Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for thermoforming articles. The apparatus includes an in line series of processing stations including heating, forming, cutting and separating stations. A stacker is provided to receive formed articles and form an x-y array of stacks of formed articles. A stack picker is provided that is operable to pick up the stacks of articles during a sheet pause cycle portion and move the picked stacks from a storage magazine to a deposit area. The movement of the stacks for depositing and the picker assembly back to the stacker can occur while the apparatus is producing and stacking additionally formed articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various embodiments of a product container for holding and displaying consumer products. In one aspect of the present invention, the present product container comprises a product containing compartment and a base member that encloses the product containing compartment. The product container forms a tent-like shaped enclosure and is formed when a first container portion and a second container portion come into positional alignment in a closed or assembled configuration. The first and second container portions are affixed on the inner surface of the base member. The base member is then folded along fold lines and upper ends of the base member are then bonded or otherwise securely attached to each other such that the upper ends of the respective first and second container portions are mated with each other to form the product containing compartment.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus and method are provided. An identification tag such as a radio frequency identification tag is provided for molding into or attaching to a thermoformed article during the thermoforming process. The tag may be attached to the article by mechanical interlocking and/or a heat sensitive adhesive. The identification tag is applied to the article while the article is being formed in the thermoforming mold.