1) and of the shielding device (3) described below.

[0093] The shielding device (3) has a housing, which in the installed position being shown covers the side surfaces (4) of the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10), which side surfaces extend along the web direction (7), and shields against external environmental effects, especially air flows. In particular, the housing of the shielding device (3) defines an air flow barrier adjacent to the formed fabric web side surfaces (4) located at formed fabric longitudinal edges of the formed fabric web (2). The housing (25) also covers the top side (5) of the formed fabric web (2) in at least some areas and thus all free surfaces of the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10). The formed fabric web (2) is located with its bottom side (6) on the laying belt (10). The side surfaces (4) are located at the longitudinal edges of the formed fabric web (2).

[0094] The housing (25) covers the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10) on at least one side, especially on the top side (5), preferably on all free sides or surfaces with a distance. The housing (25) shown has, e.g., a hood-like shape and has a wall (26) that is impervious to external environmental effects, especially air flows. In the installed position the housing (25) closely adjoins the laying belt (10), especially the longitudinal edges thereof. Here, the above-mentioned shielding channel is formed by the housing (25) and by the laying belt (10).

[0095] The housing (25) extends in the web direction (7) along the laying belt (10) and the formed fabric web (2) lying on it as well as along the travel path of the upper main carriage, especially upper carriage (13). The extension directions may run parallel. They are preferably linear.

[0096] The housing (25) extends from the end area (9) on the feed side in the web direction (7) up to the upper main carriage or upper carriage (13) and possibly beyond this. The housing (25) is arranged above said main carriage (13).

[0097] The end of the housing (25) on the feed side is located at a disturbance-free area of the crosslapper (1) and outside of the travel paths of the carriages (13, 14, 15, 16). The machine frame (8) has a shape that is, e.g., yoke-like and bridges over the discharge belt (23) with upright columns located at the edges and connecting longitudinal beams as well as with carriage guides (17). The housing (25) may end on the feed side at the inner edge of the column located there and at the edge of the end area (9). It may also extend further into the end area (9) against the web direction (7).

[0098] The upper main carriage or upper carriage (13) moves back and forth on its travel path between end positions (41, 42). The one end position (41) is located the farthest from the end area (9) on the feed side. It is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The end position (41) is located outside of the distant edge of the discharge belt (23). The other end position (42) is arranged closest to the end area (9) on the feed side. It is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 9 and is located approximately in the middle above the discharge belt (23).

[0099] The other end of the housing (25) is located, e.g., above the end position (41) which is located the farthest away. The housing (25) extends above the point of entry (22), at which the formed fabric web (2) being fed on the laying belt (10) enters said upper main carriage (13) or upper carriage. As FIG. 4 shows, the housing (25) extends up to the rear edge of said main carriage (13) and possibly a little beyond this. Here, it may also overlap the other laying belt or counter belt (11) fed at the top at the said main carriage (13). The housing (25) may end close to a stationary deflection device (19) for the other laying belt (11).

[0100] The housing (25) may have open end faces. The end faces may, as an alternative, be closed up to an inlet area for the formed fabric web (2) and possibly the laying belt (10).

[0101] The housing (25) has a, e.g., box-shape configuration. It may have essentially a C-shape in cross section. The wall (26) may have a rounded and/or prismatic shape in cross section. The wall (26) may be configured as solid and impervious. As an alternative, transparent areas, e.g., windows, may be arranged at one or more points. The shielding effect and the air impermeability of the wall (26) are, as a result, not compromised.

[0102] The housing (25) and the housing wall (26) are arranged in the crosslapper (1) in the installed position such that they interact on its bottom side with the laying belt (10) and mesh with same in a sealing manner. The housing (25) especially meshes in a sealing manner with the longitudinal edges of the laying belt (10) continuously over its length. The housing (25) may in the process overlap the longitudinal edges of the laying belt (10) transversely to the web direction (7).

[0103] The housing (25) meshes differently with the laying belt (10) over its length or in the web direction (7). The housing (25) is divided over its length into partial areas (46, 47). In a first (leading) partial area (46) it extends under the laying belt (10), especially the longitudinal edges thereof. In another, adjoining partial area (47), the housing (25) extends above the laying belt (10) or its longitudinal edges. The first partial area (46) with the extending under extends from the end area (9) on the feed side up to the end position (42) of the upper main carriage (13) or upper carriage, which end position is closest to the end area (9). This leading partial area (46) is located outside of the main carriage travel path. The other (following) partial area (47), with the extending over, extends from the closest end position (42) up to the remote end position (41) of the upper main carriage (13) or upper carriage and possibly beyond this.

[0104] A support device (21), e.g., a freely rotatable support roller, for the laying belt (10) with the formed fabric web (2) located on it, may be present at the transition point (48) between the first partial area and the next or second partial area (46, 47). The change from extending under to extending over of the housing (25) at the laying belt (10) takes place at the transition point (48). The transition point (48) is arranged in the area of a closest end position (42) on the feed side of the upper main carriage (13) or upper carriage.

[0105] The partial area (47) with extending over of the housing (25) is located in the area of the travel path of the upper main carriage (13) or upper carriage. The laying belt (10) is stretched and supported between a deflection device (19) arranged at the end area (9) on the feed side and a deflection device, which is arranged at the point of entry (22) and is displaceable with said main carriage (13). The deflection devices (19) may be configured, e.g., as rotatable deflection rollers or in a different way. The laying belt (10) can be unrolled and rolled up in relation to the housing (25) along said main carriage travel path. The laying belt (10 is unrolled and separated from the extending over of the housing (25) in case of a travel motion directed towards the end area (9) on the feed side and against the web direction (7). In case of the opposite travel motion, the laying belt (10) is rolled up at the housing (25) and brought into contact with the extending over.

[0106] The wall (26) of the housing (25) has side walls (28, 29) extending along the web direction (7), which side walls preferably extend over the entire length of the housing (25). The housing (25) has, furthermore, a top wall (30), which closely adjoins the upper edge of the side walls (28, 29). The top wall (30) may extend over the entire length of the housing (25). It may, as an alternative, have only a partial extension. It may end, e.g., at a distance in front of the end of the housing (25) on the feed side. FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 show this shortened arrangement. The top wall may be absent as well.

[0107] The wall (26) has a bottom wall (31) adjoining each of the side walls (28, 29), which bottom wall (31) laterally overlaps the laying belt (10), especially the longitudinal edges thereof. There may be a sealing and possibly largely force-free physical contact or a shorter distance at the overlap points. The side walls, top wall and bottom wall (28, 29, 30, 31)] together form the wall (26). In case of a C-shaped cross section, an open space or slot (49) is present between the bottom walls (31). The slot width may be adapted to the width of the formed fabric web (2). FIGS. 5 and 6 show this embodiment, wherein the top wall (30) is not shown in FIG. 5.

[0108] Said extending under or extending over is formed by the bottom walls (31) on both sides. These are divided in the longitudinal direction or web direction (7) into wall sections (32, 33) with different height position and a height difference (h). The division corresponds to the partial areas (46, 47). The transition point between the wall sections (32, 33) may also be arranged at the support device (21).

[0109] The wall section (32) of the bottom walls (31) on both sides, which wall section is located in the first (leading) partial area (46), extends under the respective longitudinal edge of the laying belt (10). In the other partial area (47), the bottom walls (31) on both sides of the other wall section (33) extend over the respective longitudinal edge of the laying belt (10). FIGS. 7 and 8 show this arrangement. FIG. 7 shows the transition point between the partial areas (46, 47) and the wall sections (32, 33) in a perspective and partially broken-off view. FIG. 7 also shows the above-mentioned distance of the formed fabric web (2) to the housing (25).

[0110] In the wall section (32) with the extending under, the laying belt (10) lies on the respective bottom wall (31) in the overlap area. The side surfaces (4) of the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10) are spaced apart a little from the respective adjacent side wall (28, 29) and have no physical contact with the housing (25). The distance upwards between the top side (5) and the top wall (30) is greater than the above-mentioned lateral distance. The shielding channel is in this case formed by the side walls (28, 29) and possibly the top wall (30) of the housing (25) as well as the laying belt (10), which lies in a sealing manner at the bottom walls (31).

[0111] In the wall section (33) with the extending over, the bottom walls (31) on both sides lie on the laying belt (10) in the overlap area and are likewise spaced apart laterally from the formed fabric web (2). The formed fabric web (2) is arranged on the laying belt (10) in the open space or slot (49) between the bottom walls (31) on both sides. Its side surfaces (4) are covered by the bottom walls (31). The shielding channel is in this case formed by the housing (25) and the laying belt (10), which closely adjoins its bottom side and the bottom walls (31).

[0112] FIG. 8 shows this arrangement of the bottom walls (31) in the wall sections (32, 33) in a sectional view. At the area of contact with the laying belt (10) in the extending under and extending over, the bottom walls (31) may each have a sealing coating (34) which promotes sliding. The coating (34) may also be springy. The coating (34) may be, e.g., a foamed plastic.

[0113] FIGS. 4 through 7 show the support device (21) and the position thereof. The support device (21) may be arranged and supported at the shielding device (3) and/or at the crosslapper (1). It is located close to the end position (42) closest to the end area (9) and spaced apart against the web direction (7) from the point of entry (22) and the deflection device (19) located there. As a result, at least one part of the housing (25) in the wall area (33) is always in extending-over contact with the laying belt (2).

[0114] The partial areas (46, 47) of the housing (25) may have common and continuous side walls (28, 29). They may, as an alternative, have each separate side walls (28, 29) according to FIGS. 5 through 8. These may overlap one another at the transition point or may be spaced apart in the web direction (7) with the formation of a gap, wherein the gap is closed in a suitable manner, e.g., by a part of the support device (21).

[0115] The housing (25) has a carrying device (36), which is used for the stationary arrangement of the housing (25) in the crosslapper (1). The carrying device (36) may have a structurally different configuration. FIGS. 4 through 8 show an exemplary embodiment.

[0116] The carrying device (36) has a support frame (37) for the wall (26) and support arms (38) to fasten the support frame (37) to the crosslapper (1). According to FIGS. 5 through 8, the support frame (37) has longitudinal beams, which are permanently connected to the support arms (38), which are directed at right angles. At the longitudinal beams, support arms (38), which are directed at right angles to the web direction (7), are arranged for an overlying wall panel. The support arms (38) and the wall panel form the top wall (30). On the other hand, the side walls (28, 29) are mounted in a suspended manner at the longitudinal beams. The bottom walls (31) on both sides are configured, e.g., as angle sections (35). The lower, transversely lying leg of the angle section (35) forms the respective overlap and support for the laying belt (10) in at least some areas. The upright leg of the angle section (35) adjoins the respective side wall (28, 29) and may be fastened here, possibly in a detachable manner.

[0117] Upright carrying arms (39), which are likewise mounted in a suspended manner at the longitudinal beams of the support frame (37), may be provided for the support device (21).

[0118] The housing (25) and its wall (26) may be adjustable. An adjusting device (40) may be provided for this purpose. With the adjusting device (40), the bottom walls (31) may be mounted at the respective side wall (28, 29) in a height-adjustable manner, e.g., by means of screw connections with elongated holes. The height position and the height difference (h) of the bottom walls (31) at the wall sections (32, 33) may be set differently via the adjusting device (40) for the formation of the extending under and of the extending over.

[0119] FIGS. 5 through 8 show the different height positions. The bottom walls (31) and the height difference (h) can be adapted to the respective laying belt (10), especially to the thickness thereof. The setting and adaptation may take place such that the bottom walls (31) at the first wall section (32) adjoin the bottom side of the laying belt (10) and the bottom walls (31) at the next wall section (33) lie on the top side of the laying belt (10).

[0120] From a technological point of view, a formed fabric web moved on a laying belt in a crosslapper (1) is fed in the web direction (7) to an upper displaceable main carriage (13), especially to an upper carriage, wherein the side surfaces (4) of the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10), which side surfaces extend along the web direction (7), are covered and shielded against external environmental effects, and in particular air flows. This takes place by means of a housing (25) of a shielding device (3).

[0121] Said formed fabric web (2) is preferably covered on all its free surfaces (4, 5) and shielded against external environmental effects, especially air flows. In one embodiment, the formed fabric web (2) located on the laying belt (10) is covered by the housing (25) without physical contact and with spacing apart. The spacing apart may be present on all sides of the formed fabric web (2).

[0122] The housing (25) may have a C-shape in cross section and closely adjoin the laying belt (10) on the bottom side, wherein the formed fabric web (2) is arranged in the slot-like opening (49) of the C-shape and is unrolled or rolled up with the laying belt (10) in case of a travel motion of the upper main carriage (13) in relation to the housing (25).

[0123] A variety of variations of the embodiments shown and described are possible. The crosslapper may be configured as a longitudinal layer, especially as a carriage layer, in which the main carriages arranged one above the other move along the discharge direction of the discharge belt. In case of a carriage layer, the laying belts may each individually be associated with a carriage. The wall of the housing (25) may be formed at least partly by a wall of the crosslapper (1). Otherwise, the features of the above-described exemplary embodiments and their variations may be combined and possibly transposed with one another in a different manner.

[0124] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0125] 1 Crosslapper, crosslayer [0126] 2 Formed fabric web [0127] 3 Shielding device [0128] 4 Side surface [0129] 5 Top side [0130] 6 Bottom side [0131] 7 Web direction [0132] 8 Machine frame [0133] 9 End area [0134] 10 Laying belt, infeed belt [0135] 11 Laying belt, counter belt [0136] 12 Feed device, feed belt [0137] 13 Main carriage, upper carriage [0138] 14 Main carriage, laying carriage [0139] 15 Auxiliary carriage, tensioning carriage [0140] 16 Auxiliary carriage, tensioning carriage [0141] 17 Carriage guide [0142] 18 Drive device [0143] 19 Deflection device, deflection roller [0144] 20 Belt loop [0145] 21 Support device, support roller [0146] 22 Point of entry [0147] 23 Discharge belt [0148] 24 Nonwoven [0149] 25 Housing [0150] 26 Wall [0151] 27 Interior [0152] 28 Side wall [0153] 29 Side wall [0154] 30 Top wall [0155] 31 Bottom wall [0156] 32 Wall section [0157] 33 Wall section [0158] 34 Coating [0159] 35 Angle section [0160] 36 Carrying device [0161] 37 Support frame [0162] 38 Support arm [0163] 39 Carrying arm for support roller [0164] 40 Adjusting device [0165] 41 End position, at a distance [0166] 42 End position, closest [0167] 43 Feed direction [0168] 44 Discharge direction [0169] 45 Pressing roller [0170] 46 Partial area [0171] 47 Partial area [0172] 48 Transition point [0173] 49 Open space, slot [0174] h Height difference