Patent ID: 7856793

Claim:
An apparatus for automatically assembling a wrapper to a foam cup to form a wrapped foam cup, the apparatus comprising: a rotating platen having multiple carriers, with each carrier sized to support a wrapper, and rotatable about a first axis of rotation; a heater for heating the wrapper to a bonding temperature; and a rotating mandrel assembly comprising multiple rotatable mandrels, with each mandrel supporting a different cup and freely rotatable about a second axis of rotation; wherein the rotating platen and rotating mandrel assembly are arranged relative to each other such that rotating the platen about the first axis of rotation brings the platen into contact with the foam cup and continued rotation of the platen about the first axis effects the free rotation of the mandrel about the second axis of rotation while the rotating platen rotates by the second axis to roll the foam cup over the surface of the platen to wrap the wrapper on the platen about an exterior of the foam cup.