Abstract Disclosed is an apparatus for transporting a thin film of plastic having integral therewith a thermoformed article of manufacture and protrusions which facilitate guiding and advancing the film through the apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second guides spaced apart to provide a pathway. At least some of the guides include grooves which receive the protrusions. The guides also include slots which expose some of the protrusions, permitting a moving indexing finger to extend through the slots and engage the exposed protrusions. A trimmer is provided which includes a punch and die, and a film locator which engages at least one of the protrusions and brings the article of manufacture into proper alignment in the punch and die. The block carrying the punch is spring-loaded and biased to counter gravity. This provides a free-floating assembly which facilitates alignment of the punch and die.
Trimming apparatus comprIsing a frame, die means mounted to said frame in a fixed position, horizontal post means fixed to the frame, block means mounted through bearing means on said post means and adapted to move toward and away from the die means, punch means secured to the block means and aligned with the die means and adapted to move with the block means to engage said die means, spring means vertically supporting the block means biased to counter gravity and to take the weight off post means, and means for moving said block means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Trimming apparatus comprIsing a frame, die means mounted to said frame in a fixed position, horizontal post means fixed to the frame, block means mounted through bearing means on said post means and adapted to move toward and away from the die means, punch means secured to the block means and aligned with the die means and adapted to move with the block means to engage said die means, spring means vertically supporting the block means biased to counter gravity and to take the weight off post means, and means for moving said block means.