US3852936A

US3852936A - Method of and a machine for forming and filling trays with articles

Info

Publication number: US3852936A
Application number: US00282387A
Authority: US
Inventors: I Wilson; E Hamp
Original assignee: ARCALL Ltd
Current assignee: ARCALL Ltd
Priority date: 1971-08-20
Filing date: 1972-08-21
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10
Also published as: AU4573572A; IT964532B; FR2151326A5; GB1331128A; AU458369B2

Abstract

Apparatus for loading articles in and forming a tray from a blank, comprising a die of internal dimensions of a finished loaded tray, means for assembling articles into sets of articles outside the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank at the mouth of the die, means for arranging the articles and blanks in contact therewith through the die and continuing the movement, with the underside of the tray exposed, until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die.

Description

Wilson et a1.

[ METHOD OF AND A MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING TRAYS WITH ARTICLES Inventors: Ian Mayor Wilson, Old Coulsdon;

Eric William Hamp, Thornton Heath, both of England Arcall Limited, I-Iackbridge, Surrey, England Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 Appl. No.: 282,387

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Augv 20, 1971 Great Britain 39170/71 US. Cl 53/26, 53/35, 53/159, 53/207 Int. Cl. B65b 5/02, B65b 21/06 Field of Search 53/26, 35, 152, 191, 192, 53/194, 207, 159, 221, 222, 223

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1958 Ardell et a1 53/26 5/1959 Boitel 53/194 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-John Sipos Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marn & .langarathis 5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for loading articles in and forming a tray from a blank, comprising a die of internal dimensions of a finished loaded tray, means for assembling articles into sets of articles outside the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank at the mouth of the die, means for arranging the articles and blanks in contact therewith through the die and continuing the movement, with the underside of the tray exposed, until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEB 10 m4 3852-336 4 sm-zar 10F 1 PATENTEDuEc 10 m4 um NF 7 PATENTEDBEB 10 m4 SHEET 3 BF 7 SHEET '4 OF 7 PATENTEU DEC 10 I974 I I I l I i l I I I l fig FIGA SHEET 5 OF T PATENTED DEB 101914 FIG. 5

Ill l-lllllll'cllllll'll'l-lilll. I'll W FM a H w a I l I l I I I l I I I l I I I I l I l l I a FIGS - 3,852,936 PATENIEI] UEBIO I974 SHEET 7 OF 7 METHOD OF AND A MACHINE FOR FORMING AND FILLING TRAYS WITH ARTICLES The invention relates to a method of and a machine for laoding articles in a tray.

It is known to provide a tray, for packaging a set of articles, made from a substantially rectangular blank of cardboard or like sheet material, from British Specification No. 1,221,928, in which the tray has a substantially rectangular base panel and a continuous surrounding peripheral wall comprising side and wall panels and integral wall corner portions, the side and end wall panels being attached to the edge of the base panel through fold lines and extending upwards therefrom and the integral wall corner portions being unattached to the base panel which has a cut-out portion at each corner, the edge of each said cut-out portion defining a free inner edge ofa wall corner portion, the said wall corner portions being each foldable on itself such that, when the wall of the tray is erected the length of each corner portion is reduced and the said corner portions form together with the side and end wall panels a continuous wall around the articles in the tray.

1n the above-mentioned specification each of the wall corner portions has two fold lines extending from the outer edge thereof to the free inner edge and spaced apart from each other throughout their lengths of the said wall corner portions, means being provided for holding the pleat in its folded condition. The illustrations accompanying the above specification show that one of the fold lines is at right angles to the substantially rectangular blank, while the other of the two folds extends from the corner of the substantially rectangular blank, while it is the intention that the dog-eared shaped pleat formed by folding the edge of the blank at these lines is to be attached to the outer surface of the end wall when the blank is formed into a tray.

In the method of forming trays in accordance with the present invention, substantially rectangular blanks of cardboard or like sheet material of the kind or similar to the kind specified in British Specification No. 1,221,928 may be used, but in the formation of a tray from such a blank, it is preferred that the pleat be formed by folding along the fold lines in the opposite direction to that described in this priorspecification, which results in the dog-cared pleat so formed being pressed inwardly ofthe edge ofthe tray and its surfaces attached to one another instead of the dog-ear being attached bodily to the outer surface of the tray as heretofore. This feature should be borne in mind when considering the method of operation of the apparatus hereinafter described. However, the method disclosed in this specification is not limited to use with tray blanks of the kind above referred to.

It is also known from British Specification No. 1,183,043 to provide a method of packaging a product in a carton (of the kind described) (which may be a tray of the kind disclosed in Specification No. 1,221,928) in a die which comprises positioning a carton blank with its bottom panel adjacent to the mouth ofthe die with the product to be packaged on said bottom panel, supporting said bottom panel and product by means movable within the die, applying pressure to the product on that surface opposite to the said bottom panel, moving the carton blank and product into the die, whereby the wall panels are erected relatively to said bottom panel while the said bottom panel and product are supported, removing the carton and product from the die and returning the bottom panel supporting means to the mouth of the die by a movement within the said die.

As the product to be packed is supported upon the bottom panel of the carton blank, which latter is of a relatively flexible material, supporting means have to be provided below the bottom panel of the carton blank to take the weight of the product, particularly if the product is heavy such as cans of food. Furthermore, means have to be provided for applying pressure to the product on that surface opposite to the bottom panel to urge the carton blank and product through the die.

There are therefore provided in this prior construction support means below the bottom panel and pressure applying means above the produce.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine for forming and filling trays with articles which is simpler and consequently cheaper to manufacture than the method and apparatus of the prior art above referred to.

The invention consists in a method of loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be erected to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, characterised in comprising positioning a set of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outside a die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofa finished loaded tray and spaced from the mouth thereof, either previously or subsequently positioning a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern together with the tray blank into the die other than in a downward direction by pressure upon the articles remote from the tray blank, with the under surface of the tray blank exposed, and continuing the said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the end of the die remote from the mouth.

The invention further consists in apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be erected to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, characterised in comprising a die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofa finished loaded tray and having inlet mouth and outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting 'the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern other than in a downward direction into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die.

In apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention in which the movement of the tray blank and articles is in a horizontal direction the weight of the articles is taken by the lower side of the die and therefore there is no necessity to provide means associated with the tray blank to support the weight as in the prior art above referred to.

Also in apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, in which the movement of the tray blank and articles is in a vertical direction upwards, the weight is taken by the means for moving the articles and the tray blanks through the die, the tray blanks resting upon the articles and has no member moving through the die above it.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example only, one embodiment of the invention in which,

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic representations ofa side elevation of a known type of can feed mechanism for assembling cans in a predetermined pattern for inserting into cartons, in two conditions of adjustment,

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are front elevation, crosssection and vertical section of the tray forming die constructed in accordance with the present invention, while FIGS. 7 a-e are isometric views of a corner of a tray forming die showing the action upon the sides and ends of the tray blank as it passes through the die.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically in side elevation a part of a known apparatus for receiving and assembling cans 1 which roll down fixed sloping plates 2 from distributing means to the right of the figure, not

- shown. The plates 3 are hinged at 4 and are movable by penumatic means, not shown, into two alternative positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When in the position shown in FIG. 1, the cans are unobstructed and roll down until they reach the adjustable stops 5, each can resting upon its adjacent one. As soon as this is complete the movable plates 3 are lowered into the position shown in FIG. 2 in order that the cans should assume a rectangularly disposed predetermined pattern in two blocks defined by the

rectangles

6 and 7,, which represent the dies to which the pattern of cans are passed when being loaded into trays. (Although in the apparatus illustrated the cans are assembled in two blocks, so that two trays may be filled simultaneously, apparatus may be constructed in which the cans are assembled in only one block and only one tray is filled at a time).

In order that the spacing of the cans on the plates 3 should be suitable to pass through the dies, strips 8 are provided upon the movable plates 3, which are of a height which does not obstruct the movement of the cans into contact with one another when the plates are lifted as in FIG. 1, but induce some of the cans to roll back to provide the necessary spacing to suit the dies, when the plates 3 are lowered. It can be seen that when the plates 3 are lowered the cans on the plates 2 are pushed back to provide the spacing, by the free ends of the plates 3.

The widths between the

plates

2 and 3 are adjustable to accommodate cans of different sizes, and so are the stopsS.

By referring to FIG. 3, which is a section through the movable plates 3 opposite one of the dies, of which there are two provided, it may be seen that a ram 9 is provided opposite each row of cans in the predetermined pattern of cans for operation by pneumatic means, not shown, when the movable plates 3 are in the lowered position for urging the cans l to the right of FIG. 3 into the die, which is formed in several parts. The rectangular channel 10, which is of progressively reduced cross sectional area is provided to force the cans closely together, before introduction into the die, a slot ll-is provided into which a tray blank is inserted by way of the opening 12 from above, while the die 13 is rectangular, and of the overall size of the finished tray positioned about the articles with its marginal portions turned up aound the cans.

The shape of the end of each ram 9 is designed to suitably cooperate with the article being dealt with.

The shaped members 14 and the pressure wheels 15 are for the purpose of ensuring that the corners of the trays are correctly folded, and that the necessary pressure is applied to the dog-eared pleat to cause proper adhesion of adhesive material previously applied to the tray. These wheels 15 may be resiliently mounted to adapt themselves to any variation in size of the stack of articles.

The rams 9 push the cams right through the die onto the platform 16, which is part of a hinged structure which is movable between side plates 13a, which prevent a sideways movement of the cans on the trays. The hinged structure is supported at the hinge 17 and has upstanding bars 18 against which the tray stops and which support the tray with the cans securely positioned therein when the hinge structure is moved to the lower position, as shown by the chain dotted lines 18. The hinged structure is operated by a pneumatic cylinder 19 after rams 9 have executed their full stroke, after which they return to the position as shown in FIG. 3.

The sequence of operation of the machine is as follows. At the commencement of operation of a cycle, the movable plates 3 are in the raised position, and the rams are in the position shown in FIG. 3 and the plat form 16 is in the lowered position. The operator inserts a tray blank in the slot 11 by way of the opening 12 and presses an operating button not shown and the movable plates 3 move to the lowered position as shown in FIG. 2. Simultaneously the platform 16 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 3, and after a suitable interval of time to allow the cans to arrange themselves in the predetermined pattern on the plates 3, the rams move across and press the cans against the tray blank and force the tray and contents through the die 13 on to the platform 16. As soon as this happens, the platform 16 is lowered, and the packaged cans are removed by the operator and simultaneously the rams 9 return to the position of FIG. 3 and the movable plates 3 move to the position of FIG. 1 and the machine stops. The raising of the movable plates 3 allows a fresh supply of cans to roll into the position as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are an elevation looking at the mouth of the die, a cross-section of the die and a vertical section of the die respectively. The die itself is in the form of a box without front and back, and having

sides

20 and 21 and a top 22 and bottom 23. On the inlet or mouth side of the die is the tapered rectangular channel 10 to pack the cans close together as they move therethrough. The slot 11 is for accommodating a tray blank which is inserted from above by way of the opening 12. The four pressure wheels 15 are housed in apertures in the

sides

20 and 21 of the die, the axles 24 of which are mounted so as to be slidable in grooves in the member 25 against the action ofa spring, not shown, so that the wheels can adjust themselves to changing contours of the tray as it passes through the die and apply pressure to the fold at each corner to cause the surface of the fold to adhere by the action of tacky self adhesive or other attaching material with which the corners of the tray areprepared. The shaped members 14 engage the weakened line of the corner and cause the formation of a dog-cared fold inwardly of the sides of the tray in a manner as will be clearly understood from FIGS. 7a 7c.

The isometric views of FIGS, 7a 7e are taken from a veiw point below the bottom of the die and looking towards the mouth of the die. For sake of simplicity the cans are not shown, but obviously the progress of the tray blank through the die depends uponthe pressure applied by the cans to the blank. In FIG, 7a the tray blank is loosely supported in the slot 11 against the mouth of the die, and is awaiting to be moved bodily in x 'the direction of the arrow to the right into the mouth of the die. The weakened lines of the tray blank are indicated at 26 and 27 to form the folds for the corner and at the end of the tray at 28 and at the side of the tray at 29.

As intended the dog-eared fold is to be made inwardly of the tray and not outwardly as mentioned in relation to the prior art, the tray blank on its motion through the die firstly meets the shaped member 14, as shown in FIG. 7b, where it presses the end of the tray inwards, leaving the side of the tray flat with the bottom 30 of the tray. On further movement of the tray through the die the shaped member 14 passes through the slot 31 of the corner of the tray, and the sides and ends of the tray contact the sides and bottom and top of the die and are turned at right angles to the bottom 30 of the tray against the cans positioned against the tray, as shown in FIGS. 76 and 7d. By this time the dogeared fold 32, see FIG. 7e has been completed inwardly against the surface of a can positioned in the corner of the tray, and by further movement through the die the outer surface of the corner of the tray opposite the dogeared fold 32 meets the pressure wheel 15, which presses the corner folds against one another and causes them to adhere by reason of the adhesive surfaces thereon.

It can be seen from FIG. 7e that it is preferred to make the edges of the mouth ofthe die curved as shown at 33 and 34 to avoid damaging the sides and ends of the tray as they are bent to a right angle with the bottom 30 of the tray.

In order to increase the capacity of the machine it can be seen that there are two

rectangles

6 and 7 which represent two dies and their associated elements, each of which is ofthe character above described, and which operate simultaneously. Consequently, two filled trays are presented to the operator at each cycle ofoperation of the machine.

In the machine above described by way of example, the trays and cans are moved horizontally through the die, and the weight of the cans is supported during the packaging operation by the bottom 23 of the die. It is also within the scope of the invention to arrange for the die to be mounted so that. the tray and cans move vertically upwards, in which case the weight of the cans is taken by the rams 9 mounted for movement vertically upwards through the die. The packaged tray with its cans is therefore pushed upwards through the die until it emerges at the top of the die, where it may be dealt with by suitable means to turn it the right way up if so desired. The tray merely rests upon the cans and there is no necessity to provide a member in the die to press upon the tray to retain it in contact with the cans.

It is to be understood that the above description is by way of example only, and that details for carrying the invention into effect may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention claimed.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofa finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die; and

a rectangular hollow channel of progressively reduced crosssectional area with its sides around the mouth of the die, the articles being moved through said channel before contacting the tray blank, to urge the articles into close contact before entering the die.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for receiving and locating the tray blank adjacent the die is a slot into which the tray blank is introduced.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for contacting and moving the articles into contact with the tray and through the die is one or more pneumatically operated rams.

4. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofa finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die, said die being positioned in a horizontal direction whereby the tray and articles are supported by the die during movement therethrough.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 provided with support means for receiving the loaded trays as they emerge from the die.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the support means is hingeable about a horizontal axis so that the loaded trays are hingeable from a vertical to a horizontal plane after being received by the support means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the support means is hinged by pneumatic ram means.

8. A method of loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the method comprises positioning a set of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern outside a die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and spaced from the mouth thereof, positioning a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern together with the tray blank into the die in a horizontal diection by pressure upon the articles remote from the tray blank, with the under surface of the tray blank exposed, to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around the articles and continuing the said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the end of the die remote from the mouth.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the marginal portions of the tray are formed to provide said confining wall in direct contact with the predetermined pattern of articles at the periphery thereof whereby the articles are held together by the marginal portions of the tray after having passed through the die.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the die has internal dimensions which form the marginal portions of the tray into said confining wall in direct contact with the periphery of said articles whereby the articles are held together by the marginal portions of the tray after having passed through the die.

11. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outiside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die; and said die including shaped members and pressure wheels to insure correct folding of the marginal portions of the tray and pressure wheels to join adjacent marginal portions of the tray.

12. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofa finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in pre-determined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die; and

support means for receiving the loaded trays as they emerge from the dies, said support means being mounted for hinged movement about a horizontal axis whereby loaded trays emerging from said die and received by the support means are moveable from a vertical to a horizontal plane.

l l =l

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die; and a rectangular hollow channel of progressively reduced crossSectional area with its sides around the mouth of the die, the articles being moved through said channel before contacting the tray blank, to urge the articles into close contact before entering the die.

4. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die, said die being positioned in a horizontal direction whereby the tray and articles are supported by the die during movement therethrough.

8. A method of loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the method comprises positioning a set of articles arranged in a pre-determined pattern outside a die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and spaced from the mouth thereof, positioning a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern together with the tray blank into the die in a horizontal diection by pressure upon the articles remote from the tray blank, with the under surface of the tray blank exposed, to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around the articles and continuing the said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the end of the die remote from the mouth.

12. Apparatus for loading articles in a tray of the kind formed from a prepared blank of cardboard or other suitable sheet material having marginal portions which are adapted to be folded to form a confining wall around a base of the tray, in which the apparatus comprises a hollow die of internal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a finished loaded tray and having an inlet mouth and an outlet end, means for assembling and positioning articles into sets of articles arranged in pre-determined pattern outside said die and opposite the mouth of the die, means for receiving and locating a tray blank adjacent the mouth of the die, means for contacting the said articles on their sides remote from the mouth of the die and moving the articles in said pre-determined pattern into contact with the tray blank and continuing said movement with the underside of the tray exposed, through the die to fold the marginal portions of the tray to form said confining wall around said articles and continuing said movement through the die until the tray and articles leave the outlet end of the die; and support means for receiving the loaded trays as they emerge from the dies, said support means being mounted for hinged movement about a horizontal axis whereby loaded trays emerging from said die and received by the support means are moveable from a vertical to a horizontal plane.