Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.

Eugene V Galloway

Douglas Brian Mann

Joseph Anthony Adcock

Barry N Garrett

Michael F Sale

Donald Scarsella

Kevin W Terrell

James W Montjoy

An automated assist apparatus is provided in a system for forming a molded article from a composition comprised of a plurality of chopped mineral fibers and a binder applied to at least one portion of a perforated mold and initially held in place by a vacuum drawn through the perforations before undergoing a curing process. The assist apparatus includes at least one device for holding the composition applied to at least one portion of the perforated mold in place prior to and during the curing process and a motive device for automatically moving the holding device from a first retracted position away from the mold to a second position for holding the composition in place. The vacuum is released when the holding device is in the second position. The composition undergoes curing and the holding device is automatically moved to the first retracted position for removing the cured molded article.

Automated process and apparatus for forming a molded article

A moving strand is provided and a size is applied to the strand. A collet is rotated to wind the strand and build a package. The strand is reciprocated with a strand reciprocator to lay the strand at a wind angle on the package surface as the package rotates. A rotatable collet receives the strand to build a package. A strand reciprocator is mounted to guide the strand from edge to edge of the package and to lay the strand in a helical pattern on the package surface as the package rotates. The collet and the cam for the strand reciprocator are driven by motors. A collet inverter drive and a cam inverter drive control the rotational speed of the collet and cam, respectively. A controller is operatively connected to control the collet and cam inverter drives. A memory device such as a computer provides information to the controller of the waywind and wind angle as a function of package buildup time. An encoder can be operatively connected to each motor to provide feedback information to the controller relating to the rotational speed of the collet and the cam. The wind angle can remain constant while the relative rotational speed of the collet and the cam are varied as a function of package buildup time. Alternatively, the wind angle and the relative rotational speed of the collet and the cam can be varied as a function of package buildup time.

Method for controlling wind angle and waywind during strand package buildup

A cam follower includes a radially inner arcuate bearing surface that matches the curvature of the outer surface of the cam. Engagement of this bearing surface with the surface of the cam opposes undesired motion of the cam follower, including motion radially away from the cam, about an axis perpendicular to the cam rotation axis, and/or about an axis parallel to the cam rotation axis. This arcuate engagement also facilitates effective lubrication of the cam follower. The cam housing is formed with arcuate bearing surfaces that define with the cam surface an annular cam follower cavity and that engage a radially outer arcuate bearing surface of the cam follower, maintaining the cam follower in position against the cam surface.

Reciprocating apparatus and cam follower for winding a package

A guide eye for use with a traverse mechanism of a strand package winder is positioned with respect to the surface of the package during the package build process so that the guide eye contacts the package surface in the larger diameter, end regions of the package. This positioning provides a minimal free length between the point at which the strands leaves the guide and the point at which the strand contacts the package surface, giving better control over the placement of the strand onto the package surface, particularly in the end portions of the package. Further, the guide eye is pressed against the package surface, slightly compressing the surface and pressing a portion of the preceding stand courses against the package. This pressure helps to fix the strand in the position in which it was laid down to reduce displacement of the strand course during the package build process.

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Anderson, SC, United States of America

Eugene V Galloway