Three-dimensional net-like structure, and method and device for producing three dimensional net-like structure

A three-dimensional netted structure comprising:

• a netted structure being manufactured by preparing a thermoplastic resin as a raw material or a main raw material,
• wherein said netted structure includes an inner region having a predetermined apparent density and an outer peripheral region adjacent said inner region having an apparent density higher than said predetermined apparent density,
• wherein said resin is formed into a plurality of helically and randomly entangled, partly and thermally bonded filaments by extrusion molding,
• wherein said filaments are cooled with a liquid so as to obtain said netted structure having said inner region and said outer peripheral region arranged continuously in a material extruding direction, and
• wherein said netted structure is a three-dimensional plate type netted structure having said predetermined apparent density and said apparent density greater than said predetermined apparent density of 0.02 to 0.9 g/cm3.

An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional netted structure having a netted structure being obtained by extruding molten filaments of a thermoplastic resin as a raw material or a main raw material,

• comprising:
• a die having a plurality of holes, said filaments being downward from said die;
• and
• drawing-down units partly-submerged in water, having said filaments drop naturally in between,
• wherein said drawing-down units draw said filaments in between at a speed lower than a filament dropping speed, a distance between said drawing-down units being set smaller than a width of an assembly of said extruded filaments,
• wherein said drawing-down units are arranged so that four surfaces of the assembly of said filaments contact said drawing-down units before or after said drawing-down units being submerged,
• wherein a curved plate extends between said die and said draw-down unit thereby introducing said filaments to said draw-down unit, and
• wherein said curved plate is given at their outer surfaces having a slidability, said curved plate is arranged so that a distance inbetween decreases from upper portions thereof toward lower portions thereof.