Patent ID: 8776681

Claim:
An apparatus for increasing the density of a fibrous mat, comprising: a) a frame; b) densifier assembly comprising i. a plurality of generally parallel elongated bars comprising a plurality of passive bars disposed between a drive bar and a static bar the static bar being connected to the frame; ii. a plurality of pins associated with and extending downward from the drive bar and each of the passive bars; iii. a plurality of reciprocatingly extendable and retractable accordion linkages arranged generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the elongated bars, each accordion linkage being associated with at least one point on each bar, the accordion linkages being adapted to maintain each row of elongated bars in a generally parallel relationship to each other and permitting the distance between the bars to expand or contract proportionately so that the spacing between the rows of bars is equal while the overall spacing between adjacent bars increases or decreases; iv. a plurality of shafts slidingly associated with the passive bars and the drive bar for maintaining the passive bars and the drive bar in a parallel relationship, the plurality of shafts being fixedly associated at one end with the static bar such that the passive bars and the drive bar slide with respect to the shafts; and, c) at least one linear positioning assembly having i. a reciprocating drive member having a first and a second end, the first end being attached to the frame, ii. a coupler for coupling the second end of the reciprocating drive member to the drive bar, and, iii. a motor operatively associated with the reciprocating drive member, wherein the drive bar is horizontally and reciprocatingly slidable in response to actuation by the linear positioning assembly motor and drive shaft, and wherein the rows of pins are insertable in the mat and when the drive bar is urged toward the static bar the passive bars move so as to decrease the distance between rows of bars and cause the pins which are inserted into a mat to compress the mat in a direction across the face of the mats and generally uniformly along the length of the mat.