Patent ID: 9636898
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: A46B,A46D,B29C,B29L,B32B

Claim:
1. A method of fusing without contact the ends of thermoplastic filaments grouped together to form at least two tufts arranged with a distance therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: providing an arrangement of at least two tufts of thermoplastic filaments, the tufts having a distance therebetween; providing a heating plate at least partly made from a conductive material and structured to have at least two heating sectors separated from one another by at least one separation sector structured to emit less thermal radiation then the heating sectors, wherein each of the heating sectors comprises conductive material and has a heating surface on a heating side of the heating plate, the surfaces corresponding in shape and position to the shape and position of the ends of the tufts; exposing the ends of the tufts to the heating plate such that the tuft ends and the heating sectors are aligned with each other; and generating an electric-current flow through the heating sectors so that the heating surfaces of the heating sectors emit thermal radiation that is absorbed by the ends of the filaments whereby the ends of the filaments melt and the filaments of each of the at least two tufts are fused together.