US 12,269,234 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 Aug. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/363,206.
Application 18/363,206 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/161,177, filed on Jan. 30, 2023, granted, now 12,076,957.
Application 18/161,177 is a continuation of application No. 17/369,348, filed on Jul. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,919,270.
Prior Publication US 2023/0373181 A1, Nov. 23, 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 a pressware product from a web of a roll of material, the system comprising:
a plurality of rollers configured to pull the web from the roll;
a forming tool configured to receive the web from the plurality of rollers, the forming tool including:
a positive mold assembly comprising a positive mold and a punch, and
a negative mold assembly comprising a negative mold complementary to the positive mold and a die complementary to the punch;
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 product in the web and cut the pressware product from the web;
a suction cup movably suspended at a height above at least one of the positive mold assembly or the negative mold assembly and configured to engage the pressware product; 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 product from the one of the positive mold assembly or the negative mold assembly.