JP2006500480A - Pulp molded product, manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (16) for producing a pulp molded article from a fiber slurry containing a fiber slurry and having an immersion tank (21) having a liquid level. A surface plate (126) is provided. The porous mold (122) is supported by the surface plate. The surface plate and the mold supported by the surface plate are lowered downward into the fiber slurry in a state where the surface plate is disposed above the mold, and the die is introduced into the fiber slurry through the liquid level. The While the mold is placed in the fiber slurry, a vacuum is supplied to the surface plate and the mold, and the fibers of the fiber slurry are collected in the mold to form a wet pulp molded product. The surface plate and the mold provided with the wet pulp molded product are moved to the outside of the fiber slurry through the liquid surface, and water is discharged from the mold and the wet pulp molded product. The wet pulp molding is dried.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pulp molded product, and a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof.

  So far, pulp molded products have been manufactured with dense pulp products. Such a dense pulp product is manufactured by a pressure drying process by continuously cutting a wet pulp portion under pressure by a plurality of heating machine tools. Pulp molded articles produced by such a treatment have a relatively smooth surface that is smoother on one side than the other due to the applied pressure. Such dense pulp products are known to have an unnatural accumulation of fibers and produce vertical wrinkles that look like a laminate because they are made in this way. It has been observed that reducing the strength of dense molded articles and increasing brittleness. Such a dense molded product has a rougher surface than other surfaces, and has various unpredictable stacking pitches that affect the fit. This different surface roughness and various lamination pitches make it difficult to fit and remove a dense molded product.

  Accordingly, there is a need for new and improved pulp moldings that do not have these undesirable features and new and improved equipment for making them.

  The apparatus 16 for producing the pulp molding of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 has a frame structure 17 made of a suitable material such as stainless steel. The frame structure 17 is on a raised floor 18.

  A slurry dip tank 21 of a suitable material such as stainless steel is attached to the bottom of the frame structure 17 and is sized to accommodate approximately 1000 gallons. The slurry immersion tank 21 is provided with a lower wall 22, an upright side wall 23, and an upper wall 24 that covers the lower wall 22 and is parallel to the lower wall 22. The upper wall 24 is provided with a square rectangular opening 26 for accessing a parallelepiped-shaped chamber 27 provided in the tank 21. The tank 21 is provided with a plurality of flange joints 31 as schematically shown in FIG. Thus, there is an inlet joint 33 connected to the pulp storage tank 36 via a pump 34. Means are provided for recirculating the pulp slurry introduced into the slurry dip tank 21, which means is constituted by a recirculation pump 41 connected to the dip tank 21 from the valve 43 via a joint 42, The slurry is withdrawn from the tank 21 and supplied to the tank 21 from the densitometer 46 through the joint 47 via another valve 44. The joint 47 is connected to another joint 48 in the chamber 27 of the tank 21, and the joint 47 provides a plurality of intervals for reintroducing the slurry into the slurry immersion tank 21 and stirring the slurry in the tank 21. Connected to a pipe 49 to which a placed spout 51 is attached, the tank 21 has a uniform consistency extending to every corner of the slurry immersion tank 21 as measured by a consistency meter (not shown).

  Means are provided for adjusting the temperature of the slurry in the dip tank 21 and this means is constituted by an electric heater 56 attached to the side wall of the tank, the electric heater 56 predetermining the slurry in the dip tank. The temperature is adjusted with a thermostat to maintain the temperature.

  A parallelepiped that is attached to the upper portion of the frame structure 17 and includes a top wall 62 and a downwardly extending side wall 63 that is accessible by a lower opening 66 is a drying tank 61 formed of a suitable material such as stainless steel. A drying chamber 64 is formed. The lowermost end of the side wall 63 has a seal member 67 attached thereto, and the seal member 67 has a recess 68 provided on the lower side thereof and receiving the expansion seal 69.

  The lower opening 66 of the drying tank 61 is a stainless steel closure that can move on the rail of the frame structure 17 between a closed position that closes the lower opening 66 and an open position that is off the lower opening 66. The plate 71 is closed. Means for moving the closing plate 71 between the open and closed positions is provided in the form of a crank mechanism 72 including a gear motor 73. The reduction gear device is provided with an output shaft 76 that drives the crank arm 77. The crank arm is rotatably connected to a connecting rod 79 by a pin 78, and the connecting rod 79 is rotatably connected to a closing plate 71 by a pin 81 (see FIG. 6). It can be seen that the closing plate 71 is linearly moved between the opening and closing positions with respect to the lower opening 66 by the crank mechanism 72.

  Means are provided for supplying air under pressure to inflate and deflate the expansion seal 69 so that a hermetic seal is formed between the drying tank 61 and the closure plate 71, which means the valve 83. Includes a compressor 82 that is open to the atmosphere and communicates with the tank 84 via a valve 85. Compressed air from the tank 84 is supplied to an instrument air pipe 91 via a flange joint 86, a control valve 87, a filter 88 and a regulator 89. The instrument air is supplied from the pipe 91 to the expansion seal 69 via the reducer 92, the valve 93, the electromagnetic valve 94, the regulator 96, and the quick exhaust valve 97. From these controls, it is easily understood that the seal member 69 can be expanded by operating the electromagnetic valve 94 and can be contracted by operating the quick exhaust valve 97.

  Means are provided for supplying heated air to the drying chamber 64, the means comprising a compressor 101 in communication with the atmosphere via a valve 102 and connected to a reservoir tank 103 via a valve 104; The compressed air provides a suitable pressure, such as 60 psi. The tank 103 is connected to a pipe 107 via a flange joint 106. The pipe 107 is connected to an appropriate type of air heater 109 via a control valve 108. The air heater 109 has, for example, an electric heating capacity of 192 kW for heating air, Via the reducer 112 connected to the spout 113 connected via the side wall 63 of the drying tank 61 for supplying heated air to the drying chamber 64 through 111. If desired, the heater 109 can be bypassed by a bypass valve 116.

  With regard to utilizing the device 16 for producing pulp moldings, a first comprising a plurality of first mating porous molds 122 that can be of uniform or different dimensions depending on the choice of the operator of the device. A set of fitting porous molds 121 is prepared. The porous mold 122 is of the type described in pending application 09 / 385,914 filed Aug. 30, 1999. A second set of porous molds 123 of the same type that match the first set of porous molds is provided, and this second set of mating porous molds 123 is a first mating mold. A plurality of second mating porous molds 124 paired with 122 are included.

  The apparatus 16 includes means for attaching the first set 121 of mating molds 122 and includes a mold surface plate 126 to which a plurality of expansion mold holders 127 are attached. The mold holder 127 is supplied with air for the mold holder from the instrument air pipe 91 through the reducer 128, the electromagnetic valve 129 and the regulator 131, and 50 psi of air is supplied to the quick exhaust valve 132 and another reducer. 133 is supplied to the mold holder 127 via 133. Therefore, by using the electromagnetic valve 129, the mold 122 can be attached to the mold surface plate 126, and the mold 122 can be removed when air for the mold holder is released by the quick exhaust valve 132.

  Means are provided for supporting the mold platen 126 and for moving the mold platen 126 between an intermediate position, a dip tank position, and a drying tank position, which means forms part of the frame structure 17. A spaced cantilevered support arm 141 is attached to a linear sleeve bearing 142 that is slidably attached to a cylindrical column 143 in a vertical direction. Means are provided for moving the sleeve bearing 142 and the cantilevered arm 141 carried thereby vertically between an intermediate position, a dip tank position, and a drying chamber position, which means an output that drives the pulley 148. A gear motor 146 having a shaft 147 is included. The drive pulley 148 drives a cable 149, one end of which is attached to the cantilever arm 141, and the cable moves over another pulley 151 attached to the frame structure 17 as shown in FIG. The other end attached to 152. It can be seen that the mold platen 126 carried by the cantilever arm 141 can be easily moved between the intermediate position, the dipping position, and the drying tank position by the operation of the gear motor 156.

  Means are provided for rotating a mold platen 126, described below, to at least 180 °, which includes a right angle gear motor 156 mounted between the cantilever arm 141 and the mold platen 126, The platen can be rotated 180 ° from the position shown in FIG. 1 where the mold 122 faces upside down to the position where the mold faces upward. Therefore, it can be seen that the mold or suction surface plate 126 can be moved from the mold downward position to the mold upward position described later.

  A telescoping tubular assembly 166 is provided on the opposite side of the mold surface plate 126, one end is connected to the flange connecting portion 167, and the other end is connected to the rotating flange connecting portion 168, between the immersion tank position and the drying tank position. Allows movement of the surface plate. As shown in FIG. 9, these telescoping tubular assemblies 166 are connected to line 172 via reducers 171. Line 172 is connected by a valve 173 that can move between open and closed positions, through vacuum regulator 174, and connected to another reducer 176 that is connected to vacuum line 177. The vacuum line is connected to a vacuum receiver buffer tank 179 via a flange joint 178. The tank 179 is connected to a vacuum pump 182 via a valve 181, and this vacuum pump 182 communicates with the atmosphere via a valve 183. The line 172 is arranged in communication with the atmosphere via a valve 186 movable between open and closed positions. The compressed air may be supplied to a line 172 for blowing a molded product, which will be described later, from a compressed air line 107 supplied via a product blow-off valve 192 adjusted to a reducer 191, 10 psi.

  The second fitting mold 124 of the second set of fitting molds 123 is positioned in the drying chamber 64 and removed from the mold holder 201 carried by the robot cylinder 202 attached to the upper wall 62 of the drying tank 61. It can be attached as possible. These robot cylinders 202 are of the conventional type and are stepping motors that are operated so that the position of the second fitting mold is correctly adjusted during the molding process as will be described later. The mold holder air is supplied from the pipe 91 to each of the robot cylinder 202 via the reducer 206 connected to the electromagnetic valve 207 via the quick exhaust valve 208 and another reducer 209. The robot cylinder 202 is connected to a vacuum source via a reducer 211, a control valve 212, another reducer 213, and a vacuum line 177. The robot cylinder 202 is connected to the compressed air pipe 107 through a reducer 216, a control valve 217, and a reducer 218.

  The atmosphere line 221 is connected to the vacuum line 177 and can be released from the control valve 222 to the atmosphere via a flange connection portion 223 attached to the atmosphere vent tank 224. The atmospheric vent tank 224 communicates with the atmospheric air via a flange joint 226.

  A pulp molded article made by the apparatus and method of the present invention is shown in FIG. This pulp molding 251 is merely representative of many different types of products made in accordance with the present invention. Accordingly, a pulp molded product 251 in the form of a container is provided with a bottom wall (not shown) and an upstanding side wall 252, and these side walls 252 are inclined upward and outward from the bottom wall and horizontally at the uppermost end. The rim 253 extends in the direction and forms a space for accommodating objects and other materials. The lower wall (not shown), the side wall 252 and the rim 253 are all formed with a first exposed surface 256 and a second exposed surface 257 that are parallel and spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the wall thickness. Has been. Both the first exposed surface 256 and the second exposed surface 257 are relatively smooth but have a texture that reflects the mesh pattern of the first and second mating porous molds described above. The thickness of the wall forming the pulp molded container can be adjusted precisely, making it possible to adjust the pitch of the side walls 252 and providing the container with a predetermined predictable stacking pitch to easily nest the container Can be stacked or removed. Because of the predictable stackability, it is possible to transport, for example, 5-10% more product in a single truck than can be achieved with conventional pulp molding.

  The operation and application of the apparatus and method for producing a pulp molded article having the present invention will be briefly described below. A plurality of molds or tools of the desired type shall be manufactured by the method described in US Pat. No. 6,287,428. With regard to the special procedures and methods described below, a plurality of porous mating molds having different dimensions and shapes are used, and it is possible to manufacture a plurality of different types of molded articles during individual manufacturing procedures. Accordingly, a plurality of first fitting molds 122 having different dimensions and shapes as shown in the drawing and a plurality of second fitting molds 124 corresponding to the dimension and shape of the first fitting mold 122 are prepared and paired. First and second sets of fitting dies 121 and 123 for forming the fitting dies are prepared. These first mating molds 122 are fixed to the mold platen 126 by use of a conventional mold holder 127 that is carried by a mold or suction platen 126 and is operated by use of mold holder air. The The adsorption or mold of the surface plate 126 is of the type described in Japanese Patent No. 6,287,428, which functions as a manifold and communicates with the mold 122 via the mold holder 127. The second fitting mold 124 is fixed to the mold holder 201 by the mold holder air and is carried by the positioner or the robot cylinder 202.

  After the first and second sets of mating dies 121, 123 are in place, the device 16 shown in the figure can be activated. The slurry immersion tank 21 is filled with pulp slurry from the pulp storage tank 36 to an appropriate liquid level. The pulp slurry is continuously recirculated by use of the circulation pump 41 to give a pulp slurry having a uniform consistency throughout the immersion tank 21. The slurry in the dip tank shall be maintained at a predetermined temperature, such as a room temperature of 25 ° C or 70 ° F.

  The mold surface plate 126 is in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 1 between the slurry immersion tank 21 and the drying tank 61, and the first set of fitting molds 121 attached as described above is directed downward. It shall be in the upside down position. The gear motor 146 is operated to lower the mold surface plate 126, and the first fitting mold 122 carried by the surface plate 126 is moved downward into the opening 26 of the immersion tank 21, and the mold is moved. With the surface plate 126 being above the liquid level of the slurry, it enters the liquid level of the pulp slurry in the immersion tank to such a depth that only the mold is immersed in the slurry in a dry state.

  As soon as the first mating mold 122 enters the dip tank slurry, a vacuum is applied from the vacuum line 177 through the telescoping assembly 166 to the mold or suction platen 126. The vacuum typically corresponds to approximately 7 inches of mercury, and continues to be applied until a sufficient amount of fiber is collected in the first mating mold 122 to give the mold a wet mold. Power is again supplied to the gear motor 146 to raise the mold surface plate 126 to the outside of the slurry. When the mold starts to rise, the vacuum supplied to the mold increases and becomes, for example, about 12 to 13 inches of mercury. When this rise occurs, the fibers that are not attached to the mold are washed away by the drainage slurry and returned to the immersion tank 21. Excess water flows from the mold and wet molded product into the immersion tank 21.

  After raising the mold or suction surface plate 126 to a substantially intermediate position between the immersion tank 21 and the drying tank 61, the right angle gear motor 156 is operated, and the mold or suction surface plate 126 is rotated by 180 ° to carry it. The first fitting mold 122 is moved from the upside position to the upright position or the right side up position, and the drainage from the wet molded product carried by the first fitting mold 122 is promoted by gravity. . At the same time, the vacuum supplied to the mold surface plate is increased to, for example, 27 to 28 inches of mercury, and it is facilitated to draw almost all water from the wet molded product supported by the mold. According to the method of the present invention, it is advantageous to draw out as much water as possible from the molded product carried by the mold and then reduce the water that must be dehydrated into the drying chamber 64 of the drying tank 61. The water collected by the vacuum applied to the wet molded article carried by the first mating mold 122 is collected for an initial predetermined time, for example 5 seconds, and used again to make further pulp slurry, and then The withdrawn air and some remaining moisture may be vented to the atmosphere via another predetermined time valve 186, for example 15 seconds for a total cycle time of 20 seconds.

  When this water extraction is accomplished from the wet molded product carried by the first fitting mold 122, the mold surface plate 126 continues to move upward and moves to the position shown in FIG. 7 in the drying chamber. . Thereafter or during that time, the positioner or robot cylinder 202 is actuated to bring the second fitting mold 124 downward and engage the first fitting mold 122 and partially dry as shown in FIG. Although the molded product 251 is made, the molded product 251 is self-supporting and has a precise predetermined wall thickness due to the tight tolerances allowed by the operation of the positioner cylinder 202 and the suction or positioning of the mold platen 126. Have.

  As soon as positioning of the first fitting mold 122 and the second fitting mold 124 is performed, a vacuum is applied to the mold holder 201, and immediately or simultaneously, air is applied under pressure by adjusting the product blow-off valve 192. Is supplied to the mold holder 127, and the pulp molded product of the mold 122 is blown away. At this time, the positioner or robot cylinder 202 is operated to raise the second fitting mold 124, and together with them, the pulp molded product 251 is conveyed upward into the drying chamber 64 of the drying tank 61. At this time, the mold or suction surface plate 126 is lowered to the outside of the drying chamber 64 by the operation of the gear motor 146.

  As soon as the first fitting mold 122 passes the lower end of the drying tank 61, the lower opening 66 of the drying tank 61 operates the gear motor 73 to move the closing plate 71 from the external position to the lower end of the drying tank 61. Closed by moving to the closed position below. Next, the expansion seal 69 is expanded by the operation of the electromagnetic valve 94 to provide an airtight seal between the drying chamber 64 and the closing plate 71. As soon as the drying chamber 64 is sealed, hot compressed air at a pressure varying from 30 psi to 40 psi at approximately 300 ° F. is supplied from the heater 109 to the drying chamber 64 as indicated by arrow 259. The hot air after entering the drying chamber 64 passes through the pulp molded product and the porous mold 122 as indicated by an arrow 261 and then leaks out by passing through a vacuum line 177 as indicated by an arrow 262. it can. As a modification, the hot air after passing through the porous mold may be discharged to the atmosphere. Since all of the heated air to be leaked must pass through the fiber molding, a very efficient drying of the pulp molding takes place.

  Since the mold surface plate 126 always remains in a dry state, it is not necessary to dry the mold surface plate 126, so that the drying operation is facilitated. As explained previously, care is taken not to immerse the platen in the fiber slurry of the dip tank 21 and leave it dry. When the mold platen 126 is rotated up to 180 ° and inverted so that the pulp molded product is on the surface plate, the moisture carried by the pulp molded product is removed from the vacuum line connected to the mold or the adsorption platen. Drawn through.

  During the drying operation of the drying chamber 64, the mold surface plate 126 is moved downward toward the immersion tank 21. When this is happening, the mold platen is rotated to 180 ° by the operation of the gear motor 156 and the first fitting mold 122 is directed downward again, after which the first fitting mold 122 is The dip tank 21 is lowered into the pulp slurry, a vacuum is applied to the mold 122, and a further wet pulp molded product is formed into the mold 122.

  After the pulp molded product is sufficiently dried in the drying chamber 64 with, for example, a moisture content of less than 5%, the seal expansion air of the expansion seal 69 is rapidly discharged through the exhaust valve 97. Before or during this time, the heated air supplied from the heater 109 is terminated. The closure gear motor 73 is operated, and the closing plate 71 is moved to the opened release position to clean the opening 66.

  After the pulp molded product is dried to a desired dry state, the pulp molded product can be taken out from the second fitting mold 124 by supplying compressed air to the cylinder 202, and the pulp molded product is opened in the drying chamber 64. Drop down through section 66 onto a suitable takeout conveyor (not shown), but this conveyor can be advanced and retracted as appropriate, so it is below the drying chamber opening 66 and then continues with the procedure described above. For this purpose, after rotating the mold surface plate 126 to 180 °, the mold surface plate 126 is moved to the removal position in order to enter the drying chamber 64 again.

  From the above, it can be seen that the apparatus of the present invention enables a very effective method for producing pulp molded articles. By transporting the pulp molded product from the first fitting die 122 to the second fitting die 124, the first fitting die is placed in the immersion tank 21 for the next set of pulp molded products. Final drying can be accomplished in the drying chamber 74 while taking down again. By such a procedure, a pulp molded product can be manufactured very quickly. The pulp molding produced by the apparatus and method of the present invention produces a pulp molding as shown in FIG. 10 having many desirable qualities as described above.

  If not all of these desirable qualities are required, it is possible to utilize an apparatus and method for producing a fiber molded article with only a single mold. This is immersed in the slurry immersion tank 21 by the method described above, pulled up to the outside of the immersion tank, and rotated 180 ° from the upside position to the upright position while the vacuum is supplied to the pulp molded product. This can be achieved by utilizing a single mold carried by the mold surface plate 126 to be used. By utilizing such a method, the pulp molded product can be sufficiently dried, and the pulp molded product supplies a blow of compressed air that moves the molded product from the mold supported by the surface plate. Can be transferred from the mold by taking out the molded product or transporting it to a conveyor, after which the product is naturally dried with open air and, if desired, fed into a drying chamber away from the equipment Can do. It can be seen that a pulp molded product can be made with a single mold by this method. In this case, however, the pulp molding will simply have one surface with the mold mesh pattern.

  As will be apparent, the pulp molded article of the present invention has improved characteristics. It can be made with very close tolerances. The pulp molded product can have a predictable stacking pitch and the stacking pitch can be reduced. The first and second surfaces of the molded article can have relatively smooth opposing surfaces. The product can be utilized from first and second mating molds having a mesh, and the first and second surfaces of the pulp molding mimic the mesh pattern of the first and second molds. ing. The surfaces on both sides can be adjusted precisely. The mold can be supported by a platen, and the mold can be inserted into the fiber slurry upside down and the platen remains dry. A wet molded product is formed on a tool in which the surface plate and the mold are turned upside down so that the surface plate is positioned below the mold. The discharge of water from the wet molded product carried by the mold is facilitated by the apparatus and method of the present invention. The mold carrying the wet molded article can be advanced into heated air. The mold can be advanced into the mating mold of the drying chamber, and a mold impression is formed on the first and second surfaces of the pulp molding.

It is a side view of the apparatus for manufacturing the pulp molded product of this invention. It is a side view of the drying tank shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view as seen from line 3-3 in FIG. 2. It is the figure which looked down at adsorption | suction or a mold surface plate from a drying tank. It is a top view of the slurry tank shown in FIG. It is a bottom view of a closure board and shows the operating mechanism. It is side surface sectional drawing of a drying tank provided with the adsorption surface plate moved into a drying tank. It is side surface sectional drawing of the drying tank which has a closure board, and the provision of a hot air and a vacuum to a drying tank is shown. 2 is a schematic flowchart of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of the pulp molded product made with the apparatus and method of this invention.

Claims (27)

An apparatus for producing a pulp molded product from a fiber slurry,
An immersion tank containing a fiber slurry and having a liquid level;
A surface plate,
A porous mold supported by the surface plate;
The surface plate and the mold supported by the surface plate are moved downward into the fiber slurry in a state where the surface plate is disposed above the mold, and the mold is moved into the fiber slurry through the liquid level. Means to introduce;
Means for supplying a vacuum to the surface plate and the mold while the mold is placed in the fiber slurry, collecting the fibers of the fiber slurry in the mold, and forming a wet pulp molded article;
A means for moving the platen and the mold, moving the mold to the upper part of the fiber slurry through the liquid surface, and discharging water from the mold and the wet pulp molded product;
Means for drying the wet pulp molded article;
A device characterized by comprising:   After the mold is removed from the fiber slurry, to reverse the platen and mold so that the mold faces upwards relative to the platen to facilitate drainage from the mold and wet pulp molding The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:   The method of claim 1, further comprising: a drying chamber; means for advancing the wet pulp molding into the drying chamber; and means for supplying heated air to the drying chamber to facilitate drying of the wet pulp molding. apparatus.   The mold is a first fitting mold, and a second fitting mold that can be placed in the drying chamber, and a wet pulp molded product with the grain from both the first and second fitting molds. Means for providing a relative movement between the first fitting mold and the second fitting mold to form, and a wet pulp molded article is transported to the second fitting mold by the second fitting mold. Means for conveying into the drying chamber; means for forming a hermetic seal for the drying chamber after conveying the wet pulp molded article into the drying chamber; and means for supplying heated air to the drying chamber and wet pulp molded article 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:   The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the drying chamber is configured such that heated air must pass through the pulp molding before exiting the drying chamber.   The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for supplying a vacuum to the wet pulp molding while the pulp molding is in the drying chamber.   A drying tank further comprising a frame structure, the immersion tank being disposed in the frame structure, having an opening facing upward, supported by the frame structure, covering the opening of the immersion tank and having an opening facing downward And further comprising means for moving the surface plate between the first position, the second position, and the third position, wherein the first position is an intermediate position and the second position 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein is a position covering the opening of the immersion tank, and the third position is a position below the opening of the drying tank.   8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for supporting the platen includes means for moving the platen up to 180 [deg.].   Arranged in the engagement drying chamber, engaged with the second fitting mold in the drying chamber, and when the surface plate is in the third position, the second fitting mold is moved and carried by the surface plate. Means for engaging with the first fitting mold, means for supplying a vacuum to the second fitting mold, and conveying the wet pulp molded product from the first fitting mold to the second fitting mold. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:   Means for moving the second mating mold with wet pulp molding into the drying tank, the means for covering the opening of the drying tank and forming a hermetic seal for the drying tank includes a closure plate; The apparatus of claim 9 including means for adjusting the movement of the closure plate to engage and disengage the opening of the drying tank.   11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for forming an airtight seal between the drying tank and the closure plate when the closure plate is moved to the closed position.   The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for exhausting heated air.   The surface plate is configured to carry a plurality of first fitting molds, and a plurality of second fitting molds that can be arranged in the drying chamber are prepared, and the first fitting mold and the second fitting mold are prepared. The means for providing relative movement between the alloy molds includes means for providing relative movement of the plurality of first and second mating molds, the means comprising first and second dimensions and configurations of different sizes. The apparatus according to claim 4, which is adaptable to a fitting mold. A method for producing a pulp molded article from a fiber slurry having a liquid surface using a porous mold supported by a surface plate,
In a state where the surface plate is disposed above the mold, the mold is introduced into the fiber slurry through the liquid surface thereof, and the mold is immersed in the fiber slurry.
Vacuum is applied to the mold to collect the fibers from the fiber slurry onto the mold, forming a wet pulp molded product,
Pull the mold from the fiber slurry through its liquid level,
Drain water from molds and wet pulp moldings,
Drying the pulp molding so that it is self-supporting,
Separating the pulp molding from the mold,
A method characterized by that.   15. The method of claim 14, wherein after the mold is lifted from the fiber slurry, the mold is inverted so that the surface plate is below the mold to facilitate drainage from the mold and wet pulp molding.   15. The method of claim 14, wherein after the mold and wet pulp molding are pulled up from the fiber slurry, a vacuum is supplied to the mold to facilitate removal of water from the mold and pulp molding.   The method of claim 16, wherein water withdrawn from the mold and pulp molding is collected for reuse.   The method according to claim 16, wherein the remaining water extracted from the mold and the pulp molded product is discharged to the atmosphere after a predetermined time.   The mold is a first fitting mold, and a second fitting mold that matches the first fitting mold is provided. After the mold is pulled up from the fiber slurry, the first fitting mold is The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of advancing and engaging with a second mating mold and mating with the second mating mold.   Using the drying chamber, the second fitting mold is disposed in the drying chamber, the first fitting mold is aligned with the second fitting mold in the drying chamber, and the first and second fittings are performed on the wet pulp molded product. Grain is applied from both alloy molds, the wet pulp molded product is transported from the first fitting mold to the second fitting mold, the first fitting mold is lifted from the drying chamber, and the drying chamber is hermetically sealed. The method according to claim 19, wherein the wet pulp molded article supported by the second fitting mold is dried by closing the air and supplying heated air to the drying chamber.   21. The method of claim 20, wherein the heated air can only pass from the drying chamber after passing through the wet pulp molding.   The method according to claim 14, wherein the mold is introduced through the liquid surface of the fiber slurry without immersing the surface plate in the fiber slurry.   21. The method of claim 20, further comprising opening the drying chamber, separating the dried pulp molding from the second mating mold in the drying chamber, and removing the separated dried pulp molding.   While the wet pulp mold is being dried on the second mating mold in the drying chamber, the first mating mold is moved and reintroduced into the fiber slurry, and another wet pulp mold is 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method is formed on one mating mold to facilitate manufacture of a molded article.   Formed from fiber slurry using first and second mating molds having mold surfaces and having a body that is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting, the body being essentially formed of shaped fibers To provide a wall surface having first and second exposed surfaces, wherein the first and second exposed surfaces have creases coincident with the mold surfaces of the first and second mating molds. Molding.   26. The fiber molded article according to claim 25, wherein the wall surface has a precise thickness.   26. The fiber molded product according to claim 25, wherein the wall surface has a predetermined taper for facilitating fitting and unmounting of the product.

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