Patent GB-651205-A (GB)
Title: Automatic machine for the manufacture of objects from pulp
IPC: D21J3/00
Filed: 1947-08-27
Abstract: 651,205. Moulding articles from pulp by suction. MARGUERAT, G. Aug. 27, 1947, No. 23773. Convention date, Sept. 30, 1942. [Class 87 (ii)] A machine for moulding articles from pulp by suction comprises foraminous moulds 29 mounted on carriers 28 carried by the depending ends of hollow arms (constituting the tubes by which suction and air pressure are applied to the moulds), secured to a central distributer 14 rotating in a bearing 8 which is supported by arms 7 vertically slidable on uprights 2, 3. The moulds can thus rotate about the axis of the distributer 14 and move vertically up and down. The bearing 8 has ports 9, 10, 10<SP>1</SP> through which and through ducts in the distributer 14 moulding suction, de-watering suction and compressed air for removing the moulded objects are applied to the moulds at times determined by the angular position of the distributer. As shown, four carriers 28 are provided, each carrying four moulds. Vertical motion is imparted to the mould assembly by a cam 54 on a continuously-rotated shaft 23 through links 55-60, and intermittent rotation through 90 degrees by a cam 22 through links 20, 21, 181, 18 and rack- and-pinion gear 16, 17. The moulds are lowered and raised between each rotary movement. At one station (on the right in Fig. 1) one set of moulds is dipped into a bath 52 of pulp supplied by a pipe 53, to form articles by suction applied through the tube 32, passage 37 in the distributer 14, port 9 in the bearing 8 and pipe 11. The moulds are then raised and rotated through 90 degrees to bring a second set over the bath 52, the first set having suction applied to them through pipe 12, port 10 in bearing 8 which leads to an annular groove extending approximately 220 degrees round the inside of bearing 8, passage 37 and tube 32. Suction is continued by the same path to dewater the articles until about half way through the third 90 degrees movement, when the passage 37 travels past the end of the annular groove in the bearing 8. At the end of the third 90 degrees movement compressed air is applied to the moulds through port 101 in bearing 8, passage 46 in distributer 14 and pipe 321 to eject the articles 61 on to a conveyor which removes them to a drier. Four sets of passages 37, 46 are provided in distributer 14, one for each mould carrier. The applications of moulding suction and compressed air are controlled by valves in pipes 11, 10<SP>11</SP>, operated by cams on the shaft 23. A slight suction is maintained while the compressed air is being supplied, to remove final drops of water, by a suitable connection with pipe 12. Similarly a small quantity of air is fed to the mould one stage before the ejecting stage by a pipe 50 connecting the compressed air pipe 10<SP>11</SP> through an adjustable valve 51 with a port in distributer 14 leading to the passage 46 at this preceding stage, to create a current of air in conjunction with the suction applied through the pipe 12 to aid in removing water drops. The mould carriers 28 have,two chambers 30, 31, Fig. 8, with which the pipes 32<SP>1</SP>, 32 respectively communicate. Two concentric tubes 34, 36 lead respectively from the chambers 30, 31 nearly to the base of each mould. The end of the tube 34 is closed by a flanged cap 35 and the walls of the tube 34 at the end are perforated, the compressed air thus being directed upwards to assist in removing water drops up the suction tube 36. Fig. 10 shows a modified mould for large objects, a reinforcing fitting 66 being inserted in the mould and having circular grooves 67 communicating with the interior of the fitting by holes 68. A rubber membrane 69 covers the inside of the fitting. Suction can thus be applied over the whole of the mould but when compressed air is admitted the membrane closes the holes 68 and the air acts only on the base of the moulded article, preventing damage to the walls. The elastic membrane 69 may be used without the fitting 66 (Fig. 13, not shown). In a further modification, Fig. 12, compressed air is prevented from reaching the upper parts of the mould walls by perforated partitions 70 covered on the underside by rubber sheets 71 acting as flap valves. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 states that the grooves in the fitting 66 may be longitudinally or otherwise arranged. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.