Abstract: A microwaveable product can include a container with an interior and a fluted first sidewall. The product can include a susceptor. The susceptor can be disposed within the container interior. The susceptor can have a fluted second sidewall. The fluted second sidewall can conform to the fluted first sidewall. A food product can be disposed in the interior. The food product can conform to the fluted second sidewall. Microwave energy can reach the food product via the susceptor.

Abstract: A connecting system having a female element including a hollow flared part for receiving and guiding a male element and a hollow mating part for mating with the male element. A part to be mated of the male element has an outside diameter that before the mating is larger than an inside diameter of the mating part of the female element, and the part to be mated of the male element is made of a material that can be strained and has a corrugated transverse cross section, so as to contract when it is plugged into the mating part of the female element, and/or the mating part of the female connection element is made of a material that can be strained and has a corrugated transverse cross section, so as to dilate when the part to be mated of the male element is plugged into it.

Abstract: Folding mandrel, device and method for manufacturing glued sleeves. The invention relates to a folding mandrel for a device for manufacturing glued sleeves, in particular paper sleeves for the manufacture of paper cups, where the folding mandrel is provided for winding of a plane segment and is so dimensioned that in the wound-on state of the segment an overlap containing adhesive is obtained. In accordance with the invention, the folding mandrel is provided with at least one recess for receiving any adhesive escaping from the overlap.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ice cream cone sleeve with a rounded tip comprising the steps of: a) providing a forming element (11) having the shape of a round tipped ice cream cone with a cone angle a, and also providing a forming cavity (12) having an internal surface corresponding to the shape of the forming element (11), b) placing a cone sleeve (10) having a cone angle a within the forming cavity (12), c) engaging the forming element (11) within the cone sleeve (10), and d) forcing the forming element (11) and the forming cavity (12) together wherein the cone sleeve has a frustoconical shape and an open tip (10b) and wherein the end of the sleeve (10) protrudes beyond the end of the forming element (11) in step c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the description of machine-assisted production assemblies and to the optimization thereof, said assemblies having, built therein, a patented device for folding into deep coated folds, thus making it possible to create paper packaging for fast food, said assemblies all comprising a folded element from a folded paper strip 31. Said machines are modular and all comprise, upstream, an assembly of modules 5, 6, and 7 that supply a folded paper strip 31 that is then converted in a specific finishing module 8 for making, from said lidded paper strip, a packaging for a sandwich or loose product such as fries or chicken pieces.

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: Packaging containers (e.g., cups) or protective wraps may be made with two layers of sheet material and an expanded thermal insulation between the layers. The thermal insulation may be made from microencapsulated, heat-expandable particles that are expanded with a microwave heater at some point during processing substrate, building, conveying or packaging the containers. The particles may be applied to blanks formed from die cutting, expanded by heating, and then tampered. The blanks may be outer wraps to a double wall cup, formed by placing and adhering an inner cup to the outer wrap. Alternatively, an adhesive containing the particles are applied to inner cups, which may be adhered to outer wraps to complete formation of the double wall cups. The cups may then be heated with a microwave heater at a subsequent workstation as the cups are conveyed, stacked, placed in bags, the bags in cartons and the cartons stacked and palletized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for manufacturing sleeves, in particular paper sleeves for the production of paper cups, comprising a take-up mandrel for taking up a sleeve, whereby the take-up mandrel comprises a circumferential recess, also comprising a press roller for placing on an outer side of the sleeve and for forming at least one circumferential projection in the recess of the take-up mandrel. In accordance with the present invention, the recess is designed in the form of a shoulder. Application for example for the production of stackable double-walled paper cups.

Abstract: A storage container includes a receptacle having a circumferential sidewall and a sleeve fixedly attached to the receptacle having a circumferential sidewall with a left edge, a right edge, and marginal portions adjacent the left and right edges wherein the edges meet to form a butt seam. The receptacle sidewall and the sleeve sidewall define an insulating layer therebetween. The insulating layer includes a first edge and a second edge wherein the first and second edges do not extend under the marginal portions such that the insulating layer has a smaller circumference than that of the sleeve sidewall. A method for forming a storage container is also provided.

Abstract: Described is a stackable, heat-insulating paperboard cup having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve with a gap therebetween. A rolled lip is applied to the lower end of the outer sleeve, which rolled lip is disposed on the inner sleeve. A shoulder is formed on the inner sleeve for the rolled lip of another paperboard cup to be stacked. The diameter of the inner sleeve below the shoulder is reduced discontinuously. The support of the lower rolled lip on the outer surface of the inner sleeve is arranged at the same level as, or below, the cup bottom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for manufacturing sleeves, in particular paper sleeves for the production of paper cups, comprising a take-up mandrel for taking up a sleeve, whereby the take-up mandrel comprises a circumferential recess, also comprising a press roller for placing on an outer side of the sleeve and for forming at least one circumferential projection in the recess of the take-up mandrel. In accordance with the present invention, the recess is designed in the form of a shoulder.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon applicator having a corrugated region, the method including the steps of: a) providing a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end, a length and a diameter; and b) forming a plurality of corrugations in the tampon applicator, the corrugations defining the corrugated region, each of the corrugations having a ridge and a trough.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically forming at least two sheets of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a first roll of sheet material, a second roll of sheet material, a female die and a male die. A first sheet of material and a second sheet of material are automatically formed from the first and second rolls of sheet material, respectively, and the first and second sheets of material are positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The formed articles are automatically stacked.

Abstract: An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18)(corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. To reduce the thickness of the seam, the blank is thinned in the area adjacent a fold score prior to folding. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a side seam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed. In a second embodiment, the insulating layer can be a coating on one or both of the sections of the two-section starting blank. In a third embodiment, the insulating section (40) can be integral with, and extend from, one edge of the starting blank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically forming at least two sheets of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a first roll of sheet material, a second roll of sheet material, a female die and a male die. A first sheet of material and a second sheet of material are automatically formed from the first and second rolls of sheet material, respectively, and the first and second sheets of material are positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The formed articles are automatically stacked.

Abstract: An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) providing a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18)(corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. To reduce the thickness of the seam, the blank is thinned in the area adjacent a fold score prior to folding. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a side seam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed. In a second embodiment, the insulating layer can be a coating on one or both of the sections of the two-section starting blank. In a third embodiment, the insulating section (40) can be integral with, and extend from, one edge of the starting blank.

Abstract: An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) providing a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18) (corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. To reduce the thickness of the seam, the blank is thinned in the area adjacent a fold score prior to folding. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a side seam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed. In a second embodiment, the insulating layer can be a coating on one or both of the sections of the two-section starting blank. In a third embodiment, the insulating section (40) is integral with, and extends from, one edge of the starting blank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.

Abstract: An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) providing a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18)(corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. To reduce the thickness of the seam, the blank is thinned in the area adjacent a fold score prior to folding. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a side seam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed. In a second embodiment, the insulating layer can be a coating on one or both of the sections of the two-section starting blank. In a third embodiment, the insulating section (40) can be integral with, and extend from, one edge of the starting blank.

Abstract: An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) providing a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18)(corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. Adhesive is applied to an area (21) adjacent the fold score. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. The adhesive that was applied adjacent the fold score bonds the two sections together at an area (21) adjacent a fold edge (22) on the inside surfaces of the folded blank. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a sideseam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.

Abstract: A method of forming a flower pot or a flower pot cover is provided. The method includes the step of providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper and lower surfaces being a bondably connectable surface. The sheet of material has a label area which has information related to a floral grouping displayed thereon. The method further includes forming the sheet of material into a base having a closed lower end, an open upper end, and an object opening extending through the open upper end and dimensioned to receive a flower pot in which the floral grouping is disposed. The base is formed to have a plurality of overlapping folds that are bondably connected so as to retain the base in a predetermined shape with the information on the label area being viewable when the flower pot is disposed in the object opening.

Abstract: A flower pot cover for providing a decorative cover for an item, such as a floral grouping. The flower pot cover comprises a base portion and a skirt portion. The base portion has an upper end, a lower end, a bottom having a first thickness and a continuous sidewall extending generally between the upper and lower ends of the base portion. The skirt portion is positioned circumferentially about the upper end of the base portion and extends a distance therefrom. The skirt portion is substantially flexible and has a third thickness which is less than the first thickness of the bottom of the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion cooperate to provide the flower pot cover with a shape sustaining configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically forming at least two sheets of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a first roll of sheet material, a second roll of sheet material, a female die and a male die. A first sheet of material and a second sheet of material are automatically formed from the first and second rolls of sheet material, respectively, and the first and second sheets of material are positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The formed articles are automatically stacked.

Abstract: A machine for making paper cups wherein each cup includes a side wall blank and a bottom wall blank, the machine including a frame and a vertical shaft mounted on the frame with a turret rotatably mounted on the shaft, a number of work stations mounted on the frame in an equally spaced relation around the turret with a number of tapered mandrels mounted on the turret in alignment with each of the work stations for forming the cup, the turret being intermittently rotated to move the mandrels sequentially into alignment with each of the work stations and a tubular assembly mounted for axial movement in each of the mandrels for initially releasing the cup from the mandrel.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover with fins. The apparatus comprises a male mold, a female mold having an opening mating with the male mold, and means for moving the male mold into and out of the opening of the female mold with the sheet of material between the two molds. To form outwardly extending fins in the flower pot cover, fingers are extended from the male mold to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the female mold. The female segments are closed on the folds to form fins in the sheet of material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover. To form inwardly extending fins, fingers are moved between the female segments to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the male mold. The segments of the male mold close on the folds to form fins in the sheet of the material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: An apparatus with pivoting blades and closable surfaces for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover having fins. In an embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, the apparatus includes a male mold and a plurality of plates arranged in pairs to define a forming opening. The male mold has a plurality of fingers which are laterally extendable from the outer periphery of the male mold. A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder is provided to move the male mold between a storage position spaced from the forming opening and a forming position within the forming opening. Each pair of plates is movable between an open position and a closed position. In operation, the fingers are extended to push folded portions of a sheet of material between the pairs of plates, which are closed to press the folded portions into fins. In an alternate embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, pairs of movable plates are positioned between stationary segments.

Abstract: Sheets and rolls of sheets with labels having multiple choice blocks and information areas corresponding to the choice blocks. The sheets include a closure bonding material for securing the sheets around items to be wrapped. The labels are detachably connected to the sheets with an adhesive, a perforation or a tear line. Spots of closure bonding material may be placed on the labels to hold the labels in a wrapped position. The information areas typically include data which may be selected to describe the source, type and characteristics of the items to be wrapped in the sheets. The sheets may also include detachable sleeves for protecting wrapped items during shipping and handle areas which may be punched out of the sheets for grasping the wrapped items. The handle areas may also contain information similar to that on the detachable labels. Sheets having labels with choice blocks may also be used for forming flower pots or flower pot covers.

Abstract: An apparatus with pivoting blades and closable surfaces for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover having fins. In an embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, the apparatus includes a male mold and a plurality of plates arranged in pairs to define a forming opening. The male mold has a plurality of fingers which are laterally extendable from the outer periphery of the male mold. A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder is provided to move the male mold between a storage position spaced from the forming opening and a forming position within the forming opening. Each pair of plates is movable between an open position and a closed position. In operation, the fingers are extended to push folded portions of a sheet of material between the pairs of plates, which are closed to press the folded portions into fins. In an alternate embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, pairs of movable plates are positioned between stationary segments.

Abstract: An apparatus having a male mold, a female mold and plurality of fingers suspended about the male mold for controlling a sheet of material being formed into a flower pot or flower pot cover. The female mold has a female opening defining a female forming surface. The male mold, in turn, has an outer periphery defining a male forming surface which mates with the female forming surface. The fingers are adapted to telescope in relation to the male mold. With a sheet of material over the female opening and the fingers in the lower position, the male mold is moved into the female opening to form the sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover. The fingers engage and control the sheet of material and telescope with respect to the male mold as the male mold is moved into the female opening.

Abstract: Sheets and rolls of sheets with labels having multiple choice blocks and information areas corresponding to the choice blocks. The sheets include a closure bonding material for securing the sheets around items to be wrapped. The labels are detachably connected to the sheets with an adhesive, a perforation or a tear line. Spots of closure bonding material may be placed on the labels to hold the labels in a wrapped position. The information areas typically include data which may be selected to describe the source, type and characteristics of the items to be wrapped in the sheets. The sheets may also include detachable sleeves for protecting wrapped items during shipping and handle areas which may be punched out of the sheets for grasping the wrapped items. The handle areas may also contain information similar to that on the detachable labels. Sheets having labels with choice blocks may also be used for forming flower pots or flower pot covers.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for forming a coffee filter has a filter compartment 14 and a primary compartment 16. A filter roll 22 is unwound from the filter roll compartment 14 and fed into the primary compartment 16. Within the primary compartment 16 is a suspended floor 24 having an aperture 44, a pair of fingers 76 which indexes the filter paper across the aperture 44, and a plunger 116 having an outside dimension which is matingly received in the aperture 44 of the floor 24. The filter paper is conformably sized about the outside dimension of the plunger 116 when the filter paper is indexed to a position across the aperture 44 and the plunger 116 is moved through the aperture 44 in the floor 24. A clamp 119 is used to hold the filter paper against the floor 24. Upon travel of the plunger 116 through its stroke, a discrete coffee filter is formed and separated from the remainder of the filter roll 22 at the location where the clamp 119 is depressed against the filter roll 22.

Abstract: A machine and method for making frusto-conical liners for a funnel of the type used on a urinal for female individuals. The liners are dispensed from a dispenser of the telescopic type so that pressing down on a top part of the dispenser releases a liner from the dispenser. The funnel lined by the liner is cradled in an improved funnel holder that includes an ejector that knocks a used liner off the funnel when the funnel is returned to the holder so that the user need not handle the liner. The machine that performs the method of making the liners includes a station where flat liners are removed from a stack of liners, spread open, and placed on a mandrel. The mandrel rotates to a second station where the liner is folded into its final configuration. The mandrel next rotates to a third station where the liner is heat treated, and the mandrel then rotates to a fourth station where the liner is removed from the machine and added to a stack of nested liners for subsequent charging into a dispenser.

Abstract: A flower pot or flower pot cover comprising a base and a skirt connected to an upper end of the base. The base includes a plurality of overlapping folds for providing structural integrity. The base is divided into a plurality of segments with each segment extending generally between the upper and the lower end of the base and each segment extending a distance circumferentially about the base. The overlapping folds in some of the segments are connected and the overlapping folds in the remaining segments are unconnected to provide an overall pleated appearance.

Abstract: A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover from a sheet of material by engaging a sheet of material about the outer surface of a mold, die or pot. The cover forming apparatus includes a plurality of pivotable forming members resting in a surface which supports a sheet of material upon which is positioned a flower pot mold or flower pot. When the forming members are pivotally moved from the storage position to an extended position, the forming members cause the sheet of material to be appressed to or engaged with the mold or pot. The article formed in accordance with the present invention may be separable from the mold or pot and usable as a flower pot or flower pot cover or may be more or less securely attached to the pot by adhesive, cohesive, barbs, friction pinches or other securing means thereby forming a decorative cover connected to a flower pot.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover with fins. The apparatus comprises a male mold, a female mold having an opening mating with the male mold, and means for moving the male mold into and out of the opening of the female mold with the sheet of material between the two molds. To form outwardly extending fins in the flower pot cover, fingers are extended from the male mold to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the female mold. The female segments are closed on the folds to form fins in the sheet of material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover. To form inwardly extending fins, fingers are moved between the female segments to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the male mold. The segments of the male mold close on the folds to form fins in the sheet of the material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover.

Abstract: A flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover and apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports a female die having an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs frictionally control the sheet of material as a male die pushes the sheet of material into the female die. A plurality of pivoting fingers at the upper end of the female die push the sheet of material against the male die as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover with fins. The apparatus comprises a male mold, a female mold having an opening mating with the male mold, and means for moving the male mold into and out of the opening of the female mold with the sheet of material between the two molds. To form outwardly extending fins in the flower pot cover, fingers are extended from the male mold to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the female mold. The female segments are closed on the folds to form fins in the sheet of material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover. To form inwardly extending fins, fingers are moved between the female segments to push folds in the sheet of material between segments of the male mold. The segments of the male mold close on the folds to form fins in the sheet of the material as the male mold is pressed into the female mold to make the flower pot cover.

Abstract: A male die, a female die, air pressure and vacuum are used to form a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports the female die which has an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The male die has forming surfaces which mate with the forming surfaces of the female die. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. Air pressure and vacuum lines communicating with the opening of the female die are used to control the sheet of material as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs provide additional control of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: A device for forming a rolled rim at the unrimmed mouth of the body of a container having a body which is fabricated from a sheet of an expanded thermoplastic material, the device including a first member with a first annular rim-forming surface, and a second member which is reciprocable relative to the first member. The second member has a second annular rim-forming surface which forms a generally closed rim-forming chamber with the first annular rim-forming surface when the second member is in a first position relative to the first member, the second member being reciprocable to a second position in which the first annular surface and the second annular surface are separated to permit the withdrawal of a container with a rolled rim at the mouth from the first member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover comprising means for engaging portions of the sheet of material and forming pleats in predetermined portions of the sheet of material having a predetermined shape whereby the formed flower pot or flower pot cover has pleats in predetermined portions and of predetermined shapes.

Abstract: A method of forming a container from a flat, substantially homogeneous blank of fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of shaping the blank into a formed container having a bottom wall, an up-turned side wall extending from the bottom wall, a rim outwardly extending from the side wall and a lip downwardly curving from the rim and including a plurality of radially-extending, circumferentially-spaced pleats formed in the side wall, rim, and lip, each pleat including at least three layers of the blank; and applying sufficient heat and pressure to the side wall and rim to decrease the thickness thereof to less than that of the blank and to transform each pleat into a substantially integrated fibrous structure in which the constituent layers generally lack individual identity, each structure having a density greater than and a thickness substantially equal to adjacent areas of the side wall and rim.

Abstract: A pressed paperboard container (10) is formed having a bottom wall (11), an upturned side wall (12), and an overturned rim (13 ) extending from the side wall which is denser and thinner than the rest of the container. The container is formed by pressing a flat circular blank (27) between upper and lower dies (25, 26) having die surfaces (31, 32, 38, 39, 40) which shape the blank into proper form, and the surfaces of the dies (25, 26) at the rim area (13) of the container are shaped to exert extremely high compressive stresses on the rim, particularly at the folded areas (20) formed in the rim during initial shaping of the container. The high compressive stresses applied to the rim area, along with proper moisture levels maintained in the paperboard and the heating of the paperboard by the heated dies, causes the paperboard in the rim area to deform plastically, densify, and fill in voids created as the blank was pressed into the container form.

Abstract: The invention provides a transfer device comprising at least one gripping member (19) mounted for pivoting about a first shaft (19a), on a support (16) mounted for rotation about a second shaft (16a). The support (16) rotates through three angular steps per revolution to place the gripping member (19) in three successive positions (P1,P2,P3), in which it is respectively opposite the posts for precutting, finishing cutting and rolling of the foils. An orientation means (24) associated with a means (57) for adjusting the starting orientation of the gripping members, further allows each of these latter to be pivoted between its first (P1) and second (P2) positions, through an angle depending on the conicity to be given to the finished articles, and maintaining it as far as its third position (P3) in the orientation which it has in its second position (P2).

Abstract: A percolator having a cylindrical basket concentric with a wand is provided with a filter paper cup having an annular bottom coextensive with the bottom of the basket and having upstanding fluted sides. The filter cups are formed by cutting and forming them into a nest of cups having an imperforate bottom, transferring the nest of cups to a frusto-conical die having a circular top commensurate with the circular bottom of the filter cups, a central die-hole, and outwardly and downwardly flaring sides corresponding to the natural outward flare of the nested cups, and punching an axial hole in said nested cups while on said die by means of a punch complementary with said die-hole.