Dixie Consumer Products LLC

Fort James Corporation

Gpcp IP Holdings LLC

Thomas W Zelinski

Mark B Littlejohn

Albert D Johns

Mircea T Sofronie

Gerald John Van Handel

Michael A Breining

William R Pucci

Alois A Schmidtner

Richard J Rogers

Kenneth J Zirbel

Luke G Stumpf

Paul J England

Grigory I Grischenko

Jay S Lester

Erik J Sjogren

Dean P Swoboda

Jerome G Dees

Bruce R Smith

Eric J Berg

Albert D Jones

Mircea Sofronie

Products and methods of increasing the Rigidity and Rim Stiffness of disposable containers are provided. The containers have an outer flange portion extending outwardly with a brim portion sloping downwardly defining a declivity angle &#x3b1; with respect to a horizontal generally parallel to the bottom portion and generally include an outward turn at the periphery of the container. A preferred method of improving rigidity includes press-forming: (i) a brim transition portion adjoining the downwardly sloping brim portion of the container and (ii) an outwardly extending annular evert portion adjoining the brim transition portion extending outwardly at an eversion angle &#x3b2; of at least about 25 degrees with respect to the downwardly sloping brim portion of the flange.

Pressed paperboard servingware with improved rigidity and rim stiffness

Pressware stacking systems and methods for using same. The system can include a conveyor for moving pressware in a first direction; a stop ramp at least partially disposed on the conveyor; and a lifter in communication with the stop ramp. The lifter is adapted to move at least a portion of the stop ramp to an inclined position above the conveyor.

Pressware stop ramp and method for using the same

The present invention provides an improved pressware forming apparatus. At least one of die pairs used in the apparatus can be narrowed in a cross-direction as compared to the cross-directional width of pressware forming tools used in prior an apparatus. The present invention allows addition of at least one additional die pair in the pressware forming tool when used in a standard sized pressware forming apparatus. The present invention also provides components for use in such apparatus and methods of making pressware from the apparatus herein.

Pressware forming apparatus, components therefore and methods of making pressware therefrom

An improved apparatus for making pressware features a vacuum belt feeder which accelerates and decelerates a feed blank for controlled insertion into a forming die as well as retainers to limit bounce back of the blank off of forward stops. A pneumatic ejector on the forming ram facilitates product removal.

Apparatus for making paperboard pressware with controlled blank feed

A disposable servingware container press-formed from paperboard includes (a) a bottom panel; (b) an annular transition portion; and (c) an outer portion extending upwardly and outwardly with respect to the transition portion, the container having an outer surface and an inner surface distal to the outer surface, the inner surface being adapted as a serving surface. The paperboard is infused with a wax composition on one side thereof in an amount of at least 3 lbs of wax per 3000 ftream such that the paperboard is partially saturated with wax and has a wax-enriched layer proximate one side thereof and a layer undersaturated with wax proximate the other side thereof.

Disposable pressware prepared from wax-infused paperboard

An improved apparatus for making disposable pressware features a pneumatic feeding system which accelerates a paperboard blank into a forming die. In a typical embodiment, a pair of adjustable air knives propel a paperboard blank into the forming cavity.

Method for making a pressed paperboard container

Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.

Disposable servingware containers with flange tabs

Pressware die set with pneumatic blank feed

An improved pressware die set includes mechanical ejectors for removing formed product from the punch. A preferred embodiment includes rocker-style ejectors free from edges or other asperities which may tend to snag and mar the product during the production process. Most preferably, the outward surfaces of the rocker members extend beyond the perimeter of a paperboard blank positioned for forming so the paperboard blank does not encounter an obstruent outward edge during forming.

Pressware die set with product ejectors at outer forming surfaces

A pressing apparatus for producing a food service paperboard container from a paperboard blank so that the paperboard container possesses an overturned rim provided with folds includes a first die and a second die that are movable relative to one another. The first die includes a first base and a first platform that is movable with respect to the first base, with the first base having a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank. The second die is positioned in opposing relation to the first die and includes a second base and a second platform that is movable with respect to the second base. The second die is movable with respect to the first die and the second base has a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank so that the outer periphery of the paperboard blank is pressed between the curved surface of the first base and the curved surface of the second base. A first cast-in heater is mounted within a recess in the first die and includes a resistor wire embedded within a thermally conductive cast-in material. A second cast-in heater is mounted within a recess in the second die and includes a resistor wire embedded within a thermally conductive cast-in material.

Food serving paperboard container pressing apparatus employing cast-in electrical heaters

In a pressware die set, a segmented punch for fabricating a pressed disposable food service article having a substantially planar bottom portion, a sidewall and a rim portion. In one embodiment, the punch is mounted to reciprocate cyclically between an open position and a forming position about an axis of reciprocation and includes outer punch surfaces for forming the sidewall and rim portions of the pressed disposable food service articles, as well as a substantially planar punch surface suitably mounted and dimensioned to engage the substantially planar bottom portion of the disposable food service article. The improved punch includes a knock-out stripper ring juxtaposed with the substantially planar punch surface, defining a knock-out surface and which is reciprocally mounted with respect to the central substantially planar punch surface such that the knock-out surface is contiguous with the substantially planar punch surface when the punch is in a forming position. The knock-out surface of the knock-out stripper member projects axially from the substantially planar punch surface when the punch reciprocates towards its open position. The knock-out surface area is generally from about 3 to about 50% of the area of the substantially planar surface of the punch.

Growing community of inventors

Menasha, WI, United States of America

Thomas W Zelinski