Patent GB-278232-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for manufacturing articles from wood pulp orsimilar material
IPC: D21J5/00
Filed: 1927-02-04
Abstract: 278,232. Folkes, G. E., (Vacuum Pulp Products Corporation). Feb. 4, 1927. Moulding pulp. - Apparatus for moulding articles from wood pulp &c. consists of a mould formed in two or more sections 40, 41 which are disposed within a mould chamber 15 and are slidably mounted within or between guideways 46, 47 located within the said chamber, as shown in Fig. 5, and the bottom 16 of the chamber is adapted to be raised or lowered when required. The moulds are arranged in a row in the chamber 15, and are adapted to engage the guide 46 and the foraminous support 47 on the ribbed surface of the bottom 16 by means of members 44, 45 on the mould frames 43, which are covered with wire gauze, &c. The mould bottom 16 has a portion extending up within the mould chamber and providing drainage channels 18. The bottom 16 is adapted to slide on posts 19, the operating means consisting of links 21 pivoted at 22 within the hollow raised portion of the bottom and pivoted at their lower ends 23 to arms 24 carried by shafts 25, as shown in Fig. 1. Pinions 27 on the shafts 25 are engaged by gears 28 on a shaft 29 having an operating handle. The arms and links are arranged to lock the bottom in closed position. Counterbalancing weights are arranged at opposite ends of the machine. The mould sections 40, 41 are actuated by rods 49 passing through stuffing boxes in opposite sides of the mould chamber, and arms 52 engaging between collars 53 on the outer ends of the rods 49 have their opposite ends clamped on studs 55 carried by bars 56, 57 slidably supported at each side of the machine by transversely disposed slide rods. The slides are operated by transverse shafts 60 having reversely threaded screws at their opposite ends and engaging screw seats in the bars 56, 57. A shaft 65 has a gear-wheel 67 in mesh with gears 68 on the shafts 60, and operation of the shaft 65 opens or closes the moulds. A pipe 71 leads from a pulp supply tank 69 to a coupling 72 in the side of the mould chamber, such coupling providing communication with a conduit 73 having branches 74, Fig. 5, with vertical conduits 75 and tubular extensions 76 passing through the support 47. A three-way valve 84, Figs. 1 and 5, provided in the pulp line 71 is arranged either to allow a direct flow of pulp or to cut off such supply and open the mould conduit to an outlet 85 for excess pulp. A second three-way valve 86, provided in the outlet 85, is adapted either to allow passage of excess pulp or to cut off such passage and connect a compressed-air supply pipe 87 with the interior of the moulds through a branch 89 controlled bv valves 90, 91. A suction conduit 92 controlled by a valve 93 is connected by a detachable coupling 94 at the sides of the mould chamber with a conduit 95 opening into the lower drainage portion of the mould chamber, and a branch 101 leading from the conduit 92 opens into the mould chamber and is controlled by a valve 102. In operation, the valve 84 is opened and the mould is filled by gravity, assisted by opening the valve 102 to create a limited suction, and then by opening the main suction valve 93. The valve 84 is then turned to cut off the pulp supply and to release excess pulp, and compressed air is then admitted to the interior of the moulds through the pipe 87, after which the valve 90 is operated to admit pressure to the mould chamber outside the moulds. A spring-controlled flutter valve, mounted on the top of the mould, is adapted to open when the pressure in the mould chamber reaches a certain predetermined amount. The alternate building up and release of pressure within the chamber has the effect of vibrating the deposited material free of the mould walls. Windows may be provided in an end and side of the mould chamber. The coupling 72, Fig. 6, consists of a sleeve 77, sliding over an extension 78 of the pipe line and rotatably and longitudinally movable within a tubular housing 79 in the side of the mould chamber toward and away from the end face 80 of the conduit 73. The sleeve 77 is faced with a rubber &c. gasket 81 and its movement is effected by a pin 83 engaging in a cam slot 82 in the housing 79. The coupling 94 is similarly constructed. Specification 278,228 is referred to.