Patent ID: 6719555
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for receiving a selected curable material and for retaining the selected curable material during a forming stage and a curing stage, the selected curable material being formed into a desired configuration during the forming stage and being heated during the curing stage to harden the selected material in the desired configuration, the apparatus comprising:a core mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, the core having an associated core rotation means for rotating the core about an axis of rotation, an outer permeable surface for receiving and retaining the selected curable material, and fluid communication means for receiving air flow from the outer permeable surface; a curing means for heating the selected curable material to at least a curing temperature to harden the selected curable material in the selected configuration, wherein the curing means includes a curing station for supplying a curing air supply around the core, and air heating means for heating the curing air supply to at least the curing temperature; and, the vacuum means includes a forming air outlet for receiving the forming core air flow from the fluid communication means, a recirculation outlet for receiving the curing core air flow from the fluid communication means and for recirculating the curing core air flow back to the curing station, and a valve means for controlling fluid communication between the forming air outlet and the fluid communication means and for controlling fluid communication between the recirculation outlet and the fluid communication means; and, a vacuum means in fluid communication with the fluid communications of the core for drawing a forming core air flow through the fluid communication means, the outer permeable surface of the core and the selected curable material retained on the core during forming of the selected curable material retained on the core, the forming core air flow having a temperature below the curing temperature, and drawing a curing core air flow through the outer permeable surface and the fluid communication means of the core and the selected curable material retained on the core during curing of the selected curable material retained on the core.