Abstract: A meat tray sized and shaped to support raw meat is provided. The meat tray is composed of a paperboard material. The meat tray may include a generally planar base extending to a sidewall that extends transversely from the planar base to an angled outer transition which forms an outer periphery of a tray cavity. A rim of the meat tray is located at a terminus of the angled outer transition and extends away from the cavity. The rim may include an outer arcuate rim portion that extends and curves away from the outer transition and a planar flange extending from the outer arcuate rim portion and terminates at an edge. The edge faces downwardly with respect to the outer arcuate rim portion.

Abstract: A meat tray sized and shaped to support raw meat is provided. The meat tray is composed of a paperboard material. The meat tray may include a generally planar base extending to a sidewall that extends transversely from the planar base to an angled outer transition which forms an outer periphery of a tray cavity. A rim of the meat tray is located at a terminus of the angled outer transition and extends away from the cavity. The rim may include an outer arcuate rim portion that extends and curves away from the outer transition and a planar flange extending from the outer arcuate rim portion and terminates at an edge. The edge faces downwardly with respect to the outer arcuate rim portion.

Abstract: A meat tray sized and shaped to support raw meat is provided. The meat tray is composed of a paperboard material. The meat tray may include a generally planar base extending to a sidewall that extends transversely from the planar base to an angled outer transition which forms an outer periphery of a tray cavity. A rim of the meat tray is located at a terminus of the angled outer transition and extends away from the cavity. The rim may include an outer arcuate rim portion that extends and curves away from the outer transition and a planar flange extending from the outer arcuate rim portion and terminates at an edge. The edge faces downwardly with respect to the outer arcuate rim portion.

Abstract: A paperboard servingware container is provided. This paperboard servingware container may include a bottom panel; a curved transition portion located at the periphery of the bottom of panel. An upwardly extending wall extends from the curved transition portion opposite the bottom panel. An angled peripheral transition located adjacent the upward extending wall opposite the curved transition portion. A ledge portion that extends from the angled peripheral transition opposite the upward extending wall and away from the upward extending wall. A folded over flange portion that is bent downwardly with respect to the ledge portion.

Abstract: A substantially crimpless and monolithic paperboard container lid and method of making same is provided. The lid comprises a single contiguous molded paperboard body configured to conformingly couple to a top periphery of a container for covering the container's opening. The body includes a sealing ring located adjacent the body's periphery. The sealing ring includes a sealing channel composed of a radiused cross-section that extends to a tangent ring terminating with a tab ring. The radiused cross-section and tangent ring assist providing a snug fit between the lid and the container. Despite being made from paperboard, the lid does not include one or more substantial crimps in the sealing ring. Having no substantial crimps, the lid fits onto the container and prevents fluid from leaking between the container's periphery and the lid.

Abstract: A substantially crimpless and monolithic paperboard container lid and method of making same is provided. The lid comprises a single contiguous molded paperboard body configured to conformingly couple to a top periphery of a container for covering the container's opening. The body includes a sealing ring located adjacent the body's periphery. The sealing ring includes a sealing channel composed of a radiused cross-section that extends to a tangent ring terminating with a tab ring. The radiused cross-section and tangent ring assist providing a snug fit between the lid and the container. Despite being made from paperboard, the lid does not include one or more substantial crimps in the sealing ring. Having no substantial crimps, the lid fits onto the container and prevents fluid from leaking between the container's periphery and the lid.

Abstract: A method for forming a container (60) with a reinforcing member (48) from paperboard or other suitable materials. The method includes forming a container (60) from a blank (30) through use of a press (20). A reinforcing member (48) is disposed adjacent the container (60) and press (20). The reinforcing member (48) is subsequently bonded to the container (60) through use of the press (20).

Abstract: A die system (10) for cutting a piece of sheet stock (11) to create a blank and forming the blank to create a container includes first and second mating die halves (56, 96) and a cutting punch (68). The first and second mating die halves (56, 96) are configured to move together to form the container from the blank. The cutting punch (68) extends about the first die half (56) and is movable therewith. The cutting punch (68) is configured to cut the piece of sheet stock (11) to create the blank. Movement of the die halves (56, 96) together causes the cutting punch (68) to cut the blank from the piece of sheet stock (11) and further movement of the die halves (56, 96) together causes the first and second die halves (56, 96) to form the container from the blank.

Abstract: A cut and score die apparatus is provided for progressively converting a sheet of material into blanks. The apparatus includes a punching section for punching scrap material from the sheet of material to define an array of interconnected blanks arranged in a grid of rows and columns on the sheet of material. A scoring section is provided for simultaneously scoring a first predetermined pattern on a trailing portion of a first row of blanks and a second predetermined pattern on the leading portion of a second, succeeding row of blanks on the sheet of material. A blanking section is also provided for piercing the sheet of material in a predetermined pattern to cut blanks from the sheet of material without producing any additional scrap material.

Abstract: A cut and score die apparatus is provided for progressively converting a sheet of material into blanks. The apparatus includes a punching section for punching scrap material from the sheet of material to define an array of interconnected blanks arranged in a grid of rows and columns on the sheet of material. A scoring section is provided for simultaneously scoring a first predetermined pattern on a trailing portion of a first row of blanks and a second predetermined pattern on the leading portion of a second, succeeding row of blanks on the sheet of material. A blanking section is also provided for piercing the sheet of material in a predetermined pattern to cut blanks from the sheet of material without producing any additional scrap material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for progressively converting each blank of sheet material in a stream of moving blanks into a clamshell assembly having interconnected lid and bottom portions. The apparatus includes a female die assembly having first and second mold cavities, an upstream control system for aligning one portion of each blank at a lid-pressing station defined by the first mold cavity, and a downstream control system for aligning a remaining portion of each blank at a bottom-pressing station defined by the second mold cavity. A male die assembly is provided for simultaneously forming a lid portion in one blank of sheet material and a bottom portion in an adjacent blank of sheet material. In particular, during each pressing cycle, the male die assembly simultaneously presses an initial blank at the bottom-pressing station and a succeeding blank at the lid-pressing station to produce the equivalent of a whole clamshell assembly on a single stroke of the male die assembly.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method as provided for releasing sheet material press-formed in a die assembly between mating male and female dies from the die assembly. A first air supply system is provided for injecting air between the male die and sheet material in the die assembly to break any vacuum existing between the male die and the sheet material. Subsequently, a second air supply system is provided for injecting air between the female die and sheet material in the die assembly during ejection of a press-formed article from the female die so as to break any vacuum existing therebetween. A system is provided for discharging excess trim waste severed from the press-formed article and routing the trim waste toward a scrap collector while permitting the article to be routed in another direction toward an article collector.

Abstract: An improved press produces oval blanks arranged in a "nested" pattern from a web of material. The press includes a cutting die plate having a plurality of oval-shaped discharge apertures, an inclined die shoe underneath the cutting die plate, and a punch for piercing a web supported on the cutting die plate to form blanks and then deposit the blanks into the inclined die shoe via the discharge apertures. Partitions divide the inclined die shoe into a plurality of blank transfer lanes. Each transfer lane connects one of the discharge apertures to a companion exit region. Guide rails are provided to guide blanks deposited into the transfer lanes toward the exit regions as the blanks fall under gravity through the inclined die shoe.

Abstract: A die set is provided for forming a multi-compartmented tray from sheet material. The die set includes a female die assembly formed to include at least two mold cavities and a drawing surface bounding said mold cavities, a first compartment-former for pressing sheet material into a selected mold cavity to form a compartment therein, a second compartment-former for pressing sheet material into the remaining mold cavities to form compartments therein, and a draw ring for holding sheet material against the drawing surface during movement of the first and second compartment-formers into their respective mold cavities. The first compartment-former includes a first die for pre-forming the comparment, a second die for finish-forming the compartment, and a projection system for moving the first die relative to the second die in a direction toward the cavity to a leading position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for simultaneously forming at least two interconnected deep-drawn containers in a single sheet of paper stock or the like. The apparatus includes a female die assembly formed to include a material-receiving cavity situated between spaced-apart first and second container-forming cavities. A blade assembly pushes a portion of the single sheet downwardly into the material-receiving cavity to provide a source of excess paperboard material from which the paper for adjacent containers can be drawn. A male die assembly moves to engage the female die assembly and draw at least the excess paperboard material deposited in the material-receiving cavity to form containers in the first and second container-forming cavities. A draw ring holds the sheet against the female die assembly during operation of the male die assembly.

Abstract: A press includes a frame, a flywheel, a motor for driving the flywheel, and a shaft. A clutch and brake assembly is provided which is actuable for engaging and disengaging the shaft to the flywheel. An eccentric is journaled upon the shaft and rotates therewith. The eccentric rotates in a block which is slidably mounted in a head to permit the block to move laterally within the head. The head is vertically movable in response to vertical movements of the block. The press also includes an upper die which is mounted on the head and a lower die which is resiliently supported upwardly on a base. Movement of the head engages and disengages the upper die and lower die. One embodiment of the press includes a second set of dies mounted to the head for cutting a continuous sheet of material into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A press includes a frame, a flywheel, a motor for driving the flywheel, and a shaft. A clutch is provided which is actuable for engaging the shaft to the flywheel. An eccentric is journaled upon the shaft and rotates therewith. The eccentric rotates in a block which is slidably mounted in a head to permit the block to move laterally within the head. The head is vertically movable in response to vertical movements of the block. The press also includes an upper die which is mounted on the head and a lower die which is resiliently supported upwardly on a base. Movement of the head engages and disengages the upper die and lower die.

Abstract: A deep compartment tray includes compartments separated by dividers which extend to between one-third and substantially the full depth of the tray. The tray is constructed from sheet material, such as polyester coated paper milk carton stock by cutting blanks from the stock, scoring the blank in regions where formation of wrinkles is to be avoided to induce the paper stock to fold and form as required, and pre-forming and finally forming the blank into the tray between a single set of dies. The pre-forming step and the forming step are conducted by a first female die defining the tray cavities or compartments, and surrounded by a first draw pad region, and a second male die including bosses or land areas in the compartment regions and recesses where the tray dividers are to be formed. The male die includes a set of cavities, one in each of the tray compartment regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a double-thickness bead in a flexible sheet stock article, such as a container or lid constructed from paper stock. The method includes holding a central region of the paper stock blank near its perimetral edge between cooperating dies, forming an axially extending flange in the blank between the held region and the edge, capturing the edge against radial movement in a groove provided in a ring movable relative to the dies, and moving the ring relative to the dies to form the double-thickness region in the blank between the held portion and edge. The apparatus includes the cooperating relatively movable dies, the movable ring and cooperating draw pads adjacent the ring. The draw pads are movable relative to the dies and ring and cooperate with the dies and ring to form a void into which the double-thickness region is formed. The configuration of the void controls the formation and configuration of the bead.

Abstract: A deep compartment tray includes compartments separated by dividers which extend to between one-third and substantially the full depth of the tray. The tray is constructed from sheet material, such as polyester coated paper milk carton stock. The pre-forming step and the forming step for the tray are conducted by a first female die defining the tray cavities or compartments, and surrounded by a first draw pad region, and a second male die including bosses or land areas in the compartment regions and recesses where the tray dividers are to be formed. The male die includes a set of cavities, one in each of the tray compartment regions. The cavities slidably receive plungers or inserts which are movably mounted in the cavities and are spring-urged to their fully projected positions in the cavities. A second draw pad surrounds the male die, and is mounted for resistive movement relative to the male die.