Apparatus and method for forming a multi-compartmented tray from a sheet material
AssigneeInternational Paper Company
InventorsGarold W. Alexander, William H. Haase
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming a multi-compartmented tray from a sheet material without tearing or bowing. At least a portion of one compartment, and preferably the entire compartment, is formed in advance of other compartments. The apparatus for doing so comprises a preformer on the male die for forming the first compartment before the rest of the male die engages the workpiece.
Claims13
An apparatus for forming multi-compartmented trays from sheet material, said apparatus comprising:
- first and second dies movable relative to each other, between a first relative position in which they are spaced apart and a second relative position in which they fit together;
- means for moving said dies from said first relative position toward said second relative position for gripping a piece of material between said dies for forming such piece of material into a multi-compartmented tray;
- said first die including first and second compartment-formers for forming first and second spaced-apart compartments in such piece of material, said first and second compartment-formers being positioned such that the lower surface of said first compartment-former is spaced below an equivalent surface of said second compartment-former so that movement of said dies toward said second relative position causes said first compartment-former to form a first compartment in such piece of material to substantially the full intended depth of such first compartment before said second compartment-former forms a second compartment in such piece of material.
A method of forming a multi-compartmented tray from a piece of sheet material, comprising the steps of holding a piece of sheet material in place for forming it into a tray, forming to a substantially full depth a first compartment in said piece of material, and then forming at least one additional compartment in said piece of material spaced apart from said first compartment, while still holding said piece of material in place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.