US3855966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal chucking mechanism
Assignee: WHEATON HOLDING Inc A Corp OF
•
Filing: 1973-11-30
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-11-30
Abstract
Abstract In a system for applying a plastic coating to arbitrarily shaped bottles or other containers which have been heated to a desired temperature in a preheat oven, the containers are loaded on a continuous horizontal conveyor which has a plurality of universal chuck mechanisms attached periodically along its length. Each such chuck includes a bottom member which is fixed relative to the conveyor, and an upper member which includes a centrally located plunger normally loaded upwardly. When containers are coupled to the conveyor for coating, they are mounted over the bottom portion of the chuck, and the positioning pin is forced downwardly, thereby maintaining the container in a state of compression. The containers are advanced over a fluidized bed of thermoplastic resins, and before the bed is raised up about the containers, a mask which is attached to the upwardly loaded outer cylinder of the chuck is lowered over specified portions of the containers. When the bed is lowered once more, the mask is raised and the containers are passed into a post-heating oven. Next, the containers are cooled at ambient temperature and subsequently by air at a still colder temperature. Finally, the containers are removed from the chucks, and the process is repeated.
Inventors
- 👤 W Panas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:07
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D1/00; B05D1/32; B05C; B05C13/00; B05C13/02; B05C13/025; B05C19/00; B05C19/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A chucking mechanism for securing containers for processing comprising: a. supportive frame means for said containers including first securement means; b. second securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite said first securement means, said second securement means including 1. plunger means slidably mobile toward said first securement means, containers being secured in position between said first and second securement means by compression from said plunger means; and 2. masking means independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said container; c. first means for controlling the position of said plunger means; and d. second means for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A chucking mechanism for securing containers for processing comprising: a. supportive frame means for said containers including first securement means; b. second securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite said first securement means, said second securement means including 1. plunger means slidably mobile toward said first securement means, containers being secured in position between said first and second securement means by compression from said plunger means; and 2. masking means independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said container; c. first means for controlling the position of said plunger means; and d. second means for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A chucking mechanism for securing containers for processing comprising: a. supportive frame means for said containers including first securement means; b. second securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite said first securement means, said second securement means including
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A chucking mechanism for securing containers for processing comprising: a. supportive frame means for said containers including first securement means; b. second securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite said first securement means, said second securement means including
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
plunger means slidably mobile toward said first securement means, containers being secured in position between said first and second securement means by compression from said plunger means; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
plunger means slidably mobile toward said first securement means, containers being secured in position between said first and second securement means by compression from said plunger means; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
supportive frame means attached to said conveyor and including lower securement means,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
supportive frame means attached to said conveyor and including lower securement means,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
upper securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite to and above said lower securement means, said upper securement means including A. plunger means slidably mobile toward said lower securement means, containers being secured in position between said lower and upper securement means by said plunger means, and B. masking means concentric with said plunger means and independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said containers; c. first means located at at least one point on said conveyor for controlling the position of said plunger means, and d. second means locsted at at least one point of said conveyor for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
upper securement means attached to said supportive frame means and positioned opposite to and above said lower securement means, said upper securement means including A. plunger means slidably mobile toward said lower securement means, containers being secured in position between said lower and upper securement means by said plunger means, and B. masking means concentric with said plunger means and independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said containers; c. first means located at at least one point on said conveyor for controlling the position of said plunger means, and d. second means locsted at at least one point of said conveyor for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 1 and further including support means for positioning containers between said first and second securement means while said plunger means is in a relaxed position from said first securement means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
masking means independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said container; c. first means for controlling the position of said plunger means; and d. second means for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
masking means independently slidably mobile to cover a specified portion of said container; c. first means for controlling the position of said plunger means; and d. second means for controlling the position of said masking means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said plunger means includes: a. a shaft terminating at one end with a first hub and at the other end with a positioning pin formed to mate with said containers; and b. spring means exerting force on said shaft in a direction toward said first securement means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 3 wherein said shaft further includes a retaining ledge thereon and wherein said masking means terminates at its upper end in a second hub, said spring means being compressively located between said retaining ledge and said second hub.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 3 wherein said first means for controlling includes: a. a clevis formed to mate over said first hub; and b. motive means attached to said clevis for forcing said shaft in a direction opposite said first securement means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said masking means includes: a. a cylindrical structure concentric about said plunger means and terminating in a first hub; and b. spring means compressively located between said first hub and said supportive frame means for exerting force on said cylindrical structure in a direction opposite said first supportive means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 6 wherein said cylindrical structure terminates at its other end with a mask formed to fit over a specified portion of said containers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 6 wherein said second means fof controlling includes: a. a clevis formed to mate over said first hub; and b. motive means attached to said clevis for forcing said cylindrical structure in the direction of said first securement means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A chucking mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said first securement means is located directly below containers to be processed and said second securement means is located opposite said first securement means and above containers to be processed, said chucking mechanism further including pivotable support tables for positioning containers between said first and second securement means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
A system as described in claim 10 and further including a loading station for feeding containers to said system, said loading station comprising: a. one of said first means for controlling the position of said plunger means; b. a pivotable support table for positioning containers above lower securement means of chucking mechanisms at said loading station as associated plunger means are forced away from said containers by said one of said first means; c. a heating lehr for producing heated containers for coating; and d. transfer means for periodically moving containers from said lehr to said table, said plunger means being released by said one of said first control means to secure said containers so transferred.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as described in claim 11 wherein said one of said first means includes: a. a clevis which fits over a portion of said plunger means; and b. motive means attached to said clevis for forcing said plunger in a direction away from said lower securement means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system as described in claim 10 and further including a coating station for applying coating materials to containers secured on said chucking mechanisms, said coating station comprising: a. a fluidized bed tank having suspended therein powered coating materials; b. means for raising said tank upwardly to immerse containers secured on said chucking mechanisms in said coating materials; c. one of said second means for controlling the position of said masking means, masking means being lowered to protect a specified portion of said containers from said coating materials prior to immersion of that specified portion into said fluidized bed tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as described in claim 13 wherein said one of said second means for controlling includes: a. clevis means which fit over a portion of masking means of chucking mechanisms positioned over said fluidized bed tank; and b. motive means attached to said clevis means for forcing said masking means in the direction of said containers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as described in claim 10 and further including a post-heating oven through which containers on said chucking mechanisms are conveyed after being coated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as described in claim 10 and further including a cooling stage for lowering the temperature of coated containers secured on said chucking mechanisms.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as described in claim 10 and further including an unloading station for removal of coated containers from said conveyor, said unloading station including one of said first means for controlling to force plunger means away from containers to be unloaded, thereby releasing the containers for securement between said upper and lower securement means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as described in claim 17 wherein said one of said first means for controlling includes: a. clevis means which fit over a portion of masking means of chucking mechanisms positioned over said fluidized bed tank; and b. motive means attached to said clevis means For forcing said masking means in the direction of said containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |