A method for making a container, wherein in a positioning step a tray (2) constituted of a single sheet of material, folded and shaped with wrinkled zones (3) is positioned in a thermoforming mould (7), and wherein in a covering step a sheet of thermoplastic material (1) is thermoformed on the tray (2), the covering step being carried out while preventing the thermoforming mould (7) from making contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) at the wrinkled zones (3) of an annular flange (6) of the tray (2). Also claimed is an apparatus (13) which comprises a thermoforming mould (7) in which there are present a first peripheral portion (8) configured to support in use the annular flange (6) of the tray (2) and a second peripheral portion (17) which, in the operating position, is facing the first peripheral portion (8), wherein in the operating position, the second peripheral portion (17) is at a distance from the first peripheral portion (8) in such a way that it does not make contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) stuck to the tray (2), at the wrinkled zones (3) of the annular flange (6).

An apparatus for making a container (2) which comprises an outer skeleton (6), which includes at least one first sheet (8) and one second sheet (9), and a layer of thermoplastic material (7) the apparatus (1) comprising a conveying element (15) which defines a housing (22), which is mounted on a supporting structure (11) and which is movable along a movement path (16) which extends from an infeed station (17) to an outfeed station (18), along the movement path (16) the apparatus (1) having a first feeding station (19), a second feeding station (20), and a thermoforming station (21) placed downstream of the feeding stations, the apparatus also comprising a first feeding device (23) at the first feeding station (19) and configured to insert the first sheet (8) into the housing (22), a second feeding device (24) at the second feeding station (20) and configured to insert the second sheet (9) into the housing (22), and a thermoforming device (31) at the thermoforming station (21) and configured to thermoform a thermoplastic material (10) on the first sheet (8) and on the second sheet (9).

A thermoforming device includes: a base configured to hold a substrate; a hot plate including a heating surface facing vertically downward; a sheet transport portion that supplies a sheet onto the heating surface of the hot plate; and a substrate supply portion configured to attach the substrate to the base and detach the substrate from the base, and to dispose the substrate at a substrate supply position positioned in a lower area of the sheet which is opposite to a side of the sheet in which the heating surface is provided. In the thermoforming device, heating of the sheet using the hot plate and attachment and detachment of the substrate with respect to the base are performable at the same time, and the sheet heated and softened by the hot plate is attached to the substrate at the substrate supply position.

The device comprises at least one forming and wrap-around labeling assembly (60) suitable for taking up an active configuration in which said assembly has a forming chamber (36) and a looping chamber (46), which chambers are in axial alignment and communicate with each other via an annular passageway (62) provided through the end wall of the forming chamber. The assembly is further provided with a pusher member (66) configured to push a wrap-around label (27) that is looped in the looping chamber into the forming chamber. At least one portion (36C′) in the forming chamber (36) flares going away from the end wall (36B) of the forming chamber and the pusher member is configured to expand radially while pushing the wrap-around label (26A) into said flared portion (36C′) of the forming chamber (36).

A thermoforming device includes: an upper hot plate including a first heating surface configured to heat a sheet from above; a lower hot plate including a second heating surface configured to heat the sheet from below; and a substrate-supplying unit including a base configured to hold a molded substrate, and configured to attach the molded substrate to and detach the molded substrate from the base and to dispose the molded substrate at a molding position below the first heating surface with the sheet interposed therebetween, in which the upper hot plate and the lower hot plate are configured to heat the sheet simultaneously from an upper surface and a lower surface of the sheet, the lower hot plate is provided to be movable in a horizontal direction with respect to a position below the upper hot plate, and the thermoforming device die-molds or adheres, onto the molded substrate held by the base, the sheet softened by being heated by the upper hot plate and the lower hot plate.

A forming tool is used, which has a tool trough arranged in a stationary manner and a pressure bell, which can be lowered onto and lifted away from the tool trough. An arrangement is created in which a single- or multi-layer, initially flat, flexible laminate separates the trough interior from the pressure-bell interior in a pressure tight manner. A table, on which the 3-D substrate to be coated is located, assumes a lowered position within the trough interior; there is a considerable, free intermediate space (between the laminate and the 3-D substrate. A radiant-heater assembly is inserted into said intermediate space. The radiant-heater assembly has a carrier, on the top side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached and on the bottom side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached.

The present disclosure is directed to recyclable lined molded fiber articles (e.g., bowls) that provide the necessary performance characteristics for storing frozen and refrigerated foods (acceptable oil resistance, water resistance, and water vapor barrier). The disclosed articles and methods for manufacturing such articles include bonding a thermoformable cellulose-based acetate film to a molded bagasse fiber article to form an impervious liner.

The device includes a mold block having at least one thermoforming chamber (28) having an inside surface (29), an axial opening (28A) through which a decorative wrap-around label (38) can be inserted into the chamber, and a moving end-wall (40) opposite from the opening. The end-wall is suitable for moving in an end segment (28A) of the chamber (28) between a positioning high level and at least one thermoforming low level, and the device has at least one tongue-and-groove set comprising a fin (42) on the end-wall (40) that is engaged in a notch (44) in the inside surface of the end segment (28B).

The invention provides a complex made up of consecutively stacked flat sheets configured for forming a package in a single run, wherein said complex comprises: at least a first die cut flat sheet configured for being folded and forming a wall of the package, comprising a continuous first rim demarcated by an outer contour and an inner contour, wherein said inner contour comprises a first portion and the outer contour comprises a second portion, wherein at least a first main flap extends along the first portion of the inner contour in the direction opposite the second portion of the outer contour; and an assembly comprising at least one additional flat sheet, wherein the perimeter of the at least one additional flat sheet is demarcated by the first rim of the first flat sheet. The invention furthermore provides a method for obtaining the complex, a method for manufacturing a package, and a method for packaging an item.

A forming tool is used, which has a tool trough arranged in a stationary manner and a pressure bell, which can be lowered onto and lifted away from the tool trough. An arrangement is created in which a single- or multi-layer, initially flat, flexible laminate separates the trough interior from the pressure-bell interior in a pressure tight manner. A table, on which the 3-D substrate to be coated is located, assumes a lowered position within the trough interior; there is a considerable, free intermediate space (between the laminate and the 3-D substrate. A radiant-heater assembly is inserted into said intermediate space. The radiant-heater assembly has a carrier, on the top side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached and on the bottom side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached.