Moulded fibre product

摘要

There is disclosed a method for producing a moulded fibre product (e.g. a hat 10) comprising the steps of:

• producing an orderly supply of fibres capable of being conveyed as individual fibres and substantially free of unevenly distributed fibre
• entraining the fibres in a fluid stream 12 in such manner as to ensure a substantially homogeneous fibre distribution within said fluid stream 12;
• impinging the fibres carried in the fluid stream 12 on a fluid-permeable mould 14 whereby to arrest fibres from the stream on to said mould 14 while allowing said fluid to flow through the mould 14; and
• bonding the arrested fibres (e.g. by blowing hot air through the fibres).

Instead of thermo bonding, adhesive bonding, involving curing by exposure to UV radiation may be used. The mould 14 may be taken to a doffing station at which air is blown to eject the article.