Patent GB-1137761-A (GB)
Title: Pulp moulding machine
IPC: D21J7/00
Filed: 1966-03-11
Abstract: 1,137,761. Pulp-moulding. BELOIT CORP. 11 March, 1966 [9 April, 1965], No. 10798/66. Heading B5A. A pulp moulding machine comprises a drum 10, Fig. 1, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced mould stations 17 formed on the periphery thereof for mounting a plurality of mould members 25, means to continuously rotate the drum on a horizontal axis to provide a circular path of travel for the mould members, a forming station 21 comprising a stock supply pan 82 situated below the drum for receiving a supply of stock through which the mould members are moved, a press station 23 at which complementary shaped pressing members cooperate with the moulds to form articles and express fluid therefrom, and an extraction station 26 at which complementary shaped extraction members remove the articles from the moulds on the drum. ' The rotary drum 10 is driven by a motor 39 and carries one or more moulds at each of thirty-two circumferentially spaced stations 17. The moulds are attached to suction boxes 19, Fig. 2, connected to a source of vacuum via manifolds which include parts rotating with the drum and stationary parts. Siphon tubes 64 also connected to a source of vacuum serve to remove excess water. The slurry tank 82 at the forming station 21 is vertically adjustable to vary the duration of immersion of the suction boxes which adjustment together with adjustment of the vacuum and speed of rotation of the drum serve to vary the characteristic of the moulded article. The vacuum adjustment is effected by a hand wheel operated plate valve which isolates a series of parts on the stationary manifold part so that a second and more intense source of vacuum is supplied to the moulds during immersion in the slurry. The moulds are then carried to a trimming station 22 at which sets of nozzles are provided, the jets from one set being arranged to wash-off the excess slurry and the jets from the second set being arranged to separate the articles from each other. The moulds 25, Fig. 1, then come to the pressing station 23 for engagement with complementary pressing members 116 carried by a plate 113 mounted between the ends of two pivoted arms 111, 112, which are given a pendulous movement by a driving mechanism driven by the motor 39 and including a cam and cam follower indexing mechanism. The members  . 116 are biased radially inwardly by pneumatic air springs 117 and moved outwardly by cam and follower mechanism. The moulds then move through a series of housings 120 to which is supplied a drying medium, e.g. hot air, the temp. of which decreases in successive housings 120. Because of the vacuum supplied, the drying air is drawn through the moulded articles to effect drying. At the extraction station 26 a three sided carriage 123 is mounted between the ends of pivoted arms 126, 127 rigidly connected by links 129 to the arms 111, 112. The carriage 123 is on a shaft 135 which is actuated by a cam and cam follower indexing mechanism through steps of 120 degrees and is reciprocated radially by a cam and cam follower mechanism so that complementary dies 130 mounted on the sides of the carriage may co-operate with the moulds to extract the moulded articles which are then deposited on conveying means 127, vacuum being supplied to the dies for the extraction and air under pressure for the depositing. The moulds are then passed through a cleaning station 28. The pressing and extracting dies may be of ceramic material or sintered bronze.