THERMOFORMED CUP AND PLATE HAVING A BURNISHED RIM AND A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE SAME

摘要

A thermoformed cup or plate rim burnishing apparatus preferably including a plurality of threaded screws, wherein the threaded screws guide and convey a stack of thermoformed cups or plates through the thermoformed cup or plate rim burnishing apparatus. The rim burnishing apparatus also includes a heating device for applying heat to the rims on the stacked thermoformed cups or plates passing through the rim burnishing apparatus, wherein the threaded screws retain the rims in close proximity to the heating device. As the threaded screws rotate, the stack of cups or plates are also rotated as the threaded screws advance the stack of cups or plates through the rim burnishing apparatus, so that the entire diameter of the rims on the cups or plates pass by the heating device. As the portion of the rim of each cup or plate passes adjacent to the heating device, the rim is heated to a soft moldable state. Thereafter, the rotating threaded screws burnish the now soft cup or plate rim by frictionally rubbing against the cup or plate rim. Additionally, a heating device may be employed which could generate enough heat to polish the cup or plate rims as they are transported past the heating device via the threaded screws.