US3583125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of packages
Assignee: Sidaplax
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Filing: 1969-05-07
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for heat sealing a thermoplastic sheettype lid to a container by means of cooperating jaws, one of which is heated and contains an integral cutting edge for forming a line of weakness in the lid simultaneously with heat sealing to facilitate opening of the container. This jaw may optionally include a second outer cutting edge to aid in separating the lid from the remainder of the sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Emile Raymond Vermeulen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:16
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C53/04; B29C53/06; B29C65/74; B29C65/743; B29C65/78; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7861; B29C65/787; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2422; B29C66/24221; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5346; B29C66/53461; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81427; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/83221; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/02; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/162; B65B7/164; B29C37/00; B29C37/0053; B29C37/0057; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81415; B29C66/81419
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A process for producing a sealed, easily opened package comprising the steps of compressing an edge portion of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic lid and a rim portion of an open container together under heat-sealing conditions of elevated temperature and pressure without substantially relaxing the stresses in said biaxially oriented lid to form a package wherein said lid and rim portion are heat sealed together, while simultaneously pressing a sharp edge into the lid inside the area of the heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the lid to form a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A process for producing a sealed, easily opened package comprising the steps of compressing an edge portion of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic lid and a rim portion of an open container together under heat-sealing conditions of elevated temperature and pressure without substantially relaxing the stresses in said biaxially oriented lid to form a package wherein said lid and rim portion are heat sealed together, while simultaneously pressing a sharp edge into the lid inside the area of the heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the lid to form a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the package comprises a plurality of adjacent containers integrally united with each other by means of their heat-sealed lids which are portions of a sheet, said process including the step of pressing one portion of another sharp edge into a first section of the sheet between adjacent containers to a first depth to form a first line of weakness, while pressing a second portion of said another sharp edge into a second outer section of the sheet to a second depth which exceeds the first depth to form a second line of weakness whereby the package may be readily separated from the sheet along said second line of weakness while the sealed containers may be readily separated individually from each other along the first line of weakness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic is polystyrene, the heat-sealing temperature is between 125* to 175* C. and the heat-sealing pressure is between 75 to 125 kilograms per square centimeter, being maintained for from 1.5 to 4 seconds.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of repeatedly producing sealed, easily opened packages comprising the steps of: a. placing successive portions of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic sheet in contact with rim portions of open containers; b. advancing a heated sealing jaw toward an opposing supporting jaw with each contacting successive sheet portion and container rim portion therebetween to force the heated jaw into each sheet portion under heat-sealing conditions of eLevated temperature and pressure without substantially relaxing the stresses in said biaxially oriented sheet portions, thereby heat sealing each sheet portion to each container rim to form said packages; c. forcing a first sharp, heated edge into each sheet portion inside the area of its heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the sheet simultaneously with said heat sealing to form a line of weakness in each sheet portion within its seal to facilitate opening each package; d. forcing a second sharp, heated edge into each sheet portion outside the area of its heat seal to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet simultaneously with said heat sealing to form another line of weakness to facilitate separating each sheet portion from the remainder of the sheet; and thereafter e. bending the remainder of the sheet about a curved surface in a direction away from the sheet portion heat sealed to each container to separate said remainder of the sheet from each package along said second mentioned line of weakness.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of repeatedly producing sealed, easily opened packages comprising the steps of: a. placing successive portions of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic sheet in contact with rim portions of open containers; b. advancing a heated sealing jaw toward an opposing supporting jaw with each contacting successive sheet portion and container rim portion therebetween to force the heated jaw into each sheet portion under heat-sealing conditions of eLevated temperature and pressure without substantially relaxing the stresses in said biaxially oriented sheet portions, thereby heat sealing each sheet portion to each container rim to form said packages; c. forcing a first sharp, heated edge into each sheet portion inside the area of its heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the sheet simultaneously with said heat sealing to form a line of weakness in each sheet portion within its seal to facilitate opening each package; d. forcing a second sharp, heated edge into each sheet portion outside the area of its heat seal to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet simultaneously with said heat sealing to form another line of weakness to facilitate separating each sheet portion from the remainder of the sheet; and thereafter e. bending the remainder of the sheet about a curved surface in a direction away from the sheet portion heat sealed to each container to separate said remainder of the sheet from each package along said second mentioned line of weakness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for simultaneously heat sealing a lid to a container and for forming a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the container, the apparatus comprising: a. a pair of jaws, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other; b. means for heating at least one of said jaws to accommodate the heat sealing; c. means for reciprocating at least one of said jaws toward the other to heat seal a lid portion to a container rim portion situated between said jaws; d. one of said jaws having an integral knife which includes a continuous, planar oriented sharp, leading edge extending outwardly from the inner surface of said one of said jaws toward the other of said pair of jaws for partially penetrating the lid inside the heat seal to form said line of weakness in the lid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for simultaneously heat sealing a lid to a container and for forming a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the container, the apparatus comprising: a. a pair of jaws, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other; b. means for heating at least one of said jaws to accommodate the heat sealing; c. means for reciprocating at least one of said jaws toward the other to heat seal a lid portion to a container rim portion situated between said jaws; d. one of said jaws having an integral knife which includes a continuous, planar oriented sharp, leading edge extending outwardly from the inner surface of said one of said jaws toward the other of said pair of jaws for partially penetrating the lid inside the heat seal to form said line of weakness in the lid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lid is a portion of a sheet and including another sharp edge integral with one of said jaws and spaced laterally from said first-mentioned edge for penetrating the sheet during heat sealing to facilitate separating the portion of the sheet defining the lid from the remainder thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the length of the edge taken perpendicular to the face of the jaw on which it is mounted is between 0.0025 and 0.333 millimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the jaws and sharp edge conform to the peripheral configuration of the container rim when viewed from above.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the length of the second-mentioned sharp edge taken perpendicular to the face of the jaw on which it is mounted is between 0.01 and 005 millimeter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for producing a sealed, easily opened package comprising the steps of heat sealing a thermoplastic lid to a rim portion of an open container to form a sealed package while simultaneously pressing a sharp edge into the lid inside the area of the heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the lid to form a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the package, said pressing being interrupted to form a gap in the line of weakness which defines a hinged portion of the lid connected to the container rim at the heat seal to facilitate reclosing the package after opening by pivoting the hinged portion to the container about the heat seal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for producing a sealed, easily opened package comprising the steps of heat sealing a thermoplastic lid to a rim portion of an open container to form a sealed package while simultaneously pressing a sharp edge into the lid inside the area of the heat seal to a depth less than the thickness of the lid to form a line of weakness in the lid to facilitate opening the package, said pressing being interrupted to form a gap in the line of weakness which defines a hinged portion of the lid connected to the container rim at the heat seal to facilitate reclosing the package after opening by pivoting the hinged portion to the container about the heat seal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |