US 11,919,270 B2
Methods and systems for producing pressware
Victor L. Chun, Beaverton, MI (US); Steffen Brown, Beaverton, MI (US); Russ Bliss, Beaverton, MI (US); Philip Eichbauer, Beaverton, MI (US); Brian Keeley, Beaverton, MI (US); and Robert Abel, Beaverton, MI (US)
Assigned to Brown LLC, Beaverton, MI (US)
Filed by Brown LLC, Beaverton, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/369,348.
Prior Publication US 2023/0008774 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B31B 50/00 (2017.01); B31B 50/10 (2017.01); B31B 50/12 (2017.01); B31B 50/14 (2017.01); B31B 50/25 (2017.01); B31B 50/59 (2017.01); B31F 1/00 (2006.01); B31B 110/40 (2017.01)
CPC B31B 50/005 (2017.08) [B31B 50/006 (2017.08); B31B 50/102 (2017.08); B31B 50/12 (2017.08); B31B 50/142 (2017.08); B31B 50/252 (2017.08); B31B 50/592 (2018.05); B31F 1/0009 (2013.01); B31B 2110/40 (2017.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing pressware from a web of a roll of material, the system comprising:
a plurality of rollers configured to pull the web along a path forming an angle;
a scoring tool operable to receive the material from the plurality of rollers, the scoring tool including a scoring punch and a striker plate that are shiftable relative to one another, the scoring punch including an edge extending about a shape representing an outline of the pressware;
a scoring station actuator configured to shift at least one of the scoring punch or the striker plate of the scoring tool to press the web between the scoring punch and the striker plate to form a slot in the web that extends about the outline of the pressware;
a forming tool configured to receive the web from the scoring tool, the forming tool including a positive mold assembly and a negative mold assembly that are shiftable relative to one another;
a forming station actuator configured to shift at least one of the positive mold assembly or the negative mold assembly to press the web between the positive mold assembly and the negative mold assembly to form the pressware in the web;
a picking station roller configured to pull a remainder of the web from the forming tool;
a suction cup movably suspended at a height above the picking station roller and configured to engage the pressware; and
a picking station actuator configured to shift the suction cup away from one of the positive mold assembly or the negative mold assembly to remove the pressware from the one of the positive mold assembly or the negative mold assembly.