US3742677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for applying a carrier to a cluster of containers
Assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-21
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying a carrier of elastic material onto a cluster of containers which comprises gripping the carrier adjacent the periphery thereof and stretching the carrier in the direction of the plane thereof. As the containers are moved along their path, the edges of the carrier are forced downwardly and simultaneously a central force is applied to the carrier while the carrier is stretched to force the carrier over the ends of the containers after which the carrier is released.
Inventors
- 👤 J Best
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:45
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B17/00; B65B17/02; B65B17/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of applying a carrier of relatively thin elastic material onto a cluster of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises gripping said carrier adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings and stretching said carrier in the direction of the plane thereof, forcing the openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers and simultaneously applying a central force on the carrier while the carrier is stretched, and thereafter releasing the grip on the periphery of the carrier and the application of the central force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
The method of applying a carrier of relatively thin elastic material onto a cluster of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises gripping said carrier adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings and stretching said carrier in the direction of the plane thereof, forcing the openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers and simultaneously applying a central force on the carrier while the carrier is stretched, and thereafter releasing the grip on the periphery of the carrier and the application of the central force.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises moving the containers in a continuous path, segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, severing carriers from said web, gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, moving said carriers while they are gripped successively downwardly onto said clusters as the clusters are moved in said path, and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises moving the containers in a continuous path, segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, severing carriers from said web, gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, moving said carriers while they are gripped successively downwardly onto said clusters as the clusters are moved in said path, and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises moving the containers in a continuous path, segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, moving said carriers while they are gripped successively downwardly onto said clusters as the clusters are moved in said path, and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein which are adapted to receive the ends of the containers which comprises moving the containers in a continuous path, segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, moving said carriers while they are gripped successively downwardly onto said clusters as the clusters are moved in said path, and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for applying a carrier of relatively thin elastic material onto a cluster of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein adapted to receive the ends of the containers, which comprises means for gripping said carrier adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings and stretching said carrier in the direction of the plane thereof, means for forcing said openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers and simultaneously applying a central force on the carrier while the carrier is stretched, and means for thereafter releasing the grip on the periphery of the carrier and the application of the central force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for applying a carrier of relatively thin elastic material onto a cluster of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carrier having openings therein adapted to receive the ends of the containers, which comprises means for gripping said carrier adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings and stretching said carrier in the direction of the plane thereof, means for forcing said openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers and simultaneously applying a central force on the carrier while the carrier is stretched, and means for thereafter releasing the grip on the periphery of the carrier and the application of the central force.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carriers having openings therein adapted to receive the neck portions of the containers, which comprises means for moving the containers in a continuous path, means for segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, means for moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, means for severing said carriers from said web, means for gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, means for moving said carriers while they are gripped downwardly onto said clusters and thereby forcing the openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carriers having openings therein adapted to receive the neck portions of the containers, which comprises means for moving the containers in a continuous path, means for segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, means for moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, means for severing said carriers from said web, means for gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, means for moving said carriers while they are gripped downwardly onto said clusters and thereby forcing the openings in said carrier over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for gripping said carriers comprises endless means movable along the path of said clusters of containers and supporting grippers, means for guiding said endless means, means for actuatinG said grippers to grip said carriers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 including cam means for applying a downwardly force on said carriers after they are gripped and stretched along substantially the center line thereof to assist the movement of carriers onto said containers.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carriers having openings therein adapted to receive the neck portions of the containers, which comprises means for moving the containers in a continuous path, means for segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, means for moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, means for gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, means for moving said carriers while they are gripped downwardly onto said clusters and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for applying carriers of relatively thin elastic material to groups or clusters of containers having a body portion and a relatively smaller neck portion with abutment means adjacent the upper end of the neck portion, said carriers having openings therein adapted to receive the neck portions of the containers, which comprises means for moving the containers in a continuous path, means for segregating the containers into clusters as they move in said path, means for moving an endless interconnected web of carriers continuously in the general direction of the path, means for gripping said carriers along the sides of said path adjacent the periphery thereof beyond the openings, means for moving said carriers while they are gripped downwardly onto said clusters and thereby forcing the openings in said carriers over the neck portions of the containers of the clusters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for gripping said carriers comprises endless means movable along the path of said clusters of containers and supporting grippers, means for guiding said endless means, means for actuating said grippers to grip said carriers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 8 including cam means for applying a downwardly force on said carriers after they are gripped and stretched along substantially the center line thereof to assist the movement of carriers onto said containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |