Apparatus for manufacturing biodegradable food service article and method

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 ...

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 the food containers or dishes for distribution to a user. The resulting food service product is strong, light, attractive and biodegradable.

[0009] The present food service product forming apparatus is a modular system that permits independent operation of the modules. Each module has a molding, trimming and coating apparatus. The outputs of a plurality of the module are fed to a single conveyor where the products are provided with a wax coating, inspected, stacked and packaged. The modules can all be operated simultaneously or one or more of the modules can be shut down for service, for example, while the other modules remain in operation feeding product to the conveyor. Life of the manufacturing apparatus is increased over earlier devices, product quality is improved, servicing and maintenance is reduced, and machine operation is more precise.

Problems solved by technology

Petroleum products are a non-renewable resource that also increase dependence on imports of foreign oil.

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