Peerless Machine & Tool Corporation

Willis C Patterson

A deep compartment tray includes compartments separated by dividers which extend to between one-third and substantially the full depth of the tray. The tray is constructed from sheet material, such as polyester coated paper milk carton stock by cutting blanks from the stock, scoring the blank in regions where formation of wrinkles is to be avoided to induce the paper stock to fold and form as required, and pre-forming and finally forming the blank into the tray between a single set of dies. The pre-forming step and the forming step are conducted by a first female die defining the tray cavities or compartments, and surrounded by a first draw pad region, and a second male die including bosses or land areas in the compartment regions and recesses where the tray dividers are to be formed. The male die includes a set of cavities, one in each of the tray compartment regions. The cavities slidably receive plungers or inserts which are movably mounted in the cavities and are spring-urged to their fully projected positions in the cavities. A second draw pad surrounds the male die, and is mounted for resistive movement relative to the male die. As the male die approaches the female die in a forming stroke, the first and second draw pads capture the blank. At the same time, the plungers contact the blank surface. As the forming stroke continues, the plungers pre-form the blank in the compartment regions between divider ridges on the female die while tension is maintained on a perimetral flange portion of the blank by the draw pads. The plungers finally bottom out, capturing the blank between themselves and the compartment surfaces of the female die. The remaining parts of the male die continue downward, finally forming the tray.

Method and apparatus of making a compartment tray

A deep compartment tray includes compartments separated by dividers which extend to between one-third and substantially the full depth of the tray. The tray is constructed from sheet material, such as polyester coated paper milk carton stock. The pre-forming step and the forming step for the tray are conducted by a first female die defining the tray cavities or compartments, and surrounded by a first draw pad region, and a second male die including bosses or land areas in the compartment regions and recesses where the tray dividers are to be formed. The male die includes a set of cavities, one in each of the tray compartment regions. The cavities slidably receive plungers or inserts which are movably mounted in the cavities and are spring-urged to their fully projected positions in the cavities. A second draw pad surrounds the male die, and is mounted for resistive movement relative to the male die.

Growing community of inventors

Marion, IN, United States of America

Willis C Patterson