Rim flattener apparatus and method

An apparatus for forming an upper edge of a paperboard container having a bottom and a sidewall terminating at a rim at the upper edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a pocket including a shell having a cavity with a mouth configured to receive the container such that the rim extends beyond the mouth and the container is centered along an axis of the pocket, the rim being formed with a curl thereon;
• and
• a flattening station configured to provide compression and flattening of the curl formed on the rim, the flattening station including
• a cam coupled to a forming member having a first forming surface, the cam and the forming member being moveable back and forth relative to a support along the axis of the pocket;
• and
• a set of forming arms pivotally coupled to the support and positioned outside the forming member for movement relative thereto, the forming arms being axially moveable together with the cam and the forming member, each of the forming arms having a cam follower engaged with the cam, and a forming segment having a second forming surface facing the first forming surface, the forming member being moved to position the first forming surface on an upper end of the curl on the rim and the forming arms being pivoted to position each second forming surface spaced from a lower end of the curl on the rim in response to axial movement of the cam and the forming members, each second forming surface being moved towards the first forming member to form a flattened rim on the container.

A method of forming an upper edge of a paperboard container including a bottom and a sidewall terminating in a rim, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning the container in a pocket having a mouth such that the rim extends beyond the mouth and such that the container is centered along an axis;
• b) actuating a forming member having a first forming surface axially along the axis towards and adjacent an upper end of the rim;
• c) pivoting a forming segment having a second forming surface facing the first forming surface such that the second forming surface lies spaced from a lower end of the rim;
• and
• d) actuating at least one of the first forming surface and the second forming surface towards each other to form the rim therebetween.

A method of forming an upper edge of a paperboard container including a bottom and a sidewall terminating in a rim, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a pocket including a shell having a cavity with a mouth configured to moveably receive the container such that the rim extends beyond the mouth and the container is centered along an axis of the pocket, the rim being formed with a curl thereon;
• b) providing a cam coupled to a forming member having a first forming surface, the cam and the forming member being axially moveable back and forth relative to a support along the axis of the pocket;
• c) providing a set of forming arms pivotally coupled to the support and positioned outside the forming member for movement relative thereto, each of the forming arms having a cam follower engaged with the cam, and a forming segment having a second forming surface facing the first forming surface;
• d) moving the container along the axis in the pocket to advance the rim towards the forming member;
• e) moving the forming member and each forming segment along the axis towards the pocket until each second forming surface is positioned outside of and beyond a lower end of the rim;
• f) further moving the forming member along the axis such that the first forming surface lies adjacent an upper end of the rim, such further movement of the forming member enabling each cam follower to move along the respective cam and causing the forming arms to pivot towards the axis and move the forming segments towards the forming member such that the second forming surfaces are positioned spaced from the lower end of the rim and in alignment with the first forming surface;
• and
• g) moving the second forming surfaces towards the first forming surface to flatten and compress the curl and form a flattened rim.