Tray forming frame for tray filling and forming apparatus

Claim 1

IN A TRAY FILLING AND FORMING APPARATUS, A TRAY FORMING FRAME FOR FORMING A TRAY BLANK ABOUT AN ARTICLE WHEREIN THE TRAY BLANK INCLUDES A BOTTOM, SIDE AND END WALLS, AND FLAPS ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SIDE WALLS AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE END WALLS UPON FORMATION OF THE TRAY BLANK, SAID FRAME COMPRISING FOUR UPSTANDING BARS RECTANGULARLY SPACED AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE FLAPS OF SAID TRAY BLANK, AND OPPOSED HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED FOLDING BARS BETWEEN SAID UPSTANDING BARS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SIDE AND END WALLS, SAID HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED BARS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID END WALLS BEING AT A LOWER ELEVATION THAN SAID BARS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SIDE WALLS, MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FLAP ENGAGING BARS FOR BREAKING SAID FLAPS PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND CORRESPONDING HORIZONTAL BARS, MEANS FOR PLUNGING AN ARTICLE AND TRAY BLANK THROUGH SAID FRAME, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID PLUNGING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FLAP BREAKING PLATES AHEAD OF THE PLUNGER UNTIL THE FLAPS ARE BROKEN.