Apparatus for forming and stacking container lids

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like from heated plastic sheet material comprising means for supporting a sheet of such material in plastic condition, a female mold cavity means positioned immediately above a supported sheet, plunger means disposed on the underside of a supported sheet in alignment with said female mold cavity, said mold cavity and the upper portions of said plunger means cooperatively defining a relatively shallow container lid, means for shearing a completely formed lid from said plastic sheet stock, and means superimposing said mold cavity means for successively receiving completely formed lids as an incident to the upward movement of said plunger means and positioning them in stacked relation.

Claim 3

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the plunger means is provided with a shallow recess for accommodating sheet material.

Claim 4

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein means is provided for establishing a pressure differential between the upper extremity of the plunger means and said mold cavity means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plunger means is comprised of at least two plunger members, one being relatively shiftable with respect to the other.

Claim 6

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner margin of the mold cavity means is cooperatively disclosed with respect to the outer margin of said plunger means for shearing a completely formed lid from the sheet material.

Claim 7

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plunger means includes an inner plunger member shiftable within and respect to a second plunger member for ejecting a completed container lid from the mold cavity means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plunger means is provided with a passageway connectable with means for establishing pressure differential on opposite sides of a supported sheet whereby to form a relatively shallow reCess in said sheet.

Claim 9

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plunger means consists of at least two plunger members, one being longitudinally shiftable within and respect to the other, and having a passageway connectable with means for establishing a pressure differential on opposite sides of a supported sheet.

Claim 10

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plunger means comprises a pair of plunger members, one being shiftable with respect to the other, and also moveable as a unit therewith, said members when combined, presenting an annular bead forming rib for engaging the underside of a supported plastic sheet.

Claim 11

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold cavity means comprises an annular member having a substantially vertical axis, and shoulder means projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said annular member.

Claim 12

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold cavity means is stationary an the plunger means is longitudinally shiftable into and out of association with said mold cavity means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like from heated plastic sheet material comprising means for supporting a sheet of such material in a substantially horizontal position, a female mold cavity means having a vertically disposed cylindrical opening therethrough, said female mold cavity means fixedly mounted with said cylindrical opening extending vertically upwardly immediately above said sheet supporting means, vertically reciprocable plunger means in vertical alignment with said cylindrical opening, the upper side of said plunger means and the lower portion of said female mold cavity means cooperatively disposed to define a shallow container lid when said plunger means occupies a predetermined vertically disposed position, said plunger means and the lower portion of said female mold cavity means further cooperatively disposed for shearing a formed lid from a heated section of sheet material associated therewith, and means for shifting said plunger vertically upwardly to shift a previously formed lid upwardly into lid stacking position within said cylindrical opening.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like from heated plastic sheet material comprising means for supporting a sheet of such material in a substantially horizontal position, a female mold cavity means having a vertically disposed cylindrical opening therethrough, said female mold cavity means fixedly mounted with said cylindrical opening extending vertically upwardly immediately above said sheet supporting means, vertically reciprocable plunger means in vertical alignment with said cylindrical opening, the upper side of said plunger means and the lower portion of said female mold cavity means cooperatively disposed to define a shallow container lid when said plunger means occupies a predetermined vertically disposed position, said plunger means and the lower portion of said female mold cavity means further cooperatively disposed for shearing a formed lid from a heated section of sheet material associated therewith, and means for shifting said plunger vertically upwardly to shift a previously formed lid upwardly into lid stacking position within said cylindrical opening.

Claim 15

Apparatus for forming and stacking relatively shallow container lids and the like as set forth in claim 12 wherein an annular projection extends radially inwardly from the wall defining said cylindrical opening above the lid forming cavity adjacent the upper face of said plunger means.