Arrangement for brushing a fabric web

Abstract

An arrangement for brushing a fabric web moving in a traveling direction to define an upward strand and a downward strand, includes a self-contained carrier module having a motor-driven brush rotatable about a rotation axis transversely to a traveling direction of the fabric web and carrying bristles made of plastic or metal wire. A deflection roller is disposed at a lower end of the upward strand and/or downward strand of the fabric web and movable in a direction transversely to the rotation axis of the brush. Disposed above the brush are pressure-applying strips in parallel relationship thereto for loading the upward and downward strands of the fabric web, wherein the pressure-applying strip has a surface which is convex in a direction to the fabric web.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An arrangement for brushing a fabric web moving in a traveling direction to define an upward strand and a downward strand, comprising a self-contained carrier module adapted for disposition between a production unit for making the fabric web and a winding unit for receiving the fabric web, wherein the carrier module includes 
 a brush rotatable about a rotation axis transversely to the traveling direction of the fabric web and loaded by the fabric web, said brush having a separate motive drive and including bristles made of plastic or metal wire;    a deflection roller disposed at a lower end of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the upward strand and downward strand of the fabric web, wherein the deflection roller is movable in a direction transversely to the rotation axis of the brush; and    pressure-applying means disposed above the brush in parallel relationship thereto for loading at least one of the upward strand of the fabric web in a direction to the downward strand and the downward strand of the fabric web in a direction to the upward strand, wherein the pressure-applying means includes a pressure-applying strip with a surface which is convex in a direction to the fabric web.    
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the deflection roller is suspended from above and rotates in a substantially horizontal direction about an axis in parallel relationship to the rotation axis of the brush.  
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the deflection roller is driven in synchronism at a speed of the fabric web.  
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the deflection roller is provided with a rough coating.  
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-applying strip pivots in a substantially vertical direction about an axis in parallel relationship to the rotation axis of the brush.  
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a self-driving cleaning unit disposed above the brush and rotating in a direction parallel to the rotation axis, wherein the cleaning unit is provided with a plurality of circumferentially offset cleaning combs having straight needles of slender conical configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the needles engage between the bristles of the brush at an inclination to a plane defined by the rotation axis of the brush and a rotation axis of the cleaning unit.  
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 6 , and further comprising a housing for accommodating the cleaning unit, wherein the housing is open toward the brush.  
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the housing is movable in concert with the cleaning unit in a longitudinal direction of the brush, and further comprising a suction duct extending parallel to the brush and including a suction conduit for connecting the housing to the suction duct for withdrawing air and particles.  
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a further deflection roller, disposed in a top area of the carrier module, for changing the upward strand into the downward strand, and a lighting unit disposed below the further deflection roller between the upward and downward strands.  
     
     
         11 . A brush assembly, comprising: 
 a brush having bristles arranged about its circumference for engagement with a fabric web;    a drive unit for rotating the brush about a rotation axis; and    adjusting means for controlling a pressure by which the fabric web is urged against the brush, said adjusting means including a deflection roller deflecting the fabric web upstream of the brush and movable in a direction transversely to the rotation axis of the brush, and a strip deflecting the fabric web at a location downstream of the brush and having a surface which is convex in a direction to the fabric web.    
     
     
         12 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the brush is positioned between an upward strand and a downward strand of the fabric web.  
     
     
         13 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drive unit includes a motor and a power transmission element connecting the motor with the brush.  
     
     
         14 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the brush is driven by the drive unit to rotate evenly or unevenly.  
     
     
         15 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the brush is driven by the drive unit to rotate back and forth at an angle of less than 360°.  
     
     
         16 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the brush is driven by the drive unit to rotate back and forth at different angles of rotation.  
     
     
         17 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the deflection roller has a roughened surface to prevent slippage of the fabric web.  
     
     
         18 . The brush assembly of  claim 11 , and further comprising a rotating cleaning unit disposed above the brush and having a carrier member defined by a circumference, and cleaning comb sets detachably mounted in 90° offset disposition to the circumference of the carrier member, for engagement between the bristles of the brush.  
     
     
         19 . The brush assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the cleaning comb sets has straight needles constructed of conical configuration and projecting out at an inclination.  
     
     
         20 . The brush assembly of  claim 18 , and further comprising a housing for accommodating the cleaning unit, wherein the housing has an open side facing the brush to allow successive projection of the cleaning comb toward the brush.  
     
     
         21 . The brush assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the open side has a curved configuration to complement a curved contour of the brush.  
     
     
         22 . The brush assembly of  claim 18 , and further comprising a suction mechanism in communication with an interior of the housing to allow removal of particles separated by the cleaning unit from the brush.