Methods and systems for removing flashing and other irregularities from molded starch-bound articles

A system for removing extraneous mold material from newly demolded containers, comprising:

• a conveyor that simultaneously conveys a plurality of newly demolded containers having extraneous mold material attached to an upper rim of each container from a mold system to a flashing removal system, the conveyor traveling around in a loop and including an array of nests, each of which is configured to receive therein a newly demolded container from the mold system and then retain the container during flash removal;
• and
• a flashing removal system configured so as to simultaneously remove a substantial portion of extraneous mold material from the upper rims of at least two of the newly demolded containers, wherein the flashing removal system includes at least one of (i) a blade configured to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the extraneous mold material from the at least two newly demolded containers or (ii) a sander configured to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the extraneous mold material from the at least two newly demolded containers.

A system for removing extraneous mold material from newly demolded starch-bound containers, comprising:

• a conveyor that simultaneously conveys a plurality of newly demolded starch-bound containers that are fragile and brittle and that have extraneous mold material attached to an upper rim of each container from a mold system to a flashing removal system, the conveyor traveling around in a loop and including an array of nests, each of which is configured to receive therein a newly demolded container from the mold system and then retain the container during flash removal;
• and
• a flashing removal system configured so as to simultaneously remove a substantial portion of extraneous mold material from the upper rims of at least two of the newly demolded starch-bound containers without causing significant damage to the newly demolded starch-bound containers, wherein the flashing removal system includes at least one of (i) a blade configured to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the extraneous mold material from the at least two newly demolded starch-bound containers or (ii) a sander configured to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the extraneous mold material from the at least two newly demolded containers.