APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING AND SHAPING FOAM

摘要

An apparatus for shaping a piece of porous resilient material or for laminating steam permeable material to a porous substrate is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a top contoured die which is perforated across its contact surface and which has an enclosed chamber behind its contact surface which is in communication with the perforations of the die. A complementary bottom die (optional) is also perforated across its contact surface. Hot melt adhesive is interleaved between the steam permeable material and the porous substrate. The top die is adapted to be preheated prior to pressing it and the workpiece together. Means are provided to deliver a shot of superheated steam through the perforations of the top die into the enclosed chamber of the contoured die, while the die and workpiece are pressed together, to melt the adhesive. Means are provided for passing a cooling gas, which means preferably applies a vacuum, to pull ambient air through the workpiece while it and the die are pressed together. The resolidified adhesive holds the porous resilient material in its deformed shape and laminates the steam permeable material to the porous substrate.