US3706175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for closing containers
Assignee: SPX Flow Technology Systems Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-31
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1989-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying a cover from a continuous strip to rim top containers as they are advanced by a conveyor, in which the cover strip is progressively sealed to a container rim as it is advanced and the cover strip is then severed at the trail side of a sealed container before being sealed to the next succeeding container. The cover strip advances with the container while it is being sealed thereto and advance of the cover strip with the container is interrupted after it is severed from the sealed container, until the next succeeding container is advanced to a position adjacent the severed end of the cover strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph F Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/04; B65B61/06; B65B61/08; B26; B26D; B26D1/00; B26D1/01; B26D1/12; B26D1/25; B26D1/34; B26D1/36; B26D1/365; B26D5/00; B26D5/20; B26D5/22; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/24; B29C65/30; B29C65/305; B29C65/74; B29C65/743; B29C65/7435; B29C65/78; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7861; B29C65/7867; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2424; B29C66/24243; B29C66/24244; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5346; B29C66/53461; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/87; B29C66/874; B29C66/8744; B29C66/87443; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91421; B29C66/91431; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/162; B65B7/164; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72327; B29C66/72328; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, positioning a cover strip with one end adjacent a selected location along a path, advancing spaced containers in continuous fashion along the path and toward said location without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead side of one container reaches a position adjacent said location, attaching the cover strip to the lead rim of a container when the lead rim of that container reaches a position adjacent said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container, sealing the attached cover strip to the rim of that container as it is advanced, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of that container when the trail side advances to a position adjacent said selected location and before attaching the cover strip to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the container to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said selected location until the lead side of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, positioning a cover strip with one end adjacent a selected location along a path, advancing spaced containers in continuous fashion along the path and toward said location without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead side of one container reaches a position adjacent said location, attaching the cover strip to the lead rim of a container when the lead rim of that container reaches a position adjacent said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container, sealing the attached cover strip to the rim of that container as it is advanced, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of that container when the trail side advances to a position adjacent said selected location and before attaching the cover strip to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the container to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said selected location until the lead side of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the containers are advanced by depositing containers in an endless conveyor having container support frames spaced apart along the path and shaped to support the containers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
226 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, depositing rim top containers in container support frames spaced apart along a path and shaped to support the containers with the rims on adjacent containers spaced apart, positioning a cover strip with one end at a selected location along said path, advancing said frames and the containers deposited therein along said path toward said location without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead rim on one container reaches a position adjacent said location, pressing the end of the cover strip against the lead rim of the container when that container reaches a position adjacent said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container and progressively pressing the cover strip against the rim of that container as it is advanced to seal the cover strip to the container rim, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of the sealed container when the trail side advances to a position adjacent said selected location and before the cover strip is pressed and sealed to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the containers to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said selected location until the lead rim of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, depositing rim top containers in container support frames spaced apart along a path and shaped to support the containers with the rims on adjacent containers spaced apart, positioning a cover strip with one end at a selected location along said path, advancing said frames and the containers deposited therein along said path toward said location without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead rim on one container reaches a position adjacent said location, pressing the end of the cover strip against the lead rim of the container when that container reaches a position adjacent said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container and progressively pressing the cover strip against the rim of that container as it is advanced to seal the cover strip to the container rim, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of the sealed container when the trail side advances to a position adjacent said selected location and before the cover strip is pressed and sealed to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the containers to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said selected location until the lead rim of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
188 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, advancing the rim top containers in continuous fashion along a path successively past a cutting station with the trail rim on each container spaced from the lead rim of the next succeeding container, pressing an end portion of a cover strip against the lead rim on each container when the lead rim reaches a position adjacent the cutting station and progressively sealing the cover strip to that container beginning at its lead rim and ending at its trail rim while advancing that container and the cover strip a distance corresponding to the length of the container measured across its lead and trail rims, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of the sealEd container when its trail rim reaches a position adjacent the cutting station and before the cover strip is pressed and sealed to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip while continuing advance of the containers until the lead rim of the next succeeding container advances to a position adjacent the cutting station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
An improved method of applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, advancing the rim top containers in continuous fashion along a path successively past a cutting station with the trail rim on each container spaced from the lead rim of the next succeeding container, pressing an end portion of a cover strip against the lead rim on each container when the lead rim reaches a position adjacent the cutting station and progressively sealing the cover strip to that container beginning at its lead rim and ending at its trail rim while advancing that container and the cover strip a distance corresponding to the length of the container measured across its lead and trail rims, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of the sealEd container when its trail rim reaches a position adjacent the cutting station and before the cover strip is pressed and sealed to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip while continuing advance of the containers until the lead rim of the next succeeding container advances to a position adjacent the cutting station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
An improved method of applying covers to containers from a cover strip having register indicia spaced therealong a distance approximately equal to the length of the containers comprising, positioning the cover strip with one end adjacent a selected location along a path, advancing the containers in the direction of said container length along said path and with the lead side of each container spaced from the trail side of a preceding container without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead side of one container reaches a position adjacent said location, attaching the cover strip to said one container when the lead rim of that container reaches said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container, continuing advance of that container past said location, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of that container when the cover strip has been advanced a distance corresponding to the spacing of the register indicia on the cover strip and before attaching the cover strip to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the container to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said location until the lead side of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
208 words
An improved method of applying covers to containers from a cover strip having register indicia spaced therealong a distance approximately equal to the length of the containers comprising, positioning the cover strip with one end adjacent a selected location along a path, advancing the containers in the direction of said container length along said path and with the lead side of each container spaced from the trail side of a preceding container without concomitant advancing of the cover strip until the lead side of one container reaches a position adjacent said location, attaching the cover strip to said one container when the lead rim of that container reaches said location to thereafter advance the cover strip with that container, continuing advance of that container past said location, severing the cover strip adjacent the trail side of that container when the cover strip has been advanced a distance corresponding to the spacing of the register indicia on the cover strip and before attaching the cover strip to the next succeeding container, and thereafter interrupting advance of the cover strip with the container to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said location until the lead side of the next succeeding container reaches a position adjacent said location.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
440 words
An apparatus for applying covers from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, endless conveyor means having a plurality of container support frames each shaped to support the rim of a container at a selected level and pitched along the conveyor means a distance greater than the length of the container support frames so that adjacent frames are spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the conveyor means, said conveyor means having frame spanning portions between the trail side of one container support frame and the lead side of a succeeding container support frame offset below said preselected level, means for positioning a cover strip in overlying relation to said conveyor means with one end of the cover strip at a selected location along the conveyor means for advance with a container when attached thereto, a rotary sealing head overlying said conveyor means at said location and having a sealing face on its periphery, means mounting said rotary sealing head for limited vertical movement relative to said conveyor means from a lower position in which the underside of the sealing face on the head is disposed above said frame spanning portions but slightly below said selected level of the container rims as they are advanced with the frames whereby each frame operates to press the lead rim of a container and the overlying end of the cover strip against the sealing face on the sealing head when the lead rim reaches a position adjacent said location and the sealing head is thereafter forced upwardly by the advancing frame and container rim to ride on top of the container rim and progressively press and seal the cover strip to the container rim as the container advances past said head whereby to advance the cover strip with the container, cutter means on said sealing head having a pitch therearound corresponding to the pitch of said frames on the conveyor means for severing the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of a sealed container as the trail rim advances to a position adjacent said location, said frame spanning portions being offset below the underside of the sealing face on the sealing head when the latter is in its lower position to allow the end of the cover strip to move downwardly away from the sealing head whereby to interrupt advance of the cover strip with the containers and position the severed end of the cover strip Adjacent said location preparatory for attachment to the lead rim of the next succeeding container, and means for rotating said sealing head at a peripheral speed corresponding to the linear speed of the conveyor means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
440 words
An apparatus for applying covers from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, endless conveyor means having a plurality of container support frames each shaped to support the rim of a container at a selected level and pitched along the conveyor means a distance greater than the length of the container support frames so that adjacent frames are spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the conveyor means, said conveyor means having frame spanning portions between the trail side of one container support frame and the lead side of a succeeding container support frame offset below said preselected level, means for positioning a cover strip in overlying relation to said conveyor means with one end of the cover strip at a selected location along the conveyor means for advance with a container when attached thereto, a rotary sealing head overlying said conveyor means at said location and having a sealing face on its periphery, means mounting said rotary sealing head for limited vertical movement relative to said conveyor means from a lower position in which the underside of the sealing face on the head is disposed above said frame spanning portions but slightly below said selected level of the container rims as they are advanced with the frames whereby each frame operates to press the lead rim of a container and the overlying end of the cover strip against the sealing face on the sealing head when the lead rim reaches a position adjacent said location and the sealing head is thereafter forced upwardly by the advancing frame and container rim to ride on top of the container rim and progressively press and seal the cover strip to the container rim as the container advances past said head whereby to advance the cover strip with the container, cutter means on said sealing head having a pitch therearound corresponding to the pitch of said frames on the conveyor means for severing the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of a sealed container as the trail rim advances to a position adjacent said location, said frame spanning portions being offset below the underside of the sealing face on the sealing head when the latter is in its lower position to allow the end of the cover strip to move downwardly away from the sealing head whereby to interrupt advance of the cover strip with the containers and position the severed end of the cover strip Adjacent said location preparatory for attachment to the lead rim of the next succeeding container, and means for rotating said sealing head at a peripheral speed corresponding to the linear speed of the conveyor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 including brake means selectively operable to retard advance of the cover strip, and means for operating said brake means when said cutter means is in engagement with the cover strip to tension the cover strip to facilitate severing of the cover strip by the cutter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said brake means has an electro-responsive actuator and said means for operating said brake means includes switch means operated in timed relation with the movement of said conveyor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cover strip has register indicia spaced therealong a distance approximately equal to the length of the containers, said means for operating said brake means including means for sensing the register indicia on the cover strip to operate the brake means each time the cover strip has advanced a distance corresponding to the spacing of the register indicia on the cover strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein one of the items comprising the sealing head and the container support frames has a resilient face.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 including means yieldably urging said sealing head downwardly to said lower position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said frames are removably mounted on said conveyor means to enable interchanging with frames of different size or shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cover strip is heat sealable to the container rim, said sealing head including a heat conducting body, means for heating said head to a temperature for heat sealing the cover strip to the container rim, said cutter means including blades mounted in said body in heat conducting relation therewith and extending outwardly of the sealing head to sever the cover strip.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
375 words
An apparatus for applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, conveyor means having a plurality of container support frames each having an overall length substantially equal to the length of a rim top container and uniformly pitched along the conveyor means a distance substantially greater than the length of a container and each shaped to support a container with the lead rim of each container spaced a substantial distance from the trail rim of a preceding container, means on the machine for positioning a cover strip in overlying relation to the containers with one end adjacent a selected location along said conveyor means for advance with the container when attached to the container rim, means for advancing said conveyor means and the containers sequentially past said location, a combination rotary sealing and cutting head at said location having a sealing face on its periphery operative when the lead rim of a container reaches a position adjacent said location for attaching the cover strip to the container rim to advance the cover strip with that container and to progressively seal the cover strip to the container rim as it is advanced past said location, cutting means extending outwardly from the periphery of the sealing head and pitched around the head a distance corresponding to the pitch of the container support frames on the conveyor means, means for rotating said sealing and cutting head at a peripheral speed corresponding to the linear speed of said conveyor means, said cutter means being operative when the trail rim of the container advances to a position adjacent said location to engage and sever the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of the sealed container before said sealing face attaches the cover strip to a succeeding container, brake means operable to retard advance of the cover strip, and means for cyclically operating said brake means each time the trail rim of a container advances to a position Adjacent said location to interrupt advance of the cover strip with the containers whereby to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said location preparatory for attachment to the lead rim of the next succeeding container when it advances to a position adjacent to said location.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
375 words
An apparatus for applying a cover from a continuous cover strip to rim top containers comprising, conveyor means having a plurality of container support frames each having an overall length substantially equal to the length of a rim top container and uniformly pitched along the conveyor means a distance substantially greater than the length of a container and each shaped to support a container with the lead rim of each container spaced a substantial distance from the trail rim of a preceding container, means on the machine for positioning a cover strip in overlying relation to the containers with one end adjacent a selected location along said conveyor means for advance with the container when attached to the container rim, means for advancing said conveyor means and the containers sequentially past said location, a combination rotary sealing and cutting head at said location having a sealing face on its periphery operative when the lead rim of a container reaches a position adjacent said location for attaching the cover strip to the container rim to advance the cover strip with that container and to progressively seal the cover strip to the container rim as it is advanced past said location, cutting means extending outwardly from the periphery of the sealing head and pitched around the head a distance corresponding to the pitch of the container support frames on the conveyor means, means for rotating said sealing and cutting head at a peripheral speed corresponding to the linear speed of said conveyor means, said cutter means being operative when the trail rim of the container advances to a position adjacent said location to engage and sever the cover strip adjacent the trail rim of the sealed container before said sealing face attaches the cover strip to a succeeding container, brake means operable to retard advance of the cover strip, and means for cyclically operating said brake means each time the trail rim of a container advances to a position Adjacent said location to interrupt advance of the cover strip with the containers whereby to position the severed end of the cover strip adjacent said location preparatory for attachment to the lead rim of the next succeeding container when it advances to a position adjacent to said location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 including means supporting said sealing and cutting head for limited vertical movement relative to said conveyor means from a lower position with its underside disposed at a level slightly below the level of the container rims as they are advanced by the conveyor means to press the cover strip against the container rim as it moves to a position below said sealing head, said conveyor means having frame spanning portions between the trail side of one support frame and the lead side of a succeeding support frame offset below the underside of the sealing head to avoid pressing the cover film against the sealing head as the frame spanning portion of the conveyor means moves below the sealing head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 including means yieldably urging said sealing and cutting head downwardly to said lower position.
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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) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |