Patent Application
20240408801
The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2023 114 889.3 filed on Jun. 6, 2023. The entire contents of the above-listed application are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for molding and pressing a closure comprising of fibers, in particular pulp. The disclosure further relates to a filling system including the apparatus.
When producing closures from fibers, in particular pulp, there are high demands on strength and stability. It is known, for example, that a plastic closure is subsequently attached to the pulp molded closure.
The object of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus and a method that enable the formation of a dimensionally stable closure comprising fibers, in particular pulp, and integrate it into the filling process.
In an example, the above-described object may be achieved with an apparatus for molding and pressing a closure comprising fibers (e.g., pulp), wherein the apparatus comprises: a mold in which the closure is to be at least partially molded and which has an opening, a mandrel at least temporarily and/or partially within the mold, the mandrel comprising a structure for molding the closure, and movement means for executing a relative movement between the mold and the mandrel to reduce a clearance of the mold and the mandrel, and thus to form and press the closure.
The apparatus can be used to mold the closure comprising the fibers with high precision and stability. In addition, the residual moisture of the closure can be reduced by the molding process, in particular by the relative movement of the movement means, so that subsequent drying is no longer necessary or only necessary for a shorter time. This improves the quality of the closures and the efficiency of the apparatus. Furthermore, the molding of the closure comprising fibers and the filling can take place in one system.
In particular, the fibers are, at least in part, plant fibers. Pulp may comprise a suspension of water and fibers. The fibers can comprise lignin, banana leaves, quinine, glass fibers, metal threads and/or sutures. The fibers can comprise, for example, fibers from coniferous woods, leafy woods, and/or sycamores, and/or from grasses, reeds, and/or bamboo, or the like. Lignin can have a supportive effect on the cellulose and may also be suitable for transparent applications. Banana leaves can be suitable for larger containers, such as single use tableware. An improvement in the strength can be achieved by embedding glass fibers, metal threads and/or sutures.
The closure can have an internal diameter of 0.1 cm to 10 cm, for example of 1.5 cm to 6 cm. In the case of fibers, the closure can have an internal diameter of up to one meter.
In the forming of the opening of the closure, the mandrel can already be arranged in said opening or contribute to the formation of the opening, or alternatively can be introduced into the opening only after said opening has been formed.
In particular, the mandrel can be inserted along its longitudinal axis so that the longitudinal axis of the mandrel corresponds to the direction of movement of the mandrel when it is inserted into the opening.
For example, the raw version of the closure may not comprise a thread and/or engagement elements. A thread and/or engagement elements can, for example, be shaped and pressed, and thus be molded, for example, by means of the structure of the mold.
Executing the relative movement can mean that the mold can be designed to be movable by means of the movement means, whereas the mandrel can be designed to be stationary.
Alternatively, the execution of the relative movement can mean that the mandrel can be designed to be movable by means of the movement means, whereas the mold can be designed to be stationary. The mandrel can be designed in multiple parts, for example, wherein one or more of the parts can be designed to be movable.
Alternatively, it can be provided that the execution of the relative movement can mean that both the mold and the mandrel can be designed to be movable by means of the movement means. The mandrel can be designed in multiple parts, for example, wherein one or more of the parts can be designed to be movable.
The clearance of the mold and the mandrel can be reduced, using the movement means, to form and press the closure. It can be provided that the movement means for executing a relative movement between the mold and the mandrel can be further designed to increase a clearance of the mold and the mandrel. For example, after completion of the closure, via the molding and pressing, the mold and the mandrel can be removed from one another so that the closure arranged between them can be removed. It can be provided that the mandrel can be extracted from an opening of the closure after completion of said closure.
A pressure during pressing can be in a range of from 10,000 N/m2 (0.1 bar) to 100,000,000 N/m2 (1,000 bar), for example from 100,000 N/m2 (1 bar) to 10,000,000 N/m2 (100 bar) or, for example, from 500,000 N/m2 (5 bar) to 5,000,000 N/m2 (50 bar) so that the molded closure is especially stable and durable.
The mold can be in one piece or in multiple parts. Accordingly, the structure can be in one or more parts.
For example, to mold and press a closure with round cross-section, the mandrel and the mold can comprise substantially circular-cylindrical cross-sections.
The structure can comprise a negative mold of a thread to be molded and/or of engagement elements to be molded. This allows the molded closure to be connected to a corresponding container.
The relative movement can comprise a movement of the mold in the direction of the mandrel, or away from the mandrel. The movement can be provided radially toward the mandrel or radially in the direction away from the mandrel. Radially can mean with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel or the direction of movement of the mandrel when it is inserted into the opening. This means that the closure can first be molded under pressure and then removed from the mold.
The relative movement can comprise a movement of the mandrel in the direction of the mold, or away from the mandrel. This means that the closure can also first be molded under pressure and then removed from the mold.
The mold can comprise a structured outer surface in the form of elevations and/or depressions, in particular grooves. When executing a relative movement using the movement means between the mold and the mandrel to reduce the distance from the mold and the mandrel, the mold comprising the structure can contact the closure and it can press against the structured shell surface so that the closure can be molded and pressed, whereby the closure can be more easily opened manually or separated from the corresponding container by the structured surface.
The movement means may comprise one or more radially movable jaws on the mold or on the mandrel. The mandrel or the mold can comprise at least two radially movable jaws, wherein, for example, two radially movable jaws can be provided, which can each comprise a cylinder segment of approximately 180°, or wherein, for example, four radially movable jaws can be provided, which can each comprise a cylinder segment of approximately 90°. Three jaws of approximately 120° would also be conceivable. In order to be able to ensure a relative mobility of the jaws, these can respectively extend (over their entire height) less (e.g., 0.05° to 5°) than 360°/(number of jaws) of the circumference.
In an alternative embodiment, the jaws can overlap partially in the circumferential direction, at least at their edges. The overlap can, for example, be formed by means of a plurality of projections along the height in the manner of a zipper. Thus, projections of one jaw can engage between projections of the adjacent jaw. This can result in that at least one jaw, for example all jaws, extends in the circumferential direction by more than 360°/(number of jaws). For example, three jaws could be provided which each extend by 125° in the circumferential direction.
For molding and pressing the closure, the radially movable jaws can be moved radially away from a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, for example.
Upon executing a relative movement using the movement means between the mold and the mandrel to reduce the clearance of the mold and the mandrel, the movable jaws can contact the closure and can press it against the mold so that the closure can be molded and pressed.
It may occur that, due to the radial movement away from the longitudinal axis of the mold, portions of the closure cannot be contacted by one of the radially movable jaws. The mold can therefore be rotated by an angular range about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein the angular range can be unequal to an angle size of a cylinder segment of the jaw. For example, a rotation by 45°, 135°, 225°, or 315° can be provided in the event of angle sizes of the cylinder segments of 90° in each case. By rotating the mandrel, burrs on the lateral surface of the closure can be avoided. Instead, it can be provided that, after a first molding and pressing process, the radially movable jaws can first be moved radially away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel before the mold can be rotated by an angular range about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein the angular range can be unequal to an angle size of a cylinder segment of the jaw.
After execution of the rotation, to mold and press the closure the radially, movable jaws can again be moved radially towards a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, for example, so that—upon execution of a relative movement using the movement means between the mold and the mandrel to reduce the clearance of the mold and the mandrel—the movable jaws can contact the closure and can press it against the mandrel so that the closure can be molded and pressed.
The jaws of the mandrel can also be rotated between two pressing processes along an angular range of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel that does not correspond to the angular sizes of the cylinder segments. There may also be a relative movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, which may correspond in particular to the thread path of the negative mold of the structure.
Additionally or alternatively, the movement means may comprise a spreading rod, expansion sleeve, hydraulics, or one or more toggles/toggle levers coupled to a rod. Respectively at least one inclined plane can be provided on a rear side of the lateral surface segments, and the mandrel or the mold further comprises a spreading rod that is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein an interaction of the at least one inclined plane and the spreading rod can produce a radial movement of the radially movable jaws. The radially movable jaws can be moved, for example radially away from a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, by the interaction of the at least one inclined plane and the spreading rod to mold and press the closure. Upon executing a relative movement using the movement means between the mold and the mandrel to reduce the clearance of the mold and the mandrel, the movable jaws can contact the closure and can press it against the mold so that the closure can be molded and pressed. As described previously, a rotation of the mandrel about its longitudinal axis and/or relative movement along its longitudinal axis can also be provided.
The mandrel or mold may include hydraulics which, in conjunction with the radially movable jaws, may cause radial movement of the radially movable jaws to contact the closure and press it against the mold or mandrel.
The mandrel or the mold can comprise at least one toggle per radially movable jaw, wherein an interaction of the at least one toggle and the radially movable jaw can produce a radial movement of the radially movable jaw. The previously described interactions of closure, jaws, and mold can also apply here. It can also be provided that, as described above, the mandrel or the mold can be designed to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.
The apparatus can further comprise rotary means for executing a rotation of the mandrel or the mold about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The rotary means may include a motor.
The problem is also solved by a method for molding and pressing a closure comprising fibers, the method comprising: providing a closure comprising fibers at least partially in a mold, the mold comprising an opening in which a mandrel is arranged at least temporarily and/or partially, optionally inserting the mandrel into the opening, and executing a relative movement between the mold and the mandrel using a movement means to reduce a clearance of the mold and the mandrel, and thereby molding and pressing the closure.
The process can be used to mold the closure comprising the fibers with high precision and stability. In addition, the residual moisture of the closure can be reduced by the molding process, in particular by the relative movement of the movement means, so that subsequent drying is no longer necessary or only necessary for a shorter time. This can improve the quality of the closures and the efficiency of the method.
The execution of the relative movement to reduce the clearance may comprise:
This allows the closure to be contacted and molded between the mandrel and the mold.
In addition, features as have already been mentioned with regard to the apparatus in connection with the execution of the relative movement for reducing the clearance are also applicable to the method, since the method can be used for this apparatus.
The method may further comprise moving the radially movable jaws of the mandrel away from a longitudinal axis of the mandrel or the radially movable jaws of the mold towards a longitudinal axis of the mandrel. This applies to an embodiment of the apparatus in which the mandrel or the mold can comprise at least two radially movable jaws with planar lateral surface segments, as have already been described further above. Features, as have already been made with respect to the mandrel or the mold with radially movable jaws in connection with the apparatus, are also applicable to the method, since the method uses this apparatus.
The method can further comprise a rotation of the mandrel or the mold by an angular range. For example, moving the radially movable jaws of the mandrel or the mold toward the longitudinal axis of the mandrel can be provided before the rotation. Moving the radially movable jaws of the mandrel away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel can then be provided after the rotation.
Here, too, features as were already made in connection with the device are applicable to the method.
The method can further comprise, for example after the molding and pressing of the closure, a movement of the mold away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and/or a movement of the radially movable jaws of the mandrel toward the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, if the mandrel comprises radially movable jaws. The mold and/or the radially movable jaws can thereby be removed from the molded and pressed closure. The closure containing fibers, in particular pulp, can then be fed to further processing steps, for example.
After molding, the mandrel can be designed to transport and/or hold the closure. The closure can thus be taken over by other handling devices, for example. During retention or transport, a lower pressure can be exerted by the jaws.
Upon pressing, as much of the liquid fraction of the fibers, for example of the pulp, as possible can be pressed out, so that the closure has only a low residual moisture content.
The closure can comprise one or more or all of the following characteristics:
When molding a closure, the structure of the mandrel has an external thread in particular. The external thread can also be arranged on the jaws described. The end face of the mandrel can form the shape of the inside of the end face of the closure.
The outer mold used to produce the closure can be profiled, for example it can have grooves or slots extending along the height direction to make it easier for a person to twist the closure open. The height direction extends parallel to the center axis formed by the thread of the closure.
The apparatus can especially have a plurality of similar molds and mandrels in order to be able to simultaneously produce a plurality of closures.
Furthermore, in addition to said molds, the apparatus may comprise precoat molds in which the basic shapes of the closures to be formed are formed (without such high pressure), whereupon the basic shapes are transported by a handling device into the molds according to the disclosure. Alternatively, the closures to be molded can be molded in the mold according to the disclosure from an unshaped mass comprising fibers.
The apparatus can further comprise a mixer with which the mass (e.g., pulp) can be produced. The device can comprise a pump which can pump the mass toward the mold.
The mold and/or the mandrel can have holes through which the expressed liquid can be discharged. The holes can be bores or pores of the material of which the mold and/or the mandrel consist, at least partially. Furthermore, channels for discharging the liquid can be arranged within the mandrel and/or the mold.
The apparatus disclosed herein may be included as part of a filling system. The filling system can also be configured as a beverage filling system. The filling system can also comprise a second transport apparatus for transporting the containers.
The method may further comprise one or more of the following steps:
The accompanying figures show, by way of example, aspects and/or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure for better understanding and illustration. In the figures:
In the sectional representation, the mold 10 comprises a radially movable jaw 6 with a lateral surface segment 7, on the rear side of which are provided two inclined planes 8, 9 arranged one above the other as seen along the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. In the sectional representation, the mold 10 further comprises a spreading rod 3 that can be moved parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. The spreading rod 3 comprises, on its surface which points toward the jaw 6, two recesses 4, 5 arranged one above the other as seen along the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. In the event of a movement of the spreading rod 3 parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 in a direction 14 of the end face 12 of the closure 13, an interaction of the inclined planes 8, 9 and the recesses 4, 5 causes a radial movement of the radially movable jaw 6 in the direction toward the mandrel 1. Alternatively, the recesses 4, 5 can likewise have inclined planes or rolling bodies for moving on the inclined planes (not shown). In a further alternative (not shown), the mold 10 can comprise rolling elements, recesses, or inclined planes only at one height. Two, three, or more rolling elements, recesses, or inclined planes can be arranged in the circumferential direction.
The mandrel 1 and the structure 11 for molding the closure 13 are located at least partially inside the closure 13 during the pressing process. Due to the radial movement of the jaw 6 in the direction toward the mold 10, the clearance between the jaw 6 and the mold 10 decreases and the closure 13 can be pressed into the structure 11 of the mold, and the closure 13 can thus be molded or finished.
Above and below the jaw 6, you can see guides for the jaw movement that are not labeled with position markers.
In the sectional depiction, the mandrel 15 comprises a radially movable jaw 21 with a structure 11 and a rod 17, which is connected to the jaw 21 with two toggle levers 18, 19. In the event of a movement of the rod 17 parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 of said rod 17 in a direction 22 to the end face 12 of the closure 13, an interaction of the toggle levers 18, 19 with the jaw 21 causes a radial movement of the radially movable jaw 21 in the direction toward the mold 10.
Due to the radial movement of the jaw 21 in the direction toward the mold 10, the clearance between the jaw 21 and the mold 10 decreases and the closure 13 can be pressed into the structure 11 of the mandrel 1, and the closure 13 can thus be molded or finished.
Radial movement of the jaws 26-29 in the directions 30-33 can be executed, for example, by means of the elements of the embodiments shown in
Due to the radial movement away from the longitudinal axis 34, portions of the closure 25 are not contacted by the four jaws 26-29. The mandrel can therefore be rotated by an angular range about its longitudinal axis, wherein the angular range can be unequal to an angle size of a cylinder segment of the jaws 26-29. By rotating the mandrel, burrs in the interior of the closure 25 can be avoided. Depending on the shape of the structure of the lateral surfaces of the jaws 26-29 of the mandrel, in particular in the case of threads or negative threads, a relative movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis 34 of the mandrel can also take place in addition to the rotation about the longitudinal axis 34 of the mandrel.
Furthermore, if a thread is to be impressed by the rotating mandrel, the mandrel could be replaced by another mandrel with an adapted structure on the lateral surface for the second pressing process.
Generally speaking, an inner and/or outer mold 10, 23, 24, 26-29 can rotate between two pressing processes by an angle relative to the closure 25 to be molded, wherein the angle is dimensioned such that, in the second pressing process, a molded part is situated at the position, which was arranged between two molded parts in the first pressing process.
The position of the two parts 23, 24 of the mold is not changed.
Furthermore, the mold 54 comprises an end face 60, a radially movable jaw 61, a rod 62, a lateral guide piece 66 and toggle levers 64 and 65 arranged one above the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis 63 of the mandrel 50.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102023114889.3 | Jun 2023 | DE | national |
