PURPOSE: To bond and mold fibers by a method wherein a mixture of fibrillated fibers and binder liquid is supplied to a molding surface of a lower mold having water through holes on the molding surface thereof, an upper mold is overlapped on the mixture, an excessive binder liquid is discharged by compressing the mixture, and the remaining binder liquid is cured by heating both the molds.
CONSTITUTION: A raw cotton 11 charged into a fibrillating machine 14 is fibrillated by a fibrillating roller 16 to turn to fibrillated fibers 11A. The fibrillated fibers 11A are made to fall into a binder tank 20 through an air flow conduit 24 to be mixed with binder liquid 21 by a stirring machine 22 as a mixture 23. The mixture 23 is supplied onto a molding surface 2 of a lower mold 1 having water through holes 3 through a liquid feed pump P1. The binder liquid 21 of the mixture 23 is discharged through the water through holes 3, and the mixture is mainly composed of the fibers 11A. Furthermore, an upper mold 5 is overlapped on the lower mold 1 to press the mixture to squeeze out the excessive binder liquid 21. The upper and lower molds 1, 5 are held by a clamper and heated in a furnace 10, whereby the remaining binder liquid 21 is cured. In the molded piece the removed fibers are securely molded 8 cushioning body is obtained.
TOYOTA TSUSHO CORP