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US 8,177,699 B1Granted
Tray forming apparatus
AssigneeSmurfit-Stone Container Corporation
InventorRobert M. Herrin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tray forming apparatus forms a blank into a tray having a double glued side wall construction for providing a desirable strength to the tray. A platen drives the blank through a forming rails which fold the blank into a partially formed tray having bottom, end and side walls, and inside corner supports formed about the platen. The platen is retracted prior to folding arms further extended portions of the partially formed tray. A compression plate and the folding arms are biased against adhesive portions of the tray for forming a fully formed tray having a double glued side wall construction.
Claims30
An apparatus comprising:
- a platen operable for moving between a first position proximate and in spaced relation to a blank and a second position downstream therefrom, the platen being biased against the blank for a driving of the blank downstream to the second position, the platen having a guide plate operable at a peripheral portion thereof for providing a compression surface;
- a forming rail positioned downstream the first position for receiving the blank moving against the forming rail for folding portions the blank, wherein a proximal portion of the forming rail partially folds peripheral portions of the blank and a distal portion of the forming rail secures the blank into a partially formed tray, wherein side walls of the partially formed tray are fully formed, the distal portion having a side folding rail portion opposing the guide plate for receiving the blank peripheral portions therebetween;
- a first folding arm movably positioned for biasing against an extended portion of the partially formed tray for a continued folding thereof, the first folding arm positioned proximate the distal portion of the forming rail and downstream the proximal portion thereof, wherein the first folding arm is movable between a first position wherein the platen can move along a path, the first folding arm movable to a second position wherein the first folding arm is within the path and generally perpendicular thereto;
- a compression plate movably carried in spaced relation to the partially formed tray;
- a fixed plate carried in spaced relation to the compression plate, the fixed plate having a surface thereof generally parallel to the path of the platen, the fixed plate and the compression plate forming a passage therebetween;
- and
- a second folding arm movable through the passage and positioned for biasing against the extended portion of the partially formed tray and for folding the extended portion through the passage, wherein the fixed plate is positioned for guiding the extended portion along the surface of the fixed plate onto a tray wall for providing a fully formed tray.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a platen operable for moving between a first position proximate and in spaced relation to a blank and a second position downstream therefrom, the platen being biased against the blank for a driving of the blank downstream to the second position;
- a guide plate carried by the platen further defining a platen periphery and for providing a compression surface;
- a forming rail positioned downstream the first position for receiving the blank moving against the forming rail for folding portions of the blank, wherein a proximal portion of the forming rail partially folds peripheral portions of the blank and a distal portion of the forming rail secures the blank into a partially formed tray;
- a first folding arm movably positioned for biasing against an extended portion of the partially formed tray for a continued folding thereof, the first folding arm positioned proximate the distal portion of the forming rail and downstream the proximal portion thereof;
- a compression plate movably carried in spaced relation to the partially formed tray;
- a fixed plate carried in spaced relation to the compression plate and forming a passage therebetween;
- and
- a second folding arm movably positioned for biasing against the extended portion of the partially formed tray and for folding the extended portion through the passage, wherein the fixed plate is positioned for guiding the extended portion onto a tray wall for providing a fully formed tray.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a platen operable for moving along a path between a first position proximate and in spaced relation to a blank and a second position downstream therefrom, the platen being biased against the blank and for a driving of the blank downstream to the second position, the platen having a compression surface thereon generally parallel to the path the platen;
- a forming rail positioned downstream the first position for receiving the blank moving against the forming rail for folding portions of the blank, wherein a proximal portion of the forming rail partially folds peripheral portions of the blank and a distal portion of the forming rail secures the blank into a partially formed tray biased against the compression surface;
- a first folding arm movably positioned for biasing against an extended portion of the partially formed tray for a continued folding thereof, the first folding arm positioned proximate the distal portion of the forming rail and downstream the proximal portion thereof;
- a fixed plate carried proximate the first folding arm;
- a compression plate carried in spaced relation to and movable toward the fixed plate, wherein a passage is formed therebetween;
- and
- a second folding arm movable through the passage and positioned for biasing against the extended portion of the partially formed tray and for folding the extended portion through the passage, wherein the fixed plate is positioned for guiding the extended portion onto a tray wall for providing a fully formed tray.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor dimension for conveying a blank to a first position;
- applicator positioned proximate the conveyor for applying an adhesive to a selected portion of the blank;
- a platen operable downstream the applicator for moving between the first position proximate and in spaced relation to the blank and a second position downstream therefrom, the platen being biased against the blank for driving the blank downstream to the second position;
- a forming rail positioned downstream the first position for receiving the blank moving against the forming rail for folding portions of the blank, wherein a proximal portion of the forming rail partially folds peripheral portions of the blank and a distal portion of the forming rail secures the blank into a partially formed tray;
- a first folding arm movably positioned for biasing against an extended portion of the partially formed tray for a continued folding thereof, the first folding arm positioned proximate the distal portion of the forming rail and downstream the proximal portion thereof, wherein the first folding arm is movable between a first position wherein the platen can move along a path, the first folding arm movable to a second position wherein the first folding arm is within the path and generally perpendicular thereto;
- a compression plate movably carried in spaced relation to the partially formed tray;
- a fixed plate carried in spaced relation to the compression plate, the fixed plate having a surface thereof generally parallel to the path of the platen, the fixed plate and the compression plate forming a passage therebetween;
- and
- a second folding arm movable through the passage and positioned for biasing against the extended portion of the partially formed tray and for folding the extended portion through the passage, wherein the fixed plate is positioned for guiding the extended portion along the surface of the fixed plate onto a tray wall for providing a fully formed tray.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.