CA1156981A - Method and apparatus for making sealed packages for spreadable products and sealed packages formed thereby - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for making sealed packages for spreadable products and sealed packages formed therebyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1156981A CA1156981A CA000361060A CA361060A CA1156981A CA 1156981 A CA1156981 A CA 1156981A CA 000361060 A CA000361060 A CA 000361060A CA 361060 A CA361060 A CA 361060A CA 1156981 A CA1156981 A CA 1156981A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- base member
- base
- recited
- sealed package
- cover member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
- B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
- B65D85/74—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials for butter, margarine, or lard
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
- Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
- Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A sealed package particularly adapted for storing, ship-ping, handling and for supporting for use after the cover is peeled off, an individual portion of a spreadable product such as butter, margarine, peanut butter and the like. The package is comprised of a relatively flat, relatively stiff base member which is generally rectangularly shaped having the spreadable product adhering to the center portion of the base member and a top member or cover made from a flexible sheet into a shape having a center portion generally co-extensive with the top surface of the spread-able product and downwardly and outwardly extending edges pleated to form peel tabs, said top member being cohesively attached to the base member at the outwardly extending edges so as to fully enclose the spreadable product on the base member with such peel tabs extending beyond the base. The top member is attached to the base member so that it can be peeled from the base member and spreadable product by pulling a peel tab to expose such product on the base member so that such amounts of the product, as required by the user, can be removed from the base with a knife or the like as such product is being used.
A sealed package particularly adapted for storing, ship-ping, handling and for supporting for use after the cover is peeled off, an individual portion of a spreadable product such as butter, margarine, peanut butter and the like. The package is comprised of a relatively flat, relatively stiff base member which is generally rectangularly shaped having the spreadable product adhering to the center portion of the base member and a top member or cover made from a flexible sheet into a shape having a center portion generally co-extensive with the top surface of the spread-able product and downwardly and outwardly extending edges pleated to form peel tabs, said top member being cohesively attached to the base member at the outwardly extending edges so as to fully enclose the spreadable product on the base member with such peel tabs extending beyond the base. The top member is attached to the base member so that it can be peeled from the base member and spreadable product by pulling a peel tab to expose such product on the base member so that such amounts of the product, as required by the user, can be removed from the base with a knife or the like as such product is being used.
Description
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~C~C;I~OUNI) OE T~lr LNVENTION
~ rllis invention relates to sealed packayes and more particularly to packagec; for storing, shippincJ, handlin~
and for suppo~ting Eor use, after a three-climension shaped cover is peeletl and removed from such package, a spreadable product adherinc3 to a substantially flat base member of such package.
The inven-tlon is particularly suited for storing, shippinq, handling and supporting for use a food product such as butter, margaxine, peanut bu-tter, jelly or other spreadable products desired to be packaged in measured predeterm:ined quantities, such as a pat, and to a method and apparatus fox making such sealed packages with such a food product thereon.
At present, spreadable materials, such as butter and margarine, are packaged and are commercially available in a variety of individual service portions. In one package a preformed rectangular shape or pat of butter or margarine is placed on a base card and a flat piece of paper is placed over and stuck to the pat. The pat is covered on the top and bottom but not on the sides. The spreadable product is readily removed from the base card by the user in amounts to suit the user's requirements with a knife or spatula after the cover has been peeled off. Such package is extensively used commercially. However, the spreadable material is not fully enclosecl in the package nor is the package sealed.
In another commerclal packa~e, the pat is completely wrapped in ~o;Ll. This package requLres the user to unwrap the ~oil which lnvariably results ln -the user gettlng some of the mg/~c ~ 3 ~
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spreadable matarial on his ~ingers. This is messy and an annoyance. Iu~thermore, because the wrapping material is quite flexible, it is usually necessary to place the opened package on a Elat surface such as a table and to scrape the spreadable material from -the paper. The fle~ible wrapper does not provide a convenient base from which suitable amounts o the material can be removed for use. Moreover, such packa~e re~uires about ten and one-half square inches of foil.
This amount of foil is not only expensive but creates a problem of disposing of the wrap after the pat has been unwrapped. This is awkward, unsighly, and a further annoyance while dining. Furthermore, should the product such as butter or margarine become soft, as often happens, the package becomes unusable. If unopened the sof-t package can be misshaped and cannot be re-refrigerated for re-use.
Another commercial package used for individual service portions or pats of butter or margarine includes a tub or cuplike member of vacuum formed plastic covered with a flat cover of foil, plastic or other material. The bu-tter or margarine is sealed in the tub. To use the butter or margarine the user must Eirst strip the cover off of the plastic tub.
Once the tub or cup has been uncovered, the butter or margarine must be scooped or scraped out of the -tub with a knife or -the like. This is awkward. The product in the corners of the tub cannot be readily remo~ed and is usuall~
wasted. In addition, the package i5 expensive.
In additlon to -the ~oregoing individual service portion butter and margarine packages and the apparatus for the manufacture thereof, there are in the prior art many different ' mg/J~
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types of packaging machines Eor packing items between one or more sileets o~ material such as paperboard, coxruga-ted paperhoard, plastic laminates or the like. These materials are formable by vacuum, air pressure, punch pressure, compression and other known forrning means.
In certain prior art devices ~or packaging rigid or non-compressible products, the packages are made from two members of roll stock, corrugated cardboard or the like.
The roll stoek members are passed through the machine by a variety of means sueh as conveyors, clamps, rollers, ete.
The produet to be packaged is positioned between the members of roll stock. The members of roll stoek are bent and formed about the product. The product acts as a mandrel. The formed roll stock members are attached to each other either by various types of adhesives or by mechanieal means such as rivets or staples. In general, the product being packaged is not only ri~id, i.e., non-compressible, but is relatively large in size. Furthermore, the paekage is not used as a support for use of the packaged produet nor can such a package be formed about a non-rigid spreadable product sueh as butter or margarine.
There is a need for a paekage for a spreadable produet, sueh as bu-t-ter, margarine, peanut butter, jelly and the like, in whieh th~ spreadable product is fully enelosed within the paekage but Erom whieh the produet ean be readily removed and spread. Sueh paekage must be produced erom inexpensive materials and must he eapable Oe being produeed at high speed and low eost with the produet packaged therein. Sueh paekage, when opened, should provide a support Eor the product Erom mg/~ - 5 -~hi.ch alllourlt o~ ~he produc~ migh~ be removed as s~lch amounts are rcquired, sllch as for spread:ing on bread, roll.s, toast, hiscuits, etc. The instant inventi.on provides such a package and an apparatus and method :Eor the production -thereof.
O~JECTS OF TEIE IMVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a sealed package for non-r:igid spreadable products in which the package is made of inexpensive materials and may be manufactured in large quantities at low cost, is easy to open, and permits the spreadable product contained therein to be readily and fully utilized, even when such product is soft.
Another object of this invention is to provide a sealed package for a spreadable product wherein the product is on a relatively flat and relatively stiff base surface and wherein a relatively thin, flexible cover fully encloses the product and is attached to the base in a manner which permits the cover to be peeled from the base and product and to expose the product for easy use.
Another object of this inven-tion is to provide a sealed packaye to permit the storing, shipping, handling and supporting for use of a spreadable product wherein the spreadable product is positioned substantially in the center of a relatively stiff base and covered by a relatively flexible cover member wh.ich is cohesive].y joined to the base at least around the base periphery wi.th a peeling tab ex-tending beyond the base so lhat the flexible cover can be peeled away from the base and produc-t to expose the product.
mg /J~ - 6 -~ ~ 5~
~ nother object of lilis invent:ioll is to provide a sealed packacJe Eor storincJ, shippinq, h.lnd~ing an~ supporting Eor use o~ a spreadable product ~Jherein the product is positioned substan~ially in the center of a relatively stiff base member having a cohesive coating thereon and a relatively thin, Elexible sheet having a cohesive coating thereon is shaped to enclose the spreadable product and cohesively connected to the base around the product to form a three-dimensional cover which can be peeled away from the base and the product to expose the spreadable product on the base for easy use of the exposed product.
Another object is to provide such a sealed package wherein the package is siæed and shaped at the final stage of assembly and sealing.
Additional objects and advantages of the inven-tion will be set forth in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, the objects and advantages being realized and obtained by means of the parts, instrumentation, methods, apparatus and procedures particularly pointed Otlt in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the inven-tion relates -to a sealed package for storing, shipping, handling and supporting a spreadable product. While the sealed package of the invention can be used in connection with many spreadable products, it is particularly suited for packaging of spreadable proclucts in single service portions such as a pat, from which the user may remove amounts as such amounts are re~uired, Eor example, butter, margarine, peanut hutter, jelly or other spreadablc mg/~ 7 -~ ~.5~
Eood product~ hile t~le procluct shown herein ;s genera]ly rect~ngular, otller -Ind dl~Eerellt shapes and sizes are contemplclted.
The package of the invention includes a base member which is substantially flat and rela~:ively stiff. The base member is resistant to the packaged product or may be coa-ted with a barrier resistant to the product. One side oE the base, at least around the marginal edge over the barrier, is coa-ted with a cohesive. The cohesive coating may be continuous or interrupted. A coating of a release material is applied over the opposite side of the base to prevent -the cohesive surface from blocking in rol] stock form. The product is positioned in the center portion of the base member so that there are cohesive coated margins around the product. The cover member, before it is applied to the base over the product, is preshaped from a relatively thin, flexible sheet of paper or the liXe dimensioned so that at least at one corner of the base a peeling edge or tab is formed which extends beyond the base edge. In one embodiment, the area of the cover sheet is greater than the base. The sheet is preshaped before it is applied to the base so tha-t it has a center portion having a shape generally similar to the produc-t belng pac~aged and side walls which extend generally downwardly from the center portion towards the base when in the assembled position. The slde walls terminate in planar portions which a~e c~eneral]y parallel to the base and the center portion.
'rhe surface of the flexibLe cover ;Eacing the base, at least in the terminal planar portions/ is coated with a cohesive.
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Preferably, ~he ~lexible cover Ls oE a barrier material or is coatecl with a barrier.
The cohesive coatiny may be continuous but, preferably, is discontinuous. The planar portions of the cover sheet are interrupted by a plurality of plea-ts or folds which form projections for peeling the cover sheet from the base and product thereby uncovering the product for use.
Af-ter the flexible sheet has been removed, all or selected quantities of the product can be removed from the relatively flat base with a knife, spatula or similar instrument.
The instant invention will be better understood from the following description, taken with the appended drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top or cover sheet used in the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of elemen-ts of the sealed package before assembly showing the top or cover sheet formed and the product to be packaged on the relatively stiff base;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the package in sealed condition;
Figure ~ is a perspective view of the package showing the top sheet being peeled Erom the base and product;
Figure ~A, located on the third sheet of drawlngs, is a perspective view similar to Figure ~ but showing a modified ~orm of the package, Figure 5 is a top view of the package of Figure 3;
mg/~ e....................... - 9 -6~
Fic~ure 6 .is a bottom vi.~w of the packaye o Ii~igures 3 and 5;
FicJure 7 i.s a perspective vlew of the feeding and shapincJ apparatus of the .invention;
F:igure 8 is a sicle el.evation of the apparatus of Figure 7;
Figure 8A, located on the th:ird sheet of drawings, is a side elevation view of a moclifled form of the apparatus of Figures 7 and 8;
Figure 8B, located on the third sheet of drawings, is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus oP
Figure 8A but in a different positioni Figure 8C is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 8A;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view oP the shaping drum of Figures 7 and 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10, Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11, Figure 10;
Figure llA, located on the sixth shee-t oP drawings, is a sectional vie~ oP a modified portion of the apparatus of Figure 11;
Figure llB, located on the sixth sheet of drawings, is a sectional view of the modification of Figure llA but taken at a dlPEerent position;
l~igure 12 is an e~ploded view of a portion oP the pat conveyor;
Figure 13 is an elevat:l.on view showing the tamping apparatus;
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Fl~nre l~l is a side clcvatiorl view of: the apparatus of Figure 13 takell ~rom the Left as viewed ln Fiyure 13;
Figur~ 15 is a modifLed form of thc apparatus of Figure 13; and Figure 16 is a sectional view taken at 16-16, ~igure 15.
DETAIIED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE INVENTION
__ Refarring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1-6, there is shown a relatively flat, relatively stiEf base.
member, generally designated 2, which, as shown, is rectangular in shape although the inventiorl is not limited to a rectangular shape. Preferably, the base is made of paperboard, or the like, coated with a grease resistant coating and, in one preferred embodiment has a thickness of about ten and one-half (10.5) mils. The base member 2 on its upper surface has a coating of a cohesive material which is cohesive to itself and adhesive to the base at the time ; of coating but otherwise non-adhesive. The use of a cohesive coating has the advantage that two members so coated can be cohered to each other at extremely high speeds by applying a small amount of pressure and withou-t the necessi-ty of heat.
The importance of eliminating heat and heat activated adhesives i.s that not only must the hea-t pass through the material on which the adhesive is coated but must then be cooled. Because the rates of speed at which the packages of the ins-tant invention are produced are in the neighborhood oE 1500 units per minute in a single line, heat sealing becomes a prac-tical impossibility for -the equipment used to manufacture the pac~ages.
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~ s shown, ~here is posit:ioned in the appro~.i.mate center o~ base 2, product 6, such as a pat of spreadable material, e.g., margarine, butter, pean~lt butter, jelly, or the like. The inventi.on, however, is not lim.ited to spreadable foocl p~oclucts and could be used to package artist's paints, salves, ointments, creams, putty or o-ther pro~ucts which are customarily applied with a knife, spatula or other similar type instrument.
The spreadable procluct, at normal use temperature, adheres to the base member and will remain adhered to the base member regardless of the orientation of the base member until removed by a knife or spatula.
The product is positioned on the base so as to form margi.n portions 3 around the product extending to the periphery 10 of the base. The invention further includes a top sheet 12 which is relatively thin, relatively flexible and non-stretchable. The top sheet, in one preferred embodiment, is made of glassine paper having a thickness of about two (2) mils.
The top sheet must be flexible and capable of bei.ng shaped, as shown in Figure 2. The top sheet 12 is substantially rectangular and of such dimensions so that peeling tabs, subsequently described, can be formed. The -top sheet is also coa-ted, on its under surface fac:lng base 2, with a cohesive ~
such as used on the base. The cohesive ~ must be adhesive to the top sheet at the tlme of coating and cohesive to cohesive ~i on base 2 bu-t otherwise non-adhesive. When the cover member is peeled from -the base and the package product, the cohesive on base and top sheet 12 should part wi.thout delamination or peeling oE base 2 or top sheet 12. Preferably mg/~ e - 12 -3~
as best shown in Flgl.lrc ~, cohesive ~ on top sheet 12 is applied in dots ~a substclrltially equal i.n size and substa~tially evenly distributed. Cohesive dots of about .020 :in. diameter, spaced l/32 in. on centers have been found accep-table. Ra-ther than applying the cohesive in dots to cover 12, the cohesive might be so applied to base 2.
The top meinber is shaped in some measure in the form of the product being contained, shipped, stored and handled, resulting in a compact, a-ttractive package. This might be accomplished, as later explained, before the top member is applied or might be partially accomplished before the cover is applied with final shaping as the package is completed.
As embodied and shown in Figure 3, the top member 12 is so shaped as to include a center portion 14 which is relatively flat, rectangular in shape and substantially coextensive with the pat 6 of spreadable material. Extending downwardly from the peripheral edges 16 of the center portion 14 are sides 18. The angle of the sides is not critical and could be at right angles -to -the cen-ter portion l~. The downwardly extending sides 18 terminate in flange or margin portions 20 which extend substantially parallel to cen-ter portion 14 and to the peripheral edges 22 of base member 2.
It is within the scope of the invention for the flange or margin portion 20 to extend slightly short of, to, or slightly beyond the per.ipheral edges 22 of base member 20 The :Elan~e or marginal portions of the top sheek are i.n :Eace-in-face contact with the margina.l portions of the base, Figures 3 and 4.
Because these surfaces are cohesive coated, top member 12 and base 2 are cohesivel.y joined around pat 6.
, mg /!~ - 13 -In accorclancc with this invelltion means are provided for Eormi.ng flaps or tabs on the top member which flaps or tabs are used to separate the top sheet from the base and product by ~rasping any one of the flaps or tabs and peeling the top member from the base member and product thereon.
As embodied and best shown in Figures 5 and 6, such means comprises a plurality of pleats or folds 24 having end portions 26, at least one of which ends extends beyond the edge of the hase forming readily accessible means Por peeling and removing top cover member 12 From base 2 and pat 6.
As shown in the drawing, there are four pleats or folds 24 each of which begin at a corner of the center portion 14 and terminate a relatively short distance from the adjacent corner of base member 2. One side 28 of each pleat 24 is substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of top sheet 12 and base member 2 and is, in effect, an extension of its connecting side wall 28. Such side 28 extends a short distance beyond the edge of base member 2 forming the accessible peel tab 26.
It is not necessary tha-t pleats or folds 24 be formed adjacent the corners. It is contemplated that such pleats could be formed, along the sides in-termediate the corners.
However, forming the pleats adjacent the corners as shown in the drawings constitutes -the preferred embodiment. The pleats or ~olds 24 are flattened at their term:Lnal ends 3~, ~'i.gure 3, so as -to compl.e-te ~he s~.aling of -the package~
Certain advantages flow from the peeling tabs be.Ln~
located adjacent the cornQrs o~ the base member.
mg/`~ - 14 -Whf`ll pee 1. illg Iop mell1her 12 Erom base member 2, Fi.gure ~, i.t is necc<ic.;ary t}1at top member 2 be removcd in such a mann~r ~hat produc~ 6 remalns on base rnember 2. With a spreadable produc~, 9UCII as, margarir1e, butter, pcanut butter and the like, it is obvious that when product 6 remains on relati~el.y stiff Elat base m~mber 2 the product can be removed therefrom m~1ch more r&adily, easily and completely than from any cup-shapecl member as in previously mentioned types of single por-tion packages, such as tubs or foil wraps.
Product 6 when in the form of a parallel sides pat, has a reLatively large substantially flat surface in engagement and adhering to base member 2. In addition, the peel tabs are positioned and arranged so that cover member 12 when peeled from base member 2 will peel from one corner to the diagonal opposite corner. In this manner, the flexible thin cover peels from pat 6 without peeling far thicker pat 6 from base member 2. Because the surfaces holding the product on the base are larger than the line along which cover member 12 is peeling from base 2 and pat 6, the result is that pat 6 stays in place on base regardless of orientation of the base until pat 6 is wholly or partly removed by a knife, spatula or similar instrument.
The method and apparatus for producing the sealed packages of th~ instant .i.nvention will. now be descr:lbed.
ReEerring to the drawings, part:l.cularly Figures 7-l4, there is shown a sta~ionary frame 32 on which is mounted rotatable roll stock supply member 34 contain:lng a supply of relatively thin :Elex:ible top sheet material 36, such as paper, which `, mg/~{~ - 15 -will bc sllaped into t:he top sheet mcmber 12. Conventional brake mealls 38 enc3a(Jes El.exible material 36 to prevent ullwantecl url~indi.llg of material 36 from roll stock 34.
Top sheet material 36 i~; fed by a pair of feed rolle.rs 40, Figure 11, driven by gear train 42 and main gear 43, Figure 7. Gear train 42 also dri.ves rol.ler 44, Figures 7 and 11, having knife ~6 attached thereto, Figure 11. Knife 46 cuts top sheet material 36 into predetermined lengths after material 36 passes through feed rollers 40. The cut top sheet 36 is then guided by guides 48, Figure 7, -to vacuum drum means generally designated 50.
Vacuum drum means 50, Figures 9-11, includes a circular manifold 52 fixedly attached to frame 32 in any convenient manner. Through aperture 54 and circular chamber 53 circular manifold 52 communicates with a vacuum source, not shown, for purposes explained subsequently. Through vents 55 and 57, Figures 9 and 11, vacuum chamber 53 is vented to the surface of manifold 52 around the periphery of shaping stations 58 for purposes later described. Vents 55, Figure 11, may be to flats at the leading and -trailing ends of shaping station 58 in drum 56 or may be to the arcuate surface of drum adjacent the ends of shaping station 58 as best shown at 55', Figure llA.
Mounted in telescoping relationship over manifold 52 and mounted :Eor rotation thereon, is drum 56 having a plurality of die or sha~.ing stations 58 spaced equally about its periphery. While, as shown, there are six such stations there could be a greater or lesser number of such stations dep~nding on the drum size and khe drum speed. Connected to mg/~ - 16 -5j~
the illner sur~lce oE thc vclcnllm drum 56 is a sealiny ring or ~aske~ 60 at~aehed to dr~lm 56 for rotation therewith by screws 64 or the l:ike. Sea]ing ring or yasket 63 is mounted in fixed position on manifold 52. Gaskets 60 and 63 form a vacuum tight seal between stationary manifold 52 and rotating drum 56 for purposes more fully described later herein. Gear 43 is mounted to the outer surface of drum 56 and attached to drum 56 and gear 66, Figures 9 and 10, by cap screw 68. Gear 66 is driven by pinion 70 attached to the drive shaEt 72. As bes-t shown in Figures 9 and 11, sealing shoe 73 is urged by leaf spring 75 into engagement with the inner surface of drum 50 to form a vacuum tight seal -therewith for purposes later described.
Tamper 74, Figure 8, is mounted on rod 75 attached by pivot 80 to drive disc 76 and slidably in guide 82 pivotally mounted on guide disc 78. Discs 76, 78 are driven by a conventional gear train, not shown, which in -turn is driven from gear 43. The rotation of the discs 7h, 78 causes essentially vertical movement of the tamper 74~ The terminal end 86 of tamper 74, Figure 11, is attached by screws 88 and biased by spring 90. Terminal. end 86 which, preferably is made of a low friction or self-lubricating material, such as nylon, includes a downwardly extendi.ng head portion 92 and an outwardly extending Plange portion 96.
Each of the shaping stations 58 on vacuum drum 56 includes a fla~. center portion 98, Figure 9, inclined leading and trai.ling walls 100, 102, Figure 11, and inclined side walls 104, Figure 10. Spaces or gaps 106 are provided in the surface of drum 56 be-tween the ends of inclined side walls 104 mg/~ 17 -~L~5~
and inclined leadiI~g and ~rai~ g walls L00, 102 as best seen in Figure 9.
Referring to Figures 8A, 8B drums 77, 77' are mounted for rotation and vertical adjustment on Eixed housing 79 by adjustment thumb screw 81 and lock screws 83. Plates 85~
87, 89, 91 are mounted on drums 77, 77' by pins and plate slots and are spring urged outwardly of the periphery oE
drums 77, 77' by pairs of compression springs mounted in drums 77, 77' at the inner ends of the plates. Drums 77, 77' are driven by gear 93 in turn driven by gear 95 from gear train 42 and in timing therewith. Back up roller 101, lOl' are mounted on shaft 103 of pivoted arms 105, 105', pivoted at 107 to the stationary frame. Back up rollers 101, 101', with drums 77, 77', as will be later described, engage the longitudinal edges of base member 2 and cover member 12.
Pivot arms lOS, lOS' and back up rollers lOl, 101' are adjusted so that rollers 101, 101' engage -the longitudinal edges of the base and cover members with drums 77, 77' by adjustment screws 107, 107'. Carrier 112 is cammed up to engage the leading and trailing edges of base member 2 and cover member ]2 with the edges of plates 85, 87, 89, 91 by cam 109 adjusted by adjusting screw 111.
The apparatus and sealed package of the instant :Lnvention is particularly adapted Eor use with thq apparatus showrl and described in United States Patent No.
3,129,546 issued April 21~ 196~. The apparatus shown and described in that patent places lndi.v:Lclual port:ions of a spreadable product such as butter or margarine, on , mg~ 18 -. L~L5g;~
I . .
l ' a relatively stiff base member which showing and description is incorporated herein.
i As sho~m and described in more detail in patent No.
, 3,1~9,546, pat 6 of butter,~argarine, or the like, is formed and deposited on base 2 on conveyor 110 having carriers 112 thereon for receiving and conveying base 2. Each of the carriers 112 has a clip 114 thereon for engaging the trailing end of base member 2 carried theleon and fed by conveyor 110 in the direction of the arrows, Figure ll.
10 ¦ The pat forming and conveyor 110 driving apparatus of the '546 patent and the apparatus of the instant application are driven from a common drive source, such as an electric mot~r, not shown, and are geared together so that the carriers 112 and pat 6 therein are each registered with a shaping station 58 on drum 56 li as drum 56 rotates in the direction or the arrow, Figure ll, and conveyor llO advances carriers 112 and pat 6 past drum 56.
l~ith drum 56 rotating in registry with conveyor llO and c2rriers 112 ~hereon, flexible ~op sheet material 36 is fed from roll stock 34 through feed rollers 40. The leading end of sheet ~-te:i21 36 is cut by kni'e 46 into e pre^set length w-~ich, as w ll now be described, is shaped, transferred and adhered to base
~C~C;I~OUNI) OE T~lr LNVENTION
~ rllis invention relates to sealed packayes and more particularly to packagec; for storing, shippincJ, handlin~
and for suppo~ting Eor use, after a three-climension shaped cover is peeletl and removed from such package, a spreadable product adherinc3 to a substantially flat base member of such package.
The inven-tlon is particularly suited for storing, shippinq, handling and supporting for use a food product such as butter, margaxine, peanut bu-tter, jelly or other spreadable products desired to be packaged in measured predeterm:ined quantities, such as a pat, and to a method and apparatus fox making such sealed packages with such a food product thereon.
At present, spreadable materials, such as butter and margarine, are packaged and are commercially available in a variety of individual service portions. In one package a preformed rectangular shape or pat of butter or margarine is placed on a base card and a flat piece of paper is placed over and stuck to the pat. The pat is covered on the top and bottom but not on the sides. The spreadable product is readily removed from the base card by the user in amounts to suit the user's requirements with a knife or spatula after the cover has been peeled off. Such package is extensively used commercially. However, the spreadable material is not fully enclosecl in the package nor is the package sealed.
In another commerclal packa~e, the pat is completely wrapped in ~o;Ll. This package requLres the user to unwrap the ~oil which lnvariably results ln -the user gettlng some of the mg/~c ~ 3 ~
~5~
spreadable matarial on his ~ingers. This is messy and an annoyance. Iu~thermore, because the wrapping material is quite flexible, it is usually necessary to place the opened package on a Elat surface such as a table and to scrape the spreadable material from -the paper. The fle~ible wrapper does not provide a convenient base from which suitable amounts o the material can be removed for use. Moreover, such packa~e re~uires about ten and one-half square inches of foil.
This amount of foil is not only expensive but creates a problem of disposing of the wrap after the pat has been unwrapped. This is awkward, unsighly, and a further annoyance while dining. Furthermore, should the product such as butter or margarine become soft, as often happens, the package becomes unusable. If unopened the sof-t package can be misshaped and cannot be re-refrigerated for re-use.
Another commercial package used for individual service portions or pats of butter or margarine includes a tub or cuplike member of vacuum formed plastic covered with a flat cover of foil, plastic or other material. The bu-tter or margarine is sealed in the tub. To use the butter or margarine the user must Eirst strip the cover off of the plastic tub.
Once the tub or cup has been uncovered, the butter or margarine must be scooped or scraped out of the -tub with a knife or -the like. This is awkward. The product in the corners of the tub cannot be readily remo~ed and is usuall~
wasted. In addition, the package i5 expensive.
In additlon to -the ~oregoing individual service portion butter and margarine packages and the apparatus for the manufacture thereof, there are in the prior art many different ' mg/J~
8~
types of packaging machines Eor packing items between one or more sileets o~ material such as paperboard, coxruga-ted paperhoard, plastic laminates or the like. These materials are formable by vacuum, air pressure, punch pressure, compression and other known forrning means.
In certain prior art devices ~or packaging rigid or non-compressible products, the packages are made from two members of roll stock, corrugated cardboard or the like.
The roll stoek members are passed through the machine by a variety of means sueh as conveyors, clamps, rollers, ete.
The produet to be packaged is positioned between the members of roll stock. The members of roll stoek are bent and formed about the product. The product acts as a mandrel. The formed roll stock members are attached to each other either by various types of adhesives or by mechanieal means such as rivets or staples. In general, the product being packaged is not only ri~id, i.e., non-compressible, but is relatively large in size. Furthermore, the paekage is not used as a support for use of the packaged produet nor can such a package be formed about a non-rigid spreadable product sueh as butter or margarine.
There is a need for a paekage for a spreadable produet, sueh as bu-t-ter, margarine, peanut butter, jelly and the like, in whieh th~ spreadable product is fully enelosed within the paekage but Erom whieh the produet ean be readily removed and spread. Sueh paekage must be produced erom inexpensive materials and must he eapable Oe being produeed at high speed and low eost with the produet packaged therein. Sueh paekage, when opened, should provide a support Eor the product Erom mg/~ - 5 -~hi.ch alllourlt o~ ~he produc~ migh~ be removed as s~lch amounts are rcquired, sllch as for spread:ing on bread, roll.s, toast, hiscuits, etc. The instant inventi.on provides such a package and an apparatus and method :Eor the production -thereof.
O~JECTS OF TEIE IMVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a sealed package for non-r:igid spreadable products in which the package is made of inexpensive materials and may be manufactured in large quantities at low cost, is easy to open, and permits the spreadable product contained therein to be readily and fully utilized, even when such product is soft.
Another object of this invention is to provide a sealed package for a spreadable product wherein the product is on a relatively flat and relatively stiff base surface and wherein a relatively thin, flexible cover fully encloses the product and is attached to the base in a manner which permits the cover to be peeled from the base and product and to expose the product for easy use.
Another object of this inven-tion is to provide a sealed packaye to permit the storing, shipping, handling and supporting for use of a spreadable product wherein the spreadable product is positioned substantially in the center of a relatively stiff base and covered by a relatively flexible cover member wh.ich is cohesive].y joined to the base at least around the base periphery wi.th a peeling tab ex-tending beyond the base so lhat the flexible cover can be peeled away from the base and produc-t to expose the product.
mg /J~ - 6 -~ ~ 5~
~ nother object of lilis invent:ioll is to provide a sealed packacJe Eor storincJ, shippinq, h.lnd~ing an~ supporting Eor use o~ a spreadable product ~Jherein the product is positioned substan~ially in the center of a relatively stiff base member having a cohesive coating thereon and a relatively thin, Elexible sheet having a cohesive coating thereon is shaped to enclose the spreadable product and cohesively connected to the base around the product to form a three-dimensional cover which can be peeled away from the base and the product to expose the spreadable product on the base for easy use of the exposed product.
Another object is to provide such a sealed package wherein the package is siæed and shaped at the final stage of assembly and sealing.
Additional objects and advantages of the inven-tion will be set forth in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, the objects and advantages being realized and obtained by means of the parts, instrumentation, methods, apparatus and procedures particularly pointed Otlt in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the inven-tion relates -to a sealed package for storing, shipping, handling and supporting a spreadable product. While the sealed package of the invention can be used in connection with many spreadable products, it is particularly suited for packaging of spreadable proclucts in single service portions such as a pat, from which the user may remove amounts as such amounts are re~uired, Eor example, butter, margarine, peanut hutter, jelly or other spreadablc mg/~ 7 -~ ~.5~
Eood product~ hile t~le procluct shown herein ;s genera]ly rect~ngular, otller -Ind dl~Eerellt shapes and sizes are contemplclted.
The package of the invention includes a base member which is substantially flat and rela~:ively stiff. The base member is resistant to the packaged product or may be coa-ted with a barrier resistant to the product. One side oE the base, at least around the marginal edge over the barrier, is coa-ted with a cohesive. The cohesive coating may be continuous or interrupted. A coating of a release material is applied over the opposite side of the base to prevent -the cohesive surface from blocking in rol] stock form. The product is positioned in the center portion of the base member so that there are cohesive coated margins around the product. The cover member, before it is applied to the base over the product, is preshaped from a relatively thin, flexible sheet of paper or the liXe dimensioned so that at least at one corner of the base a peeling edge or tab is formed which extends beyond the base edge. In one embodiment, the area of the cover sheet is greater than the base. The sheet is preshaped before it is applied to the base so tha-t it has a center portion having a shape generally similar to the produc-t belng pac~aged and side walls which extend generally downwardly from the center portion towards the base when in the assembled position. The slde walls terminate in planar portions which a~e c~eneral]y parallel to the base and the center portion.
'rhe surface of the flexibLe cover ;Eacing the base, at least in the terminal planar portions/ is coated with a cohesive.
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Preferably, ~he ~lexible cover Ls oE a barrier material or is coatecl with a barrier.
The cohesive coatiny may be continuous but, preferably, is discontinuous. The planar portions of the cover sheet are interrupted by a plurality of plea-ts or folds which form projections for peeling the cover sheet from the base and product thereby uncovering the product for use.
Af-ter the flexible sheet has been removed, all or selected quantities of the product can be removed from the relatively flat base with a knife, spatula or similar instrument.
The instant invention will be better understood from the following description, taken with the appended drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top or cover sheet used in the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of elemen-ts of the sealed package before assembly showing the top or cover sheet formed and the product to be packaged on the relatively stiff base;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the package in sealed condition;
Figure ~ is a perspective view of the package showing the top sheet being peeled Erom the base and product;
Figure ~A, located on the third sheet of drawlngs, is a perspective view similar to Figure ~ but showing a modified ~orm of the package, Figure 5 is a top view of the package of Figure 3;
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Fic~ure 6 .is a bottom vi.~w of the packaye o Ii~igures 3 and 5;
FicJure 7 i.s a perspective vlew of the feeding and shapincJ apparatus of the .invention;
F:igure 8 is a sicle el.evation of the apparatus of Figure 7;
Figure 8A, located on the th:ird sheet of drawings, is a side elevation view of a moclifled form of the apparatus of Figures 7 and 8;
Figure 8B, located on the third sheet of drawings, is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus oP
Figure 8A but in a different positioni Figure 8C is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 8A;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view oP the shaping drum of Figures 7 and 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10, Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11, Figure 10;
Figure llA, located on the sixth shee-t oP drawings, is a sectional vie~ oP a modified portion of the apparatus of Figure 11;
Figure llB, located on the sixth sheet of drawings, is a sectional view of the modification of Figure llA but taken at a dlPEerent position;
l~igure 12 is an e~ploded view of a portion oP the pat conveyor;
Figure 13 is an elevat:l.on view showing the tamping apparatus;
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Fl~nre l~l is a side clcvatiorl view of: the apparatus of Figure 13 takell ~rom the Left as viewed ln Fiyure 13;
Figur~ 15 is a modifLed form of thc apparatus of Figure 13; and Figure 16 is a sectional view taken at 16-16, ~igure 15.
DETAIIED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE INVENTION
__ Refarring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1-6, there is shown a relatively flat, relatively stiEf base.
member, generally designated 2, which, as shown, is rectangular in shape although the inventiorl is not limited to a rectangular shape. Preferably, the base is made of paperboard, or the like, coated with a grease resistant coating and, in one preferred embodiment has a thickness of about ten and one-half (10.5) mils. The base member 2 on its upper surface has a coating of a cohesive material which is cohesive to itself and adhesive to the base at the time ; of coating but otherwise non-adhesive. The use of a cohesive coating has the advantage that two members so coated can be cohered to each other at extremely high speeds by applying a small amount of pressure and withou-t the necessi-ty of heat.
The importance of eliminating heat and heat activated adhesives i.s that not only must the hea-t pass through the material on which the adhesive is coated but must then be cooled. Because the rates of speed at which the packages of the ins-tant invention are produced are in the neighborhood oE 1500 units per minute in a single line, heat sealing becomes a prac-tical impossibility for -the equipment used to manufacture the pac~ages.
fi~ \~ mg/~ e ~L~ 5~
~ s shown, ~here is posit:ioned in the appro~.i.mate center o~ base 2, product 6, such as a pat of spreadable material, e.g., margarine, butter, pean~lt butter, jelly, or the like. The inventi.on, however, is not lim.ited to spreadable foocl p~oclucts and could be used to package artist's paints, salves, ointments, creams, putty or o-ther pro~ucts which are customarily applied with a knife, spatula or other similar type instrument.
The spreadable procluct, at normal use temperature, adheres to the base member and will remain adhered to the base member regardless of the orientation of the base member until removed by a knife or spatula.
The product is positioned on the base so as to form margi.n portions 3 around the product extending to the periphery 10 of the base. The invention further includes a top sheet 12 which is relatively thin, relatively flexible and non-stretchable. The top sheet, in one preferred embodiment, is made of glassine paper having a thickness of about two (2) mils.
The top sheet must be flexible and capable of bei.ng shaped, as shown in Figure 2. The top sheet 12 is substantially rectangular and of such dimensions so that peeling tabs, subsequently described, can be formed. The -top sheet is also coa-ted, on its under surface fac:lng base 2, with a cohesive ~
such as used on the base. The cohesive ~ must be adhesive to the top sheet at the tlme of coating and cohesive to cohesive ~i on base 2 bu-t otherwise non-adhesive. When the cover member is peeled from -the base and the package product, the cohesive on base and top sheet 12 should part wi.thout delamination or peeling oE base 2 or top sheet 12. Preferably mg/~ e - 12 -3~
as best shown in Flgl.lrc ~, cohesive ~ on top sheet 12 is applied in dots ~a substclrltially equal i.n size and substa~tially evenly distributed. Cohesive dots of about .020 :in. diameter, spaced l/32 in. on centers have been found accep-table. Ra-ther than applying the cohesive in dots to cover 12, the cohesive might be so applied to base 2.
The top meinber is shaped in some measure in the form of the product being contained, shipped, stored and handled, resulting in a compact, a-ttractive package. This might be accomplished, as later explained, before the top member is applied or might be partially accomplished before the cover is applied with final shaping as the package is completed.
As embodied and shown in Figure 3, the top member 12 is so shaped as to include a center portion 14 which is relatively flat, rectangular in shape and substantially coextensive with the pat 6 of spreadable material. Extending downwardly from the peripheral edges 16 of the center portion 14 are sides 18. The angle of the sides is not critical and could be at right angles -to -the cen-ter portion l~. The downwardly extending sides 18 terminate in flange or margin portions 20 which extend substantially parallel to cen-ter portion 14 and to the peripheral edges 22 of base member 2.
It is within the scope of the invention for the flange or margin portion 20 to extend slightly short of, to, or slightly beyond the per.ipheral edges 22 of base member 20 The :Elan~e or marginal portions of the top sheek are i.n :Eace-in-face contact with the margina.l portions of the base, Figures 3 and 4.
Because these surfaces are cohesive coated, top member 12 and base 2 are cohesivel.y joined around pat 6.
, mg /!~ - 13 -In accorclancc with this invelltion means are provided for Eormi.ng flaps or tabs on the top member which flaps or tabs are used to separate the top sheet from the base and product by ~rasping any one of the flaps or tabs and peeling the top member from the base member and product thereon.
As embodied and best shown in Figures 5 and 6, such means comprises a plurality of pleats or folds 24 having end portions 26, at least one of which ends extends beyond the edge of the hase forming readily accessible means Por peeling and removing top cover member 12 From base 2 and pat 6.
As shown in the drawing, there are four pleats or folds 24 each of which begin at a corner of the center portion 14 and terminate a relatively short distance from the adjacent corner of base member 2. One side 28 of each pleat 24 is substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of top sheet 12 and base member 2 and is, in effect, an extension of its connecting side wall 28. Such side 28 extends a short distance beyond the edge of base member 2 forming the accessible peel tab 26.
It is not necessary tha-t pleats or folds 24 be formed adjacent the corners. It is contemplated that such pleats could be formed, along the sides in-termediate the corners.
However, forming the pleats adjacent the corners as shown in the drawings constitutes -the preferred embodiment. The pleats or ~olds 24 are flattened at their term:Lnal ends 3~, ~'i.gure 3, so as -to compl.e-te ~he s~.aling of -the package~
Certain advantages flow from the peeling tabs be.Ln~
located adjacent the cornQrs o~ the base member.
mg/`~ - 14 -Whf`ll pee 1. illg Iop mell1her 12 Erom base member 2, Fi.gure ~, i.t is necc<ic.;ary t}1at top member 2 be removcd in such a mann~r ~hat produc~ 6 remalns on base rnember 2. With a spreadable produc~, 9UCII as, margarir1e, butter, pcanut butter and the like, it is obvious that when product 6 remains on relati~el.y stiff Elat base m~mber 2 the product can be removed therefrom m~1ch more r&adily, easily and completely than from any cup-shapecl member as in previously mentioned types of single por-tion packages, such as tubs or foil wraps.
Product 6 when in the form of a parallel sides pat, has a reLatively large substantially flat surface in engagement and adhering to base member 2. In addition, the peel tabs are positioned and arranged so that cover member 12 when peeled from base member 2 will peel from one corner to the diagonal opposite corner. In this manner, the flexible thin cover peels from pat 6 without peeling far thicker pat 6 from base member 2. Because the surfaces holding the product on the base are larger than the line along which cover member 12 is peeling from base 2 and pat 6, the result is that pat 6 stays in place on base regardless of orientation of the base until pat 6 is wholly or partly removed by a knife, spatula or similar instrument.
The method and apparatus for producing the sealed packages of th~ instant .i.nvention will. now be descr:lbed.
ReEerring to the drawings, part:l.cularly Figures 7-l4, there is shown a sta~ionary frame 32 on which is mounted rotatable roll stock supply member 34 contain:lng a supply of relatively thin :Elex:ible top sheet material 36, such as paper, which `, mg/~{~ - 15 -will bc sllaped into t:he top sheet mcmber 12. Conventional brake mealls 38 enc3a(Jes El.exible material 36 to prevent ullwantecl url~indi.llg of material 36 from roll stock 34.
Top sheet material 36 i~; fed by a pair of feed rolle.rs 40, Figure 11, driven by gear train 42 and main gear 43, Figure 7. Gear train 42 also dri.ves rol.ler 44, Figures 7 and 11, having knife ~6 attached thereto, Figure 11. Knife 46 cuts top sheet material 36 into predetermined lengths after material 36 passes through feed rollers 40. The cut top sheet 36 is then guided by guides 48, Figure 7, -to vacuum drum means generally designated 50.
Vacuum drum means 50, Figures 9-11, includes a circular manifold 52 fixedly attached to frame 32 in any convenient manner. Through aperture 54 and circular chamber 53 circular manifold 52 communicates with a vacuum source, not shown, for purposes explained subsequently. Through vents 55 and 57, Figures 9 and 11, vacuum chamber 53 is vented to the surface of manifold 52 around the periphery of shaping stations 58 for purposes later described. Vents 55, Figure 11, may be to flats at the leading and -trailing ends of shaping station 58 in drum 56 or may be to the arcuate surface of drum adjacent the ends of shaping station 58 as best shown at 55', Figure llA.
Mounted in telescoping relationship over manifold 52 and mounted :Eor rotation thereon, is drum 56 having a plurality of die or sha~.ing stations 58 spaced equally about its periphery. While, as shown, there are six such stations there could be a greater or lesser number of such stations dep~nding on the drum size and khe drum speed. Connected to mg/~ - 16 -5j~
the illner sur~lce oE thc vclcnllm drum 56 is a sealiny ring or ~aske~ 60 at~aehed to dr~lm 56 for rotation therewith by screws 64 or the l:ike. Sea]ing ring or yasket 63 is mounted in fixed position on manifold 52. Gaskets 60 and 63 form a vacuum tight seal between stationary manifold 52 and rotating drum 56 for purposes more fully described later herein. Gear 43 is mounted to the outer surface of drum 56 and attached to drum 56 and gear 66, Figures 9 and 10, by cap screw 68. Gear 66 is driven by pinion 70 attached to the drive shaEt 72. As bes-t shown in Figures 9 and 11, sealing shoe 73 is urged by leaf spring 75 into engagement with the inner surface of drum 50 to form a vacuum tight seal -therewith for purposes later described.
Tamper 74, Figure 8, is mounted on rod 75 attached by pivot 80 to drive disc 76 and slidably in guide 82 pivotally mounted on guide disc 78. Discs 76, 78 are driven by a conventional gear train, not shown, which in -turn is driven from gear 43. The rotation of the discs 7h, 78 causes essentially vertical movement of the tamper 74~ The terminal end 86 of tamper 74, Figure 11, is attached by screws 88 and biased by spring 90. Terminal. end 86 which, preferably is made of a low friction or self-lubricating material, such as nylon, includes a downwardly extendi.ng head portion 92 and an outwardly extending Plange portion 96.
Each of the shaping stations 58 on vacuum drum 56 includes a fla~. center portion 98, Figure 9, inclined leading and trai.ling walls 100, 102, Figure 11, and inclined side walls 104, Figure 10. Spaces or gaps 106 are provided in the surface of drum 56 be-tween the ends of inclined side walls 104 mg/~ 17 -~L~5~
and inclined leadiI~g and ~rai~ g walls L00, 102 as best seen in Figure 9.
Referring to Figures 8A, 8B drums 77, 77' are mounted for rotation and vertical adjustment on Eixed housing 79 by adjustment thumb screw 81 and lock screws 83. Plates 85~
87, 89, 91 are mounted on drums 77, 77' by pins and plate slots and are spring urged outwardly of the periphery oE
drums 77, 77' by pairs of compression springs mounted in drums 77, 77' at the inner ends of the plates. Drums 77, 77' are driven by gear 93 in turn driven by gear 95 from gear train 42 and in timing therewith. Back up roller 101, lOl' are mounted on shaft 103 of pivoted arms 105, 105', pivoted at 107 to the stationary frame. Back up rollers 101, 101', with drums 77, 77', as will be later described, engage the longitudinal edges of base member 2 and cover member 12.
Pivot arms lOS, lOS' and back up rollers lOl, 101' are adjusted so that rollers 101, 101' engage -the longitudinal edges of the base and cover members with drums 77, 77' by adjustment screws 107, 107'. Carrier 112 is cammed up to engage the leading and trailing edges of base member 2 and cover member ]2 with the edges of plates 85, 87, 89, 91 by cam 109 adjusted by adjusting screw 111.
The apparatus and sealed package of the instant :Lnvention is particularly adapted Eor use with thq apparatus showrl and described in United States Patent No.
3,129,546 issued April 21~ 196~. The apparatus shown and described in that patent places lndi.v:Lclual port:ions of a spreadable product such as butter or margarine, on , mg~ 18 -. L~L5g;~
I . .
l ' a relatively stiff base member which showing and description is incorporated herein.
i As sho~m and described in more detail in patent No.
, 3,1~9,546, pat 6 of butter,~argarine, or the like, is formed and deposited on base 2 on conveyor 110 having carriers 112 thereon for receiving and conveying base 2. Each of the carriers 112 has a clip 114 thereon for engaging the trailing end of base member 2 carried theleon and fed by conveyor 110 in the direction of the arrows, Figure ll.
10 ¦ The pat forming and conveyor 110 driving apparatus of the '546 patent and the apparatus of the instant application are driven from a common drive source, such as an electric mot~r, not shown, and are geared together so that the carriers 112 and pat 6 therein are each registered with a shaping station 58 on drum 56 li as drum 56 rotates in the direction or the arrow, Figure ll, and conveyor llO advances carriers 112 and pat 6 past drum 56.
l~ith drum 56 rotating in registry with conveyor llO and c2rriers 112 ~hereon, flexible ~op sheet material 36 is fed from roll stock 34 through feed rollers 40. The leading end of sheet ~-te:i21 36 is cut by kni'e 46 into e pre^set length w-~ich, as w ll now be described, is shaped, transferred and adhered to base
- 2 over pat 6 on carriers 112 as the shaping station 58 carrying ! the cut and shaped length registers with base 2.
i As the pre-set length is cut from the leading end of material 36, the cut sheet is guided by guides 48 into engage~ent with rota~ing dr~ 56. The rotation of drum 56 and the feeding and cutting of material 36 are ti~,ed so that guides 48 engage the leading and trailing edges and side edges of the cut sheet : . . . . . .
l' ' ' ,' . . . ' !
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1 over through vents 55, 57. Thus, ~he vacuu~ in chamber 53, - through ven~s 55, 57, holds the cut sheet in registry over the center portion 98 and inclined walls 100, 102, 104 of the regis-,, tered shaping station 58. As each shapi.ng station 58 is rotated I in the direction of the arrow, Figure 11, past guides 48, a pre-set length of sheet material 36 is fed by rollers 40, cut by ; knife 46 and deposited on rotating drum 56 in registry with a registered shaping station 58.
l As best shown in Figure 11, the cut length of sheet 1 material 36 extends substantially planar across shaping station l 58 and is held thereacross by vents 55, 57 and the vacuu~ therein.
.
,1 As ea^h shaping station 58 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow, Figure 11, under tamper 74, drive disc 76 and guide disc 78, which are continuously driven in synchrony with drum 56, advances terminal end 86 of tamper 74 into engagement witn ~he sheet material. The downwardly extending rectangular head portion 92 of tamper 74 pushes the cen,er portion of the sheet into the shaping station recess toward flat center portion 98. As the center portion of the f].at sheet is pushed tow2rd the flat center portion 98 of ,he sha?ing sta.ion recess, the leading and trailing edges and side edges are îorced downward by outwardly extending flanges 96 against vacuu~, vents , 55, 57. Between the leading and trailing edges and side edges, ,I the sheet material is folded into pleats or folds ~7hich e~tend into gaps 106 bet~een the edges. These pleats or folds for~
the pleats or folds 24,in the sealed package assembly.
Tamper 74 is driven and synchronized to move inw2rd and outward as each shaping sta~ion 58 is rotated past the tamper.
Il" .. ~ . I .
., . - ~ . I .
';
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:34-107A ~ B~ ' , 1 .I Thus, as drum 56 rotates pas~ the tamper, tamper 74, which i9 advancing, forms the sheet material in the die at the shaping station and is withdrawn. The rotary motion of drum 56 and the inward and outward reciprocating motion of tamper 74 is, of course, continuous.
The sheet material, shaped into cover member 12 in shaping station 58 by tamper 74 is rotated do~ward, in the coun-' terclockwise direction, Figures 8 and 11, and as it approaches ¦I the six o'clock position, the leading edge of cover 12 engages ¦, the leading end of base 2 advancing on conveyor 110. As base 2 , is advanced on conveyor 110 toward drum 56 and just before theleading end of base 2 contacts the leading edge of cover 12, the . lead~n~ end of base 2 contacts and is raised slightly off of ! carrier 112 by rollers gl, 91a at the opposite sides of conveyor 110 and carrier 112. Rollers 91, 91a, 92 are spaced so as to clear conveyor 110 and carrier 112 but to contact .he longitudinal edge portion of~base member 2 and cover member 12 as the base ,e..;ber and cover L,embers are brought together.
.. . Rollers 91, 9Ia, Figure 8, are mounted for rotation, respectively, on 2rms 94, 94a pivoted at 9, 99a and spring urOed, respectively, by springs 104, 134a mounted on bases 108, 108a in a counterclock~ise direction toward the base and cover members longitudinal.edges and drum 56. Thus, the lontitudinal ' edges of base member 2 and cover member 12, as such edges are brought together, pass between the surfaces of rollers 91, 91a and dru~ 56. As drum 56 rotates and longitudinal edges of base . . member 2 and cover member 12 pass therebe~ween, rollers 91, 91a are urged in a clockwise direction, Figure 8, compressing springs 104, 104a.
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1 ~! At about the time the edges of cover 12 are brought into engagement with the edges of base 2 between rollers 91, 91a and drum 56, vacuum vents 55, 57 pass beyond vacuum cha~ber 53, , Figure 11, the vacuum is broken and the cover is released. The l cohesive coatings on the contacting surfaces of cover 12 and ~I base 2 brought into contact by the registry of shaping station 58 on rotating drum 56 with base 2 on carrier 112 of conveyor 110 and passing between rollers 91, 91a and drum 56 coheres cover 12 . I .
I¦ to base 2 around product pat 6. From drum 56 and rollers 91, 91a, 10 'I base 2 with cover 12 around pat 6 thereon is advanced to drums 11 ;
'! 77~ 77'. Drums 77, 77' are, of course, rotating and are timed with respect to the advance of conveyor 110, carrier 112 and base 2 so that, as the leading end of base 2 approaches drums 77, 77', the leading end of plate 91 in rotating drums 77, 77' engages the leading end of cover 12. Plate 91 is pushed into the slot against the compression of Lhe springs and the leading edge of cover 12 is cohesively affixed to the leading edge of base 2. As conveyor 110, carrier 112 and base 2 continue to advance and drums 77, 7i' ' continue to rotate, the longitudinal edges of base 2 and cover 12 2~ p2SS between drums 77, 77' and back up rollers 101, 101'. Dr~s 77, 77' and rollers 101,101' cohere the longitudinal edges. The leading edge of plate 89 in rotating drums 77, 77' engages the trailing end of cover 12 cohesively affixing the trailing end of ~¦ the cover to base 2.
From rotary drums 56, 77, 77' the covered pat is advanced on carrier 112 by conveyor 110 to a second tamper down-strea~ of drums 56, 77, 77' and generally designed 130, Figures 8, 13 and 14. Ta~per 130 includes a tamper head 132 of low friction 'I , :, '1 ,. ,~
~ 5~
1 . or self-lubricating material, such as nylon, having a raised center portion 134 and do~nwardly extending side walls 136, 138 . extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of con~eyor ,, 110 and spaced apart so as to clear pat 6 and raised center portion 14 of the package assembly but, at the same time, close enough to contact the longitudinal flanges of the packa~e. Tamper 130 is connec~ed by tamper rod 140 and pivots 142, 144 to rotating discs 146, 148. Discs 146, 148 are driven continuously by gearing, not shown, from the drive of drum 56 and conveyor 110 ¦
:~ 10 and are synchronized therewith. As a cover package fro~ drums 56, 77 approaches tamper 130, tamper head 132 is advancing downwardly. As the covered package moves under and passes tamper 130, down~7ardly moving side walls 136, 138 of ta~per 130 engage the upstanding pleats or folds 24 in cover sheet 12 to collapse and seal the folds, sealing cover 12 on base 2 forming a sealed . enclosure about the product pat 6 therein. As conveyor 110 advances the sea~ed package away from tamper 130, tam?er head ; 132 is elevated by rotating discs 146, 148.
I' In the embodiment of Figures 8, 13 and 14, the edges and ?leats or folds 2'1 in cover sheet 12 are sealeà on base 2 , around product pat 6 thereon. Thus, raised center portion 134 is raised and remains above and spaced from ~he top of the pat hen the pat is tampered. In some instances, especially in larger pats, for example four ounce pats, shaping and sizing of the pat during final tampering might be desired. To accomplish ; such si~ing and shaping tamper head 132', Fl~ures 15, 16 has a ! raised center cavity 134' surrounded by downwardly extending side walls 136', 138' alld end walls 139',141. Center cavity 134' and Il . ' ' .
,j ,!
i~
. . .
i As the pre-set length is cut from the leading end of material 36, the cut sheet is guided by guides 48 into engage~ent with rota~ing dr~ 56. The rotation of drum 56 and the feeding and cutting of material 36 are ti~,ed so that guides 48 engage the leading and trailing edges and side edges of the cut sheet : . . . . . .
l' ' ' ,' . . . ' !
-'-017A
1 over through vents 55, 57. Thus, ~he vacuu~ in chamber 53, - through ven~s 55, 57, holds the cut sheet in registry over the center portion 98 and inclined walls 100, 102, 104 of the regis-,, tered shaping station 58. As each shapi.ng station 58 is rotated I in the direction of the arrow, Figure 11, past guides 48, a pre-set length of sheet material 36 is fed by rollers 40, cut by ; knife 46 and deposited on rotating drum 56 in registry with a registered shaping station 58.
l As best shown in Figure 11, the cut length of sheet 1 material 36 extends substantially planar across shaping station l 58 and is held thereacross by vents 55, 57 and the vacuu~ therein.
.
,1 As ea^h shaping station 58 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow, Figure 11, under tamper 74, drive disc 76 and guide disc 78, which are continuously driven in synchrony with drum 56, advances terminal end 86 of tamper 74 into engagement witn ~he sheet material. The downwardly extending rectangular head portion 92 of tamper 74 pushes the cen,er portion of the sheet into the shaping station recess toward flat center portion 98. As the center portion of the f].at sheet is pushed tow2rd the flat center portion 98 of ,he sha?ing sta.ion recess, the leading and trailing edges and side edges are îorced downward by outwardly extending flanges 96 against vacuu~, vents , 55, 57. Between the leading and trailing edges and side edges, ,I the sheet material is folded into pleats or folds ~7hich e~tend into gaps 106 bet~een the edges. These pleats or folds for~
the pleats or folds 24,in the sealed package assembly.
Tamper 74 is driven and synchronized to move inw2rd and outward as each shaping sta~ion 58 is rotated past the tamper.
Il" .. ~ . I .
., . - ~ . I .
';
!~ .
:34-107A ~ B~ ' , 1 .I Thus, as drum 56 rotates pas~ the tamper, tamper 74, which i9 advancing, forms the sheet material in the die at the shaping station and is withdrawn. The rotary motion of drum 56 and the inward and outward reciprocating motion of tamper 74 is, of course, continuous.
The sheet material, shaped into cover member 12 in shaping station 58 by tamper 74 is rotated do~ward, in the coun-' terclockwise direction, Figures 8 and 11, and as it approaches ¦I the six o'clock position, the leading edge of cover 12 engages ¦, the leading end of base 2 advancing on conveyor 110. As base 2 , is advanced on conveyor 110 toward drum 56 and just before theleading end of base 2 contacts the leading edge of cover 12, the . lead~n~ end of base 2 contacts and is raised slightly off of ! carrier 112 by rollers gl, 91a at the opposite sides of conveyor 110 and carrier 112. Rollers 91, 91a, 92 are spaced so as to clear conveyor 110 and carrier 112 but to contact .he longitudinal edge portion of~base member 2 and cover member 12 as the base ,e..;ber and cover L,embers are brought together.
.. . Rollers 91, 9Ia, Figure 8, are mounted for rotation, respectively, on 2rms 94, 94a pivoted at 9, 99a and spring urOed, respectively, by springs 104, 134a mounted on bases 108, 108a in a counterclock~ise direction toward the base and cover members longitudinal.edges and drum 56. Thus, the lontitudinal ' edges of base member 2 and cover member 12, as such edges are brought together, pass between the surfaces of rollers 91, 91a and dru~ 56. As drum 56 rotates and longitudinal edges of base . . member 2 and cover member 12 pass therebe~ween, rollers 91, 91a are urged in a clockwise direction, Figure 8, compressing springs 104, 104a.
!
.,,. . , ~,, j .
,,~
,1 . . ;
.1 ~. ..... .
5~
.84 017A
1 ~! At about the time the edges of cover 12 are brought into engagement with the edges of base 2 between rollers 91, 91a and drum 56, vacuum vents 55, 57 pass beyond vacuum cha~ber 53, , Figure 11, the vacuum is broken and the cover is released. The l cohesive coatings on the contacting surfaces of cover 12 and ~I base 2 brought into contact by the registry of shaping station 58 on rotating drum 56 with base 2 on carrier 112 of conveyor 110 and passing between rollers 91, 91a and drum 56 coheres cover 12 . I .
I¦ to base 2 around product pat 6. From drum 56 and rollers 91, 91a, 10 'I base 2 with cover 12 around pat 6 thereon is advanced to drums 11 ;
'! 77~ 77'. Drums 77, 77' are, of course, rotating and are timed with respect to the advance of conveyor 110, carrier 112 and base 2 so that, as the leading end of base 2 approaches drums 77, 77', the leading end of plate 91 in rotating drums 77, 77' engages the leading end of cover 12. Plate 91 is pushed into the slot against the compression of Lhe springs and the leading edge of cover 12 is cohesively affixed to the leading edge of base 2. As conveyor 110, carrier 112 and base 2 continue to advance and drums 77, 7i' ' continue to rotate, the longitudinal edges of base 2 and cover 12 2~ p2SS between drums 77, 77' and back up rollers 101, 101'. Dr~s 77, 77' and rollers 101,101' cohere the longitudinal edges. The leading edge of plate 89 in rotating drums 77, 77' engages the trailing end of cover 12 cohesively affixing the trailing end of ~¦ the cover to base 2.
From rotary drums 56, 77, 77' the covered pat is advanced on carrier 112 by conveyor 110 to a second tamper down-strea~ of drums 56, 77, 77' and generally designed 130, Figures 8, 13 and 14. Ta~per 130 includes a tamper head 132 of low friction 'I , :, '1 ,. ,~
~ 5~
1 . or self-lubricating material, such as nylon, having a raised center portion 134 and do~nwardly extending side walls 136, 138 . extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of con~eyor ,, 110 and spaced apart so as to clear pat 6 and raised center portion 14 of the package assembly but, at the same time, close enough to contact the longitudinal flanges of the packa~e. Tamper 130 is connec~ed by tamper rod 140 and pivots 142, 144 to rotating discs 146, 148. Discs 146, 148 are driven continuously by gearing, not shown, from the drive of drum 56 and conveyor 110 ¦
:~ 10 and are synchronized therewith. As a cover package fro~ drums 56, 77 approaches tamper 130, tamper head 132 is advancing downwardly. As the covered package moves under and passes tamper 130, down~7ardly moving side walls 136, 138 of ta~per 130 engage the upstanding pleats or folds 24 in cover sheet 12 to collapse and seal the folds, sealing cover 12 on base 2 forming a sealed . enclosure about the product pat 6 therein. As conveyor 110 advances the sea~ed package away from tamper 130, tam?er head ; 132 is elevated by rotating discs 146, 148.
I' In the embodiment of Figures 8, 13 and 14, the edges and ?leats or folds 2'1 in cover sheet 12 are sealeà on base 2 , around product pat 6 thereon. Thus, raised center portion 134 is raised and remains above and spaced from ~he top of the pat hen the pat is tampered. In some instances, especially in larger pats, for example four ounce pats, shaping and sizing of the pat during final tampering might be desired. To accomplish ; such si~ing and shaping tamper head 132', Fl~ures 15, 16 has a ! raised center cavity 134' surrounded by downwardly extending side walls 136', 138' alld end walls 139',141. Center cavity 134' and Il . ' ' .
,j ,!
i~
. . .
3~
.
.~4-017A
il .
1 walls 136', 138', 139',141 are shaped so that, as the ends of walls 136', 138', 139', 141 are brought into engagement with the outwardly e~tending edges of cover 12 on base 2 around product . pat 6, cover 12 engages the dome of cavity 134' and the walls to size and shape the pat. In such instances, of course, the product initially formed and deposited on base 2 is of a volume com~ensurate with the size and shape to be eventually formed at tamper head 132'.
!I The sealed packages advanced from tamper 130 may be ,I carried out by hand or by machine such as the counter, stacker and packager in U. S. patent No. 3,631,652.
There are numerous cohesive coatings which might be ! employed in the practice of ~he inst2nt invention to cohere cover member 12 to base 2. In selecting a cohesive material, a material which is compatible to the materials of the cover and the base, wil.l form strong adhesive bonds therewith and is acceptable for use with the food bein8 p2ckaged should be selected. Preferably, .ne cohesive material should be cohesive to itself but not to other materials and should be dry to the touch. When cohered to itself, such as between cover member 12 and base 2, the materials should be firm and hold the members together. Ho~ever, when cover ~e~ber 12 is peeled from bsse 2 and pat product 6 packaged therein, ; such cohesive coatings should part without tearing of the cover sheet or delaminating base 2. The cohesive should, of course, 2i adhere to the surface o~ the base and cover ~hich ~ay be of a grease repelling material or coated with such material. As already noted, it is preferred to apply the cohesive to either the base or cover, and preferably to the cover, as a series o~
;' .
~) , .
;
o4-017A
1 1 uniform, equally spaced dots. For purposes of storage and handling before formed into the package, ~he adhesive might be coated with a parting agent which, of couxse, should not interfere with cohesion when the base and cover are brought together.
The terms and expressions which have been em?loyed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of ', excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or ¦¦ portions thereof, but it is recogni~ed that various modifications 1 are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
. .
.
-. 15 "
.
2s !l .
, ~0 ~ . ' ; ' .~ S
il !
....
.
.~4-017A
il .
1 walls 136', 138', 139',141 are shaped so that, as the ends of walls 136', 138', 139', 141 are brought into engagement with the outwardly e~tending edges of cover 12 on base 2 around product . pat 6, cover 12 engages the dome of cavity 134' and the walls to size and shape the pat. In such instances, of course, the product initially formed and deposited on base 2 is of a volume com~ensurate with the size and shape to be eventually formed at tamper head 132'.
!I The sealed packages advanced from tamper 130 may be ,I carried out by hand or by machine such as the counter, stacker and packager in U. S. patent No. 3,631,652.
There are numerous cohesive coatings which might be ! employed in the practice of ~he inst2nt invention to cohere cover member 12 to base 2. In selecting a cohesive material, a material which is compatible to the materials of the cover and the base, wil.l form strong adhesive bonds therewith and is acceptable for use with the food bein8 p2ckaged should be selected. Preferably, .ne cohesive material should be cohesive to itself but not to other materials and should be dry to the touch. When cohered to itself, such as between cover member 12 and base 2, the materials should be firm and hold the members together. Ho~ever, when cover ~e~ber 12 is peeled from bsse 2 and pat product 6 packaged therein, ; such cohesive coatings should part without tearing of the cover sheet or delaminating base 2. The cohesive should, of course, 2i adhere to the surface o~ the base and cover ~hich ~ay be of a grease repelling material or coated with such material. As already noted, it is preferred to apply the cohesive to either the base or cover, and preferably to the cover, as a series o~
;' .
~) , .
;
o4-017A
1 1 uniform, equally spaced dots. For purposes of storage and handling before formed into the package, ~he adhesive might be coated with a parting agent which, of couxse, should not interfere with cohesion when the base and cover are brought together.
The terms and expressions which have been em?loyed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of ', excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or ¦¦ portions thereof, but it is recogni~ed that various modifications 1 are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
. .
.
-. 15 "
.
2s !l .
, ~0 ~ . ' ; ' .~ S
il !
....
Claims (19)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A sealed package for storing, shipping and handling an individual service portion of a spreadable product and for supporting said spreadable product for use after open-ing said package, comprising:
(a) a substantially flat, relatively stiff, base member;
(b) a spreadable product removably adhered to and supported by the top surface of said base member;
(c) margins on said base member surrounding said spreadable product;
(d) a relatively thin, flexible cover member having (i) a center portion spaced from said base member and covering said spreadable product, (ii) downwardly extending side walls about the periphery of said center portion, and (iii) outwardly extending margin portions at the ends of said downwardly extending side walls are surrounding said center portion;
(e) means for removably sealably adhering said outwardly extending margin portions of said cover member to said margins on said base member to sealingly enclose said spreadable product therebetween for said storing, shipping and handling thereof;
and (f) opening means permitting a portion of said cover member to be grasped for peeling said cover member from both said base member and said spreadable product so that said spreadable product remains adhered to and supported by said base member for use upon removal of said cover member.
(a) a substantially flat, relatively stiff, base member;
(b) a spreadable product removably adhered to and supported by the top surface of said base member;
(c) margins on said base member surrounding said spreadable product;
(d) a relatively thin, flexible cover member having (i) a center portion spaced from said base member and covering said spreadable product, (ii) downwardly extending side walls about the periphery of said center portion, and (iii) outwardly extending margin portions at the ends of said downwardly extending side walls are surrounding said center portion;
(e) means for removably sealably adhering said outwardly extending margin portions of said cover member to said margins on said base member to sealingly enclose said spreadable product therebetween for said storing, shipping and handling thereof;
and (f) opening means permitting a portion of said cover member to be grasped for peeling said cover member from both said base member and said spreadable product so that said spreadable product remains adhered to and supported by said base member for use upon removal of said cover member.
2. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said opening means comprises at least one pleat in said cover member extending beyond an edge of said base member to provide at least one tab for use in grasping and peeling said cover member from said base member.
3. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said opening means comprises said cover member being dimensioned so as to form at least one peeling tab extending beyond an edge of said base member.
4. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said center portion of said cover member is substantially coextensive with said spreadable product.
5. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, wherein each of said center portion and said marginal flange portions of said cover member is substantially planar and substantially parallel to said base member; and said marginal flange portions of said cover member are in face-to-face adhering engagement with said margins of said base member.
6. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said means for removably sealably adhering said margin portions of said cover member to said margins on said base member is a cohesive material.
7. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said base is made of paperboard.
8. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 1, in which said cover member is made of paper.
9. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 2, in which said at least one pleat is provided in said side walls and margin portions of said cover member, said pleat extending from said center portion to a point beyond an edge of said base member.
10. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 6, in which said cohesive material is applied to one of said adhering margin portions as a discontinuous coating.
11. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 9, in which each of said base member, said cover member and said center portion of said cover member is substantially rectang-ular in shape and said at least one pleat extends from at least one corner of said center portion to a point beyond an adjacent edge of said base member to provide said tab.
12. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 10, in which said discontinuous coating is in the form of dots of a cohesive material spaced on at least one of said adhering members.
13. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 11, in which said at least one pleat extends substantially parallel to at least two edges of said base member.
14. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 11, in which said at least one pleat extends beyond the edge of said base member to provide said tab adjacent a corner of said base member so that said cover member is peeled from said base member by pulling said tab from said corner to the diagonally opposite corner of said base member.
15. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 12, in which the surface of said adhering members is grease resistant and said cohesive dots are applied to and on said grease resistant surface.
16. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 14, wherein a pleat is provided at each of the corners of said center portion of said cover member so that said tab is formed adjacent each corner of said base member.
17. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 15, in which said cohesive dots are provided on said cover member.
18. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 15, in which said cohesive dots are provided on said base member.
19. A sealed package, as recited in Claim 16, in which the ends of said formed pleats are sealed to said base member.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000409893A CA1155045A (en) | 1979-09-28 | 1982-08-20 | Method and apparatus for making sealed packages for spreadable products |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US8014179A | 1979-09-28 | 1979-09-28 | |
| US80,141 | 1979-09-28 | ||
| US18006280A | 1980-08-29 | 1980-08-29 | |
| US180,062 | 1980-08-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1156981A true CA1156981A (en) | 1983-11-15 |
Family
ID=26763123
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000361060A Expired CA1156981A (en) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-09-25 | Method and apparatus for making sealed packages for spreadable products and sealed packages formed thereby |
Country Status (24)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AR (1) | AR224421A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU535482B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8006105A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1156981A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH639343A5 (en) |
| CS (1) | CS238607B2 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3036435A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK408480A (en) |
| ES (2) | ES495402A0 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI71100C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2466407A1 (en) |
| GB (3) | GB2058708B (en) |
| GR (1) | GR70215B (en) |
| IE (1) | IE50119B1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL61128A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1132775B (en) |
| LU (1) | LU82805A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX151494A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL8005371A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO802860L (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ195033A (en) |
| PH (1) | PH19926A (en) |
| PT (1) | PT71830B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE446850B (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4778326A (en) * | 1983-05-24 | 1988-10-18 | Vichem Corporation | Method and means for handling semiconductor and similar electronic devices |
| US4720014A (en) * | 1985-04-30 | 1988-01-19 | Sanford Redmond | Compact package for spreadable products |
| US4711014A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1987-12-08 | Vichem Corporation | Method for handling semiconductor die and the like |
| US4667944A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1987-05-26 | Vichem Corporation | Means for handling semiconductor die and the like |
| GB2195313A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1988-04-07 | Rogers J | Package |
| US4700532A (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1987-10-20 | Sanford Redmond | Method and apparatus for making compact packages for spreadable products |
| DK170527B1 (en) * | 1992-05-29 | 1995-10-16 | Team Pack V Johannes Rasmussen | Method and apparatus for producing skin packing and such skin packing |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3145112A (en) * | 1958-09-09 | 1964-08-18 | Reynolds Metals Co | Food package |
| DE1274491B (en) * | 1959-09-05 | 1968-08-01 | Hans Behringer Dr Ing | Method and device for closing container bases with plastic lids |
| US3131069A (en) * | 1960-12-28 | 1964-04-28 | Oscar Mayer & Company Inc | Package of materials which are subject to undesirable deterioration |
| US3166234A (en) * | 1961-04-10 | 1965-01-19 | Lily Tulip Cup Corp | Plastic container with plait formed pull tab |
| US3129546A (en) * | 1961-04-28 | 1964-04-21 | Redmond & Son Inc B | Butter cutting and packaging machine |
| GB1025486A (en) * | 1963-04-01 | 1966-04-14 | Ivers Lee Co | Method of and machine for making a package |
| US3217871A (en) * | 1963-05-06 | 1965-11-16 | Acme Backing Corp | Peelable seal package |
| US3694991A (en) * | 1970-10-23 | 1972-10-03 | Grace W R & Co | Vacuum skin package, and process and apparatus for making same |
| US3805486A (en) * | 1972-05-31 | 1974-04-23 | Mahaffy & Harder Eng Co | Packaging apparatus and techniques |
| US4030662A (en) * | 1975-05-14 | 1977-06-21 | Gess Larry C | Package and method and apparatus for producing same |
| GB1510384A (en) * | 1975-10-21 | 1978-05-10 | Wardwell C | Frangible bonding using blush lacquer and packaging bonded therewith |
| DE2724306A1 (en) * | 1977-05-28 | 1978-12-07 | Rondo Ag Allschwil | Butter packet with good keeping qualities - has receiving base surface with plastics layer and enclosing cover of foil contacting protruding border |
| US4265070A (en) * | 1979-08-07 | 1981-05-05 | Hayssen Manufacturing Company | Method of and apparatus for packaging |
-
1980
- 1980-09-10 IE IE1894/80A patent/IE50119B1/en unknown
- 1980-09-12 FI FI802867A patent/FI71100C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-09-15 PH PH24576A patent/PH19926A/en unknown
- 1980-09-19 CH CH705480A patent/CH639343A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-09-22 FR FR8020355A patent/FR2466407A1/en active Granted
- 1980-09-23 GB GB8030682A patent/GB2058708B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-09-23 NZ NZ195033A patent/NZ195033A/en unknown
- 1980-09-23 PT PT71830A patent/PT71830B/en unknown
- 1980-09-24 IL IL61128A patent/IL61128A/en unknown
- 1980-09-24 BR BR8006105A patent/BR8006105A/en unknown
- 1980-09-25 CA CA000361060A patent/CA1156981A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-09-26 NO NO802860A patent/NO802860L/en unknown
- 1980-09-26 IT IT24952/80A patent/IT1132775B/en active
- 1980-09-26 SE SE8006760A patent/SE446850B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-09-26 MX MX184103A patent/MX151494A/en unknown
- 1980-09-26 DE DE19803036435 patent/DE3036435A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1980-09-26 DK DK408480A patent/DK408480A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1980-09-26 ES ES495402A patent/ES495402A0/en active Granted
- 1980-09-26 AU AU62770/80A patent/AU535482B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1980-09-26 LU LU82805A patent/LU82805A1/en unknown
- 1980-09-26 AR AR282677A patent/AR224421A1/en active
- 1980-09-26 NL NL8005371A patent/NL8005371A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1980-09-27 GR GR62982A patent/GR70215B/el unknown
- 1980-09-29 ES ES1980253194U patent/ES253194Y/en not_active Expired
- 1980-09-29 CS CS806575A patent/CS238607B2/en unknown
-
1982
- 1982-12-20 GB GB08236173A patent/GB2133373B/en not_active Expired
- 1982-12-20 GB GB08236192A patent/GB2133765B/en not_active Expired
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