Press Arrangement for Ceramic Containers with Handles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press arrangements for ceramic materials require complex and labor-intensive processes to produce bulbous containers with handles, often necessitating separate production cycles for the cup and handle sections, and struggle with demolding steep-walled objects due to structural and procedural limitations.

Innovation Solution

A press arrangement featuring a first press mold component with a pressurizable membrane and a second press mold component forming a mold space, allowing for the simultaneous pressing of a container with a handle in a single cycle by applying pressure from both sides, including the use of negative pressure to secure the outer mold and vent the mold space, enabling the production of undercut parts without separate handling of the handle and cup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate press stations and support molds are used to produce containers with handles, then the handle can be pressed onto the cup body, but the structural and procedural complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cup body pressing and handle pressing operations into a single press station by integrating multiple mold cavities. The first mold component contains both a first mold cavity for the cup body and a second mold cavity for the handle, allowing simultaneous formation of both parts in one pressing cycle, thereby eliminating the need for separate press stations and support molds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mold system is segmented into multiple independent cavities within a single press station. The first mold component is divided into a first mold cavity (for cup body) and a second mold cavity (for handle), while the second mold component has corresponding second and third mold cavities. This segmentation allows different parts to be formed simultaneously in one press cycle without requiring complex external support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If repositioning of the hollow body is performed between pressing operations, then the handle can be attached to the cup body, but the production time and procedural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cup body formation and handle formation into a single simultaneous pressing operation. Both the first mold cavity (cup body) and second mold cavity (handle) are filled with pressing material and pressed at the same time in one press cycle, eliminating the need for repositioning operations and reducing production time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle mold cavity is prepared in advance within the same press station as the cup body mold cavity. The pressing material is pre-positioned in both cavities before the pressing cycle begins, allowing both parts to be formed simultaneously without requiring intermediate repositioning or handling steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a single press operation is used to produce undercut pressed parts, then production efficiency increases, but the demolding process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible membranes in both the first and second mold components that can dynamically change shape during the pressing and demolding cycles. The membranes are pressed inward during forming to create the undercut geometry, then expand outward during demolding to release the pressed parts, enabling automatic ejection of complex shapes without additional demolding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mold components use flexible membranes instead of rigid molds. These membranes can be deformed inward during pressing to form undercut geometries, then expand outward to release the pressed parts. The flexibility of the membranes allows them to adapt to complex part geometries and facilitate automatic demolding of undercut features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the production process by integrating handle and cup formation in a single operation, reducing technical effort and avoiding the need for separate production cycles, while ensuring efficient demolding and uniform compaction of the ceramic material.

Implementation Method 1

a membrane (26) which can be subjected to pressing pressure (p1) from below

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressing pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

A press arrangement (10) is preferred for isostatic pressing with a first press mold component (22) having a membrane (26) which can be subjected to pressing pressure (p1) from below, with an outer mold (40) which can be inserted or is inserted in the first press mold component (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Vacuum

Implementation Method 3

Methods and press tools for the isostatic pressing of a powder- and/or granular ceramic pressing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIsostatic pressing: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3169496B1Press arrangement and method for pressing pressed parts
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 DORST TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3169496B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3169496B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP3169496B1 patent drawingFigure 4C~6B

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and an in particular container press arrangement (10) for pressing a pressed part, in particular a container (11) having at least one handle (13) made from a powdered and/or granulated ceramic material to be pressed (18). The press arrangement has a first compression mould component (22), which has a membrane (26) at which compression pressure (p1) can be applied on the back side, an outer mould (40) which is elastic at least in sections, and which is inserted or can be inserted in the first compression mould component (22), and a second compression mould component (23; 60) which can be arranged as a counter element for forming a moulding cavity (43) between itself on the one side and an interior mould section, in particular a cup moulding section (50) of the outer mould (40), on the other side. In addition, an outer mould of this type, a method, and a device for the production of the same are also provided.