Natural fiber based lid with undercut

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to a manufacturing component as a first tool in a forming station at least for endforming a preformed lid made from a material to form an undercut comprising natural fibres. The preformed lid includes a top part and a side part circumferencing the top part, where the manufacturing component is adapted to contact an outer side of the preformed lid to endform the preformed lid by exerting a first movement in axial direction along a center axis of the manufacturing component and a later second movement in a second direction towards the side part of the preformed lid. Multiple side forming elements of the manufacturing component are arranged to exert the second movement by applying an outer pressure onto an outer side of the side part to form an undercut into the side part.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A system for forming a lid, comprising:
 a manufacturing component to be used as a first tool in a forming station at least for endforming a preformed lid made from a material comprising natural fibres, the preformed lid comprising a top part and a side part circumferencing the top part, wherein the manufacturing component is adapted to contact an outer side of the preformed lid to endform the preformed lid by exerting a first movement in an axial direction along a center axis of the manufacturing component and a later second movement in a second direction towards the side part of the preformed lid, wherein multiple side forming elements of the manufacturing component are arranged to exert the second movement and apply an outer pressure onto an outer side of the side part to form an undercut into the side part.   
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 the side forming elements are arranged around the center axis, and wherein the side forming elements are suitably shaped to provide a free space between adjacent side forming elements prior to exerting the second movement.   
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 the manufacturing component comprises at least three side forming elements.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 the preformed lid is circular with a circumferencing side part, and wherein the second direction is a radial direction towards the center axis and the side forming elements are arranged circularly around the center axis.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 the side forming elements each comprises an inner side directed towards the outer side of the side part, and wherein each inner side has a contour adapted to a desired shape of the undercut.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein
 the side forming elements are suitably shaped to provide an undercut circumferenting the side part of the preformed lid.   
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 at least a part of surfaces of the manufacturing component intended to be in contact with the material of the preformed lid is made of a material with decreased friction or adhesion properties.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the system includes the forming station comprising the first tool and a second tool at least for endforming a preformed lid:
 wherein the manufacturing component is the first tool; and   wherein the second tool is adapted to at least carry the preformed lid, wherein at least one motor system is adapted to move the first tool on top of the second tool with the preformed lid inbetween in the first movement and in the later second movement to move the side forming elements of the first tool towards the side part of the preformed lid and apply the outer pressure onto the outer side of the side part to form the undercut into the side part.   
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein:
 the second tool is suitably shaped to at least support an inner side of the side part during application of the outer pressure to the outer side of the side part by the side forming elements, such that the undercut is reliably formed by the side forming elements.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein:
 the second tool comprises a counter part to support an inner side of the side part, where a contour of the counter part is adapted to a desired shape of the undercut at the inner side of the side part.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein:
 the counter part is divided in movable counter part elements, which are adapted to move towards the center axis in order to release the endformed lid after being endformed.   
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the system is a forming device, the forming device including:
 the forming station; and   a preforming station, wherein the preforming station is adapted to preform a lid from the material comprising natural fibres and the forming station is adapted to receive the preformed lid from the preforming station and to provide the endformed lid comprising the undercut within the side part of the endformed lid.   
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein:
 the forming device further comprises a transfer station transporting the preformed lid to the forming station for enforming the preformed lid.   
     
     
         41 . A method to provide endformed lids, comprising:
 providing a preformed lid made of a material comprising natural fibres to a forming station, wherein the preformed lid includes a top part and a side part circumferencing the top part, and wherein the forming station includes a manufacturing component as a first tool and a second tool;   performing a first movement in axial direction along a center axis of the manufacturing component at least with the first tool to contact an outer side of the lid;   performing a following second movement in a second direction with multiple side forming elements of the first tool moved towards the center axis to apply an outer pressure onto an outer side of the side part of the lid to form an undercut into the side part to establish the endformed lid; and   outputting the endformed lid with the undercut in the side part.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising preforming the material in a preforming station to provide the preformed lid. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , further comprising:
 transferring the preformed lid from the preforming station to the forming station with a transfer station; and   stacking the endformed lids outputed from the forming station by a stacking station.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 42 , further comprising providing the material as a sheet material to the preforming station for the preforming. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the preforming the material includes applying a paper pulp process. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the preforming the material is executed in the forming station prior to endforming the preformed lid, and wherein the forming station performs a function of the preforming station. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising moving, by a motor system, the first tool and the second tool simultaneously to place the first tool on top of the second tool.