Continuous processing equipment for making fiberboard

An apparatus for use in alternatively and selectively forming wallboard or fiberboard comprising:

• admixing means for mixing a hydratable gypsum, a source of paper fiber, and water to form a substantially homogeneous, fiberboard-forming slurry;
• dewatering means for removing a portion of said water from said fiberboard-forming slurry to produce a substantially continuous wet web;
• pressing means for applying a compressive force to said wet web to form a substantially continuous green board;
• cutting means for cutting said substantially continuous green board into individual uncured lengths;
• means for distributing a wallboard-forming gypsum slurry onto a continuously moving wallboard substrate to form a slurry-laden substrate;
• means for introducing at least one continuously moving wallboard substrate beneath said distributing means in a position to receive slurry from said distributing means;
• first carrier means located past said distributing means for carrying said slurry-laden substrate or said individual uncured lengths away from said distributing means;
• second carrier means disposed between said cutting means and said first carrier means for receiving said individual uncured lengths and carrying said individual uncured lengths past said distributing means and to said first carrier means;
• and
• means for selectively introducing and withdrawing said second carrier means from operative association with said first carrier means.

An apparatus for use in alternatively and selectively forming wallboard or fiberboard comprising:

• admixing means for mixing a hydratable gypsum, a source of paper fiber, and water to form a substantially homogeneous, fiberboard-forming slurry;
• dewatering means for removing a portion of said water from said fiberboard-forming slurry to produce a substantially continuous wet web;
• pressing means for applying a compressive force to said wet web to form a substantially continuous green board;
• cutting means for cutting said substantially continuous green board into individual uncured lengths;
• means for dispensing a wallboard-forming gypsum slurry onto a continuously moving wallboard substrate to form a slurry-laden substrate;
• means for introducing at least one continuously moving wallboard substrate beneath said dispensing means in an operative position to receive slurry from said dispensing means;
• means for selectively introducing and withdrawing said substrate introducing means from operative association with said means for dispensing wallboard-forming gypsum slurry;
• first carrier means located past said dispensing means for carrying said slurry-laden substrate or said individual uncured lengths away from said dispensing means;
• second carrier means disposed between said cutting means and said first carrier means for receiving said individual uncured lengths and carrying said individual uncured lengths past said dispensing means and to said first carrier means;
• and
• means for selectively introducing and withdrawing said second carrier means from operative association with said first carrier means.