Patent US3733680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3733680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and apparatus for assembling internesting members
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-17
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-03-17
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to an automatic mechanism for assembling plastic bottles or liners within containers, the mechanism including holders which are mounted for movement about an endless path and there being associated with the holders means for serially positioning containers in the lower portions of the holders and means for simultaneously placing a plurality of plastic bottles in the upper portions of the holders, and in the area of the positioning of bottles within the holders, there being vacuum means to retain the bottles in elevated positions above the containers temporarily and then to serially release the bottles and permit them to be positioned within the respective containers.
Inventors
- 👤 W Cartwright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B39/00; B65B39/14; B65B39/145; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49828; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53313; Y10T29/53322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for assembling internesting members comprising an upright holder, first feed means for feeding a first member into the lower portion of said holder, second feed means for feeding a second member into the upper portion of said holder, vacuum means associated with said holder upper portion for retaining a second member within said holder, and means for rendering said vacuum means inoperative thereby to release a second member to move under the influence of gravity into internested relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for assembling internesting members comprising an upright holder, first feed means for feeding a first member into the lower portion of said holder, second feed means for feeding a second member into the upper portion of said holder, vacuum means associated with said holder upper portion for retaining a second member within said holder, and means for rendering said vacuum means inoperative thereby to release a second member to move under the influence of gravity into internested relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum means includes a fixed vacuum duct, and said means for rendering said vacuum means inoperative includes means for moving said holder out of association with said vacuum duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vacuum means also includes a vacuum port through said holder upper portion for the direct application of a vacuum holding force from said vacuum duct to a second member positioned within said holder upper portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said holders and said second feed means are operable to simultaneously feed a plurality of second members to a like number of holders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said vacuum means includes a fixed vacuum duct elongated in the direction of holder alignment and generally opposing said second feed means for simultaneously holding a plurality of simultaneously applied second members in said holders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for rendering said vacuum means inoperative includes the interconnecting of said holders, and means for moving said holders sequentially past said vacuum duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first feed means includes means for serially feeding first members into said holders.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said holders, means interconnecting said holders about a predetermined path, said first feed means including means for serially moving first members into said holders, and said second feed means includes means for simultaneously moving a plurality of second members into said holders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said holders are continuously moving along said path and said first and second feed means are operable during said holder movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said vacuum means includes an elongated fixed duct extending along a portion of said path, and each holder having a vacuum port alignable with said duct, and said means for rendering said vacuum means inoperable being said means mounting said holder for movement past said duct.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each holder has a back wall opposing said duct when moving along said path portion, said back wall being recessed in alignment with said duct to provide an interengagement relationship between each holder and said duct, and said vacuum port opening through said holder in said recess whereby a drawing of a vacuum through each holder when aligned with said duct is assured.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the configuration of said holders is one particularly adapted to receive a first member in the form of a container body having an open upper end and a second member in the form of a liner for the container body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said holder lower portion is configuraTed for receiving container bodies of preselected different heights, and said vacuum port is elevated sufficiently to receive liners above the tallest container body for which said apparatus is designed whereby said apparatus may be utilized to assemble corresponding liners and container bodies of different heights without modification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said holders are particularly configurated for receiving can bodies having outwardly flanged upper edges, and each holder lower portion is notched to receive flanges of can bodies of different preselected heights.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said holders is vertically elongated with said lower portion being of a height to receive a maximum height first member and there being associated with said holders lower support means whereby first members of varying heights may equally as well be received within said holders, said vacuum means being disposed along a lower part of each holder upper portion whereby second members of varying heights may equally as well be received within said holders.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein there are guide means disposed generally between holder upper and lower portions for automatically guiding second members, when released by said vacuum means, into predetermined internested relation with underlying first members.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of assembling liners of the type including plastic bottles with can bodies comprising the steps of serially feeding can bodies along a predetermined path, simultaneously positioning a plurality of liners into overlying relation above said moving can bodies, holding said liners above said can bodies and moving said liners together with said can bodies along said path, and then serially lowering said liners into respective can bodies.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of assembling liners of the type including plastic bottles with can bodies comprising the steps of serially feeding can bodies along a predetermined path, simultaneously positioning a plurality of liners into overlying relation above said moving can bodies, holding said liners above said can bodies and moving said liners together with said can bodies along said path, and then serially lowering said liners into respective can bodies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said liners are supported by vacuum means and lowered by separately rendering said vacuum means inoperative with respect to each liner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein associated can bodies and liners are conveyed by common means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 wherein associated can bodies and liners are conveyed by common means, and said vacuum means are rendered inoperative in response to certain movement of said common means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3360843A
Cited
US3579785A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |