MOLDED FIBER PRODUCT PRODUCTION LINE UTILIZING FLUID TRIM OPERATION

1 . A molded fiber part former comprising:

a first forming mold defining a first mold area and a fluid slot disposed along a perimeter of the first mold area; and

at least one fluid inlet,

wherein the fluid slot is fluidically connected to the at least one fluid inlet and is configured to eject a stream of fluid.

2 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid inlet comprises a plurality of fluid inlets.

3 . The molded fiber part former of claim 2 , wherein the fluid inlets from the plurality of fluid inlets are distributed about an outer edge of the first forming mold.

4 . The molded fiber part former of claim 2 , wherein each fluid inlet from the plurality of fluid inlets is fluidically connected to the fluid slot.

5 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , wherein the stream of fluid is substantially annular.

6 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , wherein the stream of fluid originates along a length of the fluid slot.

7 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , wherein the stream of fluid is ejected in a direction substantially orthogonal to an area enclosed by the perimeter.

8 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , further comprising a wall substantially surrounding the first mold area, wherein the wall at least partially defines a fluid channel disposed adjacent to and surrounding the wall, and wherein the fluid channel is fluidically connected to the at least one fluid inlet and the fluid slot.

9 . The molded fiber part former of claim 8 , further comprising a sealing ring at least partially covering the fluid channel and spaced apart from the wall to at least partially define the fluid slot therebetween.

10 . The molded fiber part former of claim 9 , wherein the sealing ring is fixed to the first forming mold.

11 . The molded fiber part former of claim 9 , wherein the sealing ring is removably fixed to the first forming mold.

12 . The molded fiber part former of claim 8 , wherein the fluid channel defines a maximum channel width and the fluid slot defines a maximum slot width less than the maximum channel width.

13 . The molded fiber part former of claim 8 , wherein the fluid slot is configured to eject the stream of fluid in a direction substantially orthogonal to an uppermost extent of the wall.

14 . The molded fiber part former of claim 1 , further comprising a second forming mold defining a mating mold area configured to mate with the first mold area of the first forming mold.

15 . The molded fiber part former of claim 14 , wherein the second forming mold comprises an outer rim surrounding the mating mold area, and wherein, when the first mold area and the mating mold area are in a mating configuration, the outer rim is configured to deflect the stream of fluid in a direction away from the first mold area and the mating mold area.

16 . A method of producing a molded fiber part, the method comprising:

providing a molded fiber part former having:

a first forming mold defining a first mold area and a fluid slot disposed along a perimeter of the first mold area; and

at least one fluid inlet,

wherein the fluid slot is fluidically connected to the at least one fluid inlet; producing a partially formed molded fiber part using the molded fiber part former; and

separating a waste trim from the partially formed molded fiber part by ejecting a stream of fluid from the fluid slot.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the stream of fluid is substantially annular.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the stream of fluid originates along a length of the fluid slot.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the stream of fluid is ejected in a direction substantially orthogonal to an area enclosed by the perimeter.