Apparatus for assembling plastic containers

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR JOINING TOW PREFORMED BODIES OF THIN THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH BODIES IS IN THE FORM OF A CUP SHAPED SHELL HAVING A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL AND AN OUT-TURNED FLANGE ON THE END OF THE SIDE WALL; A JAW ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A COOLING JACKET DIMENSIONED TO EXTEND AROUND THE SIDE WALL OF THE SHELL, SAID COOLING JACKET INCLUDING A BODY PORTION OF HEAT CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL HAVING AN INTERNAL OPENING FOR RECEIVING THE CUP-SHAPED SHELL, SAID BODY PORITON HAVING A REDUCED LIP PORTION OF HEAT CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL DISPOSED IN HEAT CONDUCTING RELATION TO SAID BODY PORTION TO BE COOLED THEREBY AND PROJECTING GENERALLY AXIALLY FROM THE BODY PORTION AROUND SAID INTERNAL OPENING THEREIN T SURROUND AND COOL THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SHELL IN THE REGION ADJACENT THE FLANGES ON THE SHELL, SAID JAW ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HEAT SEALING JAW EXTENDING AROUND SAID LIP PORTION ON SAID COOLING JACKET AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUT-TURNED FLANGE ON THE CARTON SHELL FOR HEATING THE SAME, MEANS FOR HEATING THE HEAT SEALING JAW SUFFICIENT TO SOFTEN THE FLANGE OF THE SHELL, AND MEANS FOR COOLING SAID BODY PORTION SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF THE SHELL BELOW THE HEAT DISTORTION TEMPERATURE THEREOF.