Method and apparatus for making flat top buns
AssigneeUnited Foam Corporation
InventorCharles W. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making flat topped foamed buns (e.g. polyurethane) in a continuous foaming process. The method comprises the guiding of a continuous thin film tubular member through gathering devices adjacent the cream line at each side of a conveyor, and subsequently guiding the tubular members upward along guides at an angle and rate determined in accordance with the rate of longitudinal travel and the rate of rise of the foaming reactants so as to encourage the sides of the bun into the same height of rise as the center region of the bun. Continuous slitting of the tubular members at the appropriate elevation allows the material thereof to progress longitudinally with the cured bun.
Claims36
In apparatus for obtaining molded products in continuous open molding equipment having a conveyor system defining an open top trough in which is disposed a main film member formed to have a bottom and two side regions to cover the bottom and at least part of the side walls defining the trough onto which foam reactants are dispensed to react in a foaming region to form a continuous bun as the main film member along the conveyor system, the improvement comprising:
- supply means for supplying tubular film members, each having at least a tubular portion, adjacent each side of said trough adjacent the region said foam reactants are dispensed;
- means for gathering each of said tubular film members adjacent a lower portion of said side regions of said main film member and the respective said side wall defining the trough;
- guide means adjacent each side of said conveyor system, each of said guide means being a means for extending into a respective one of said tubular members and for guiding the top thereof along an upwardly inclined trajectory adjacent said foaming region;
- and
- means for opening each of said tubular members adjacent the end of said foaming region to allow separation of said tubular members from said guide means.
In apparatus for obtaining molded products in continuous open molding equipment having a conveyor system defining an open top trough in which is disposed a main film member formed to have a bottom and two side regions to cover the bottom and at least part of the side walls defining the trough onto which foam reactants are dispensed to react in a foaming region to form a continuous bun as the main film member proceeds along the conveyor system, the improvement comprising:
- supply means for supplying tubular film members having an approximately vertical orientation adjacent each side of said trough and adjacent the region said foam reactants are dispensed;
- means adjacent each side of said conveyor system for gathering each of said tubular film members, upon passage therethrough;
- a guide member adjacent each side of said conveyor system, each of said guide members being disposed for extending into a respective one of said tubular members and for guiding the top thereof along an upwardly inclined trajectory adjacent said foaming region;
- and
- slitting knives for opening the upper region of each of said tubular members adjacent the end of said foaming region to allow separation of said tubular members from said guide members.
A method for obtaining flat top molded products in continuous open molding equipment having a conveyor system defining an open top trough in which is disposed a main film member formed to have a bottom and two side regions to cover the bottom and at least part of the side walls defining the trough onto which foam reactants are dispensed to react in a foaming region to form a continuous bun as the main film member proceeds along the conveyor system, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing continuous thin film tubular members of a given height, each having at least a tubular region adjacent one edge thereof, adjacent each side of the trough;
- b. gathering each of the tubular members in the area substantially adjacent a lower portion of said side regions of the main film and the respective side wall of the conveyor system;
- by passing each said member through an opening in a gathering means
- c. drawing at least a part of each tubular member upward in the foaming region to encourage the side regions of the foaming reactants in contact therewith upward by the passage of each tubular member over an inclined guide;
- and
- d. Slitting the tubular member substantially adjacent the region of maximum rise of the reactants so as to separate the tubular member and the guide.
A method for obtaining flat top molded products in continuous open molding equipment having a conveyor system defining an open top trough in which is disposed a main film member formed to have a bottom and two side regions to cover the bottom and at least part of the side walls defining the trough onto which foam reactants are dispensed to react in a foaming region to form a continuous bun as the main film member proceeds along the conveyor system, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing continuous thin film members adjacent each side of the trough;
- b. gathering each of the thin film members to substantially reduce the height of each of the thin film members;
- by passing each said film member through an opening in a gathering means
- c. disposing each of the gathered thin film members adjacent the side regions of the main film member;
- d. drawing each thin film member upward in the foaming region to encourage the side of the foaming reactants in contact therewith upward;
- and
- e. releasing each of the thin film members adjacent the region of maximum rise of the reactants.
Apparatus for obtaining flat top molded products in continuous open molding equipment having a conveyor system defining an open top trough in which is disposed a main film member formed to have a bottom and two sides regions to cover the bottom and at least part of the side walls defining the trough onto which foam reactants are dispensed to react in a foaming region to form a continuous bun as the main film member proceeds along the conveyor system, comprising;
- means for providing continuous thin film members adjacent each side of the trough;
- means for gathering each of the thin film members to substantially reduce the height of the thin film members;
- means for disposing each of the gathered thin film members adjacent the side regions of the main film member;
- means for drawing at least part of each thin film member upward in the foaming region to encourage the side of the foaming reactants in contact therewith upward;
- and
- means for allowing each of the thin film members to continue with the bun adjacent the region of maximum rise of the reactants.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.