Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C41/34—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C41/52—Measuring, controlling or regulating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/34—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station
  • B29C33/36—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station continuously movable in one direction, e.g. in a closed circuit
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C41/02—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
  • B29C41/04—Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C43/00—Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C43/32—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C43/36—Moulds for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/02—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated heating or cooling means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/20—Opening, closing or clamping
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/56—Coatings, e.g. enameled or galvanised; Releasing, lubricating or separating agents
  • B29C33/60—Releasing, lubricating or separating agents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/70—Maintenance
  • B29C33/72—Cleaning
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
  • B29K2105/04—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped cellular or porous
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
  • B29K2995/0059—Degradable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages

Definitions

• This invention relates to a molding apparatus and, in particular, although not ecessarily solely, an apparatus for the molding of biodegradable fibre foam materials.
• plastic moldings such as rotational or injection molding are unsuitable for this type of material.
• the material requires curing at elevated temperatures and pressures for a pre-determined period of time and is not suitable for passage through the injectors of an injection molding machine.
• the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a molding apparatus comprising: a first mold support means having a plurality of individual mold portions on one side thereof; a second mold support means having a plurality of mold portions on one side thereof, said sides of said first and second mold support means on which said mold portions are mounted opposing each other and said mold portions being arranged on said mold support means to form a plurality of cooperating pairs of mold portions to form a plurality of mold cavities therebetween; a rotational mounting and drive means to allow simultaneous rotation of said first and second mold support means about a common axis; means to open and close said pairs of mold portions independently at discreet intervals throughout the rotation of the mold support means; - at least one product ejecting means positioned adjacent said mold support means to eject finished product from said mold cavities when a pair of said molding portions are open; at least one material feeder adjacent said mold support means to introduce material to said mold portions after a previous product has been ejected and also while said pair of mold portions are open; and control
• Fig. 1 shows an elevational view of one embodiment of a molding apparatus in accordance with this invention
• Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the surface of one of the mold support means to show the arrangement of the molding portions;
• - Fig. 3 is a further plan view of the moid support means showing the arrangement of the associated apparatus;
• Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic chart detailing the timing sequence of the operations:
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation through a material feeding unit forming part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation through a pair of molding portions of the preferred embodiment.
• Fig. 8 is a further cross-sectional elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 7 in an open condition.
• This invention relates to a molding machine to mold products generally from a fibre material. Such products may be used as utensils such as dishes for the fast food industry or various kinds of packaging.
• the apparatus comprises a machine 1 having a first mold support means 2 on which may be positioned a plurality of molding portions 3.
• the molding portions 3 are positioned on a first side 6 of the mold support means 2.
• first mold support means 2 Opposing this first mold support means 2 is a second mold support means 4.
• the second mold support means 4 is separated from the first mold support means 2 and carries a plurality of molding portions 5. Again, these molding portions 5 are arranged on a face 7 of the second mold support means 4 and are arranged such that they oppose and cooperate with the molding portions 3 on the first mold support means 2. With such an arrangement, the molding portions 3 and 5 on the opposed mold support means 2 and 4 cooperate to form pairs of molding portions creating an individual mold cavity between each pair
• Means for opening and closing the cooperating pairs of molding portions 3 and 5 are provided for each pair of molding portions As shown in this preferred embodiment, the upper molding portion 5 is driven by an arm 8 which itself may be powered bv a hydraulic cylinder or similar 10
• This hydraulic c ⁇ hnder 10 can both regulate the pressure of the molding operation and also close the mold when required
• the upper mold portion 5 is capable of assuming an open condition as shown in position 9 on Fig 1 in which arm 8 connected to this upper portion 5 has retracted into the second mold support means 4
• the retraction of this can be performed hydraulically, mechanically or by such other means as may be desired
• this preferred embodiment arranges the first and second mold support means 2 and 4 as a lower and upper mold support means lespectively
• the reference to upper and lower throughout the description is provided in relation to this paiticular embodiment although it is the relative arrangement rather than the spacial configuration which is important
• the first and second mold support means 2 and 4 are both concentrically mounted about a generally central axis 11.
• Drive means 12 are provided in the form of a motor or similar which acts through a transmission including a main gear 13 or similar to drive the simultaneous rotation of both the first and second mold support means. The simultaneous rotation is required to avoid any relative movement in the horizontal direction between the lower and upper mold portions 3 and 5 with each pair of mold portions 3 and 5 moving together on the installation positions about the axis 11.
• the form of drive to create the rotation and the manner in which a transmission is provided to drive the mold support means 2 and 4 can comprise any variety of mechanisms to achieve this purpose.
• This other apparatus arranged adjacent the rotational path of the molding portions may include means 14 to eject the product and a material feeding or loading apparatus 15 to refill the mold cavity with material for a subsequent molding operation.
• This preferred embodiment utilizes the rotation of the mold support means 2 and 4 to time the molding operation.
• Each pair of molding portions 3 and 5 is in an open condition at a specific interval during the rotation to allow the previous product to be ejected and further material to be introduced to the mold. Throughout the remainder of the rotation, the mold is closed under controlled temperature and pressure conditions to create the molded product itself
• This preferred embodiment utilizes a single product electing means 14 and material feeding apparatus 15 around the rotational path of the molding portions 3 and 5
• alternative embodiments could provide two or more sets of these additional portions of apparatus at discreet intervals around the mold support means 2 and 4. the molding operation being completed in, for example, a 180 degree rotation of the mold support means 2 and 4 rather than the full molding operation taking place over a 360 degree rotation of the mold support means 2 and 4 as shown in this embodiment
• the arrangement of the mold portions 3 and 5 in this preferred embodiment is such that they are substantially concentrically arranged around the central axis 1 1 This minimizes any need for adjustment or movement of the associated apparatus such as the product ejecting means 14 and material feeder 15
• the cooperating pairs ol molding portions 3 and 5 may be in a staggered formation on the mold support means 2 and 4 or align in inner and outer concentric circles on the opposed faces 6 and 7 of the mold support means 2 and 4
• a plan view of the first mold support means 2 of the preferred embodiment is shown It can be seen that the mold portions 3 are arranged in a single concentric circle towards the outer edge 16 of the support means 2
• the support means 2 is preferably provided with a generally circular outer circumference and each of the mold portions are positioned equal distant from that outer edge and, also preferably, at an equal radial angle "X" from each other.
• the distinction of mold portion 5 on support means 4 is similar.
• the support means 2 is shown with the material feeding apparatus 15 adjacent the rotatable support means 2.
• a controller 26 is provided to have overall control over the operations of the unit.
• rotation of those support means may be either continuous or intermittent.
• the associated apparatus needs to operate with the molding portions moving pass the apparatus.
• this must be able to deliver the material while the mold continues to pass the apparatus and needs to be timed to deliver the material while sufficient of the mold is adjacent to the apparatus 15 to accept the material.
• some motion of the material feeding unit 15 with the turntable over at least a distance sufficient to deliver the material is necessary.
• the drive can then be re-engaged by the control means to rotate the table to position another mold adjacent the apparatus 15 and other such apparatus. All this control over the drive may be provided by a controller 26 activating, deactivating or regulating the speed of the drive as required.
• the material feeding apparatus 15 is shown in more detail in Figs. 5 and 6.
• the material feeding apparatus 15 can be seen to comprise an initial funnel or hopper 38 to receive the material in bulk.
• a screw conveyor 37 is driven by a motor 39 to deliver the material to a rotating table 36.
• This rotating table 36 acts to convey the material from the screw conveyor 37 to the molds themselves. As shown in Fig. 1. the table 36 rotates to pass over the cavity of molds 3.
• the rotating table 36 contains cylinders 42 which receive a portion of the material 41 from the screw conveyor 37.
• the material 41 is forced into the cylinder 42 and the quantity is controlled by a piston 32 moving within the cylinder 42.
• An adjustable stop 34 is provided which contacts a rearward element of the piston 32 to limit the travel of the piston 32.
• the stop 34 is provided in the form of a screw thread having an angled face 43 which meets and co-operates with similarly angled face 44 at the rear of the piston 32. As the faces meet an at angle intermediate of the direction of the screw thread 34 and the piston travel, the stop position of the piston 32 can be adjusted by the rotation and resultant penetration of the stop means 34 into the cylinder 42.
• a further stop means 33 is provided to limit the outward travel of the piston 32.
• a plurality of the cylinders 42 may be provided around the circumference of the table 36 which rotates about a central axis 35. In operation, the material 41 is fed into the end of the cylinders 42 and the quantity is controlled by the rearward travel of the piston 32.
• a fluid may be introduced to the cylinders 42 through an inlet 40 rearward of the piston 32.
• This fluid may be a compressible gas or hydraulic fluid as desired. In this preferred form. compressed air is introduced to the cylinder 42.
• the table 36 rotates in the direction of the arrow 45 being an opposed direction to the rotation of the mold support means 2 and 4. Such rotation ensures that the cylinders 42 are provided with additional time passing over the molds beneath as the molds and the cylinders 42 travel over intersecting arcuate paths.
• the intersection of the arcuate paths of the molds and the cylinders 42 are such that the mold support means 2 and 4 can continue their rotation during the delivery of the material rather than utilizing an intermittent rotation of the mold support means.
• the timing of the delivery of the material can be controlled through the timing of the introduction of the compressed gas through the inlet 40 and can be microprocessor controlled or position sensor controlled or mechanically timed as desired.
• the apparatus includes temperature control mechanisms in each of the molds such that the molds may operate at elevated temperatures.
• the upper and lower mold portions 5 and 3 respectively are shown in a closed condition to form a mold cavity 50 between them.
• Heating means 58 and 59 are provided to the upper and lower molds 5 and 3 respectively. It should be noted that the purpose is to elevate the temperature of the molding operation and this preferred form provides this with heaters in both the upper and lower molds. However, in alternative embodiments, it may be possible to utilize a single heater.
• This preferred embodiment uses electrically powered heating coils for the heating means 58 and 59 which are disbursed evenly around the molding surfaces.
• the heating of the mold may be controlled by the placement of suitable sensors 56 placed in the molds adjacent the mold surface. Alternatively, the sensors may be placed elsewhere on the mold to obtain a general indication of the molding temperature.
• the sensors 56 may be provided singularly or in plural and merely need to be thermally connected to the mold cavity.
• the apparatus in Fig. 7 shows the upper and lower molds 5 and 3 in a closed condition. In this instance, the rod 8 attached to the upper mold is at a depressed state to close the mold.
• the upper mold has a mold seat 51 and above this there is provided a cooling system which, in this instance, comprises a fluid jacket 60.
• the lower mold 3 similarly has a fluid jacket 63 to allow the passage of coolant around the molds but away from the molding surface itself.
• This cooling system is provided in the preferred example so that the remainder of the apparatus is thermally insulated from the elevated temperatures created in the mold cavity 50. This avoids the need for other mechanical, electrical or similar components to be thermally protected.
• Each of the coolant jackets 60 and 63 have inlets 61 and 64 respectively for the entry of coolant and outlets 62 and 65 respectively for the outlet of the coolant.
• the flow of coolant around the jackets 60 and 63 allows excess heat from the molds to be drawn away for dispersion before the coolant is returned for another pass through the jackets 60 and 63.
• the coolant system can be provided by alternative means such as layers of thermal insulation although this does not allow the dispersion of the excess heat should it be created.
• the cooling fluid can be any suitable thermally conductive liquid or gas.
• This preferred embodiment provides information from suitable temperature sensors 56 to the overall control mechanism 26 which itself controls the operation of the heaters 58 and 59.
• the operation can comprise the switching on and off of the heaters as required or a modulated control of the output of the heaters if this is preferred.
• FIG. 8 the upper and lower molds 5 and 3 respectively are shown diagrammatically to demonstrate part of the product ejection mechanism 14.
• a push ring 71 biased by spring 74 operates to assist in the release of the product 76 from the surface of the upper mold 5.
• the push ring 71 is shown in cross section in Fig. 7 and can be seen to act on an upper edge of the product 76.
• the biasing means 74 in the form of a compression spring and its associated connecting bolt 73 drive the push ring 71 down over the surface of the upper mold 5. Only a short movement of the push ring 71 is needed to break the seal the product 76 has made against the upper mold 5.
• the product 76 may be raised from the lower mold 3 through the use of a push rod 72 operating through the bottom of the mold 3.
• the push rod 72 can raise the product 76 clear of the lower mold 3 and the product 76 can be ejected transverse to the direction of travel of the push rod 72 by the ejection rod 78 shown in Fig. 1.
• the apparatus may include a cleaning step to remove debris from the molds prior to the entry of further material to form another product.
• the apparatus includes a nozzle for the outlet of compressed gas to blow debris from the mold. Other means could be utilized if desired.
• Another intermediate step taken between the ejection of the product and the placement of new material may be the introduction of a lubricant or releasing agent into the mold. This can assist in the release of the product from the mold surfaces and again may be provided by a nozzle providing a spray of lubricant or releasing agent onto one or both of the upper and lower mold surfaces.
• the controller 26 can control rotation of the upper and lower mold support means 2 and 4, the timing of the material feeding unit 15, the temperature of the molds and other operations as required.
• the sequence of events and the timing of events for this preferred embodiment is shown in Fig. 4.
• Fig. 4 demonstrates a relative timing of operations. This details the operations generally over the period in which the mold is open with the line 81 showing the mold opening over the first two time units and closing over the last two time units and remaining in its fully open condition for the intermediate six time units.
• the upper push ring operates slightly after the mold commences to open and once fully open, need only the bias into the open condition for a short time This is shown by line 82 in Fig 4
• Line 84 shows the period of operation of the product push arm 78 to eject the product from the top of the lower push rod This is timed to commence after the lower push rod has reached its extended position and finishes prior to the lower push rod lowering for a subsequent operation
• Line 85 shows the operation of the cleaning and spraying of lubricant or releasing agents into the molds It is only following this step that material is reintroduced to the mold over the time period as shown by line 86 Once the material has been introduced to the mold, the mold can commence closing
• this preferred embodiment introduces material to the molds at which time the molds close and rotate in excess of 270 degrees around the central axis 11
• the time taken for this rotation and the speed of rotation is determined by the time required for the molding operation
• the mold opens for the ejection of the product, the cleaning of the molds and introduction of the releasing agent before further material is introduced.
• each pair of upper and lower molds 5 and 3 may undergo this cycle independently to provide a substantially continuous production of products from the apparatus.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

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ID=4575142

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1999
  • 1999-09-07 AU AU56157/99A patent/AU5615799A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-09-07 KR KR1020027003050A patent/KR20020039668A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-09-07 WO PCT/CN1999/000141 patent/WO2001018292A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-09-07 CA CA002384116A patent/CA2384116A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-09-07 JP JP2001521818A patent/JP2004506534A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-09-07 EP EP99942704A patent/EP1218580A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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