CA1046394A - Process for forming visual display packages - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Method and equipment for forming visual display packages from blanks in which a plastic film covers a window region in the package, and in which a tab formed as part of the blank extends into the window region to support an article to be contained in the package and serve as a location for product codes and symbols or other information. At least one pocket is formed in the plastic film to receive an article prior to closing the package. The tab is rotated outward, and when the tab is located adjacent to the transverse axis fold line of the blank it assists in making the completed package free-standing. The tab may be bonded to a portion of the plastic film by a heat responsive thermo-plastic coating on the tab.

Description

~0~63~4 Reference to Related Ap~ ications Reference is made to related Canadian application serial number 229,221 filed June 12, 1975.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus and process for forming containers from packaging card blanks of the type in which a clear plastic film is used in combination with a window opening in the card blank to provide a visual display of the article in the container, and in which at least a base section is provided for article support and as a region for applying product codes and symbols or other information.
Brief Description of the Prior Art Numerous types of visual display packages are known, as disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,221,473; 3,075,329; 3,018,879 and 3,185,295. Typical -processes and apparatus for forming these display containers and package are disclosed in United States Patents 3,064,402; 3,018,879; 3,376,691;
3,075,330; and 3,075,329. The '879 patent issued to Crane is of the type having a card blank with an aperture therein through which is formed a pocket in a plastic sheet lying on the opposite side of the blank, In most instances the opening in the blank is smaller than the article which is to be contained therein, and the film is heat-shrunk around the article after it is loaded into the package. The '295 patent to Crane illustrates the use of a card which is folded about a center axis and which also employs the use of the heat-shrink film to enclose an article, wherein the base of the article forms the base of the stand-up package. Again, in this type of package, the film is shrunk about the article to form a tight package, These and other package styles found in the prior art are not readily adaptable to articles which, by ~ .
- 1 - ~

': ,, - - ~ ' ~ .

10~6394 .2 themselves, are not capable of standing erectO Further, these packages do not provide areas to which a product code or symbol such as described in this invention may be locatedO
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Method and equipment for forming a visual display container where-in a novel packaging card blank is used which has a window opening formed therein and llas a platform section also formed in said card blank which extends into the window opening and is adapted to be rotated to become an exterior portion of the containerO A plastic film is used to overlie the window opening and is formed through the window opening to create a recessed pocket for receiving an article to be packaged in the containerO During the process of forming the recessed pocket, the platform section in the card blank is rotated to lie adjacent to the recessed area and on the outside of the recessed pocketO This portion ; 15 of the container may then be used to provide support for the entire package if it is located at the bottom of the package and regardless .
of its location may be used to locate product codes or symbols or any other informationO
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Brief DescriPtlon of the Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a packaging card blank and apparatus embodying the present invention shown prior to actuat-ing the apparatus and separated for clarity;
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration a sectional elevational view of the card blank and apparatus of Figure 1, shown during the form-ing process;
. Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of the card blank and apparatus of Figure 1, shown in the final forming position;
Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank and apparatus-showing an alternative .
embodiment of the present invention, and shown prior to actuatiag the apparatus and separated for clarity;

- 1 O 4 6 3 9 4 ~ 3 _ Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the sectional elevational view of the packaging card blank and apparatus of Figure 4 shown iust prior to actuating the apparatus;
Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank and apparatus of Figure 4 shown during the forming process;
Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank and apparatus of Figure 4 shown at the completion of the forming process;
Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank having two window openings and apparatus embodying the present invention shown prior to actuating the apparatus and separated for clarity;
Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank having two window openings and apparatus of Figure 8 shown just prior to actuating the apparatus;
Figure 10 is a schematic sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank having two window openings and apparatus of Figure 8 shown during the forming process.
Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of a two window card blank and alternative apparatus embodying the present invention positioned just prior to actuating the apparatus;
Figure 12 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of a packaging card blank having two windows and the apparatus of Figure 11 shown in the final forming position;
Figure 13 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational vlew of apparatus featuring an alternative embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figures 8 and 11;
Figure 14 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of apparatus featuring an alternative embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figures 4 through 7;
Figure 15 is a schematic illustration of a sectional elevational view of apparatus featuring an alternative embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figures 8 through 10;

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Figure 16 is a schematic illl-stration of a sectional elevational view of apparatus featuring an alternative embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 13;
Figure 17 is a schematic sectional elevational view of a single pocket container after processing showing an article therein and prior to sealing;
Figure 18 is a schematic view of the container and article of Figure 17 after sealing the package;
Figure 19 is a schematic sectional elevational view of a double pocket container after processing;
Figure 20 is a schematic view of the container shown in Figure 19 with an article therein partly folded into final configuration prior to sealing;
Figure 21 shows a ct~mpleted, sealed package.
It should be initially understood that the basic subject matter of this invention relates to the packaging of articles or objects and the formation of the containers from which those packages are erected by equipment and apparatus which are in wide spread use at this time.
Since various types of commercially available apparatus may be adapted to incorporate this invention in order to produce the improved containers, thls description will include embodiments which may be used with the various popular types of equipment currently available. For example the basic apparatus disclosed in U,S, Patent Number 3,075,330 to Swezey or the apparatus disclosed in U,S. Patent 3,075,329 to Swezey et al may be used. Other types of apparatus will be specifically pointed out where applicable in the description below.
In general, the apparatus and method disclosed involves the manufacture of packaging components of the type wherein a blank is employed typically made from paperboard sheet-like material or other similar material. The card blank is formed with an opening therein and this opening is covered with a transparent plastic film or equivalent member which is formable and may be stretchable and shrinkable as well, .~

,... .

10~6394 After a pocket is formed in ~he film, the article to be packaged is placed in the pocket and the containsr is sealed. Where a suitable plastic film is used this package may then be subjected to a selective application of heat to shrink the member into close contact with the article contained in the package.
As can be seen in Figure 1 in which the components are separated and enlarged for easier understanding and clarity, a packaging card blank 10 is shown, typically made from a relatively stiff, foldable or bendable sheet-like member or card, This particular type of card blank has a single window opening formed therein, generally designated as reference numeral 11, A platform section shown as 12, which is formed in said card blank and extends into the window opening area 10, and is designated as 12, and is attached to the card blank along a score line or similar connection shown as 13, which allows the platform section 12 to be rotated during the forming process.
A sheet of plastic film 14 is used to cover the window opening 11 and the rotatable platform section 12 in the card blank 10. The plastic film 14 may be held in place on the card blank 10 by any suitable means prior to processing the card blank. One common method of holding the pla8tic film 14 to the card blank 10 is the use of adhesive coatings ln the areas adjacent to the window opening 11 in the card blank 10, The packaging card blank 10 is disposed above a first platen 20 which has an opening formed in the top thereof directly adjacent to the window opening 11 in the card blank 10, In the particular embodiment illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3, a pocket forming region 21 is formed in the first platen 20. As will be described later, this pocket-forming region 21 may be formed in a separate member and disposed directly adjacent to the opening in the first platen 20. The pocket-forming region 21 may be connected to a means for creating a vacuum and thereby create a vacuum in the pocket-forming region 21, The means for creating the vacuum is not shown, but may be any common venturi arrangement or vacuum pump, A

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Located directly above the first platen 20 is a second platen 25, which is adapted to be brought into registry with the first platen 20, and hold the card blank 10 in position during the forming process.
If a vacuum process is to be used then the registry of platens 20 and 25 must be tight enough to achieve an essentially air-tight seal around the window opening 11 and the card blank lOo This can be accomplished by close machining tolerances of the two platens or by the use of a conven-tional gasket arrangement which is not shown in Figure lD
Also shown in Figure 1 is a plunger 26 which is adapted to fit into a recess 27 in the second platen 250 The plunger 26 is adapted to be moved up and down by apparatus not shown and thereby acts as a primary forming member and the container forming apparatusO
Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate sequential steps in the formation of a visual display container. It should be understood that the apparatus as disclosed in Figure 1 may be employed without using the plunger 260 This vacuum form arrangement with a single pocket-forming region could be employed in a system such as the model SL-30 packaging system by Inpak Systems Division of United Shoe Machinery CorporationO The plastic film 14 which would be used in such a vacuum operation would generally be the plasticized variety which upon pre-heating becomes flexible and stretchable and would be capable of being vacuum formedO
The film would strétch and be expanded into the pocket-forming region 21 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 without the action of the plunger 26. While there would be variables to be controlled such as temperature, elasticity of the film 14, and the amount of vacuum to be applied to the pocket-forming region 21, nevertheless the rotatable platform section 12 of the card blank 10 would be rotated down and into the pocket-forming . region 21 as the film 14 is expanded~ The rotatable platform section 12 would rotate about the score line 13 and in its final position would be nearly flush in a position perpendicular to the remainder of the card blank 10 and juxtaposed between a portion of the plastic film 14 and the side wall of the first platen ?Oo 10~ 94 Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a variation of rotatable platform section 12 which has an extension or tab 15 adapted to be moved along with the remainder of the rotatable platform section 12 to be finally positioned on the front of the final expanded window area of the containerO
This additional tab 15 is connected to the remainder of the rotatable platform section 12 along an additional fold line 160 It should be understood that the shape and size of the rotatable platform section 12 and/or lS may be varied to suit individual tasteO Further, multiple rotatable platform sections, not shown, may be brought down from more than one side of the window area 11.
It would be desirable to use the plunger 26 in those situations where it is necessary to use a non-plasticized film which, when heated, would not tend to expand as quickly and completely as desired by the action of the vacuum aloneO Further, it may be found that to completely expand the plastic film 14 into the pocket-forming region 21 that it may be necessary to firmly and positively move the rotatable platform section 13 into juxtaposition with the side wall of the first platen 200 As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it may be the case that some of the vacuum holes 22 leading to the pocket-forming region 21 in the first platen 20 would be covered by the rotatable platform section 12 thereby shutting off part of the vacuum and resulting in an incomplete forming processr Figures 1, 2 and 3 clearly illustrate how the action of the plunger 26 either by itself or in conjunction with an application of vacuum to the pocket-forming region 21 would result in the final productO
Vacuum may, of course, be used alone~
It may also be useful to employ the plunger 26 to assure a fusion bond between areas of the rotatable platform section 12 and the areas of the plastic film contiguous thereto, where a thermoplastic coating has been applied to areas on the rotatable platform section 12. This bonding may be desirable to assure prevention of removal of the rotatable plat-form section 12 once the container is closed and in the market plaçe~
In Figures 1 through 3, a layer of thermo-plastic coating is shown by .

reference numeral 17, underlying a portion of the platform section 120 The extent of the area covered may of course, be varied for individual applicationsO Alternatively, an ionomer film may be used which will bond to a surface such as paperboard without the use of adhesivesO
This fusion bond may be obtained by the combination of heat and pressure between the film and paperboard surfacesO
Persons skilled in the art will be aware of available apparatus to be used in actuating the plunger mechanism 26 as well as the apparatus necessary to automatically load card blanks into the apparatus, heat the plastic film 14, as well as further steps including loading the article into the recessed pockets 28 in the completed container.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention which may be used in those instances where the plasticized film will be capable of being deflected sufficiently by the vacuum to substantially form the required pocket, but where some mechanical force is required to assure proper positioning of the rotatable platform section 12 in the platen 200 For ease and understanding the invention and clarity, the reference numbers for the varlous components of the apparatus described will be carried throughout the various drawings.
It can be seen that each of the Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the first platen 20 as well as the second platen 25 in the embodimentO In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 through 7 the full dimension plunger shown as 26 in Figures 1 through 3 has been replaced with a plug assist means shown as 300 As in the embodiments of Figures 1 through 3, passages for creating a vacuum in the pocket-forming region 21 are provided and shown as 22, and in addition, positive air pressure holes are shown in the second platen 25 and designated as 31 which may be employed to assist in the formation of the recessed pocket 28 and the plastic film 14.
In Figures 4 through 7 the packaging card blank 10 is shown with a single rotatable platform section 12 about a score line hinge 130 It should be understood that the operation of the plug assist means 30 may be actuated sequentially following the initiation of the:
vacuum within the pocket-forming region 21, or it may be simultaneous ~, :

1046;~94 - 9-therewith, or finally the plug assist means 30 may be positioned in extended manner from the second platen 25 and engage the plastic film 14 as the top or second platen 25 is lowered into registry with the lower platen 200 The actuation of the plug assist means 30 may be by conventional apparatus not shown in this disclosureO
As with the earlier embodiment showing a full dimension plunger 26, the use of the plug assist means 30 may be combined with selective heat application to form a bond between the rotatable platform section 12 when it is coated with a thermo-plastic coating and that portion of the plastic film 14 lying contiguous theretoO As can be seen in Figure 7, the use of the plug assist means 30 insures intimate contact between the rotatable platform section 12 and its contiguous section in the plastic film 14. This combination does not result in unnecessary thinning or stretching of the plastic film 14 as may tend to occur with the full dimension plunger 26 since in the embodiment shown in Figures .4 through 7 the primary source of expansion is the vacuum and/or positive air pressure created through the air passages 22 and 31 in the upper and lower platens 250 Packaging card blanks 10 of the type disclosed in Figures 1 through 7 having a single recess pocket 28 may be closed by folding the remainder of the card blank 10 over the back portion of the container and : window opening 11, or by adding a second sheet of material over at least the window opening of the card blank lOo As previously mentioned, this loading and sealing process as well as any folding steps may be done either manually or by conventional packaging apparatusO
Figure 8 shows in separated schematic fashion, a cross section of a packaging card blank 110 having two window openings wherein the window openings are disposed so that in completed form, the recessed pockets will be on opposite sides of the packaging card blank 110, The reason for this positioning of the recessed pockets is to allow the formation of the container with a rotatable platform section 111 which underlies at least a portion of the bottom extremity of both halves of the finished package having recessed pockets therein. The folding of the completed .. . .
LDntainer will be described laterO As in the previous examples, a pair 10~63~4 -/ Q -of opposed forming members are used, including a first platen 112 which is, as seen in Figures 9 and 109 used as a support for the card blank 110. A second platen 113 is disposed directly above the first platen 112 and is adapted to be moved into registry with the first platen 112 by conventional means not shown and thereby hold the packaging card blank 110 in position during the forming process.
In Figures 8, 9 and 10 the first and second platens 112 and 113 respectively are shown with lower and upper pocket forming regions 115 and 1160 Although it has not been illustrated, it should be understood that in the event a film is used, which would be adapted to be press-formed, a dual arrangement of fully dimensioned plungers such as plunger 26 shown in Figure 1 could be used to form the two recessed areas into the pocket-forming regions 115 and 116 in the arrangement shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10O Similarly, it may be discovered that for a given set of circumstances, the action of applying a vacuum to the two:pocket-forming regions 115 and 116 either alone, in combination with the application of positive air pressure to those areas, or in combination with one or more plugs or plungers would be sufficient to form the plastic film designated as 114 in Figures 8, 9 and 10, into substantial conformity with the pocket-forming regions 115 and 1160 For that reason, the first platen:
: 112 and second platen 113 have been shown with passages for vacuum and positive air pressure and are designated as 120 for vacuum passages and 121 for positive air passages respectivelyO
In the formation process as shown in Figures 9 and lO,.it should be noted that as the film 114 is drawn down and into the lower pocket-forming region 115 in the first platen 112, irrespective of whether the film 114 is expanded by means of positive air pressure, vacuum or a : mechanical application of force, the film 114 moves and rotates the rotatable platform section 111 ahead of ito Conversely, in the expansion of the plastic film 114 into the upper pocket-forming region 116 in the second platen 113, the plastic film 114 moves into the pocket-forming region 116 ahead of that portion of the rotatable platform section 111 contiguous theretoO It should therefore be noted that if the portion ~0~:;3~4 of the plastic film 114 which is being expanded into the lower pocket-forming region 115 advances ahead of that portion of the plastic film 114 being expanded into the upper pocket-forming region 116 it is pos-sible to create a bending moment within the rotatable platform section 111 and cause damage thereto in the form of bending or kinking at approximately its midpointO
To prevent damage to the rotatable platform section 111, the formation of the upper and lower recessed pockets in the plastic film 114 may be accomplished sequentially, wherein the upper pocket is formed ahead of the lower pocket so that the plastic film 114 moves ahead of and is not a restriction against that portion of the rotatable platform section 111 which is to be moved into the upper pocket-forming region 1160 In other words, if vacuum is to be used to form the two pockets, the vacuum could be directed to the upper pocket-forming region 116 prior to the application of the vacuum to the lower pocket-forming region 1150 It may be found however, that to accomplish satisfactory production speeds, the necessary delay required to accomplish this relief of pressure on the upper portion of the rotatable platform section 111, would be too great. It may, therefore, be desirable to use a rotatable platform support member, shown as 125, which would be rotated upwards to provide support for that portion of the rotatable section 111 most likely to be under the stress of a bending momentO This rotatable platform support member 125 is shown built into the first platen 112 and lying flush with the top thereofO An a1ternative configuration for the rotatable platform support member 125, wherein the support member 125 is adapted to underlie a greater portion of the rotatable platform section 111 will be described laterO
In the embodiment as shown in Figures 8 through 10, means for rotating the support member 125 are provided to insure adequate support for the platform section 111 during the entire forming process. This means for rotatlng the support member 125 is shown as a piston rod 126 which can be moved upwards to engage the rotatable platform support 10~6394 member 125 and move the entire assembly vertically into position in the upper pocket-forming region 116 about a pivot point 1270 The driving force behind the rotating means 126 is not shown, but may be any conventional mechanical apparatusO It should be understood that the rotating means 126 and platform support member 125 may serve a dual purpose in not only assuring that no damage will occur to the rotatable platform section 111, but in addition making certain that the final position of the rotat-able platform section will be desired within the upper pocket-forming region 116, even though one or more of the vacuum passages 120 may be closed off by the expanded film 1140 An illustration of the variety of combinations which may be employed within the scope of this invention would be the use of a member in the embodiment shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10 to perform the same function as the rotating means 126, only designed as well to act as a full dimension plunger to assist in forming a recessed pocket in thè film. This.member would serve to form the pocket on one side and move rotatable platform support member, while some other means such as vacuum was used on the other sideO
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of the embodiments shown in Figures 8 through 10 in that a plug assist means 130 is shown in position to perform much the same function as the plug assist means.30 illustrated and described in Figures 4 through 7~ In other words, it:
may be found that in order to insure proper final positioning of~the.
plastic film 114 and rotatable platform section 111 within the lower pocket-forming region 115, the application of mechanical force may be.requiredO
Further, as previously described, if bonding between the plastic film and the rotatable platform section 111 by the use of a thermo-plastic coating is desired then selective application of heat may be necessary.
as well as close contact during the forming process to assure proper fusion of the coatingO It should be understood, however, that the essential operation and substance of the invention is not changed by:
minor variations in the equipment or processes employed.

~0~6394 To illustrate that point, Figure 13 shows an alternate form of rotatable platform support member designated as 140 which might be desirable for use where the rotatable platform section 111 is to be made from a relatively weak variety of sheet-like materialO As can be seen in Figure 13, the support member 140 underlies all or substantially all of the rotatable platform section 111. As the forces are applied to the plastic film 114 and the plastic film is moved into final conforming relationship with the upper and lower pocket~forming regions 116 and 115 respectively, as shown by dashed lines in Figure 13, the forces exerted on the film are transmitted to the rotatable platform section lllo The support member 140, which is free to rotate, moves therewith and insures that no damage by bending or kinking will occur to the rotatable plat-form section lllo As previously mentioned, this invention may be adapted for use on different types of commercially available packaging equipmentO Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate different embodiments of apparatus similar to that which has been previously described, but which would be adapted for use with packaging systems employing a carrier plate disposed in-~ termediate to the two basic platens found on all equipment. Such asystem might be the model RT 72 carousel system as produced by the Inpak Systems Division of United Shoe Machinery CorporationO
The apparatus shown in Figure 14 is similar to the apparatus previously described in Figures 4 through 7, and would be used to fabri-cate containers from single opening blanks such as that described in Figures 4 through 70 As can be seen in Figure 14 the card blank 150 with the plastic film 151 covering the window opening therein is disposed above a first platen or carrier platen 155 which serves to locate the card blank 150 at the processing station as shown in Figure 14 and also to carry it to other processing positions on the equipment such as loading and sealing. The carrier platen 155 has formed therein an opening shown as 156 which is located directly adiacent to and beneath the window open-ing in the card blank 1500 In operation of the appratus as shown in Figure 14, once the card blank 150 and carrier platen 155 are in position between the upper platen 157 and pocket-forming region holder 158 the three sections are brought together and the processing operation is carried out in essentially the same manner as that shown in Figures 4 through 7O
5 The pocket-forming region holder 158 has formed therein the lower portion of a pocket-forming region designated as 160 which is located adjacent to the opening in the carrier platen 155 which is used to sup-port the card blank 1500 After the pocket is formed in the film 151, the segments are separated and the carrier platen 155 moves the formed 10 container to another processing station for removal or for article loading and sealing which may be followed by a heat shrinking cycle for the plastic film 151.
Figure 15 illustrates this application to a card blank having two window openings similar to that shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. In Figure 15 the upper platen designated as 170, the carrier platen designated as 171, and the pocket-forming region holder designated as 172 are shown in closed position about the card blank 175O The pocket-forming region holder 172 similar has a pocket-forming region shown as 176 positioned adjacent to the opening in the carrier platen 171 which is designated as 177 and which ls disposed directly beneath the window opening in the card blank 1750 While the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 15 is similar to that which has been previously described in Figures 8, 9 and 10, it should be noted that in Figure 15 the rotatable platform support member designated as 180 is formed within the carrier platen 171, and any means for rotating the support member 180 which is designated in Figure 15 as 181 would most probably be located within the pocket-forming region holder 172 and extend upward therethrough to contact the rotating support platform 180 through an opening in the carrier platen 171 shown as 182. If the equipment which was employed, therefore, had a plurality of carrier platens 171 mounted in a carousel arrangement and adapted to rotate into and out of a forming position which would be substantially ~s shown in Figure 15 each of the carrier platen positions would require 104639~
a rotatable support member to be formed therein or combinations including plug assist means such as that shown in Figures 11 and 12n It can be seen that after the carrier platen 171 and top and bottom members are brought together in the forming position the actual processing is similar to that which has been previously described.
The final embodiment shown in Figure 16 illustrates how a full size rotatable platform support member shown as 190 similar to the member 140 in Figure 13 might be adapted for use with the carrier platen system.
Again, as in Figure 15, the rotatable platform support member 190 would be integral with and carried by the carrier platen shown in Figure 16 as 191. The operation of the rotatable platform support member 190, however, would be similar to that described in Figure 13. It should be noted that any positive air vents which are to be used in formation of the upper pocket-forming region shown in Figure 16 as 192 must extend not only through the lower pocket-forming region holder 193 but also through the carrier platen l91o Aligning air vents designated as 195 and 196 respectively must therefore, be employed as shown in Figure 16.
Any vacuum ducts for the lower pocket-forming region 197 would be formed in the lower pocket-forming region holder 193~ These ducts are designated as 198 in Figure 160 Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the loading of an article 200 into a finished single pocket container shown generally as 201. The article 200 is simply dropped into the window pocket, and then the back of the package may be sealed by either folding over a portion of the blank 201 and sealing it into the configuration shown in Figure 18 by any conventional means such as stapling, gluing or fusing a thermo-plastic coating, or a second and separate sheet-like material may be attached to the back of the package to form the final sealed unit. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the article is then visible through the plastic film 203 and the support platform 204 is in position t~ receive product identification codes or other information, or, when the rotatable platform support ~ection 204 is located at the bottom of the package, it would also pro-vide physical support to help the package stand upright, 10~6394 Figures 19, 20 and 21 illustrate the folding and closing of a package using a two-window type container blank shown as 205. Again, an article 200 is placed in the lower pocket formed by the plastic film 206 and the upper pocket shown generally as 207 is then folded by bend-ing around the corner of the container shown as 208 into position with the rest of the container 2050 It should be noted that the plastic film will invert itself during the folding process to give a final con-figuration such as that shown in Figure 210 The container as shown in Figure 1 with the article 200 therein is then sealed and as can be seen, provides a support platform 210 on the bottom thereof.
In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in PROCESS
FOR FORMING VISUAL DISPLAY PACKAGES; and while I have endeavored ta set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my inventionO

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Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The method of forming a visual display container from a foldable packaging card blank having two window openings formed therein, said window openings disposed on either side of a rotatable platform section formed in said card blank and positioned within said card blank adjacent to a transverse fold line, said platform section being adapted to become an exterior portion of said container, and having a plastic film spanning said window openings and said platform section, which comprises the steps of:
locating at least one of said card blanks on a first platen having formed therein an opening of size and shape conforming to a first of said window openings in said card blank, and located adjacent thereto;
moving a second platen into registry with said first platen and said card blank, said second platen having formed therein an opening of size and shape similar to the second of said window openings in said card blank, and located adjacent thereto;
forming a recess pocket in said plastic film extending through each of said window openings in said said card blank into said respective openings in said first and second platens and into conforming shape with a pocket-forming region located adjacent to said openings in said first platen and said second platen;
rotating said rotatable platform section in said card blank into position on the exterior of the recessed pocket formed in said film through said first window opening in said card blank; and loading an article into said recessed pocket in said film.

2. The method of Claim 1 including the step of heating said plastic film prior to forming said recessed pockets in said film.

3. The method of Claim 1 including the step of supporting the underside of said rotatable platform section initially in contact with said first platen over at least that portion of said rotatable platform section underlying said second window opening in said card blank.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of forming a recessed pocket in said plastic film includes the steps of:
creating a substantially air tight seal around said window opening in said card blank, and creating a vacuum in said pocket-forming regions to draw said plastic film through said window openings in said card blank and said open-ing in said first and said second platens and into conforming shape with said pocket-forming regions in each of said platens.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein said platform section has a portion thereof coated with a thermo-plastic coating, and including the step of bonding a portion of said plastic film to a contiguous portion of said rotatable platform section coated with said thermo-plastic coating.

6. The method of Claim 1 including the step of bonding said film to said rotatable platform section by pressing a portion of said film into contact with a portion of said rotatable platform section and heating said portion of said film to said section to obtain a fusion bond between said film and said coating.

7. The method of Claim 1 wherein said film is an ionomer film and including the step of bonding a portion of said ionomer film to said rotatable platform section by pressing a portion of said ionomer film into contact with a contiguous portion of said rotatable platform section and heating said portion of said ionomer film and said rotatable platform section to obtain a fusion bond therebetween.

8. The method of Claim 1, including the step of folding and sealing said display container to form a completed package.