US3717972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for closing open-topped flexible containers
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-02-22
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for closing open-topped containers made of flexible material, such as sausage casings, displacement of a single drive element serves to flatten the mouth of the container and then to compress it transversely, surround it with a U-shaped clip and close the clip to seal the container. The drive element is a punch which carries a cam whose advancing contour causes a pair of gathering arms surrounding the top of said container to pivot about pins against the action of springs and thereby flatten the container top. Further advance of the punch carries the clip and ultimately closes it. Braking means such as a piston-cylinder or springs may be provided to slow down the advance of the punch during a part of the stroke as compared to the final part of the stroke when the full velocity is desired to close the clip.
Inventors
- 👤 H Niedecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B13/00; B65B13/18; B65B13/185; B65B13/187; B65B13/188; B65B51/00; B65B51/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for closing open-topped containers of flexible material such as sausage casings, said apparatus comprising a base provided with a longitudinal guide channel, a punch movable longitudinally of said guide channel, a plurality of U-shaped closure clips successively moved in said guide channel from an initial position to a final closed position sealing a container, a pair of gathering arms pivotally connected to said base on opposite sides of said guide channel and surrounding and spaced from the top of said open-topped container, a pair of pins on said base each serving as the pivot axis of one of said gathering arms, means for closing said gathering arms, and means for advancing said punch and one of said clips to final position after said gathering arms have been closed, said means for closing said gathering arms comprising cam-and-follower means mounted on said means for advancing said punch and on said gathering arms, whereby during advance of said punch said camand-follower means first produces pivoting of said arms toward one another to form a flattened area embracing the now-flattened container top, further advance of said punch carrying a clip in the guide channel transversely of the flattened top to compress the top to an approximate circle and finally to seal it by displacing the legs of the U-shaped clip, gathering of said container top and its further compression and sealing being thereby effected by a single mechanism in a single continuous stroke.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for closing open-topped containers of flexible material such as sausage casings, said apparatus comprising a base provided with a longitudinal guide channel, a punch movable longitudinally of said guide channel, a plurality of U-shaped closure clips successively moved in said guide channel from an initial position to a final closed position sealing a container, a pair of gathering arms pivotally connected to said base on opposite sides of said guide channel and surrounding and spaced from the top of said open-topped container, a pair of pins on said base each serving as the pivot axis of one of said gathering arms, means for closing said gathering arms, and means for advancing said punch and one of said clips to final position after said gathering arms have been closed, said means for closing said gathering arms comprising cam-and-follower means mounted on said means for advancing said punch and on said gathering arms, whereby during advance of said punch said camand-follower means first produces pivoting of said arms toward one another to form a flattened area embracing the now-flattened container top, further advance of said punch carrying a clip in the guide channel transversely of the flattened top to compress the top to an approximate circle and finally to seal it by displacing the legs of the U-shaped clip, gathering of said container top and its further compression and sealing being thereby effected by a single mechanism in a single continuous stroke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cam-and-follower means comprises symmetrical cam and follower means, said cam means being on one of (a) said means for advancing said punch and (b) said gathering arms, and said follower means being on the other of (a) and (b), said apparatus further including spring means extending between said base and said gathering arms, whereby advance of said punch through the intermediary of said cam means and follower means causes said gathering arms to pivot about their pins against the action of said spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cam means is on said means for advancing said punch, and said follower means comprises a pair of followers each on one of said gathering arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said follower means is on said means for advancing said punch, and said cam means comprises a pair of guide surfaces each on one of said gathering arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including brake means carried by said means for advancing said punch, whereby the forward velocity of said punch is reduced during a predetermined portion of its advance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said brake means is positioned so as to reduce the forward velocity of the punch during a portion of the stroke to a level below its final velocity during displacement of the legs of said U-shaped clip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said brake means comprises a piston connected with said means for advancing said punch, and a cylinder in which said piston operates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, including an adjustable member on said piston and a stop in fixed position relative to said base, abutment between said member and said stop determining the end of a stroke.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said punch carries the cam of said Cam-and-follower means, and said brake means comprises a spring which is distended upon displacement of said cam, the shape of said cam controlling the extent of braking.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, including a piston connected with said means for advancing said punch, a cylinder in which said piston operates, whereby the forward velocity of said punch is reduced during a predetermined portion of its advance, an adjustable member on said piston, and a stop in fixed position relative to said base, abutment between said member and said stop determining the end of a stroke.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with an open-topped sausage casing disposed between said gathering arms and means for filling said sausage casing while so positioned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2733442A
Cited
US3381359A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |