Maryland Cup Corporation

Charles E Busse

Allan K Cress

The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus and method for manufacturing completed foam plastic containers. An endless mandrel chain carries cup forming mandrels along a manufacturing path. After each mandrel is preheated, a bottom blank is placed on the mandrel bottom and held there by a vacuum. A cylindrical blank formed from longitudinally stretch-oriented foam sheet material is then placed onto the mandrel. This cylindrical blank is tightly tamped onto the mandrel and is clamped in place. Radiant heat is then used to shrink form a finished container. The bottom is then sealed to the cylindrical blank and the mandrel is transferred to a curling assembly where the top edge portion of each finished container is lubricated and then curled to form a finished rim. The apparatus of the present invention may form containers having a dual tapered configuration which allows the containers to be more tightly stacked.

Method and apparatus for producing finished foam containers

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method wherein preprinted rectangular blanks of longitudinally stretch-oriented foam sheet material are continuously formed into cylinders by a tubular forming mandrel on which the blanks are folded, seamed and thereafter transferred onto final forming mandrels. Subsequently, the blanks and the final mandrels are heated to shrink the blanks so that they assume the shape of the final forming mandrels. In forming containers, means are provided to place bottom blanks on the product mandrels prior to the loading of the cylinders thereon so as to shrink the cylinders to sidewall shapes overlying the bottom blanks. The top curl on containers such as drinking cups and food tubs is formed after shrink forming. Further, the bottom seam of the container may be reinforced by ironing after shrink forming.

Apparatus for manufacturing foam plastic containers by use of a tubular

The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus and method for manufacturing completed foam plastic containers. An endless mandrel chain continuously carries cup forming mandrels along a manufacturing path. Cylindrical blanks are formed and transferred to the mandrels along the endless mandrel carrier chain. As the endless mandrel carrier chain passes the cylindrical blanks and associated bottom blanks through a heat shrink oven, it is important for the endless mandrel carrier chain to continuously travel in order to prevent the heat damage which would be present if the cup blanks were halted in the oven. Consequently, the present invention is directed to a system for synchronizing the cylindrical blank forming and transferring mechanisms and the bottom blank forming and transferring mechanisms to the endless mandrel carrier chain such that the blank forming and transferring stations may be halted from time to time to clear jams or add new sheet stock without the need to halt the endless mandrel carrier chain. The present invention is further directed to a method for synchronizing the cylindrical blank forming and transferring and bottom blank forming and transferring portions of the machine to the endless mandrel carrier chain when the blank forming and transferring stations are restarted.

Method and apparatus for producing finished foam plastic containers

Method and apparatus for fabricating and seaming two-piece containers such as frustoconical cups and the like are provided which include a two-piece mandrel having retractable tip or nose piece which is coaxial in its relation to the main body of the mandrel in its extended position and retracts to an offset position. The retraction/extension path is configured to constrain the surface of the tip or nose piece to impart a progressive sealing pressure to a portion of the container side seam against the reaction surface of a seam clamp. The tip also has vacuum porting for holding a bottom blank during the container forming process and acts to seal the bottom blank in the container bottom curl and in the case of effecting heat sealed seams in the container, to position the bottom blank so as to preclude heat damage to the bottom wet line area of the container.

Method and apparatus for sealing the sidewall and bottom seam portions

Method and apparatus for manufacturing foam plastic containers by use of

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method wherein bottom blanks for containers are severed from a web feed roll and subsequently transferred at a compatible speed and spacing to final forming mandrels on which finished containers are to be formed. The bottom blanks are tangentially transferred from a first transfer turret at a final velocity and spacing most desirable for cutting and minimizing scrap to a second transfer turret at a second velocity and spacing and thereafter tangentially transferred to the final forming mandrels. Subsequently, preprinted rectangular blanks of longitudinally stretch-oriented foam sheet material formed into cylinders are transferred onto the final forming mandrels. Thereafter, the bottom blanks the cylindrical blanks and the final forming mandrels are heated to shrink the cylindrical blanks so that they assume the shape of the final forming mandrels. The top curl on containers such as drinking cups and food tubs is formed after shrink forming. Further, the bottom seam of the container is reinforced by ironing after shrink forming.

Apparatus for providing bottom blanks for containers in a manufacturing

Preprinted rectangular blanks of longitudinally stretch-oriented foam sheet material are formed into cylinders by a continuous folder and seamer and transferred onto mandrels on which they are shrunken by heat to assume the shape of the mandrel. In forming containers, means are provided to place bottom blanks on the mandrels prior to the loading of the cylinders thereon so as to shrink the cylinders to sidewall shapes overlying the bottom blanks. The top curl on containers such as drinking cups and food tubs is formed after shrink forming and the bottom seam of the container is also reinforced by ironing after shrink forming. A method of continuously forcing and filling containers on a continuous in-line basis is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Jarrettsville, MD, United States of America

Charles E Busse