US3838550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for packaging
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-22
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for packaging products in containers while the containers are continuously moving along a path is disclosed herein. The containers are sequentially dropped from a nested stack towards an apertured conveyor that defines the path for the containers and a negative pressure is produced below the conveyor to assist in drawing the containers into the apertures of the conveyor. The conveyor moves the containers to a filling station where the product is flowed into the containers at several different locations, so that the containers are filled in stages while being moved by the conveyor. The filled containers then progress to a cover applying station and are preferably arranged in at least a pair of rows with a continuous web of heat sealable cover film heat sealed to the filled containers at the cover applying station. In one embodiment, the continuous web of material is then severed longitudinally and transversely between each adjacent pair of containers to produce rectangular covers and the periphery of the covers are folded under the rim of the container by automatic folding means. In another embodiment, the web is only partially severed between groups of containers while the web in the remaining areas forms an interconnection between adjacent containers and the severed portions of the webs are folded downwardly to produce an interconnected group of filled containers. In both embodiments, the apparatus includes novel heating and pressure applying means for sealing the web to the container rims and simplified structure for severing the webs at selected locations. The severing mechanism produces individual separated containers, each having four gripping tabs on the cover, in one embodiment while producing interconnected groups of containers in the alternate embodiment with each container having four gripping tabs on the cover.
Inventors
- 👤 M Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/162; B65B7/164; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/24; B29C65/30; B29C65/305; B29C65/78; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7861; B29C65/7867; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/242; B29C66/2422; B29C66/24221; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5346; B29C66/53461; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/74; B29C66/742; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8145; B29C66/81457; B29C66/816; B29C66/8161; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8226; B29C66/82265; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83417; B29C66/84; B29C66/843; B29C66/8432; B29C66/849; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/91211; B29C66/91212; B29C66/91231; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91421; B29C66/96; B29C66/961; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/52; B65B43/54; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/0045; B29C2793/009; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72321; B29C66/73921; B29C66/7422; B29C66/8167; B29K; B29K2705/00; B29K2705/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1712; Y10T156/1734
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of packaging a product in a package that includes an open topped rimmed container and a cover consisting of a film having a heat sealable material thereon comprising: moving a plurality of filled containers along a path; heat sealing the film to the rims of said container whie they are moving along the path to produce a film cover; supporting the containers below the rim while moving along the path and forcing the film cover extending beyond the rims to a downward position below the rims; and folding the downwardly extending film under the rims by engaging the film and container with a fixed rail on one side of the containers and a movable rail on the opposite side of the containers so that the containers are rotated while moving along the path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of packaging a product in a package that includes an open topped rimmed container and a cover consisting of a film having a heat sealable material thereon comprising: moving a plurality of filled containers along a path; heat sealing the film to the rims of said container whie they are moving along the path to produce a film cover; supporting the containers below the rim while moving along the path and forcing the film cover extending beyond the rims to a downward position below the rims; and folding the downwardly extending film under the rims by engaging the film and container with a fixed rail on one side of the containers and a movable rail on the opposite side of the containers so that the containers are rotated while moving along the path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which the cover applied to the containers is rectangular in outline to produce corners and the containers and rims are circular so that each of the corners of the film produce gripping tabs for removing the film when the product is to be removed from the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of packaging as defined in claim 2, in which said film is in a continuous web fed to the path and heat sealed to successive containers, the further step of severing the web transversely of the path between adjacent containers to produce the rectangular outline covers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 3, in which there are a plurality of transversely spaced rows of containers moving along the path and said web is simultaneously applied to the transversely aligned containers, and in which the step of severing includes longitudinally severing the webs between adjacent containers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for packaging a product in a package that includes open topped rimmed containers and flexible covers secured to the rims of the containers, comprising: conveyor means for moving filled open topped rimmed containers along a path; means for securing flexible covers to the rims of said containers while they are moving along the path with the periphery of the cover extending beyond the periphery of the rim; first means for initially folding the cover portions extending beyond the rims downwardly while the containers are moving along the path, said first means including a support for maintaining the rims of the container above the conveyor means and plunger means for engaging the covers beyond the rims of the containers; and second means engaging the initially folded covers below the rims while the containers are moving along the path for finally folding the initially folded portions into engagement with the sides of the containers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for packaging a product in a package that includes open topped rimmed containers and flexible covers secured to the rims of the containers, comprising: conveyor means for moving filled open topped rimmed containers along a path; means for securing flexible covers to the rims of said containers while they are moving along the path with the periphery of the cover extending beyond the periphery of the rim; first means for initially folding the cover portions extending beyond the rims downwardly while the containers are moving along the path, said first means including a support for maintaining the rims of the container above the conveyor means and plunger means for engaging the covers beyond the rims of the containers; and second means engaging the initially folded covers below the rims while the containers are moving along the path for finally folding the initially folded portions into engagement with the sides of the containers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said plunger means includes a hollow member having a lower edge conforming generally to the configuration of the periphery of the rim, and drive means for moving said hollow member in a generally arcuate path above said conveyor means so that said hollow member is moving in the same direction as said containers while moving into and out of engagement with said covers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said support includes a fixed ramp below said conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, In which said containers and rims are circular and said second means includes a fixed rail adjacent said path for engaging one side of said containers and movable belt means for engaging the opposite sides of the containers so that said containers are rolled along said fixed rail while moving along the path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including a plunger supported in said hollow member; biasing means between said drive means and said plunger for resiliently urging said plunger into engagement with said cover above said container rims when the drive means is in the lowermost position of said arcuate path to force said covers into engagement with the rims.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said conveyor means supports a plurality of transversely spaced rows of containers with said containers and rims being circular, said second means includes fixed rails located betwen alternate adjacent rows and moving belt means between said fixed rails, the spacing between the adjacent edge of the belt means and the adjacent fixed rail being less than the diameter of said rims so that said fixed rails and belt means support the containers below the periphery of the rim and said belt means rolls said containers along said fixed rails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which said flexible covers are formed from a continuous web of foil having heat sealing material on one surface thereof, said means for securing said flexible covers including means for heat sealing said web to said container rims and means for severing said web longitudinally and transversely between adjacent containers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said support includes an upwardly inclined ramp below said conveyor means for moving the containers between said rails and belt means while they are being moved along said path by said conveyor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which said plunger means includes a hollow member aligned with each row of containers, each hollow member having a lower edge with an inwardly and upwardly inclined surface and drive means for simultaneously moving said hollow members in a closed loop path above said conveyor means so that the lower edges are moved downwardly into engagement with the covers while simultaneously being moved along the path at the same speed as said containers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said conveyor means supports a plurality of transversely aligned rows of containers and wherein said flexible covers are formed from a continuous web of material having heat sealing material on at least one surface thereof, said means for securing said flexible covers including means for heating and securing said one surface to the rims of said containers; and means for partially severing the web longitudinally and transversely while maintaining a connection between adjacent containers with the web.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for sealing a web of foil having heat sealing material on one surface thereof to the rims of containers filled with product, comprising: conveyor means for moving said containers along a path; means for supporting a roll of said foil adjacent said path and for supplying a continuous web of foil to said path; a fixed circular drum above said path, said drum including a central clearance opening having a diameter greater than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the drum, said outer peripheral surface being irregular to increase the exposed surface area; heating means in heat transfer relationship with respect to said drum for elevating the temperature of said peripheral surface; and a freely rotatably hollow drum supported for rotation on a fixed axis, said hollow drum surrounding said peripheral surface and having a peripheral surface located in the path of movement of the rims, said web of foil being located between the container rims and the periphery of said hollow drum and the heat from said fixed drum will be transferred to the foil through the hollow drum to elevatE the temperature of the heat sealing material and seal the foil to the container rims.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for sealing a web of foil having heat sealing material on one surface thereof to the rims of containers filled with product, comprising: conveyor means for moving said containers along a path; means for supporting a roll of said foil adjacent said path and for supplying a continuous web of foil to said path; a fixed circular drum above said path, said drum including a central clearance opening having a diameter greater than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the drum, said outer peripheral surface being irregular to increase the exposed surface area; heating means in heat transfer relationship with respect to said drum for elevating the temperature of said peripheral surface; and a freely rotatably hollow drum supported for rotation on a fixed axis, said hollow drum surrounding said peripheral surface and having a peripheral surface located in the path of movement of the rims, said web of foil being located between the container rims and the periphery of said hollow drum and the heat from said fixed drum will be transferred to the foil through the hollow drum to elevatE the temperature of the heat sealing material and seal the foil to the container rims.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which said peripheral surface of said fixed drum is threaded to produce said irregular surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which said hollow drum is formed with an elastomeric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3738082A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |