Method for manufacturing container by using fiber-containing material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a container from a fibre-containing material by means of an apparatus comprising a mould having a cavity containing an aqueous fibre-containing solution and a first device for injecting the aqueous solution into the mould and applying an overpressure to the mould, the method can flow into the inner surface of the cavity with fibers, in which the first device for feeding comprises a feed line connected to the opening of the cavity of the mold in which the aqueous solution is fed through a first valve into the mold, while the first device exerts an overpressure on the feed line, thus, fibers used to form the container are pressed against the inner surface of the cavity. According to the invention, the first valve will be closed and an overpressure will be applied to the feed line before all the fibers constituting the container fiber component are located in the cavity.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container from a fibrous material according to claim 1, and an apparatus for manufacturing a container from a fibrous material according to claim 14. Background Technology

[0002] Over the past few decades, containers such as bottles have been manufactured using glass or plastic materials, especially PET, in the beverage processing, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. While these containers, used for holding liquids, food, and pharmaceuticals, have advantageous properties, their manufacture and use involve the input of large quantities of raw materials. Furthermore, the use of PET containers is ecologically unsustainable and can only be achieved through a complex recycling process.

[0003] Therefore, some have suggested the possibility of using containers made of natural materials, especially fibrous materials such as pulp, to replace plastic containers made of PET or similar materials.

[0004] The traditional method involves injecting an aqueous solution into a cavity mold, the inner surface of which conforms to the shape of the container to be manufactured. The aqueous solution already contains fibers, which form the container material when the container is completed. Then, by pressurizing the cavity of the mold, for example by inserting a pressurized balloon or by introducing compressed air, the liquid components of the aqueous solution are forced out of the mold. During this process, the fiber material is simultaneously pressed against the inner surface of the cavity, thereby reducing the wall thickness difference of the container along its longitudinal axis.

[0005] However, these methods have in common that they require a relatively long time to manufacture the container.

[0006] Purpose

[0007] Therefore, based on the known background technology, the technical objective to be achieved is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing containers using fibrous materials, and the method can accelerate the manufacturing speed of containers.

[0008] Solution

[0009] According to the present invention, this inventive objective is achieved by the method for manufacturing a container from a fibrous material according to claim 1, and the apparatus for manufacturing a container from a fibrous material according to claim 14. Advantageous improvements of the invention are included in the dependent claims.

[0010] The method for manufacturing a container from a fiber-containing material according to the present invention is carried out by means of an apparatus comprising a mold and a first device. The mold has a cavity containing an aqueous solution containing fibers. The first device is used to inject the aqueous solution into the mold and apply overpressure to the mold. During this process, the method includes the fibers flowing into the inner surface of the cavity. The first device for feeding includes a feed pipe connected to the opening of the mold cavity. The aqueous solution is fed into the mold through the first valve in the feed pipe. Simultaneously, the first device applies overpressure to the feed pipe, thereby pressing the fibers against the inner surface of the cavity to form a container. The method is characterized in that the first valve is closed and the feed pipe is applied overpressure before all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are located within the cavity.

[0011] The fiber can be a natural fiber, and more particularly a plant-based component or containing plant components. Preferably, the fiber is at least partially pulp.

[0012] The aqueous solution does not have to be water-based and can be based on any other liquid solvent. When injected into the cavity, the aqueous solution can in particular contain more than 90% water or another liquid and less than 5% or less than 1% fiber content. In addition, the aqueous solution can contain other components, such as additives that affect the chemical or physical properties of the fiber.

[0013] The cavity of the mold is designed such that the fibers will not penetrate the inner surface of the cavity, and the liquid of the aqueous solution can be discharged from the cavity without relying on the opening of the cavity.

[0014] This method can accelerate the manufacturing of containers. Furthermore, by increasing the pressure at the end of the feeding process, the fibers can be efficiently carried into the cavity's inner surface.

[0015] It can be designed such that, before the first valve is closed and overpressure is applied to the feed line, up to 99%, preferably up to 95%, of all the fibers constituting the container's fiber composition are already located in the cavity. This achieves the goal of speeding up the method.

[0016] It can be further designed to apply an overpressure of 0.1 to 10 bar. Under this overpressure, the feeding process proceeds efficiently and achieves a uniform fiber distribution. At the same time, this pressure is suitable for forming containers on the inner surface of the cavity.

[0017] The mold may include a grid that at least partially, preferably completely, forms the inner surface of the cavity. Preferably, the grid can help retain the solid components of the aqueous solution within the mold cavity.

[0018] In one embodiment, the mold is designed to be arranged inverted to form a container with the opening facing downwards. This enables very efficient feeding of the bottom section of the container, since feeding of the bottom section is carried out under overpressure.

[0019] A further design involves connecting a compressed air storage tank to a feed line via a compressed air valve. Once the first valve is closed and the compressed air valve is opened, compressed air is supplied from the storage tank through the valve and feed line into the mold. Simultaneously, the aqueous solution in the feed line between the valve and the mold is pushed into the mold by the compressed air, where it carries the fibers into the inner surface of the cavity. In this way, all the fibers constituting the container's fibrous composition flow in efficiently, and the container is quickly and completely pressed into shape, while excess liquid is squeezed out.

[0020] A compressed air valve can be connected to the feed line downstream of the first valve, so that when the first valve is open and the compressed air valve is closed, the section of the feed line between the compressed air valve and the opening is filled with an aqueous solution. This achieves a simple structure for the first device.

[0021] Furthermore, the feed line section may have a capacity in which the added aqueous solution contains at least 1% of the total fiber content of the container's fiber composition, preferably at least 5%.

[0022] It can be designed such that the solid content of the aqueous solution in the feed pipeline is 0.1% to 10%.

[0023] In one embodiment, the aqueous solution reservoir is designed to be connected to a first valve, wherein the reservoir and the first valve are configured such that, when the first valve is open, the aqueous solution containing all the fibers constituting the container's fibrous components flows through the first valve within 0.1 to 10 seconds, preferably within 0.3 to 2 seconds. This enables rapid manufacturing of the container.

[0024] It can be further designed to introduce heat into the cavity, at least temporarily, during and / or after the application of overpressure to the feed line. This also removes excess liquid from the fibers flowing onto the inner surface of the cavity.

[0025] Alternatively, the design can apply centrifugal force to the aqueous solution within the cavity during feeding. This allows for uniform fiber distribution and reliably reduces the liquid content inside the cavity upon completion of feeding. Preferably, the mesh is simultaneously set to a rotating state so that centrifugal force acts on the aqueous solution. This is a highly energy-efficient way to apply centrifugal force to the aqueous solution.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first valve is designed to close before overpressure is applied. This ensures that no aqueous solution is forced back through the first valve. Preferably, the time interval between closing the first valve and applying overpressure is at most 10 seconds, more preferably at most 2 seconds. Shorter time intervals allow for rapid container manufacturing.

[0027] An apparatus for manufacturing containers from fibrous materials according to the present invention comprises a mold and a first device. The mold has a cavity for holding an aqueous solution containing fibers. The first device is used to inject the aqueous solution into the mold and apply overpressure to the mold. The device is designed to allow fibers to flow into the inner surface of the cavity. The first device for feeding includes a feed line connecting to the opening of the mold cavity. The aqueous solution is fed into the mold through a first valve in this feed line. Simultaneously, the first device is configured to apply overpressure to the feed line, thereby pressing the fibers against the inner surface of the cavity to form a container. The apparatus is characterized in that the first valve is closed and the feed line is applied overpressure before all the fibers constituting the fibrous component of the container are located within the cavity.

[0028] This equipment can accelerate container manufacturing. Simultaneously, it can also efficiently carry fibers into the inner surface of the cavity.

[0029] Before the first valve is closed and overpressure is applied to the feed line, the tooling can be configured such that up to 99%, preferably up to 95%, of all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are already in the cavity.

[0030] The fixture can be set to apply an overpressure of 0.1 to 10 bar.

[0031] The mold can be designed to include at least a portion, preferably a complete grid forming the inner surface of the cavity.

[0032] A further design could be to arrange the mold in an inverted manner to form a container with the opening facing downwards.

[0033] In one embodiment, the compressed air storage tank can be designed to be connected to the feed line via a compressed air valve, such that once the first valve is closed and the compressed air valve is opened, compressed air is sent from the compressed air storage tank into the mold through the compressed air valve and the feed line. At the same time, the aqueous solution in the feed line section between the compressed air valve and the mold is sent into the mold by the compressed air, and there the process of carrying fibers into the inner surface of the cavity is completed.

[0034] This can be designed such that the compressed air valve is connected to the feed line downstream of the first valve, so that when the first valve is open and the compressed air valve is closed, the feed line section between the compressed air valve and the opening is filled with an aqueous solution.

[0035] The feed line section may have a capacity in which the added aqueous solution contains at least 1% of the total fiber content of the container’s fiber composition, preferably at least 5%.

[0036] Further, the design can be configured to connect the aqueous solution reservoir to the first valve, wherein the reservoir and the first valve are configured such that, when the first valve is open, the aqueous solution containing all the fibers constituting the container's fibrous components flows through the first valve within 0.1 to 10 seconds, preferably within 0.3 to 2 seconds.

[0037] The device can be configured to introduce heat into the cavity, at least temporarily, during and / or after the application of overpressure to the feed line.

[0038] The device can be further configured to apply centrifugal force to the aqueous solution in the cavity during feeding. Preferably, the device is configured to rotate the mesh so that the centrifugal force acts on the aqueous solution.

[0039] The device can be configured to close the first valve before applying overpressure. Preferably, the time interval between closing the first valve and applying overpressure is a maximum of 10 seconds, and more preferably a maximum of 2 seconds. Brief description of the attached figures

[0040] Figures 1a to 1e A side view of an embodiment of a device for manufacturing containers from fibrous materials is schematically shown, wherein different moments of the method for manufacturing containers from fibrous materials are illustrated according to the embodiment.

[0041] Detailed description of the attached figures

[0042] Figures 1a to 1e An embodiment of a method for manufacturing a container using a fibrous material is shown, and an embodiment of an apparatus 100 for manufacturing the container is provided. The tooling 100 includes a mold 101 and a first device 103. The mold 101 has a cavity 102 for holding an aqueous solution containing fibers. The first device 103 is used to inject the aqueous solution into the mold 101 and apply pressure to the mold 101. The method allows fibers to flow into the inner surface 104 of the cavity 101, such as... Figures 1b to 1cAs shown, for this purpose, the first device 103 for feeding includes a feed line 105 connecting to the opening 106 of the cavity 102 of the mold 101. An aqueous solution is fed into the mold 101 via the feed line 105 through a first valve 107. Fibers are then deposited on the inner surface 104 of the cavity 101, and the liquid from the aqueous solution is discharged. The discharge of the liquid is shown by a black arrow in the figure. For this purpose, the device may have a discharge line, etc. Figure 1c and 1d As shown, the first device 103 applies overpressure to the feed line 105, thereby pressing the fibers against the inner surface 104 of the cavity 102 to form a container. According to the invention, the first valve 107 is designed to be closed and the feed line 105 is overpressured before all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are located within the cavity 102.

[0043] Here, it can be designed such that, before the first valve 107 is closed and overpressure is applied to the feed line 105, at most 99%, preferably at most 95%, of all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are already located in the cavity 102.

[0044] As shown in the figure, mold 101 may include a grid 109 that forms the inner surface 104 of cavity 102. The grid 109 is designed such that fibers flowing into cavity 102 with the aqueous solution deposit on the grid 109, and the liquid from the aqueous solution flows out of cavity 102 through and is discharged therefrom. The mold may have multiple discharge channels (not shown) for discharge.

[0045] Furthermore, during the feeding of the aqueous solution, centrifugal force can be applied to the aqueous solution in the cavity 102, wherein the grid 109 is preferably set to a rotating state so that the centrifugal force acts on the aqueous solution. The fibers are conveyed to the inner surface 104 of the cavity by centrifugal force, and the fibrous structure of the container is formed there.

[0046] In an embodiment of the method shown, the mold 101 is arranged inverted to form the container. Thus, the container is formed starting from the sidewalls.

[0047] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the method shown, a compressed air storage tank (not shown) is connected to the feed line 105 via a compressed air valve 108, wherein, as... Figure 1cAs shown, once the first valve 107 is closed and the compressed air valve 108 is opened, compressed air is supplied from the compressed air reservoir through the compressed air valve 108 and the feed line 105 into the mold 101. Consequently, the aqueous solution in the section of the feed line 105 between the compressed air valve 108 and the mold 101 is fed into the mold 101 by the compressed air, where it completes the process of flowing with fibers into the inner surface 104 of the cavity 102. The compressed air container has an overpressure of 0.1 to 100 bar.

[0048] Among them, such as Figure 1b As shown, the compressed air valve 108 is connected downstream of the first valve 107 to the feed line 105, such that when the first valve 107 is open and the compressed air valve 108 is closed, the section of the feed line 105 between the compressed air valve 108 and the opening 106 is filled with an aqueous solution.

[0049] The section of feed line 105 therefore contains a certain amount of fibers as part of the aqueous solution. If the first valve 107 is closed and the compressed air valve 108 is open at this time, these fibers, along with the fibers currently located in cavity 102, will flow onto the inner surface 104 of the cavity or onto the grid 109. Here, compressed air can be used to disperse the fibers. Figure 1d As shown, once all the fibers constituting the container's fiber composition are located on the inner surface 104, the liquid is squeezed out of the fibers by compressed air.

[0050] While compressed air is applied to the mold 101, heat can also be introduced into the cavity 102 through the mold 101, for example, through a heating element that at least partially surrounds the cavity 102. This also allows liquid to be removed from the fibers located on the inner surface 104.

[0051] exist Figure 1e After the overpressure applied to mold 101, the first device 103 can be removed from mold 101, and another device that can perform internal coating on the container can be connected to mold 101, for example. Mold 101 can also be opened and the container removed. The first device 103 can be connected to another mold 101 during this period to repeat the feeding and overpressure process, or it can be immediately reconnected to the same mold 101 after the container is removed.

[0052] To achieve high production efficiency, an aqueous solution reservoir (not shown) can be connected to a first valve 107. The reservoir and the first valve 107 can be configured such that, when the first valve is open, an aqueous solution containing all the fibers constituting the container's fibrous component flows through the first valve 107 within 0.1 to 10 seconds, preferably 0.3 to 2 seconds. Further, it can be designed to close the first valve 107 before applying overpressure, wherein the time interval between closing the first valve 107 and applying overpressure is at most X seconds, preferably at most Y seconds.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a container using a fibrous material, the apparatus comprising a mold and a first device, the mold having a cavity for holding an aqueous solution containing fibers, the first device being used to inject the aqueous solution into the mold and apply pressure to the mold, wherein... The method allows fibers to flow into the inner surface of the cavity, wherein the first device for feeding includes a feed pipe connected to the opening of the cavity of the mold, and an aqueous solution is fed into the mold through a first valve in the pipe. Simultaneously, the first device applies overpressure to the feed pipe, thereby pressing the fibers against the inner surface of the cavity to form a container. The method is characterized in that the first valve is closed and the feed pipe is overpressured before all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are located in the cavity.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Before the first valve is closed and overpressure is applied to the feed line, up to 99%, preferably up to 95%, of all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are already located in the cavity.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Apply an overpressure of 0.1 to 10 bar.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The mold comprises a grid that at least partially, preferably completely, forms the inner surface of the cavity.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The mold is arranged upside down to form a container with the opening facing downwards.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, A compressed air container is connected to the feed line via a compressed air valve. Once the first valve is closed and the compressed air valve is opened, compressed air is fed from the compressed air container into the mold through the compressed air valve and the feed line. At the same time, the aqueous solution in the feed line section between the compressed air valve and the mold is fed into the mold by the compressed air, where it completes the process of flowing into the inner surface of the cavity with fibers.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The compressed air valve is connected to the feed line downstream of the first valve, such that when the first valve is open and the compressed air valve is closed, the section of the feed line between the compressed air valve and the opening is filled with an aqueous solution.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The feed pipeline section has a capacity, wherein the amount of fiber contained in the added aqueous solution is at least 1%, preferably at least 5%, of all the fibers constituting the fiber composition of the container.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The solid content of the aqueous solution in the feed pipeline is 0.1% to 10%.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, An aqueous solution reservoir is connected to the first valve, wherein the reservoir and the first valve are configured such that, when the first valve is open, an aqueous solution containing all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container flows through the first valve within a time of 0.1 to 10 seconds, preferably within a time of 0.3 to 2 seconds.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, During and / or after applying overpressure to the feed line, heat is introduced into the cavity at least temporarily.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, During feeding, centrifugal force is applied to the aqueous solution in the cavity, wherein the grid is preferably set to a rotating state so that the centrifugal force acts on the aqueous solution.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The first valve is closed before overpressure is applied, wherein the time interval between closing the first valve and applying overpressure is at most 10 seconds, preferably at most 2 seconds.

14. An apparatus for manufacturing containers using a fibrous material, wherein, The device includes a mold and a first device. The mold has a cavity containing an aqueous solution containing fibers. The first device is used to inject the aqueous solution into the mold and apply overpressure to the mold. The device is designed to allow fibers to flow into the inner surface of the cavity. The first device for feeding includes a feed pipe connected to the opening of the cavity of the mold. The aqueous solution is fed into the mold through the feed pipe via a first valve. The first device is configured to apply overpressure to the feed pipe, thereby pressing the fibers against the inner surface of the cavity to form a container. The device is characterized in that it is configured to close the first valve and apply overpressure to the feed pipe before all the fibers constituting the fiber component of the container are located within the cavity.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 14.

Images