Abstract: An apparatus for pressforming a paperboard sheet into an articulable pressformed container. The apparatus includes a pair of male and female, matingly engagable dies, which have interfacing forming surfaces in the shape of a container for engaging a paperboard sheet. A first one of the dies has a plurality of ridges extending from the forming surface and a second one of the dies has a plurality of grooves within the forming surface. The grooves register with the ridges when the dies matingly engage for creating creases in the paperboard sheet. The invention also includes a method for simultaneously shaping the container and forming fold creases on the container thereby making the container articulable.

Abstract: A food enclosing container that has a top member and a bottom member, each formed of absorbent, corrugated paperboard, wherein at least one of the members has pressformed sidewalls. The paperboard has at least three layers, a smooth first layer, a smooth third layer and a corrugated layer interposed between the first and third layers. The top member has an unsealed interior surface so that it can absorb moisture from a contained food product. The bottom member has a grease barrier layer within the interior of its paperboard preferably positioned on the top surface of the third layer. Each of the members have engageable peripheral rims, which have a releasable, rebondable cohesive applied to the rims to permit the members to be bonded together, separated and rebonded together.

Abstract: A container comprising a sidewall and an endwall connected by a heat sealed joint. The endwall has, in an operable orientation, a major upper surface, an endless, upwardly opening, peripheral channel and a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to the major upper surface of the endwall. The sidewall has a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to its inner and outer surfaces. The end of the sidewall is engaged and crimped within the endwall channel with the surface layers of the sidewall heat sealed to the surface layer of the endwall to form a sealed, mechanically rigid joint.

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 food container comprising three or more plies, a first ply, a second ply, and at least a third ply. The first ply is oriented towards the hands and face of the user and receives food in use. The first ply is essentially continuous throughout its plane. The third ply is oriented towards the lap of the user or a table top in use. The second ply spaces the first and third plies apart. In a preferred embodiment, the food container may be made of a corrugated material. The food container may be made from a blank which is deformed out of its plane during manufacture.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of paperboard tray forming machines which typically consist of an upper and lower die which interlock to deform a paperboard blank. The invention is an arcuate yoke having a pair of legs to which locating stops and side guide plates are rigidly attached. The die is angled to the earth so that a blank deposited onto the die is gravity biased toward the locating stops. The yoke is vibratingly driven and the blank is vibrated into position on the lower die by contacting the locating stops and side guide plates and vibrating to the blank's lowest position on the die.

Abstract: A tray type food container having a pair of side panels extending from opposite sides of the lid and folded toward the bottom of the tray. An end of each side panel extends beyond the interposed tray side wall and supports the tray in a generally vertical orientation. A single partial incision or half cut is formed only inward of the tray rim to aid in the controlled fracture of the lid when it is torn from the tray.

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: 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 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.