Forming and delivering stackable articles
AssigneeGenpak Corporation
InventorEdward W. Rider, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for continuously forming articles and stacking them ready for formation of batches from the stack. Some of the articles are treated by being given a disfigurement which makes them identifiable in the stack so that batch lengths containing predetermined numbers of articles are clearly seen. These disfigurements are caused by moving a moveable element forming part of the forming surface of the machine whereby the surface shape is changed to cause change in shape of the articles. The invention is particularly useful during forming and stacking of shallow thermoformed thermoplastic articles.
Claims7
A method of continuously forming stackable articles in a moulding machine and forming a stack of said articles easily identifiable as to equally numbered batches of said stack comprising,
- (a) feeding a sheet of mouldable material along a pass line and through a moulding station of the machine;
- said machine having a plunger as a part of and flush with a mould surface when making identically moulded stackable articles;
- (b) repeating a cycle of a moulding operation to make a predetermined number of identical articles in succession;
- (c) stacking said identically moulded articles;
- (d) thereafter during the repeating cycle of moulding at least one article, following the moulding operation making a predetermined number of identical articles, moving said plunger from said mould surface to alter said mould surface configuration and subject said article to an additional moulding treatment so that said additionally moulded article is easily identifiable from said identically moulded articles;
- (e) placing said additionally moulded article in said stack;
- and
- (f) continuously repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
A method of continuously forming stackable articles in a moulding machine and forming a stack of said articles easily identifiable as to equally numbered batches of said stack comprising,
- (a) repeating a cycle of a moulding operation in a moulding station to make a predetermined number of identical articles in succession;
- (b) transmitting a signal to an automatic counting means as each cycle is performed;
- (c) stacking said identically moulded articles;
- (d) thereafter during the repeating cycle of moulding at least one article, following the moulding of a predetermined number of identical articles, activating a plunger operating means by said counting means after a predetermined member of signals have been received by said counting means to extend a plunger from the mould surface to alter the mould surface configuration and effect change in the shape of part of said article so that said article is easily identifiable from said identically moulded articles, said plunger operating means having a plunger with a surface flush with the mould surface during steps (a), (b) and (c);
- (e) delivering said plunger changed article to said stack;
- and
- (f) continuously repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.