US3800682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for making containers of thermoplastic sheet material
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-09-08
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1991-09-08
Abstract
Abstract In making a container with a motif in its surface a sheet of thermoplastic material, printed with a predistorted motif, is heated and held by clamps. The heated thermoplastic material is then forced into a die by a punch provided with a resiliently biased, normally projecting stem which is repressed into the punch upon contacting (through the sheet) the closed end of the die.
Inventors
- 👤 M Gournelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:53
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/04; B29C2795/00; B29C2795/002; B29C51/08; B29C51/082; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/722
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for forming containers with imprinted motifs from thermoplastic sheet material, comprising: a die conforming to the shape of a container to be produced, said die being provided with cooling means for chilling the surface thereof; a punch receivable in said die, said punch being provided with at least one resiliently loaded member having an extremity normally projecting from a free end of said punch toward said die, said extremity being narrower than said free end and entirely receivable therein; retaining means adjacent a mouth of said die for holding a thermoplastic sheet in position across said mouth, said sheet having at least one limited area imprinted with a predistorted motif; heating means positioned to thermally soften a portion of said sheet registering with said mouth; and actuating means for inserting said punch into said die with interposition of the thermally softened sheet portion to deform same into the shape of the die, and with stretching by said extremity of said area to normalize the predistorted motif thereon prior to contact thereof with the chilled die surface, said die having a closed end repressing the projecting extremity of said member into said punch upon complete insertion of the punch into the die.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for forming containers with imprinted motifs from thermoplastic sheet material, comprising: a die conforming to the shape of a container to be produced, said die being provided with cooling means for chilling the surface thereof; a punch receivable in said die, said punch being provided with at least one resiliently loaded member having an extremity normally projecting from a free end of said punch toward said die, said extremity being narrower than said free end and entirely receivable therein; retaining means adjacent a mouth of said die for holding a thermoplastic sheet in position across said mouth, said sheet having at least one limited area imprinted with a predistorted motif; heating means positioned to thermally soften a portion of said sheet registering with said mouth; and actuating means for inserting said punch into said die with interposition of the thermally softened sheet portion to deform same into the shape of the die, and with stretching by said extremity of said area to normalize the predistorted motif thereon prior to contact thereof with the chilled die surface, said die having a closed end repressing the projecting extremity of said member into said punch upon complete insertion of the punch into the die.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said free end is provided with a recess surrounding said projecting extremity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said punch has a body provided near said free end with a peripheral edge thermally insulated from the remainder of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said body is provided with a peripheral groove thermally insulating said edge from said remainder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said body tapers toward said peripheral edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said punch has a body centered on an axis, said member extending along said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said die has a shell and a liner in said shell forming said peripheral wall, said liner being separated from said shell by an intervening space, said cooling means including a source of circulating fluid communicating with said space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a pusher with a punch-insertion speed high enough to deform said sheet portion substantially isothermally between said punch and said die.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said punch-insertion speed is greater than two meters per second.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
252 words
An apparatus for forming containers with imprinted motifs from thermoplastic sheet material, comprising: guide means defining a path for a ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material, said ribbon having a succession of predistorted motifs being imprinted thereon; feed means for advancing said ribbon along said path; a die alongside said path conforming to the shape of a container to be produced, said die having a mouth open toward said path and being provided with cooling means for chilling the surface thereof; a punch confronting said die across said path, said punch being receivable in said die and being provided with at least one resiliently loaded member having an extremity normally projecting from a free end of said punch toward said die, said extremity being narrower than said free end and entirely receivable therein; hearing means positioned to thermally soften a portion of said ribbon registering with said mouth and including a predistorted motif on a limited area thereof; ACTUATING means for inserting said punch into said die with interposition of the thermally softened ribbon portion to deform same into the shape of the die, and with stretching by said extremity of said area to normalize the predistorted motif thereon prior to contact thereof with the chilled die surface, said die having a closed end repressing the projecting extremity of said member into said punch upon complete insertion of the punch into the die; and control means coupled to said feed means for intermittently arresting said ribbon preparatorily to operation of said actuating means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
252 words
An apparatus for forming containers with imprinted motifs from thermoplastic sheet material, comprising: guide means defining a path for a ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material, said ribbon having a succession of predistorted motifs being imprinted thereon; feed means for advancing said ribbon along said path; a die alongside said path conforming to the shape of a container to be produced, said die having a mouth open toward said path and being provided with cooling means for chilling the surface thereof; a punch confronting said die across said path, said punch being receivable in said die and being provided with at least one resiliently loaded member having an extremity normally projecting from a free end of said punch toward said die, said extremity being narrower than said free end and entirely receivable therein; hearing means positioned to thermally soften a portion of said ribbon registering with said mouth and including a predistorted motif on a limited area thereof; ACTUATING means for inserting said punch into said die with interposition of the thermally softened ribbon portion to deform same into the shape of the die, and with stretching by said extremity of said area to normalize the predistorted motif thereon prior to contact thereof with the chilled die surface, said die having a closed end repressing the projecting extremity of said member into said punch upon complete insertion of the punch into the die; and control means coupled to said feed means for intermittently arresting said ribbon preparatorily to operation of said actuating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said punch has a body tapered toward said die, said body being provided near said free end with a peripheral edge thermally insulated from the remainder of said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means includes sensing means upstream of said die responsive to markings longitudinally spaced along said ribbon in conformity with the positions of said predistorted motifs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said sensing means comprises a photoelectric cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said heating means is disposed upstream of said die.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said heating means comprises a pair of relatively reciprocable jaws operable in timed relationship with said actuating means for clamping an upstream portion of said ribbon between them to heat same concurrently with the deformation of a previously heated downstream portion between said punch and said die.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said jaws have effective areas substantially of the same size as the area of said mouth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said feed means comprises a pair of coacting drive rollers upstream of said die temporarily disengageable from said ribbon by said control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 19, further comprising brake means engageable with said ribbon upstream of said die, said brake means being coupled with said control means for operation concurrently with the disengagement of said drive rollers from said ribbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said control means includes a triangular lever having one of said drive rollers mounted at a corner thereof, said brake means including a brake shoe mounted at another corner of said lever.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said feed means further comprises a pair of coacting tension rollers downstream of said die for maintaining said ribbon stretched across said mouth.
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) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |