Patent ID: 6221292
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B29B,D04H

Abstract:
An apparatus for molding dedensified clusters of fibers, including at least some thermoplastic fibers, into products, the apparatus comprising:an empty mold into which the dedensified clusters are placed, the dedensified clusters at least partially filling the mold;means for interlacing the clusters omnidirectionally after placing them in the mold to preserve and improve cluster distribution; anda conveyor for transporting the at least partially filled mold through a plurality of process locations, the process locations includingone or more heating locations wherein the at least partially filled mold is heated, the heating location providing an influx of thermal energy sufficient to fuse the thermoplastic fibers to form a heated product; andone or more cooling locations wherein the mold and the heated product are cooled to produce a cooled product.