USRE17303E - Pulp-forming machine - Google Patents

Description

f "May 28, 1929-v c. v.1. KEENAN TAL R- 17,303

PULP FORMING MACHINE M Ec E E JP am m a dm l zu BY WW d,

r ATTORNEYS.

c. J. KEENAN ET AL `Re. 17,303

May 28, 1929.

' PULP FomaING MACHINE Origirvxal Filed Feb. 9, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 www .z Kmm- BY N GG .my

l M 4M- Zluir TTORNEYS.

May 2s", 1929.

ruLP FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original -Fled Feb. 9, 1926 EU ENE PIGA/NED? Reissued-Mny 28, 1929. i

y UNITED vSTATES CISCO, PQBATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Ref 11,303 PIATEN or SAN IBLN- CALIFORNIA, -ASSIGNORS TO ALASKA PUL? AND PAPER COMPANY, A CGR- PULP-FORM'ING MACHINE.

Original No. 1,631,671,4 dated March 22, 1927, Serial No. 86,972, led February 9, 1926. Application for v reissue led October 12, 1927. Seriall No. 225,824.

This invention relates to a machine Whereby articles such as paper cups, bottles, pie

' pulp vat and are subjected to a suction ac plates, berry baskets and the like may be formed from wet pulp or analogous material. The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the con struction and operation of machines'of the character described and particularly to provide a machine which .is continuous in operation and in which the pulp is automatically applied to the molds, relieved of excess Wajter, dried and finally ejected. The invention more specifically stated embodies ya machine of the rotary type having an annular rim composed o f a vseries of molds. These molds lare successivelyadapted to be submerged during continuous rotation in a ution when a coating of; pulp is to ybe applied.

' ing the application of the pulp,

'The machine 1s provided with means for trappingwater admitted to the molds durit is provided' with meansfor automatically draining the i Water from the. molds, and it is further provided With means whereby the pulp may be dried on the molds and automatically eject ed When dried.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified inthe accompanying draw ings in which:

Fig. l 11s a side elevation of the machine partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detaill cross section of one of the molds.

Fig. 4: 1s anenlarged side elevation of one of the mOi-ds.`

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of valve 22.

Referring to the drawings lin detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a main frame'inwhich is journalled a tubular shaft B. n drum C, and c'arried'by the drum 1s ayplurality of molds upon which the pulp is adapt- -ed to be formed and dried.` Disposed below,

the drum is a pulp receiving tank D into which pulp is continuously Adelivered from any .suitable source. i

Before rende-ring a detailed description of the several parts of the machine a brief description of the .generaloperation will be submitted.

lready removal thereof. T

Carried` by theshaft is an annular" lerally indicated at l A continuous rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft B and the drum C carrying the molds and the molds are accordin ly successively submerged in the pulp tank At the time of submersion in the pulp-containin tank D, a suction is applied to the molds an they are coated with a layer ofpulp. Water enters the molds durin the pulp and the Water 1s trapped to permit e vsuctlon is stopped after the layer of pulp has been applied and the trapped water is then drained plied after the removal of the water.

The mold side of the drum is enclosed by T OFFICE.

4 cHABLEs J.' KEENAN, EUGENE r. KENNEDY, AND GEORGE n. mascia,

the appllcation .of-

.oif or removed, and the suction is again ap-V a casing or housing E and a hot or warm air 'current is continuously circulated through the caslng. The suction to which the drying molds are subjected causes the warm air to pass'through the nlp and the molds and the pulp is thus drie directly on the molds and the completed pulp articles are finally discharged When the discharge chute F is reached. The pul articles are here e'ected by means of air undhr pressure and are ally removed by an endless conveyor belt G which carries the completed pulp articles to any point desired.

A` detailedvdescription of the construction of the machine will now'be submitted having -particular reference to Figs. 1,'3 and 4:. By referring to Fig. 1` it will be noted that the drum appears to consist .of a number of substantially square-shaped casings. -These casings are particularly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. They are indicated at 2 and are substantially squarein outline. The severalcasings are connected to form the annulardrum C by means of lugs 3 and bolts 4 and they are cored out tol form interior chambers 5 which are intermittently subjected to a suction action and an air ressure as will hereinafter be described. Tlie rear face of each casing is closed as indicated at 6 while the front 'faces' are provided with openings'? which are provided for'the reception of the molds gen- 8, there bring one mold for each casing. Each mold consists of a IUC perforated plate of metal 9 which is shaped to conform to the pulp article to be produced. In the present instance a berry'basket is to be produced and the mold or perforatedmember 9 islaccordingly square in shape and fairly deep.

The perforated pla-te is provided with a flange 10 andthe flange is held against the outer face 11 of the asing b means of a clamping plate 12 and bolts 13. The exterior surface of the perforated inember 9 is covered with a tine screen material 14 and the pulp is formed on the surface thereof as will hereinafter be described.

The several casings forming the drum C are supported with relation to t-he hollow shaft lil by means of tie rods or spokes 1G. The several c'asings are also connected With the hollow shaft through means of suction pipes 17 and air pressure or blasting pipes 18,' there being one suction pipe and one air blast pipe connected with each mold casing. rQ lhe pipes 17 are provided With valves 19 so that the suction action on the molds may be controlled and the pipes 18 are similarly provided with valves 20 so that the air under pressure delivered to the mold casings may be controlled. Each mold casing is also provided with a venting .valve 21 and each casing is also provided With- The valves 19, 20 and 22 are identical in construction and they are operated in the same manner and it is accordingly thought that the detail description of one valve will suftice.

For instance, by referring to the drain valve indicated at 22 and by further referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it Will be noted that it is nothing more or less than a two-way cock. The valve consists of a casing having an inlet opening 23 in communication with the chamber 5 of the casing and a discharge opening 24.' A tapered cock 25 passes through the valve casing and it is heldin tight engagement by meansA of a spring 26.

`The projecting end of the coclris provided With a star gear 27 and means are employed for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the stai' gear andthe cock 25 actuated thereby. Each casing 2 is provided With an extension 28 in which is formed a trap chamber 29. The valve 22 is disposed at the lower end of the chamber andthe water collected therein is automatically drained ott Whenever the valve 22 is opened. `The air pressure pipes 18 are all connected with an annular pipe-30 and this is in turn connected with a radially disposed pipe 31 Which enters the tubular shaft B and which connected With a pipe 32 extending through a stuffing box at one end thereof, pipe 32 being in turn connected with a source of air supply under pressure not here shown. The opposite end of the tubular shaft is connected with a suction pipe 33 and this isin turn connected with a Vacuum pump or the like not here shown. The pipe 33 is stationary and as shaft B is continuously lrota-ted through means of a pulley or other suitable means, such as shown at 34, a connection 35 is formed between the pipe and the end of the a d rain valve 22.

shaft. B to preventleakage. All of the pipes 17 are connected with thercentral portion of the shaft- B and as this is in turn connected with a suction pipe 33 it is obvious that a suction will be produced in each casing 2 when the valves 19 areopened. The molds S are in the present instance arranged only on one side of the casings 2, but it isolovious that tn'o sets of'molds may be. enlployed in conjunction with cach casing it' desired. In view of the fact that the molds are placed on the sides of the drum, an enclosing housing is not required. That is, the housing which delivers hot air or any other drying medium to the molds is arranged at one side only as indicated at 40. The housing extends from a point indicated at 45 to the discharge chute F. One end is connected with a hot air furnace or the like, not here illustrated, and hot air-is thus continuously delivered to the housing and is drawn through the pulp and the molds which will hereinafter be described. i

In actual operation it will be understood that the drum C is continuously rotated through means of the pulley 34 or other driving connection provided, and similarly, that pulp is continuously deliveredto the vat D. During the continuous operation of the drum the casings 2 carrying the molds Will be successively submerged in the vat and as a suction is applied to each mold during the period of submersion a coating of pulp Will be applied. With star Wheel handles 19" and as they reach the point indicated at 4G they. engage a stationary pin 47. The pin engaging With the star gear imparts a quarter revolution there-` to and the suction valves are thus opened and they remain open until the point t8 is reached. See Fig. 1. The coatingof pulp is appliedv during this portion of the revolution of the drum and a second pin 49 is then engaged Which imparts another quarter revolution to the valves 19 thus closing olf the suction connection. A pin 50 engages the' star Wheel handles 27 'the moment the suction valves are closed, that is at the point 48 and the drain valves 22 are accordingly opened. The Water admitted to the casings and trapped iii the chambers 29 thereof is drained off during thepopenposition` of the valves '22 and the drain valves are closed when the point 51 is reached. Each 'casing as previously stated is provided with a venting valve 21. The venting valves are provided With plung- Vers 21a which are engaged by a'cam track 211.

This track extends from the point 48to the point 51 and the lventing valves arethus opened during. the draining period.A vThe venting valves are merely provided for the purpose of facilitating complete draining of the Water admitted. or in other Words, to prevent any vacuum formation within the casings during the draining period. The suc- The suction valves 19 are provided.

`tion valves are engaged by a pin 52 when the point 45 is reached. That is, after the drain valves have been closed and the suction valves remain open until the point 53 is reached. The valves are here engaged by a pin which transmits a turning motion to close the valves.

A second pin engages the star wheel handles ol' the valves 20 at the same point and the valves delivering compressed air to the casings are thus opened. The pulp containers are now dry and as air pressure is admitted they are blown o tf the molds and discharged into the chute F and finally delivered to the conveyor belt Gr which removes the pulp containers from the lnachine. A second Ypin 56 is engaged by the star gear handles 2da --and the air pressurevalves are again closed. The pins 55 and 56 are close together and the air under pressure is only momentarily applied. The valves Q0 are only opened and closed once during each revolution ot the drum While the suction valves 19 are opened and closed a number of times. They are lirst opened at the point 46 when the molds are submerged. They are closed at the point Ll-8 and remain closed until thepoint l5 is reached.

They are here opened and remain open c until the point 53,;is reached. They are here vautomatically applied during submersionI ot the molds, and that excess water is drained olf after the application of the pulp. The pulp applied is dried during the passage of the molds through the casing 40, and the pulp articles when dried are automatically ejected by means of air under pressure when the discharge chute F is reached. The entire operation is continuous, a large capacity is possible, pulp articles of practically any shape desired may be obtained, such as berry baskets, pieplates, cups, bottles, etc a complicated mechanism is entirely obviated, as .the pulpis applied directly on the mold, it .is formed thereon, dried thereon, and tinally automatically ejected. A

While certain yfeatures of the present invention have been more or less specifi-cally described and illustrated, we wish it understood 4that certain changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. le also wish it understood that the material and linish of the various parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or conditions ,may demand.

The thermal-etliciency or amount of heat required by a machine ol this character is small when comparison is made with other machines. This is due to the .tact that the housing or casing -l0 is mounted on one side ot' the drum only. In other words no part ol the-drum enters the drying housing, but it merely runs in snug contact with one side ot the drying housing, an'l, as the molds communicate with the drying housing, warm air is drawn through the molds and the only part of the housing which is subjected to theheat is that portion which supports the mold. Other types of machines have employed a drying housing, but in every instance of which weare aware, not only the molds enter the housing but also the mold supports or casings cooperatingl therewith. Such an arrangement is decidedly wasteful as the en-l tire drum or mechanism becomes heated and isv cooled again when the molds are submerged. 'Heating ot the casings carrying the moldsl is entirely obviated in our structure and expansion and contraction of the drum formed by the mold housings is also obviated thereby eleminating expansion strains and stresses. Havingl thus described our invention, what we c laim and desire to secure by Letters lalent 1s:

1. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movement through a. pulp tank and a drying chamber, ineansfor'applying a layer of pulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the mold to a suction action, means for trapping water admitted to the mold during the application of the pulp and means for automatically draining oil" the water before the mold enters the drying chamber.

2. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a drying-chamber, means for applying the layer of. pulp to the mold while 4passing through the tank by subjecting the mold to a suction action, said mold having a trap chamber formed therein for the collection of water admitted during the application ot' the pulp, a drainvalve. in communication with the trap chamber and means for automatically maintaining the valve open for a predetermined period before 'the mold enters the drying chamber to drain off the Waterv collected in the trap.

3. In a machine of the character described, a mold `mounted for lmovement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for y applying a layer ot pulp to the mold while passing through the tank b vsubjecting the mold to a suction action, said mold having a trap chamber formed therein l'or the collection ot' water admitted during the application yot the pulp, a vdrain valve in communication withv the trap chamber', means toi; discontinuing the suction action when the coat-' lao ing of pulp has been applied, means for automatical-ly opening the drain valve when the suction ceases topermit the Water in the trap to drain away from the mold, means for automatic-ally closing the valve after the water has been drained olf and means for automatically subjecting thel mold to a. suction action when it enters the drying chamber.

si. In aniacliine of the character described,

a mold mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means f or applying a.4 layer of pulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting thev mold-I to a suction action, said mold havin" a trap chamber formed therein forthe collection of water admitted' during the application of the pulp, a drain valve in communication wvith the trap chamber, means for discontinulng the suction action when the coa-ting of pulp has been applied, means forv automatically opening the drain valve when the suction ceases to permit the water in the trap to mold trap chamber formed therein for the collecdraw away from the mold, means fonauto-Z matically closing the valve after the water has been drained off, means for automatically subjecting the mold to a suction action when it enters the drying chamber, and means'for automatically ejecting the dried pulp when the mold leaves the drying chamber.

5. In a machineof the'character described, a mold mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for applying a layer of pulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the to a suction action, said mo-ld having a tion of Water admitted during the application of the pulp, a drain valve in communication with the trap chamber, means for discontinuing the suction action When the coating of pulp has been applied, means for automatically opening the drain valve when the suction ceases to permit the Water in the trap to drain away from the mold, means for automatically closing the valve after the Water has been drained off, means for automatically subjecting the mold to a. suction action when it enters the drying chamber, and means for admitting air under pressure to the lmold when it leaves the drying chamber to eject the dried pulp.

6. In a machine of thecharacter described a continuously rotating member, a plurality of molds mounted thereon, a pulp containing tank in which the molds are successively subn'ierged during rotation-of the member, means whereby each mold is subjected to a suction action While submerged to apply a coating of pulp, means for trapping Water entering the molds during the application of the pulp, means for automatically draining otl' the Water, a drying chamber cooperating With the rotary memberl and the molds carried thereby to which dry Warm air is admitted, means formaintaining a suction on the molds .with each trap after the water has been drained off and while the molds are passing through the drying chamber and means for automatically removing the pulp When dried. In a machine of thecharacter described, a drum consisting of aplurality of connected housings, each housing having a trap chamber formed therein, ,a housing, a s'ct'ion pipe and an air pressure pipe connected with each housing, a valve on each pipe, al drain valve in communication chamber, means for transmitting a continuous rotary movement to the drum, a pulp tank cooperating ivith the drum and in which vthe housings carrying the molds are successively submerged during the continuous rotation of the drum, a housing cooperating With the drum to which Warm dry air is delivered, a venting valve 'cooperating with each housing and mold, means for automatically opening the valves on the suction pipes when the molds are submerged to permit a coating of pulp to be applied to each mold, means for automatically closing said valves when the pulpis applied, means for automatically opening the venting valves and the drain valves to permit water Which has eIL- tered the housings during the application of the pulp to be drained off, means for closing said valves after the means for again opening the suction valves when the molds enterthe drying housing, means for again. closing the suction valves when the pulp is dried and means for 'momentarily opening the valves on the air pressure pipes to cause automatic ejection of the dried pulp.

8. In a machine of the character a housing consisting of interspaced side Walls, end vvalls and a topvvall, one of the side Walls Water is drained off,

described,

having an opening formed therein for the reception o'f a mold, an extension on the lower end of the side and end Walls forming la trap chamber and a drain valve in communication with the chamber.

9.y In a machine of a housing consisting of interspaced side Walls, end Walls and a top Wall one of the sidewalls having an opening formed therein for the reception of amold, an extension on the lower end of the side and end Walls forming a trap chamber and a drain valve in communication With the chamber, a suction pipe and an air pressure pipe in communication With the chamber, a valve on each pipe, and means for automatically opening and elosing'said valve and also the drain valve. j

10. In amachine ofthe character described, a continuously rotating drum, a plurality of molds mounted on one side thereof, means for applying pulpto said molds and a channelshaped housing arranged on one side of the drum and in communication With the molds to deliver hot air thereto.4

11` In a machine ofthe character-described,

a rotor, ra fixed mold thereon means for ap? Vdrg'ingfchamber, means for maintaining a` lying a coating of pul to the mold, means or drying said pulp whi for maintaining a substantially continuous suction on thepulp from the time of application to the completion of the drying, and

`means forejecting the pulp when dried.

12. :In a -machine of the character described, a rotor, a fixed mold thereon mounted for movement through a pulp tank and a stantially continuous suction on the mold,

- first toapply a coating of pul when the mold lfor ejecting the dried pulp when the mold leaves the drying chamber.

13. ,A pulp forming machine comprising a mold, means for causlng saidv mold to travel `through a pulp applying station, a drying stationand an ejecting station, suction means `for applying pulp directly to the mold from a bulk supply at the first-named station and `:for maintaining said applie gll pulp ',on the mold as it passes through said drying station,

and means for aplying air under pressure within the mold w en it reaches the eecting station to discharge a formed and drled lar- 'v ticle from the mold, whereby the pulp will pointof-discharge of the linally driedarticl; s

remain undisturbed on the mold from its point of application and formation to the formed and 14. A methodv ofl Vforming. pulp -articles I whieh'consists of applying pulp to a traveling mold,

ing chamber and maintaining the pulp on the mold and under-constant and uniform suc eling mold, passing the mold through a dry' mg chamber and maintaining the pulp on the -g lmold andv under constant and uniform suction during the entire drying operation.

15. A method of forming which consists of applying Pup t0 a travpassmg the mo d through adrye on the mold,means ingthroilgh 'the' pulp tank and the drying through the pul stantially continu .Y

' ,passes through thedrying chamber so that tion during the entire drying operation, and then eecting the molded pulp article when completel dried by applying an air pressure to the mo d. Y s s 16. In a machine of thel character described a rotor, a mold xedthereto, a pulp tank in which the rotor is partially submerged, a drying chamber adjacent the rotor and partially surrounding the same, said mold passchamber once durlng each-revolution o the rotor, a suction pump, a connection between the pump and themold whereby suction is applied to the vmold and whereby a coating of pulp is applied to the mold during its passage tank, and Warm air pulled through the pu p coating while the mold the pulp will be dried, and means for appl in compressed air to the mold to eject t e pu p article after itis-dried.

17. In amachine of thecharacter described a rotor, a'. mold fixed thereto, a pulp tank in which the rotor is partially submerged, a drying chamber adjacent the rotor and partially surrounding the same, said mold passing through the pulp tank and the d ing chamber once during each revolution o the. rotor, a suction pump, a connection between the pump and the mold, a valve in the suction connection, said valve being automatically opened to apply suction to the mold, and automatically closed` to close the suction connection, said suction when applied causing a coating of pulp to be formed on the mold during itsfpassage through the pulp tank and warmfair to be pulled through the pulp coating while the mold passes throughthe drying chamber so that pulp article will be dried,

article.

c VCHARLES J. KEENAN. f

E. P. KENNEDY. ,GEORGE H. KlRsoH.- f

s y when 9o the pulp is dried so as toeject the driedpulp Y ulp articles v f

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