Method for producing a product comprising plastic foam in an automatic molding machine

A method for producing a product comprising plastic foam in an automatic molding machine with a mold cavity in conformity with the configuration of the product, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a woven fabric on at least one surface of said mold cavity, said woven fabric comprising a fabric having a plurality of plies, with a fine-mesh woven fabric ply that faces the interior of said mold cavity upon assembly and a coarse-mesh woven fabric ply that is disposed adjacent said at least one surface of said mold cavity and beneath said fine-mesh woven ply upon assembly to support said fine-mesh woven ply;
• introducing beads comprising plastic foam into said mold cavity;
• contacting said beads with a gaseous heat transfer medium, such as superheated steam;
• said step of contacting comprising:
• introducing said gaseous heat transfer medium into the mold cavity;
• flowing said gaseous heat transfer medium along a first surface of said mold cavity;
• and
• removing said gaseous heat transfer medium along a second surface of said mold cavity;
• and
• removing the product from the mold.