Patent GB-777395-A (GB)
Title: Molding machine for producing articles from pulp
IPC: D21J3/00
Filed: 1955-04-12
Abstract: 777,395. Moulding pulp articles. KEYES FIBRE CO. April 12, 1955 [May 11, 1954], No. 10435/55. Class 87(2). Pulp articles are moulded by a method which comprises moving a forming die into a pulp slurry in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the slurry, then moving the die through the slurry in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and finally moving the die out of the slurry in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction. The forming. dies 26 are perforated and covered with wire mesh in known manner and are fixed to housings 20. The housings 20 are pivoted by pins 22 to brackets on the ends of arms 14 which radiate from a hub 12. There are passages 30 in the hub and the arms 14, pins 22 and connecting brackets are hollow, giving continuous communication for compressed air or suction. The outer ends of the passages 30 in the hub register with ports in a fixed collar 28 which is in face-to-face sliding contact with the hub and which is connected to sources of vacuum and compressed air. Thus as the hub 12 rotates the dies 26 are connected to vacuum at one point and to compression at another at suitable parts of the cycle. Rotation is derived from a motor-driven pinion 34 meshing with a gear wheel 32 on the shaft 10 of the hub. The gear wheel 32 meshes with a gear wheel 87 of equal diameter on the shaft of which is a hub 70 with a similar arrangement of hollow radial arms 68 through which compression or suction is applied in correct timing to the inside of a chamber 48 of which one wall is a pressing die face 50 perforated and covered with wire mesh. Each die 50 is pressed towards its complementary die 26 by a spring 64 which bears on a plate 60 slidable on posts 62 and joined to the die by a lug 52 passing through the bottom wall of a housing 58. Rocker arms 24 fixed to the housings 20 and pivoted on the pins 22 carry rollers 44 which run in a fixed cam track 42. Similarly rocker arms 80 fixed to the housings 58 carry rollers 82 which run in a fixed cam track 84. The configuration of the cam track 42 is such that, when the machine is driven, the forming dies 26 enter the slurry 38 perpendicularly, travel through the slurry in a straight path, and leave perpendicularly, suction being applied during this movement. As the movement continues the cam tracks 42, 84 cause the dies 26, 50 to be pressed together and to follow parallel paths while the moulding operation is completed by compression of the layer of pulp previously deposited on the dies 26. The suction behind the dies 26 is then replaced by a blast of compressed air and suction is applied behind the die 50, whereby the moulded article is transferred to the die 50. On further rotation of the gear wheel 87 the die 50 is brought over a conveyer 90, and the cam track 84 causes the die to be perpendicular to the conveyer, at which point the suction is replaced by a blast of compressed air which forces the finished article on the conveyer. The cam track is such that as the empty die continues its journey it is moved out of the way of the article on the conveyer. The empty die is cleaned by a spray device 92 timed to operate only when required. Two pressing dies 50 only may be used, co-operating with four forming dies 26, the gear wheels 32, 87 then having a 2 to 1 ratio. Specification 528,582 is referred to.