Patent ID: 6406649
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B29C,B29K,C08J

Abstract:
A method for forming a shaped foamed article from starch comprising:(a) forming a composition comprising starch, water and a blowing agent; (b) heating said composition under pressure in an extruder to gelatinize said starch wherein said extruder has a nozzle; (c) providing a plurality of separate molds on a continuous path to said extruder, each said mold comprising a pair of mold halves with a void therein such that when said mold halves are joined to form said mold, said void has the shape of said shaped foamed article, each mold has an opening which connects a void in one mold with a void in an adjacent mold; (d) joining each of said mold halves to form said mold about said nozzle of said extruder; (e) continuously extruding said composition through said nozzle into said void of said mold such that said composition foams and fills said void; (f) cooling said foamed composition in said mold to form a shaped foamed article; and (g) opening said mold into aid pair of mold halves to recover said foamed shaped article and returning said pair of mold halves to said nozzle.