US3661481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile thermoforming apparatus
Assignee: HAVILAND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL
•
Filing: 1970-03-02
•
Granted: 1972-05-09
•
Expires: 1990-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Thermoforming apparatus and method for continuously thermoforming a continuous web or sheet into a self-supporting, protective crop cover, preferably hat-shaped in cross-sectional configuration. The apparatus utilizes counter-rotating forming means, specifically sets of wheels on two adjacent axles, each set having primary forming wheels fixed to the axle and cooperative idler forming wheels freely rotating thereon, each idler wheel cooperating with a primary wheel on the opposing axle. Heat is supplied to the forming means, preferably by circulation of heated fluid. Forming pressure is supplied by shifting the forming means into cooperative relationship. Such a crop cover is continuously formed by simultaneously heating and bending the sheet or web material into the configurated shape, and is continuously positioned over the row as formed, and anchored by pushing dirt onto its flanged edges.
Inventors
- 👤 James B Haviland Jr
- 👤 Charles R Balkema
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:01
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/20; A01G13/29; B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C53/04; B29C53/043; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for thermoforming a continuous web of material into a configurated structure, comprising: cooperative, rotational counter-rotating sets of forming wheels mounted on spaced axes; said wheels having similarly shaped, adjacent, cooperative, axially oriented forming surfaces thereon creating a continuous forming passage of generally hat-shaped configuration; and heating means to heat said surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus for thermoforming a continuous web of material into a configurated structure, comprising: cooperative, rotational counter-rotating sets of forming wheels mounted on spaced axes; said wheels having similarly shaped, adjacent, cooperative, axially oriented forming surfaces thereon creating a continuous forming passage of generally hat-shaped configuration; and heating means to heat said surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in claim 1 including preheating convergent tunnel means adjacent said wheels to receive flat stock and to initiate the structural formation therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 1 including two sets of wheels mounted on a pair of respective axles; means to counter-rotationally drive said axles; means for moving said axles and the wheels thereon toward and away from each other to shift them into and out of cooperative relationship; and said axially orienting surfaces being tapered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said wheels include first larger diameter primary wheel means on one axis, cooperably arranged with first smaller diameter secondary wheel means on the second axis to form the top of the hat-shaped configuration, and a pair of second larger diameter primary wheel means on said second axis, astraddle of said first secondary wheel means, cooperably arranged with second smaller diameter secondary wheel means on said one axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 4 wherein said wheel means are mounted on axles on said axes, with either said primary wheel means or said secondary wheel means being rotationally fixed to said axles, and the other being freely rotatable thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 1 including a convergent tunnel means having a web stock receiving end, and converging to a generally hat-shaped discharge end adjacent said wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 6 including web stock heating means for said tunnel means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus in claim 2 wherein said tunnel means also includes heating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 8 wherein said heating means includes hot fluid flow passages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermoforming apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said driving means includes a wheel journaled to move in engagement with the ground, and a drive train connected between said wheel and said axles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for continuously thermoforming continuous thermoplastic web stock into an elongated Configurated crop cover, including bending means for bending the sheet material; bending surface means opposing said bending means and being especially adapted to contact one face of the web and to cooperate with said bending means to bend said web into a hat-shaped cross section, said surface means including wheel-like members for engaging said one side of the web so as to substantially eliminate sliding friction between said surface means and the web; means for feeding said sheet to said bending means and said surface; and means for heating said bending means and said surface means, whereby the web is thermoformed into said hat-shaped cross section as it is fed between said bending means and said surface means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for continuously thermoforming continuous thermoplastic web stock into an elongated Configurated crop cover, including bending means for bending the sheet material; bending surface means opposing said bending means and being especially adapted to contact one face of the web and to cooperate with said bending means to bend said web into a hat-shaped cross section, said surface means including wheel-like members for engaging said one side of the web so as to substantially eliminate sliding friction between said surface means and the web; means for feeding said sheet to said bending means and said surface; and means for heating said bending means and said surface means, whereby the web is thermoformed into said hat-shaped cross section as it is fed between said bending means and said surface means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermoforming apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said heating means includes a passageway in each of said bending means and said surface, and means for supplying a hot fluid to said passageways.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1606271A
Cited
US1929903A
Cited
US2649888A
Cited
GB714784A
Cited
US2938566A
Cited
GB891829A
Cited
US3156599A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |