US3816017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hole cutter for film covered packages
Assignee: TELE SONIC TRESCOTT
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Arrays of articles packaged as a unit in shrink film or the like have holes cut in the film to allow the pricing of the individual articles while they are still packaged as a unit. The apparatus of this invention has a head with a bottom surface which drops on the film covered unit, the bottom surface containing annular depressions over each article. A cylindrical rotary cutter extends downward from the head within each annular depression. A vacuum is applied to apertures leading into the annular depressions within the circumferences of the rotary cutters to draw film upward into the annular depressions so that rotation of the cutters will cut holes in the film. The head is then removed from the unit, the vacuum is shut off, and jets blow disks of cut off film from below the head.
Inventors
- 👤 C Corban
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:21
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3846; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/29; Y10T408/36; Y10T408/38; Y10T408/3833; Y10T408/385; Y10T408/44; Y10T408/45; Y10T408/453; Y10T408/50; Y10T408/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for cutting holes in film covered arrays of articles film covered to form a packaged unit, the apparatus cutting a hole in the film over each article in a unit, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a head, means intermittently moving film covered units under said head, means dropping said head on each of said units while said units are at rest and then raising said head from said units, a flat bottom surface of said head containing an annular depression over each article arrayed in said units, cylindrical knives rotatably mounted on said head and having cutting edges extend into each annular depression, said cutting edges of said knives being disposed above said flat bottom surface of said head, said annular depressions containing vacuum apertures disposed within said cylindrical knives, means drawing a vacuum in said vacuum apertures when said head rests on a unit drawing film into said annular depressions, and means rotating said cylindrical knives cutting disks from said film over each article in a packaged unit, disks cut from the film by said knives blocking said vacuum apertures conserving vacuum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for cutting holes in film covered arrays of articles film covered to form a packaged unit, the apparatus cutting a hole in the film over each article in a unit, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a head, means intermittently moving film covered units under said head, means dropping said head on each of said units while said units are at rest and then raising said head from said units, a flat bottom surface of said head containing an annular depression over each article arrayed in said units, cylindrical knives rotatably mounted on said head and having cutting edges extend into each annular depression, said cutting edges of said knives being disposed above said flat bottom surface of said head, said annular depressions containing vacuum apertures disposed within said cylindrical knives, means drawing a vacuum in said vacuum apertures when said head rests on a unit drawing film into said annular depressions, and means rotating said cylindrical knives cutting disks from said film over each article in a packaged unit, disks cut from the film by said knives blocking said vacuum apertures conserving vacuum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said head has a closed interior and wherein said means drawing a vacuum in said vacuum apertures is a vacuum tank, and valve means connected between said vacuum tank and the interior of said head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of air jets directed under said head blowing disks cut from film from under said head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said means intermittently moving said units under said head comprises an intermittently driven conveyor belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said cylindrical knives have gears mounted thereon, said means rotating said cylindrical knives comprising a rack gear driving said gears, and a cylinder reciprocating said rack gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said knives are rotated at least 360*.
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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |