Apparatus for manufacturing biodegradable food service article and method

a technology for food service products and apparatuses, applied in the direction of packaging, liquid handling, packaging goods types, etc., to achieve the effects of reducing maintenance and servicing, improving product quality, and improving machine operation

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-07-13
ASSEMBLY & TEST WORLDWIDE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacture of biodegradable food dishes and food containers. In particular, the present apparatus and method utilize a slurry of simple, abundant and renewable materials, such as food starch and limestone, from which foam-like food dishes and food service containers are formed using high temperature and high pressure presses. The slurry is molded into shape and once molded, the raw molded dishes and containers are forwarded to a further station for trimming. After being trimmed, the dishes, containers or other products are transferred to yet another station for coating the food contacting surfaces with a biodegradable film. An optional further step provides a wax coating to the surface of the plate, dish or food container opposite the film. Lastly, a module stacks and packages t

Problems solved by technology

Petroleum products are a non-renewable resource that

Method used

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  • Apparatus for manufacturing biodegradable food service article and method
  • Apparatus for manufacturing biodegradable food service article and method
  • Apparatus for manufacturing biodegradable food service article and method

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Embodiment Construction

[0077] The present invention provides an automated production apparatus that utilizes a process for converting natural ingredients into biodegradable food service products. The preferred apparatus as four primary forming modules, as shown in FIG. 1, that feed to a single processing and packaging system, and is installed in a factory that supplies, for example, a compressed air supply, a chilled water supply, and a dust collection system. The four modules are independently operable so if one or more is inoperative, the others can continue in operation. Thus, product production delays are avoided. The four forming modules are all full production mechanisms for the product. The four modules are connected to a common output conveyor to feed the manufactured products to a single packaging apparatus. Each of the four modules in the group may operate independently and so the product can be produced by one, two, three or all four of the modules working simultaneously. Modules can be shut do...

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Abstract

An apparatus and method manufactures biodegradable food dishes and the like using a slurry of food starch and limestone which is formed and heated in a press into a shape of a food dish or food container or the like. The formed dishes or containers are removed from the press and trimmed in a trimming station, after which a lamination station laminates a biodegradable film onto food contacting surfaces of the food dish or the like. An optional step of applying a wax coating to a rear surface of the food dish or the like is provided. The now completed food dish or food container is provided to a packaging apparatus for stacking and packaging.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for manufacturing biodegradable food service products, and in particular to an apparatus for forming, shaping, coating, and packaging of biodegradable food dishes, food containers and the like. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Disposable food dishes and food service containers are increasingly being used in today's society. The food dishes and food containers are generally used once and then disposed of by the user. Such disposable food service products represent a high volume of waste to be disposed of, filling waste disposal sites at an ever increasing pace. The disposable food service dishes and containers are typically formed of plastic polymer materials, such as polystyrene or other plastic, which does not biodegrade significantly in the environment and which is formed of petroleum products. Petroleum products are a non-renewable ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65B55/00
CPCB29C31/042B29C33/0022B29C43/003B29C51/10B29C51/16B29C2791/001B29K2995/0059B29K2995/006B29L2031/7404
Inventor WARDLE, ERIC MATTHEWFULTON, ROBERT A.
Owner ASSEMBLY & TEST WORLDWIDE
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