Packaging tray and method of manufacture
AssigneeTekni-Plex, Inc.
InventorsBabu Kuruvilla, Joe Labadie, Roger Lichtle, Mark A. Bergeron, Rafael Rivera, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermoplastic packaging trays are provided that are filled with a product and wrapped in film, and methods of producing the tray with a peripheral edge region that avoids tearing of the overwrap film. In various embodiments, the tray has a beaded, a flat, or a combined beaded and flat peripheral edge.
Claims22
A method of producing a plastic packaging tray having a peripheral edge region terminating in a terminal edge that is displaced out of a wrap path around the tray, the method comprising:
- providing a thermoformed plastic intermediate article for forming the tray, the intermediate article having a peripheral flange;
- stretching the peripheral flange;
- while the peripheral flange is stretched, cutting off an outermost portion of the peripheral flange to form the terminal edge;
- and
- cold pressing the peripheral flange of the intermediate article by bringing a compressing tool into engagement with the peripheral flange to displace the terminal edge out of the wrap path, the cold pressing step including permanently deforming the peripheral flange.
An apparatus for producing a plastic packaging tray having a peripheral edge region terminating in a terminal edge that is displaced out of a wrap path around the tray, the apparatus comprising:
- a cutting tool configured to stretch a peripheral flange of a thermoformed plastic intermediate article, the cutting tool being further configured to form the terminal edge by cutting off an outermost portion of the peripheral flange while the peripheral flange is stretched;
- and
- a first edge-forming tool configured to cold press the peripheral flange of the intermediate article, the first edge-forming tool comprising a surface arranged to engage with the peripheral flange to displace the terminal edge out of the wrap path, the first edge-forming tool being further configured to permanently deform the peripheral flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.