Reel made of molded components
AssigneeSonoco Development, Inc.
InventorHarvey Charles Echols, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composition for making a molded article such as a reel flange, and a method making the same, are provided. The composition may consist essentially of about 75-95 wt % dry waste wood and about 10-25 wt % binder such as melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) or PMUF resin. The waste wood may be recycled wood fiber from pine or other hardwoods, sawdust and wood chips. The method comprises mixing dry waste wood with MUF or PMUF resin binder to make a wood/resin mixture, and compressing the wood/resin mixture in a mold cavity at a pressure and temperature.
Claims20
A composition for making a molded product, the composition comprising:
- about 75-90 wt % dry waste wood;
- and
- about 10-25 wt % binder, wherein the binder is a melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin or a PMUF resin.
A reel comprising:
- a cylindrical drum defining an axis (A) and having a first end and an opposing second end;
- a male flange affixed to the first end and comprising a body and a rim, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface spaced axially apart from the inner surface, the rim extending axially outward away from the body and terminating in a substantially circular edge, the outer surface comprising a substantially circular boss extending axially outward from the outer surface a distance (D) beyond the edge of the rim, the inner surface being substantially planar and defining an annular groove configured to receive an end of the drum;
- and
- a female flange affixed to the second end and comprising a body and a rim, the body having an inner surface and an outer surface spaced axially apart from the inner surface, the rim extending axially outward away from the body and terminating in a substantially circular edge, the outer surface comprising spindles circumferentially disposed around the outer surface, each spindle defining a notch, the inner surface being substantially planar and defining an annular groove configured to receive an end of the drum;
- wherein
- when the reel is positioned, male flange down, on top of a second, similarly constituted reel also positioned male flange down, the boss of the reel fits within the notches of the second reel.
A method of making a molded product comprising the steps of:
- drying waste wood and/or wood fiber;
- mixing about 75-90 wt % dry waste wood with about 10-25 wt % MUF or PMUF resin binder to make a wood/resin mixture;
- and
- compressing the wood/resin mixture in a mold cavity at a pressure and temperature to form a product having a desired size and shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.