Patent ID: 7491351

Claim:
A system for providing shape, surface features, or both, to a moldable material, comprising: at least two opposed endless belts spaced apart a distance and attached to a first set of rollers, each having an inner surface and an outer surface relative to a mold cavity; at least two endless opposing mold belts attached to a second set of rollers, each having an inner and an outer surface relative to the mold cavity, each mold belt being at least partially in contact with the inner surfaces of the at least two opposed endless belts; the mold cavity defined at least in part by the at least two opposed endless mold belts; each mold belt being generally symmetrical and substantially identically shaped with one another and opposing one another to form, at least in part, the mold cavity, each mold belt comprising a backing, the backing having at its ends a pair of integral shoulders, the shoulders being substantially thicker than the backing and abutting and compressed against the shoulders of the other opposed belt to form a cavity mating line to resist separation of the cavity due to internal pressure of the moldable material, a support surface, wherein the support surface is separate from the at least two endless belts and the at least two mold belts, wherein the support surface supports the shoulders, and wherein the support surface is configured to move with the at least two mold belts along substantially the length of the mold cavity; and a drive mechanism for imparting motion to the at least two opposed endless belts.