US3886253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for heat treating plastic bottles
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-24
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1992-04-24
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a process of reducing the creep characteristics of plastic containers, principally bottles, jugs or the like, by first providing a cartridge having upper and lower ends and a plurality of interconnected chambers, thereafter stacking containers atop each other in an upright position in each chamber, transferring the cartridge into a heat treatment bay, supporting the lowermost containers during the cartridge transfer, circulating hot air through and between the chambers for a predetermined period of time, removing the cartridge from the heat treatment bay, and thereafter closing the upper and lower ends of the cartridge whereby the same may be stored and/or transported for filling or similar processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth F M Friendship
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:23
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/04; B29C71/00; B29C71/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A process of reducing the creep characteristics of plastic containers comprising tHe steps of providing a cartridge having upper and lower ends and a plurality of vertically extending transversely interconnected chambers also having upper and lower ends, stacking containers vertically upwardly through the lower ends of the chambers toward the upper ends thereof atop and in contact with each other in an upright position in each chamber, transferring the cartridge into a heat treatment bay, circulating hot air in contact with the plastic containers in a direction upwardly from and through the lower ends through the upper ends in open condition and through and between the chambers for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined temperature sufficient to reduce the creep characteristics of the plastic containers, and removing the cartridge from the heat treatment bay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process of reducing the creep characteristics of plastic containers comprising tHe steps of providing a cartridge having upper and lower ends and a plurality of vertically extending transversely interconnected chambers also having upper and lower ends, stacking containers vertically upwardly through the lower ends of the chambers toward the upper ends thereof atop and in contact with each other in an upright position in each chamber, transferring the cartridge into a heat treatment bay, circulating hot air in contact with the plastic containers in a direction upwardly from and through the lower ends through the upper ends in open condition and through and between the chambers for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined temperature sufficient to reduce the creep characteristics of the plastic containers, and removing the cartridge from the heat treatment bay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper end is initially closed by a cover, including the further step of removing the cover prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat treatment bay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein said initially closed covers are clamped closed relative to said cartridge, including the further step of unclamping the covers prior to the removal thereof from the cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein the containers in each chamber are stacked to a height of approximately 7 feet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower ends are initially closed by covers after the step of stacking containers in each chamber, and including the added step of removing the covers prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat treatment bay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 5 wherein the containers in each chamber are stacked to a height of approximately 7 feet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the containers in each chamber are stacked to a height up to approximately 7 feet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the stacking step is performed by upwardly feeding successive rows of containers from a predetermined linear position into a first vertically aligned chamber followed by the step of relatively indexing the cartridge and succeeding containers normal to each other in the direction of feed to position a second chamber in alignment for upward feeding of containers from said predetermined linear position, and thereafter feeding successive rows of containers from said predetermined linear position into said second vertical aligned chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process as defined in claim 8 including the step of evacuating hot air from the upper end of the cartridge at a point between extreme opposite ones of said chambers, and placing all upper ends of said chambers in fluid communication with said point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 9 wherein said upper end is initially closed by a cover, including the further step of removing the cover prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat-treatment bay.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process as defined in claim 8 including the step of supporting all containers in the cartridge through the lowermost row of containers in each chamber, and circulating the hot air from one side of the point of container support to an opposite side thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 11 wherein said upper end is initially closed by a cover, including the further step of removing the cover prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat-treatment bay.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper end is initially closed by a cover, including the further step of removing the cover prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat-treatment bay.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process as defined in claim 1 including the step of evacuating hot air from the upper end of the cartridge at a point between extreme opposite ones of said chambers, and placing all upper ends of said chambers in fluid communication with said point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein said upper end is initially closed by a cover, including the further step of removing the cover prior to the step of transferring the cartridge into the heat-treatment bay.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |