| abstract |
A process for preparing a cushion structure by loosening fiber aggregate comprising crimped staple fibers and binder fibers, having a melting points below that of the matrix fibers and dispersed therein, filling the loosened aggregate into gas-permeable mold cavity accompanied with a pressurized air system, and thermoforming the same by heating followed by cooling, wherein the matrix fibers are non-elastomeric, crimped polyester staple fibers and the binder fibers are conjugated staple fibers, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer having a melting point at least 40° C. below that of the matrix fibers and non-elastomeric polyester, the thermoplastic elastomer occupying at least one half of the surface area of the conjugated fibers. When the mold cavity is defined by surrounded area of (1) an upper mold divided into some mold members respectively and independently movable upward/downward, (2) a bottom mold movable upward/downward, and (3) mold frame, the aggregate within the mold cavity can be partially controlled to have a desired compression density even in the step of filling up with the same, at the same time, the aggregate can be uniformly and satisfactorily packed into even a mold cavity having a complicated shape, thereby providing a process and an apparatus for producing a cushion structure which is more inexpensive and has better performance than cushion structures produced by the conventional process in a short time on actually commercial scale. |