US20220403603A1

US20220403603A1 - Packing container using coconut by-product, grain by-product or coffee by-product and method for producing same

Info

Publication number: US20220403603A1
Application number: US17/777,300
Authority: US
Inventors: Wan-Young CHA
Original assignee: Marine Innovation Inc
Current assignee: Marine Innovation Inc
Priority date: 2019-11-19
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2022-12-22
Also published as: WO2021101074A2; WO2021101074A3; KR20210061134A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product, and a method for producing same. A paper packing container produced according to the present invention enables a packing container shape to be in a complete form by adjusting the moisture content of pulp of a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product, which is an eco-friendly raw material, before entering a molding process.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product and a method for producing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a packing container having a three-dimensional shape including an accommodation space is produced by molding paper pulp using wood as a raw material.
However, using wood as a raw material causes a problem concerning destruction of nature due to logging. In order to solve the problem, a method for producing pulp using agar, which is an eco-friendly raw material, was presented in Korean Patent No. 10-1847039.
Although the method suggested a specific method for producing pulp using agar-agar weed, which is an eco-friendly raw material, there is no suggestion for producing a packing container.
On the other hand, a problem has been found that the packing container may not be easily produced in the production of general packing containers due to high water absorption rate of pulp.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method for producing a packing container capable of adjusting the moisture in pulp by using an eco-friendly raw material.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a paper packing container and a method for producing the same by adjusting the moisture in pulp made of a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product, which is an eco-friendly raw material.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product, including filtering a raw pulp material by filtering foreign substances from the coconut by-product, the grain by-product, or the coffee by-product, agitating the raw pulp material in water to pulp the raw pulp material into by-product pulp, filling the inside of a storage apparatus with a pulp liquid containing the by-product pulp, measuring moisture content of the pulp liquid inside the storage apparatus, adjusting the moisture content of the pulp liquid to fall within a predetermined range in the case that the measured moisture content is out of the predetermined range, filling a mold of a molding apparatus with the pulp liquid with the moisture content adjusted, and applying pressure to the pulp liquid in the mold to produce a molded article in a shape corresponding to the mold.
In addition, the present disclosure provides a packing container produced according to the production method.

Advantageous Effects

A paper packing container produced according to example embodiments of the present disclosure may enable a packing container shape to be in a complete form by adjusting the moisture content of pulp including a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product pulp, which is an eco-friendly raw material, before entering a molding process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram to illustrate a packing container production method using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart to illustrate a packing container production method using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

The following detailed descriptions are provided to help a comprehensive understanding of methods, apparatus, and systems described herein. However, it is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In the following descriptions, if it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present disclosure may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the terms to be described later are defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, which may vary depending on intentions or customs of users and operators. Therefore, the definition should be given based on the content throughout the specification. The terms used in the detailed description are for the purpose of describing example embodiments of the present disclosure only and should not be limited in any way. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this description, expressions such as “including” or “comprising” are intended to indicate certain features, numbers, steps, acts, elements, some or a combination thereof, and it should not be construed to exclude the presence or possibility of one or more features, numbers, steps, acts, elements, or some or a combination thereof other than those described.
In the following description, the suffixes “module” and “part” for components used in the description are given or mixed in consideration of only the ease of writing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or functions by themselves.
Here, directional terms such as an upper side, a lower side, one side, and the other side are used with regard to the orientation of the disclosed drawings. Since components of example embodiments of the present disclosure may be positioned in various orientations, the directional terms are used for purposes of illustration and do not limit the same.
Also, terms such as first and second may be used for describing various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms above may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. For example, without deviating from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.
If a component is referred to as being “connected” or “accessed” to the other component, it may be understood that it may be directly connected or accessed to the other component, but other components may exist therebetween. On the other hand, if it is said that a certain component is “directly connected” or “directly accessed” to the other component, it should be understood that no other component exists therebetween.
Hereinafter, specific example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Regardless of the numerals of drawings, the same or similar components are assigned with the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification while the technical idea disclosed herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and include all changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram to describe a method for producing a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart to describe a method for producing a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the illustrated flowchart, the method is described by dividing the same into a plurality of steps, but at least some of the steps may be performed in a different order, performed in combination with other steps, omitted, performed by being separated into specific steps, or performed by adding at least one step that is not shown.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a method for producing seaweed pulp for paper may include a filtering process (S110), a pulping process (S120), an inflow process (S130), a moisture content measurement process (S131), and a moisture content adjustment process (S132), a molding process (S140), and a drying process (S150).
In the filtering process (S110), only raw pulp materials may be obtained by filtering the coconut by-product, the grain by-product, or the coffee by-product with a filter in a filter apparatus 110. Specific details on the filtering process (S110) are as follows.
The coconut by-products or the grain by-products are coconut husks or grain husks, which are in an unrefined state and thus may contain foreign substances. The grain may be one or more of rice, barley, soybean, red bean, millet, sesame, wheat and corn.
In addition, the coffee by-products are coffee residues left after coffee extraction and may contain foreign substances or moisture.
In the filtering process (S110), the raw pulp material may be obtained by filtering foreign substances from the coconut by-product, the grain by-product, or the coffee by-product containing foreign substances in the filter apparatus 110. The raw pulp material from which the large foreign substances have been filtered may include fine coconut husks, grain husks, or coffee ground. The raw pulp material filtered in the filtering process (S110) may be accommodated in a pulping apparatus 120 for the pulping process (S120).
In the pulping process (S120), the raw pulp material accommodated in the pulping apparatus 120 is agitated in a liquid phase (e.g., water), thereby pulping the same into paper to form by-product pulp. Pulping may be a process of spreading raw materials of the coconut husks, the grain husks, or the coffee ground to a uniform concentration. In the pulping process (S120), formation of the by-product pulp may be facilitated by adding a chemical catalyst into a raw pulp liquid. The specific details of the pulping process are as follows.
In the pulping process (S120), the raw pulp material may be supplied from the filter apparatus 110 into the pulping apparatus 120. In the pulping process (S120), in order to facilitate the conversion of the raw pulp liquid into the by-product pulp, a process of cutting the coconut husks, the grain husks, or the coffee ground of the raw pulp liquid may be added.
In order to agitate the raw pulp liquid accommodated in the pulping apparatus 120, a propeller provided in the pulping apparatus 120 may rotate. The raw pulp liquid may receive kinetic energy to form a turbulent flow. The slower the rotational speed of the propeller agitating the raw pulp liquid, the lower the pulping rate of the raw pulp liquid. In the case that the rotational speed of the propeller is less than a first speed, the pulping rate of the raw pulp liquid may be rapidly lowered. On the other hand, the faster the rotational speed of the propeller, the higher the probability of the by-products in the raw pulp liquid to be cut, so that the raw materials of the coconut husks, the grain husk, or the coffee ground may become fine. In the case that the rotational speed of the propeller exceeds a second speed, the probability of the by-product of the raw pulp liquid to be cut may be sharply increased. In consideration of this, the rotational speed of the propeller may be set to 20 rpm (the first speed) to 50 rpm (the second speed).
In addition, in the pulping process (S120), heat may be applied to the inside of the pulping apparatus 120 in order to facilitate the conversion of the raw pulp liquid into by-product pulp. The lower the applied thermal energy, the lower the pulping rate of the raw pulp liquid. On the other hand, the greater the applied thermal energy, the faster the pulping rate. In consideration of this, the range of heat applied to the pulping apparatus S120 may be set.
In addition, pressure may be applied to the inside of the pulping apparatus 120 in order to facilitate the conversion of the raw pulp liquid into by-product pulp in the pulping process (S120). The lower the applied pressure, the lower the conversion rate for the raw pulp liquid into the by-product pulp. On the other hand, the higher the applied pressure, the faster the pulping rate. In consideration of this, the range of pressure applied to the pulping apparatus S120 may be set.
In the inflow process (S130), the pulp liquid may be flowed into the storage apparatus 130 to be stored therein. The pulp liquid may be by-product pulp that has not been subjected to the drying process after being pulped in a pulp production process. The by-product pulp that has not been subjected to the drying process may be in a state in which the by-product pulp is uniformly dispersed in water. However, while not limited thereto, in the inflow process (S130), dry by-product pulp and water are separately flowed into the storage apparatus 130 to be mixed.
In the moisture content measurement process (S131), the moisture content of the pulp liquid accommodated in the storage apparatus 130 may be measured. The measured moisture content may indicate whether the concentration of the pulp liquid is in a state suitable to be molded. In the case that the measured moisture content falls within a predetermined range, the concentration of the pulp liquid may be in a state suitable to be molded.
The predetermined range of the moisture content may be set to a range in which the pulp liquid is sufficiently fluid to be filled in a molding apparatus 140 but is not easily solidified. A detailed description is as follows.
The pulp liquid with the low moisture content has reduced fluidity, making it hard to evenly fill every corner of a mold (a lower mold 142 and an upper mold 141) of the molding apparatus 140. Accordingly, it may be difficult to implement a packing container with a uniform thickness or a packing container with a sophisticated shape in the molding process (S140). On the other hand, the pulp liquid with high moisture content hardly enables the formation of a packing container with a complete form.
In consideration of this, the predetermined range of the appropriate moisture content of the pulp liquid may be 30% to 50%. In the case that the moisture content of the pulp measured in the moisture content measurement process (S131) does not fall within the predetermined range, the pulp liquid may undergo the moisture content adjustment process (S132).
In the moisture content adjustment process (S132), the moisture content of the pulp liquid inside the storage apparatus 130 may be adjusted to be within the predetermined range. In the moisture content adjustment process (S132), in the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid is higher than the predetermined range, heat is applied to the storage apparatus 130 accommodating the pulp liquid to evaporate moisture in the pulp liquid. The moisture content of the pulp liquid may be reduced by evaporation of the moisture in the pulp liquid. In the moisture content adjustment process (S132), in the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid becomes lower than an upper limit of the predetermined range, the application of heat to the storage apparatus 130 may be halted.
In addition, the moisture content adjustment process (S132) may involve the evaporation of moisture by heating the pulp liquid as well as direct dehydration of the pulp liquid. In the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid is higher than the appropriate predetermined range, dehydration of the pulp liquid may be carried out in the moisture content adjustment process (S132). In the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid decreases and becomes lower than the upper limit of the predetermined range, the dehydration of the pulp liquid using the storage apparatus 130 may be halted in the moisture content adjustment process (S132).
Conversely, in the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid is lower than the predetermined range, a liquid (e.g., water) is supplied to the storage apparatus 130 accommodating the pulp liquid to increase the moisture content of the pulp liquid in the moisture content adjustment process (S132). In the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid becomes higher than a lower limit of the predetermined range, the supply of liquid to the storage apparatus 130 may be halted in the moisture content adjustment process (S132).
The pulp liquid with moisture content adjusted in the storage apparatus 130 may be supplied to the molding apparatus 140 to be molded in the shape of a packing container.
In the molding process (S140), a molded article may be produced by filling the mold of the molding apparatus 140 with the pulp liquid and then applying pressure. The molding apparatus 140 may include the lower mold 142 and the upper mold 141. The molding process (S140) may include at least one of a wet molding process and a dry molding process. The wet molding process and the dry molding process may be different from each other in the way of filling the lower mold 142 with the pulp liquid. In the wet molding process, the lower mold 142 may be filled with the pulp liquid by making the lower mold 142 immersed in a liquid tank filled with the pulp liquid and then raised vertically. In the dry molding process, as shown in FIG. 1 , the pulp liquid may be poured directly into the lower mold 142.
In the molding process (S140), the moisture content of the pulp liquid may be adjusted once more as a preventative measure before molding the pulp liquid inside the molding apparatus 140. Although the moisture content of the pulp liquid has already been adjusted in the moisture content measurement process (S131) and the moisture content adjustment process (S132), moisture content of the pulp liquid may be checked and adjusted once more in the molding process (S140), in preparation for a case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid is slightly changed. However, while not limited thereto, the moisture content of the pulp liquid may be adjusted only in the molding process (S140) without the moisture content measurement process (S131) and the moisture content adjustment process (S132).
In the molding process (S140), the moisture content of the pulp liquid inside the molding apparatus 140 may be measured. The description of the moisture content of the pulp liquid is omitted since it is the same as the description of the moisture content of the moisture content measurement process (S131). In the molding process (S140), in the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid is higher than the predetermined range, the moisture in the pulp liquid may be evaporated by applying heat to the lower mold 142 accommodating the pulp liquid. The moisture content of the pulp liquid may be reduced by evaporation of the moisture in the pulp liquid. In the molding process (S140), in the case that the moisture content of the pulp liquid becomes lower than the upper limit of the predetermined range, the application of heat to the storage apparatus 130 may be halted.
From an upper side of the lower mold 142 accommodating the pulp liquid, the pulp liquid accommodated in the lower mold 142 may be pressed as the upper mold 141 vertically descends. The pulp liquid may be pressed to become a molded article. In the molding process (S140), the molded article may be pressed a plurality of times to adjust the thickness, density, and shape of the molded article. Specifically, the molded article formed by the first pressurization of the pulp liquid may be transferred to the next lower mold, and the next upper mold corresponding to the same may descend to press the molded article to be re-pressed. The molded article molded in the molding process (S140) may be transferred to the drying apparatus 130 to remove moisture and to enter the drying process (S150).
In the drying process (S150), one or more of heat and wind may be applied to the molded article transferred to the drying apparatus 150 to dry the molded article. The drying apparatus 150 may be a conveyor belt that receives the molded article from the molding apparatus 140 and a drying apparatus (blowing apparatus and heating apparatus). The molded article may be dried in the drying process (S130) to become a finished product.
The above detailed description should not be restrictively construed in all respects and should be considered as exemplary. In addition, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for producing a packing container using a coconut by-product, a grain by-product, or a coffee by-product, the method comprising:

filtering a raw pulp material by filtering foreign substances from the coconut by-product, the grain by-product, or the coffee by-product;

agitating the raw pulp material in water to pulp the raw pulp material into by-product pulp;

filling the inside of a storage apparatus with a pulp liquid containing the by-product pulp;

measuring moisture content of the pulp liquid inside the storage apparatus;

adjusting the moisture content of the pulp liquid to fall within a predetermined range in the case that the measured moisture content is out of the predetermined range;

filling a mold of a molding apparatus with the pulp liquid with the moisture content adjusted; and

applying pressure to the pulp liquid in the mold to produce a molded article in a shape corresponding to the mold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the grain is at least one grain selected from the group consisting of rice, barley, soybean, red bean, millet, sesame, wheat and corn.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the moisture content of the pulp liquid comprises:

reducing the moisture content of the pulp liquid to fall within the predetermined range by applying heat to the inside of the storage apparatus in the case that the moisture content is higher than the predetermined range.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reducing of the moisture content by applying the heat to the inside of the storage apparatus comprises:

halting the heat application to the inside of the storage apparatus in the case that the moisture content is reduced and becomes lower than an upper limit of the predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the moisture content of the pulp liquid comprises:

reducing the moisture content of the pulp liquid to fall within the predetermined range by dehydrating the pulp liquid in the case that the moisture content is higher than the predetermined range.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reducing of the moisture content by dehydrating the pulp liquid comprises:

halting the dehydration of the pulp liquid in the case that the moisture content is reduced and becomes lower than the upper limit of the predetermined range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the moisture content of the pulp liquid comprises:

increasing the moisture content of the pulp liquid to fall within the predetermined range by supplying liquid to the pulp liquid in the case that the moisture content is less than the predetermined range.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the increasing of the moisture content by supplying the liquid to the pulp liquid comprises:

halting the liquid supply to the pulp liquid in the case that the moisture content increases and becomes higher than the lower limit of the predetermined range.

9. A packing container produced according to the method of claim 1.