Method for producing patterned non-woven fabric

Claim 1

A process for producing nonwoven fabrics wherein a fibrous web is guided onto a water-impermeable supporting member and said fibrous web is subjected to a plurality of fine water jet streams supplied at a jet pressure of 35 Kg/cm 2 or lower from a plurality of nozzles which are arranged at spaced apart intervals across the width of the fibrous web, whereby entangling treatment of the individual fibers of said fibrous web is carried out; the improvement which comprises (a) starting with a fibrous web weighing from 15 to 100 g/m 2 , (b) guiding said fibrous web into a preliminary entangling stage that comprises a first supporting member consisting of a smooth-surfaced water-impermeable endless belt, (c) carrying out a preliminary entangling treatment in said preliminary entangling stage by ejecting a plurality of water jet streams from a plurality of nozzles arranged transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said first supporting member, (d) guiding said fibrous web from said preliminary entangling stage to a final entangling stage consisting of a plurality of spaced-apart smooth surfaced water-impermeable rolls, (e) carrying out a final entangling treatment with water jet streams ejected from a plurality of nozzles that are located above and in parallel alignment with said spaced apart smooth-surfaced water-impermeable rolls, (f) thereafter subjecting the fibrous web resulting from step (e) to a patterning treatment on a water-impermeable support having a relief pattern thereon comprising raised portions and recessed portions, said patterning treatment comprising directing a plurality of spaced apart high velocity water streams directly upon the fibrous web toward the raised portions of said relief pattern in an unobstructed manner as the fibrous web passes over said patterned support so that the fibers in the fibrous web resulting from step (e) are reoriented by the action of said plurality of spaced apart high velocity water streams and form a distinct pattern in the fibrous web corresponding to the relief pattern that is on the patterned support which the web moves over.