DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING AND PRESSING A MOUTH PIECE OF A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERS

Abstract

A device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers, for example pulp, wherein the device comprises a mold for surrounding at least one outer surface of a mouth region of the container in which the mouth piece is to be formed, wherein the mold comprises a structure for forming the mouth piece. The device also comprises a mandrel for introduction into an opening of the mouth region and a movement means for performing a relative movement between the mold and the mandrel to reduce a clearance of the mold and the mandrel, and thus to form and press the mouth piece. This disclosure also includes a method for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers, for example pulp, using the device.

Claims

1. A device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers, the device comprising: a mold for surrounding at least one outer surface of a mouth region of the container in which the mouth piece is to be formed, wherein the mold comprises a structure for forming the mouth piece; a mandrel, for introduction into an opening, at least temporarily within the mouth region; and a movement means for performing a relative movement with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, between the mold and the mandrel to reduce a clearance of the mold and the mandrel, and to form and press the mouth piece.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a negative mold of: a thread to be formed; a support ring to be formed; and/or engagement elements to be formed.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement comprises a movement of the mold in a direction toward the mandrel or in a direction away from the mandrel.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement comprises a movement of the mandrel in a direction toward the mold or in a direction away from the mold.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the mandrel comprises a planar lateral surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the mandrel comprises at least two radially movable jaws with planar lateral surface segments, wherein: the mandrel comprises two radially movable jaws that each comprise a cylinder segment of 180; or the mandrel comprises four radially movable jaws that each comprise a cylinder segment of 90.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one inclined plane is provided on a rear side of each of the planar lateral surface segments, and the mandrel further comprises a spreading rod that is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein an interaction of the at least one inclined plane and the spreading rod can produce a radial movement of the radially movable jaws.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the mandrel comprises a hydraulic system which, in interaction with the radially movable jaws, can produce a radial movement of the radially movable jaws.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the mandrel comprises at least one toggle per radially movable jaw, wherein an interaction of the at least one toggle and the radially movable jaw can produce a radial movement of the radially movable jaw.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a rotating means for executing a rotation of the mandrel about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.

11. A method for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers using a device, wherein the method comprises: providing a container comprising fibers having an opening in which a mandrel of the device is arranged at least temporarily; optionally introducing the mandrel into the opening; surrounding, with a mold of the device, at least one outer surface of a mouth region of the container in which the mouth piece is to be formed; and executing a relative movement with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, between the mold and the mandrel to reduce a clearance of the mold and the mandrel, thereby forming and pressing the mouth piece.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the relative movement to reduce the clearance comprises: moving the mold radially in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein the mandrel is stationary; moving the mandrel in a direction of the mold radially away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, wherein the mold is stationary; or moving the mold in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and moving the mandrel in the direction of the mold radially away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving radially movable jaws of the mandrel away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising rotating the mandrel by an angular range.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after forming and pressing the mouth piece: moving the mold away from the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; and/or moving radially movable jaws of the mandrel toward the longitudinal axis of the mandrel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The accompanying Figures show, by way of example, aspects and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention for better understanding and illustration. Shown are:

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic semi-longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers;

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic partial longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers;

[0049] FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic plan view of a first arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece;

[0050] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic plan view of a second arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece;

[0051] FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic plan view of a third arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece;

[0052] FIG. 3D illustrates a schematic plan view of a fourth arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece;

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic semi-longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container comprising fibers, in a first arrangement; and

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic semi-longitudinal section of the second embodiment of the device in a second arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a schematic semi-longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece 13 of a container 12 comprising fibers, for example pulp.

[0056] In the sectional representation, the mandrel 1 comprises a radially movable jaw 6 with a planar lateral surface segment 7, on the rear side of which are provided two inclined planes 8, 9 arranged one above the other as seen along the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. In the sectional representation, the mandrel 1 further comprises a spreading rod 3 that can be moved parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. The spreading rod 3 comprises, on its surface which points toward the jaw 6, two recesses 4, 5 arranged one above the other as seen along the longitudinal axis 2 of the mandrel 1. In the event of a movement of the spreading rod 3 parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 in a direction 14 into the interior of the container 12, an interaction of the inclined planes 8, 9 and the recesses 4, 5 causes a radial movement of the radially movable jaw 6 in the direction toward a mold 10. Alternatively, the recesses 4, 5 can likewise have inclined planes or rolling bodies for moving on the inclined planes (not shown). In a further alternative (not shown), the mandrel 1 can comprise rolling elements, recesses, or inclined planes only at one height. Two, three, or more rolling elements, recesses, or inclined planes can be arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0057] The mold 10, which comprises a structure 11 for forming the mouth piece 13, surrounds at least one outer surface of the container 12 in which the mouth piece 13 is to be formed.

[0058] Due to the radial movement of the jaw 6 in the direction toward the mold 10, the clearance between the jaw 6 and the mold 10 decreases and the mouth region of the container 12 can be pressed into the structure 11 of the mold, and the mouth piece 13 can thus be formed or finished. The remainder of the container 12 is not necessarily connected to the mouth piece in this state.

[0059] Guides 72, 73 for the jaw movement can be seen above and below the jaw 6.

[0060] In the sectional representation, two thread turns 64, 65 of the mouth piece 13 and a lock ring 66 and a support ring 67 of the mouth piece 13 can be seen. In a subsequent processing step, a tear-off ring of a closure can be placed between lock ring 66 and support ring 67, which tear-off ring can be detached at least partially from the remainder of the closure upon unscrewing the closed container 12.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece 13 of a container 12 comprising fibers, for example pulp.

[0062] In the sectional representation, the mandrel 15 comprises a radially movable jaw 21 with a planar lateral surface segment 20 and a rod 17, which are connected to the jaw with two toggles 18, 19. In the event of a movement of the rod 17 parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 of said rod 17 in a direction 22 into the interior of the container 12, an interaction of the toggles 18, 19 with the jaw 21 causes a radial movement of the radially movable jaw 21 in the direction toward the mold 10.

[0063] Due to the radial movement of the jaw 21 in the direction toward the mold 10, the clearance between the jaw 21 and the mold 10 decreases and the mouth region of the container 12 can be pressed into the structure 11 of the mold 10, and the mouth piece 13 can thus be formed or finished. Guides 74, 75 for the jaw movement can be seen above and below the jaw 21.

[0064] The mold 10 and the structure 11 correspond to those from FIG. 1.

[0065] In the sectional representation, two thread turns 68, 69 of the mouth piece 21 and a lock ring 70 and a support ring 71 of the mouth piece 13 can be seen. In a subsequent processing step, a tear-off ring of a closure can be placed between lock ring 70 and support ring 71, which tear-off ring can be detached at least partially from the remainder of the closure upon unscrewing the closed container 12.

[0066] FIG. 3A shows a schematic plan view of a first arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece. The mold comprises two parts 23, 24 which surround a mouth piece 25 of a container comprising a fiber, for example pulp. For the sake of clarity, only the exemplary four radially movable jaws 26, 27, 28, 29 of the mandrel are shown.

[0067] A radial movement of the jaws 26-29 can be carried out by means of, for example, the elements of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3A, the jaws 26-29 are moved radially away from a longitudinal axis 34 of the mandrel. The clearance between the mold and the jaws 26-29 can thereby be reduced, whereby the mouth piece 25 can be formed by pressing into a structure (not shown) of the mold.

[0068] Due to the radial movement away from the longitudinal axis 34, portions of the mouth piece 25 are not contacted by the four jaws 26-29. The mandrel can therefore be rotated by an angular range about its longitudinal axis, wherein the angular range can be unequal to an angle size of a cylinder segment of the jaws 26-29. By rotating the mandrel, burrs in the interior of the mouth piece 25 can be avoided.

[0069] FIG. 3B shows a schematic plan view of a second arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece 25. The radial movement of the jaws 26-29 away from the longitudinal axis 34 was stopped, and the mandrel was rotated by 45 in the clockwise direction 35 about the longitudinal axis 34.

[0070] Generally speaking, an inner and/or outer mold 1, 23, 24, 26-29 can rotate between two pressing operations by an angle relative to the mouth piece 13, 25 to be formed, which angle is dimensioned such that, in the second pressing operation, a molded part is situated at the position which was arranged between two molded parts in the first pressing operation.

[0071] FIG. 3C shows a schematic plan view of a third arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece. After the end of the rotation by 45 in the clockwise direction 35 about the longitudinal axis 34, the jaws 26-29 are again moved radially away from the longitudinal axis 34, and the mouth piece 25 can be formed by re-pressing into the structure of the mold.

[0072] The position of the two parts 23, 24 of the mold is not changed.

[0073] FIG. 3D shows a schematic plan view of a fourth arrangement of mold and mandrel for forming and pressing a mouth piece. After the forming and pressing of the mouth piece 25, i.e., for example after its completion, the one part 23 of the mold can be moved radially away from the longitudinal axis 34 in a direction 48, and the other part 24 of the mold can be moved radially away from the longitudinal axis 34 in a direction 49, in order to form a clearance with respect to the mouth piece 25. In addition, the jaws 26-29 can in each case be moved radially toward the longitudinal axis 34 in a direction 44, 45, 46, 47 in order likewise to form a clearance with respect to the mouth piece 25. The planar lateral surface segments 40, 41, 42, 43 of the respective jaws 26-29 can also be seen in FIG. 3D.

[0074] The procedure according to FIGS. 3A to 3D is not suitable if a thread is to be impressed by the rotating mold(s) or the rotating mandrel. However, the form(s) or the mandrel could be correspondingly replaced by another one for the second pressing operation.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a schematic semi-longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a device for forming and pressing a mouth piece of a container 52 comprising fibers, for example pulp, in a first arrangement. A mandrel 50 with a planar lateral surface 58, which comprises a longitudinal axis 51, is introduced into the container 52. A mold 54 that comprises a structure 55 for forming the mouth piece surrounds at least one outer surface of the mouth region 53 of the container 52 in which the mouth piece is to be formed. In the illustrated first arrangement, the mold 53 has a clearance from the outer surface of the mouth region 53. The mold 53 is hereby arranged in a mold extension 59. In the illustration, the mold extension 59 extends around the mouth region 53 as well as a portion of a neck region of the container 52. Alternatively, the mold extension 59 can also extend to the base (not shown) of the container 52.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a schematic semi-longitudinal section of the second embodiment of the device, in a second arrangement. The mold 54 was moved radially toward the longitudinal axis 51 in a direction 56, whereby the clearance between the mold 54 and the mandrel 50 decreases, the mouth region 53 (see FIG. 4) of the container 52 is pressed into the structure 53 of the mold 54, and the mouth piece 57 can thus be formed or finished.

[0077] In the illustration of the semi-longitudinal section, two thread turns 60, 61 of the mouth piece 57 as well as a lock ring 62 and a support ring 63 of the mouth piece 57 can be seen. In a subsequent processing step, a tear-off ring of a closure can be placed between lock ring 52 and support ring 63, which tear-off ring can be detached at least partially from the remainder of the closure upon unscrewing the closed container 52.