System and method for providing hollow moulded fibre product

Abstract

System and method of providing a hollow moulded fibre product, comprising: part-provision apparatus configured to provide a first discrete product part 200 and a second discrete product part 300; and

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods and systems for manufacturing receptacles from a fibre suspension, such as a fibre suspension comprising paper pulp. The receptacles may be consumer packaging, such as bottles, jars or certain types of vases, useful for holding liquids, powders, other flowable materials, one or more solid objects, or a combination thereof. BACKGROUND It is desirable to reduce glass and plastics use in consumable items, particularly packaging. Non-necked receptacles, such as trays, bowls and other simple shapes, are commonly made from paper pulp. However, a more complex necked receptacle, like a bottle, jar or certain types of vase, is more difficult to engineer due to an internal narrowing of the receptacle between a main body portion of the receptacle and an opening of the receptacle. SUMMARY A first aspect of the present invention provides a system for providing a hollow moulded fibre product, the system comprising: part-provision apparatus configured to provide a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part; and a mechanism configured to apply heat and / or pressure to respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, while holding the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together, as a structure having an interior, with faces of the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part overlapping each other so that the face of one of the respective portions faces towards the interior of the structure and the face of the other of the respective portions faces away from the interior, to fuse, or join, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together. Such a system may enable a hollow moulded fibre product to be provided without the need for passing an expandable member through a narrow opening of the product, such as when the product is a narrow-necked product, for subsequent inflation within the product to help form its walls. The hollow moulded fibre product is formed from at least the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, which have been provided as separate parts by the part-provision apparatus, for example, by way of the part-provision apparatus being configured to mould or additively manufacture the parts. Provision and fusing / joining of the separate parts allows for an overall relatively faster and simpler system compared with a system that is configured to provide a hollow moulded fibre product by way of a single step moulding process that requires fibre pulp compaction by an expandable member. Such an expandable member would need to pass through a potentially narrow opening of the hollow moulded fibre product, and the compaction of the fibre would be dependent on the performance of the expandable member. Accordingly, the claimed system may increase the overall efficiency and output, both of the system and of any production line comprising such a system. There may be one or more further discrete product parts, such as for example a third discrete product part, used in the provision of the hollow moulded fibre product. In some such examples, the part-provision apparatus may be for providing the one or more further discrete product parts. In such examples, the mechanism may be configured to apply heat and pressure to respective portions of the second discrete product part, and the third discrete product part while holding the second discrete product part and the third discrete product part with the respective portions of the second discrete product part and the third discrete product part overlapping each other, to fuse, or join, the second discrete product part and third discrete product part together. As the face of one of the respective portions faces towards the interior of the structure and the face of the other of the respective portions faces away from the interior, one of the respective portions is inward of the other of the respective portions with respect to the interior of the structure. The structure may have a central axis about which the structure is symmetrical such that the face of the respective portion that faces towards the interior of the structure faces toward the central axis, and the other face faces away from the central axis. The face facing the central axis may lie closer to the central axis that the other face in a direction orthogonal to the central axis. Optionally, the respective portions are open end portions, such as circular open end portions, of the respective first and second discrete product parts. For example, where the first discrete product part is in a shape of an open-ended tube, the respective portion corresponds to a rim at an open end of the open-ended tube. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to provide a non-planar first discrete product part. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to provide a non-planar second discrete product part. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to provide a first discrete product part that is rotationally symmetrical, such as circular in cross-section. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to provide a second discrete product part that is rotationally symmetrical, such as circular in cross-section. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus comprises forming apparatus configured to form the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Accordingly, the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part may be created promptly before being processed by the mechanism. This may enable the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to have a property, such as a water- or moisture-content, that facilitates processing of the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part by the mechanism. Optionally, the forming apparatus comprises moulding apparatus configured to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Such moulding apparatus may be configured to perform moulding techniques that result in reliable compaction, in terms of both degree and uniformity, of fibre pulp of the part(s) and / or that are relatively faster and simpler compared to moulding processes that require fibre pulp compaction by an expandable member. Optionally, the moulding apparatus is also configured to mould the one or more further discrete product parts, when provided. Optionally, the moulding apparatus comprises a female mould for moulding the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. The female mould can be filled with fibre pulp to retain a layer of the fibre pulp on a surface of the female mould. Optionally, the moulding apparatus comprises a male mould for moulding the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. The male mould can be dipped into fibre pulp to retain a layer of the fibre pulp on a surface of the male mould. The male mould may be a part of a mould pair of corresponding male and female moulds, in between which the fibre pulp is retained and pressed. Optionally, the moulding apparatus comprises a porous mould, for moulding the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. The porous mould may facilitate the removal of moisture from the fibre pulp. A vacuum may be applied to the porous mould, opposite to a side of the porous mould in contact with the fibre pulp, to increase the rate of moisture removal. The moulding apparatus may comprise any combination of male, female and porous moulds. For example, it may comprise a cooperating set of male and female moulds of which the female mould is porous. In some examples, the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part are pre-formed by apparatus other than the part-provision apparatus, and are then provided or supplied by the part-provision apparatus. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus comprises a transport apparatus configured to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism. Such transport apparatus may facilitate the transport of the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part, as well as any further product parts if present, to the mechanism. This may enable the transport to be undertaken without a need for manual interaction from a worker. The transport apparatus may be configured to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism from the forming apparatus, when provided. The transport apparatus may be configured to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism from a storage area. Optionally, the first discrete product part is for forming a first portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the first portion comprising a neck portion wherein the neck portion has a width which is smaller than a width of a remainder of the first portion. In such a system, the neck portion is formed before assembly of the hollow moulded fibre product. The system therefore does not require access through the neck portion for an expandable member, or similar, to form the neck portion. Optionally, the second discrete product part is for forming a second portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the second portion comprising a base portion having a closed end. In a comparative system in which the hollow moulded fibre product is formed in one piece directly from fibre pulp, the base portion of the hollow moulded fibre product would be accessible only via an opening of the hollow moulded fibre product, which may be spaced from the base portion and / or relatively narrow. By forming the second portion separately, better access is provided to the base portion. This may in turn improve the reliability of compaction of fibre pulp and simplify the process of forming the base portion. For example, in embodiments of the system that are configured to provide a hollow moulded fibre product in the form of a bottle, the part-provision apparatus may be configured to provide the first discrete product part with a neck of the bottle and the second discrete product part with a base of the bottle. In such examples, the portions need overlap only to a small extent, over an annular path. In examples where the overlapping portions together comprise an additional thickness of material as compared with neighbouring portions of the product, minimising the size of the portions reduces the relative weight and material cost of the hollow moulded fibre product, as well as drying time, compared with other configurations. An alternative configuration is one in which the part-provision apparatus is configured to provide the first discrete product part in a shape of a trough and the second discrete product part also in a shape of a trough, each having a width which narrows at one end. For example, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part may be respective left- and right-handed parts of a hollow product, such as a bottle. Such parts each may comprise a section of a neck of the hollow product. An effect of this configuration is that the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part may be the same, and therefore may be moulded by the same mould or otherwise formed in the same way, thus reducing the system complexity and cost. Optionally, each of the portions of the respective first and second discrete product parts has a wall thickness which is smaller than a wall thickness of a respective remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts. The respective portions overlap such that a total wall thickness of the overlapping portions includes the wall thickness of each of the respective portions in isolation. Reducing the wall thicknesses of the respective portions relative to the wall thicknesses of the remainder of the respective discrete product parts may therefore be beneficial. The wall thickness of each of the discrete product parts may taper from a maximal thickness, located proximal to the remainder of the discrete product part, to a minimal thickness, located distal from the remainder of the discrete product part. Consequently, in the hollow moulded fibre product, there is a less pronounced difference, or no difference, between the wall thickness of the respective portions once fused / joined and the wall thickness of the remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts. This in turn improves the aesthetic qualities of the hollow moulded fibre product, and the receptacle, and avoids weight and cost of additional material that might otherwise be required to even out differences in wall thickness. Optionally, the mechanism comprises an expandable member configured to expand to apply the pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and second discrete product part. The expandable member may be provided to apply the pressure to the respective portions during the heat application. This is distinct from a mechanism configured to mould a whole of the hollow moulded fibre product by the application of pressure using an expandable member. Accordingly, the expandable member need not be so large, and the expandable member may therefore be more easily positionable relative to the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. Optionally, the mechanism comprises an internal press for applying the pressure to the overlapping portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, while applying a pressure with a relatively smaller magnitude, or no pressure, to a remainder of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. The internal press, as it is for applying pressure to only the respective portions, may have a narrower profile than possible alternative tools to press an interior of a hollow moulded fibre product. The internal press may therefore be manoeuvrable more easily relative to the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part and the hollow moulded fibre product. The internal press may therefore additionally or alternatively be non-inflatable and / or non-expandable. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to apply heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part prior to the mechanism applying the heat and the pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. Optionally, the mechanism is configured to apply the heat and / or pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part to fuse the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together without forming a flange or a seam. Such pre-treating of the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part with heat may at least partially dry the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part and thus make the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part easier to manipulate during subsequent processing, such as at the mechanism. A pre-treated first discrete product part and / or second discrete product part may have a moisture content in the range of approximately 60%-80%, or 65%-75%, such as for example approximately 70%, by weight. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to apply heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part such that the respective portion of the first discrete product part and / or of the first discrete product part is heated to a lesser extent, or is not heated at all, compared to the respective remainder of the first and / or second discrete product part. This may promote the subsequent fusing, or joining, of the respective portions at the mechanism. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be less than 90%, or less than 80%, or less than 70%, by weight. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be more than 40%, or more than 50% or more than 60%, by weight. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be more than the moisture content of the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be at least 70% more, or at least 60% more, or at least 50% more, or at least 40% more, or at least 30% more, or at least 20% more, or at least 10% more, by weight, than the moisture content of the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts. Optionally, the moisture content by weight of the respective portions may, for example, be in a range of about 60% - 70%, while the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts may be substantially 0%. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to simultaneously apply pressure and heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. This may facilitate setting the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part in a particular desired shape. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus is configured to apply the pressure and the heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to provide one or more raised features to a surface of at least one of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. The one or more raised features may comprise one or more features lying on a helical path so as to define a helical thread, a textured grip surface, or a decorative feature. Optionally, the first discrete product part and / or second discrete product part may be a fibre part, i.e., comprising or formed from fibres, such as cellulose fibres. A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing a hollow moulded fibre product, the method comprising: causing a mechanism to apply heat and / or pressure to respective portions of a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part, while holding the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together, as a structure having an interior, with faces of the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part contacting and overlapping each other so that the face of one of the respective portions faces towards the interior of the structure and the face of the other of the respective portions faces away from the interior, to fuse, or join, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together. Such a method may have any one or more of the effects described with respect to the first aspect. Optionally, the first discrete product part is a non-planar first discrete product part. Optionally, the second discrete product part is a non-planar second discrete product part. Optionally, the first discrete product part is rotationally symmetrical, such as circular in cross section. Optionally, the second discrete product part is rotationally symmetrical, such as circular in cross section. Optionally, the method comprises causing a part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to form the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Optionally, the part-provision apparatus comprises a moulding apparatus, and the causing the part-provision apparatus to form the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Optionally, the causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part from paper fibre pulp. Optionally, the causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part in a female mould of the moulding apparatus. Optionally, the causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part in a male mould of the moulding apparatus. Optionally, the causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the moulding apparatus to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part in a porous mould of the moulding apparatus. The moulding apparatus may comprise any combination of male, female and porous moulds, such as a cooperating set of male and female mould of which the female mould is porous. Optionally, the method comprises causing a transport apparatus to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism. Further optionally, the method comprises causing the transport apparatus to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism from the moulding apparatus, when provided. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to apply heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. This may have the effect of fully or partially drying and setting the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part, such that it / they are easier to manipulate during subsequent processing, such as at the mechanism. The heat may not be applied to whole of the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. For example, the respective portions may be left unheated to facilitate the subsequent fusing, or joining, of the respective portions at the mechanism. Such a first discrete product part and / or second discrete product part may have a moisture content in the range of approximately 60%-80%, or 65%-75%, such as for example approximately 70%, by weight. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be less than 90%, or less than 80%, or less than 70%, by weight. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be more than 40%, or more than 50% or more than 60%, by weight. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be more than the moisture content of the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts. Optionally, the moisture content of the respective portions may be at least 70% more, or at least 60% more, or at least 50% more, or at least 40% more, or at least 30% more, or at least 20% more, or at least 10% more, by weight, than the moisture content of the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts. Optionally, the moisture content by weight of the respective portions may, for example, be in a range of about 60% - 70%, while the respective remainders of the first and / or second discrete product parts may be substantially 0%. Optionally, the method comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to apply pressure to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Optionally, the method comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to simultaneously apply the pressure and the heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part such that first discrete product part is for forming a first portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the first portion comprising a neck portion, wherein the neck portion has a width which is smaller than a width of a remainder of the first portion. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the second discrete product part such that the second discrete product part is for forming a second portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the second portion comprising a base portion having a closed end. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part in the shape of a trough and the second discrete product part in the shape of a trough, each of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part having a width which narrows at one end. Optionally, the method comprises causing one or more raised features to be provided to the hollow moulded fibre product or the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part. The one or more raised features may comprise one or more features lying on a helical path so as to define a helical thread, a textured grip surface, or a decorative feature. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product with the one or more raised features. Optionally, the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide each of the portions of the respective first and second discrete product parts with a wall thickness which is smaller than a wall thickness of a respective remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts. Optionally, the causing the mechanism to apply the heat and pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises causing an expandable member of the mechanism to expand to apply the pressure to the respective portions. Optionally, the causing the mechanism to apply the heat and pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises causing an internal press of the mechanism to apply the pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, while applying a pressure with a relatively smaller magnitude, or no pressure, to a remainder of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. Optionally, the causing the mechanism to apply the heat and / or pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises causing the mechanism to apply the heat and / or pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part to fuse the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together without forming a flange or a seam. A third aspect of the present invention provides a control system configured to cause a system to perform the method of the second aspect. A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a non-transitory storage medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a control system, cause the processor to perform the method of the second aspect. In some examples of any of the above aspects, the hollow moulded fibre product is a necked hollow moulded fibre product, such as a bottle, ajar or a type of vase. In some examples of any of the above aspects, the hollow moulded fibre product is a bottle. A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a hollow moulded fibre product comprising a wall having a first region, a second region and a mid-region between the first region and the second region, wherein the first region, the second region and the midregion are of substantially equal wall thickness to one another, and wherein the midregion has a greater mass of fibre per unit surface area than each of the first region and the second region. In some examples, such a hollow moulded fibre product, when formed by the method according to the second aspect and / or the apparatus according to the first aspect, has a uniform surface finish on its outer and / or inner side, the inner side being the surface that is to be in contact with any contents when held within the hollow moulded fibre product. In such examples, no excess material ‘flash’ or a seam protrudes outside or recedes into the walls of the hollow moulded fibre product. This represents a good aesthetic quality of the hollow moulded fibre product, compared to comparable products having such a seam of excess material, and a material saving. Optionally, the first region comprises a neck portion, the neck portion having a width that is narrower than a remainder of the hollow moulded fibre product. Optionally, the hollow moulded fibre product is a bottle. Optionally, the fibre is paper fibre. A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a receptacle manufacturing line comprising the system of the first aspect for providing the hollow moulded fibre product, and apparatus for performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle. The apparatus may comprise an interior coater and the at least one additional process may comprise the interior coater coating at least a portion of an interior of the product to produce an internally coated product. The apparatus may comprise a closurepart applicator and the at least one additional process may comprise the closure-part applicator applying a closure part to the product or the internally coated product to produce a closable or closed product. The apparatus may comprise an exterior coater and the at least one additional process may comprise the exterior coater coating at least a portion of an exterior of the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product to produce an externally coated product. The apparatus may comprise a decorator and the at least one additional process may comprise the decorator decorating the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product or the externally coated product to produce a decorated product. The apparatus may comprise a dryer and the at least one additional process may comprise the dryer drying the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product or the externally coated product or the decorated product to produce a dried product. The apparatus may comprise an evaluator and the at least one additional process may comprise the evaluator evaluating the product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated product, the decorated product, or the dried product to produce an evaluated product. In some examples, the receptacle is the product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated product, the decorated product, the dried product, or the evaluated product. In some examples, the receptacle is a necked receptacle, such as a bottle, jar or a type of vase, and the receptacle manufacturing line is a necked-receptacle manufacturing line. In some examples, the receptacle is a bottle. A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a receptacle, the method comprising performing the method of the second aspect to provide the hollow moulded fibre product, and then performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle. The at least one additional process may comprise coating at least a portion of an interior of the product to produce an internally coated product. The at least one additional process may comprise applying a closure part to the product or the internally coated product to produce a closable or closed product. The at least one additional process may comprise coating at least a portion of an exterior of the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product to produce an externally coated product. The at least one additional process may comprise decorating the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product or the externally coated product to produce a decorated product. The at least one additional process may comprise drying the product or the internally coated product or the closable or closed product or the externally coated product or the decorated product to produce a dried product. The at least one additional process may comprise evaluating the product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated product, the decorated product, or the dried product to produce an evaluated product. In some examples, the receptacle is the product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated product, the decorated product, the dried product, or the evaluated product. In some examples, the receptacle is a necked receptacle, such as a bottle, jar or a type of vase. In some examples, the receptacle is a bottle. An eighth aspect of the present invention provides method of providing a contentcontaining receptacle, the method comprising providing a receptacle obtained by the method of the seventh aspect and providing the contents in the receptacle to provide the content-containing receptacle. In some examples, the providing the contents in the receptacle comprises putting the contents into the receptacle. In contrast, in some examples, the providing the receptacle comprises providing the receptacle with the contents already present in the receptacle, thereby providing the contents in the receptacle. The contents may be in the form of, for example, a liquid, a powder, other flowable materials, one or more solid objects, or a combination thereof. For example, the contents may be a foodstuff such as a condiment, a beverage such as an alcoholic beverage, a household care product such as a detergent or other cleaning product, a personal care product such as a hair care product or a personal cleansing product or a healthcare product or a pharmaceutical product or a cosmetics product, a fragrance product such as a perfume, a vehicle product such as motor oil, or an industrial product. Other suitable contents will be apparent to the skilled reader in view of the content of this application and their common general knowledge. In some examples, the receptacle is a necked receptacle, such as a bottle, ajar or a type of vase. In some examples, the receptacle is a bottle. Optionally, the method comprises: closing an opening of the receptacle after the providing contents in the receptacle, and / or applying a label or indicia to the receptacle. In some examples, the closing comprises applying a closure (such as a lid or a cap or a heat seal) to the receptacle to close the opening. In some examples, the closing comprises applying a heat seal to the receptacle and (eg., thereafter) applying a lid or a cap to the receptacle. In some examples, the applying the label or indicia to the receptacle occurs after the providing the contents in the receptacle (that is, the label or indicia is applied to the content-containing receptacle). In other examples, the applying the label or indicia to the receptacle occurs before or during the providing the contents in the receptacle. In some examples, the applying occurs before the closing. In some examples, the applying occurs after the closing. In some examples, the applying occurs during the closing. A ninth aspect of the present invention provides use of a receptacle obtained by the method of the seventh aspect to contain contents. The use could be, for example, by a person (such as a natural person or a company) who puts the contents into the receptacle, or by a person who transports the contents, or by a person who wishes to dispose of (e.g., to a consumer or end user), offer to dispose of (e.g., to a consumer or end user), import, or keep the contents whether for disposal or otherwise. The contents may, for example, be in the form of any of those discussed above. In some examples, the receptacle is a necked receptacle, such as a bottle, ajar or a type of vase. In some examples, the receptacle is a bottle. It will be appreciated that optional features of aspects of the present invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the present invention, where appropriate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an example receptacle manufacturing line for performing a method of manufacturing receptacles from paper pulp; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part of a hollow moulded fibre product, according to an example; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part of Figure 2 with the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part having respective portions overlapping each other; Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermoforming station of the receptacle manufacturing line of Figure 1 with the first discrete product part and second discrete product part of Figure 3 located inside; Figure 5 shows a method of providing a hollow moulded fibre product according to an example; Figure 6 shows a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to an example; Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a receptacle containing contents, according to an example; and Figure 8 shows a method of providing a content-containing receptacle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description presents exemplary embodiments and, together with the drawings, serves to explain principles of embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 shows a receptacle manufacturing line for performing a method of manufacturing receptacles, in this case necked receptacles, and more specifically in this case in the form of bottles, from paper pulp (i.e., which can form the basis of an example fibre suspension). By “necked receptacle” it is meant that the receptacle has an internal narrowing, or “neck”, between a main body portion, in which most of or all the contents of the receptacle are stored in use, and an opening through which the contents can enter or leave the receptacle in use. The internal width of the receptacle at the neck may be the same as or different to the internal width of the opening. However, the internal width of the neck is smaller than that of the main body portion, so that a shoulder is defined by and between the neck and the main body portion. This shoulder complicates manufacture of the receptacle, since it interferes with subsequent removal (and, in some cases, insertion) of whatever mould tool is inserted into the receptacle to form the internal shape of the receptacle. Examples of necked receptacles are bottles, jars, and certain types of vases. The process is merely exemplary and is provided to give context to examples of the present invention. It will be appreciated that, in other examples, the receptacle manufacturing line could be for making non-necked receptacles (i.e., receptacles without such a neck), such as bowls or trays. Broadly speaking, the exemplary process comprises providing a fibre suspension, introducing the fibre suspension into mould cavities of a porous first mould and porous second mould and expelling a liquid (such as water) from the fibre suspension to produce a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part from the porous first mould and the porous second mould respectively, transporting the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part by a transport apparatus into a thermoforming system and overlapping respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part inside the thermoforming system, thermoforming the respective portions to obtain the hollow moulded fibre product, drying and then internally-coating the hollow moulded fibre product to produce an internally coated product, drying the internally coated product to produce a dried product, applying a closure part to the dried product to produce a closable or closed product, externally-coating and / or decorating the closable or closed product to produce an externally coated and / or decorated product, and then drying the externally coated or decorated product to produce another dried product. As will be apparent at least from the following description, modifications may be made to the exemplary process to provide variants thereof in which other examples of the present invention may be embodied. For example, in some cases, either the internal coating or the external coating and / or decorating may be omitted. Moreover, in the present case and as indicated by the stars labelled Ins. 1 to Ins. 5 in Figure 1, the process comprises inspecting or evaluating the hollow moulded fibre product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated or decorated product, and the dried product to produce respective evaluated products. In some examples, the receptacle is the hollow moulded fibre product, the internally coated product, the closable or closed product, the externally coated or decorated product, one of the dried products, or one of the respective evaluated products. In this example, providing the fibre suspension comprises preparing the fibre suspension from ingredients thereof. More specifically, the preparing comprises providing pulp fibres, such as paper pulp fibres, and mixing the pulp fibres with a liquid to provide hydrated pulp fibres. In this example, the pulp fibres are provided in sheet form from a supplier and the liquid comprises water and one or more additives. In this example, the liquid is mixed with the pulp fibres to provide hydrated pulp fibres having a solid fibres content of lwt% to 5wt% (by dry mass of fibres). In examples, the one or more additives includes a sizing agent, such as alkylketene dimer (AKD). The hydrated pulp fibres typically comprise AKD in an amount of 0.4wt% with respect to the total dry mass of the solid fibres in the hydrated pulp fibres. In some examples, one or more additives are present in the liquid at the point of mixing the pulp fibres with the liquid. In some examples, one or more additives are included in the hydrated pulp fibres after mixing the pulp fibres with the liquid (for example, the pulp fibres are hydrated for a period of time, such as from 2 to 16 hours, and then one or more additives are supplied to the hydrated pulp fibres). The hydrated pulp fibres are passed between plates of a valley beater 11 or refiner that are in motion relative to each other. This fibrillates some, or all, of the fibres, meaning that cell walls of those fibres are caused to become partially delaminated so that wetted surfaces of those fibres comprise protruding hairs or fibrillations. These fibrillations will help to increase a strength of bonds between the fibres in the dried end product. In other examples, the valley beater 11 or refiner may be omitted. The resultant processed pulp is stored in a vat 12 in a relatively concentrated form (for example, a solid fibres content of 1 wt% to 5wt%) to reduce a required storage space. At an appropriate time, the processed pulp is transferred to a mixing station 13 at which the processed pulp is diluted in further water and, optionally, mixed with one or more additives (as well as, or in place of, the one or more additives provided with the hydrated pulp fibres) to provide the fibre suspension ready for moulding. In this example, the solid fibres account for 0.7wt% of the resultant fibre suspension (by dry weight of fibres), but in other examples the proportion of solid fibres in the fibre suspension may be different, such as another value in the range of 0.5wt% to 5wt%, or 0.1 wt% to lwt%, of the fibre suspension (by dry weight of fibres). In some examples, the one or more additives mixed with the processed pulp and water includes a dewatering agent, such as modified and / or unmodified polyethylene imine (PEI), for example modified PEI sold under the trade name Polymin® SK. In some examples, the one or more additives are mixed with the water, and the water and one or more additives subsequently mixed with the processed pulp; in other examples, the processed pulp and water are mixed, and the one or more additives subsequently mixed with the processed pulp and water. The fibre suspension typically comprises Polymin® SK in an amount of 0.3wt% with respect to the total dry mass of the solid fibres. Mixing of the fibre suspension at the mixing station 13 helps to homogenise the fibre suspension. In other examples, the processed pulp or the fibre suspension may be provided in other ways, such as being supplied ready-made. Downstream of the vat 12 and the mixing station 13 is a first moulding station that comprises a porous first mould 15 and a porous second mould 17. In this example, the porous first mould 15 comprises cooperating male half-mould 14 and female half-mould 16 that are movable towards and away from each other, in this case using a hydraulic ram. In this example, each of the female half-mould 16 and the male half-mould 14 is a monolithic or unitary tool formed by additive manufacturing (for example, 3D-printing) that defines a mould profile, and, when the female half-mould 16 is brought into contact with the cooperating male half-mould 14, their respective mould profiles cooperate to define the mould cavity in which the first discrete product part is to be formed. The female half-mould 16 and the male half-mould 14 may themselves be considered “mould parts” or “moulds” and the overall porous first mould 15 may be considered a “splitmould” or, again, a “mould”. In other examples, the porous first mould 15 may comprise more than two mould parts, such as three, four or six mould parts, that cooperate to define the moulding cavity. In this example, the porous second mould 17 comprises cooperating male halfmould 21 and female half-mould 20, also moveable toward and away from each other, in this case using a hydraulic ram. Similarly, each of the female half-mould 20 and the male half-mould 21 of the porous second mould 17 is a monolithic or unitary tool formed by additive manufacturing (for example, 3D-printing) that defines a mould profile, and, when the female half-mould 20 is brought into contact with the cooperating male half mould 21, their respective mould profiles cooperate to define the mould cavity in which the second discrete product part is to be formed. The female half-mould 20 and the male half-mould 21 may themselves be considered “mould parts” or “moulds” and the overall porous second mould 17 may be considered a “split-mould” or, again, a “mould”. In other examples, the porous second mould 17 may comprise more than two mould parts, such as three, four or six mould parts, that cooperate to define the moulding cavity. In Figure 1, the fibre suspension (also known as slurry) is top-filled into the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17, in contrast to moulding processes that dip a mould in slurry. The fibre suspension is drawn under vacuum via a line 18 into the porous first mould 15 and via a line 19 into the porous second mould 17, with excess suspending liquid being drawn through the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 under vacuum into a tank. Shot mass may be controlled by measuring (for example, weighing) the amount of liquid drawn into the tank. Once a required amount (for example, a predetermined volume, such as 10 litres, or a predetermined mass, such as 10 kilograms) of liquid has been collected in the tank, suction of the suspending liquid through the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 is stopped and the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 are opened to ambient air. In this example, the suspending liquid drawn with the fibre suspension in the lines 18, 19 is water, or predominantly water (as additives and / or residual fibre may also be present). The liquid drawn under vacuum into the tank is substantially free of fibres, since these are mostly left behind against the walls of the porous first mould 15 and porous second mould 17 to form the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, respectively. The cooperating male half-mould 14 and the female half-mould 16 of the porous first mould 15 are moved towards each other to apply pressure to form the first discrete product part 200. The cooperating male half-mould 21 and the female half-mould 20 of the porous second mould 17 are moved towards each other to apply pressure to form the second discrete product part 300. In this example, heat is applied to the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 such that the first discrete product part 200 receives heat from the male half-mould 14 and the second discrete product part 300 receives heat from the male half-mould 21, respectively, during formation of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 to partially thermoform the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 in order to make them easier to manipulate in downstream processes. Demoulding occurs when the porous first mould 15 is opened by the male halfmould 14 and the female half-mould 16 of the porous first mould 15 being moved away from each other for removal of the self-supporting first discrete product part 200, and the porous second mould 17 is opened by the male half-mould 21 and the female half-mould 20 of the porous second mould 17 being moved away from each other for removal of the self-supporting second discrete product part 300. The first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are shown in Figure 2. The first discrete product part 200 is in a form of a generally cylindrical open-ended tube, with a variable width. The width varies with respect to a central axis A, wherein the central axis A connects a centre of a first opening 01, located at a first end 202 of the first discrete product part 200, and a centre of a second opening 02, located at a second end 204 of the first discrete product part 200. The first discrete product part 200 comprises a main body portion 220 which has a main body internal width Wl, and a neck portion 230 which has a neck internal width W2, wherein the neck internal width W2 is smaller than the main body internal width W1. The neck portion 230 is joined to the main body portion 220 by a shoulder portion 240. The neck portion 230 is located at the first end 202 of the first discrete product part 200. The neck portion 230, the shoulder portion 240 and the main body portion 220 have a substantially constant wall thickness Tl. The first discrete product part 200 comprises a tapered portion 210, defining the second end 204 of the first discrete product part 200, opposite the first end 202. The tapered portion 210 tapers such that a wall thickness T2 of the tapered portion 210 is maximal and equal to the wall thickness Tl of the main body portion 220 where the tapered portion 210 joins the main body portion 220 and decreases gradually to a minimal thickness in a direction towards the second end 204 of the first discrete product part 200. The second discrete product part 300 has a form of a generally cylindrical tube having an open end 304 and a closed end 302. The closed end 302 defines a base portion 330 of the second discrete product part 300. Joined to the base portion 330 is a main body portion 320 of the second discrete product part 300. The main body portion 320 has a main body internal width W3 which is the same as the main body internal width W1 of the first discrete product part 200. The base portion 330 and main body portion 320 have a substantially constant wall thickness T3 which is the same as the wall thickness T1 of the main body portion 220, the shoulder portion 240 and the neck portion 230 of the first discrete product part 200. The second discrete product part 300 comprises a tapered portion 310, located at the open end 304, wherein the tapered portion 310 tapers such that a wall thickness T4 of the tapered portion 3 10 is maximal and equal to the wall thickness T3 of the main body portion 320 where the tapered portion 310 joins the main body portion 320 of the second discrete product part 300 and tapers to a minimal wall thickness in a direction towards the open and 304 and away from the main body 320 of the second discrete product part 300. The tapered portion 210 of the first discrete product part 200 and the tapered portion 310 of the second discrete product part 300 each taper such that, when the tapered portions 210, 310 are overlapping each other, they have a combined wall thickness approximately equal to the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part 200 and the wall thickness T2 of the second discrete product part 300. The tapered portions 210, 310 have corresponding profiles such that when the tapered portions 210, 310 are overlapping each other, there are no notable raised or recessed features on surfaces of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300. The first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are formed in a near-net shape such that they do not have substantial excess material that requires removal at a later stage. Mould cleaning 23 is preferably performed subsequently, to remove any remaining small fibres and / or other debris and maintain a porosity of the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17, shown in Figure 1 for the porous second mould 17 only. In this example, a radially firing high-pressure jet is inserted into the mould cavity while the porous second mould 17 is open. This dislodges debris from the wall of the mould cavity. Alternatively, or in addition, water from the tank is pressurised through the back of the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 to dislodge entrapped fibres and / or other debris. Water is drained for recycling back to an upstream part of the system. It is noteworthy that cleaning is important for conditioning the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 for re-use. The porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 may appear visibly clean after removal of the receptacle, but their performance could be compromised without cleaning. As shown in Figure 1, the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are subsequently transported to a thermoforming station 100 by a transport apparatus. The transport apparatus comprises a first robot arm 43 comprising a suction plate 40 to adhere to the first discrete product part 200 by suction. The transport apparatus further comprises a second robot arm 41 comprising a suction plate 42 to adhere to the second discrete product part 300 by suction. The transporting is done by firstly adhering the suction plates 40, 42 by suction to the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300, respectively, followed by moving the first and second robot arms 43, 41 to respectively move the first and second discrete product parts 200, 300 from the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 to the thermoforming station 100, and finally releasing the suction on the suction plates 40, 42 to release the first and second discrete product parts 200, 300. The first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are shown in isolation with their respective tapered portions 210, 310 overlapping in Figure 3, and when inserted into the thermoforming station 100 in Figure 4. The thermoforming station 100 comprises an aluminium mould 25, wherein pressure and heat are applied to the respective overlapping portions for thermoforming the respective overlapping portions of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300. After two halves of the mould 25 have closed around the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300, a pressuriser is engaged. In this example, the pressuriser is a bladder 26 which is inserted into the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 when the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are in the mould 25. The bladder 26 is inflated with a pressurised fluid supplied via a line 27 by a pump 28. The pressurised fluid is preferably a non-compressible fluid such as water or oil, although in other examples it could be a compressible fluid such as air. In other examples, during supply, the pressurised fluid is heated with, for example, a heater or, alternatively, is cooled with, for example, a heat exchanger. An external mould block 24 of the mould 25, and / or the mould 25 itself, is also, or alternatively, heated in some examples. A hollow moulded fibre product 22 is formed by fusing the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 at their respective portions by thermoforming at the thermoforming station 100. The thermoforming station 100 is shown is greater detail in Figure 4. The thermoforming station 100 comprises a right-handed half-mould 101 and a left-handed half-mould 102 which define a mould cavity 108 into which the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are insertable, such that their respective tapered portions 210, 310 are overlapping each other. Once inserted, the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300, with their respective portions 210, 310 overlapped, define a structure having an interior 201 and a central axis C. The tapered portion 210 of the first discrete product part 200 has a face 211 which faces towards the interior 201 of the structure and the central axis C. The tapered portion 310 of the second discrete product part 300 has a face 311 which faces away from the interior 201 of the structure and the central axis C. The respective faces 211,311 are contacting each other when the respective tapered portions 210, 310 are overlapping each other. The face 211 of the tapered portion 210 of the first discrete product part 200 is located further away from the central axis C than the face 311 of the tapered portion 310 of the second discrete product part 300. The thermoforming station 100 comprises the bladder 26 which is configured to inflate when supplied with a fluid via the line 27 from the pump 28 and to thereby apply pressure P to the overlapped respective tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 such that the tapered portions 210,3 10 are urged against an inner wall 104 of the mould cavity 108. The bladder 26 is made of a rubber material in this example. In this example, the thermoforming includes imparting embossed surface features onto the first discrete product part 200. More specifically, in this example, raised closure features in the form of helical ridges are applied to the neck portion 230 of the first discrete product part 200. This results in the product being closable subsequently by positioning of a cap, lid or other closure relative to the raised features of the neck portion 230. The thermoforming station 100 therefore further comprises a feature-providing apparatus 110 to apply such raised features to the first discrete product part 200. The feature-providing apparatus 110 is in the form of a negative of the desired shape of the raised features and is located on the inner wall 104 of the mould cavity 108 such that when the pressure P is applied by the bladder 26, the neck portion 230 of the first discrete product part 200 is pressed against the feature-providing apparatus 110 and moulded to the desired shape including the raised features. The mould cavity 108 is heated by heat H received through the inner wall 104 from the right- and left-handed half-moulds 101, 102. The heat H is therefore imparted to the respective tapered portions 210, 310. By a combination of the heat H and the pressure P, the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are fused at their respective tapered portions 210, 310 to thereby form the hollow moulded fibre product 22. A drying stage 30 (for example, a microwave drying process or other drying process) is performed on the product 22 downstream of the thermoforming, as shown, to provide a dried product. In one example, the drying stage 30 is performed before thermoforming to provide a dried product. However, thermoforming in the mould 25 requires some water content in the respective portions of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 to assist with bonding of the respective overlapping portions 210, 310 during the thermoforming. The drying may be performed using a dryer, such as a machine that acts to cause drying of the product 22, or simply a shelf or other support on which the product 22 rests while drying. The product 22 is then subjected to an internal-coating stage during which, in this example, an interior coater in the form of a spray lance 31 is inserted into the product 22 and applies one or more surface coatings to internal walls of the product 22 to produce an internally coated product. In another example, the product 22 is instead filled with and subsequently drained of a liquid that coats the internal walls of the product 22. In practice, such coatings provide a protective layer to prevent egress of contents into the bottle wall, which may permeate and / or weaken it. Coatings will be selected dependent on the intended contents of finished receptacle, for example, a beverage, foodstuff, detergent, lubricant, pharmaceutical product, etc. In this example, the internally coated product 22 is then subjected to a curing or drying process 32, which can be configured or optimised dependent on the internal coating, for example, drying for twenty-four hours at ambient conditions or by a flash drying method. The drying again may be performed using a dryer, such as a machine that acts to cause drying of the product or simply a shelf or other support on which the product 22 rests while drying. Following the drying, the coated product 22 is considered another dried product. An exterior coating and / or decoration is then applied to the product 22 by an exterior coater and / or a decorator, respectively, as shown in the further stage 34, to produce an externally coated and / or decorated product. In one example, the product 22 is dipped into a liquid to coat its outer surface, as shown in Figure 1. In another example, the outer surface receives the external coating in a different manner. The coating and / or decoration may cover all or only part of an external surface of the product. The product 22 is then allowed to dry in warm air to produce another dried product. In other examples, the drying may be performed using a dryer such as one of those discussed above. The product 22 may therefore be fully formed, considered the end “receptacle”, and ready to accept contents therein. In other examples, the receptacle may be fully formed without the interior coating being applied and / or without the exterior coating being applied and / or without the decoration being applied and / or immediately after one of the drying processes or one of the inspecting and / or evaluating processes. An example method 500 of providing a hollow moulded fibre product is shown in Figure 5. The method 500 comprises providing 502 a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part. In this example, the providing 502 the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises providing the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 by the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17, respectively, as described with respect to Figure 1. The providing 502 the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises forming the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part such that each is provided with a respective portion, wherein the respective portions of the first and second discrete product parts have a wall thickness which is smaller than a wall thickness of a respective remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts. In this example, the first discrete product part 200 is formed in the porous first mould 15 to have the tapered portion 210, and the second discrete product part 300 is formed in the porous second mould 17 to have the tapered portion 310, as described previously with respect to Figure 2. The method 500 comprises applying 504 heat and pressure to the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. As previously described, the providing 502 the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises, in this example, forming the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 by moulding in the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17 while applying the heat H and the pressure P. The applying 504 heat and pressure to the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part is therefore, in this example, simultaneous with providing 502 the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part. When heat is applied to the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17, the respective tapered portions 210,310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 are heated to a lesser extent than respective remainders of the first and second discrete product parts 200, 300, such that the respective tapered portions 210, 310 remain less thermoformed, to promote subsequent fusing thereof in the thermoforming station 100. The applying 504 heat and pressure to the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part comprises applying raised features to the first discrete product part, in this example, by the feature providing apparatus 110 of the thermoforming station 100. The method 500 further comprises applying 506 heat and pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part while the respective portions overlap each other. In this example, this comprises applying 506 heat and pressure to the tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 by the thermoforming station 100 described with respect to Figure 4. In the thermoforming station 100, with the tapered portions 210, 310 held overlapped by the left- and right- handed half-moulds 102, the bladder 26 expands to apply pressure P to the respective tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300, and the mould cavity 108 is heated to apply heat H to the respective tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300. Inserting the bladder 26 inside the mould cavity 108 via the neck portion 230 of the first discrete product part 200 is relatively uncomplicated, due to the previous applying 504 heat and pressure to the first discrete product part 200 compared to a product part where heat and pressure was not applied. This is because the neck portion 230 is less fragile than if applying 504 heat and pressure to the first discrete product part 200 is omitted. The applying 506 heat and pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part while the respective portions overlap each other causes the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part to become fused at their respective portions, and thereby form the hollow moulded fibre product. Such a hollow moulded fibre product has approximately 0% moisture content. It will be appreciated that there is provided a control system 400 that is configured to cause the thermoforming station 100 to apply heat H and pressure P to the tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 while the tapered portions 210, 310 are held overlapping each other. The control system 400 also controls the mixing station 13, the first moulding station that comprises the porous first mould 15 and the porous second mould 17, the mould cleaning 23, the transport apparatus and the first and second robot arms 43, 41, the drying stage 30, the spray lance 31 of the an internal-coating stage, drying process 32, and the exterior coating stage 34. Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 600 according to an example. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 600 stores instructions 630 that, if executed by a processor 620 of a control system 610, cause the processor 620 to perform a method according to an example. In some examples, the control system 610 is or comprises the control system 400 as described above. The instructions 630 comprise: to apply heat H and pressure P to the tapered portions 210, 310 of the first discrete product part 200 and the second discrete product part 300 while the tapered portions 210, 310 are overlapping each other. In other examples, the instructions 630 comprise instructions to perform any other example methods described herein. It will also be appreciated that there also is provided a receptacle manufacturing line (such as that shown in Figure 1) comprising the thermoforming station 100 described above for providing a hollow moulded fibre product and apparatus for performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle. Similarly, also provided is a method of manufacturing a receptacle, the method comprising causing the thermoforming station 100 to provide a hollow moulded fibre product, and then performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle. Examples of the “at least one additional process” are described above with reference to Figure 1. Also provided, as a result of the content of the present application, is use of a receptacle obtained by any of the methods described herein to contain contents. An example such receptacle 700, in the form of a necked receptacle and specifically a bottle, containing contents 710 is shown in Figure 7. The use could be, for example, by a person who puts the contents into the receptacle, by a person who transports the contents, or by a person who wishes to dispose of (for example, to a consumer or end user), offer to dispose of (for example, to a consumer or end user), import, or keep the contents whether for disposal or otherwise. The contents could, for example, be any one or more of the example contents described herein. Also provided is a method of providing a content-containing receptacle. An example such method 800 is shown in Figure 8. The method 800 comprises providing 810 the receptacle, in the form of a necked receptacle and specifically a bottle, and then providing 820 the contents in the receptacle. In this example, block 820 follows block 810, so that block 820 comprises putting the contents into the receptacle that has been provided at block 810. However, in some other examples, blocks 810 and 820 are performed concurrently, so that the providing 810 the receptacle comprises providing the receptacle with the contents already present in the receptacle. The contents could, for example, be any one or more of the example contents described herein. The method 800 also comprises closing 830 an opening of the receptacle after block 820, and applying 840 a label or indicia to the receptacle after block 830. In this example, block 830 involves applying a heat seal to the opening and then screwing a cap or lid onto the receptacle, and block 840 comprises adhering a label onto the receptacle. In respective other examples, the order of blocks 830 and 840 is reversed, blocks 830 and 840 are performed concurrently, block 830 is omitted, and block 840 is omitted. In some examples, block 840 occurs before block 820, or block 840 occurs during block 820. For example, in some cases, the label or indicia is applied to the receptacle, then the contents are provided in the receptacle, and then the receptacle is closed It will be appreciated that the method 800 could be performed by the same party that manufactures the receptacle, for example so that block 810 comprises the method discussed above with reference to the manufacturing line shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the method 800 could be performed by a different party to that which manufactures the receptacle. In such an alternative, the different party performs block 810 by way of obtaining the receptacle from the party that manufactures the receptacle (such as by way of the method discussed above with reference to Figure 1) or from an intermediary. The above-described embodiments of the present invention allow a hollow moulded fibre product to be formed by combining a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part. Such a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part may be formed by relatively simple methods such as moulding between two cooperating moulds. Thus, a yield of the overall production process of the receptacle manufacturing line is increased compared to an alternative process relying on forming fibre pulp solely by a bladder which is relatively slower than the methods usable to provide the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part as described above. In addition, forming a necked receptacle by methods utilising such a bladder without prior treatment of the neck portion by heat necessitates the bladder to be passed through a relatively narrow opening of fragile, unset fibre pulp. Some examples of the present system and method avoid this by pre-treating the neck portion of the first discrete product part prior to insertion of a thermoforming bladder. In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part are of such shapes as to form left-handed and right-handed halves of the hollow moulded fibre product, rather than a top and a bottom portion, with respect to the base of the hollow moulded fibre product. In such embodiments, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part each comprise respective portions that together form an area of the hollow moulded fibre product that defines an opening into the hollow moulded fibre product. In some such examples, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part may be identical to each other. Thus the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part may be formed by the same mould or moulding apparatus, successively. In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part are provided by an apparatus other than the above-described porous first mould and porous second mould, such as by a single mould dipped in fibre slurry or by additive manufacturing process. In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part are not provided by parts of the receptacle manufacturing line, and are instead made at a different manufacturing line, which may or may not be operated by a third party. In some alternative embodiments, some of the above-mentioned processes or components of the thermoforming system may be omitted. Some examples of such processes and components comprise the bladder and applying pressure by the bladder, the feature applying apparatus and applying of raised features by the feature applying apparatus, and the providing the respective portions with tapers. Indeed, in some examples in which the respective portions of the first and second discrete product parts are non-tapered, the wall thicknesses of these portions may be half the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part and half the wall thickness T3 of the second discrete product part, respectively. That way, when those portions are overlapping each other, they have a combined wall thickness approximately equal to the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part and the wall thickness T3 of the second discrete product part. In some other examples, the wall thicknesses of these portions may be greater than half the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part and greater than half the wall thickness T2 of the second discrete product part, respectively, such as equal to the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part and equal to the wall thickness T2 of the second discrete product part, respectively. That way, when those portions are overlapping each other, they have a combined wall thickness that is greater than the wall thickness T1 of the first discrete product part and greater than the wall thickness T2 of the second discrete product part. When heat and pressure is subsequently applied to the overlapping portions to fuse the first discrete product part to the second discrete product part, the resultant hollow moulded fibre product comprises a wall having a first region, a second region and a mid-region between the first region and the second region, wherein the midregion is formed from the overlapping portions. The first region, the second region and the mid-region of the hollow moulded fibre product are of substantially equal wall thickness to one another, yet the mid-region has a greater mass of fibre per unit surface area than each of the first region and the second region, since more material per unit surface area of the mid-region of the wall was compressed together during its formation. Example embodiments of the present invention have been discussed, with reference to the examples illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for providing a hollow moulded fibre product, the system comprising: part-provision apparatus configured to provide a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part; anda mechanism configured to apply heat and / or pressure to respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part, while holding the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together, as a structure having an interior, with faces of the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part contacting and overlapping each other_so that the face of one of the respective portions faces towards the interior of the structure and the face of the other of the respective portions faces away from the interior, to fuse the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the part-provision apparatus comprises forming apparatus configured to form the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the forming apparatus comprises moulding apparatus configured to mould the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the part-provision apparatus comprises a transport apparatus configured to transport the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part to the mechanism.

5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first discrete product part is for forming a first portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the first portion comprising a neck portion wherein the neck portion has a width which is smaller than a width of a remainder of the first portion.

6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second discrete product part is for forming a second portion of the hollow moulded fibre product, the second portion comprising a base portion having a closed end.

7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the portions of the respective first and second discrete product parts has a wall thickness which is smaller than a wall thickness of a respective remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts.

8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mechanism comprises an expandable member configured to expand to apply the pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and second discrete product part.

9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the part-provision apparatus is configured to apply heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part prior to the mechanism applying the heat and / or the pressure to the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the part-provision apparatus is configured to simultaneously apply pressure and heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

11. A method of providing a hollow moulded fibre product, the method comprising: causing a mechanism to apply heat and / or pressure to respective portions of a first discrete product part and a second discrete product part, while holding the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together, as a structure having an interior, with faces of the respective portions of the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part contacting and overlapping each other so that the face of one of the respective portions faces towards the interior of the structure and the face of the other of the respective portions faces away from the interior, to fuse the first discrete product part and the second discrete product part together.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises causing a part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to apply heat to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising causing the part-provision apparatus to apply pressure to the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part.

15. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the causing the part-provision apparatus to provide the first discrete product part and / or the second discrete product part comprises causing the part-provision apparatus to provide each of the portions of the respective first and second discrete product parts with a wall thickness which is smaller than a wall thickness of a respective remainder of the respective first and second discrete product parts.

16. A control system configured to cause a system to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 15.

17. A non-transitory storage medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a control system, cause the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 15.

18. A hollow moulded fibre product comprising a wall having a first region, a second region and a mid-region between the first region and the second region, wherein the first region, the second region and the mid-region are of substantially equal wall thickness to one another, and wherein the mid-region has a greater mass of fibre per unit surface area than each of the first region and the second region.

19. The hollow moulded fibre product of claim 18, wherein the fibre is paper fibre.

20. A receptacle manufacturing line comprising the system of any one of claims 1 to 10 for providing the hollow moulded fibre product, and apparatus for performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle.

521. A method of manufacturing a receptacle, the method comprising performing the method of any one of claims 11 to 15 to provide the hollow moulded fibre product, and then performing at least one additional process on the hollow moulded fibre product to provide the receptacle.1022. A method of providing a content-containing receptacle, the method comprising providing a receptacle obtained by the method of claim 21 and providing the contents in the receptacle to provide the content-containing receptacle.15 23. The method of claim 22, comprising:closing an opening of the receptacle after the providing contents in the receptacle, and / or applying a label or indicia to the receptacle.

24. Use of a receptacle obtained by the method of claim 21 to contain contents.

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