US3693318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tray covering and sealing apparatus
Assignee: SERVPAK Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-26
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1990-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A sheet holder comprising a flat plate overlain by a bar held in closely spaced parallel relation thereto for holding a sheet with a short portion of its leading end projecting therefrom, a reciprocably mounted pair of jaws movable toward and from the sheet holder for taking hold of the leading end of the sheet and drawing out a predetermined length thereof, a tray holder and a platen movable from below and above the plane of the sheet to press the sheet into engagement with the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder to effect sealing of the sheet to the rim of the tray, a sheet severing device for cutting off the sheet close to the sheet holder, and control means for effecting movement of the jaws, tray holder and platen in timed relation.
Inventors
- 👤 Winton E Balzer
- 👤 Kenneth M Knobel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:10
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/162; B65B7/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
Apparatus comprising sheet end supporting means for supporting the leading end of sheet material in a predetermined plane, a sheet severing device situated close to said sheet end supporting means, sheet feeding means supported in spaced relation to said sheet end supporting means for reciprocal movement toward and from the sheet supporting means, said sheet feeding means being operable to take hold of the leading end of the sheet at said sheet end supporting means and draw therefrom a predetermined length, a tray holder and sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder in engagement with the sheet, means controlling movement of said sheet feeding means, tray holder and platen in timed relation to each other so as to move the sheet feeding means toward said sheet end holding means to take hold of the leading end of the sheet and draw out said predetermined length while the tray supported platens are away from the plane of the sheet and when the tray holder and platen are moved into engagement with the sheet to effect release of the sheet feeding means from the sheet, means for effecting movement of the sheet severing device to sever the sheet adjacent the sheet end supporting means, means operable by movement of the platen into engagement with the sheet to initiate operation of the sheet severing means, and means operable by said sheet severing means following severing of the sheet to effect retraction of the tray holder and platen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
Apparatus comprising sheet end supporting means for supporting the leading end of sheet material in a predetermined plane, a sheet severing device situated close to said sheet end supporting means, sheet feeding means supported in spaced relation to said sheet end supporting means for reciprocal movement toward and from the sheet supporting means, said sheet feeding means being operable to take hold of the leading end of the sheet at said sheet end supporting means and draw therefrom a predetermined length, a tray holder and sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder in engagement with the sheet, means controlling movement of said sheet feeding means, tray holder and platen in timed relation to each other so as to move the sheet feeding means toward said sheet end holding means to take hold of the leading end of the sheet and draw out said predetermined length while the tray supported platens are away from the plane of the sheet and when the tray holder and platen are moved into engagement with the sheet to effect release of the sheet feeding means from the sheet, means for effecting movement of the sheet severing device to sever the sheet adjacent the sheet end supporting means, means operable by movement of the platen into engagement with the sheet to initiate operation of the sheet severing means, and means operable by said sheet severing means following severing of the sheet to effect retraction of the tray holder and platen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet end supporting means comprises, in closely spaced parallel relation, a flat plate and an overlying bar between which the sheet is adapted to be drawn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, comprising means pivotally supporting the bar at one end and a screw at the other end operable to adjust the bar relative to the flat plate to establish uniform pressure on the sheet drawn between the plate and bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means operable by the platen as it moves away from said sealing position to initiate movement of the sheet feeding means toward the sheet end supporting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus comprising means for holding sheet material with an end projecting therefrom, sheet feeding means movable in reciprocation toward and from the holding means for taking hold of the projecting end of the sheet and drawing out a predetermined length thereof, and a tray holder and a sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder into engagement with the sheet, said sheet feeding means comprising a carriage block movable in reciprocation toward and from the sheet holding means, a pair of jaws, jaw supporting means yieldably supporting the jaws on the carriage block, means operable as the platen moves into engagement with the sheet to depress the jaw supporting means to move the jaws downwardly relative to said plane, and a member mounted in the path of downward movement of the jaw supporting means to intercept the upper jaw to effect separation thereof from the lower jaw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus comprising means for holding sheet material with an end projecting therefrom, sheet feeding means movable in reciprocation toward and from the holding means for taking hold of the projecting end of the sheet and drawing out a predetermined length thereof, and a tray holder and a sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder into engagement with the sheet, said sheet feeding means comprising a carriage block movable in reciprocation toward and from the sheet holding means, a pair of jaws, jaw supporting means yieldably supporting the jaws on the carriage block, means operable as the platen moves into engagement with the sheet to depress the jaw supporting means to move the jaws downwardly relative to said plane, and a member mounted in the path of downward movement of the jaw supporting means to intercept the upper jaw to effect separation thereof from the lower jaw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus comprising means for holding sheet material with an end projecting therefrom, sheet feeding means movable in reciprocation toward and from the holding means for taking hold of the projecting end of the sheet and drawing out a predetermined length thereof, and a tray holder and a sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder into engagement with the sheet, said sheet feeding means comprising a reciprocable bar, a carriage block mounted on the bar for reciprocation therewith toward and from the sheet holding means, a pair of jaws, a vertically yieldable bracket member on the carriage block, said jaws being mounted on the Bracket with one jaw fixed thereto and with the other jaw pivoted thereto, means yieldably holding the jaws engaged with each other, a post fixed to the bracket in a position to be engaged by a part moving downwardly with the platen to depress the bracket at the instant the platen moves into engagement with the sheet, and a second post situated below the bracket on the bar in a position to intercept the pivoted jaw as the bracket moves downwardly to open the jaws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus comprising means for holding sheet material with an end projecting therefrom, sheet feeding means movable in reciprocation toward and from the holding means for taking hold of the projecting end of the sheet and drawing out a predetermined length thereof, and a tray holder and a sealing platen supported for movement toward and from the drawn out sheet to press the rim of a tray supported by the tray holder into engagement with the sheet, said sheet feeding means comprising a reciprocable bar, a carriage block mounted on the bar for reciprocation therewith toward and from the sheet holding means, a pair of jaws, a vertically yieldable bracket member on the carriage block, said jaws being mounted on the Bracket with one jaw fixed thereto and with the other jaw pivoted thereto, means yieldably holding the jaws engaged with each other, a post fixed to the bracket in a position to be engaged by a part moving downwardly with the platen to depress the bracket at the instant the platen moves into engagement with the sheet, and a second post situated below the bracket on the bar in a position to intercept the pivoted jaw as the bracket moves downwardly to open the jaws.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray holder contains an opening corresponding in configuration to the tray into which the tray is adapted to be dropped and supported therein by engagement of the rim with the holder, comprising pairs of transversely disposed arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to the front and rear sides of the tray holder and at their lower ends to a base, said arms being movable about the pivots at their lower ends to move the tray holder downwardly and forwardly to receive the tray and upwardly and rearwardly to engage the tray with the sheet, a cylinder and piston assembly, means pivotally connecting the cylinder to the base and means pivotally connecting the piston rod to one pair of said arms for effecting movement of the tray holder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein arms are pivotally mounted on a shaft parallel to the course of movement of the sheet material to which the platen is mounted for movement of said platen from an elevated position to a position in engage ment with the sheet, a lever arm fixed to said shaft at an angle to the platen supporting arms, a cylinder and piston assembly, means pivotally connecting the cylinder to the base, and means pivotally connecting the piston rod to the lever arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen is provided with a replaceable sealing ring corresponding in configuration to the rim of the tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray holder is provided with a replaceable adapter containing an opening corresponding in configuration to the rim of the tray.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |