US3785255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot air sealing apparatus for cartons
Assignee: PETERS MACHINERY CO US
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Filing: 1972-11-10
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for forming and heat sealing a flat cardboard carton blank, die cut to proper size and shape and crease scored to provide the proper lines at which forming is to take place. The inside of the blank is coated with a non-toxic coating of thermoplastic material which will bond to cardboard when liquified by heat and put under pressure. Hot air guns in the form of vertically extending cylinders are pivotally mounted at each side of the forming run of the blank for movement toward and from the forming run. Fluid pressure cylinders and pistons are provided to move the hot air guns away from the forming run when a blank is not present at the forming run, when the blanks become jammed in the apparatus and when the apparatus is turned off. The hot air guns support nozzle assemblies at their lower ends in the form of ducts extending over the end panels of the blanks and having auxiliary ducts extending upwardly along the sealing tabs of the blanks. These ducts have nozzle openings therein for supplying hot air to the insides of the end panels to liquify the thermoplastic coating and to spot heat the sealing tabs. When the end panels and sealing tabs are heated, a forming block moves into the center of the blank and forms the carton to form and applies pressure to the sealing tabs and end panels to seal the blank to carton form.
Inventors
- 👤 R Roth
- 👤 R Talbot
- 👤 E Rose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:11
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/80; B29C66/87; B29C66/874; B29C66/8744; B29C66/87443; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/10; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/431; B29C66/432; B29C66/4322; B29C66/4326; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72327; B29C66/72328; B29C66/81; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B29C66/84; B29C66/843; B29C66/8432; B29C66/851; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B31; B31B; B31B50/00; B31B50/26; B31B50/44; B31B50/46; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29C65/52; B29C65/526; B29C65/78; B29C65/7841; B29C65/7847; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/71; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8221; B29C66/8223; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7162; B31B50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
In a hot air carton sealing and forming apparatus for sealing carton blanks having a non-toxic coating on the inner surface thereof having the property of bonding to other surfaces when liquified and put under pressure, a sealing and forming station including an air cylinder at each side of said station, nozzles on the lower ends of said air cylinders, means supplying air to said cylinders, other means heating the air ejection through said nozzles to certain preselected portions of the carton blank, and means moving said nozzles to direct air away from the sealing and forming station when a carton blank is not present at the station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a hot air carton sealing and forming apparatus for sealing carton blanks having a non-toxic coating on the inner surface thereof having the property of bonding to other surfaces when liquified and put under pressure, a sealing and forming station including an air cylinder at each side of said station, nozzles on the lower ends of said air cylinders, means supplying air to said cylinders, other means heating the air ejection through said nozzles to certain preselected portions of the carton blank, and means moving said nozzles to direct air away from the sealing and forming station when a carton blank is not present at the station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 1, including means mounting said air cylinders for movement about axes extending longitudinally of travel of the carton blanks, to accommodate movement of said nozzles away from the sealing and forming station, and other means moving said nozzles toward the sealing and forming station when a carton blank is in position for heating and sealing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein means are provided for normally holding said air cylinders and nozzles out of heating relation relative to the sealing and forming station of the apparatus, and for moving said air cylinders and nozzles in inwardly extended relation with respect to the sealing and forming station to direct heated air on the flaps of the cartons passing thereby when the apparatus is turned to a ''''run'''' position and a carton blank is present at the sealing and forming station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 3, including a time delay relay causing said cylinders and nozzles to remain in operative association with a carton blank until all of the cartons have cleared the sealing and forming station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 4, including a jam sensor effecting movement of said cylinders and nozzles outwardly of the blanks in the sealing and forming station upon jamming of the cartons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 5, including a feed sensor sensing the feed of cartons to the sealing and forming station and effecting movement of said air cylinders and nozzles away from the carton blank when no carton is present at the sealing and forming station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the air cylinders are pivoted intermediate their ends for movement about parallel axes extending in the direction of feed of cartons through the apparatus, and wherein individual fluid pressure cylinders and pistons are provided to move said air culinders and nozzles in outwardly extended relation with respect to the sealing and foRming station when a carton is not present at said station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 7, including a supporting framework extending transversely of the apparatus, means supporting said air cylinders and said fluid pressure operated cylinder and piston means on said framework for lateral adjustable movement to conform to the carton blanks being formed and sealed, and clamping means clamping said air cylinders and fluid pressure operated cylinders and pistons in selected positions along said framework.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connections from said cylinders and pistons to said hot air cylinders include piston rods extensibly and retractably movable relative to said fluid pressure cylinders, and cranks pivoted to the ends of said piston rods and secured to said air cylinders coaxial with the pivots thereof, for pivoting said nozzles toward and from the forming run of apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the carton blank is scored and slit to provide oppositely disposed end panels and sealing tabs on opposite sides of said end panels, and wherein the nozzles are each provided with a downwardly opening nozzle surface having a plurality of nozzle openings leading through each end thereof for directing hot air on the end panels and are each provided with an air chamber on each side of said downwardly opening nozzles, each having an upright wall having a nozzle opening leading therethrough fo spot heating upwardly turned sealing tabs of the carton blank prior to forming and sealing said sealing tabs to said end panels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 10, wherein said nozzles are patterned to supply a large volume of hot air to said end panels adjacent each end portion thereof on the inside of the carton blank and to supply a small volume of air for spot heating said sealing tabs on the outsides thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 11, including a forming well extending beneath the path of travel of cartons and between said nozzles, a forming block engaging the carton blank and moving the carton blank along said forming well to form the blank to carton form with the end panels and sealing tabs in permanently sealed relation with respect to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 12, including pressure rollers at opposite sides of said forming well and exerting pressure on the sealing tabs and end panels as moved downwardly along said forming well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
213 words
A carton sealing and forming apparatus for forming and sealing cartons from flat blanks having end panels and sealing tabs on opposite sides of said end panels and scored to form said tabs and to accommodate shaping of the blank to carton form, in which the blank has a non-toxic plastic coating on the inner surface thereof having the properties of bonding when liquified by heat and put under pressure, comprising, a sealing and forming station, means advancing a blank to the sealing and forming station and pivoting the sealing tabs upwardly and holding the end tabs flat during such advance, a heat applying nozzle supported at each side of the sealing and forming station for movement toward and from the forming station and directed to apply hot air under pressure to said end panels along the insides thereof, and to heat said sealing tabs along the outsides thereof, a forming block vertically movable to engage and form the blank to carton form, and effect sealing of the sealing tabs to the end panels, and power means moving said nozzles away from said sealing and forming station to direct the hot air out of contact with the forming parts and prevent heating thereof, when no carton blank is present at the forming station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
213 words
A carton sealing and forming apparatus for forming and sealing cartons from flat blanks having end panels and sealing tabs on opposite sides of said end panels and scored to form said tabs and to accommodate shaping of the blank to carton form, in which the blank has a non-toxic plastic coating on the inner surface thereof having the properties of bonding when liquified by heat and put under pressure, comprising, a sealing and forming station, means advancing a blank to the sealing and forming station and pivoting the sealing tabs upwardly and holding the end tabs flat during such advance, a heat applying nozzle supported at each side of the sealing and forming station for movement toward and from the forming station and directed to apply hot air under pressure to said end panels along the insides thereof, and to heat said sealing tabs along the outsides thereof, a forming block vertically movable to engage and form the blank to carton form, and effect sealing of the sealing tabs to the end panels, and power means moving said nozzles away from said sealing and forming station to direct the hot air out of contact with the forming parts and prevent heating thereof, when no carton blank is present at the forming station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 14, wherein the nozzles each include a nozzle duct assembly having a hot air inlet leading thereinto and having a flat bottom surface having a plurality of nozzle openings leading therefrom and having auxiliary nozzle ducts on opposite sides of said nozzle ducts, each having a vertically extending wall having at least one nozzle opening leading therethrough, to impinge hot air on the outsides of the sealing tabs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein guide shoes having slots therein are mounted at the incoming ends of said nozzle ducts for holding the end panels flat to come beneath the flat bottom surface of said nozzle ducts and having plows disposed in advance thereof for guiding the sealing tabs to pass along the vertically extending walls of the auxiliary nozzle ducts in upright positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
The carton sealing and forming apparatus of claim 16, wherein the hot air inlet to each nozzle duct assembly includes a vertical cylinder suspending said nozzle duct assembly from its lower end, electric heating means within said cylinder, and means supplying air to said cylinder and forcing hot air therefrom through said nozzle duct assembly, and wherein each cylinder is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for movement about axes extending longitudinally of the sealing and forming station and power means are provided for moving said cylinders and nozzle duct assemblies toward and from the forming run, and assuring said nozzle duct assemblies will direct hot air away from the forming run when the apparatus is turned off, when no carton blank is present in the forming run and when the carton blanks become jammed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the power means comprise individual fluid pressure cylinders and pistons, and connections between said pistons to said hot air cylinders for pivoting said hot air cylinders towards and from said sealing and forming station upon movement of said pistons therealong.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus of claim 18, including control means effecting retraction of said hot air cylinders and nozzle assemblies from the sealing and forming station including a feed sensor sensing the movement of carton blanks to the sealing and forming station, a jam sensor sensing the jamming of a carton blank, and a time delay relay delaying the supply of fluid under pressure to said cylinders to bring said nozzles out of operating position to apply heated air to the carton blanks until a carton blank in the sealing and forming station has cleared said station, and been ejected in form of a sealed carton.
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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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |