US3760554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for assembling a container package
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-05
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A six-pack of bottles is provided by encircling mid portions of the bottles with a retainer and engaging a paper board carrier and retainer beneath the bottle caps. The paper board carrier has rows of apertures formed therein for receiving the upper ends of the bottles, and is assembled with the bottles by conveyor and guide means which advance the bottles and carrier continuously along a path of travel, initially fold sections of the carrier along lines intersecting the apertures for opening the apertures to receive the upper ends of the bottles and then reversely fold the portions of the carriers for closing the apertures and securing the carrier with respect to the bottles.
Inventors
- 👤 L Arneson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B17/00; B65B17/02; B65B17/025; B65D; B65D71/00; B65D71/40; B65D71/42; B65D71/50; B65D71/504
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of assembling a package of a group of containers arranged in rows and having body portions, reduced diameter upper end portions and means providing downwardly facing shoulders around said upper end portions, comprising moving said group of containers along a path of travel, positioning the upper end portions of the containers in the rows in excess spaced relationship, directing a carrier member comprising a panel having rows of aperture means therein corresponding to the containers over the tops of the containers, folding laterally outer portions of said panel upwardly along lines intersecting the aperture means for opening the aperture means, relatively shifting a central portion of the panel axially with respect to the containers and positioning said central portion between the upper end portions of the adjacent rows of containers and beneath said shoulder means, then shifting the upper end portions of the containers in opposite rows toward each other for inserting the shoulder means partially through said aperture means for engagement with said panel, and subsequently downwardly folding said portions of the panel for completing insertion of the shoulder means through said aperture means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of assembling a package of a group of containers arranged in rows and having body portions, reduced diameter upper end portions and means providing downwardly facing shoulders around said upper end portions, comprising moving said group of containers along a path of travel, positioning the upper end portions of the containers in the rows in excess spaced relationship, directing a carrier member comprising a panel having rows of aperture means therein corresponding to the containers over the tops of the containers, folding laterally outer portions of said panel upwardly along lines intersecting the aperture means for opening the aperture means, relatively shifting a central portion of the panel axially with respect to the containers and positioning said central portion between the upper end portions of the adjacent rows of containers and beneath said shoulder means, then shifting the upper end portions of the containers in opposite rows toward each other for inserting the shoulder means partially through said aperture means for engagement with said panel, and subsequently downwardly folding said portions of the panel for completing insertion of the shoulder means through said aperture means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, as defined in claim 1, which includes the additional step of downwardly folding marginal portions of said carrier member panel to a position depending from the remainder of said panel to provide the carrier member with a channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method, as defined in claim 1, wherein said rows of containers are tilted relative to each other for locating the upper end portions in said excess spaced relationship, said containers being subsequently shifted into substantial parallel relationship for shifting the upper end portions toward each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method, as defined in claim 1, which includes the step of initially securing body portions of said containers with respect to each other with a flexible resilient member, said flexible resilient member permitting subsequent tilting of the containers with respect to each other.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for assembling a package of a group of containers arranged in rows and having body portions, reduced diameter upper end portions and means providing downwardly facing shoulders around said upper end portions, comprising conveying means for moving said group of containers along a predetermined path of travel, means along said path of travel for positioning the upper end portions of the rows of containers in excess spaced relationship, means mounted adjacent the path of travel for directing a carrier member comprising a panel having rows of aperture means corresponding to the containers over the tops of said group of containers, means disposed adjacent said path of travel for folding laterally outer portions of said panel upwardly along lines intersecting said aperture means for opening the aperture means, means disposed adjacent to the path of travel for relatively shifting said central portion of the carrier axially with respect to the containers and positioning said central portion between the upper end portions of the adjacent rows of containers and beneath said shoulder means, means for shifting the upper end portions of opposite rows toward each other for inserting the shoulder means partially through said aperture means, and additional means disposed adjacent the path of travel for folding said portions of the panel downwardly for completely inserting the shoulder means through said aperture means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for assembling a package of a group of containers arranged in rows and having body portions, reduced diameter upper end portions and means providing downwardly facing shoulders around said upper end portions, comprising conveying means for moving said group of containers along a predetermined path of travel, means along said path of travel for positioning the upper end portions of the rows of containers in excess spaced relationship, means mounted adjacent the path of travel for directing a carrier member comprising a panel having rows of aperture means corresponding to the containers over the tops of said group of containers, means disposed adjacent said path of travel for folding laterally outer portions of said panel upwardly along lines intersecting said aperture means for opening the aperture means, means disposed adjacent to the path of travel for relatively shifting said central portion of the carrier axially with respect to the containers and positioning said central portion between the upper end portions of the adjacent rows of containers and beneath said shoulder means, means for shifting the upper end portions of opposite rows toward each other for inserting the shoulder means partially through said aperture means, and additional means disposed adjacent the path of travel for folding said portions of the panel downwardly for completely inserting the shoulder means through said aperture means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for positioning the upper end portions of the containers in excess spaced relationship comprises elongated cam means disposed between the rows of containers moving along said path of travel for engaging the upper end portions and progressively spreading the upper end portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 6, wherein said conveying means includes a support member disposed adjacent said cam means and including oppositely inclined surface portions for promoting tilting of the rows of containers in opposite directions during the spreading of the upper end portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus, as defined in claim 5, which includes means disposed adjacent said path of travel downstream from said last mentioned folding means for folding opposite marginal portions of the carrier member downwardly to a position depending from said panel.
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) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |