Process for the production of a dense stitched fleece

Claim 2

The process of claim 1, wherein the stitched fleece is cooled subsequent to the compressing step.

Claim 3

The process of claim 2, wherein the stitched fleece is further cooled subsequent to the compressing step.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the heating step (B) is conducted by utilizing a heating medium selected from the group consisting of air, steam and a steam-air mixture, said heating medium being drawn through the stitched fleece.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2, wherein the stitched fleece is cooled by drawing air therethrough.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1, wherein the binding fiber is present in an amount of at least about 10%.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1, wherein the binding fiber is present in an amount of about 10 to 15% by weight.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1, wherein the fleece comprises polyester fibers containing polypropylene as the binding fiber.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1, wherein the fleece comprises polyester fibers containing polyamides as the binding fiber.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1, wherein the fleece contains a bi-component fiber selected from the group consisting of Nylon 66 -Nylon 6, Orlon 21-23-27 and a polyester-polyamide mixture.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1, wherein the stitched fleece is heated to a temperature near the melting temperature of the binding fibers to soften said binding fibers.

Claim 12

A continuous process for producing a uniformly compacted stitched fleece which comprises: a. providing stitched fleece consisting essentially of at least two types of fibers having defined melting points, at least one type of said fibers having a melting point lower than the others and being employed as binding fibers; b. heating the stitched fleece to soften the binding fibers by conveying said fleece on the surface of at least one sieve drum means subjected to a suction draft and by drawing a heated gaseous treatment medium through said fleece; c. simultaneously compressing the fleece between at least a portion of the surface of the sieve drum means and a perforated belt operatively associated with said sieve drum means; and d. cooling the heated stitched fleece to solidify the binding fibers in said fleece while said fleece is still in the compressed state.

Claim 13

The process of claim 13, wherein said gaseous treatment medium is selected from the group consisting of air, steam and a steam-air mixture.

Claim 14

The process of claim 13, wherein the fleece is cooled by drawing air through said fleece while still disposed between the sieve drum means and the perforated belt.

Claim 15

The process of claim 13, wherein the fleece is cooled after being removed from the sieve drum means by conveying the fleece through a pair of cooling rolls.

Claim 16

The process of claim 15, wherein the fleece is further cooled after being removed from the sieve drum means by conveying it through a pair of cooling rolls.

Claim 17

The process of claim 13, wherein the compressed stitched fleece exhibits a high flexural elasticity and a wrinkle-recovery angle of about 170.degree.-180.degree..