Separating system for detaching containers from a plastic web

Abstract

A separating system for detaching containers from a thermoformed plastic web including a first row of containers. The system includes a stamp plate and a cutting plate. The stamp plate includes a first row of stamps associated with a first set of containers from the first row of containers and a second row of stamps associated with a second set of containers from the first row of containers. The cutting plate includes a first row of cutting openings associated with the first set of containers and a second row of cutting openings associated with the second set of containers. The first set of containers are detached from the thermoformed plastic web through being punched between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings. The second set of containers are detached from the thermoformed plastic web through being punched between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - A separating system for detaching containers from a plastic web, the plastic web comprising a first row of containers and a second row of containers, the first row of containers comprising a plurality of containers, the separating system comprising:
 a stamp plate, comprising:
 a first row of stamps comprising a first plurality of stamps, the first plurality of stamps being associated with a first set of containers from the plurality of containers; and 
 a second row of stamps comprising a second plurality of stamps, the second plurality of stamps being associated with a second set of containers from the plurality of containers; and 
   a cutting plate, comprising:
 a first row of cutting openings comprising a first plurality of cutting openings, the first plurality of cutting openings being associated with the first set of containers; and 
 a second row of cutting openings comprising a second plurality of cutting openings, the second plurality of cutting openings being associated with the second set of containers; 
   wherein:
 the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings are configured to detach the first set of containers from the plastic web through punching the first row of containers between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings responsive to the first row of containers being placed between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings; and 
 the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings are configured to detach the second set of containers from the plastic web through punching the first row of containers between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings responsive to the first row of containers being placed between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings. 
   
     
     
         2 - The separating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a forward intermittent feeding mechanism configured to:
 place the first row of containers between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings by intermittently feeding of the plastic web between the stamp plate and the cutting plate; and   place the first row of containers between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings by intermittently feeding of the plastic web between the stamp plate and the cutting plate.   
     
     
         3 - The separating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the forward intermittent feeding mechanism is configured to place the first row of containers between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings and then place the first row of containers between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings. 
     
     
         4 - The separating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first set of containers and the second set of containers are placed alternately in the first row of containers. 
     
     
         5 - The separating system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a number of the first plurality of stamps is equal to a number of the first plurality of cutting openings, each respective stamp from the first plurality of stamps being placed in front of a respective cutting opening from the first plurality of cutting openings; and   a number of the second plurality of stamps is equal to a number of the second plurality of cutting openings, each respective stamp from the second plurality of stamps being placed in front of a respective cutting opening from the second plurality of cutting openings.   
     
     
         6 - The separating system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 each respective cutting opening from the first plurality of cutting openings comprises a first respective cutting edge corresponding to a peripheral edge of a respective container from the first set of containers, the first respective cutting edge being configured to detach the respective container from the first set of containers from the plastic web responsive to the first row of containers being punched between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings; and   each respective cutting opening from the second plurality of cutting openings comprises a second respective cutting edge corresponding to a peripheral edge of a respective container from the second set of containers, the second respective cutting edge being configured to detach the respective container from the second set of containers from the plastic web responsive to the first row of containers being punched between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings.   
     
     
         7 - The separating system according to  claim 6 , wherein a width of a cutting opening from the second plurality of cutting openings is larger than a width of a cutting opening from the first plurality of cutting openings by a first amount. 
     
     
         8 - The separating system according to  claim 7 , wherein a length of a cutting opening from the second plurality of cutting openings is larger than a length of a cutting opening from the first plurality of cutting openings by a second amount. 
     
     
         9 - The separating system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first amount is two times larger than the second amount. 
     
     
         10 - The separating system according to  claim 9 , wherein the forward intermittent feeding mechanism, the stamp plate, and the cutting plate are configured to place the first row of containers between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings and place the second row of containers between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 - The separating system according to  claim 10 , wherein a cutting opening from the second plurality of cutting openings comprises a first extended edge at a first corner of the first cutting opening. 
     
     
         12 - The separating system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first extended edge is protruded inwardly from a first cutting edge of the first cutting opening. 
     
     
         13 - The separating system according to  claim 12 , wherein a number of the first set of containers is larger than a number of the second set of containers by 1. 
     
     
         14 - The separating system according to  claim 13 , wherein the forward intermittent feeding mechanism is configured to place the first row of containers between the second row of stamps and the second row of cutting openings by a forward intermitting movement of the plastic web after that the first row of containers being placed between the first row of stamps and the first row of cutting openings.