METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERS AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a container comprising fibers, wherein the method comprises providing at least two different fluid fiber mixtures and introducing the fiber mixtures into a mold in which the container is formed such that at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from an inner to an outer surface of the container are produced with different fiber mixtures. The disclosure further relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2022 121 462.1 filed on Aug. 25, 2022. The entire contents of the above-listed application are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a container comprising fibers and a device for carrying out the method.

BACKGROUND

For the production of bottles comprising fibers, such as, for example, pulp bottles, the starting material is a fluid mass which comprises water and fibers, such as wood and/or cellulose fibers. The fibers are generally not characterized by any particular structure or shape. Although flat bodies and bottles can thus be made from the fluid mass, they do not have any particular rigidity due to the fibrous structure of the fibers in the fluid mass. It may therefore be the case that, bottles may lack the necessary robustness with respect to, for example, bursting, top-loading during stacking or normal handling by an end user.

Different requirements with regard to robustness can only be met by different wall thicknesses, which can lead to increased consumption of the fluid mass.

SUMMARY

Object

The object of the disclosure is to provide a method and a device which enable a container to be produced which has sufficient robustness.

Achievement

The object is achieved by the method and the device as described herein.

The method according to the disclosure for producing a container comprising fibers comprises providing at least two different fluid fiber mixtures and introducing the fiber mixtures into a mold in which the container is formed such that at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from an inner to an outer surface of the container are produced with different fiber mixtures.

One of the different fluid fiber mixtures can comprise a first fiber length or a first fiber length range, and another of the different fluid fiber blends can comprise a second fiber length or a second fiber length range.

It may also be possible for one of the different fluid fiber mixtures to comprise an unused fluid fiber mixture, i.e., no components of a fiber mixture previously used for a production process have been added to this fiber mixture after mixing. Another of the different fluid fiber mixtures can comprise an at least partially recycled fiber mixture.

Different fluid fiber mixtures can comprise various additives in addition to the fibers and the fluid, for example glue or lignin or the like.

This list is exemplary and the fluid fiber mixtures can be used in various combinations.

By using the different fluid fiber mixtures, for example, different degrees of robustness of the corresponding volume regions of the produced container can be achieved, which could otherwise be obtained by providing different wall thicknesses of the corresponding volume regions when using a single, fluid fiber mixture.

For example, the use of the different fluid fiber mixtures can reduce material consumption (for example, fibers, fluid and/or any additives) compared to the use of a single, fluid fiber mixture.

The term “continuous volume regions of the container” may be considered as a distinction from a layered construction of a container in which, for example, a first layer of a first fiber mixture which may form an inner surface of the container (which may, for example, at least partially come into contact with filled product) and a second layer of a second fiber mixture which may form an outer surface of the container (on which, for example, a label may be arranged) are provided. The continuous volume regions extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container. For example, a continuous volume regi on can comprise a base, a side portion, or a shoulder region.

The fiber mixtures can be introduced in such a way that a single feed line is provided for the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures, wherein in each case one of these fiber mixtures can be introduced through the single feed line into the mold or a valve block, for example one after the other in time, and/or wherein in each case a mixture of two or more of the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures can be introduced through the single feed line into the mold or the valve block. In order to be able to feed the single feed line with the provided at least two different fluid fiber mixtures, connecting lines to the single feed line can be provided from a supply tank of the respective fluid fiber mixture, wherein, for example, one or more mixing valves can also be provided between connecting lines and the single feed line.

Alternatively, for each of the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures, a feed line to the mold or to the valve block can be provided, for example, from a respective supply tank which can contain one of the fluid fiber mixtures.

The volume regions can comprise two, three or more of the following volume regions: threads, base, sidewall, shoulder region, lid, neck region, support ring, base panel, groove contours, pinch or label region.

In one or more of the at least two different continuous volume regions, a further fiber mixture can be provided in sections. For example, the further fiber mixture can be different from the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures. The further fiber mixture can be provided in order to form a tensile strip and/or to provide strengthening of the corresponding volume region.

The at least two different fluid fiber mixtures can be provided in each case in a separate supply tank. Each of the supply tanks can be connected by means of a line to the mold or the valve block, or each of the supply tanks is connected by means of a single feed line to the mold or the valve block.

A turbidity of the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures can be measured in each case by means of a turbidity sensor which can be provided per separate supply tank.

For each separate supply tank, one of the different fluid fiber mixtures can be mixed by adding fibers to the supply tank containing the fluid or by adding fibers and adding fluid to the supply tank. For example, additives can also be added to the supply tank.

A mixing device can be provided in each supply tank, for example in the form of a rotary mixer.

The introduction may comprise introducing the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures, each via a feed line to an inlet device of the mold. A valve block can comprise valves corresponding to the number of different fluid fiber mixtures to which the feed lines are respectively connected. From the valves, one of the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures can then reach the inlet device of the mold one after the other in time and be introduced into the mold.

Alternatively, the introduction can comprise mixing the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures to form a mixed, fluid fiber mixture and introducing the mixed, fluid fiber mixture via a common feed line to an inlet device of the mold. In the presence of a first and a second fiber mixture, the mixed, fluid fiber mixture can comprise mixtures of 0% of the first and 100% of the second fiber mixture, 100% of the first and 0% of the second fiber mixture, and intermediate values thereof, for example 30% of the first and 70% of the second fiber mixture.

The method can further comprise controlling the inlet device (which has already been described above, for example) of the mold to discharge the fiber mixtures and controlling extraction openings in the mold such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container are produced with the different fiber mixtures.

Controlling the inlet device may comprise moving the inlet device vertically in the mold and/or opening or closing the inlet device.

Controlling the extraction openings can comprise activating or deactivating the extraction openings. For example, one or more extraction openings may each be connected to extraction lines, with each of which valves may be associated, and the activating or deactivating of the extraction openings may be achieved by opening or closing the valves. A pump can be provided downstream of the valves to generate extraction pressure.

The disclosure further relates to a device for carrying out the method as described above or further below, wherein the device comprises:

• • at least two supply tanks for providing different fluid fiber mixtures, respectively,
  • a mold for forming the container therein, and
  • at least one feed line for introducing the fiber mixtures into the mold such that at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from an inner to an outer surface of the container can be produced with different fiber mixtures.

Each supply tank can comprise a turbidity sensor for measuring a turbidity of the fluid fiber mixture present in the supply tank.

Each supply tank can comprise a feed device for adding fibers or a feed device for adding fibers and a feed device for adding fluid to the supply tank for mixing one of the different fluid fiber mixture. For example, each supply tank can also comprise a feed device for adding additives into the supply tank.

Each supply tank can be connected to an inlet device of the mold by means of a feed line.

Alternatively, a feed line can lead from each supply tank to a mixing valve for mixing the different fluid fiber mixtures to form a mixed fluid fiber mixture, and a common feed line can be connected from the mixing valve to an inlet device of the mold. If a first and a second fiber mixture are present, the mixed, fluid fiber mixture can comprise mixtures of 0% of the first and 100% of the second fiber mixture, 100% of the first and 0% of the second fiber mixture, and intermediate values thereof, for example 30% of the first and 70% of the second fiber mixture. The mixing valve can be designed to be controllable so that a desired mixing ratio can be set.

The device may further comprise:

a first control device for controlling the inlet device (which has already been described above, for example) of the mold to discharge the fiber mixtures and a second control device for controlling extraction openings in the mold such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container are produced with the different fiber mixtures.

The functions of the control devices have already been described with regard to the method and apply correspondingly to the device designed to carry out the method.

The mold can comprise individually controllable extraction openings. These controllable openings can, for example, each be arranged in a region in which the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container can be produced.

The functions and a possible structure of the extraction openings have already been described with regard to the method and apply correspondingly to the device designed to carry out the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying Figures show, by way of example, aspects and/or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure for better understanding and illustration. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device for carrying out the method for producing a container comprising fibers,

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device for carrying out the method for producing a container comprising fibers,

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of a mold,

FIG. 4A shows a first embodiment of a container with a lid,

FIG. 4B shows a second embodiment of a container with a lid,

FIG. 4C shows a third embodiment of a container with a lid,

FIG. 4D shows a fourth embodiment of a container and

FIG. 4E shows a fifth embodiment of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device 1 for carrying out the method for producing a container comprising fibers, as described above or below. A first fluid fiber mixture 3 is provided in a first supply tank 2 and a second fluid fiber mixture 5 is provided in a second supply tank 4, wherein the two fiber mixtures 3, 5 are different. For example, the first fiber mixture 3 can comprise first fibers whose lengths are between 5 mm and 10 mm, and, for example, the second fiber mixture 5 can comprise second fibers whose lengths are between 10 mm and 15 mm.

The first supply tank 2 comprises a first turbidity sensor 9 for measuring a turbidity of the first fiber mixture 3 and the second supply tank 4 comprises a second turbidity sensor 10 for measuring a turbidity of the second fiber mixture 5.

A first feed line 11 leads from the first supply tank 2 to a mixing valve 12 and a second feed line 13 leads from the second supply tank 4 to the mixing valve 12. A mixed, fluid fiber mixture can be produced in the mixing valve 12. The mixed, fluid fiber mixture can comprise mixtures of 0% of the first and 100% of the second fiber mixture, 100% of the first and 0% of the second fiber mixture, and intermediate values thereof, for example 30% of the first and 70% of the second fiber mixture. Via a common feed line 14 from the mixing valve 12 and leading to a valve 15 in the valve block 7, the mixed fluid fiber mixture can be fed to a mold 6 by means of an inlet 8 for the mixed fluid fiber mixture. A container comprising fibers can be produced in the mold 6.

The mold 6 can comprise extraction openings (not shown) which can be arranged such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container can be produced with the different fiber mixtures introduced into the mold.

Below the mold 6, a trough 16 is arranged which can be used, for example, to collect fluid and fiber residues (also referred to as catch material) which can be pressed, during a pressing process in the mold 6, out of the fiber mixtures introduced therein. The catch material can be led via a first discharge line 17 to and through a filter 18, with which, for example, the fiber residues can be filtered out. From the filter 18, a connecting line 19 leads to a sensor 20, in which it can be determined, for example, whether the filtered catch material can be fed via a 3-way valve to the first supply tank 2 and/or to the second supply tank 4 via a first return line 22 to the first supply tank 2 or via a second return line 23 to the second supply tank 4.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment 24 of a device for carrying out the method for producing a container comprising fibers, as described above or below. A first fluid fiber mixture 26 is provided in a first supply tank 25 and a second fluid fiber mixture 31 is provided in a second supply tank 30, wherein the two fiber mixtures 26, 31 are different. For example, the first fiber mixture 26 can comprise first fibers whose lengths are between 5 mm and 10 mm, and, for example, the second fiber mixture 31 can comprise second fibers whose lengths are between 10 mm and 15 mm.

The first supply tank 25 comprises a first turbidity sensor 27 for measuring a turbidity of the first fiber mixture 26 and the second supply tank 30 comprises a second turbidity sensor 32 for measuring a turbidity of the second fiber mixture 31.

The first supply tank 25 comprises a first feed device 28 for adding fibers and a second feed device 29 for adding additives to the supply tank 25. This allows mixing of the first fluid fiber mixture 26. Fluid can already be contained in the supply tank 25 for mixing.

The second supply tank 30 comprises a third feed device 33 for adding fibers and a fourth feed device 34 for adding additives to the supply tank 30. This allows mixing of the first fluid fiber mixture 31. Fluid can already be contained in the supply tank 30 for mixing.

From the first supply tank 25, the first fiber mixture 26 can be fed, via a first feed line 35 which leads to a first valve 37 in the valve block 39, to a mold 40 by means of an inlet 41. A container comprising fibers can be produced in the mold 40.

From the second supply tank 30, the second fiber mixture 31 can be fed, via a second feed line 36 which leads to a second valve 38 in the valve block 39, to the mold 40 by means of the inlet 41.

The mold 40 can comprise extraction openings (not shown) which can be arranged such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container can be produced accordingly with the first fiber mixture 26 or the second fiber mixture 31 introduced into the mold 40.

Below the mold 40, a trough 42 is arranged which can be used, for example, to collect fluid and fiber residues (also referred to as catch material) which can be pressed, during a pressing process in the mold 40, out of the fiber mixtures 26, 31 introduced therein. The catch material can be led via a first discharge line 43 to and through a first filter 44 with which, for example, the fiber residues can be filtered out. A first connecting line 45 leads from the first filter 44 to a first sensor 20, from which the filtered catch material can be fed to the first supply tank 25 via a first return line 47. The catch material can be led via a second discharge line 48 to and through a second filter 49 with which, for example, the fiber residues can be filtered out. A second connecting line 50 leads from the second filter 49 to a second sensor 51, from which the filtered catch material can be fed to the second supply tank 30 via a second return line 52.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of a mold 53, as can be used for example for the first or second embodiment of the devices 1, 24 described above. Different fluid fiber mixtures which are provided in corresponding different supply tanks can be introduced into the mold 53 via an inlet 54. The mold 53 comprises a plurality of extraction openings (not shown) which can each be activated or deactivated by extraction lines 55, 56, 57, 58 and their associated valves 90, 91, 92, 93. A pump 59 is provided downstream of the valves 90, 91, 92, 93 for generating extraction pressure.

The first extraction line 55 is associated with the neck region 97. When a first fluid fiber mixture is introduced through the inlet 54 and when the first valve 90 is opened and the other valves 91, 92, 93 are closed, the introduced fluid fiber mixture can accumulate in the neck region 97.

The second extraction line 56 is associated with the shoulder region 96. When a second fluid fiber mixture is introduced through the inlet 54 and when the second valve 91 is opened and the other valves 90, 92, 93 are closed, the second fluid fiber mixture can accumulate in the shoulder region 96.

The third extraction line 57 is associated with the side part 95. When a third fluid fiber mixture is introduced through the inlet 54 and when the third valve 92 is opened and the other valves 90, 91, 93 are closed, the third fluid fiber mixture introduced can accumulate on the side part 95.

The fourth extraction line 58 is associated with the base 94. When a fluid fiber mixture is introduced through the inlet 54 and when the fourth valve 93 is opened and the other valves 90, 91, 92 are closed, the introduced fourth fluid fiber mixture can accumulate at the base 94.

At least two of the first, second, third and fourth fluid fiber mixtures may be different from one another.

FIG. 4A shows a first embodiment of a container with a lid 60. In this case, the lid 60 has been produced entirely from a first fiber mixture which can serve to increase robustness. The neck region 61 of the container has also been produced from the first fiber mixture. The thread 62, the shoulder region 63, the side part 64 and the base 65 of the container were produced from a second fiber mixture which can serve to provide watertightness.

FIG. 4B shows a second embodiment of a container with a lid 66. In this case, the lid 66 has been produced entirely from the second fiber mixture, which can serve to provide watertightness. The shoulder region 69 of the container was produced from a third fiber mixture which can serve for permeation tightness. The permeation tightness can be provided for oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. The neck region 67, the thread 68, the side part 70 and the base 71 of the container were produced from the second fiber mixture, which can serve to provide watertightness.

FIG. 4C shows a third embodiment of a container with a lid 72. The lid was produced from two different fiber mixtures. The upper part 73 was produced from the third fiber mixture, which can serve for permeation tightness, and the side part 74 of the lid 72 was produced from the second fiber mixture, which can serve to provide watertightness. The thread 76, the side part 78, and the base 79 were produced from the second fiber mixture. The neck region 75 and the shoulder region 77 were produced from the first fiber mixture, which can serve to increase robustness.

FIG. 4D shows a fourth embodiment of a container. The thread 81, the neck region 80, the shoulder region 82 and the base 84 were produced from the second fiber mixture, which can serve to provide watertightness. The side part 83 was produced from the first fiber mixture, which can serve to increase robustness.

FIG. 4E shows a fifth embodiment of a container. The thread 86, the neck region 85, the shoulder region 87, and the side part 88 bottom were produced from the second fiber mixture, which can serve to provide watertightness. The base 89 was produced from the first fiber mixture, which can serve to increase robustness.

Claims

1. Method for producing a container comprising fibers, wherein the method comprises:

providing at least two different fluid fiber mixtures,

introducing the fiber mixtures into a mold in which the container is formed such that at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from an inner to an outer surface of the container are produced with different fiber mixtures.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the volume regions comprise two, three or more of the following volume regions: threads, base, sidewall, shoulder region, lid, neck region, support ring, base panel, groove contours, pinch or label region.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein a further fiber mixture is provided in sections in one or more of the at least two different continuous volume regions, wherein, the further fiber mixture is different from the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures are each provided in a separate supply tank.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein a turbidity of the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures is measured in each case by means of a turbidity sensor which is provided per separate supply tank.

6. Method according to claim 4, wherein for each separate supply tank, one of the different fluid fiber mixtures is mixed by adding fibers to the supply tank containing the fluid or by adding fibers and adding fluid to the supply tank, wherein, additives are also added to the supply tank.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the introduction comprises:

introducing the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures, each via a respective feed line to an inlet device of the mold.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the introduction comprises:

mixing the at least two different fluid fiber mixtures to form a mixed, fluid fiber mixture, and

introducing the mixed, fluid fiber mixture via a common feed line to an inlet device of the mold.

9. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling an/the inlet device of the mold to discharge the fiber mixtures and controlling extraction openings in the mold such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container are produced with the different fiber mixtures.

10. Device for carrying out a method for producing a container comprising fibers, wherein the device comprises:

at least two supply tanks for providing different fluid fiber mixtures,

a mold for forming the container therein, and

at least one feed line for introducing the fiber mixtures into the mold such that at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from an inner to an outer surface of the container can be produced with different fiber mixtures.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein each supply tank comprises a turbidity sensor for measuring a turbidity of the fluid fiber mixture present in the supply tank.

12. Device according to claim 10, wherein each supply tank comprises a feed device for adding fibers or a feed device for adding fibers and a feed device for adding fluid to the supply tank for mixing one of the different fluid fiber mixture, wherein, each supply tank also comprises a feed device for adding additives to the supply tank.

13. Device according to claim 10, wherein each supply tank is connected to an inlet device of the mold by means of a feed line, or wherein a feed line leads from each supply tank to a mixing valve for mixing the different fluid fiber mixtures to form a mixed fluid fiber mixture, and wherein a common feed line is connected from the mixing valve to an inlet device of the mold.

14. Device according to claim 10, wherein the device further comprises:

a first control device for controlling an/the inlet device of the mold to discharge the fiber mixtures and a second control device for controlling extraction openings in the mold such that the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container are produced with the different fiber mixtures.

15. Device according to claim 10, wherein the mold comprises individually controllable extraction openings which are each arranged in a region in which the at least two different continuous volume regions of the container which extend from the inner to the outer surface of the container can be produced.