NZ770899A - An apparatus and a method for securing a closure to an open container - Google Patents

Abstract

apparatus for securing a closure (4) to an open container comprises a closure insertion mechanism (30) for inserting the closure into an opening of the container, and a crimping mechanism (50) for radially deforming inwardly a side wall (5) of the container when the closure is located in a closure insertion position in the opening of the container and forming an inwardly directed deformation (8) in the side wall of the container which frictionally secures the closure inside the container to close the opening of the container. re insertion position in the opening of the container and forming an inwardly directed deformation (8) in the side wall of the container which frictionally secures the closure inside the container to close the opening of the container.

Description

AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR SECURING A E TO AN OPEN CONTAINER TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for securing a closure to an open container.

More particularly, although by no means exclusively, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for securing a e to an open container that is to be used as perishable food produce packaging.

The invention s ularly, although by no means ively, to containers of the type that comprise a side wall in the form of a tube such as a cylindrical tube made from a plastics material, a base made from a plastics material that is welded or otherwise connected to one end of the tube, and a removable closure, i.e. lid, that is typically made from a plastics material and is adapted to be inserted into and removed from the other end of the tube to allow access to the contents of the container.

OUND ART Containers for able food produce are often made by injection molding plastic materials into suitable container shapes.

The ufactured containers are usually open containers, with a base and a side wall extending from the base, and an open end for receiving perishable food produce.

One particular container shape that is the focus of the invention comprises a side wall in the form of a cylindrical tube, a base at one end of the tube, and a removable closure at the other end of the tube.

An example of an apparatus and a method for manufacturing an open container that is suitable particularly gh not exclusively for packaging and orting perishable produce, such as fruit, is described in International (PCT) Patent Application No. entitled “Apparatus for Manufacturing a Container” in the name of the applicant. The disclosure in the International application is incorporated herein by cross-reference. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 Many companies import open containers into lia and New Zealand (by way of example) from overseas countries stacked in large shipping containers.

The open containers are then distributed to companies that package perishable food produce into the containers in packing plants that are on or in close proximity to farms or at other locations remote from packing plants.

The packaging process includes putting e into the open containers, applying closures to the filled containers, and then transporting the closed, filled containers to wholesale or retail outlets.

As can be readily appreciated, in many situations, much of the volume of the shipping containers that ort the open containers is largely unoccupied. The open containers have internal voids for receiving food produce and are not always nestable to optimize space utilization. This issue significantly increases the overall costs for supplying open ners to the .

It is therefore ble to provide an improved way of producing packaging/containers.

The above description is not to be taken as an admission of the common general knowledge in Australia, New Zealand, and any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE SURE The above-mentioned International application is a viable option for manufacturing open containers locally, for example at packing plants that are on or in close proximity to farms or at other locations remote from packing .

The advantage of local manufacturing open containers is that sheets/rolls of plastics material for the open containers are relatively cheap to import as they can be laid flat to occupy most of the volume of the shipping container. Similarly, the closures form only a small part of the finished container and can be imported in bulk to save on shipping costs. The combined effect of the above, is a container which has a d shipping cost per container; resulting in a significantly r container.

Putting aside manufacturing issues for open containers, once open containers are at packing plants and have been filled with perishable food produce, it is necessary to apply closures to the open containers. This can be a time-consuming se. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 The applicant has ped a system for applying closures to open containers that have been filled with perishable food produce in packing plants.

The invention provides an apparatus for securing a closure to an open container, the container comprising a base, a side wall extending from the base, and an opening for receiving food produce, the apparatus comprising a container holder for holding the open container that has food produce in the container; a closure insertion mechanism for inserting the closure into the opening of the container; and a crimping mechanism for radially deforming inwardly the side wall of the container when the closure is located in a closure insertion position in the g of the container and forming an inwardly directed deformation in the side wall of the container which onally secures the closure inside the container to close the g of the ner.

An advantage of deforming the container to frictionally secure the closure inside the side wall of the container, as opposed to for example welding, is that the process can be performed rapidly on a production line and the closure is readily releasable from the ner.

The open container may comprise a side wall in the form of a cylindrical tube, a base at one end of the tube, and an opening at the other end of the tube.

In some embodiments, the ation in the side wall of the container is an undercut.

The deformation in the side wall of the container may be a neck which is continuous or discontinuous around the circumference of the side wall of the container.

In some embodiments, the closure insertion mechanism is movable between a closure loading on and the closure insertion position.

The closure insertion mechanism may be adapted to retain the closure in the mechanism via a partial vacuum.

In some embodiments, the closure insertion ism comprises an end element that is movable between a retracted position and an ed position in which, in use, the end element engages and retains an internal surface of a wall of a recess in the closure.

The end element may se a plurality of movable jaws configured to be inserted inside the recess and to move outwardly to engage an inner wall of the recess when the closure insertion mechanism is in the closure insertion position. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 The jaws may be movable inwardly to retract out of engagement with the inner wall of the recess.

Each jaw may have a peripheral groove facing the inner surface of the wall when the jaw is engaged with the inner wall.

In some ments, the crimping mechanism comprises a g element movable inwardly to deform the wall of the container and the inner wall of the e into the eral grooves of the jaws.

The working element may have a curved edge which conforms the shape of the wall of the container.

In some embodiments, a conveyor belt delivers containers to and from the container holder.

In some embodiments, the closure insertion mechanism comprises an arm that is pivotably movable relative to the container holder at a pivot located between a first end and a second end of the arm, the arm being pivotable between a first position, in which a first closure can be inserted from the first end of the arm into an open end of a first container, and a second position, in the which a second closure can be inserted from the second end of the arm into an open end of a second ner.

In the first position the second end can be loaded with the second closure and in the second position the first end can be loaded with the first closure.

The invention also provides a method for securing a closure to an open container, the container sing a base, a side wall extending from the base, and an opening, the method comprising moving the open container, typically with food produce in the ner, to a container holder and holding the open container in position at the container holder, inserting the closure into the opening of the open container while the open container is held by the container holder, and radially deforming inwardly the side wall of the container and forming an inwardly directed deformation in the side wall of the container which frictionally secures the closure inside the container to close the g of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE GS Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the apparatus and the method of the invention as set forth in the above Summary of the 17153925_1 ters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 Disclosure, specific ments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying gs in which: Figure 1A is a side view of an open container 2 that is to be used with the apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of the open container 2 of Figure 1A along the line A-A; Figure 1C is a top perspective view of the open container 2 of Figure 1A; Figure 2A is a side view of the open container 2 of Figure 1A with a closure 4 secured thereto; Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the open container 2 and closure 4 of Figure 2A along the line B-B; Figure 2C is a top perspective view of the open container 2 and closure 4 of Figure 2A; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the container holder 11 of the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 3; Figure 5A is a top ctive view of the closure insertion mechanism 30 of the apparatus 10 shown in Figure 3; Figure 5B is a side view of the closure ion mechanism 30 of the apparatus shown in Figure 3; Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view of the closure insertion mechanism 30 of Figure 5B along the line B-B; Figure 5D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the end element 40a shown in detail C of Figure 5C; Figure 5E is an enlarged cross-sectional view of movable jaws 44 shown in Figure 5D; Figure 6 is a top perspective view of a crimping mechanism 50 of the apparatus shown in Figure 3; Figure 6a is bottom perspective view of the crimping mechanism 50 shown in Figure 6 with the drive mechanism visible; Figure 7 is a top ctive view of a die 60 shown in Figure 6; 25_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 Figures 8 to 11 show the end element 40a and dies 60 during different stages of the crimping process of the apparatus 10 according to Figure 3, wherein: Figure 8A is a perspective view of the end element 40a and dies 60 prior to deformation of the ner 2; Figure 8B is a side view of the end element 40a and dies 60 shown in Figure Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view of the end element 40a and dies 60 along line C-C in Figure 8B; Figure 9A is a perspective view of the end element 40a and dies 60 during deformation of the container 2; Figure 9B is a side view of the end element 40a and dies 60 shown in Figure Figure 9C is a sectional view of the end element 40a and dies 60 along line D-D in Figure 9B; Figure 10A is a perspective view of the end element 40a and dies 60 following deformation, wherein the jaws 44 have released the internal wall 6 of the closure 4 and the dies 60 are retracted from the container 2; Figure 10B is a side view of the end element 40a and dies 60 shown in Figure Figure 10C is a cross-sectional view of the end element 40a and dies 60 along line E-E in Figure 10B; Figure 11A is a perspective view of the end element 40a and dies 60 ing deformation, wherein the jaws 44 have been withdrawn from the recess 7 of the closure Figure 11B is a side view of the end element 40a and dies 60 shown in Figure 11A; and Figure 11C is a cross-sectional view of the end t 40a and dies 60 along line F-F in Figure 11B; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Figures 1A-1C show an example of an open container 2 in the form of a hollow er that is suitable for use in an embodiment of the apparatus of the present 17153925_1 (GHMatters) 1.NZ 10/12/20 invention. The open container 2 comprises a side wall in the form of a cylindrical tube, a base at one end of the tube, and an opening at the other end of the tube for receiving a perishable food produce.

The open container 2 may be manufactured as described in the above-mentioned International application of the applicant by (a) folding a rectangular sheet of plastic material, such as polypropylene or any other suitable plastics material, into a cylinder, (b) welding ng side edges of the sheet er to form a seam along the length of the cylinder, with the er having a longitudinal axis 3, and (c) welding an end to one end of the tube to form a base of the container, with the other end being an open end.

The invention is not confined to manufacturing the open container 2 as described in the above-mentioned International ation Figures 2A-2C show a closure 4 secured within the open end of the open container 2. The closure 4 is molded from plastic al, such as polypropylene or any other suitable plastics material, and has a generally W-shaped transverse crosssectional e defining a domed central portion 5, an upstanding (as viewed in the Figures) perimeter wall 6, and an annular recess 7 between the central portion 5 and wall 6.

Figure 3 shows an apparatus 10 for ng the closure 4 to the open container 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention after the open container 2 has been filled with a able food produce.

The apparatus 10 comprises: (a) a container holder 11 for holding the open container 2 in position for receiving the closure 4, (b) a closure insertion mechanism 30 for inserting the closure 4 into an open end of the container 2, and (c) a crimping mechanism 50 for ly deforming inwardly a wall 5 of the container when the closure 4 is located in a closure insertion position in the open end of the container 2 and forming an inwardly directed deformation 8 (see Figures 10c, 11c) in the container 2 which onally secures the e 4 inside the container 2 to close an end of the container 2. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 An advantage of deforming the ner 2 to frictionally secure the closure 4 inside the container 2, as opposed to for example welding er the two components, is that the process can be performed rapidly on a production line and the closure 4 is releasable from the ner 2.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a conveyor belt 70 which, in use, delivers containers 2 to and from the container holder 11.

Figure 4 shows an isolated view of the container holder 11 holding an open container 2. The container holder 11 comprises two brackets 12, mounted on opposing sides of the conveyor belt 70, each housing a e holding element 13. Each bracket 12 has a base section 14 formed from a rectangular plate defining a surface from which with two flanges 15 extend from. The flanges 15 are disposed at a distance from each other along the longitudinal axis of the base section 14. Each flange 15 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base section 14 across the entire width of the base section 14. Each flange 15 has a flat front surface 16 and an angled rear surface 17. The flat front surface 16 is d to a mounting plate 18 which houses an actuator 19 comprising a centrally located driving piston/cylinder arrangement 20 and a guiding piston/cylinder arrangement 21 mounted on either side of the centrally d driving /cylinder ement 20. Each of the cylinders is statically fixed to the mounting plate 18 and the pistons are slidably mounted to the cylinders. The ends of each piston connect to a rear surface 22 of the holding element 13. A front surface 23 of the holding element 13 conforms to the curvature of the cylindrical container 2. In use, the actuator 19 drives the piston and holding elements 13 towards each other to clamp the rical container 2 at a central position between the g elements 13.

Figures 5A-5D show the closure insertion mechanism 30 which comprises an arm 31 defining a first end 33 and a second end 34. The arm 31 is bly movable relative to the container holder 11 at a pivot 32 located between the first end 33 and the second end 34 of the arm 31. Located at each of the first end 33 and second end 34 of the arm 31 are end ts 40a, 40b, respectively. Each end element 40a, 40b is independently slidable along the longitudinal axis of the arm 31 and arranged to receive a closure 4 from a stack of closures in a magazine 35 located above the insertion ism 30. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 A magazine 35 containing a stack of closures 4 is located above the insertion mechanism. The closures 4 are fed into the insertion mechanism 30 by a “feed separator” or any other de-nesting unit which is known in the art. A “feed separator” comprises a movable abutment element which retains the lowest closure in the magazine and is movable to selectively release the lowest closure from the magazine under gravity. The “feed separator” further comprises a clamping element which retains the stack of es above the lowest closure when the lowest closure is released from the stack.

In use, each end element 40a, 40b can insert a closure 4 into an upper open end of an open ner 2. For e, the end element 40b can hold a closure 4 while the end element 40a inserts another closure 4 into an open end of a container 2 positioned at that time at the container holder 11, and vice versa. The arm 31 is pivotable between a first position and a second on, such that the end elements 40a, 40b can alternate between receiving closure 4 and inserting the closure 4 into an open end of a container 2 positioned at that time at the container holder 11. For example, in the first position, a closure 4a can be inserted by the end t 40a into an open end of a first container 2a and the end element 40b can receive a different closure 4b. Once the arm 31 is pivoted from the first position into the second on, the end element 40b can insert the e 4b into an open end of a second container 2b and the end element 40a can receive a further closure 4c.

Figure 5D shows a cross-sectional view of the end t 40a shown in Figure 5C. The end element 40a comprises an annulus 41 and a ity of movable jaws 44 positioned around the annulus 41 and pivotably mounted thereto. When the annulus 41 slides axially, the movable jaws 44 pivot radially outward. d inside the annulus 41 is a piston 42 with a suction cup 43 mounted at the end thereof. The piston 42 is slidable axially and independently of the movement of the annulus 41.

Figure 5E shows an isolated view of the movable jaws 44. Each of the jaws 44 has an inner surface 45 and an outer surface 46. The jaws 44 have a peripheral groove 47 located on the outer surface 46 which forms part of the crimping mechanism 50 as will be sed in the following sections. An c band 48 extending around the outer surface 46 of the jaws 44 and biases the jaws 44 inwardly. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 When a closure 4 is released from the ne 35, the suction cup 43 creates a vacuum which grips closure 4. This enables the closure 4 to be secured to the end element 40a, while the arm 31 is rotated through 180 degrees to position the closure 4 above the open container 2.

Once positioned above the open container 2, the end element 40a is moved axially to insert the closure 4 inside the open container 2. Once inserted into the open container 2, the annulus 42 is slid axially towards the open container 2 to displace the jaws 44 dly, against the biasing force of the elastic band 48, into ment with the inner wall 6 of the closure 4. The vacuum in suction cup 43 is ceased and the piston 42 is slid axially away from the open ner to withdraw the suction cup 43 from the e 4. At this stage of the process the crimping mechanism 50 can be actuated to radially deform the side wall of the container as shown in 9C. This inward deformation in the side wall of the ner creates a mechanical restriction which frictionally secures the closure inside the container to close the opening of the container.

Once the inward deformation has been made, the annulus 42 can be slid axially away from the container. In this position, the annulus no longer exerts a force on the jaws 44 and the elastic band 48 biases the jaws 44 inwardly out of engagement with the internal wall 6 of the closure 4. The end element 40a can now be withdrawn from the recess 7.

Figure 6 shows the crimping mechanism 50 which comprises four working elements 51 that are radially disposed around a l point, i.e. the position which a rical container 2 can be held by the holding elements 13 of the container holder 11. Each working element 51 has a die 60 secured to a sleeve 52 that is mounted to a chassis 53 which is slidably mounted to a guide rail 54 located above each working element 51. Each g element 51 is movable toward and away from the central by slidably moving the chassis 53 along the guide rail 54. This movement is actuated by operation of a drive mechanism (not shown in Figure 6). The movement and amount of force exerted by each working element 51 is synchronous across all four of the working elements 51 by operation of the drive mechanism.

Figure 6a shows an underside view of the drive ism 55 of the crimping mechanism 50. The drive mechanism 55 comprises a disk 56 and a pinion gear 57. The 17153925_1 ters) 1.NZ 10/12/20 disk 56 is positioned between the guide rail 54 and the sleeve 52 and is rotatably mounted to frame components 58 located at a periphery of the disk 56. The disk 56 includes four identical radially spiralled slots 59 ed therein. Each chassis 53 has a camming roller (not shown) that is received within a respective slot 59 in the disk 56.

As such, each slot 59 corresponds to a different working element 51. A portion of the circumference of the disk 56 is toothed in a rack configuration. The pinion gear 57 is ly offset from the disk 56 and has teeth which mesh with the teeth on the disk 56.

Anticlockwise rotation of the pinion gear 57 causes clockwise rotation of the disk 56 which moves the camming rollers along the respective slot 59 to synchronously drive the working elements 51 radially towards the central point. The degree of force driving the working element 51 is controlled by the torque d to the pinion gear 57 and disk 56. The working elements 51 can be withdrawn synchronously by rotating the disc 56 in an anticlockwise direction.

Figure 7 shows an isolated view of the die assembly 60. The die assembly 60 is a generally cuboid shaped having a front section 61 and a rear 62 section. The front section 61 is tapered to define an edge 62 having an arcuate profile. The front section 61 is manufactured from thermally conductive material such as, but not limited to brass or steel. The rear section 62 of the die ly 60 is constructed from a thermally insulating material to prevent the sleeve 52 from getting too hot. The die assembly 60 is onally received within the sleave 52 of the working element 51. The rear section 62 has common holes 67 for receiving dowels to releasably secure the rear section 62 to the front section 61. The front section 61 has h holes 66 which extend transversely and are configured for housing an electric heating element and thermocouple (temperature ) to control the temperature of the die 60.

Figures 8 to 11 show the end element 40a and dies 60 of the crimping mechanism 50 isolated from the rest of the apparatus 10 and illustrate the steps involved in securing a closure 4 to an open container 2. s 8A to 8C show a first stage. In the first stage, the jaws 44 of the end element 40a are within the recess 7 of the closure 4 and the outer surfaces 47 of the jaws 44 are in contact with the internal wall 6 of the closure. The dies 60 are not in contact with the ner. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 Figures 9A to 9C show a second stage of the process. In the second stage, the jaws 44 remain in t with the internal wall 6 of the closure and the dies 60 have moved radially into contact with the container 2 such that the edge 65 of each die 60 has deformed the wall of the container 2 and the internal wall of the closure into the peripheral grooves 47 of the jaws 44. Deformation is assisted by the combined effect of heat, which is d via an electrical heating t which extends through openings Figures 10A to 10C show a third stage of the process. In the third stage, the jaws 44 remain within the recess 7 of the closure 4 but have been released the internal wall 6 to reveal a deformation 8 in the container 2 and closure 4. The dies 60 have been withdrawn from the container 2 and closure 4 assembly. s 11A to 11C show a final stage of the process. In the final stage, the end element 40 is displaced from the ly, to withdraw the jaws 44 from the recess 7.

The ing assembly has a closure 4 that is frictionally secured to the ner 2 as a result of the wall of the container 2 and the internal wall 6 of the closure being deformed inwardly. This is also known as an ut.

However, it is also envisaged in accordance with another, although not the only other, ment of the invention that the same apparatus 10 could alternatively secure the closure 4 to the ner 2 without deforming the internal wall of the closure 2, for example, if the closure is suitably rigid. In such a situation, the closure 4 is frictionally secured within the container by the wall of the container being deformed to produce a neck in the container.

In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or ising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein. r patent applications may be filed on the basis of, or claiming priority from, the present application. It is to be understood that the following claims are provided by use of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 claimed in any such future applications. Features may be added to or omitted from the claims at a later date so is to further define or ine the invention or inventions. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 Legend 2 : open ner 3 : udinal axis 4 : closure : domed central n 6 : internal wall 7 : recess 8 : deformation 10 : apparatus 11 : container holder 12 : bracket 13 : holding element 14 : base section 15 : flange 16 : flat front surface 17 : angled rear surface 18 : mounting plate 19 : actuator 20 : driving piston/cylinder arrangement 21 : guiding piston/cylinder arrangement 22 : rear surface 23 : front surface : closure insertion mechanism 31 : arm 32 : pivot 33 : first end 34 : second end : magazine 40a, 40b : end element 41 : annulus 42 : piston 43 : suction cup 44 : movable jaws 45 : inner surface 46 : outer surface 47 : peripheral groove 48 : ent ring 50 : crimping mechanism 40 51 : working element 52 : sleeve 53 : chassis 54 : guide rail 55 : drive mechanism 45 56 : disk 57 : pinion gear 58 : frame components 59 : slots 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20 60 : die 61 : front 62 : rear 63 : right side 64 : left side 65 : edge 66 : holes 67 : openings 70 : or belt 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ 10/12/20

Claims (6)

1. An apparatus for securing a closure to an open container, the container comprising a base, a side wall extending from the base, and an opening for receiving food produce, the apparatus comprising a container holder for holding 5 the open container that typically has food produce in the container; a closure insertion mechanism for inserting the closure into the opening of the container; and a crimping mechanism for radially deforming inwardly the side wall of the container when the e is located in a closure insertion position in the opening of the container and forming an ly directed deformation in the 10 side wall of the container which onally secures the closure inside the container to close the opening of the container.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformation is an undercut. 15

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, n the ation is a neck which is continuous or tinuous around the circumference of the side wall of the container.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure 20 insertion mechanism is movable between a closure loading on and the closure insertion on.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure insertion mechanism is adapted to retain the closure in the mechanism via a 25 partial vacuum.

6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure insertion mechanism comprises an end element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which, in use, the end t 30 engages and retains an internal surface of a wall of a recess in the e. 17153925_1 (GHMatters) P115161.NZ