US3851441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for producing filled two-lidded plastic containers with a drinking straw and a puncturable depression in each lower lid
Assignee: FIRST DYNAMICS Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-25
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-09-25
Abstract
Abstract Machines for forming identical clusters of identical containers out of a first sheet or web, then filling the containers with a liquid, then forming lids out of a second web and sealing the lids to the containers, and finally trimming the lidded containers from the formed webs and from each other and depositing them into a receptacle such as a carton, are well known in the art.
Inventors
- 👤 J Marchand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:17
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/28; B65B7/2807; B65B61/00; B65B61/20; B65B61/205; B65B7/01; B65B7/168; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B9/04; B65B9/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
400 words
In combination, a machine including an elongated frame having the top thereof lying in a substantially horizontal plane and having upstream and downstream ends, means mounting a first roll of a first plastic web, means mounting a second roll of a second plastic web, and means mounting a third roll of a third plastic web, said first roll being mounted adjacent the upstream end of said frame, said second roll being mounted above said plane, means for moving said first web step-by-step along the top of said frame toward the downstream end thereof, a first thermal forming means for forming said first web into successive clusters of downwardly extending containers open at the top and rectangular in outline during the intervals between the step-bystep movements of said first web, liquid filling means mounted above said frame downstream of said first forming means for successively filling the formed clusters of containers during said intervals, a roller mounted above said plane to downstream of said filling means between said filling means and said second roll and having its peripheral edge close to said plane, said second web passing around said roller and extending from the bottom of said roller downstream substantially in contact with said formed first web, means for moving said second web downstream from said roller in harmony with said step-by-step movements of said first web, a second thermal forming means mounted between said second roll and said roller for forming said second web into like clusters of first container lids including a straw-receiving recess in each of said lids, a first sealing means mounted downstream of said roller for sealing said first lids to said filled containers, straw-supplying means mounted downstream of said first sealing means for depositing a straw into each of said recesses of the clusters of first lids during said intervals, said third roll being mounted downstream of said straw-supplying means, means for moving said third web downstream in harmony with said step-by-step movements, a second sealing means mounted on said frame downstReam of said straw-supplying means and having said third web extending downstream thereunder for sealing the same on said first lids thereby providing second lids, and trimming means mounted downstream of said second sealing means for simultaneously separating the clusters of twolidded containers from said three webs and from each other during said intervals, said separated clusters then being discharged into a suitable receptacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
400 words
In combination, a machine including an elongated frame having the top thereof lying in a substantially horizontal plane and having upstream and downstream ends, means mounting a first roll of a first plastic web, means mounting a second roll of a second plastic web, and means mounting a third roll of a third plastic web, said first roll being mounted adjacent the upstream end of said frame, said second roll being mounted above said plane, means for moving said first web step-by-step along the top of said frame toward the downstream end thereof, a first thermal forming means for forming said first web into successive clusters of downwardly extending containers open at the top and rectangular in outline during the intervals between the step-bystep movements of said first web, liquid filling means mounted above said frame downstream of said first forming means for successively filling the formed clusters of containers during said intervals, a roller mounted above said plane to downstream of said filling means between said filling means and said second roll and having its peripheral edge close to said plane, said second web passing around said roller and extending from the bottom of said roller downstream substantially in contact with said formed first web, means for moving said second web downstream from said roller in harmony with said step-by-step movements of said first web, a second thermal forming means mounted between said second roll and said roller for forming said second web into like clusters of first container lids including a straw-receiving recess in each of said lids, a first sealing means mounted downstream of said roller for sealing said first lids to said filled containers, straw-supplying means mounted downstream of said first sealing means for depositing a straw into each of said recesses of the clusters of first lids during said intervals, said third roll being mounted downstream of said straw-supplying means, means for moving said third web downstream in harmony with said step-by-step movements, a second sealing means mounted on said frame downstReam of said straw-supplying means and having said third web extending downstream thereunder for sealing the same on said first lids thereby providing second lids, and trimming means mounted downstream of said second sealing means for simultaneously separating the clusters of twolidded containers from said three webs and from each other during said intervals, said separated clusters then being discharged into a suitable receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A combination according to claim 1, said third web being transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination according to claim 1, all of said clusters being rectangular in outline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 1, said straw-supplying means including means for bending straight-line straws into two-legged straws prior to depositing them in said recesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination according to claim 1, said second thermal means including means for forming in each of said clusters of first lids a puncturable depression spaced from said straw-receiving recess to permit insertion of a straw into the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination according to claim 1, all of said first, second and third webs having substantially the same width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 1, the distance between said step-by-step movements being equal to the width of said clusters measured longitudinally along said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination according to claim 5, the straw-receiving recesses in said first lids extending diagonally between opposed corner portions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 5, the walls of said formed containers having outwardly extending circumferential flanges to which said formed first lids are sealed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
A combination according to claim 9, said containers being substantially square in outline and having the four corner portions thereof flattened with said flattened portions lying in planes at 45* angles to the planes of the mutually adjacent side walls of the containers, said machine including forming means positioned between said first sealing means and said straw-supplying means for cutting a hole triangular in outline through each of those portions of said formed first and second webs which extend outward from one of those portions of said flanges on said flattened walls with the outer edges of said last-named portions forming the bases of said triangular outline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A combination according to claim 10, said trimming means including means for cutting through said formed first and second webs along the outer edges of said flanges except for said bases of said triangular holes and cutting said third web along the two other sides of said triangular holes whence corresponding corner portions of said third web extend beyond said flanges and thus provide graspable tongues.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination according to claim 11, each of triangular holes being positioned adjacent one end of each of said straw-receiving recesses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
201 words
A combination according to claim 9, said straw-supplying means including hoppers equal in number to the number of containers forming the base of each of said clusters, said hoppers containing straight-line straws and having outlets dimensioned to permit the straws to exit one at a time, a horizontal plate slidably mounted closely under said hopper outlets and having a row of elongated openings therethrough positioned complementarily to a row of straw-receiving recesses in a base of a cluster of container first lids, means for moving said plate back and forth under said hoppers, means mounted between said hopper outlets and said horizontal plate for bending said straws into two-legged straws after exit thereof from said hoppers, means for depositing said bent straws into said elongated openings where they are having its upper belt portion positioned closely under said first plate and frictionally held, a horizontal conveyor formed of a series of mutually adjacent pivoted panels each having elongated openings therethrough complementary to said elongated openings in said first plate, means for forcing said bent straw doWnwards into said last-named elongated openings into said straw-receiving recesses, the upper horizontal protion of said conveyor extending over and close to said formed first web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A combination according to claim 13, said hopper outlets lying in planes at forty-five degree angles to the direction of travel of said webs, said first-named plate being moveable in said 45* direction, said conveyor being positioned at right angles to said direction of travel of said webs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
A combination according to claim 14, said hopper outlets being three in number and mutually parallel, said cluster being square in outline and dimensioned to contain nine containers, said elongated openings in said plate owing to the said angle at which said hopper outlets lie, having a plurality of equidistantly spaced diagonal rows of elongated openings therein successively positionable complementary to said outlets, said means for moving said plate forward and backward under said outlets, moving through three successive steps during the stopping of each movement of said web thereby receiving three succesive diagonal rows of straws in the elongated openings therein, said means for moving said upper conveyor portion of said conveyor forward moving said conveyor portion through three successive panels coincident with the forward movements of said plate, said three successive step movements of said plate and said conveyor occurring while said webs are moving between their stop intervals, said means for forcing said straws into said recesses functioning after said conveyor and said plate are at rest.
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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |