Methods and systems for removing flashing and other irregularities from molded starch-bound articles

摘要

Methods and systems for finishing molded articles, such as starch-bound articles, having flashing or other extraneous features attached thereto. The containers are conveyed from the mold apparatus to the flash removal system (38), which preferably includes a rough flashing removal subsystem and a fine flashing removal subsystem (40). The rough removal system (38) cuts or slices of all, or substantially all, of the flashing without damaging the molded articles. The fine removal subsystem (40) sands or abrades any remaining nubs or protrusions not removed by the rough removal subsystem (38). The removed flashing is preferably recycled to a mold material feed stream in order to provide material inputs for producing new molded articles.