Automatic Forming Machine for Pulp Molding Product

Abstract

An automatic forming machine for pulp molding product is disclosed. Through an innovative design to ensure stable rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold, the hot forming zone is optimized. The invention has the following characteristics: On the bottom side of the hot pressing lower mold, a supporting arm is extended downward in each of the four directions. On the supporting arm, a sliding block is fixed. A penetrating hole slot is configured on a base plate at a lower position inside the working space of the hot forming zone at each of the positions corresponding to the supporting arms. The adjacent outer sides of the base plate corresponding to the supporting arms are respectively fixed with a supporting frame. The column surfaces of the supporting frame on the front and rear side are respectively connected with a supporting plate body. The supporting plate body is fixed with a guide rail. The sliding block on the supporting arm is sleeved on the guide rail, so that when the hot pressing lower mold rises or falls, the sliding block can rise or fall simultaneously along the guide rail, maintaining balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold. Thus, the hot pressing lower mold and the hot pressing upper mold can clamp correctly to enhance product quality.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, and, more particularly, to an automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, capable of maintaining the lift balance of the hot pressing lower mold, thereby enabling the hot pressing lower mold to close mold with the hot pressing upper mold correctly to enhance the product quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In view of the environmental damage caused by products made of plastic materials, there is currently a new trend to make products using pulp fiber materials and/or plant fiber materials. The mixed materials are mixed and beaten into pulp. Then, a pulp suction mold is used to suck the pulp and form the product by means of hot pressing. Products made in this way are usually called “pulp molding products”, or “pulp molded products”, and are differentiated from “plastic products”. Pulp molding products can be easily recycled and cater to the current trend of environmental recycling, energy saving and carbon reduction. Therefore, such products are widely accepted in the commercial community and are popular among consumers. Commonly seen pulp molding products include bowls, plates, cups, covers, and packing materials, which have been used as anti-shocking or padding materials.

In the production of pulp molding products, the main manufacturing processes include “pulp suction and formation”, “hot pressing”, “finished products transportation” and “terminal finishing”. Specifically, “pulp suction and formation” and “hot pressing” are the main processes for the formation of pulp molding products, and are usually completed by an “automatic forming machine for pulp molding product”. “Finished product transportation” and “terminal finishing” are two processes after the formation of pulp molding products. The finished products are collected and conveyed to a terminal for finishing (such as: edge cutting, quality examination, and packing). Hence, an “automatic forming machine for pulp molding product” is pivotal for the production of pulp molding products. To produce quality pulp molding products, it is necessary to combine a good “automatic forming machine for pulp molding products” with an appropriate manufacturing method or optimal manufacturing steps.

A prior-art automatic forming machine 1 for pulp molding product is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. In terms of function, it can be divided into three zones. Located in the middle is a pulp sucking and forming zone 10. The zones on the left and right sides of the pulp sucking and forming zone 10 are both hot pressing forming zones 20. To facilitate explanation, they are respectively named as left hot pressing forming zone 20L and right hot pressing forming zone 20R. In the actual manufacturing process, the pulp sucking and forming zone 10 conducts the first pulp suction and formation of the first primary blank, which is received by the left hot forming zone 20L (or right hot forming zone 20R) for the first hot pressing operation. After transportation, the pulp sucking and forming zone 10 continues to conduct the second pulp suction to form the second primary blank, which is received by the right hot forming zone 20R (or left hot forming zone 20L) to conduct the second hot pressing operation. In this way, the hot forming zones 20 on the two sides of the pulp sucking and forming zone 10 receive the primary blanks in turn to accelerate the operation and reduce production time.

An automatic forming machine 1 for pulp molding product combining left and right hot forming zones 20 with the pulp sucking and forming zone 1 is generally called double-head automatic forming machine for pulp molding product. In fact, the formation of pulp molding products can be completed by combing one single hot forming zone 20 with the pulp sucking and forming zone 10. An automatic forming machine 1 for pulp molding product combining one single hot forming zone 20 with the pulp sucking and forming zone 10 is generally called single-head automatic forming machine for pulp molding product.

Referring to FIG. 3 for the hot forming zone 20 on one side only (either 20L or 20R), the hot forming zone 20 will form a working space 21. The inside of the working space 21 includes a hot pressing upper mold 22 and a hot pressing lower mold 23, wherein, the mold surface of the hot pressing upper mold 22 faces downward, the hot pressing upper mold 22 is configured at an upper position inside the working space 21, the hot pressing upper mold 22 can be suspended on a guide rail, so that it can be pushed to move transversely, or, the hot pressing upper mold 22 can also be mounted at a fixed position. The installation can vary according to actual needs of the manufacturing process. Similarly, the hot pressing lower mold 23 is configured inside the working space 21 and is located below the hot pressing upper mold 22. The mold surface of the hot pressing lower mold 23 faces upward, and its shape corresponds to the mold surface of the hot pressing upper mold 22 in a symmetrical manner. The bottom of the hot pressing lower mold 23 can be pushed by a power cylinder body 24 to move vertically when needed, so as to clamp with the hot pressing upper mold 22 for the hot pressing operation. After completion of the hot pressing, the power cylinder body 24 drives the hot pressing lower mold 23 to move down to the original position.

As the hot pressing lower mold 23 is made of a rigid material and is quite heavy, normally an auxiliary supporting structure made up of a guide pillar 25 and a guide sleeve 26 is respectively mounted on the two sides of the power cylinder body 24. When the cylinder shaft of the power cylinder body 24 extends outward to push the hot pressing lower mold 23 to move upward, the guide pillar 25 will rise simultaneously through the guide sleeve 26 to provide an auxiliary support the hot pressing lower mold 23. Then, when the cylinder shaft of the power cylinder body 24 withdraws and drives the hot pressing lower mold 23 to move downward, the guide pillar 25 will fall simultaneously through the guide sleeve 26 and be reset to provide an auxiliary support to the hot pressing lower mold 23. The structure of the guide pillar 25 and the guide sleeve 26 is used mainly for preventing the hot pressing lower mold 23 from tilting during the up and down movement.

As multiple identical models can be configured on the mold surface of the same mold body to accelerate the operating process to save production time and cost, there is a trend to increase the mold surface area of the mold bodies of the hot pressing upper mold and hot pressing lower mold. This causes the problem of insufficient support of the guide pillar 25 and guide sleeve 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide sleeve 26 is fixed, and the guide pillar 25 sticks out from the guide sleeve 26 or withdraws to provide an auxiliary support during the rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold 23. After a long time of operation, the structure of the guide pillar 25 and guide sleeve 26 may have insufficient stability, which leads to possible failures or accidents. In case of any failure that requires disassembly, examination, repair or replacement, there will be a considerable waste of time. Therefore, an improvement is required to overcome this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above requirement, the inventor has made sophisticated researches after much thought and deliberation, aiming to develop a supporting structure that can provide long-acting stable support for the hot pressing lower mold 23 during its rise and fall, so as to solve the above problem. After taking great diligence and prolonged effort, the present invention is developed.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic forming machine for pulp molding product that can maintain balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold, to ensure correct clamping between the hot pressing lower mold and the hot pressing upper mold, so as to enhance product quality.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, comprising a pulp sucking and forming zone and a hot forming zone, wherein, the pulp sucking and forming zone is configured with a pulp box and a pulp sucking and forming mold inside a working space, the pulp box is filled with pulp, the pulp sucking and forming mold can rise or fall inside the working space, and can suck pulp from the pulp box to form a primary blank, the hot forming zone is configured with a bot pressing upper mold and a hot pressing lower mold inside a working space, the hot pressing upper mold is configured at an upper position inside the working space, the hot pressing lower mold is configured inside the working space and is located below the hot press upper mold, the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold is pushed by a power cylinder body to move up and down, characteristically: a supporting arm is extended from the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold in each of the four directions, the upright surface on the outside of the supporting arm is fixed with a sliding block, a base plate is provided at a lower position inside the working space, a penetration slot is configured on the base plate at each of the positions corresponding to the supporting arms, the adjacent outer sides of the base plate corresponding to the supporting arms on the two sides are respectively fixed with a supporting frame, the column surfaces of the supporting frame on the front and rear side are respectively connected with a supporting plate body, the inner surface of the supporting plate body is fixed with a guide rail, the sliding block on the supporting arm can be sleeved on the guide rail, when the hot pressing lower mold rises or falls, the sliding block can rise or fall simultaneously along the guide rail, maintaining balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold.

According to the above-mentioned automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, wherein the sliding block is divided into an upper sliding block and a lower sliding block.

According to the above-mentioned automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, wherein the front surface of the sliding block is in the form of an upright open slot, after extending inward, the two sides are expanded to form an upright sliding clamp slot, the guide rail has an outward protruding rail bar on each of the two sides; each supporting arm is corresponding to a guide rail, the open slot of the sliding block on the supporting arm clamps the corresponding guide rail, the clamping slide slot is sequentially sleeved on the rail bar on each of the two sides of the guide rail.

According to the above-mentioned automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, wherein the supporting arm is fixed with a pushing plate at a position with some distance to the sliding block, the top of the supporting plate body is fixed with a connecting plate, the bottom of the connecting plate is fixed with a stretchable protection cover that can extend or shrink in the vertical direction, the lower end of the protection cover is formed as a free end.

According to the above-mentioned automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, wherein, after the sliding block on the supporting arm clamps the corresponding guide rail, the pushing plate is pressed upon the free end on the lower side of the protection cover, the protection cover is in an extended state.

According to the above-mentioned automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, wherein, when the sliding block is pushed by the rising hot pressing lower mold to rise simultaneously along the rail, the pushing plate will push the protection cover to shrink upward, and till the hot pressing lower mold and the hot pressing upper mold clamp, the protection cover is in the maximal shrunk state.

Based on the above structural constitution of the automatic forming machine for pulp molding product, during operation, the sliding block on the supporting arm can be sleeved on the guide rail, so that, when the hot pressing lower mold rises or falls, the sliding block can rise or fall simultaneously along the guide rail, maintaining balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold, and ensuring correct clamping between the hot pressing lower mold and the hot pressing upper mold, so as to enhance product quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the prior art.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the hot forming zone in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the hot forming zone in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view 1 showing the sliding block, and the guide rail, and the protection cover in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a sectional perspective view of the guide rail in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view 2 showing the sliding block, and the guide rail, and the protection cover in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a sectional perspective view of the sliding block in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a combined sectional view of the sliding block and the guide rail in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an operational view 1 of the sliding block, and the guide rail, and the protection cover in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an operational view 2 of the sliding block, and the guide rail, and the protection cover in an embodiment of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWING FIGURES

• • 1 Automatic forming machine for pulp molding product
  • 10 Pulp sucking and forming zone
  • 20 Hot pressing forming zone
  • 20L Left hot pressing forming zone
  • 20R Right hot pressing forming zone
  • 21 Working space
  • 22 Hot pressing upper mold
  • 23 Hot pressing lower mold
  • 24 Power cylinder body
  • 25 Guide pillar
  • 26 Guide sleeve
  • 3 Automatic forming machine for pulp molding product
  • 30 Pulp sucking and forming zone
  • 31 Working space
  • 32 Pulp box
  • 33 Pulp sucking and forming mold
  • 40 Hot pressing forming zone
  • 40L Left hot pressing forming zone
  • 40R Right hot pressing forming zone
  • 41 Working space
  • 42 Hot pressing upper mold
  • 43 Hot pressing lower mold
  • 431 Supporting arm
  • 432 Sliding block
  • 433 Open slot
  • 434 Sliding clamp slot
  • 435 Pushing plate
  • 44 Power cylinder body
  • 44 Base plate
  • 441 Penetrating hole slot
  • 45 Supporting frame
  • 451 Supporting plate body
  • 452 Connecting plate
  • 46 Guide rail
  • 461 Rail strip
  • 47 Protective cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical means adopted by the present invention to accomplish the above object, and the practical functions to be achieved by the invention are described in detail below with respect to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings for better understanding.

The present embodiment of the invention is an automatic forming machine for pulp molding product 3 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In its structural constitution, it includes a pulp sucking and forming zone 30 located in the middle and hot pressing forming zones 40 respectively located on the left and right sides of the pulp sucking and forming zone 30. To facilitate explanation, they are named as left hot forming zone 40L and right hot forming zone 40R.

The pulp sucking and forming zone 30 is configured with a pulp box 32 and a pulp sucking and forming mold 33 inside a working space 31, wherein, the pulp box 32 is fixed inside the working space 31, the pulp box 32 can be filled with pulp, and its top side is open, and the pulp sucking and forming mold 33 is immersed in the pulp box 32. In the initial (reset) state, the mold surface of the pulp sucking and forming mold 33 will be lower than the pulp surface of the pulp box 32, the bottom of the pulp sucking and forming mold 33 can be driven by a supporting piece to move up and down.

In any hot forming zone 40 (either 40L or 40R), as shown in FIG. 6, the hot forming zone 40 forms a working space 41. Inside the working space 41, there are a hot pressing upper mold 42 and a hot pressing lower mold 43. The mold surface of the hot pressing upper mold 42 faces downward. The hot pressing upper mold 42 is configured at an upper position inside the working space 41. The hot pressing lower mold 43 is also configured inside the working space 41 and is located below the hot pressing upper mold 42. The mold surface of the hot pressing lower mold 4 faces upward and its shape corresponds to the mold surface of the hot pressing upper mold 22 in a symmetrical manner. The bottom of the hot pressing lower mold 43 can be driven by a power cylinder body 44 to move vertically upward when needed, so as to clamp with the hot pressing upper mold 42 for the hot pressing operation. After completing the hot pressing operation, the power cylinder body 44 will drive the hot pressing lower mold 43 to fall to the initial position.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a supporting arm 431 is extended from the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold 43 in each of the four directions, the vertical surface of the supporting arm 431 facing outward is fixed with a pair of sliding blocks 432 in a vertical arrangement, which can be divided into an upper sliding block 432 and a lower sliding block 432. Referring to FIG. 8A, the front side of the sliding block 432 is in the form of an upright open slot 433. After extending inward, the two sides are expanded to form an upright sliding clamp slot 434. The supporting arm 431 is fixed with a pushing plate 435 at a position with some distance from the upper sliding block 432. A platform-shaped base plate 44 is provided inside the working space 41 at a lower position. A penetrating hole slot 441 is configured on the base plate 44 at each of the positions corresponding to the supporting arms 431. The adjacent outer sides of the base plate 44 corresponding to the supporting arms 431 on the two sides are respectively fixed with a supporting frame 45. The column surfaces of the supporting frame 45 on the front and rear sides are respectively connected with a supporting plate body 451 in an upright arrangement. A vertical guide rail 46 is respectively fixed on each side on the inner surface of the supporting plate body 45. Referring to FIG. 7A, the guide rail 46 mainly comprises an outward protruding rail strip on each of the two sides 461. The supporting frame 45 supports the supporting plate body 451. The lower sections of the guide rail 46 are both penetrated loosely into the corresponding penetrating hole slot 441 and are fixed. Meanwhile, during the process of downward movement of the hot pressing lower mold 43, the lower section of the supporting arm 431 and the pair of sliding blocks 432 will also penetrate loosely into the corresponding penetrating hole slot 441 and stop inside (this action will be mentioned later). The top of the supporting plate body 451 is fixed with a connecting plate 452, for connecting a stretchable protection cover that can extend or shrink in the vertical direction 47. The lower end of the protective cover 47 is in the form of a free end. When not pushed by an external force, the protection cover 47 is in an extended state. When the free end on the lower side receives an upward pushing force, the protection cover 47 will shrink vertically upward.

During assembly, each supporting arm 431 is correspondingly assembled with a guide rail 46. The open slot 433 on the pair of the sliding blocks 432 on each of the supporting arm 431 clamps the corresponding guide rail 46. The sliding clamp slot 434 is sequentially sleeved on the rail strips 461 on both sides of the guide rail 46. The assembled state is shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the supporting arms 431 extended from the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold 43 in four directions all clamp the guide rail 46 through the sliding blocks 432. All of the four corners of the hot pressing lower mold 43 receive stable auxiliary support. Therefore, when the hot pressing lower mold 43 is driven by the power cylinder body 44 to rise or fall, the sliding block 432 will rise or fall simultaneously along the rail strip 461, always keeping stability during the rise and fall of the four corners of the hot pressing lower mold 43, avoiding any accidental tilting. Thus, the hot pressing lower mold 43 and the hot pressing upper mold 42 can clamp correctly to produce high-quality products.

Referring to FIG. 10, when an upper sliding block 432 on the supporting arm 431 clamps the corresponding guide rail 46, the pushing plate 433 above it will be pressed upon the free end of the protection cover 47 on the lower side. Now the protection cover 47 is in an extended state to protect the guide rail 46 from dust contamination. Then, when the sliding block 432 is pushed by the rise of hot pressing lower mold 43 to rise simultaneously along the rail strip 461, as shown in FIG. 11, the pushing plate 433 will push the protection cover 47 to shrink upward in the vertical direction. Finally, when the hot pressing lower mold 43 and the hot pressing upper mold 42 clamp correctly, because the hot pressing lower mold 43 stops to rise, the protection cover 47 will be shrunk to the maximum extent (as shown in FIG. 11). Then, when the hot pressing upper mold 42 is driven by the power cylinder body 44 to fall, because the sliding block 432 will fall simultaneously along the rail strip 461, the protection cover 47 will be gradually extended, returning to the state shown in FIG. 10. During the process of downward movement of the hot pressing lower mold 43, the lower section of the supporting arm 431 and the pair of the sliding block 432 will naturally penetrate downward into the corresponding penetrating hole slot 441 and stop inside.

As can be concluded from the above description, the present invention made an improvement for the stable rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold inside the hot forming zone of the automatic forming machine for pulp molding product. The main features of the invention are: A supporting arm is extended from the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold in each of the four directions. The vertical surface of the supporting arm facing outward is fixed with a sliding block. A base plate is provided inside the working space of the hot forming zone at a lower position, and a penetrating hole slot is configured on the base plate at each of the positions corresponding to the supporting arms. The adjacent outer sides of the base plate corresponding to the supporting arms on the two sides are respectively fixed with a supporting frame. The column surfaces of the supporting frame on the front and rear sides are respectively connected with a supporting plate body. The inner surface of the supporting plate body is fixed with a guide rail. The sliding block on the supporting arm can be sleeved on the guide rail. When the hot pressing lower mold rises or falls, the sliding block will rise or fall simultaneously along the guide rail, maintaining balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold, and ensuring correct clamping between the hot pressing lower mold and hot pressing upper mold, so as to enhance product quality.

To sum up, the automatic forming machine for pulp molding product disclosed in the present invention has not been found in similar products, and is definitely innovative. Meanwhile, in use, the present invention can truly realize the object expected. It is indeed a practical inventive step. Since the invention meets all the patentability requirements, an invention is hereby submitted.

Claims

1. An automatic forming machine for pulp molding product comprises a pulp sucking and forming zone and a hot forming zone, wherein, the pulp sucking and forming zone is configured with a pulp box and a pulp sucking and forming mold inside a working space, the pulp box is filled with pulp, the pulp sucking and forming mold can rise or fall inside the working space, and can suck pulp from the pulp box to form a primary blank; the hot forming zone is configured with a hot pressing upper mold and a hot pressing lower mold inside a working space, the hot pressing upper mold is configured at an upper position inside the working space, the hot pressing lower mold is configured inside the working space and is located below the hot pressing upper mold, the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold is pushed by a power cylinder body to move up and down, characteristically:a supporting arm is extended from the bottom of the hot pressing lower mold in each of the four directions, the upright surface on the outside of the supporting arm is fixed with a sliding block, a base plate is provided at a lower position inside the working space, a penetrating hole slot is configured on the base plate at each of the positions corresponding to the supporting arms, the adjacent outer sides of the base plate corresponding to the supporting arms on the two sides are respectively fixed with a supporting frame, the column surfaces of the supporting frame on the front and rear side are respectively connected with a supporting plate body, the inner surface of the supporting plate body is fixed with a guide rail, the sliding block on the supporting arm can be sleeved on the guide rail, when the hot pressing lower mold rises or falls, the sliding block can rise or fall simultaneously along the guide rail, maintaining balanced rise and fall of the hot pressing lower mold.

2. The automatic forming machine for pulp molding product of claim 1, wherein the sliding block is divided into an upper sliding block and a lower sliding block.

3. The automatic forming machine for pulp molding product of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the sliding block is in the form of an upright open slot, after extending inward, the two sides are expanded to form an upright sliding clamp slot; the guide rail has an outward protruding rail strip on each of the two sides; each supporting arm is corresponding to a guide rail, the open slot of the sliding block on the supporting arm clamps the corresponding guide rail, the sliding clamp slot is sequentially sleeved on the rail strip on each of the two sides of the guide rail.

4. The automatic forming machine for pulp molding product of claim 1, wherein the supporting arm is fixed with a pushing plate at a position with some distance to the sliding block, the top of the supporting plate body is fixed with a connecting plate, the bottom of the connecting plate is fixed with a stretchable protection cover that can extend or shrink in the vertical direction, the lower end of the protection cover is formed as a free end.

5. The automatic forming machine for pulp molding product of claim 4, wherein, after the sliding block on the supporting arm clamps the corresponding guide rail, the pushing plate is pressed upon the free end on the lower side of the protection cover, the protection cover is in an extended state.

6. The automatic forming machine for pulp molding product of claim 4, wherein, when the sliding block is pushed by the rising hot pressing lower mold to rise simultaneously along the rail, the pushing plate will push the protection cover to shrink upward, and till the hot pressing lower mold and the hot pressing upper mold clamp, the protection cover is in the maximal shrunk state.