EP0700831B1 - Appareil de distribution et d'application de couvercles jetables de gobelets - Google Patents

Appareil de distribution et d'application de couvercles jetables de gobelets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0700831B1
EP0700831B1 EP95830349A EP95830349A EP0700831B1 EP 0700831 B1 EP0700831 B1 EP 0700831B1 EP 95830349 A EP95830349 A EP 95830349A EP 95830349 A EP95830349 A EP 95830349A EP 0700831 B1 EP0700831 B1 EP 0700831B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lid
pick
cup
elements
dispenser
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95830349A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0700831A2 (fr
EP0700831A3 (fr
Inventor
Antonio D'amato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seda SpA
Original Assignee
Seda SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seda SpA filed Critical Seda SpA
Publication of EP0700831A2 publication Critical patent/EP0700831A2/fr
Publication of EP0700831A3 publication Critical patent/EP0700831A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0700831B1 publication Critical patent/EP0700831B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dispenser-applicator device for lid elements for disposable drinking cups.
  • lid element it is known that in premises serving drinks in disposable drinking cups, for example made of paper or plastic, it is usual to apply a lid element to the filled cup, said lid element usually being provided with a central hole through which to pass a drinking straw.
  • a dispenser-applicator device for lid elements for drinking cups is known from the US-A-4,068,449.
  • This patent discloses a tool for applying a lid to a cup, said lid having an upstanding marginal flange for a sealed fit against the inside of said cup, said tool comprising in particular: a shoe engaging said lid within sad flange; resilient means projecting from said shoe for retain the lid on the shoe; spring means for applying a predetermined maximum downward pressure to said shoe; means such a hammer for signalling to the user that said predetermined maximum pressure has been reached.
  • Such a system is clearly very complicated, therefore very expensive: moreover, owing to the structural and functional complexity and delicacy of its very numerous mechanical members and elements, the working reliability is not satisfactory at all.
  • a dispenser-applicator device for lid elements for disposable drinking cups is also known from the document WO 95/03972 to Continental Cup Company Pty, Ltd., published on 9 February 1995, entitled "Apparatus for fitting a lid to a container”.
  • This document foresees the use of lid elements provided with tongues that engage with an applicator device, which is provided with means for engaging the tongues and with a suction cup.
  • the system described in this document entails an expensive production of the lid elements owing to the presence of the tongues, as well as an unsatisfactory gripping of the single lid elements on the applicator device owing to the need to use the suction up.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a device to pick up and apply lid elements for disposable drinking cups that obviates the drawbacks and limitations of prior art.
  • the device according to the present invention is structurally and functionally very different from prior art, is easy and reliable to use, reduces the amount of labour required, and renders the operations of applying the lid element on the filled cup faster.
  • the dispenser-applicator device comprises two basic elements; a magazine dispenser device designated as a whole with 10, which houses a pile of lid elements 11, and a pick-up and application device for the lid elements, designated as a whole with 12.
  • the magazine dispenser device 10 comprises a base 13, to which a plurality of column elements 14, 15, 16 and 17 are fixed, arranged to retain a plurality of lid elements 11 piled one on top of the other, and to form a guide for a crown element 18 of the pick-up and application device 12, which will be illustrated in greater detail hereafter.
  • the pick-up and application device 12 basically comprises the above mentioned crown element 18, a plate element 19 integral with a rod 20, on the upper end of which is fixed a knob 21.
  • a handle element 22 is slidingly mounted on the rod 20.
  • the crown element 18 is provided with means, not shown in figure 1, to grip the lid elements 11 one at a time by applying pressure on said handle element 22 in the direction of the arrows F1, while the plate element 19 provides for insertion of the lid elements 11 when, after knob 21 has been pressed in the direction of the arrow F2, the plate 19 inserts the lid element 11 in the drinking cup.
  • a typical drinking cup for example made of paper, comprises a body 30 substantially shaped like a truncated cone, provided with an overturned lip 31 and with a bead 32 essentially formed by a rib with a convexity outward from the body 30 and which in practice defines a cavity in which to house and retain a lid element of circular shape, designated with 33 in figure 7.
  • Sizing of the diameter of the lid element 33 and the geometry of the bead 32 are such that the lid element 33 can be inserted into position by means of a limited pre-set pressure so that the combined actions of the elasticity of both the cup element 30 and the lid element 33 co-operate to hold the lid element 33 in position once it has been inserted.
  • the lid 33 is provided, in a substantially central position, with a cut line 34 having a tongue 35 that is not completely cut, so that the cut portion may be pushed inwards into the filled cup in order to allow the passage of a conventional drinking straw (not shown).
  • the crown element 18 is provided with a stepped portion 40, arranged to house the plate element 19 in a position reaching to the dotted line 41, at a distance from the edge 42 of the crown element 18 slightly less than the thickness of the lid elements 33. In this way, when the plate element 19 is housed within the crown element 18, a space 43 is formed which is slightly less than the thickness of one of the lid elements 33.
  • the arrangement is such that when the elements 18 and 19 are in the position indicated in figure 1 and pressure is exerted on the handle element 22 in the direction of the arrows F1, pick-up by the crown element 18 takes place through a mechanical action with a combined effect of elasticity and plastic deformation of the elements 33, so that only one of them is captured, i.e. the one on the top of the pile of lid elements 33. In this way, when the pick-up and application device 12 is lifted using the handle 22, one and only one of the lid elements 33 is lifted up from the relative pile.
  • the pick-up and application device 12 bearing one lid element 33 will carry one lid element 33 with it.
  • the device 12 is applied to the mouth of the drinking cup 30.
  • the overturned lip 31 of the cup 30 will rest against a step 44 of the crown element 18 (see figure 2A).
  • pressure applied in the direction of the arrow F2 on the knob 21 will cause the rod 20 to slide inside the handle 22, so that the plate 19 will detach the lid element 33 from the hollow 43, and will bring it into forced contact with the bead 32 in the cup 30.
  • the lid element 33 is force fitted into the bead or rib 32 of the cup, remaining locked in position by the elasticity of the materials.
  • the operator holding in the hand the filled cup on which the lid element 33 has been applied, can use the straw to deform the cut part 34, 35, in order to insert the drinking straw (not shown).
  • the double movement of the handle element 22 and the knob element 21 is of fundamental importance for the operation of the device according to the present invention in order to perform in sequence the operation of capture and pick-up of one of the lid elements 33, and thereafter, by acting on knob 21, to insert the lid element by pressure into the rib 32 in the cup 30.
  • the crown element 18 is provided with four recesses 45, 46, 47, 48, intended to co-operate with the columns 14, 15, 16 and 17 in the magazine container in order to center and position the element 18 inside the structure designated generally with 10 and to guide the vertical movement of the device 12 during the operation of capturing and picking-up one of the lid elements 33.
  • the inner part of the crown element 18 is provided with surfaces 49, 50, 51, 52, broken by slots 53, of which only one is indicated with a number in the drawing, defining a cavity or an internal circumference just a little smaller than the external circumference of the lid elements 33, and calculated in such a way that in cooperation with the elasticity and deformability of the material of which the lid elements 33 are formed, the lid elements 33 are held through a peripheral interference in a safe but non-permanent manner in the area now defined of the element 18.
  • the plate element 19 which has an outer circumference smaller than that defined by the surfaces 49, 50, 51, 52, in order to ensure relative movement between the periphery of the element 19 and the element 18 in order to allow free sliding upon activation of knob 21 to perform the actual operation of positioning and force fitting the lid element 33 inside the rib 32 on the cup 30.
  • the cup 30 and the lid elements 33 are made of cardboard, treated if necessary, of the type normally used for the manufacture of containers for use with foodstuffs, as is well known from the state of the art.
  • the element 22 and the knob 21 are shown as elements sliding freely with respect to each other, the relative movements of which take place as a result of the manual operations of picking up and inserting the lid element 33 to be inserted in the cup 30.
  • a spring may be provided, not shown in the drawings, so as to ensure in all cases that the operations of pick-up and application of the lid element 33 inside the cups 30 take place in the correct sequence.
  • This spring may be advantageously arranged between the upper end of the handle 22 and the base of the knob 21, so as to bias the handle 22 and the knob 21 to move away from one another.
  • the rib 32 in the upper portion of the cup 30 to hold the lid element 33 in a fixed fit must be considered a precaution to ensure a positive mechanical locking between the edge of the lid element 33 and the rib 32. Should positive mechanical locking not be required, the rib 32 may be omitted and coupling may take place by mere interference fit between the edge of the element 33 and the conical inner surface of the cup.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Appareil de distribution et d'application de couvercles pour gobelets jetables, comprenant :
       un dispositif (10) à magasin distributeur, muni d'une embase (13) présentant une pluralité de colonnes (14, 15, 16, 17) conçues pour stocker et retenir un empilement ordonné constitué de couvercles plans (11 ; 33) pourvus d'un bord circulaire ininterrompu ; et un dispositif (12) de prélèvement et d'application desdits couvercles (11 ; 33), apte à coopérer avec lesdites colonnes dudit dispositif (10) à magasin distributeur, par des évidements correspondants (45, 46, 47, 48), pour prélever lesdits couvercles d'avec ledit empilement, à raison d'un à la fois, et pour les ajuster à force sur l'intérieur du sommet de gobelets jetables (30) de configuration tronconique, ledit appareil de distribution et d'application étant caractérisé par le fait que ledit dispositif (12) de prélèvement et d'application est équipé d'une couronne (18) offrant une cavité dont les dimensions coïncident avec la périphérie desdits couvercles (11 ; 33), de manière à prélever ces derniers d'avec ledit empilement, à raison d'un à la fois, grâce à une simple interaction périphérique par frottement avec ledit bord d'un couvercle, ledit dispositif de prélèvement et d'application comprenant une plaque (19) logée à l'intérieur de ladite cavité et pouvant coulisser coaxialement par rapport à celle-ci, l'agencement étant tel que, dans la condition de prélèvement, l'espace situé entre la surface inférieure de ladite plaque (19) et la surface inférieure de prélèvement de ladite couronne (18) présente une profondeur inférieure ou égale à l'épaisseur de l'un desdits couvercles, de telle sorte que, sous l'effet d'une pression manuelle, un seul couvercle à la fois soit prélevé d'avec ledit empilement, par ladite cavité de la couronne (18), sachant que ladite plaque (19) est montée à coulissement vis-à-vis de ladite couronne (18), pour accomplir un mouvement d'une distance limitée le long d'un axe perpendiculaire, afin d'autoriser un déblocage du couvercle (11 ; 33) emprisonné par ladite couronne (18), et son ajustement forcé dans la région supérieure conique du gobelet (30).
  2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ladite plaque (19) fait corps avec une tige (20) coaxiale à ladite plaque (19) et à la couronne (18), et s'achevant au sommet par un bouton (21), ladite tige comportant, sur un tronçon intermédiaire entre ladite couronne et ledit bouton, un manche (22) monté à coulissement.
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé par le fait qu'un ressort de compression est interposé entre ledit bouton (21) et ledit manche (22), en vue de solliciter ledit manche (22) et ledit bouton (21) pour les éloigner l'un de l'autre.
  4. Appareil selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ledit couvercle (11 ; 33) est mis en place par engagement positif sur la surface intérieure conique du gobelet (30).
  5. Appareil selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé par le fait que ledit gobelet (30) est muni, à son sommet, d'une nervure (32) présentant une convexité vers l'extérieur dudit gobelet, afin d'assurer un assemblage mécanique efficace du couvercle (11 ; 33) à l'intérieur du gobelet (30).
EP95830349A 1994-09-07 1995-08-01 Appareil de distribution et d'application de couvercles jetables de gobelets Expired - Lifetime EP0700831B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT94RM000158U IT233702Y1 (it) 1994-09-07 1994-09-07 Dispositivo erogatore-applicatore di elementi a coperchio per bicchieri monouso.
ITRM940158U 1994-09-07

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0700831A2 EP0700831A2 (fr) 1996-03-13
EP0700831A3 EP0700831A3 (fr) 1996-06-12
EP0700831B1 true EP0700831B1 (fr) 2001-11-21

Family

ID=11402377

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95830349A Expired - Lifetime EP0700831B1 (fr) 1994-09-07 1995-08-01 Appareil de distribution et d'application de couvercles jetables de gobelets

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0700831B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE209138T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69524012T2 (fr)
HU (1) HU9502299D0 (fr)
IT (1) IT233702Y1 (fr)
PL (1) PL310285A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2561565B8 (en) * 2017-04-18 2020-01-29 Ian Carpenter Murdoch Lid grabbing device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4068449A (en) * 1976-08-17 1978-01-17 Our Mother Of Sorrows Church Tool for placing lids on cups
NZ263496A (en) 1993-07-27 1996-11-26 L A S Pty Ltd Substituted For Applicator lifts container lid having tabs from magazine and installs it onto container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITRM940158U1 (it) 1996-03-07
EP0700831A2 (fr) 1996-03-13
EP0700831A3 (fr) 1996-06-12
ITRM940158V0 (it) 1994-09-07
HU9502299D0 (en) 1995-09-28
DE69524012D1 (de) 2002-01-03
PL310285A1 (en) 1996-03-18
ATE209138T1 (de) 2001-12-15
DE69524012T2 (de) 2002-07-11
IT233702Y1 (it) 2000-02-03

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