US2196665A - Method of making containers - Google Patents

Description

9, MOORE 2196.665

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS Filed llay 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR I ATTORNEY A ril 9,1940. 'G.A. MOORE 11795.65

umon or uAKmG counnwns and lay 26. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEN TOR ATTORNEY $1M w I I All? 9, 1949. G A, MOORE 2,196,665

' mmon or mum conwunx's Filed llay 26. 193?? 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY April 9,19%. I A MOORE 2.196.665;

METHOD OF MAKING CONI AINERS Filed lay-26', 193:1 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTORL 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 9, 1940 mrrnon or name cox-rams George Arlington Moore, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Humoco Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Appli cation May 26, 1937, Serial No. 144,842

8 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containerscomprising fibrous materials and to methods and means for fabricating the same and making the component parts thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel container which'may .be commercially fabricated from flexible materials, such as paper, fibre board, foil and the like.

10 Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and means for making containers and sealing the same whereby containers which are substantially impervious to air and moisture may be fabricated'by automatic machinery capable of securing rapid production in large quantities at low cost.

Another object is to provide a novel container wherein products and particularly hygroscopic products, such as tobacco, for example, may be sealed and retained for an indefinite period without noticeable change in the condition of the packaged product irrespective of the temperatures, pressures and climatic conditions to which the package is subjected.

-Still another object is to'provide a novel metallined fibrous container which is so constructed that the same may be readily and cleanly opened by digital pressure.

A further object is to provide a container wherein a novel seam is provided for joining the container body and aclosure member therefor, whereby said container may be rendered substantially impervious to air and moisture.

A still further object is to provide a novel 35. method of applying a thin coating of liquid to a predetermined area of the inner wall of a; tubular container or the like whereby'an adhesive coating thereon may be activated without danger of removing said coating or'contaminating other 40 parts or the contents of the container. i

Another object is to provide a n'ovel'method and means for forming grooves in the walls of a container body and for supporting the same while inserting a closure member therein and curling 5 the body wall inwardly to secure said closure in position. x

Another object is to provide .atubular container body which is constructed from a plurality of blanks having the ends thereof joined by lap 50 or butt joints and which comprises novel means for improving the moisture-proof character of at least one of said joints. I

The above and further objects, and novel features of theinventionwiil-more fully appear from 55 the following detailed description, when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. .It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference be- 5 ing had for this'latter purpose to the-appended claims. a a

' In the drawings, whereinlike reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, 10

a fabrication thereof;

Fig. 4 is an isometric 'view, partly in section, of the lower or bottom headof the container 20 prior to its insertion into the shell;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section 'and with parts broken away, illustrating one form of container embodying the present invention, the contents having been removed from the upper 25 end thereof and the cover being shown in open position;

Fig. 5a is a sectional view taken substantially on line Sat-Swot Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatictop plan illustrating 30 means for carrying out the novel method of applying 'a liquid to the inner surface of the shell of Fig. 3;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 show'various forms of blanks, on a reduced scale, which may be employed in making the heads of Figs. 2 and 4; I

' Fig. 10 is a planview, partly in section and with parts broken away, showing one embodiment of the novel rib forming and body supporting means employed in carrying out the novel method of the invention, theparts being shown in expanded and contracted positions the left and right halves of the figure, respectively;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating means which are not satisfactory for practicing said method; a Y 1 Fig. 12 is a similar detail view showing one of the die members'of Fig.10 as'the same initially engages the container body; 5

Fig. 13 is a top plan view similarto the right- .0

.half of Fig. 10 with one segment of. the die removed;

' ,Fig. 14, is a detail side elevation, 'partly in section and with parts broken away, showing the mechanism for performing the initial step in the to the paper laminae of the body and for applying a paraflln treated strip thereto;

Figssl'l and 1a are detail sectional views, with parts broken away, of a partially completed body showing novel means for impregnating a lap.

joint with paraflln or the like; I

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, the section being taken through a completed container in a plane corresponding to the linen-I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20'is a detail view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of suitable means for is a clear lacquer which becomes plastic or tacky forming the head shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 21 is a rear elevation, with away of the container of Fig. 5;

Fig. 2 2 is a side elevation of a portion of said container";

parts broken Fig; 23 is a sectional view, with parts broken awawtsxeaen line 23-23 of Fig. 21; and, Fig, 24'is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, showing means for inserting a closure in the body, the section'beins taken in the plane of line 24-44 of Fig. 13.

One embodiment of the container of the pres-, ent invention is illustrated in the drawings, by way of example, in the form of a container suitable for packaging tobacco, the same being so constructed as to prevent escape or absorption of moisture from or by the tobacco or other contents of the container, thereby insuring that the consumer will receive said contents in factoryfresh condition. The container is also so constructed as to be readily opened by digital pressure without the aid of tools of any kind for the purpose of dispensing the contents as the use of the same is desired. Preferably, the container is metal-lined and'the component parts thereof are secured together by metal-to-metal seams having adiacent surfaces joined by a non-hygroscopic lacquer in a novel manner to hereinafter appear.

Novel means are also incorporated in said container toobviate wicking of moisture from the tobacco into or through the" paper component of the body'or shell.

In the form shown, said container comprises a laminated shell or body 2 (Fig. 3) having straight parallel side wall portions 2a connected by arcuate end wall portions 217. This shell may be formed by wrapping one or preferably a plui rality of rectangularblanks of suitable material, such as paper and foil, about a mandrel (not shown) which is preferably expansible and collapsible and which has an uninterrupted periph cry when expanded. When a plurality of blanks are employed, the same are'applied to theman drel one at a time in'succession and contiguous blanks are adhesively secured together throughout, the areas thereof. The ends of each of saidblanks overlap at arcuate wall' portions 217 and are adhesively secured together, the'lap joints of contiguous blanks being formed at opposite sides of the shell. The body. may also be formed by wrapping a single blank about the mandrel several times and butt ioints may be employed in lieu of said lap joints, if desired.

Although any suitable numbers of laminations may' be employed, shell 2 is shown as having a three-ply wall, the inner lamina 3, 4 (Fig. 19) being constituted by ablank having an inner he activated by either heat, a solvent, or both.

Said lacquer should be non-hygroscopic and so constituted as to adhere'readily tor the foil and constitute a: good binding medium either in a foil-to-paper or a foil-to-foil seam or joint. One

cement or lacquer which has been found suitable for this purpose is Reynolds Metals Company acetate lacquer No. TC-3. This particular substance I layer 3 innermost and a lap joint 5 is formed between the overlapping ends of blank 3, 4, as best seen in Figs. 1'7. and 18, said ends being pressed together by a sealing tool, such as iron 6, which is heated by a pair of electric cartridge heaters I or any other suitable means thermostatically controlled through a thermostatbulb la. The heat from said iron is effective to activate the lacquer coating on the surface of foil layer 3 and the pressure exerted thereby presses the activated lacquer into the interstices of the engaging surfaces, thereby substantially welding the same together. The pressure applied by tool 0 is preferably sufllci'ent to compress the-paper component of the blank at its overlapped ends,

thereby forming a tapered joint and causing the 5 end of foil layer 3 within body '2 to engage an intermediate portion thereof, as at 8 (Fig. 1'7), and thus providesaid body with a. substantially continuous inner surface of impervious non-hygroscopic foil. The compression of paper laminations 4 in Joint 5 also materially reduces the wicking effect thereof and accordingly the passage of moisture into and out of the container through th s portion of the joint.

The blanks from which shell 2 is made are preferably cut from continuous strips, such as strip 8. illustrated in Fig. 16, for example, and the paper strip constituting the second or filler lamina I0 (Fig. 19) is coated on the inner surface with a dry film of a suitable gum or adhe- 'sive which may be activated by the application thereto of, a small quantity of water or other activating liquid by any suitable means, such as rollers II and II, the former of which rotates in a vessel i3 containing said liquid, For a purpose to appear hereafter, a narrow strip [4 of paper or other suitable material havingthe up- Easement with lamina I, 4, the wax-coated surparaflln and causing the sameto impregnate the mentary grooves IO, the mandrel on which body 6 ends of the paper component of' the inner lamina 2 is formed is collapsed and said body is re- 3, 4 in the manner indicated by heavy hatching moved therefrom and taken to a station at which or shading in Fig. 18."The raw edges of paper hovel means are employed for activating a prelayer 4 are thus rendered moisture repellent and determined area of the lacquer film on foil layer will not absorb or wick moistureto or away from 3 whereby an end closuremay be adhesively sei the contents of the completed container. As cured therein-in a. novel manner to hereinafter 4 heretofore pointed out, the compression. of said appear. As illustrated by heavy hatching in Fig... edges during the formation of joint 8 also a's- 3, a peripheral portion or annular band I! exsists in preventing absorption of moisture there-- tending from the ledges l'la of ribs ll to a line by. It will be understood that a satisfactory adjacent the edge of body 2 is activated, the-1'5 joint 5 could not be formed .if the ends of the activating agent being applied by a roller (Fig; a paper layer were impregnated with wax prior to 6). the axial length of which is equal to the the formation of said joint. since wax has no desired width of band I9. In order to prevent the aflinity for the thermoplastic lacquer employed thin lacquer ating f m be n wiped off of foil or other adhesive substances. layer 3 by the action of roller 20,. the latter is 20 The third or outer lamina I! (Fig. 19) is also mounted and caused to rotate about its own axis coated with a suitable adhesive and secured to and said axis is constrained by suitable cam lamina I 0 so that the lap joints of the contiguous means to travel in a path indicated by line 2| blanks are at opposite arcuate ends of the shell. during rotation of the roller. The roller thus has Lamina It may have any desired printed matter rolling contact only with the shell wall, thereby impressed thereon for advertising purposes or the eliminating ny endency thereof to rub the like-and the outer surface may be coated with lacqu r co fro Said wall. If desired, the a thin film ii of high-gloss lacquer. The latter axis of rotation of roller 20 may be fixed and the improves the appearanceof the container and shell wallfrictionally clamped between the same renders the outer surface thereof waterrepellent. and another roller (not shown) mounted ex If desired, the outer surface of the container may e y f the Shell y. p ti of be t t t by a t layer of t n lfoil in the cooperating rollers in opposite directions, the lieu of'or in combination with the high-gloss shell itself is rotated. lacquer film iii. If an outer layer of foil is em- For the purpose of preventing any washing-0i ployed, the same is preferably secured to paper the lacquer film from foil layer 3 by the activatlamina l5 by a suitable solvent activated lacquer. 8 agent a o obviating the rapid drying It will be noted that in certain views the body thereof, the activating liquid applied by roller and closures therefor are, in the interest of 20 is preferably a liquid lacquer containing solids clarity, shown as having a single thickness inwhich is constituted similar to the dry film being stead f being laminated. activated. When an acetone solvent or the like is 40 While shell 2 is still on the forming mandrel employed as an activating agent, the same evapoand before the adhesives between the laminations rates so quickly that the surface becomes dry beare completely dry, internal ribs I1 and compleforethe head'of Fig. 2 can be conveniently inj mentary external grooves l8 extending parallel serted and secured in the body in the desired to the ends of the shell (Fig. 3) are drawn in manner. This is particularly true when the face of strip ll is brought into contact with Joint for drawing ribs I1 is illustrated in a number of,

5 (Fig. 1'!) Pressure and heat are then applied applicant's copending' applications, such as in apto the arcuate wall of the partially completed plicatl'on Serial No. 53,722, filed December 10, 1935. shell by means of iron 6, thereby melting the After the formation of ribs l1 and compleeach of the straight side walls 2a. For this purpose, said mandrel may be provided with grooves in'the sides thereof,- and external dies having portions adapted to register with said grooves may be pressed into contact with the walls of the shell and thereby draw or press portions of said walls into rib formation. Ribs I! may be of" any suitable shape but the same preferably comprise a ledge portion Ila extending at substantially right angles to walls 2a, an intermediate portion l'lb parallel to said walls and a portion 11c making an angle of approximately 45 with said walls. These ribs tend to stiffen and strengthen bodyor shell 2 and serve other purposes which will more fully appear hereafter.

By drawing rib l'l before the adhesives be-- tween the laminations of the shell become bone dry, some slippage between said laminaeis permitted when sufflcient pressure is applied for the drawing operation. Said adhesives are sufflclently dried, however, to be effective for holding the, layers or laminae against slippage merely by the forces tending to cause the deformed material to spring back to its original position after removal of the drawing dies. Said ribs may thus be formed and rendered permanent without ex-. ceeding the elastic limit of the materials being deformed. The strength and texture'of said materials is also maintained and the impervious nature thereof is not affected. Suitable apparatus 'curling of the body wall margiii I :glosures in position within said b I 7 :m'e'ans are accordingly provided whereby suitable solvent is used in sufficiently small quantities to prevent the same from dissolving or washing off the thin lacquer film and running onto other parts of the shell wall, and, hence, from causing contamination of the machinery'employed and '50 forces are applied to the walls of body 2 by supporting means"therefor which tend'to cause side walls 211 to'bulg'e outwardly instead of inwardly. In theform shown, said means are constituted by'a set of die members that cooperateternal ribs l1 and complementary external grooves ll in the arcuate end walls 2b, which ribs v to form a collapsible and expansible female die which is effective, when collapsed, to form inand grooves may constitute extensions of ribs I'I and grooves it previously formed in side walls 20.

Said collapsible die. as illustrated, comprises,

a pair of linearly movable members 22, 22 provided with inwardly extending ribs 23 which are adapted to registerwith grooves IS. The end portions of members 22 above ribs 22 are preferably extended a short distance around arcuate walls 2b but are cutaway below the plane of the upper surfaces of said ribs to provide recesses 22a for the reception of the lower portions of diernembers 24, 24. The upper portions of the latter members cooperate with the upper portions of members 22 to form a die having an uninterrupted periphery when collapsed which engages the outerwall of the marginal portion of shell 2 above rib l1, l1 (Fig. 13a);

The lower and somewhat enlarged portions 24a of members 24 extend into recesses 22a formed in members 22 and are so formed as to engage the entire surface of end walls 2b over an area below rib II. The upper edge of each of the portions 24a constitutes a rib 24b which is eflective to form ribs II in the body of shell 2. The shell is preferably subjected to the action of dies 2'4, '24 before the adhesives between the laminations thereof are completely dry in order that some relative slippage of the layers may occur during the formation of grooves l8 for reasons fully pointed out above in connection with the drawing of grooves l8.

In subjecting the shell to the action of die 22, 24', one end of said shell is inserted in the die while the latter is in expanded position, as shown in the left half of Fig. 10. The die is then moved to closed position by any suitable means well known in the art, such as means including a wedge member 25 (Fig. 24) which cooperates with suitably inclined portions of the die members. It'will be seen from Figs. 10 and 12 that the slightly rounded ends of rib 24b on'mem- I bers 24 engage the shell first at such points that the pressure exerted thereby is effective to cause side walls 2a to bow outwardly toward members 22, as indicated at the top of Fig. 13. As die members 24v move inwardly in the direction of the arrows, grooves l8 and ribs H are progressively drawn in curved walls 2b by ribs 24b, the pressure of said diemembers being resisted by the rigidity of walls 2a. An inwardly directed pressure is thus applied entirely around said walls 2b which tends to cause the shell to assume a circular contour and, hence, hold walls 2:; in firm engagement with members 22 throughout the length of said'walls. It will be noted that, in forming ribs H, the radius of curvature of the material constituting the rib is reduced. A

portion of the excess material is blended into ribs i'l, previously formed in side walls 2a. and rib i1 is rendered comparatively smooth by the fact that the same is drawn by member 24 progressively from opposite ends toward the-center of side wall 2b.ffIf'desired, the free end of the shell mayz be supported during the formation ,of ribski'i"by pany suitable means, such as a chuck,-- one :-forrn,of which is shown in my pending application referred to" above. Said means may also be employed for moving the shell from one station to another, atwhich the various steps in the labrication of the: container are carriedout.

while shell 2 is held against longitudinal movement by die 22, 24 with the marginal walls thereof in firm engagement with the inner walls: of the die, a flanged closure member or head 22 24b. incline inwardly toward (Fig. 2), constituted in a novel manner to hereinafterappear,isinsertedinsaidbodybyamale die. 21, 21a (Fig. 24) that pushes said head or closure through a female die 28 which has an opening that registers with die 22, 24. The periphery or the upper or inner end of the latter die is preferably reduced somewhat toform a shoulder 28 having a radial width substantially equal to thewall thickness of shell 2 (Fig. 24). Thus, any possibility of the head's striking the edge of body 2 during theinsertion of the former is-obviatecl.

As head 26 is moved into body 2, the flange 28a thereof engages the activated ribbon of lacquer IS on the inner wall of the marginal portion of said body and is effective to push some of said lacquer downonto ledge l'la of rib i1, i1 and, hence, adhesively join the base of the head and said ledge (Fig. 19), the pressure exerted by the head inserting male die 21, 21a being effective to press the activated adhesive into .the interstices of the surfaces of said base and ledge. When closure 26 is seated on rib l1, H, the inserting die is withdrawn, portion 21a thereof being effective to strip the closure from portion 21, die 22, 24 is expanded, and the headed shell is moved to another station at which the head is secured in position by flowing the marginal portion of the shell into overlapping relation with flange 26a of said closure.,

For this latter step, the headed end of the ,shell is inserted in an expansible female die comprising a member 30, said die being similar to die 22, 24 except that no shoulder corresponding to shoulder 29 is provided and, for a purpose to hereinafter appear, the upper or pressure opposing surfaces of ribs 30a corresponding to rib 23, the wall of the die, as best seen in Fig. 14; The lateral pressures exerted by the members constituting die 30 are effective to bow the sides of walls 2a into firm engagement with the inner surface of the die, in the same manner as pointed out above in connection with die 22, 24. Head 26 which has been inserted or bottom closure 3| (Fig. 4) depending on which end of the shell is being closed, assists in this latter function.

' While the headed shell is thus supported and held against longitudinal movement, a male die 32 having an arcuate peripheral groove 22 formed in the lower face thereof is moved into die 30' and into engagement with the edge of shell 2 by any suitable well-known means. Further downward movement of die 32 is effective to curl or flow the marginal portion of the shell into overlapping or interlocking relation with flange 26a of head 26, as indicated by dottedvlines in Fig. 14,- the raw edge of said marginal portion being directed into a peripheral groove 26b bounded by said vflange and an. arcuate rib portion 260 "held in firm engagement with the walls of die 30," since, if the same bowinwardly, as indicated I in Fig. 11, the wall will not flow freely along the surface of groove 33 and the pressure of die 22 willbe so directed as to crush instead of curl the same. Ribbon 19 of activated lacquer is preferably of sufficient width to extend upwardly beyond the upper edge of flange 26, so that when the curling action is completed, some of the activated adhesive will engage the inner surface of said flange (Fig. 19).

In order to obviate any danger of the shells 1g slipping relative to die 30 during the curling of the margin of said shell, the upper surface of rib 3 q. is sloped downwardly toward the inner wall of the-die. A s pressure is applied to.the edge of the wall ofthe shell by. die 32, ledge Ila. of rib H, H yields and tends to conform itself tothe-upper wall of rib 30a, in the manner indicated in .Fig. 15,.and thus morefirml'y'holds the shell against movement and any tendency to collapse. The greater the pressure exerted against the end of the shell b-ydie 32, the greater will betheholding effect of rib 30a.

Shell 2 is next moved to a station where th headed end-thereof is again gripped by an expansible female die comprising member 34 v(Fig. 15 while the closure seam is compressed by the application of laterally directed pressure thereto.v Said. pressure is exertedby an .expansible male die comprising a member 35,"said die being expanded by. upwardmovement of a wedge member 36 and, when so expanded, engagesthe curled portion-of the shell'margin entirely around the periphery of the. container. Die 35 is thus effective to squeeze the excess of material in said curled portion which is held against upward movement by a shoulder on die 34 into groove 26b and to press the engaging surfaces of the shell and flange 26a into firm engagement, there- 'by pressing the activated lacquer l9 therebeheat being employed as the activating agent for the lacquer film on the engaging surfaces of the head and body in lieu of the liquid. applied by roller 20. Heat may be more advantageously used in sealing large containers than in sealing small ones, since, with small containers, it is difficult to get the necessary hot irons into the desired positions. 7

Head 26 is preferably formed by subjecting a flat laminated blank 3l to an embossing and drawing operation, the inner lamina 38 of said blank being constituted by metallic foil, such as the inner'layer 3 of body 2, and the; outer lamina 39 being constituted by a fibrous material such as Fiberlec;' for example, which will stand deformations without fracture. Said laminae are secured together by means of an elastic adhesive, suchas one having a latex base, and are preferably coextensive, as shown in Fig. ..7, the foil lamina being coated with a thin film of dry lacquer of the same character asthat on the inner surface of body 2. Thus, when said head is. sealed in shell 2, the closure seam comprises a sealed metal-to-metal joint at 40 (Fig. 19), thereby insuring impermeability. Ii desired, the seal or joint at 4| may also be made metal-tometal by providing head 26 with an outer foil lamina 42. The latter also improves the appearance of the head and prevents fiber layer39 from 'becoming saturated with moisture. As will more fully appear hereinafter, the central portion of head .26 is scored to provide a hatch whereby an openingfor dispensing the-contents of the container may pressure.

be readily made by digital y,

In forming head-26, the blank 31 is placed over the opening of a female-die member'- 43,- only av portion of which is' 'shown (Fig, 20) and yieldingly held in positionto be ,engaged by a male die 44 which carriesa relatively movable stripper member 45=andicooperates with a hydraulically. backed buffer die 46,; theface of whichis ini-.- tiallyin alignment withthe left face offemale die 43. As die 44,4513 moved to theright, as viewed in the drawings, aperipheral .arcuate bead 41 thereon engagesblank38, 39fan d draws I the material of the ,marginal portion thereof p into a peripheral arcuate groove 48. in the face of die 46 to thereby form rib 26cand complementary groove 26b of the head (Figs. 2 and During the formation of groove 261),; the outerface of the blank is contacted by a cutting knife 49 which is removably mounted in die 44 and projects from the face thereof. Said knife preferably extends completely around the face of die 44 adjacent the inner edge of head 41 and a section of the cutting edge thereof has the outline of a scalene triangle. Inorder to prevent the cutting edge of knife 49 from destroying the moisture proof qualities and impermeability of} foil lamination 38-, the pressure on the-face of the blank opposite said cutting edgeis relieved by the provision .of a similarly shaped groove in bufi'erdie 46, thus preventing any ruptures of the materials by reason of the compression thereon and permitting, the central portion of dies 44 and 49 to contact the blank before saidknife cuts entirely through the'same.

46.by die 44, 45, a furrow 50 is cut around, the

when blank 41 is moved into contact with die central portionrof head; 26 thereby providing said head with a hatch wherebyan opening for dispensing the contents of the container may be made by digital pressure, said hatch'being formed without destroying the impermeability' of the head. If desired, furrow 50. may be cut in blank 38, 39 before the same is drawn into closure form.

' Itwill be understood also that said furrow may extend for only a portion of the periphery of head 26 and the same is accordingly omitted in Figs. 14, 15,23 and 24. l g Tofurther facilitate the opening of the container, a plurality. of outwardly extending ribs 5!. (Fig; 2) which constitutebending lines or hinge means forthe hatch and buttons 52 which constitute means for readily locating the proper pointfor application of pressure are embossed in head 26 by means'of suitable contours or insets, such as plug-53, projecting from the face of die and adapted to cooperate with'suitably shaped recesses inthe face of stripping die 45.

Further movement of die '44, into die 43 is effective to draw the entire margin of blank 38,

39 into the latter. die to thereby form the smooth continuous .flang 26a of head 26. I The acetate lacquer coatingon foil lamina 38 acts somewhat as a lubricant between the blank and the drawing dies thereby facilitating the drawing. opera-v tion. Said lacquer alsoserves to-assistin preventing oxidizing of the foil and to prevent the .foil fromflaking during the deformation thereof.

Bottom closure 3| (Fig. 4) may be formed in the Y same manner as head 26 but is preferably formed without the hatch and associated deformations.

Although blanks of thecharacter shown in Hg. '7;v i. e.', ones in which the areas of the fibrous and foil laminae arecoextensive, are preferably used-.. in order to provide foil-to-foil 0mm:

welds in the closure seam, it will be understood that moisture in the activated lacquer It between the engaging surfaces of the shell and flange of the head must evaporate and escape before the lacquer can become dry and set. The foil to which said lacquer is applied is non-hygroscopic and the evaporating moisture must therefore escape between rib l1 and the base of the head rib 26c and, thence, through the open end of the container and/or through head groove 26b. This is a comparatively slow process and accordingly, when it is desired to fill the container immediately or very soon after the insertion of head 26, the latter may be made from the types of blanks illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein a application of the foil to the fiber. A section through a closure formed from the blanks of Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated in Fig. 15.

After head 26 is secured in one end of shell 2, the container is filled by inserting the desired contents 54,such as tobacco, through the bottom or open end thereof. During the insertion ofv the tobacco or other commodit'y,.the inner wall of the marginal portion of shell 2 at said open end is preferably protected from contamination and the tobacco is prevented from lodging on rib IT, IT by means of a suitable tubular shield (not shown) and said tobacco is held in packed tents of the container this may be done by flexcondition by a secondary closure member 55 (Figs. 5 and 5a). The latter is constituted by a fiat blank of comparatively stifl yet yieldable material, such as fibre-board and is substantially the same size and shape as shell 2 in cross-section. The yieldable character of. closure ll permits it to be flexed and pushed inwardly through the above-mentioned shield beyond rib l1, l1

whereupon it springs back to. substantially norvmal fiat condition and is held in position by said rib. The pressure exerted on the inner face thereof by the sponge action of the packed tobacco or other commodity being insuflicient to flex said closure and move thesame past said rib. During the insertion of closure 55, shell 2 may be supported by a female die having ribs extending into groove l8, I8 to hold said shell against movement and to absorb the lateral pressure to which ribs vIl, H are subjected.

The lacquer film on the inner surface of the bottom margin of the shell may then be activated by a liquid lacquer applied thereto by means of roller 20 in a manner heretofore pointed out and the primary bottom closure ll "may be inserted and sealed in place in the same manner described above in connection with head 28. If a foil-tofoil seam is employed, moisture which escapes into the container during the drying of the lacquer or other suitable adhesive or'binding medium will be absorbed by the fiberpacking disc or closure 5!.

A cover 58 (Fig. 1) may be hingedlysecured to the upper end of the container either before or after the latter is filled with contents 54. Said cover is provided for maintaining said contents in the container after the hatch in head 28 has been broken by the consumer. In the embodiment shown, said cover is formed from a blank .cut away adjacent tab 56b to permit ready opening of the cover and to provide clearance for the pouring and discharge of the contents from the container. Tab 56b has a rib 51 which is adapted to register with groove It on the back of body -2 and a somewhat smaller rib 5| adapted to fit into a groove pressed into the upper portion of the closure seam as best seen in Fig. 23, and serve as? a bending line or hinge for the cover. An internal rib 59 and complementary internal groove may be pressed in flange 580 for cooperation with a rib 60 (Fig. 5) in the closure seam to yieldingly hold the cover in closed position. Rib 6| and the groove into which rib 58 is adapted to extend may be formed by providing suitable ribs and cooperating grooves on pressure dies 34 and I! of 15. Cover 58 may be secured to shell 2 by a suitable adhesive which is applied between tab 56b and the area indicated by construction lines in Fig. 3. Preferably, the cover is also secured to the body by means of wire stitching along bending lifie I! or by a plurality of wire staples I whichextend through tab 58b and the adjacent portion of the closure seam.

When the hatch in closure 28 has been broken and'cover 58 pivoted to the position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 22, the contents of the container may bereadily poured therefrom. If it becomes necessary to loosen the packed coning'the body walls without reaching inside of the container as is necessary when tin or other rigid material is employed.

' There is thus providedia novel container and method and means for making the same, said container being adapted for use in packaging products and particularly hygroscopic products, such as tobacco, for distribution and sale and being so constructed as to maintain the mois-" ture content of said product substantially OOH", stant' for an indefinite period of time,-thereby insuring that the consumer will receive the same in factory-fresh condition. Additionally, a strong and durable container is providedwhich may be fabricated from, comparatively inexpenficiently and rapidly manufactured by high-speed, automatic machinery at low cost, said method including novel steps for applying an adhesive or activating agent therefor to the wall of a tubular shell, for impregnating a lap Joint of the shell to render the same moisture proof, for supporting the container during the fabricating process, and for sealing the same after the contents have been placed therein.

- Although only a single embodiment of the incontainers. of the above character maybe efcontainer shell, for forming ribs in the container drawings, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, many of which have been suggested in the foregoing description, may be made therein. The ribs l1, l1 for example, may be either continuous or interrupted and the term rib, wherever used in the foregoing description or in theappended claims, is to be construed broadly enough to cover either a con tinuous or an interrupted groove. Many other changes, such as in the design, arrangement and size of the illustrated component parts of the container and of the means for carrying out the methods, as well as in the materials specified,

5 may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,'as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a deflnition of the limits of the inventiomreference will 0 be had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i 1. The method of fabricating a container which includes making a shell having straight wall portions joined by arcuate wall portions, forming ribs in said straight wall portions by the opera- 5 tion of cooperating internal and [external die inwardly directed ribs in said straight wall portions intermediate the ends thereof, and exerting 5 pressure against said arcuate wall portions to simultaneously form inwardly directed ribsand hold said straight wall portions outwardly in firm engagement with the faces of supporting die members. r h a 8. The method of fabricating a container which includes making a shell comprising fibrous materials and having straight'wall portions joined 'by arcuate wall portions,.forming internal ribs and complementary external grooves insaid 5 straight wall portions-forming an internal .rib and complementary external groove in each of said arcuate portions by the operation of converging linearly moving die members while hold-,- ing said straight wall portions against outward 9 bending. v

4. The method of fabricating containers which includes making a tubularbody comprising fibrous material and having straight wall portions connected by arcuate wall portions, and si- 5 multaneously exerting oppositely directed pres- H sures against said arcuate wall portions tending to bend said straight wall portions outwardly and holding said straight wall portions against bending outwardly while inserting aclosure in I said body.

v 5. The method of fabricating containers which includes making a tubular body comprising flbrous material and having straight wall portions connected by arcuate wall portions, and'si--' multaneously exerting oppositely directed pres-,

, sures against said arcuate wall portions tending to bend said straight wall portions outwardly and holding said straight wall portions againstbend-i 6. The method of fabricating containers which includes making a tubular body comprising fibrous material and having straight wall portionsiconnectedby arcuate wall portions, and simultaneously exerting oppositely directed pressures against said arcuate wall portions tending to bend said straight wall portions outwardly and holding said straight wall portions against .bending outwardly while inserting a flanged closure into said body and curling the marginal portion of said body into overlapping relation with the muse of said closure to form a closure seam.

7. The method of fabricating containers which includes 7 making a tubular body comprising fibrous materials and having straight and arcuate wail portions, forming inwardly extending ribs in said straight wall portions adjacent an end of the body, applying an activated adhesive to the inner surface of said body adjacent said ribs, exerting pressure against said arcuate wall portions to form internal ribs therein and cause said straight wall portions to tend to bulge outwardly, inserting a flanged closure in said body against said ribs with the flange thereof engaging the activated adhesive, curling the marginal portion of the body into overlapping relation with said flange while holding said body against movement by means extending into grooves complementary to said ribs, and applying pressure to said marginal portion and flange to (press the same into intimate contact and press said adhesive into the interstices of the engaging surfaces.

8. The method which includes making a blank comprising a layer of fibrous material anda layer of foil adhesively secured together, coating said foil layer with a dry film of lacquer having adhesive properties, making a laminated, foil-lined tubular body having straight wall portions joined by arcuate wall portions; by adhesively Joining the overlapping ends of said blank to form 'a lap Joint, securing a paraflin coated strip to a second blank, .adhesively' secnring saidblank to said first-named blank, with said strip in contact with said iointand applying heat and pressure to melt said parafiln and cause the same to impregnate the ends of the fibrous'material of said first named blank, forming. internal ribs in said straight wall portions, applying a liquid to s pel 'ripberal portion of the inner surface of said body to activate said lacquer by means having rollin contact with said surface, simultaneouslyforming an internal rib in each of said arcuate wall portions by the operation of converging. linearly moving die members while holding said straight wall portions against outward bending. inserting a flanged closure in said against said rib with the flange thereof in close fitting engagement with the inner surface of said body and said activated adhesive, holding said body against longitudinal movement by means comprising aportion extending into grooves complementary to said ribs and having theoperative face thereof inclined to the longitudinal axis of said body while curling the,margin'al portion of the body into overlapping relation wlthtthe flange of said closure, and pressing the'engagin'g surfaces-of said flangeland the wall of said shell into mumate contact with" each othen GIORGIMGTONHQORE.

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