GB2141372A

GB2141372A - Moulding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2141372A
Application number: GB08314892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Robert Gower; John O'driscoll
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-31
Filing date: 1983-05-31
Publication date: 1984-12-19
Also published as: GB2141372B; GB8314892D0

Abstract

Apparatus for moulding a material (6), such as fishing bait, into a spherical shape, comprises a complementary pair of plates (1,1') of which at least one has one or more grooves (2) in a major surface and parallel to one edge, so that when a non-spherical piece of mouldable material (6) is placed in the or each groove (2) between the plates a relative reciprocating movement of the plates (1,1') causes the piece (6) to be formed into a spherical shape. In a preferred embodiment both plates (1,1') have grooves of (2) semi-circular cross-section and the plates (1,1') have a ridge (3) and correspondingly-shaped channel (4), for guiding and controlling the reciprocal movement (1,1') during moulding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATIC N Moulding apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for moulding a mouldable material into a spherical shape and is especially but not exclusively, related to apparatus for moulding fishing bait into spheres.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a complementary pair of plates of which at least one has one or more grooves, preferably of semi-circular cross-section, in a major surface thereof and parallel to one edge thereof, the arrangement being such that, when a non-spherical piece of mouldable material is placed in the or each groove and the plates are brought into confronting relationship with one another, so that the grooved major surface of said at least one plate is facing a major surface of the other plate, reciprocating movement of the plates with respect to one another, in generally parallel planes and in a direction parallel to the or each groove, causes the non-spherical piece of mouldable material to be formed into a spherical shape.

Preferably, both plates are provided with at least one groove in respective major surfaces thereof, with the grooves advantageously being semicircular in cross-section, such that at the end of the forming operation, the or each groove in the confronting major surfaces of the plates define at least one circularly cross-sectioned bore in which the spherical piece of shaped material is located.

Also, the plates may be provided with complementary means for controlling the preferred sliding action of the reciprocal movement of the plates, with respect to each other, that is to say, to guide the plates parallel to the or each groove, in which the initially non-spherical piece of material is located, during the forming operation.

Further, the other major surface of at least one of the plates may be provided with an array of parallel or criss-cross ridges for marking out a generally flat piece of material, to be moulded into spherical pieces, into portions of a predetermined size for location in the or each groove.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of apparatus, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a pair of complementary plates constituting the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the lower plate shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the plate shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, an apparatus for forming spherical pieces of fishing bait from, say, damp bread, a high nutritional valuefish bait or other mouldable material which can be used as bait, comprises a pair of lower and upper complementary plates 1, leach having a series of parallel grooves 2 in a major surface thereof. Also, each plate, 1,1' is provided with an elongate ridge 3 of square crosssection which can be received in a correspondinglyshaped channel 4 in the other plate, parallel to and adjacent an edge of the respective plate.

These ridges 3 and channels 4 permit the two plates 1, 1' to be brought together, so that, when they are reciprocably moved with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the grooves 2, the latter are maintained in register with each other.

Each plate 1, 1', on the other major surface thereof, has a criss-cross array of ridges 5, 5'.

Alternatively, only a series of parallel ridges may be provided.

In use of the apparatus, a piece of mouldable fishing bait is formed flat, for example, by rolling and then one of the plates, say, the lower plate 1, is laid on the flattened bait with its criss-cross array of ridges 5, 5' lying thereon. Slight pressure upon the plate 1 will cause the corresponding criss-cross pattern to be formed in the flattened bait. Then, the plate 1 is removed and the bait is cut along the criss-cross lines formed therein, to provide a plurality of smaller preferably cubic pieces of bait. Initially, the larger piece of bait may be rolled to a thickness equal to the spacing between adjacent ridges 5, 5' to provide smaller cubes of bait, such as those shown at6 in Figure 1.

A number of the cut cubes 6 of bait are then placed in the grooves 2 of the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 1' is brought into engagement with the bait cubes 6, so that its grooves 2 confront and lie in register with those of the lower plate 1. The two plates 1, 1' are then reciprocated with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the grooves 2. As this happens, the bait cubes 6 are gradually formed into spheres until the ridges 3 engage their respective channels 4, thereby assisting in guiding the plates in the desired direction parallel to the grooves 2. Eventually, and usually when the confronting major surfaces of the two plates 1,1' have come together, the pieces of bait are substantially spherical. Then the plates 1, 1' are separated and the bait spheres removed for use.

The plates 1, 1' may be made of any suitable material, for instance, a moulded plastics material, and at least the grooves 2 can be provided with a non-stick coating.

Of course, it is to be appreciated that during the forming operation, the pieces of bait tend to be rolled backward and forward within their respective grooves 2, thus enhancing the formation of spheres.

1. Apparatus for moulding a mouldable material into a spherical shape, comprising a complementary pair of plates of which at least one has one or more grooves in a major surface thereof and parallel to one edge thereof, the arrangement being such that, when a non-spherical piece of mouldable material is placed in the or each groove and the plates are brought into confronting relationship with one another, so that the grooved major surface of said at least one plate is facing a major surface of the other plate, reciprocating movement of the plates with respect to one another, in generally parallel planes and in a direction parallel to the or each groove, causes the non-spherical piece of mouldable mate

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATIC N Moulding apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for moulding a mouldable material into a spherical shape and is especially but not exclusively, related to apparatus for moulding fishing bait into spheres. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a complementary pair of plates of which at least one has one or more grooves, preferably of semi-circular cross-section, in a major surface thereof and parallel to one edge thereof, the arrangement being such that, when a non-spherical piece of mouldable material is placed in the or each groove and the plates are brought into confronting relationship with one another, so that the grooved major surface of said at least one plate is facing a major surface of the other plate, reciprocating movement of the plates with respect to one another, in generally parallel planes and in a direction parallel to the or each groove, causes the non-spherical piece of mouldable material to be formed into a spherical shape. Preferably, both plates are provided with at least one groove in respective major surfaces thereof, with the grooves advantageously being semicircular in cross-section, such that at the end of the forming operation, the or each groove in the confronting major surfaces of the plates define at least one circularly cross-sectioned bore in which the spherical piece of shaped material is located. Also, the plates may be provided with complementary means for controlling the preferred sliding action of the reciprocal movement of the plates, with respect to each other, that is to say, to guide the plates parallel to the or each groove, in which the initially non-spherical piece of material is located, during the forming operation. Further, the other major surface of at least one of the plates may be provided with an array of parallel or criss-cross ridges for marking out a generally flat piece of material, to be moulded into spherical pieces, into portions of a predetermined size for location in the or each groove. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of apparatus, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a pair of complementary plates constituting the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the lower plate shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the plate shown in Figure 2. Referring to the drawing, an apparatus for forming spherical pieces of fishing bait from, say, damp bread, a high nutritional valuefish bait or other mouldable material which can be used as bait, comprises a pair of lower and upper complementary plates 1, leach having a series of parallel grooves 2 in a major surface thereof. Also, each plate, 1,1' is provided with an elongate ridge 3 of square crosssection which can be received in a correspondinglyshaped channel 4 in the other plate, parallel to and adjacent an edge of the respective plate. These ridges 3 and channels 4 permit the two plates 1, 1' to be brought together, so that, when they are reciprocably moved with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the grooves 2, the latter are maintained in register with each other. Each plate 1, 1', on the other major surface thereof, has a criss-cross array of ridges 5, 5'. Alternatively, only a series of parallel ridges may be provided. In use of the apparatus, a piece of mouldable fishing bait is formed flat, for example, by rolling and then one of the plates, say, the lower plate 1, is laid on the flattened bait with its criss-cross array of ridges 5, 5' lying thereon. Slight pressure upon the plate 1 will cause the corresponding criss-cross pattern to be formed in the flattened bait. Then, the plate 1 is removed and the bait is cut along the criss-cross lines formed therein, to provide a plurality of smaller preferably cubic pieces of bait. Initially, the larger piece of bait may be rolled to a thickness equal to the spacing between adjacent ridges 5, 5' to provide smaller cubes of bait, such as those shown at6 in Figure 1. A number of the cut cubes 6 of bait are then placed in the grooves 2 of the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 1' is brought into engagement with the bait cubes 6, so that its grooves 2 confront and lie in register with those of the lower plate 1. The two plates 1, 1' are then reciprocated with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the grooves 2. As this happens, the bait cubes 6 are gradually formed into spheres until the ridges 3 engage their respective channels 4, thereby assisting in guiding the plates in the desired direction parallel to the grooves 2. Eventually, and usually when the confronting major surfaces of the two plates 1,1' have come together, the pieces of bait are substantially spherical. Then the plates 1, 1' are separated and the bait spheres removed for use. The plates 1, 1' may be made of any suitable material, for instance, a moulded plastics material, and at least the grooves 2 can be provided with a non-stick coating. Of course, it is to be appreciated that during the forming operation, the pieces of bait tend to be rolled backward and forward within their respective grooves 2, thus enhancing the formation of spheres. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for moulding a mouldable material into a spherical shape, comprising a complementary pair of plates of which at least one has one or more grooves in a major surface thereof and parallel to one edge thereof, the arrangement being such that, when a non-spherical piece of mouldable material is placed in the or each groove and the plates are brought into confronting relationship with one another, so that the grooved major surface of said at least one plate is facing a major surface of the other plate, reciprocating movement of the plates with respect to one another, in generally parallel planes and in a direction parallel to the or each groove, causes the non-spherical piece of mouldable mate rial to be formed into a spherical shape.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein both plates have at least one groove in respective major surfaces thereof.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each groove is semi-circular in cross-section.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the plates have complementary means for controlling the reciprocal movement of the plates in use, to guide the plates parallel to the or each groove during the formation operation.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said complementary means comprises an elongate ridge on the major surface of one plate, which ridge is receivable and slidable in a correspondingly-shaped channel in the major surface of the other plate.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the other major surface of at least one of the plates has an array of parallel or criss-cross ridges for marking out a generally flat piece of material to be moulded into portions of a predetermined size for location in the or each groove.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, for moulding portions of fishing bait into spheres.

8. Fishing bait moulding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.