Abstract: A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

Abstract: A packaging material is provided including a substrate, and an oxygen transmission inhibiting layer that is carried by the substrate. The oxygen transmission inhibiting layer is formed of a composite material including a linear polysaccharide medium within which one or more additives are dispersed. The composite material is capable of forming a substantially continuous film to provide a barrier to transmission of oxygen gas. The oxygen transmission inhibiting layer is configured within the packaging material at a thickness that is efficacious in inhibiting the transmission of oxygen gas therethrough. A packaging device has two or more component parts, at least one of which is formed of the packaging material. The component parts of the packaging device are shaped and/or configured to be assembled to define an interior region within which goods are to be contained.

Abstract: In one example, a process for manufacture of a pulp-based dispensing capsule is disclosed. The process includes providing one or more mesh tool sets that are each contoured to one or more preform shapes of the dispensing capsule. Note that each preform shape is a partially shaped version of a final form shape of the pulp-based dispensing capsule. The process also includes providing a holding tank containing a suspension that includes water and pulp fibres; and arranging the mesh tool sets to allow immersion into and withdrawal of the mesh tool sets from the suspension. The process also includes applying a vacuum to the mesh tool sets so as to draw pulp fibres from the suspension onto the mesh tool sets while immersed in the suspension to form a preform pulp fibre mat; and in a second toolset, deforming each preform shape in the preform pulp fibre mat towards the final form shape by the application of pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed continuous thermoforming of pulp materials into pulp based products including a beverage dispensing capsule comprising a body having a side wall and a base formed entirely of moulded pulp fibres, said apparatus comprising a holding tank for water and pulp fibres in suspension, a continuous feed belt of articulated mesh toolsets contoured to the preform shape of said products, said belt being inclined to allow partial immersion and partial withdrawal from said suspension by continuous rotation of said belt, vacuum means applied to said mesh toolsets to draw said pulp fibres onto said mesh toolsets immersed in said suspension to form a preform pulp mat of said product.

Abstract: A tool for a thermoforming process to form a moulded product from wet pulp fibre material includes two or more moulds each having a moulding surface, an actuator assembly, and a fluid extraction system. At least one of the moulds is displaceable by the actuator assembly between first and second positions and has fluid extraction paths extending through the mould to transport fluid away from the moulding surface. One of the moulds has a first layer that is substantially rigid to form a support member and is in communication with a heating subsystem of the fluid extraction system, and a second layer that is, in use of the tool, between the first layer and the wet pulp fibre material. The second layer is formed of a material that has interconnected internal voids forming part of the fluid extraction paths and has a lower heat transfer coefficient than the first layer.

Abstract: A moulded pulp fibre product and a method of forming a moulded pulp fibre product are provided. The method involves forming two or more pulp fibre pre-forms that each include at least one mating surface. Each pre-form is made from a suspension of pulp fibres in liquid. The pulp fibre pre-forms are assembled into a set in which adjacent pulp fibre pre-forms have mating surfaces that are in contact with, or adjacent to one another. The set of pulp fibre pre-forms are then bonded to form a pulp fibre laminate.

Abstract: A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed continuous thermoforming of pulp materials into pulp based products including a beverage dispensing capsule comprising a body having a side wall and a base formed entirely of moulded pulp fibres, said apparatus comprising a holding tank for water and pulp fibres in suspension, a continuous feed belt of articulated mesh toolsets contoured to the preform shape of said products, said belt being inclined to allow partial immersion and partial withdrawal from said suspension by continuous rotation of said belt, vacuum means applied to said mesh toolsets to draw said pulp fibres onto said mesh toolsets immersed in said suspension to form a preform pulp mat of said product.

Abstract: An article having a non-planar surface with a decoration, the article being molded from a wet pulp pre-form, wherein the article with the decoration is formed by applying a printing decoration in a distorted form to the wet pulp pre-form, and wherein moulding process of the article causes distortion of the printing decoration from the distorted form to a post distortion form corresponding with the decoration.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a wet pulp pre-form mold; applying printing decoration to the wet pulp pre-form via an intermediate transfer surface: transferring printed pre-form to a final mold; and molding or re-molding the printed pre-form into a final shape.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a wet pulp pre-form mold; applying printing decoration to the wet pulp pre-form via an intermediate transfer surface: transferring printed pre-form to a final mold; and molding or re-molding the printed pre-form into a final shape.

Abstract: Nanocapsule compositions comprising a calcium carbonate core surrounded by a bilayer or bilayers of polystyrene sulfonate and poly(allylamine hydrochloride). The poly(allylamine hydrochloride) is conjugate to a substrate, wherein the substrate is capable of being acted upon (for example cleaved) by a biomarker or enzyme associated with a disease state of interest. The nanocapsule compositions may be administered to an animal, for example a human, for the treatment of a disease state.

Abstract: A method of forming a moulded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a pre-form mould to have one or more planar surfaces, compound conjoined planar surfaces and/or two dimensional curved surfaces; transferring an amount of pulp slurry material to the pre-form mould; forming a moulded pre-form from the transferred pulp slurry material; applying printing to the planar and/or dimensional curved surfaces in a pre-distorted configuration; and moulding the printed pre-form to a different final shape whereby the printed surfaces retain the printing without running and the printing conforms to a desired post distortion configuration.

Abstract: A method of forming a moulded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a pre-form mould to have one or more planar surfaces, compound conjoined planar surfaces and/or two dimensional curved surfaces; transferring an amount of pulp slurry material to the pre-form mould; forming a moulded pre-form from the transferred pulp slurry material; applying printing to the planar and/or dimensional curved surfaces in a pre-distorted configuration; and moulding the printed pre-form to a different final shape whereby the printed surfaces retain the printing without running and the printing conforms to a desired post distortion configuration.