Fiber mold filling system and method

US9144943B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Olbrich GmbH · DE

Inventor

• Gerhard Spengler · Frankfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 2012
• Grant date: Sep 29, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C2043/144
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A fiber filling box divided into compartments by slotted divider walls, preferably comb-like divider fences with vertical tines extending downwardly from a top frame, is lowered onto an air-permeable conveyor over at least one vacuum box in a fiber filling station. A multi-axis controlled nozzle blows fiber material to different depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. The divider fences allow continuous intertwining of fibers between adjacent compartments, but sufficiently contain the fibers to maintain well-defined boundaries between different fiber depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. Hold-down plates are lowered onto the fiber material, the fiber filling box is lifted away, and then the hold-down plates are lifted to release a shaped fiber mass, which is then heated and compacted in a heating station to form a fiber preform. The hot fiber preform is then molded, compressed and cooled in a molding station to produce a molded fiber component.