US3834120A

US3834120A - Food tray covering machine

Info

Publication number: US3834120A
Authority: US
Inventors: Faccio P De; H West
Original assignee: HARBOR ISLAND MACHINE WORKS
Current assignee: HARBOR ISLAND MACHINE WORKS
Priority date: 1972-12-06
Filing date: 1972-12-06
Publication date: 1974-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-10

Abstract

Thin sheets of aluminum foil are cut to size and placed over the open top of a food receptacle. The receptacle is supported by an upwardly movable member which moves the receptacle past the foil sheet supports carrying it into an engagement with an anvil. Further upward movement raises the anvil. Further inward and upward simultaneous movement of the folding means presses the foil sheet around and against the underside of the receptacle rim to firmly secure the sheet to the receptacle. Cutting means for separating a piece of foil from a roll are actuated by the upwardly moving member. The foil is pushed to the sheet supports by rollers in two intermittent motions to reduce acceleration forces. The overall apparatus has an infeed conveyor, an infeed pusher moves the receptacle laterally off the infeed conveyor into a covering station, outfeed apparatus is aligned longitudinally with the covering station, and an outfeed pusher moves the receptacle out of the covering station onto the outfeed apparatus.

Description

llnited States Patent 1191 Re Faccio et a1.

[ Sept. 10, 1974 F001) TRAY COVERING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Paul L. De Faccio; Harold H. West,

both of Seattle, Wash.

[73] Assignee: Harbor Island Machine Works, Inc.,

Seattle, Wash.

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,642

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,785 5/1937 Rivera 53/353 2,861,633 11/1958 Schneider 83/587 X 2,916,861 12/1959 Lehmann 53/42 2,920,431 l/196O Izurni jg 29g; 3,001,343 9/1961 Gordonet .....53 112 R 3,017,729 1/1962 theeley 53/184 X 3,261,144 7/1966 Weber 53/42 X 3,286,437 ll/1966 Cole 53/296 3,509,683 5/1970 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerHorace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Seed, Berry, Vernon & Baynham 57] ABSTRACT Thin sheets of aluminum foil are cut to size and placed over the open top of a food receptacle. The receptacle is supported by an upwardly movable member which moves the receptacle past the foil sheet supports carrying it into an engagement with an anvil. Further upward movement raises the anvil. Further inward and upward simultaneous movement of the folding means presses the foil sheet around and against the underside of the receptacle rim to firmly secure the sheet to the receptacle.

Cutting means for separating a piece of foil from a roll are actuated by the upwardly moving member.

The foil is pushed to the sheet supports by rollers in two intermittent motions to reduce acceleration forces.

The overall apparatus has an infeed conveyor, an infeed pusher moves the receptacle laterally off the infeed conveyor into a covering station, outfeed apparatus is aligned longitudinally with the covering station, and an outfeed pusher moves the receptacle out of the covering station onto the outfeed apparatus.

13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIED 3.8%4120 sum NF 4 I PAIENIEDSE 3.884.120

- sum 2 or 4 R3 k R4 R3 k v 102 v I02 FIG, 2 I 3 PAIENIEB SEPI man SHEEI 3 OF 4 PATENIEUSEPIOIHH 3. 34.120

SHEET t 0F 4 PLACE OUT FEED NT RAM TABLE REVOLUTION x4 I l I80 360 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to machines for wrapping a covering material around an open top of a rimmed receptacle.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, prior art machines for covering open top receptacles of the type used in large quantities for packaging frozen foods are continuous high-speed steady state machines which need a continuous stream of incoming receptacles in order to operate efficiently. Some attempts have been made to supply a demand type machine, that is, one which is energized only by the presence of a receptacle needing a covering. One such machine is described in US. Pat. No. 3,036,416. The machine in this patent, however, is complicated and expensive to manufacture and maintain particularly in that a large number of mechanisms are required to fold the covering material around the lower rim of the receptacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a receptacle covering machine that is inexpensive to construct and operate.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved receptacle covering machine that operates upon demand.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a covering material folding apparatus for a receptacle covering machine in which the folding apparatus effectively forms the covering material closely against the rim of the receptacle. 7

Basically, these objects are accomplished by means for folding the covering material around the rim of the receptacle into snug engagement with the underside of the rim of the receptacle wherein the folding means comprises covering material engaging means positioned outside of said receptacle rim and movable simultaneously inwardly and upwardly to fold a covering material against said rim, and cam means for moving the folding means toward said receptacle. This folding means advantageously presses the covering material in a single operation around the rim and against the underside of the rim. It is thus simple to construct and inexpensive to maintain.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feed arrangement for thin, metallic foil which can rapidly push the foil into position without damaging the foil.

Basically this object is obtained by providing means for advancing the foil in two steps, each approximately half the distance from the point where the foil is stored to a position over the receptacle to be covered. The two step movement allows the use of existing drive mechanisms for the other components of the covering mechanism without creating acceleration forces that would surpass the capability of the foil to resist bending.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient cutting device for severing sheets of foil from a continuous roll.

Basically this object is obtained by providing a stationary knife against which is moved a movable knife that is spring powered and yet its movement is controlled by movement of the receptacle holding means so that it is brought through the foil at the proper time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a receptacle covering machine which has infeed and outfeed mechanisms lying in a generally horizontal plane.

Basically this object is accomplished by delivering the uncovered receptacles to a laterally offset position from the receptacle covering station and moving the receptacles upon demand into the receptacle covering station. Discharge of the covered receptacle is along a line basically in the same plane as the infeed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective of an apparatus for covering food receptacles embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan illustrating movement of various elements in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic similar to FIG. 2 showing another operative mode of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic illustrating the covering material folding means employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating schematically the operating components of the covering material folding apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 5 with the apparatus in another operative mode.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line 88 of FIG. 7 showing schematically the components in a different operative mode from that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded illustration of the drive components of the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the drive components.

FIG. 12 is a timing diagram illustrating the operating sequence of various components of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOIL FOLDING APPARATUS The covering mechanism as best shown in FIGS. 1

' and 4 includes a receptacle supporting means or .table 22 upon which the receptacle is adapted to rest. The

table is raised and lowered by a drive mechanism 24 to be later described. As the receptacle is raised by the table 22 the rim of the receptacle engages a gravity biased anvil 26 which has a concavity 28 for receiving food piled up in the receptacle. Sheets of foil F are positioned between the top of the receptacle and the anvil 28 in'two slightly upwardly curved side rails 30. The

3 anvil 26 is slidably supported in a frame 32 and has a vertically adjustable stop 34 which limits downward movement of the anvil as shown in FIG. 4. The stop is secured by a set screw to a shaft 36 that is joumaled in the frame 32. Further adjustment is provided by a threaded stop nut 38 on the lower end of the shaft 36 in a well known manner to limit the upward movement of the anvil 26 for crimping the foil. The anvil thus provides a weight or weighted support surface against which the upper rim of the receptacle is pressed to snugly hold a sheet of foil material on the top of the re ceptacle during the covering operation.

A sheet of material on the open top of the receptacle is folded around the rim after the receptacle is moved against the anvil and past the foil guides 30 thus freeing the sheet of foil from the guides and holding it between the upper rim of the receptacle and the anvil. The folding apparatus is best shown in FIGS. 4-9 and includes four foil engaging members 40 each having a, working corner 42 (FIG. 4) an upper surface 44 and a cam surface 46. The foil engaging members rest on a movable carrier 48 and areslidably retained on the carrier by pins 50 (FIG. 9) which ride in slots 52. The carrier 48 is secured to the foil guides 30 which are engageable'by upwardly extending bosses 58, secured to a movable bed 60. The bed 60 is connected to a rod 62 that forms part of the drive mechanism 24 for raising and lowering the table 22. I I

Upward movement of the bed 60 brings the pins or bosses 58 into engagement with the foil guides 30, raising the carrier 48 along with the receptacle R and thus moves the foil engaging members 40 upwardly along with the receptacle. Secured to the frame of the folding apparatus are four cam members 64 each having a cam surface 66. As the foil engaging members 40 are raised by the shaft 62, it can be readily seen that they are also simultaneously moved inwardly due to the engagement of the cam surfaces 46 with the cam surfaces 66.

In a typical operation, the shaft 62 raises the table 22 and thus the receptacle R upwardly past the foil guides 30, picking up a sheet of foil between the anvil and the rim of the receptacle. After the rim has passed the top surface 42 of the foil engaging members 40 the bosses 58 engage the foil guides 30 and begin to also raise the foil engaging members 40. The vertical height of the bosses is adjustable so that the'rims of various height receptacles can be properly positioned relative to the foil engaging members before they begin to move upwardly against the underside of the rim. In the altemative spacers or shims not shown can be placed on the table 22 to position various sizes of receptacles properly relative to the foil engaging members 40. Further upward movement of the shaft 62 brings the edge 42 into contact with the downwardly bent edgesof the sheet of foil which had been bent downwardly as the foil is lifted past the carrier 48. The edges 42 move inwardly folding the lower edges of the foil up against the underside of the rim. The last l/ l 6 inch of movement of the foil engaging members occurs while the anvil has been stopped by the nut 38 hitting the frame 32 thus pressing the foil engaging members tightly against the foil and rim of the'receptacle to crimp the foil tightly against the underside of the rim. This final position is best shown in FIG. 9, for example. As the shaft is lowered, a plurality of springs 66 spread the foil engaging members away from one another, moving the members I 4 backdown and outwardly against the cam surface 66 to thus free the foil from the foil engaging members.

FOIL CUTTING APPARATUS The foil F is delivered from the foil supply 18 and cut to a size to fit over the top of the receptacle with ample excess to cover foods extending above the top surface of the receptacle and to fold the edges of the foil around the rim of the receptacle. The cutting mechanism 20 is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 and includes a stationary knife edge 70 below which the foil passes into the covering station and a movable knife 72 having a sharpened edge 74. The knife 72 is L-shaped and has a lower ledge 76 which is supported by two compression springs 78. The lower ends of the compression springs 76 are 'set on studs mounted to the frame 9. The springs 78 bias the knife 72 upwardly with the edge 74 passing the edge 70 to cut the foil. As is best shown in FIG. 9, the springs 78 engage the ledge 76 outwardly from the knife edge 74 so that a counterclockwise moment is provided on the knife 72 to push the edge 74 against the edge 70 of the stationary knife. The knife is slidably mounted by a stud 80 that rides in a slot 81. The knife is pushed-down below the edge 70 by a finger 82 (FIG. 10) that is secured to the bed 60 of the receptacle moving means. Thus as the receptacle is raised the springs raise the knife allowingthe knife edge 74 to follow the upward movement of the receptacle severing the foil from the continuous roll prior to the top rimof the receptacle passing the foil supports 30. As is readily apparent the knife actuating mechanism is thus always coordinated with movement of the receptacle and is a very simplified mechanism producing few maintenance problems- FOIL FEEDING APPARATUS One of the difficulties in feeding thin foil which is only a few thousandths of an inchthick is that the foil cannot be pushed with any great acceleration since it will fold or crumple. This problem is solved in the instant invention utilizing the drive mechanism 24 for the other components of the machine by moving the foil twice during each cycle of operation so that for any one movement, the acceleration forces may be slight due to the decreased distance that foil must travel. The foil is delivered from a roll and passes over various takeup rollers 92 and thence between a spring biased pinch roller 94 and a drive roller 96. As will be hereinafter described, the drive roller imparts to the foil the intermittent movement for feeding the desired amount of foil over the top of the open receptacle. The reason for this two step foil feed is that the normal cycle may be completed and if there is not another receptacle ready to repeat the cycle, the apparatus comes to a stop since it is a demand machine. If the foil were not advanced half the distance prior to stopping the machine, it would be necessary upon restarting the machine to move the foil the entire distance to cover a receptacle which would create a time loss in the operation of the machine or in the alternative, an acceleration that could not be tolerated bythe strength of the foil.

INFEED AND OUTFEED APPARATUS One of the important features of the invention is that the infeed and discharge are all on the same plane to simplify handling of the receptacles. The infeed comprises a rubber belt conveyor over which is positioned a channel shaped guide member 101. The conveyor moves the receptacle from the conveyor toward a proximity switch 102 which triggers a control mechanism to move an infeed pusher 104 laterally of the conveyor 100 into the covering station 106 (FIG. 1). After the receptacle is covered, it returns to the plane of the infeed conveyor and is moved to a discharge chute 108 by an outfeed pusher 110. The pushers are timed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to operate only upon demand such as when the next receptacle R2,approaches the proximity switch by being pushed by the next receptacle R3 on the conveyor 100.

The infeed pusher serves two additional functions. First, the infeed pusher blocks the next oncoming receptacle R3 as it is retracted after pushing a receptacle R2 into the covering station. Second, the infeed pusher moves the receptacle against an alignment stop 82 to straighten any skewed containers prior to covering the receptacle.

DRIVE APPARATUS The drive 24 for the various mechanisms described is best shown in FIG. 10. A motor 115 drives a main cam wheel 116 which is keyed to a rotatably mounted shaft 118. The cam wheel is provided with several cam surfaces all of which are joined in a single piece of metal as part of the cam wheel. The cam surfaces are exploded and shown as separate members in the drawing for purposes of clarity. These cam surfaces include a foil feed cam surface 120 which powers an arm 122 having a gear segment 124 on one end thereof. The gear segment drives a one-way ratchet gear 126 so that the drive roller 96 is rotated in intermittent steps in the direction of the arrow. The opposite end of the arm 122 is pivoted to the frame 9 as shown. An outfeed cam surface 130 is coupled through a cam follower 132 to the outfeed pusher 110. Similarly, an infeed cam surface 134 is coupled through a cam follower mechanism 136 to the infeed pusher 104. A cam slot 138 in the disc having the infeed cam surface 134 engages a cam follower 140 that is coupled to a bellcrank. The bellcrank oscillates on a shaft 144 that is fixed in the frame 9. The other arm of the bellcrank has a roller 146 that fits in a slot 148 in the shaft 62. Thus as the drive wheel 116 is rotated, the shaft 62 is reciprocated by the roller 146.

OVERALL OPERATION In operation, receptacles abutting one another pass along the infeed conveyor 100 until the lead receptacle approaches the proximity switch 102. The proximity switch energizes the motor 115 to begin a cycle of operation. First the infeed pusher 104 moves a receptacle into the covering station onto the table 22. Simultaneou'sly therewith, the foil is'advanced for its second movement overtop of the receptacle on the guides 30. Next the infeed arm 104 is retracted as the shaft 62 is raised. As 62 is raised it carries the finger 82 upwardly to allow the knife 72 to follow and sever the sheet of foil from the roll. Further upward movement of the shaft 62 brings the rim of the receptacle into engagement with the foil and pushes the foil against the anvil 26.

In the embodiment illustrated, the receptacle engages the foil about /s of an inch before it hits the anvil.

The receptacle then lifts the foil and anvil approxi-' mately another 1.72 inches until the buttons 58 engage the foil guides 30. By this time, the foil has been pulled completely free of the foil supports 30 and has had its edges bent downwardly by engagement with the inner surface of the carrier or picture frame 48. Further upward movement moves the carrier plate upwardly moving the dies or foil engaging members inwardly to crimp the foil around the rim of the receptacle. At the top of its stroke the shaft 62 is then returned downwardly to its lowermost position.

Next the outfeed cam surface 130 moves the outfeed pusher to sweep the receptacle R out of the covering station and on to the discharge chute 108. At this same time, the foil feed is again energized to advance the foil one-half the distance trhough the foil support 30. When the machine is restarted by the presence of another receptacle at the proximity switch 102, the foil feed again energizes advancement of the foil the remainder of the distance over the receptacle. If receptacles are coming in a continuous stream, of course there is little delay of the foil advancement and it proceeds almost in a single continuous motion.

While the preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the principles thereof. Accordingly, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for covering food receptacles or the like of the type having a horizontal, outwardly extending peripheral rim comprising an'anvil, movable receptacle support means aligned below said anvil and onto which an open top receptacle is adapted to be placed, means for releasably holding a sheet of covering material between said receptacle support means and said anvil, means for moving said receptacle support means to move said receptacle past said covering material holding means for bringing the covering material into engagement with said anvil, and means for folding the covering material around the comers of the rim of the receptacle into snug engagement with the underside of the rim, said folding means comprising covering material engaging means positioned outside of said receptacle rim and movable simultaneously inwardly and upwardly to fold the covering material against said rim, and cam means for moving said covering material engaging means toward said receptacle, said folding means including a carrier plate, said covering material engaging means including four corner members slidably supported on said carrier plate, each said corner member having a cam engaging surface, means biasing said corner members outwardly, said cam means including upwardly and inwardly sloped cam surfaces engageable by said comer members, and said receptacle support means including means for moving said corner members upwardly against said-cam surfaces to urge the comer members inwardly toward the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said means for moving said corner members upwardly including abutment means on said movable receptacle support means engageable with said carrier plate for moving said carrier plate upwardly with upward movement of said receptacle support means for moving said comer members to fold the covering material around the rim of the receptacle.

3. Apparatus for covering open receptacles with metallic foil during two cycles having means for supporting the receptacle in a cover loading position, a supply of thin metallic foil or the like, means for slidably receiving the foil above a receptacle in said cover loading position, and means for pushing the foil into said foil receiving means a predetermined distance to fully cover the receptacle, the improvement comprising drive means for actuating said foil pushing means in at least two intermittent movements for advancing the foil in at least two steps, the sum of which equals said predetermined distance, one step being at the end of one cycle and the other step at the beginningof the next cycle whereby the distance the foil is moved is minimized to prevent severe acceleration of the'foil.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 said foil moving means including a pair of foil pushing rollers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4. said drive means including ratchet means operable in one direction for rotating the rollers and inactive in the opposite direction, and cam driven means operable to oscillate the ratchet means twice during one complete motion of the foil into said foil receiving means.

6. Apparatus for covering food receptacles or the like with a covering material comprising covering material feeding means for feeding a continuous sheet of covering material past a cutting station and into a covering station, means for holding the covering material over a receptacle at the covering station, means for moving a receptacle through said covering station, and means at said cutting station for cutting the sheet of covering material into sizes suitable for securing to said food receptacles, the improvement comprising said cutting means including a stationary cutting blade positioned transversely across said sheet of covering material, and a movable cutting blade positioned transversely across the'opposite side of said sheet of covering material and at an angle relative to the stationary cutting blade, and means for moving said movable cutting blade past said stationary cutting blade for cutting the sheet of covering material, said movable cutting blade moving means including spring means urging the movable cutting blade in the plane of the blades toward the stationary blade, and means coupled to said receptacle moving means for retracting the movable cutting blade away from said stationary cutting blade against said spring means as the receptacle is moved downward away from the covering station and for releasing the movable cutting blade as the receptacle moving means is moved upward toward the covering station so that the spring means can move the movable blade to cut the sheet of covering material starting at one transverse edge of the sheet and progressing through to the opposite edge as the receptacle approaches the covering station.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said movable cutting blade moving means including guide means for guiding the movable cutting blade past the stationary cutting blade, means on said movable cutting blade for fastening to said springs for urging the movable cutting blade both upwardly and laterally of the plane of the blade against said stationary cutting blade whereby a sharp shearing action occurs at said cutting blades.

s r r 8. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for limiting upward movement of said anvil for allowing relative movement between said covering material engaging means and said anvil to tightly crimp the covering material against the rim of the receptacle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for feeding the covering material between said receptacle support means and said anvil, and means for cutting the material as the receptacle is moved past said covering material holding means, said cutting means including a pair of blades, at least one blade being spring-biased in the plane of the blade to urge the blade to slide along its plane past the opposite blade, and means coupled to said receptacle moving means for moving one said blade toward the other for cutting the covering material.

10. An integrated loading, covering and removing mechanism for food receptacles or the like, comprising covering apparatus located at a covering station, vertically movable receptacle holding means, means for moving the receptacle holding means through said covering station, infeed apparatus for moving a receptacle to said receptacle holding means, infeed pusher means for moving the receptacle off said infeed apparatus and onto said receptacle holding means, outfeed apparatus, outfeed pusher means for moving the receptacle off said receptacle holding means and onto said outfeed apparatus, and integrated mechanical drive means for operating said infeed and outfeedpusher means with said means for moving the receptacle holding means in an accurately timed relationship, said drive means ineluding a driven shaft, a plurality of cams on said driven shaft and linkage means operatively coupling said cams to said infeed and outfeed pusher means and said means for moving said receptacle holding means.

11. The mechanism of claim 10' including covering material feed means located adjacent said covering station and including a pair of pinch rollers for pushing the covering material into said covering station, a covering material actuating cam secured to said driven shaft, and covering material actuating linkage means operatively coupling at least one said pinch roller for intermittent rotational movement with said covering material actuating cam.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 including cutting means having a movable blade spring-biased toward cutting engagement with a fixed blade and means on said receptacle holding means for allowing said movable blade to advance toward said fixed blade and cut the covering material as said receptacleholding means is moved t0 said covering station.

13. The mechanism of claim I 1 including stop means on said receptacle holding means, said first pusher means being operable to push said receptacle against said stop means to'align the receptacle in the covering station, said first pusher means also including an elongated arm oscillatable toward said receptacle and having a surface for engaging a next incoming receptacle to temporarily block the incoming receptacle and thus provide proper spacing of the receptacles.

Claims

1. Apparatus for covering food receptacles or the like of the type having a horizontal, outwardly extending peripheral rim comprising an anvil, movable receptacle support means aligned below said anvil and onto which an open top receptacle is adapted to be placed, means for releasably holding a sheet of covering material between said receptacle support means and said anvil, means for moving said receptacle support means to move said receptacle past said covering material holding means for bringing the covering material into engagement with said anvil, and means for folding the covering material around the corners of the rim of the receptacle into snug engagement with the underside of the rim, said folding means comprising covering material engaging means positioned outside of said receptacle rim and movable simultaneously inwardly and upwardly to fold the covering material against said rim, and cam means for moving said covering material engaging means toward said receptacle, said folding means including a carrier plate, said covering material engaging means including four corner members slidably supported on said carrier plate, each said corner member having a cam engaging surface, means biasing said corner members outwardly, said cam means including upwardly and inwardly sloped cam surfaces engageable by said corner members, and said receptacle support means including means for moving said corner members upwardly against said cam surfaces to urge the corner members inwardly toward the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said means for moving said corner members upwardly including abutment means on said movable receptacle support means engageable with said carrier plate for moving said carrier plate upwardly with upward movement of said receptacle support means for moving said corner members to fold the covering material around the rim of the receptacle.

3. Apparatus for covering open receptacles with metallic foil during two cycles having means for supporting the receptacle in a cover loading position, a supply of thin metallic foil or the like, means for slidably receiving the foil above a receptacle in said cover loading position, and means for pushing the foil into said foil receiving means a predetermined distance to fully cover the receptacle, the improvement comprising drive means for actuating said foil pushing means in at least two intermittent movements for advancing the foil in at least two steps, the sum of which equals said predetermined distance, one step being at the end of one cycle and the other step at the beginning of the next cycle whereby the distance the foil is moved is minimized to prevent severe acceleration of the foil.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 said drive means including ratchet means operable in one direction for rotating the rollers and inactive in the opposite direction, and cam driven means operable to oscillate the ratchet means twice during one complete motion of the foil into said foil receiving means.

6. Apparatus for covering food receptacles or the like with a covering material comprising covering material feeding means for feeding a continuous sheet of covering material past a cutting station and into a covering station, means for holding the covering material over a receptacle at the covering station, means for moving a receptacle through said covering station, and means at said cutting station for cutting the sheet of covering material into sizes suitable for securing to said food receptacles, the improvement comprising said cutting means including a stationary cutting blade positioned transversely across said sheet of covering material, and a movable cutting blade positioned transversely across the opposite side of said sheet of covering material and at an angle relative to the stationary cutting blade, and means for moving said movable cutting blade past said stationary cutting blade for cutting the sheet of covering material, said movable cutting blade moving means including spring means urging the movable cutting blade in the plane of the blades toward the stationary blade, and means coupled to said recepTacle moving means for retracting the movable cutting blade away from said stationary cutting blade against said spring means as the receptacle is moved downward away from the covering station and for releasing the movable cutting blade as the receptacle moving means is moved upward toward the covering station so that the spring means can move the movable blade to cut the sheet of covering material starting at one transverse edge of the sheet and progressing through to the opposite edge as the receptacle approaches the covering station.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for limiting upward movement of said anvil for allowing relative movement between said covering material engaging means and said anvil to tightly crimp the covering material against the rim of the receptacle.

10. An integrated loading, covering and removing mechanism for food receptacles or the like, comprising covering apparatus located at a covering station, vertically movable receptacle holding means, means for moving the receptacle holding means through said covering station, infeed apparatus for moving a receptacle to said receptacle holding means, infeed pusher means for moving the receptacle off said infeed apparatus and onto said receptacle holding means, outfeed apparatus, outfeed pusher means for moving the receptacle off said receptacle holding means and onto said outfeed apparatus, and integrated mechanical drive means for operating said infeed and outfeed pusher means with said means for moving the receptacle holding means in an accurately timed relationship, said drive means including a driven shaft, a plurality of cams on said driven shaft and linkage means operatively coupling said cams to said infeed and outfeed pusher means and said means for moving said receptacle holding means.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 including covering material feed means located adjacent said covering station and including a pair of pinch rollers for pushing the covering material into said covering station, a covering material actuating cam secured to said driven shaft, and covering material actuating linkage means operatively coupling at least one said pinch roller for intermittent rotational movement with said covering material actuating cam.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 including cutting means having a movable blade spring-biased toward cutting engagement with a fixed blade and means on said receptacle holding means for allowing said movable blade to advance toward said fixed blade and cut the covering material as said receptacle holding means is moved tO said covering station.

13. The mechanism of claim 11 including stop means on said receptacle holding means, said first pusher means being operable to push said receptacle against said stop means to align the receptacle in the covering station, said first pusher means also including an elongated arm oscillatable toward said receptacle and having a surface for engaging a next incoming receptacle to temporarily block the incoming receptacle and thus provide proper spacing of the recEptacles.