US 12,325,158 B2
Molded fiber product production line utilizing fluid trim operation
Pablo Gonzalez, San Francisco, CA (US); and Paul Leeman, Campbell, CA (US)
Assigned to Congruens Group, LLC, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed by Congruens Group, LLC, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/239,035.
Application 18/239,035 is a division of application No. 17/095,244, filed on Nov. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,738,485, issued on Aug. 29, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/933,593, filed on Nov. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0051193 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 41/50 (2006.01); B29C 41/16 (2006.01); B29C 41/38 (2006.01); B29C 43/02 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 41/50 (2013.01) [B29C 41/16 (2013.01); B29C 41/38 (2013.01); B29C 43/02 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0058 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of producing a molded fiber part, the method comprising:
disposing a first forming mold into a slurry tank comprising a plurality of fibers and a liquid, wherein the first forming mold comprises a first mold area, at least one fluid inlet, and a plurality of vacuum channels;
actuating a vacuum communicatively coupled to the plurality of vacuum channels to draw at least some of the plurality of fibers onto the forming mold to form a partially-formed molded fiber part;
removing the first forming mold from the slurry tank;
applying a compressive pressure to the partially-formed molded fiber part with a second forming mold;
separating a waste trim from the partially-formed molded fiber part substantially simultaneously with applying the compressive pressure; and
subsequent to separating the waste trim, transferring the partially-formed molded fiber part to a downstream station,
wherein separating the waste trim comprises receiving a fluid from the at least one fluid inlet and ejecting the fluid from a fluid outlet at least partially defined by the first forming mold.