Microwave energy application onto wet parts between forming and transfer tools

Abstract

According to examples, an apparatus may include a forming tool to be positioned within a volume of a slurry of fiber material, in which a wet part composed of liquid and fiber material is to be formed on the forming tool. The apparatus may also include a transfer tool to be moved with respect to the forming tool to position the wet part between the transfer tool and the forming tool. The apparatus may further include a microwave energy source that may apply microwave energy onto the wet part while the wet part is positioned between the forming tool and the transfer tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a forming tool to be positioned within a volume of a slurry of fiber material, wherein a wet part composed of liquid and fiber material is to be formed on the forming tool;   a transfer tool to be moved with respect to the forming tool to position the wet part between the transfer tool and the forming tool; and   a microwave energy source to apply microwave energy onto the wet part while the wet part is positioned between the forming tool and the transfer tool.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forming tool and/or the transfer tool are formed of microwavable materials. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller to control the transfer tool and the forming tool to apply pressure onto the wet part to cause some of the liquid to be expelled from the wet part.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forming tool includes a forming mold having holes and a forming screen having pores, the apparatus further comprising:
 a controller to control a force application source to apply a vacuum force through the holes and the pores to suction the slurry onto the forming screen through the pores and cause fiber material in the volume of the slurry to form into the wet part on the forming tool.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer tool includes a transfer mold having holes, the apparatus further comprising:
 a controller to control a force application source to apply a vacuum force through the holes, wherein the vacuum force is to suction some of the liquid out of the wet part.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is to control the microwave energy source to apply the microwave energy onto the wet part through the transfer tool while the vacuum force is applied through the holes of the transfer tool. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is to control the microwave energy source to apply the microwave energy onto the wet part prior to being or after the vacuum force is applied through the holes of the transfer tool. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first portion of a microwave energy enclosure that is to reflect microwave energy; and   a second portion of the microwave energy enclosure, wherein the first portion of the microwave energy enclosure is to move with movement of the transfer tool to selectively enclose the forming tool and the transfer tool, and wherein the microwave energy source is to apply microwave energy onto the wet part while the forming tool and the transfer tool are enclosed within the microwave energy enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a forming tool to be positioned within a volume of a slurry of fiber material, wherein a wet part composed of liquid and fiber material is to be formed on the forming tool, the forming tool comprising a forming mold and a forming screen;   a transfer tool to contact a surface of the wet part and to pull the wet part away from the forming tool, the transfer tool comprising a transfer mold; and   a microwave energy source to apply microwave energy inside of the microwave energy enclosure while the forming tool and the transfer tool are positioned within the microwave energy enclosure, wherein the microwave energy enclosure is to reflect microwave energy within the microwave energy enclosure.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a microwave energy enclosure, wherein the forming tool and the transfer tool are insertable into the microwave energy enclosure while the wet part is held between the forming tool and the transfer tool.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the forming tool and the transfer tool comprise openings, the system further comprising:
 a controller to control:
 the forming tool and the transfer tool to apply pressure on opposite surfaces of the wet part by the transfer tool and the forming tool; and 
 a force application source to apply vacuum forces through the openings in the forming tool and the transfer tool while the wet part is located between the forming tool and the transfer tool to pull liquid from the wet part from the opposite surfaces of the wet part. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is to control a force application source to apply the vacuum forces while the controller controls the microwave energy source to apply microwave energy inside of a microwave energy enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a first portion of the microwave energy enclosure is movable with respect to another portion of the microwave energy enclosure to enable the forming tool and the transfer tool to be insertable into the microwave energy enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 forming a wet part on a forming tool from a slurry of fiber material;   applying pressure through a transfer tool onto the wet part formed on the forming tool; and   while the wet part is located between the forming tool and the transfer tool, applying microwave energy onto the wet part to remove liquid from the wet part.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 applying vacuum forces through openings in the forming tool and the transfer tool to cause additional liquid in the wet part to be removed from the wet part.