Graphic Packaging International, Inc.

Pechiney Emballage Flexible Europe

American National Can Company

Scott William Middleton

Brian Robert O'Hagan

Patrick Henry Wnek

Terrence Philip Lafferty

Lorin R Cole

Richard G Robison

Peter Walrave Blaas

Kevin James Hjort

Patrick James Smith

Mark Richard Sinclair

Timothy Henry Bohrer

Brian R O'hagan

Ronald P Marx

James B Kluz

Bruce Barnard

Timothy H Bohrer

Brian O'hagan

Brian Robert O'hagan

Robert J Blemberg

Neilson Zeng

Laurence M C Lai

Jerry F Jesse

Mary E Shepard

Richard G Robinson

John Cameron Files

Anthony Russell

Norman L Jesch

Laurence M Lai

Tom Wolford

Kevin J Hjort

Jeffrey T Sloat

William J Schulz

Fermin P Resurreccion, Jr

William Gilpatrick

David W Robbins

Daniel J Keefe

Lee M Schneider

Paul Abbott

Reinhard Bohme

Jeffery S Majetich

Partick James Smith

Patrick H N Wnek

Brian R W O'Hagan

Richard Robison

Peter W Blaas

Brian R O'HAGAN

Mark Sinclair

David William Robbins

Laurence Lai

Patrick H Wenk

Laurence Mc Lai

Terrence Phillip Lafferty

A frame is injection molded onto a group of panels to form a container. The panels extend at least partially around, and at least partially define, a cavity of the container.

Injection-molded composite construct

A microwave energy interactive structure includes a first susceptor film including a first layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film, a moisture-containing layer joined to the first layer of microwave energy interactive material, an adjoining layer joined to the moisture-containing layer such that the moisture-containing layer is disposed between the susceptor film and the adjoining layer, and a second layer of microwave energy interactive material on a side of the adjoining layer opposite the moisture-containing layer. The adjoining layer may be joined to the moisture-containing layer by a discontinuous adhesive layer.

Susceptor structure

Various embodiments of flanged containers that can be stacked in a nested relationship are disclosed so as to provide uniform spacing between the containers to facilitate reliable denesting thereof. The flanges and/or sidewalls of the containers may be provided with features that facilitate alignment and uniform spacing of the nested containers so that a denesting apparatus can reliably denest the containers. Other containers include sidewalls divided into two sections that serve to stabilize stacked container.

Nestable container with uniform stacking features

A microwave energy interactive structure comprises a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a polymer film. A plurality of microapertures extend through the layer of microwave energy interactive material and the polymer film. The microapertures have a major linear dimension of from about 0.05 mm to about 2 mm.

Microwave energy interactive structure with venting microapertures

An outer portion of one or more layers of microwave interactive material, which is for becoming hot when exposed to microwave energy, is arranged in a manner that seeks to advantageously control heating, so that the outer portion of the microwave interactive material can safely be adjacent the periphery of a turntable tray. The turntable tray can be heated by the microwave interactive material so that a peak thermally induced stress occurs in the turntable tray at a position proximate the periphery of the tray. The layer(s) of microwave interactive material are configured in a manner so that the peak thermally induced stress is less than a predetermined amount.

Susceptors capable of balancing stress and effectiveness

A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature. The method includes obtaining a blank, forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall, and forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article. The injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.

Container having a rim or other feature encapsulated by or formed from injection-molded material

A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.

A method of making a microwave energy interactive structure includes plasma treating the surface of a polymer film with an inert gas at a plasma treatment energy per unit surface area of the film of from about 0.005 J/cmto about 0.2 J/cmto reduce the apparent surface roughness of film the polymer film, and depositing a layer of microwave energy interactive material onto the plasma treated surface of the film.

Plasma treated susceptor films

A microwave energy interactive structure includes microwave energy interactive material supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, and a plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments circumscribed by the microwave energy interactive material. The plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments define a pattern of loops that may be dimensioned to induce resonance of microwave energy during microwave heating of a food item on the structure. The structure may also include a plurality of microwave energy transparent elements that are operative as fuses to prevent overheating of the structure.

Multidirectional fuse susceptor

A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting defects in susceptors of microwave food containers during production of such containers. The method comprises the steps of advancing the microwave food containers in a downstream direction along a processing path; subjecting each microwave food container as it moves along the processing path to microwave radiation sufficient to heat the susceptors of the container without destroying the susceptors of the container; obtaining an image preferably in the infrared spectrum of the heated susceptors of each container; determining if the image is indicative of a defect in the susceptors of each container; and removing from the processing path containers that are indicated to have defective susceptors. The apparatus includes a conveyor that moves containers through a first microwave absorbing cavity, a resonator cavity wherein containers are subjected to microwave energy, and a second microwave absorbing cavity wherein an image of each container is obtained.

Method and apparatus for identifying defects in susceptors of microwave food containers

Growing community of inventors

Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Scott William Middleton