Patent · US Expired

Tray-forming apparatus

US4690666A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
3References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 5, 1986
Grant dateSep 1, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 5, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29L2031/712
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

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. A control system is also provided for disabling the projection system at a predetermined position of the first die in the cavity to permit relative movement between the first and second dies during finish-forming of the tray compartment. Such relative movement allows the first die to relinquish its leading positio…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.