Method for making disposable bowls and trays

• US 5,500,089 A
• Filed: 06/29/1994
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chyi-Ying Wu, Frank Huang
• Original Assignee: Chyi-Ying Wu, Frank Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Frank, Wu, Chyi-Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamb, Brenda A.
• Application Number:
  US08/267,533
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 162/177, 162/226, 162/227, 162/224, 162/410, 162/175, 162/231, 162/223, 106/214, 106/163.1, 426/138, 428/35.6, 264/86, 264/87
• US Class Current: 162/226
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/03 for using only once, e.g. made of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B27N 5/00 Manufacture of non-flat articles

Abstract

A method is used for making disposable trays and bowls with organic materials or herbaceous plants that can be easily disintegrated and that has low economical value. The organic materials include straws, bagasses or forage grasses etc., which are cheap and can be easily obtained. The manufacturing costs of the trays and bowls are thus competitive in price and suitable for producing disposable trays and bowls for containing food. No waste water and gas will be produced such that the method meets the requirement of environmental protection.

Claims

1. A method of making a container for food which comprises:

selecting natural herbaceous plants rich in fibers;

compressing the natural herbaceous plants;

cutting the compressed plants into fiber sections;

drying the fiber sections;

adding the dried fiber sections to a container of starch paste containing water;

mixing the dried fiber sections and starch paste to form mixed fiber and starch;

passing a shaping means comprised of a screen containing fine apertures through the container of the mixed fiber and starch to scoop the mixed fiber and starch onto the screen;

draining the water from the mixed fiber and starch through the fine apertures;

placing the shaping means with the mixed fiber and starch in a mold device comprising an upper mold member and a lower mold member;

compressing the mixed fiber and starch between the upper and lower mold members to form the food container;

separating the upper and lower mold members; and

retrieving the food container from the mold device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mold device further comprises a heating element and wherein the mixed fiber and starch are heat-pressed between the upper and lower mold members.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the-upper and lower mold members contain apertures.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein a vacuum is applied through the apertures in the upper mold member during separation of the upper and lower mold members such that the food container moves with the upper mold member.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the food container is separated from the upper mold member by pumping air through the apertures in the upper mold member.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the natural herbaceous plants are forage grasses.