IE80528B1 - Improvements relating to containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A two compartment liquid container comprising two sub-containers 18,29, eg. glass bottles, is produced by placing one container in one cradle 15 and the other container in a second associated cradle 16, applying adhesive to at least one of the containers, moving the cradles together so as to bond sub-container surfaces 20,21, aligning and clamping the sub-containers in the aligned position and curing the adhesive. Preferably one cradle 15 is fixed and the other is pivotably connected to it for loading, unloading (Fig. 2) and bonding the sub-containers (Fig. 4). Preferably the sub-containers are held in the cradles by slidably mounted clamps 30,40 with clamp 40 on the pivoting cradle releasing the container just before the cradles meet. Preferably the sub-containers are aligned by an alignment head 45 having a pair of spaced-apart engagement sockets 47 which retractably engage and hold the container necks 34,35 as shown in Fig's 3 & 5. The sub-container bonding surfaces may be planar and face outwardly from the cradles.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CONTAINERS Invention relates to containers and in particular to a process and apparatus for producing a beverage container formed by a composite bottle comprising two separate compartments defined by sub-containers formed separately and subsequently bonded together.

The invention is particularly concerned with joining a pair of glass bottles which form the sub containers in an accurate and efficient manner, the bottles each having a neck. In use, a plastic cap is provided for engaging with both necks to form a dispensing head for the container. It will be appreciated that the plastic cap can be manufactured to a higher degree of accuracy than the glass bottles and a problem arises in ensuring that the plastic cap will correctly fit on the bottles when they are joined with effective sealing of the cap with the necks of the bottles .

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a process for producing a liquid container having two separate compartments defined by two sub-containers bonded together to form the container, including the steps: mounting a first sub-container in a first cradle, mounting a second sub-container in a second cradle associated with the first cradle, applying adhesive to a bonding surface of at least one of the sub-containers, - 2 moving the cradles together, bringing together bonding surfaces of the sub-containers, aligning the sub-containers, clamping the sub-containers in the aligned 5 position, curing the adhesive to form the dual-compartment liquid container, releasing the liquid container, separating the cradles, and removing the liquid container.

In one embodiment, the process includes the step of aligning the bottles by engaging necks of the bottles with an alignment head movably mounted on one of the cradles for movement between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position, the alignment head having a pair of spaced-apart neck receiving sockets for engaging and holding the necks of the bottles in an aligned position a preset distance apart while curing the adhesive.

In another embodiment, the alignment head is slidably mounted on the cradle for moving the alignment head between the disengaged and engaged positions.

In a further embodiment, the process includes the step of mounting each sub-container in its associated cradle by seating the sub-container in a holder on the cradle with the bonding surface of the sub-container outermost, and then clamping the sub-container within the cradle.

In another embodiment, each cradle has a bottle clamp movable on the cradle between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position.

In a preferred embodiment, the cradles are pivotably connected for relative movement of the cradles together and apart between a closed position for engaging the bonding surfaces of the bottles and an open position for loading and unloading bottles from the cradles.

Preferably, the cradles are arranged to sit one above the other in the closed position, the process including the step of releasing the bottle clamp of the uppermost cradle just before the sub-containers meet as the cradles are being moved from the open position into the closed position.

In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for producing a liquid container having two separate compartments defined by two sub-containers bonded together to form the container, the apparatus comprising: a first cradle for reception of a first subcontainer, a second cradle associated with the first cradle, the second cradle for reception of a second subcontainer, means for moving the cradles between an open loading position and a closed position for bringing together bonding surfaces of the subcontainers , means for aligning the sub-containers, and means for clamping the sub-containers in the aligned position.

In one embodiment, the alignment means is an alignment head movably mounted on one of the cradles for movement between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position, the alignment head having a pair of spaced-apart neck receiving sockets for engaging and holding the necks of the bottles in an aligned position a preset distance apart.

In another embodiment, the alignment head is slidably mounted on the cradle for moving the alignment head between the disengaged and engaged positions.

In a further embodiment, each cradle has a holder for reception of the sub-container, the holder engageable with the sub-container to support the sub-container with a bonding surface of the sub-container outermost.

In another embodiment, the clamping means comprises a bottle clamp on each cradle movable on the cradle between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position.

Preferably, the cradles are pivotably connected for relative movement of the cradles together and apart between a closed position for engaging the bonding surfaces of the bottles and an open position for loading and unloading bottles from the cradles.

In another embodiment, the cradles are arranged to sit one above the other in the closed position.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a bottle handling apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevational view of bottle handling apparatus used in the process; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the apparatus shown in another operative position; Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevational view of the apparatus shown in a closed position; Fig 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the apparatus in another operative position.

A process and apparatus according to the invention for producing a liquid container having two separate compartments defined by two glass bottles bonded together to form the container will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan schematic diagram of an endless conveyer 10 on which are mounted a number of spaced-apart bottle handling devices 11 which are shown in more detail in Figs. 2 to 5. The bottle handling devices 11 are led around a number of work stations arranged in an endless circuit in which bottles are loaded in the bottle handling devices 11, aligned and bonded together and then removed from the bottle handling devices 11.

Referring to Fig. 2 each bottle handling device 11 has a lower fixed cradle 15 and an upper movable cradle 16 hingedly connected by a pivot pin 17. Each cradle 15, 16 has means for reception of one of a pair of bottles 18, 19 each of which has a generally flat bonding surface 20, 21 at one side of the bottle 18, 19, and a generally flat base 22, 23.

The fixed cradle 15 has a base 24 with an upstanding front wall 25 at one end of the base 24 and an upstanding rear wall 26 at the other end of the base 24. A bottle holder 28 is mounted on the base 24 to support the bottle 18 with the flat bonding surface 20 uppermost. A clamp arm 30 having a bottle engaging head 31 is slidably mounted on the rear wall 26 and is moveable by means of a cam mechanism (not shown) between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position as shown in Fig. 2. A neck support wall 33 is upstanding on the base to support a neck 34 of the bottle 18.

The movable cradle 16 has a base 35 with an upstanding front wall 36 and an upstanding rear wall 37 at opposite ends of the base 35. A bottle holder 38 is mounted on the base 35 for supporting the bottle 19 on the fixed cradle 16 with the flat bonding surface 21 outermost. A clamp arm 40 having a bottle engaging head 41 is slidably mounted on the rear wall 37 and is moveable by means of a cam mechanism (not shown) between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position as shown in Fig. 2. A shoulder 43 on the front wall 36 supports a neck 44 of the bottle 19, with a free end of the neck 44 projecting forwardly of the shoulder 43.

A neck alignment head 45 is carried on a shaft 46 which is slidably mounted by means of a cam mechanism (not shown) on the front wall 25 of the fixed cradle 15 for movement between a retracted disengaged position as shown in Fig. 2 an advanced bottle engaging position as shown in Figs. Ί and 5. The alignment head 45 has a pair of spacedapart sockets 47 for engagement with the necks 34, 44 of the bottles 18, 19.

It will be appreciated that in Figs. 2 to 5 only one pair of bottles are shown being mounted on the bottle handling device 11. In practise four pairs of bottles will be mounted side by side in each bottle handling device 11 as shown schematically in Fig. 1. For the purposes of this description only one pair of bottles will be referred to, the process being the same for all pairs of bottles.

At a bottle loading station 50 a first bottle 18 is mounted in the fixed cradle 15, the bottle 18 being dropped into the bottle holder 28. The second bottle 19 is mounted in a similar fashion in the movable cradle 16. Each bottle clamp 30, 40 is then advanced to clamp the bottles 18, 19 on the cradles 15, 16. The bottle 18 in the fixed cradle 15 may be tamped down if necessary to ensure it is correctly positioned within the cradle 15.

Then, as shown in Fig. 3 the neck alignment head 45 is advanced to engage a neck 34 of the bottle 18 to correctly align the neck 34 of the bottle 18 within the fixed cradle 15.

If necessary the bottle handling device 11 is then passed through a cleaning station 55 at which the bonding surfaces 20, 21 of the bottles 18, 19 are cleaned.

Downstream of the cleaning station 55 the bottle handling device 11 passes through a gluing station 58 at which a UV adhesive is dispensed in an appropriate pattern on a bonding surface 20, 21 of at least one of the bottles 18, 19.

Then the neck alignment head 45 is retracted and the movable cradle 16 pivoted into a closed position as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the bottle clamp 40 on the movable cradle 16 is released just immediately prior to engagement of the cradles 15, 16 so the bottle 19 freely sits on the bottle 18. Then the alignment head 45 is advanced to engage the sockets 47 with the necks 34, 44 of the bottles 18, 19 and the bottle clamp 40 on the movable cradle 16 is advanced to ensure proper engagement of the neck 44 of the bottle 19 with the neck alignment head 45 as shown in Fig. 5.

The closed bottle handling device 11 passes through a curing station 60 to set the adhesive thus forming the two compartment liquid container.

Downstream of the curing station 60 the bottle handling devices 11 are unloaded at an unloading station 70. To unload each bottle handling device 11 the alignment head 45 is retracted and the bottle clamp 40 on the movable cradle 16 is also retracted. The movable cradle 16 is then swung into the open position (shown in Fig. 2) leaving the container on the fixed cradle 15. The bottle clamp 30 is then retracted and the container is removed from the fixed cradle 15.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a process and apparatus for correctly aligning a pair of bottles to form the two compartment liquid container. The critical spacing between the necks of the bottles to properly receive the plastic cap is ensured in a quick and efficient manner facilitating high production throughput with a low rejection rate.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (17)

1. A process for producing a liquid container having two separate compartments defined by two subcontainers bonded together to form the container, including the steps: mounting a first sub-container in a first cradle, mounting a second sub-container in a second cradle associated with the first cradle, applying adhesive to a bonding surface of at least one of the sub-containers, moving the cradles together, bringing together bonding surfaces of the sub-containers, aligning the sub-containers, clamping the sub-containers in the aligned position, curing the adhesive to form the dual-compartment liquid container, releasing the liquid container, separating the cradles, and removing the liquid container. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of aligning the bottles by engaging necks of the bottles with an alignment head movably mounted on one of the cradles for movement between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position, the alignment head having a pair of spaced-apart neck receiving sockets for engaging and holding the necks of the bottles in an aligned position a preset distance apart while curing the adhesive.

2. 3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the alignment head is slidably mounted on the cradle for moving the alignment head between the disengaged and engaged positions.

3. 4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim including the step of mounting each sub-container in its associated cradle by seating the subcontainer in a holder on the cradle with the bonding surface of the sub-container outermost, and then clamping the sub-container within the cradle.

4. 5. A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein each cradle has a bottle clamp movable on the cradle between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position.

5. 6. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cradles are pivotably connected for relative movement of the cradles together and apart between a closed position for engaging the bonding surfaces of the bottles and an open position for loading and unloading bottles from the cradles .

6. 7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cradles are arranged to sit one above the other in the closed position, the process including the step of releasing the bottle clamp of the uppermost cradle just before the sub12 containers meet as the cradles are being moved from the open position into the closed position.

7. 8. A process for producing a liquid container substantially as hereinbefore described with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings .

8. 9. A liquid container whenever produced according to the process as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. 10. Apparatus for producing a liquid container having two separate compartments defined by two sub10 containers bonded together to form the container, the apparatus comprising: a first cradle for reception of a first subcontainer, a second cradle associated with the first cradle, 15 the second cradle for reception of a second subcontainer, means for moving the cradles between an open loading position and a closed position for bringing together bonding surfaces of the sub20 containers, means for aligning the sub-containers, and means for clamping the sub-containers in the aligned position.

10. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the alignment means is an alignment head movably mounted on one of the cradles for movement between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position, the alignment head having a pair of spaced-apart neck receiving sockets for engaging and holding the necks of the bottles in an aligned position a preset distance apart.

11. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the alignment head is slidably mounted on the cradle for moving the alignment head between the disengaged and engaged positions.

12. 13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 wherein each cradle has a holder for reception of the sub-container, the holder engageable with the sub-container to support the sub-container with a bonding surface of the sub-container outermost.

13. 14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 wherein the clamping means comprises a bottle clamp on each cradle movable on the cradle between a retracted disengaged position and an extended bottle engaging position.

14. 15. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14 wherein the cradles are pivotably connected for relative movement of the cradles together and apart between a closed position for engaging the bonding surfaces of the bottles and an open position for loading and unloading bottles from the cradles .

15.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14 claim wherein the cradles are arranged to sit one above the other in the closed position. - 14

17. Apparatus for producing a liquid container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.