US3792567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat sealing machine
Assignee: DIXIE PACKAGING CO Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-07
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1991-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A heat sealing machine for use in sealing a thermoplastic cover to the upper surface of container means supported at a heat sealing position. The heat sealing machine includes endless conveyor means having a plurality of support elements designed for removably supported selected ones of a number of container support platens, wherein the container support platens are designed for supporting a number of various sized containers to be sealed. The conveyor means includes means for effecting intermittent drive to advance the support element with the platen and containers through predetermined increments of movement for positioning the containers in position adjacent a heat sealing station. The heat sealing station includes means for applying a thermoplastic film of material to the upper surface of the containers and includes a heat sealing element cyclically movable from a retracted inoperable position displaced from the container to an extended operable position in pressing engagement with the thermoplastic material and the container and wherein the heat sealing element is operable in the extended position for heating the thermoplastic material to a predetermined temperature for sealing the material to the upper surface of the containers. Severing means is located adjacent the conveyor means and positioned to sever the thermoplastic material adjacent the leading and trailing edge of the sealed container means. The severing means includes means for severing the thermoplastic material between side by side container means supported in a platen. Control means is operatively associated with the heat sealing machine for effecting cyclic operation of the conveyor drive means, the heat sealing means and the severing means.
Inventors
- 👤 H Balcome
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/162; B65B7/164; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/78; B29C65/7841; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7861; B29C65/7867; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/03; B29C66/032; B29C66/0326; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2424; B29C66/24243; B29C66/24244; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5346; B29C66/53461; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81431; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/8167; B29C66/82; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/834; B29C66/8351; B29C66/83531; B29C66/84; B29C66/841; B29C66/8412; B29C66/843; B29C66/8432; B29C66/865; B65B59/00; B65B59/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
384 words
A machine for use in sealing containers comprising, in combination: a. conveyor means having a plurality of support elements designed for supporting sealable container means; b. means on said apparatus for applying a film of thermoplastic material to the upper surface of a container supported by said support elements; c. heat sealing means supported adjacent said conveyor means and detailed in cyclic operation for movement between a retracted inoperable position displaced from said support elements and container means and an extended operable position in pressing engagement against said thermoplastic film and the upper surface of said container means, and wherein said heat sealing means is operable in said extended position for sealing said thermoplastic material to the upper surface of the supported container means; d. means on said apparatus for severing said plastic film at a transverse direction to said conveying movement and adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said container means; e. control means operatively associated with said conveyor means for effecting intermittent drive to advance said support elements through predetermined increments of movement for positioning said support elements in an aligned position beneath said heat sealing means, said control means being operable for effecting cyclic operation of said heat sealing means between said retracted and said extended positions and wherein said control means is operable for effecting cyclic movement of said severing means through a severing operation; f. said film applying means comprising means for supporting a roll of film, and means for guiding film from a roll supported on said supporting means to the upper surface of a container supported by said support elements, said guiding means including a pair of rollers mounted on fixed axes, over which said film passes, and a third roller adapted to engage said film intermediate the rollers of said pair; g. means for moving said third roller laterally of said film to move the film laterally between the rollers of said pair to form a bight; and h. means coordinating the movement of said third roller with that of the heat sealing means so that the film will be moved laterally at The time when said heat sealing means is in pressing engagement with said film, whereby said lateral movement will cause film to be withdrawn from a roll supported on said support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
384 words
A machine for use in sealing containers comprising, in combination: a. conveyor means having a plurality of support elements designed for supporting sealable container means; b. means on said apparatus for applying a film of thermoplastic material to the upper surface of a container supported by said support elements; c. heat sealing means supported adjacent said conveyor means and detailed in cyclic operation for movement between a retracted inoperable position displaced from said support elements and container means and an extended operable position in pressing engagement against said thermoplastic film and the upper surface of said container means, and wherein said heat sealing means is operable in said extended position for sealing said thermoplastic material to the upper surface of the supported container means; d. means on said apparatus for severing said plastic film at a transverse direction to said conveying movement and adjacent the leading and trailing edges of said container means; e. control means operatively associated with said conveyor means for effecting intermittent drive to advance said support elements through predetermined increments of movement for positioning said support elements in an aligned position beneath said heat sealing means, said control means being operable for effecting cyclic operation of said heat sealing means between said retracted and said extended positions and wherein said control means is operable for effecting cyclic movement of said severing means through a severing operation; f. said film applying means comprising means for supporting a roll of film, and means for guiding film from a roll supported on said supporting means to the upper surface of a container supported by said support elements, said guiding means including a pair of rollers mounted on fixed axes, over which said film passes, and a third roller adapted to engage said film intermediate the rollers of said pair; g. means for moving said third roller laterally of said film to move the film laterally between the rollers of said pair to form a bight; and h. means coordinating the movement of said third roller with that of the heat sealing means so that the film will be moved laterally at The time when said heat sealing means is in pressing engagement with said film, whereby said lateral movement will cause film to be withdrawn from a roll supported on said support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said conveyor support elements include releasably mounted platen means for holding said container means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that spring biased detent means releasably engageable with complementary recessed notches are operatively associated with said support elements and said platen means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said spring biased detent means is supported on said conveyor support elements and said complementary recessed notches are provided on said platen means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said severing means is supported for reciprocating movement above said conveyor from a retracted position displaced from said conveyor to an extended position in cutting engagement with said plastic film sealed to said container means, and wherein said control means is operable for effecting reciprocating movement of said severing means between said retracted and said extended positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said severing means includes a first severing blade supported in position for severing said plastic film adjacent a leading edge of said container and a second severing blade supported in position for severing the plastic film adjacent a trailing edge of said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that said first and second severing blades are horizontally adjustable relative to each other to accommodate various dimensioned container means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that said first severing blade includes a pressure element operable for engaging said plastic film at a position forwardly spaced from the leading edge of said container means for holding said plastic film in position to be severed by said first severing blade.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said conveyor support element includes container support platen means designed for supporting a plurality of containers in side by side relationship, and wherein said severing means includes means for severing said plastic film between said side by side containers in response to conveying movement of said support elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A machine as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said means for severing said plastic film between said side by side containers includes a number of horizontally spaced severing blades detailed in position for movement between said side by side containers, and wherein said number of horizontally spaced severing blades are adjustable relative to each other to vary the spacing between said severing blades.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said control means includes a power driven control shaft having a crank operatively associated with a ratchet means for effecting advancement of said conveyor support elements through said predetermined increments of movement, and wherein said power driven control shaft includes cam control means for effecting cyclic operation of said heat sealing means and said severing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as defined in claim 11 further characterized in that said conveyor means includes braking means for maintaining said conveyor in a static position during non-driving movement of said ratchet means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine as defined in claim 11 further characterized in that said heat sealing means and said severing means are driven through said cyclic operation by pneumatic cylinder means and wherein said cam means is operable for effecting operation of said cylinder means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine as in claim 1 wherein the extent of movement of said third roller is such that the amount of film withdrawn from the roll will be sufficient to cover one sealable container means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 14 wherein the means for moving said third roller comprises a fluid actuated piston.
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) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |