Process and apparatus for uniformly distributing glass fibers

Abstract

A process and an apparatus for substantially uniformly distributing glass fibers onto a forming bed. The apparatus is mounted above the bed for movement relative thereto along the length of the bed and is receptive of glass fibers for chopping same into desired lengths. A hood structure is downstream of the chopping and comprises three chambers. A first chamber defining a receiving zone in the process receives the chopped glass fibers which are dropped into the hood and a second chamber defining a dispersing zone is in communication with the first chamber and downstream thereof and disperses the glass fibers received from the first chamber to effect a random uniform matrix thereof along the width of the bed. The dispersion is carried out by a turbulence that is created within the chamber. The third chamber defining a distributing zone is disposed downstream of the second chamber and has an adjustable length elongated outlet aperture which extends across a desired width of the bed. The third chamber receives the dispersed glass fibers in the random uniform matrix and substantially isolates the fibers therein from the turbulence in the second chamber for substantially uniformly distributing the glass fibers therein on the desired width of the bed by dropping same through the aperture during relative movement of the apparatus along the length of the bed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.