US20030136537A1 - Method and apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030136537A1 US20030136537A1 US10/240,499 US24049902A US2003136537A1 US 20030136537 A1 US20030136537 A1 US 20030136537A1 US 24049902 A US24049902 A US 24049902A US 2003136537 A1 US2003136537 A1 US 2003136537A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- line
- articles
- laminating
- moulded pulp
- moulded
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C51/16—Lining or labelling
- B29C51/165—Lining or labelling combined with the feeding or the shaping of the lining or the labels
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21J—FIBREBOARD; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM CELLULOSIC FIBROUS SUSPENSIONS OR FROM PAPIER-MACHE
- D21J7/00—Manufacture of hollow articles from fibre suspensions or papier-mâché by deposition of fibres in or on a wire-net mould
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
- B29C2791/001—Shaping in several steps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
- B29C2791/004—Shaping under special conditions
- B29C2791/006—Using vacuum
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
- B29C2791/004—Shaping under special conditions
- B29C2791/007—Using fluid under pressure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C51/08—Deep drawing or matched-mould forming, i.e. using mechanical means only
- B29C51/082—Deep drawing or matched-mould forming, i.e. using mechanical means only by shaping between complementary mould parts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C51/10—Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C51/26—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C51/261—Handling means, e.g. transfer means, feeding means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
- B29K2995/0037—Other properties
- B29K2995/0041—Crystalline
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles that have a plastic film laminated thereon of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
- the invention also relates to a method of producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 16.
- Moulded pulp articles are a desirable form of packaging since it is an environmental friendly non-expensive alternative to plastic and other materials for three dimensionally contoured packages.
- the use of such moulded pulp articles as food trays and the like has been desired since several decades.
- Moulded pulp is however not resistant to moist and as such thus not suitable for holding moist food or beverages. Therefore, several techniques have been developed for coating or laminating the moulded pulp packages with a moist resistant and preferably to provide them with a gas barrier.
- Other types of moulded pulp articles are packages for industrial products such as mobile phones or print cartridges. Dust and scratching from the pulp material can be problematic for certain sensitive industrial products. There exists therefore also a need for a technique to coat or laminate the moulded pulp articles from this perspective. None of the known techniques for this purpose have been able to meet the requirements for a successful commercial application.
- EP-A-0-196 799 discloses an apparatus for laminating plastic film onto moulded pulp articles. Preformed articles are taken from a stack of articles by a destacking apparatus and placed in rows across a conveyor. The articles are fed by the conveyor and lined with a superimposed plastic film at a laminating station where the plastic film is bonded to the interior of the articles.
- This apparatus for the laminating of films to moulded pulp articles does not operate at desirably high speeds that allow successful commercial application. Further, the off-line mode of operation of the known prior art laminating line creates problems with handling and storing large amounts of articles between the production of the articles and the laminating line.
- the moulding line is adapted to produce a plurality of articles that are mutually interconnected through bridges.
- the laminating line is located separately from the moulding line in a dean room, the two lines being connected through an intermediate conveyor.
- the laminating line comprises a hot press station before the heating station.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side view of the moulding line
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical side view of the laminating line according to the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a layout of the production line according to the invention.
- FIG. 4 a and 4 b are elevated views on a plurality of interconnected moulded pulp articles and on a disconnected moulded pulp article.
- a production line for manufacture of moulded pulp articles 5 laminated by welding of plastic film sheets comprises a moulding line 1 and a laminating line 3 .
- the articles 5 are typically three dimensionally contoured moulded pulp packages such as food- or meat trays. These articles 5 have a relatively thin wall of fibre material such as paper pulp or wood pulp. The articles 5 are intended to be food trays and must therefore be laminated in a clean (hygienic) area.
- the laminating line 3 is located in a clean room separately from the moulding line 1 .
- the two lines are separated.
- the laminating line 3 and the moulding line 1 are connected by a conveyor 10 that passes through an air lock into the clean room.
- the plastic film 4 must be suitable for thermo-forming, preferable gas impermeable or comprise a barrier against certain gases and moisture. Multilayer films 4 with an overall thickness of approximately 50 pm provide sufficient thickness after laminating to comply with the barrier standards.
- FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a suction moulding line 1 for moulding articles 5 from pulp material.
- the line starts with a moulding station 20 .
- the moulding station 20 comprises a mould carrier 21 , on the outside of which are placed several liquid-permeable suction moulds 22 adapted to be connected with a source of sub-atmospheric and to a source of super-atmospheric pressure (not shown).
- the mould carrier 21 is with a part of its circumferential surface immersed in a pulp vat 25 containing a fibre pulp suspension.
- This pulp may be made from a fibre-containing raw material, such as waste paper or cardboard.
- a layer of fibre material is deposited by suction on the mould surfaces of the suction mould 22 .
- the suction moulds 22 are withdrawn from the fibre suspension in the pulp vat 25 , the suction is continued to compact the deposited fibres while exhausting residual liquid therefrom.
- the mould After withdrawing the mould from the pulp vat 25 , the mould will follow the rotary trajectory of the rotatable mould carrier 21 and thereby suck air through the articles 5 which are thereby partially dewatered, the moulds 2 are further rotated to the position where the articles 5 are blown off from the suction moulds 22 and aspirated onto transfer moulds on the transfer rotor 26 . After a part of a revolution of the transfer rotor 26 , the articles 5 are blown off therefrom onto a carrier system 27 which transports the articles 5 to a drying oven 28 for a drying procedure. In the drying oven 28 , the articles 5 reach their final dry matter weight content of at least 90 weight per cent.
- a group of articles 5 may be moulded in the form of a common continuous body with bridges interconnecting the articles 5 , said bridges for the sake of simplicity being shown in the form of a common bridge sheet in the drawing (cf. FIG. 4 a ).
- the bridge connection may also be formed by ribs (cf. FIG. 4 b ), and the bridge connection may also comprise a directly abutting connection between the mutually facing sides of two adjacent articles 5 .
- the articles 5 are provided with lateral tabs or flanges 6 for engagement or gripping by transport means.
- a conveyor 10 transports the moulded pulp articles 5 through a humidification station 30 to the laminating line 3 .
- the conveyor 10 comprises a buffer of articles 5 between the moulding line 1 and the laminating line 3 in order to avoid gaps in the supply of moulded pulp articles 5 to the laminating line 3 .
- the operation speed of the laminating line 3 depends on the number of articles 5 in the buffer, i.e. less articles 5 in the buffer, the lower result in a low operation speed.
- the laminating line 3 is arranged in a clean room 40 that is separated from the moulding line 1 and the humidification station 30 in order to avoid contamination.
- an overpressure is maintained in order to avoid unclean air coming in.
- a wall 42 separating the clean room 40 from the moulding line environment is provided with an opening 43 with a tunnel 45 extending therefrom into the moulding line environment.
- the tunnel 45 increases the flow restriction for the air flowing out through the opening thereby reducing the amount of lost pressurised air.
- the laminating line 3 comprises a hot press station 50 , a heating station 69 , a laminating station 80 , a crystallisation station 90 , a cutting station 93 , a stacking station 99 and a conveying apparatus 56 which serves to guide and transport the moulded articles 5 and the plastic film 4 through the stations.
- the moulded pulp articles 5 or the plurality of moulded pulp articles 5 are positioned in the hot press station 50 by means of two transversely spaced sets of actuators 52 , 53 receiving a closed loop control signal from two transversely spaced photo cells 54 , 55 in order to position the front edge of the article or plurality of articles 5 exactly perpendicular to transport direction.
- the hot press 51 comprises an upper 57 and a lower 58 tool complementary shaped in accordance with the article 5 to be laminated.
- the upper tool 57 and the lower tool 58 both move towards the article 5 when the hot press 51 is closed.
- Both tools 57 , 58 are heated by conventional means.
- the hot press action heats the moulded pulp article 5 extremely fast to a temperature of about 50 to 100 degrees Celsius.
- the lateral tabs or flanges 6 on the articles 5 or plurality of interconnected articles 5 extend out of the tools 57 , 58 so that they can be engaged by the conveyor apparatus 56 .
- a conventional conveying apparatus 56 comprises two transversely spaced rails 59 extending along the longitudinal axis of the laminating line 3 .
- the distance between the rails 59 can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the articles 5 or the width of the plurality of interconnected articles 5 .
- Each rail 59 defines two channels, an upper and a lower channel in which a spiked chain is guided (not shown). In the upper channel, the spiked chain moves forward through the laminating line 3 while in the lower channel the spiked chain returns to the start of the laminating line 3 .
- the upper channel also defines a surface for guiding the tabs or flanges 6 of the articles 5 and is provided with a groove in which the spikes partially extend.
- the spikes extend through the tabs or flanges 6 and positively engage the flanges or tabs 6 .
- the spikes penetrate the tabs or flanges 6 when the article 5 or the plurality of interconnected articles 5 is positively fixed in the closed hot press 51 .
- the hot press 51 opens, the chain is driven to transport the articles 5 to the next station.
- clamps, belts or other fixating means can substitute the spiked chain.
- the plastic film 4 is fed from a film reel 47 into the rails 59 through a slot in the guiding surface of the upper channels.
- the spikes of the chain also penetrate the plastic film 4 and the plastic film 4 and the articles 5 are moved in unison by the spiked chain to the heating station 69 .
- the heating station 69 comprises a heating element above 70 and one under 71 the moulded pulp articles 5 and the plastic film 4 .
- the plastic film 4 only absorbs a part of the radiation from the upper heating element 70 and the rest can be absorbed by the moulded pulp articles 5 .
- the plastic film 4 is heated to above the glass temperature and the moulded pulp artides 5 have a temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius when they leave the heating station 69 .
- the next station is a conventional laminating 80 station which comprises an upper 81 and a lower table 82 .
- the upper table 81 is provided with die press tool 83 whereas the lower table 82 is provided with a heated suction mould 84 . Both the upper and lower table move towards the film 4 and the moulded pulp article 5 .
- a partial vacuum is applied to the suction mould 84 .
- the film 4 is bonded to the moulded pulp articles 5 by being drawn downwardly by the partial vacuum applied to the suction mould 84 through the moulded pulp article 5 and/or by the press tool 83 .
- the upper table 81 may also be provided with means (not shown) to apply compressed air to the upper side of the plastic sheet 4 .
- the laminating station 80 comprises a separately movable hot tool 85 for laminating the plastic film 4 to selected (flange) areas of the moulded pulp articles 5 in order to positively weld the film 4 to these areas of the moulded pulp articles 5 .
- the articles 5 with the film 4 laminated thereon are then transported by the conveyor 56 to the crystallisation station 90 .
- This station comprises an upper heating element 91 .
- a crystallisation from amorphous to crystalline can take place if desired. In the case of food trays, this renders the laminated moulded pulp article 5 resistant to the heat of a domestic oven.
- a conventional cutting station 93 comprising an upper 94 and a lower movable tool 95 for die cuffing separates the plurality of interconnected articles 5 and for removing superfluous flange material such as the tabs or flanges 6 for gripping by the conveyor 56 .
- Either the upper or the lower tool is provided with a knife 96 to cut of the flange areas.
- the articles 5 remain connected to the “waste” material by narrow bridges in order to allow further transport to a stacking station 99 .
- a conventional stacking station 99 stacks the laminated moulded pulp articles 5 so that they may be removed batch-wise from the laminating line 3 .
- a filling and sealing line is arranged in line/off line with the laminating line for filling the trays with food or other products and then sealing the filled tray with a plastic top sheet.
- the laminating line does not comprise a stacking station.
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing articles (5) from moulded pulp material that are laminated with a plastic film (4). Thus an environmental friendly and water-resistant package for food products and for other moulded pulp products such as packages for industrial products is provided. The apparatus comprises a moulding line 1 and a laminating line (3). The moulding line (1) comprises a suction moulding station (20) with a pulp vat (25) and a number of suction moulds (22), a drying oven (28) and conveying means (26,28) for transporting the moulded pulp articles through the moulding line (1). The articles are transported in line by a conveyor 10 from the moulding line (1) to the laminating line (3), the laminating line (3) comprises a plastic film supply unit (47), a heating station (69) a laminating station (80) and conveying means (56) for conveying the articles (5) through the laminating line (3).
Description
- The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles that have a plastic film laminated thereon of the kind set forth in the preamble of
claim 1. The invention also relates to a method of producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 16. - Moulded pulp articles are a desirable form of packaging since it is an environmental friendly non-expensive alternative to plastic and other materials for three dimensionally contoured packages. The use of such moulded pulp articles as food trays and the like has been desired since several decades. Moulded pulp is however not resistant to moist and as such thus not suitable for holding moist food or beverages. Therefore, several techniques have been developed for coating or laminating the moulded pulp packages with a moist resistant and preferably to provide them with a gas barrier. Other types of moulded pulp articles are packages for industrial products such as mobile phones or print cartridges. Dust and scratching from the pulp material can be problematic for certain sensitive industrial products. There exists therefore also a need for a technique to coat or laminate the moulded pulp articles from this perspective. None of the known techniques for this purpose have been able to meet the requirements for a successful commercial application.
- EP-A-0-196 799 discloses an apparatus for laminating plastic film onto moulded pulp articles. Preformed articles are taken from a stack of articles by a destacking apparatus and placed in rows across a conveyor. The articles are fed by the conveyor and lined with a superimposed plastic film at a laminating station where the plastic film is bonded to the interior of the articles. This apparatus for the laminating of films to moulded pulp articles does not operate at desirably high speeds that allow successful commercial application. Further, the off-line mode of operation of the known prior art laminating line creates problems with handling and storing large amounts of articles between the production of the articles and the laminating line.
- On this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles of the kind referred to initially that operates at high rates. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for producing moulded pulp articles that are laminated laminating a plastic film onto moulded pulp articles of the kind referred to initially that allows operation at high rates. These objects are achieved in accordance with
claim 1 and 16 respectively by transporting the moulded pulp articles in line from the moulding section to the laminating section, thus forming one continuous production line where the pulp articles are transported through the various working stations without intermediate storing. - According to an embodiment of the invention, the moulding line is adapted to produce a plurality of articles that are mutually interconnected through bridges.
- According to another embodiment of the invention wherein the laminating line is located separately from the moulding line in a dean room, the two lines being connected through an intermediate conveyor.
- According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the laminating line comprises a hot press station before the heating station.
- In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side view of the moulding line,
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical side view of the laminating line according to the invention,
- FIG. 3 is a layout of the production line according to the invention, and
- FIG. 4a and 4 b are elevated views on a plurality of interconnected moulded pulp articles and on a disconnected moulded pulp article.
- With reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a production line for manufacture of
moulded pulp articles 5 laminated by welding of plastic film sheets comprises amoulding line 1 and a laminating line 3. - The
articles 5 are typically three dimensionally contoured moulded pulp packages such as food- or meat trays. Thesearticles 5 have a relatively thin wall of fibre material such as paper pulp or wood pulp. Thearticles 5 are intended to be food trays and must therefore be laminated in a clean (hygienic) area. - As shown in FIG. 3, the laminating line3 is located in a clean room separately from the
moulding line 1. The two lines are separated. The laminating line 3 and themoulding line 1 are connected by aconveyor 10 that passes through an air lock into the clean room. The plastic film 4 must be suitable for thermo-forming, preferable gas impermeable or comprise a barrier against certain gases and moisture. Multilayer films 4 with an overall thickness of approximately 50 pm provide sufficient thickness after laminating to comply with the barrier standards. - FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a
suction moulding line 1 for mouldingarticles 5 from pulp material. The line starts with amoulding station 20. Themoulding station 20 comprises amould carrier 21, on the outside of which are placed several liquid-permeable suction moulds 22 adapted to be connected with a source of sub-atmospheric and to a source of super-atmospheric pressure (not shown). - The
mould carrier 21 is with a part of its circumferential surface immersed in apulp vat 25 containing a fibre pulp suspension. This pulp may be made from a fibre-containing raw material, such as waste paper or cardboard. During the immersion in the pulp mass, a layer of fibre material is deposited by suction on the mould surfaces of thesuction mould 22. Subsequently, when thesuction moulds 22 are withdrawn from the fibre suspension in thepulp vat 25, the suction is continued to compact the deposited fibres while exhausting residual liquid therefrom. After withdrawing the mould from thepulp vat 25, the mould will follow the rotary trajectory of therotatable mould carrier 21 and thereby suck air through thearticles 5 which are thereby partially dewatered, the moulds 2 are further rotated to the position where thearticles 5 are blown off from thesuction moulds 22 and aspirated onto transfer moulds on thetransfer rotor 26. After a part of a revolution of thetransfer rotor 26, thearticles 5 are blown off therefrom onto acarrier system 27 which transports thearticles 5 to adrying oven 28 for a drying procedure. In the dryingoven 28, thearticles 5 reach their final dry matter weight content of at least 90 weight per cent. - A group of
articles 5 may be moulded in the form of a common continuous body with bridges interconnecting thearticles 5, said bridges for the sake of simplicity being shown in the form of a common bridge sheet in the drawing (cf. FIG. 4a). Instead of a common plate, the bridge connection may also be formed by ribs (cf. FIG. 4b), and the bridge connection may also comprise a directly abutting connection between the mutually facing sides of twoadjacent articles 5. Thearticles 5 are provided with lateral tabs orflanges 6 for engagement or gripping by transport means. - From the
drying oven 28, aconveyor 10 transports themoulded pulp articles 5 through ahumidification station 30 to the laminating line 3. Theconveyor 10 comprises a buffer ofarticles 5 between themoulding line 1 and the laminating line 3 in order to avoid gaps in the supply ofmoulded pulp articles 5 to the laminating line 3. The operation speed of the laminating line 3 depends on the number ofarticles 5 in the buffer, i.e.less articles 5 in the buffer, the lower result in a low operation speed. - The
articles 5 leaving the dryingoven 28 are too dry for a hot press operation. Therefore, a controlled humidification takes place in thehumidification station 30 to obtain a smooth surface of the product with exact dimensions after the hot pressing in the heated tools which create a steam pressure. - The laminating line3 is arranged in a
clean room 40 that is separated from themoulding line 1 and thehumidification station 30 in order to avoid contamination. In theclean room 40, an overpressure is maintained in order to avoid unclean air coming in. Awall 42 separating theclean room 40 from the moulding line environment is provided with anopening 43 with atunnel 45 extending therefrom into the moulding line environment. Thetunnel 45 increases the flow restriction for the air flowing out through the opening thereby reducing the amount of lost pressurised air. - The laminating line3 comprises a
hot press station 50, aheating station 69, alaminating station 80, acrystallisation station 90, a cuttingstation 93, a stackingstation 99 and a conveyingapparatus 56 which serves to guide and transport the mouldedarticles 5 and the plastic film 4 through the stations. - At the start of the laminating line3, the moulded
pulp articles 5 or the plurality of mouldedpulp articles 5 are positioned in thehot press station 50 by means of two transversely spaced sets of actuators 52,53 receiving a closed loop control signal from two transversely spaced photo cells 54,55 in order to position the front edge of the article or plurality ofarticles 5 exactly perpendicular to transport direction. - The hot press51 comprises an upper 57 and a lower 58 tool complementary shaped in accordance with the
article 5 to be laminated. Theupper tool 57 and thelower tool 58 both move towards thearticle 5 when the hot press 51 is closed. Bothtools pulp article 5 extremely fast to a temperature of about 50 to 100 degrees Celsius. When the hot press 51 is closed, the lateral tabs orflanges 6 on thearticles 5 or plurality ofinterconnected articles 5 extend out of thetools conveyor apparatus 56. - A conventional conveying
apparatus 56 comprises two transversely spaced rails 59 extending along the longitudinal axis of the laminating line 3. The distance between the rails 59 can be adjusted in accordance with the width of thearticles 5 or the width of the plurality ofinterconnected articles 5. Each rail 59 defines two channels, an upper and a lower channel in which a spiked chain is guided (not shown). In the upper channel, the spiked chain moves forward through the laminating line 3 while in the lower channel the spiked chain returns to the start of the laminating line 3. The upper channel also defines a surface for guiding the tabs orflanges 6 of thearticles 5 and is provided with a groove in which the spikes partially extend. Thus, the spikes extend through the tabs orflanges 6 and positively engage the flanges ortabs 6. The spikes penetrate the tabs orflanges 6 when thearticle 5 or the plurality ofinterconnected articles 5 is positively fixed in the closed hot press 51. When the hot press 51 opens, the chain is driven to transport thearticles 5 to the next station. - Alternatively clamps, belts or other fixating means (not shown) can substitute the spiked chain.
- Directly after the
hot press station 50, the plastic film 4 is fed from afilm reel 47 into the rails 59 through a slot in the guiding surface of the upper channels. The spikes of the chain also penetrate the plastic film 4 and the plastic film 4 and thearticles 5 are moved in unison by the spiked chain to theheating station 69. - The
heating station 69 comprises a heating element above 70 and one under 71 the mouldedpulp articles 5 and the plastic film 4. The plastic film 4 only absorbs a part of the radiation from theupper heating element 70 and the rest can be absorbed by the mouldedpulp articles 5. The plastic film 4 is heated to above the glass temperature and the mouldedpulp artides 5 have a temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius when they leave theheating station 69. - The next station is a
conventional laminating 80 station which comprises an upper 81 and a lower table 82. The upper table 81 is provided withdie press tool 83 whereas the lower table 82 is provided with aheated suction mould 84. Both the upper and lower table move towards the film 4 and the mouldedpulp article 5. A partial vacuum is applied to thesuction mould 84. The film 4 is bonded to the mouldedpulp articles 5 by being drawn downwardly by the partial vacuum applied to thesuction mould 84 through the mouldedpulp article 5 and/or by thepress tool 83. The upper table 81 may also be provided with means (not shown) to apply compressed air to the upper side of the plastic sheet 4. - Further, the
laminating station 80 comprises a separately movablehot tool 85 for laminating the plastic film 4 to selected (flange) areas of the mouldedpulp articles 5 in order to positively weld the film 4 to these areas of the mouldedpulp articles 5. - The
articles 5 with the film 4 laminated thereon are then transported by theconveyor 56 to thecrystallisation station 90. This station comprises anupper heating element 91. By exposing the plastic film 4 to the heat, a crystallisation from amorphous to crystalline can take place if desired. In the case of food trays, this renders the laminated mouldedpulp article 5 resistant to the heat of a domestic oven. - Next, a
conventional cutting station 93 comprising an upper 94 and a lowermovable tool 95 for die cuffing separates the plurality ofinterconnected articles 5 and for removing superfluous flange material such as the tabs orflanges 6 for gripping by theconveyor 56. Either the upper or the lower tool is provided with aknife 96 to cut of the flange areas. Thearticles 5 remain connected to the “waste” material by narrow bridges in order to allow further transport to a stackingstation 99. - After the cuffing
station 93, a conventional stackingstation 99 stacks the laminated mouldedpulp articles 5 so that they may be removed batch-wise from the laminating line 3. - According to a not shown embodiment, a filling and sealing line is arranged in line/off line with the laminating line for filling the trays with food or other products and then sealing the filled tray with a plastic top sheet. Thus, the laminating line does not comprise a stacking station.
- List of Reference Numerals
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Claims (18)
1. Apparatus for producing articles (5) from moulded pulp material that are laminated with a plastic film (4) comprising a moulding line (1) and a laminating line (3), the moulding line (1) comprising a suction moulding station (20) with a pulp vat (25) and a number of suction moulds (22), a drying oven (28) and conveying means (26,27) for transporting the moulded pulp articles (5) through the moulding line (1), the apparatus further comprises
conveying means (10) for transporting the moulded pulp articles (5) from the moulding line (1) to the laminating line (3) which is arranged in line with the moulding line (1), thus forming one continuous production line,
the laminating line (3) comprising a plastic film supply unit (47), a heating station (69), a laminating station (80) and conveying means (56) for conveying the articles (5) through the laminating line (3).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moulding line (1) is adapted to produce a plurality of articles (5) that are mutually interconnected.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of interconnected artides (5) are transported together through the moulding line (1) and the laminating line (3).
4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the laminating line (3) is located separately from the moulding line (1) in a clean room (40).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 , characterised in that the conveying means (10) for transporting the moulded pulp articles (5) from the moulding line (1) to the laminating line (3) passes through an opening (43) in a wall (42) separating the laminating line (3) from the moulding line (1), whereby preferably a tunnel (45) is extending from the opening (43) towards the moulding line (1) in which tunnel the conveying means (10) is received.
6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the laminating line (1) further comprises a hot press station (50) and a corresponding humidification station (30) before the heating station (69).
7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the conveying means (10) for transporting the moulded pulp articles (5) from the moulding line (1) to the laminating line (3) comprises a buffer of moulded pulp articles (5).
8. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising a means (52,53,54,55) for positioning the moulded pulp articles (5) with respect to the hot press station (50).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the moulded pulp articles (5) are fixed with respect to the conveying means (56) for transporting the articles (5) through the laminating line (3) when the hot press (51) is closed.
10. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the laminating station (3) further comprises a hot tool (85) for laminating the plastic film (4) to selected areas of the moulded pulp articles (5) in order to weld the film (4) in these areas to the moulded pulp articles (5).
11. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the laminating station (3) comprises means for applying underpressure to the film (4) through the moulded pulp articles (5) and/or a pressing tool (83) and/or means for applying overpressure to the film (4) in order to shape the plastic film (4) and press it onto the moulded pulp articles (5) and secure sufficient bonding of the film (4) to the articles (5).
12. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the moulded pulp articles (5) or a plurality of interconnected moulded pulp articles (5) are moulded with laterally protruding tabs or flanges (6) which are gripped or engaged by the conveying means.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the conveying means (56) for transporting the articles (5) through the laminating line (3) engage both the tabs or flanges (6) of moulded articles (5) or of the plurality of interconnected moulded pulp articles (5) and the plastic film (4) sheet with a common engagement means.
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 13 in which the operation speed of the laminating line (3) depends on the number of moulded pulp articles (5) in the buffer.
15. Apparatus according to any of claims I to 14, further comprising a film crystallisation station (90) after the laminating station (80).
16. Method of producing moulded pulp articles (5) with a plastic film (4) laminated thereon comprising the steps of,
providing a pulp vat (25),
providing at least one suction mould (22),
submerging at least one suction mould (22) in the pulp vat (25),
removing the moulded pulp artides (5) from the suction mould (22) and conveying
the moulded pulp articles (5) through a drying oven (28) to dry them,
transporting the moulded pulp articles (5) in line from the drying oven (28) to a laminating line (3),
supplying plastic film (4) to the laminating line (3),
heating the plastic film (4) and the moulded pulp articles (5),
laminating the film (4) onto the moulded article (5) and crystallising the plastic film (4).
17. Method according to claim 16 , wherein a plurality of articles (5) mutually interconnected through bridges are moulded together as an integral body which is conveyed as one entity through the moulding line (1) and the laminating line (3).
18. Method according to claim 17 , wherein the moulded pulp articles (5) or a plurality of interconnected moulded pulp articles (5) are moulded with laterally protruding tabs or flanges (6) which are gripped or engaged by the conveying means (10).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00107270A EP1145822B1 (en) | 2000-04-04 | 2000-04-04 | Method and apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon |
EP00107270.1 | 2000-04-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030136537A1 true US20030136537A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
Family
ID=8168368
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/240,499 Abandoned US20030136537A1 (en) | 2000-04-04 | 2001-04-04 | Method and apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20030136537A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1145822B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2003529466A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE315994T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001246397A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60025550T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001074564A1 (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011159240A1 (en) * | 2010-06-15 | 2011-12-22 | Pakit International Trading Company Inc. | A method for applying a film on moulded fibrous product and a product produced by said method |
WO2014193504A1 (en) * | 2013-05-09 | 2014-12-04 | Paul Zhang | Automatic multi-station integrated equipment and method for forming waste-paper-based packaging products |
US20150292154A1 (en) * | 2012-12-19 | 2015-10-15 | Eurasia Ep Machinery Co., Ltd. | Full-automatic manufacturing method of plant fiber molded product, and multifunctional machine for molding and trimming |
US9682811B2 (en) | 2012-08-21 | 2017-06-20 | Brødrene Hartmann A/S | Package for eggs and method for manufacturing said package |
WO2018049460A1 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2018-03-22 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
US10000332B2 (en) | 2011-09-13 | 2018-06-19 | Brødrene Hartmann A/S | Display and distribution package for eggs |
WO2018217920A1 (en) * | 2017-05-26 | 2018-11-29 | Footprint International, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for in-line die cutting of vacuum formed molded pulp containers |
US10240286B2 (en) | 2017-05-26 | 2019-03-26 | Footprint International, LLC | Die press assembly for drying and cutting molded fiber parts |
US10286596B2 (en) * | 2016-05-04 | 2019-05-14 | Mondini S.R.L. | Apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers |
US10377547B2 (en) | 2017-05-26 | 2019-08-13 | Footprint International, LLC | Methods and apparatus for in-line die cutting of vacuum formed molded pulp containers |
US20210114789A1 (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2021-04-22 | Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Technology B.V. | Biodegradable and Compostable Food Packaging Unit from a Moulded Pulp Material with a Cellulose-Base Laminate Layer, and Method for Manufacturing Such Food Packaging Unit |
CN114055766A (en) * | 2021-11-16 | 2022-02-18 | 浙江舒康科技有限公司 | Method, equipment and production line for laminating film on paper pulp container |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL1024777C2 (en) * | 2003-11-13 | 2005-05-23 | Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Technol | Method and device for stamping a part-formed fiber material. |
SE529897C2 (en) | 2006-03-27 | 2007-12-27 | Rottneros Ab | Molded trough |
EP2288552B1 (en) * | 2008-05-08 | 2012-08-15 | Huhtamaki Nederland B.V. | Food packaging |
JP2010155367A (en) * | 2008-12-26 | 2010-07-15 | Yamaha Motor Co Ltd | Vacuum molding machine and method for producing vacuum-molded product |
KR101300634B1 (en) * | 2012-03-08 | 2013-08-27 | 최종갑 | Film bonding apparatus of pulp mold |
AU2017327693B2 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2022-03-03 | PackBenefit S.L. | Improved pulp disposable tray |
WO2018229527A1 (en) | 2017-06-13 | 2018-12-20 | Brødrene Hartmann A/S | Method and apparatus for manufacturing an article from a pulp material |
WO2023102836A1 (en) * | 2021-12-09 | 2023-06-15 | 巢邕 | Wet-press pulp molding apparatus |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4337116A (en) * | 1979-08-28 | 1982-06-29 | Keyes Fibre Company | Contoured molded pulp container with polyester liner |
US6517684B1 (en) * | 1999-02-02 | 2003-02-11 | Brodrene Hartmann A/S | Method of producing moulded pulp articles with a high content of dry matter |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3957558A (en) * | 1974-04-19 | 1976-05-18 | International Paper Company | Method and apparatus for making a molded pulp product with a liquid impervious layer integrally secured thereon |
US4529464A (en) * | 1978-07-21 | 1985-07-16 | Champion International Corporation | Process for manufacturing a food container by extrusion and vacuum forming |
US4257530A (en) * | 1978-07-27 | 1981-03-24 | Champion International Corporation | Lined tray |
FR2500021B1 (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1988-07-29 | Air Ind | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRYING OBJECTS MADE OF FIBROUS MATERIALS |
GB8506246D0 (en) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-04-11 | Transparent Paper Plc | Packaging |
-
2000
- 2000-04-04 EP EP00107270A patent/EP1145822B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-04-04 AT AT00107270T patent/ATE315994T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-04-04 DE DE60025550T patent/DE60025550T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-04-04 WO PCT/DK2001/000228 patent/WO2001074564A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-04-04 US US10/240,499 patent/US20030136537A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-04-04 JP JP2001572283A patent/JP2003529466A/en active Pending
- 2001-04-04 AU AU2001246397A patent/AU2001246397A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4337116A (en) * | 1979-08-28 | 1982-06-29 | Keyes Fibre Company | Contoured molded pulp container with polyester liner |
US6517684B1 (en) * | 1999-02-02 | 2003-02-11 | Brodrene Hartmann A/S | Method of producing moulded pulp articles with a high content of dry matter |
Cited By (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103314156A (en) * | 2010-06-15 | 2013-09-18 | Pakit国际贸易股份有限公司 | A method for applying a film on moulded fibrous product and a product produced by said method |
WO2011159240A1 (en) * | 2010-06-15 | 2011-12-22 | Pakit International Trading Company Inc. | A method for applying a film on moulded fibrous product and a product produced by said method |
US10000332B2 (en) | 2011-09-13 | 2018-06-19 | Brødrene Hartmann A/S | Display and distribution package for eggs |
US9682811B2 (en) | 2012-08-21 | 2017-06-20 | Brødrene Hartmann A/S | Package for eggs and method for manufacturing said package |
US9783928B2 (en) * | 2012-12-19 | 2017-10-10 | Eurasia EP Machinery Co, Ltd. | Full-automatic manufacturing method of plant fiber molded product, and multifunctional machine for molding and trimming |
US20150292154A1 (en) * | 2012-12-19 | 2015-10-15 | Eurasia Ep Machinery Co., Ltd. | Full-automatic manufacturing method of plant fiber molded product, and multifunctional machine for molding and trimming |
US9663898B2 (en) | 2013-05-09 | 2017-05-30 | Paul Zhang | Automatic multi-station integrated equipment and method for forming waste-paper-based packaging products |
WO2014193504A1 (en) * | 2013-05-09 | 2014-12-04 | Paul Zhang | Automatic multi-station integrated equipment and method for forming waste-paper-based packaging products |
US10286596B2 (en) * | 2016-05-04 | 2019-05-14 | Mondini S.R.L. | Apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers |
EP3981916A1 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2022-04-13 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule |
WO2018049460A1 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2018-03-22 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
US11673737B2 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2023-06-13 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
CN109689972A (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2019-04-26 | 瓦登加工私人有限公司 | Distribute capsule and its method and apparatus formed |
AU2017326737B2 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2022-08-25 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
EP3513000A4 (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2020-05-27 | Varden Process Pty Ltd | Dispensing capsule and method and apparatus of forming same |
US10240286B2 (en) | 2017-05-26 | 2019-03-26 | Footprint International, LLC | Die press assembly for drying and cutting molded fiber parts |
US10683611B2 (en) | 2017-05-26 | 2020-06-16 | Footprint International, LLC | Method for simultaneously pressing and cutting a molded fiber part |
US10377547B2 (en) | 2017-05-26 | 2019-08-13 | Footprint International, LLC | Methods and apparatus for in-line die cutting of vacuum formed molded pulp containers |
WO2018217920A1 (en) * | 2017-05-26 | 2018-11-29 | Footprint International, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for in-line die cutting of vacuum formed molded pulp containers |
US20210114789A1 (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2021-04-22 | Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Technology B.V. | Biodegradable and Compostable Food Packaging Unit from a Moulded Pulp Material with a Cellulose-Base Laminate Layer, and Method for Manufacturing Such Food Packaging Unit |
CN114055766A (en) * | 2021-11-16 | 2022-02-18 | 浙江舒康科技有限公司 | Method, equipment and production line for laminating film on paper pulp container |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2001074564A1 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
DE60025550D1 (en) | 2006-04-06 |
AU2001246397A1 (en) | 2001-10-15 |
DE60025550T2 (en) | 2006-08-24 |
EP1145822B1 (en) | 2006-01-18 |
EP1145822A1 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
ATE315994T1 (en) | 2006-02-15 |
JP2003529466A (en) | 2003-10-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP1145822B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for producing moulded pulp articles with a plastic film laminated thereon | |
EP2170709B1 (en) | Vacuum skin packaging method and apparatus | |
KR100766391B1 (en) | Container forming apparatus, sheet carrying apparatus, container manufacturing method, and sheet carrying method | |
JP2002518262A (en) | Airtight food pack and method, apparatus and tray for manufacturing food pack | |
KR102434144B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for producing corrugated cardboard blanks | |
US20210122505A1 (en) | Tray sealer and operating method | |
US20210122513A1 (en) | Apparatus and process for packaging products | |
US7313900B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for manufacturing an easy-to-open package | |
DK2340161T3 (en) | manufacturing Process | |
JPS61259905A (en) | Packaging method | |
US4242161A (en) | Method and a machine for producing cellular latticework | |
CN110154441A (en) | Box body processing method and equipment | |
US11174050B2 (en) | Apparatus and method of packaging a product | |
KR100296662B1 (en) | An installation for the production of laminates particularly industrial laminates | |
US5251366A (en) | Apparatus for feeding sheet-like blanks to a deep-drawing machine | |
EP1142690A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for producing trays with a plastic film laminated thereon | |
US6409496B1 (en) | Thermoformer machine | |
US4952264A (en) | Method for producing plastic components | |
CN115734867A (en) | Device and method for producing a disc-shaped product package | |
EP0650543B1 (en) | Method and plant for the continuous production of objects from pulp material | |
WO2022096974A1 (en) | An apparatus and a method for manufacturing block bottom bags, and a block-bottom bag | |
CN112519366A (en) | Biaxially oriented polypropylene low-density polyethylene medical composite film bag | |
JP4625303B2 (en) | Production method of paper container with partition | |
JPH1111403A (en) | Packaging method |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BRODRENE HARTMANN A/S, DENMARK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FREDERIKSEN, JOHN HOFFMANN;RASMUSSEN, TORBEN;REEL/FRAME:013902/0618 Effective date: 20020826 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |