Sponge production process and plant
OwnerFulvio Martiniinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The sponge production process consists of heating a mould of Teflon or silicone to a temperature between 60° C. and 70° C., feeding a mixture comprising a plastic material and a reagent into the mould, allowing the mixture to rise for a time less than 30 minutes, and extracting the finished sponge from the mould. In this manner an absorbent sponge is obtained without an impermeable surface skin. The plant comprises a conveyor for conveying a mould to mould heating means, followed by feeding means. The plant then comprises rising means arranged to retain the mould for a time such that the mixture contained in the mould undergoes rising, followed by means for discharging the sponge.
Claims21
A sponge production process consisting of heating a mould (3) of Teflon or silicone or other materials to a temperature between 60° C. and 70° C., feeding a mixture comprising a plastic material and a reagent into said mould (3), allowing the mixture to rise for a time less than 30 minutes, and extracting the finished sponge (10) from the mould (3) to obtain an absorbent sponge without an impermeable surface skin.
A sponge production plant (1), characterised by comprising a conveyor (2) for conveying a mould (3) to mould heating means (4), followed by means (5) for feeding a mixture into said mould (3), said plant (1) then comprising rising means (7) arranged to retain said mould (3) for a prefixed time such that the mixture contained in the mould (3) undergoes rising, followed by discharge means (8) for said sponge (10).
A plant (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that downstream of said feed means (5) said plant (1) presents a member (9) for closing said mould (3), said discharge means (8) comprising a member for opening said mould (3) in order to discharge the sponge (10) contained therein.
A method for forming a sponge mould (3), characterised by consisting of positioning within a hollow body (15) a pattern (16) of the sponge to be produced, introducing a first mixture (20) of silicone and catalyst into the hollow body (15), leaving said first mixture (20) to react until solid, applying a layer (21) of detachment product to the free surface of the solidified first mixture (20), then introducing a second mixture (22) of silicone and catalyst into the hollow body (15) and allowing it to react until solid, then opening the hollow body (15), removing the pattern (16) and extracting the mould (3) which has been formed.
A method as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the first mixture (20) and the second mixture (22) are identical.
A method as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that after being formed a quick hardening polyurethane resin is poured into the mould (3) interior, after which the mould (3) is closed and the resin left to react for a time between 20 and 40 minutes at ambient temperature, to form a plurality of rigid natural sponge patterns usable for making moulds presenting the impression of natural sponges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.