(19)
(11) EP 0 388 072 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
31.10.1990 Bulletin 1990/44

(43) Date of publication A2:
19.09.1990 Bulletin 1990/38

(21) Application number: 90302428.9

(22) Date of filing: 07.03.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: D04H 1/48, D04H 18/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI

(30) Priority: 14.03.1989 GB 8905789

(71) Applicants:
  • Emhart Materials UK Limited
    Oadby Leicester LE2 5BB (GB)

    GB 
  • TEXON FOOTWEAR INVESTMENTS INC.
    Newark, Delaware 19711 (US)

    BE CH DE FR IT LI AT 

(72) Inventors:
  • Greatorex, Anthony Thomas
    Syston, Leicestershire (GB)
  • Harding, Albert
    Groby, Leicestershire LE6 OEG (GB)

(74) Representative: Stagg, Diana Christine et al
Emhart Patents Department Emhart International Ltd. 177 Walsall Road
Birmingham B42 1BP
Birmingham B42 1BP (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Improved needling process


    (57) A method of strengthening and/or densifying a non-woven batt which comprises at least 5% by weight of melt or bicomponent fibres by a combination of thermal and mechanical bonding is described. Thermal and mechanical bonding are carried out in a single operation, by needling the non-woven batt in a needleloom provided with barbed or forked needles, at an elevated temperature of at least the softening temperature of the melt or bicomponent fibres. The properties of the non-woven batt which has been strengthened and/or densified by the method according to the invention can be adapted as required by varying the processing conditions.







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