NL1031358C2 - Discharge device for removing molded articles, includes cutting device for trimming feathers from article located in between ejector unit and outlet for trimmed article - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) comprises an ejector unit (17) with a means for holding and displacing a molded article (2), a cutting device (6) for trimming any plumes or feathers (4) formed on the article, and an outlet (5) for discharging the trimmed article. The cutting device comprises a knife plate (22) and a feather plate (23) located next to and movable relative to each other. The knife plate has a series of blades (26) extending in the direction of the feather plate, the latter containing an opening (25) which can move over the blades so that the two plates are close together, preferably in tight contact with each other. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) Combination of the discharge device and a molded article, preferably comprising a natural polymer and/or natural fiber material; and (B) Method for removing a molded article from a mold (3) using this device, in which the article is gripped at a distance from the feathers and then pressed between a series of blades in order to cut off the feathers, before delivering the trimmed article to an outlet.

Description

Title: Device and method for removing products from a mold.

The invention relates to a device for removing molded products from a mold. The invention relates in particular to such a device provided with means for removing plumes or similar residual parts of molded products.

When molds products, in particular foamed products, into molds, overflow spaces are provided in which a part of a mass introduced into a mold cavity can escape, in particular during foaming of the product. As a result, differences in the amount of mass that is introduced into the mold cavity, differences in the extent of foaming of the mass and possibly flow problems can be absorbed. In the overflow areas, part of the excess mass will foam and / or harden. With the products formed this is visible as plumes or similar residual parts, which may or may not be irregularly shaped, will extend from certain positions of the product and must be removed. For this purpose, each product is usually processed by hand, by cutting the plumes.

These known devices and method therefore have the drawback that forming and finishing, or at least stripping the plumes or the like residual parts, is time-consuming, while moreover the chance of damage to the products and / or injury to the person who must remove the plumes is relatively large is, for example, because the person cutting a knife with which the plumes must be removed or by burning themselves on the heated products.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described in the preamble, wherein at least one of the drawbacks mentioned is avoided. To that end, a device according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

In a device according to the invention, a cutting device is provided for the discharge device, with which plumes or the like residual parts formed thereon are moved along it or therewith by cutting along the mold. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the products are stripped of said plumes or other residual parts immediately upon or after removal from the mold. As a result, after removal, a user does not have to manually trim the plumes or similar residual parts 10 or otherwise manually manipulate the products. A further advantage is that the products can easily be discharged, for example stacked in a stacking device.

Preferably, a series of knives is provided in the cutting device, whose cutting surfaces extend with a longitudinal direction in a direction which includes an angle with a direction of movement of the removal unit, which angle is preferably between approximately 0 ° and 60 °, more particularly between 0 ° and 45 ° degrees. The longitudinal directions of the knives preferably intersect and / or intersect on the side facing the removal unit, such that they are pressed slightly apart when a product is moved therebetween, thereby ensuring that the plumes or residual parts close to the product are cut off.

Preferably, a plume plate and a knife plate are provided, movable relative to each other, the knives being provided on the knife plate. The plume plate has an opening through which the knives are pressed against the outside of a product when it is pressed through and through said opening between the knives.

Preferably, while moving a product between the knives, the product is supported such that an edge of the removal unit supports the plumes. This simplifies the cutting thereof. Recesses and / or openings are preferably provided in the supporting edge through which the knives can move. As a result, support for the plumes is further simplified.

The removal unit is preferably embodied such that a box-shaped part is provided that can fit at least a part of the product. Suction cups, vacuum cups or similar suction means may be provided in the removal unit for holding the product. The removal unit is preferably made wholly or partly from a plastic material, in particular a foam-forming material that is relatively easy to form and is relatively soft, so that damage is prevented.

A stacking device preferably connects to the cutting device.

The invention further relates to an assembly of a device according to the invention and a product manufactured in the associated mold.

In an assembly according to the invention use is made in a suitable and simple manner of a series of knives, at least cutting elements, on or on a knife plate, with which plumes or the like residual parts can be simply and quickly removed from the products, without this having to be done manually. occur. The knives are preferably arranged so as to have an opening in the knife plate such that they have an outward facing end part, while an intermediate part of the knives face inwards, that is to say seen in the direction of pressing a product between the knives in view of the end parts converging and the intermediate parts diverging. As a result, the product can simply be pressed between the knives and the desired cutting movement is nevertheless obtained. In particular if the shape and dimensions of the product and the position of the knives are chosen such that the intermediate parts of the knives are pushed out slightly to the outside, so that the knives are pressed against the outside of the product, with the cutting edges oriented such that they trim plumes and the like.

A plume plate is preferably included between the removal unit and the knife plate, wherein the knives can move through an opening in the knife plate. Movement means are preferably provided for moving the knife plate and the plume plate relatively towards each other and away from each other. As a result, the edge of a shaped product and in particular an edge of the removal unit can first be pressed against the plume plate during use, whereafter the product is then pressed between the knives with the plume plate against the product and said edge. As a result, the plumes are cut by the knives and held between the plume plate and the edge of the removal unit, while the product can disappear between the knives. The plume plate is then pushed away from the knife plate while the removal unit 15 is withdrawn. As soon as the edge of the removal unit comes loose from the plume plate, plumes or similar residual parts held between them are released and fall down, for example in a waste bin or the like. As a result, contamination of the device and the environment can easily be prevented.

The invention further relates to a method, characterized by the features of claim 14.

In such a method, automatic and automatic removal of plumes or similar residual parts of mold shape and products is provided.

The invention is particularly suitable for and in the manufacture of products from a mass containing natural polymers such as starch, which are produced by heating in a mold.

To clarify the invention, embodiments of the invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in top view a device according to the invention, for manufacturing products, with the mold open; Fig. 1A shows a simplified sectional view of a product 2 formed in a mold according to Fig. 1; Fig. 2 shows in perspective view a part of a device according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a knife plate with knives and a matching plume plate;

Fig. 3A shows in side view a part of a knife plate with knife; Fig. 3 B in cross-sectional top view along the line B - B in Fig. 3A

a part of a knife plate with knife; Fig. 4 is a front view of a removal unit for use in a device according to the invention; and Figs. 5 A - E show a method according to the invention in a number of steps.

In the description, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals. In the embodiments shown, the starting point is always a single mold, that is to say a mold with only one mold cavity. It will be clear, however, that multiple molds can also be used, whereby identical or different products can be manufactured in one production cycle. The invention has been described with reference to products made in a mold from a mass containing natural polymers, such as starch. In particular, the invention is described herein with reference to products containing starch, baked in a mold cavity, which means that both gelatinization and cross-linking of the natural polymers have occurred. Examples of such masses such as suspensions and methods that can be used therewith are described in, for example, PCT / NL96 / 00136, which application is incorporated herein by reference. Such products are marketed under the name Paperfoam® 6. However, it will be clear that other materials and manufacturing methods can also be used.

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in plan view a device 1 according to the invention for producing and, in particular, removing a product 2 from a mold 3, removing plumes 4 and / or similar residual parts of the product 2 and guiding the products 2 into a discharge device 5. A cutting device 6 is provided for removing the plumes 4, as will be explained in more detail below. The mold 3 comprises a first mold part 7, which is stationarily arranged, for example a male part, and a second mold part 8 which is movable relative to it. Of course, a different construction can also be chosen. In order to move the mold part 8 relative to the first mold part 7 in the opening and closing direction X of the mold, between an opened and closed position, piston -15 cylinder assemblies 9 are provided in the embodiment shown, but movement can be carried out in any desired manner be obtained. Such mold devices are sufficiently known.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the first mold part 7 is partially cut. A central elevation 10 is clearly visible, into which a supply channel 11 opens out which extends from a supply device 12, such as pump means, an extruder or the like known device. The mass from which a product 2 is formed can be supplied therethrough with the mold closed. A recessed slot 13 is provided along the circumference of the elevation, in which a longitudinal edge 14 of the product 2 is formed. A second slot or a series of chambers or similar overflow spaces 15 is provided around the slot 13, in which surplus material of the mass can overflow through overflow channels 16. In these overflow spaces 15, during production, in particular during baking of the product 2, the excess material is co-formed, in particular, co-fired. This material remains connected to the product 2, at least to the longitudinal edge 14 thereof, through the overflow channels 16 and will have to be removed. This excess material forms, once cured, baked and / or otherwise solidified or hardened, said plumes 4 or other residual parts and connections 16A.

It will be clear that in the movable mold part 8 a complementary part (not shown) of the mold cavity is formed for forming the product 2. When the mold is closed, a closed mold cavity is thereby obtained with the outer shape of the product to be formed and overflow channels 16 with overflow spaces 15. The mold cavity can also be vented through these channels 15, 16. However, other openings can also be provided for this. In the latter case, these openings are preferably so small that they do not allow material from the mass. After a product 2 has been formed in the mold 3, the mold is opened and a removal unit 17 of a removal device 18 can be moved between the mold halves 7, 8. Figures 2 and 3 show such a removal unit 17 in more detail. The removal unit can be moved in the direction Y, with the aid of a device 18 suitable for this purpose, for example a robot arm, a rod mechanism, guide rails and / or the like, between a position between the mold parts 7, 8 and a position next to it. Moreover, the removal unit 17 can be moved in the direction Z, parallel to the opening and closing direction X of the mold 3. As a result, the removal unit 17 can be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the fixed mold part 7, for engaging a product 2 that has remained on that part after opening the mold 3, and back. For engaging the products 2 in the mold 3, suction means 20 such as suction cups, vacuum cups or the like are provided in the removal unit 17, in particular in a bottom 21 thereof, as schematically shown in Fig. 4.

The removal unit 17 is preferably wholly or partly made of plastic such as polyurethane. This is relatively easy to process, relatively soft and light and well resistant to the heat of the mold and the products manufactured therein. An example of a suitable material is Ureool. However, other materials or combinations thereof that meet the set requirements can also be used. Metals can also be used.

After a product 2 has been taken out of the mold with the removal unit 17, it is moved away from the mold parts 7, 8 by means of the removal device 18 to an adjacent position, so that the mold 3 can be closed to produce a new one. product in a following cycle. The removal unit 7 is thereby moved, with product 2, in the direction Y to a position next to the cutting device 6 and the feeding device 5, for further processing.

The cutting device 6 comprises, as is shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3, a plume plate 22 and a knife plate 23, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction Z. The two plates 22, 23 are substantially flat, optionally with a bent longitudinal edge for extra rigidity, and have a central opening 24, 25 with dimensions such that a product 2 can be moved through it, with the longitudinal edge 14 ahead. In the embodiment shown, the central openings 24, 25 are rectangular.

Piston-cylinder assemblies 19 are provided for moving the plume plate 22 relative to the knife plate 23, between a position in which they lie substantially against each other and a position in which they lie at a relatively large distance from each other, as shown in Fig. 2. and 3. We will return to the purpose of this.

On the knife plate 23 a series of knives 26 is carried, which are arranged around the central opening 25, in the example shown three along two short sides each, four along the long sides each. The knives 26 are formed from, for example, relatively thin, resilient steel plates and have a cutting edge 27 on at least one side, which cutting edge has a longitudinal direction L 30 which encloses an angle α with a main face V of the knife plate, which main face is parallel to the opening 25. This angle α is preferably seen in side view, as shown in Fig. 3A, between 90 ° and 30 °, more in particular between 90 and 45 °. The knives 26 are attached to the knife plate with a first end 28 and have a second end 29 which faces the plume plate 22. An end part 30 is provided near the second end 29, while an intermediate part 31 is always provided between the first end 28 and the end part 30. The end part 30 and intermediate part 31 of each knife 26 enclose an obtuse angle 6, for example between 90 and 180 °, while the intermediate part 31 encloses an angle γ with the plane V of the knife plate which is between 90 and 30 °, more in particular between 90 and 45 ° and preferably between 90 and 60 °. The angle γ is chosen such that at least the intermediate part 31, seen in the direction perpendicular to the plane V, extends substantially above the opening 25. The angles γ and 6 are herein preferably chosen such that the intermediate part is turned "inwards" and the end part 15 is "outward", which is to be understood as the second ends 29 of the joint knives 26 describing a contour having a surface which is larger than that determined by the transitions 32 between the end parts 30 and the intermediate parts 31, so that a catching space 33 for the longitudinal edge 14 of a product is obtained which tapers in the direction 20 of the knife plate. In this case, it is preferably designed such that said transitions determine a contour that is smaller than the contour of the longitudinal edge 14 of the product, so that the transitions 32 and thus the intermediate parts 31 are pressed slightly apart when the product passes them, whereby the blades, in particular the cutting edges 27 are pressed somewhat resiliently against the outside of the product and / or the removal unit 17.

As can be seen clearly from Fig. 3A, when the product 2, in particular the overflow channel 16, which connects a plume 4 to the product 2 in the direction Z relative to the knife 26, the overflow channel 16 will become against the cutting edge 27. pressed and, as a result of the rising cutting edge 27, being cut loose from the product 2. It will be clear that the knives 26 are always arranged along the opening 25 in such a way that at each overflow channel 16 of the product a knife 26, or at least so rising cutting edge 27 is provided. As a result, all 5 overflow channels 16A are suddenly cut through and thus all the plumes 4 are cut loose. By placing the cutting edges 27 of the knives 26 on alternating sides, as a result of which some cutting edges face one another on the same side of the opening and others away from each other, a good distribution of forces is obtained. A control device 41 is provided with control 10 of the different parts of the device.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the removal unit 17 in this embodiment is somewhat box-shaped, with a cavity 41 that substantially corresponds to the outer shape of the product 2. This has a bottom 21 in which suction cups 20 are provided, and a longitudinal wall 34.

From the side of the longitudinal wall 34 remote from the bottom 21, an edge 35 extends outwards. Recesses or openings 36 are provided in said edge 35, arranged such that the knives 26 can move therethrough when the plume plate 22 and removal unit 17 are moved relative to the knife plate 23. As a result, an even better guidance of the knives 26 is obtained. The edge 35 is slightly inclined outwardly away from the plume plate 23. The plume plate 23 is provided along the opening 24 with parts 37 which are inclined in the direction of the removal unit 17, such that if the plume plate 23 is against the edge 35, at least against the removal unit 17 is moved, the free edges 38 of said parts 37 abut against the edge 35, whereby between the edge 35 and the parts 37 of the plume plate a slightly triangular space is always enclosed in which the plumes 4 are enclosed. The plumes 4 are thereby locked up and held between the plume plate 23 and the edge 35 until the plume plate 23 is moved away from the removal unit 17. Because the intermediate parts 31 of the 11 knives 26 are inclined towards each other, a product 2 is thereby retained if a force is exerted thereon in the direction of the removal unit, as soon as the product has passed the transitions 32 with at least the free side of the lance wall 14. .

Figs. 5A-E schematically indicate in five steps how a product 2 is taken out of a mold 3, including plumes 4, and subsequently the stripping device 6 is stripped of the plumes 4 and is stacked in discharge means 5, while the plumes 4 fall away, for example, to a collecting bin (not shown).

In Fig. 5A the die 3 is opened and a product 2 is engaged with the aid of the removal unit 17. In the cutting device 6, a first product 2 of a stack of 40 products 2 is visible from a previous cycle. Fig. 5B then shows the position in which the removal unit has been moved by means of the removal device 18 to a position next to the cutting device 6. The front edge of the longitudinal edge 14 of the product with the plumes 4 formed in the overflow spaces is clearly visible. , connected to the product 2 via the parts 16A formed in the overflow channels. The relevant parts 16A all lie in front of an opening or recess 36. In this position the mold 3 can be closed again, to form a according product. From the position shown in Fig. 5B, the removal unit 17 with the product in the direction Z is pressed against the plume plate. The plumes 4 are thereby clamped between the inclined parts 37 and the edge 35, as shown in Fig. 5C. Subsequently, the take-out unit 17 with the product 2 and the plume plate 22 are moved further in the direction Z, near or against the knife plate 23. The overflow channels formed parts 16A are cut through, so that the plumes 4 disengage from the product 2 but remain confined between removal unit 17 and plume plate 22, as shown in Fig. 5D. The product 2 is thereby pushed beyond the transitions 32 in the knives 26 and up to the first product 2 in the stack 40. The suction cups 20 in the 12 removal unit 17 are released so that the product 2 comes out of the removal unit. Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 5E, the plume plate 22 with the removal unit 17 is pressed back with the aid of the piston-cylinder assemblies 19, so that it is released from the knife plate 23. The plume plate 23 is thereby pressed against the edge 35 of the removal unit until it has been moved completely past the relevant product 2 between the knives, whereafter the removal unit is pulled away from the plume plate 22 and the plumes 4 can fall away, for example down into a collecting bin . There is no risk of these plumes sticking to the product, which is particularly undesirable, particularly with somewhat sticky plumes.

During the pressing of the product between the knives 26, a product previously left between them is pushed slightly further on to the stack 40.

In the embodiment shown, a horizontal stack is formed, with directions X, Y and Z being substantially linear and horizontal. However, it will be clear that other orientation directions can also be chosen for the movements, whereby rotations and combined rotations / translations can also be applied.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown and described in the description and drawings. Many variations thereof are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Thus, as indicated, a plurality of mold cavities can be provided for simultaneously manufacturing the same or different products, wherein at least one removal unit is provided, and other materials can be used for the products, such as plastic or combinations of said materials, preferably biodegradable, at least environmentally friendly. In particular, one removal unit may be provided for all products or different removal units may be provided. In a device according to the invention, the or each removal unit may be of a different design, for instance not box-shaped but open on one side, or the removal device may be provided with other engagement means such as clamping means, form-locking means, means that engage by friction or carrying means on which a product is being delivered. supported. The or each cutting device can be of a different design, for example without the plume plate when and when the plumes fall away directly, or for instance suction means are provided for suctioning the plumes during or after the cutting thereof. The mold can also be arranged movably, so that the removal unit only has to translate and / or rotate in the direction of the discharge device, with the same direction of movement in which the products are engaged in the mold. The removal device can also have a different movement pattern, for example after gripping a product 15 backwards, downwards or upwards, sideways, up or down and forwards, for example, so that frame parts of the mold or support thereof can be passed. The stacking device can be omitted, for instance if the products are placed on a transport device, such as a conveyor belt, immediately after the plumes have been removed, or placed in a package, for instance for storage and transport or directly in an outer package for sale. In the embodiment shown, the plumes are provided along a longitudinal edge of a box-shaped product. However, the plumes can also be arranged at other positions, so that the cutting device must be adapted thereto.

To that end, a product can also be conveyed in a direction other than that shown. For example, with a product as shown in Figs. 1A, 2 or 4, one or more plumes can be provided on the bottom and one or more on the longitudinal edge, which extend substantially in opposite directions. The cutting device is then designed such that the product can be fed laterally, so that the plumes can be cut loose both at the bottom and at the longitudinal edge.

These and many comparable variations are considered to be immediately clear to those skilled in the art and to fall within the scope of protection of the invention offered by the claims.

1 u 31.3-58

Claims (16)

1. Device for removing molded products, provided with a mold, a removal unit for products formed in the mold and discharge means for said products, wherein the removal unit comprises retaining means for holding and moving said product and wherein for said discharge means a cutting device is provided for cutting plumes formed on said product from said products. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removal unit is adapted to move a product taken from the mold 10 in a first direction, in the direction of the cutting device, said cutting device comprising a series of knives which have a cutting surface which has a longitudinal direction has an angle with the first direction between 0 and 60 °, more in particular between 0 and 45 °. 3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutting device comprises a knife plate and an adjacent plume plate, which knife plate and plume plate are movable relative to each other, the knife plate comprising a series of knives extending in the direction of the plume plate , wherein the plume plate comprises an opening which can be moved over said knives, such that the plume plate can be moved to relatively close to and preferably substantially against the knife plate. 4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the removal unit is provided with a longitudinal wall, the longitudinal wall being provided on a first side with a slightly outwardly extending edge on which at least a part of a product formed in the mold, at least thereof parts to be cut can rest. 1031358 Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein openings and / or recesses are provided in said edge through which blades of the cutting device can extend. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cutting unit is substantially box-shaped with a bottom and a longitudinal wall, wherein suction means are provided at least in or near the bottom for holding a product formed in the mold. 7. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the removal unit comprises a box-shaped part that has an inner shape that corresponds to at least a part of a product to be formed in the mold, at least of a mold cavity in the mold. 8. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the removal unit is substantially formed from a plastic material, in particular a foam-forming or foam-shaped material, more in particular a polyurethane. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a stacking device connects to the cutting device, in particular for stacking manufactured products into a horizontal stack. 10. Assembly of a device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims and a product formed in the mold, in particular a product formed from a mass of natural polymers and / or natural fibers, the cutting device comprising a knife plate which has a first end on the knife plate are connected and turned with an opposite second end in the direction of the removal unit, which second ends have an outwardly directed end part, while the intermediate part of each knife located between the first end and said end part is directed inwards, the knives are arranged in such a way that during use the product can be pressed between the end parts with the aid of the removal unit, while said end parts of the knives are springed out to the outside, such that the knives along an outside of the product and / or of the removal unit. 11. Assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein a plume plate is received between the removal unit and the knife plate with a central opening 5 which has a shape and dimensions that fit over the knives, near the first ends. 12. Assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the knife plate and the plume plate are mutually connected by moving means for moving the plume plate and the knife plate towards each other and away from each other. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 9-12, wherein stacking means connect to the side of the knife plate remote from the plume plate. 14. Method for taking out mold-shaped products, wherein with the aid of a removal unit a product formed in a mold cavity is engaged at a distance from plumes or like residual parts formed on the product, after which said product is pressed between a series of knives, such that the said plumes or similar residual parts are cut off from the product by the knives, whereafter the product passes the knives and is taken up in discharge means. 15. Method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least a part of the plumes or the like residual parts is pressed a plume plate, with which the plumes or the like residual parts are held against the removal unit during cutting thereof, after which the plume plate is moved away from said removal unit so that the loose-cut feathers or similar residual parts are omitted and the product is released to the discharge means. 16. Method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the products are stacked in a stacking unit of the discharge means. 1031358