Tray forming machine

Claim 1

Apparatus for forming a tray blank into a tray about its contents, said tray blank having a central rectangular panel, leading and trailing flaps and side flaps, said flaps having foldable end tabs which are interconnected in oblique superimposed relation when the tray blank is formed into a tray with beveled corners, with the end tabs of said side flaps having marginal notches and said apparatus comprising side flap folders, leading and trailing tray flap folders comprising cross bars having at their ends fixed obliquely bent fingers, said cross bars being connected to endless conveying means beneath said blanks, and cam means to move said cross bars upwardly and fold upwardly said leading and trailing end flaps, and wherein said bent fingers engaging and bending obliquely the end tabs on the leading and trailing tray flaps, an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to said leading and trailing flap end tabs, and side conveyors having folding clips which project into the conveying path and engage the end tabs on the side flaps and fold them against the end tabs on the leading and trailing tray flaps in the course of conveyor advance, with the notches in the side flap end tabs registering and interfitting with said oblique fingers to provide clearance therebetween, and said engaged folding clips moving in concert with the tray for an interval to insure setting of the adhesive to secure the flaps in assembly, and said cam means releasing said cross bars from engagement with the leading flap, with said notches enabling removal of the oblique fingers from the contacting position with the end tabs while the end tabs are held in assembly by said folding clips.