Abstract: The disclosure relates to trays for segregating liquid in a reservoir space distinct from a storage space. The trays include a body having a floor and a platform spaced away from the floor and bearing at least one orifice or gap extending therethrough for facilitating fluid flow from the storage space into the reservoir space under the influence of gravity. The gaps and/or orifices are relatively centrally located, which tends to inhibit retrograde flow of fluid from the reservoir space into the storage space. The platform can include one or more deflectable doors defined by elongated gaps. Deflection of a door, such as by a protrusion extending from the body, opens the door-defining gap into a larger opening to facilitate fluid flow. The platform can also have one or more adaptors and/or sockets for securing its position relative to the floor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge. The methods can be performed incrementally and/or in a reciprocating fashion.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to plastic containers which can be wrapped in and/or contacted with plastic films such as cling films. The containers contact the film at at least one surface that is texturized sufficiently to reduce friction (i.e., reduce resistance to slippage of the film across the texturized surface). Owing to the reduced resistance to slippage, the film can move relative to the portion of the container which it contacts, such as when the film rubs against another object. Such relative movement facilitates stretching or displacement of the film and reduces tears, necking, and holes in the film when a film-wrapped container contacts other objects. As a result, line speeds can be faster and less care can be exercised in packing and other handling operations. The texture can be conferred to one or more portions of the container during molding, or prior to or after molding.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge.

Abstract: A reinforced Gaylord container is provided storage and transport, including stacked storage on a pallet. A core is provided for supporting a majority of a vertical load on the container, instead of such load being delivered to sidewalls. A positioning insert is provided for positioning the core within the container. A plurality of such containers may be placed on respective pallets and stacked.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for securely (and preferably reversibly) holding a container having a concave interior portion while a liner that abuts the concave interior portion 5 is removed from the container by peeling it therefrom. The apparatus includes a container holder having one or more holding surfaces, such as the interior of an orifice that extends through it. A holding surface (e.g., an O-ring or ridge) secures the container temporarily and reversibly, and prevents the container from disengaging from the container holder during peeling of the liner. An optional deflector can deflect a tab portion of the liner to facilitate its 10 removal from the container. After the liner is removed, the remaining portion of the container can be removed from the apparatus (e.g., and recycled).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles (e.g., trays and dishes) for containing articles such as food products (e.g., cuts of meat and poultry or liquid-sensitive electronic parts) in shaped articles in which a wicking material is interposed between two thermoformed trays, at least one of which is perforated. Liquid can flow through the perforated tray into the wicking material and thence elsewhere (e.g., to a cavity) in the space between the two trays. The disclosure also relates to hollow shaped articles (e.g., bottles and jars) for containing fluids. In manufacture of such hollow shaped articles, the wicking material serves as a manufacturing aid and can be removed after formation of the article.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles (e.g., trays and dishes) for containing articles such as food products (e.g., cuts of meat and poultry or liquid-sensitive electronic parts) in shaped articles such as. In one aspect, the container has a reservoir portion into which liquid can be sequestered. In another aspect, the container includes a thermoformable substrate, a liner, and a lidding material, the lidding and the liner defining a compartment for containing articles. The compartment can be detached from the substrate by detaching the liner from the substrate without necessarily rupturing the compartment. A substantial portion of the containers described herein can be recycled by separating the liner and/or lidding from the substrate. The disclosure also relates to methods of making thermoformed articles having multiple layers that does not rely on use of a coextruded or other composite thermoplastic-containing substrate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles (e.g., trays and dishes) for containing articles such as food products (e.g., cuts of meat and poultry or liquid-sensitive electronic parts) in shaped articles in which a wicking material is interposed between two thermoformed trays, at least one of which is perforated. Liquid can flow through the perforated tray into the wicking material and then elsewhere (e.g., to a cavity) in the space between the two trays. The disclosure also relates to hollow shaped articles (e.g., bottles and jars) for containing fluids. In manufacture of such hollow shaped articles, the wicking material serves as a manufacturing aid and can be removed after formation of the article.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles (e.g., trays and dishes) for containing articles such as food products (e.g., cuts of meat and poultry or liquid-sensitive electronic parts) in shaped articles such as. In one aspect, the container has a reservoir portion into which liquid can be sequestered. In another aspect, the container includes a thermoformable substrate, a liner, and a lidding material, the lidding and the liner defining a compartment for containing articles. The compartment can be detached from the substrate by detaching the liner from the substrate without necessarily rupturing the compartment. A substantial portion of the containers described herein can be recycled by separating the liner and/or lidding from the substrate. The disclosure also relates to methods of making thermoformed articles having multiple layers that does not rely on use of a coextruded or other composite thermoplastic-containing substrate.

Abstract: A reinforced Gaylord container is provided storage and transport, including stacked storage on a pallet. A core is provided for supporting a majority of a vertical load on the container, instead of such load being delivered to sidewalls. A positioning insert is provided for positioning the core within the container. A plurality of such containers may be placed on respective pallets and stacked.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.