Patent ID: 8435372
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: B29C,B65D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a flexible container cover, comprising: providing a flat sheet of flexible film having a generally rectangular shape with four sides, four recessed cut corners, and a flap along each side of said sheet between each adjacent pair of cut corners, providing an elastic band, providing a forming mandrel having a generally rectangular top surface with four sides, four corners and a slot cut into each corner, said mandrel having a ledge along each side of said top surface, said ledge having an eave or undercut surface and a side surface depending therefrom, the perimeter of said mandrel being smaller than the perimeter of said sheet, providing a set of four sealing bars, said sealing bars positioned adjacent said respective sides of said mandrel with a gap between each sealing bar and its respective undercut surface, providing a set of tucker blades, said tucker blades positioned adjacent said respective sides of said mandrel, said tucker blades being in a first position spaced from said undercut surface, providing four hooks, one at each corner of said mandrel, said hooks being in a first position outside of said slots, laying said sheet onto said top surface of said mandrel so that said flaps extend past said sides of said mandrel and said hooks are positioned within the region defined by said four recessed cut corners of said sheet, stretching said elastic band around said hooks so that said hooks hold said elastic band in a generally rectangular configuration with four straight sections, each of said straight sections running parallel to and positioned above one of said flaps, moving said hooks inward to a second position within said slots so that said elastic band contracts, causing each of said straight sections to fold a middle portion of each of said respective flaps inward, moving said tucker blades to a second position under said undercut, thereby pushing said folded flaps against said side surface, moving said tucker blades back to said first position, closing said gap between said sealing bar and said undercut surface in order to form a hem along each side of said sheet, sealing said hem to form said flexible container cover, moving said hooks back into said first position, thereby stripping said cover from said undercut surface of said mandrel, and removing said cover from said hooks.