Molded fiber materials and methods and apparatus for making the same

摘要

A raw material (12) comprising a mixture of a natural fiber and a thermoplastic fiber is supplied to the surface of the rotating rotary body (11). The natural and thermoplastic fibers are scattered toward the carrying surface of the conveyor belt (15) by the rotational force of the rotary body (11). An air blower (14) may direct pressurized air to the scattered raw material (14) in order to further effect separation of the natural and thermoplastic fibers. Consequently, the natural fibers and the thermoplastic fibers are deposited such that the relative concentration of the natural fibers and the thermoplastic fibers gradually and seamlessly changes or varies across the thickness or depth of the resulting molded fiber material (50).