US2246398A

US2246398A - Container forming device

Info

Publication number: US2246398A
Application number: US357390A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond H Van Saun; John L Ferguson; Treharne Reese
Original assignee: Container Corp
Current assignee: Container Corp
Priority date: 1940-09-19
Filing date: 1940-09-19
Publication date: 1941-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-17

Description

June 17, 1941. R. H. VAN SAUN ETAL CONTAINER FORMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 All! 45 .52 (Jeni arms:

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June 17, 1941.

R. H. VAN SAUN ET AL CONTAINER FORMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Raymond H. Van Saun, Chicago, and John L.

Ferguson and Reese Treharne, Joliet, 111., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,390

6 Claims. (Q1. 93--55.1)

The present invention relates to container forming devices and more particularly to mechanism for insertion of closure members within the open ends of containers.

One object of the invention is to provide a convenient and effective means for inserting flat closure members or discs into open ends of collapsible type containers for which the closures are adapted.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for effectively centering or registering a closure element or disc with the open end of 'a container, such means including yielding or displaceable elements adapted to supporta closure in one position and adapted to allow passage of the closure into position within the end of the container when the displaceable elements are brought into contact with the inner portions of the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view,partly in section, illustrating the mechanism for inserting closures into containers with a tubular container or drum shown in position toreceive a closure;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, illustrating the adaptation of the s'up-" porting base for supporting proper position a drum-type container that has had one of its ends previously closed by securing a plurality of tabs to a closure disc;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 1, certain parts The present invention as hereindisclosed c'omprises a supporting base with superstructure for supporting a container and also for supporting a closure for the container in position so that the closure may be inserted or forced into the open end of the container, the parts being preferably so related and arranged that the closurewill be brought automatically into proper registering position with respect to the container during the process of moving the closure into its final position within the end of the container.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the closure inserting mechanism, as herein disclosed, comprises a supporting base, indicated as La whole at It), upon which is secured an upright frame H, preferably of inverted U-shape. The mechanism is herein illustrated with a paperboard container l2 in the form of a cylindrical drum having tabs [3, l3 at its open ends adapted to be secured to the surfaces of top and bottom closures l4 and I5 which are herein illustrated as being in the form of circular discs. The closuresare supported by supporting members indicated as a whole at l6 which, in the present instance, comprises a plurality of displaceable closure supporting finger elements IL'Il supported in an annular frame 18 carried by the frame ll.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the closure indicated at M is placed so that its edge portions rest on the upper surfaces l9, IQ of the finger elements ll. Depending upon the Weight of the closure elements, which will in ordinary cases be of approximately the same or comparable weights, the

finger elements are mounted and arranged within the annular frame [8 so that no appreciable displacement of the finger elements will be caused merely by placing the container closure on the finger elements,

The finger elements I1, I are arrangedto be displaced when pressure is applied upon the closure [4 resting thereupon. The effect of pressure is to displace the finger elements down wardly and outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, so

as to permit the closure to move entirely past the ends of the finger element and into the upper end of a drum in position on the supporting base.

For the purpose of forcing the closure past the finger elements there is provided a plunger-or follower member indicated as a whole at 2| hav ing a head portion 22 secured on the lower end of a shaft 23 mounted in suitable openings in transverse frame members, 25, forming a part bf the upright frame I l. The shaft 23 is mounted concentrically with the mounting of the finger [8 so as to bring the plunger head 22 down substantially symmetrically upon the closure I4 and thus cause the finger elements to be uniformly displaced, as

members I! in the annular frame best illustrated in Fig. 5. In practice it is preferable to have the follower of a diameter slightly less than that of the closure.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the follower head is of concave shape so that the contact between the follower and the closure will be limited to an area extending a short distance inwardly from the edge portions of the closure. Due to this provision, the closure is free to flex somewhat upwardly as in a case where the closure fits quite snugly into the container.

The follower head 22 may be forced downwardly by any suitable mechanism operated by hand or motor power. The means for downward-- ly moving the shaft 23 comprises an outwardly projecting rod 26 secured to the shaft 23. A downward pull on the rod 26 will cause downward movement of the shaft 23. For the purpose of limiting the vertical movement of the shaft 23 there is provided a stop element 21 which may be adjustably secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 28.

Means are provided for moving the plunger element 22 to raised or inoperative position after it has been lowered to force a closure element within the upper part of a drum. This means preferably includes a block 29 arranged to be adjustably secured to the shaft 23 by a set screw 30, and connected to the block 29 are spring members 3|, 3| having their upper ends secured to'the top of the frame member 24 and their lower ends secured to

pins

32, 32 extending from the block 29.

The preferred manner of mounting the finger elements on the annular frame |8 is to secure on the under side thereof a plurality of downward projecting yokes 34, 34, provided with openings to receive pins. 35, 35 which pass through openings in the finger elements 1.

The rear end portions 36 of the finger elements are. preferably in the form of counterweight sections which are sufficiently heavy to cause the reduced ends of the finger elements to normally assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. It is desirable to stop the upward movement of the reduced ends of the finger elements short of a horizontal position and for this purpose the annular frame I8 is provided with a. downwardly extending flange portion 31 serving to form a contact edge for the upper surfaces of the finger elements and serving also to guide the closure element into position.

The finger elements |1, |1 terminate at their outer ends in portions of reduced thickness, indicated at I911. These reduced portions |9a are relatively thin so as to enable them to fit between the edge of the closure and the interior surface of the upstanding tabs extending from the ends of the drum. Thus, as the closure disc is forced into closing position, the tabs will not be unduly forced outwardly as would be the case if the ends of the finger elements were relatively thick.

In order to properly position the drum I2 in substantially concentric relation with the finger elements there are preferably provided oppositely disposed

guide members

40, 40 having a central portion 4| positioned fiatwise against the inner sides of the frame H and secured thereto as by means of bolts or rivets. The guide members also include

drum contacting portions

42 and 43, one of which is below and the other above the central portion 4|, being connected thereto by angularportions 44, 44. It is to be observed that the arrangement of the guiding elements provides for free access to the drum by the hands of the operator due to the offset arrangement of the central part 4| with the

drum contacting parts

42 and 43.

After a closure element has been introduced into one end of the drum so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 5, the plunger 22 is lifted and the finger elements H, il will swing to their raised positions, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5. In this position of the finger elements the free ends thereof will be raised above the upper edges of the tabs |3, |3 so that there will be no interference caused by the finger elements in withdrawing the drum from the frame. After the drum with one closure therein has been removed from the frame, the closure is preferably secured in place by folding the tabs downwardly upon the outer surface of the closure and securing them in place, as by means of staples. A convenient machine for effecting the securing of the tabs to the closure disc is illustrated in the co-pending application of Van Saun et al., Ser. No. 340,790, filed June 15, 1940 for Stapling machine.

The base I0 is preferably so constructed as to accommodate a. container before securing either closure therein and also to accommodate the same container after one closure has been secured therein. For this purpose, the base In is formed with an annular groove 45, preferably having a straight or vertical outer wall and an inclined inner wall. The purpose of the groove is to receive the downwardly extending tabs of the containers into which neither closure element has as yet been inserted and secured. The depth of the annular groove 45 is substantially determined by the length of tab elements extending from the ends of the container. The arrangement is such that when the tabs at the lower end of the container rest on the bottom of the groove 45 the upper end of the container will be in proper position to receive the closure disc forced thereinto by the plunger 22, and, after the tabs at one end of the container are folded down upon the closure and secured thereto, then the container is inverted so that the closed end rests upon the base ID with the folded-over tabs resting on the surface 46, the open end of the drum will be in proper position to receive the remaining closure element when same is forced thereinto by the plunger 22.

It is also to be observed that the distance between the annular frame l8 and the surface 46 of the base is such that when the reduced ends of the finger elements I! are extending downwardly with the ends in their lowermost position, as indicated in, Fig. 6, the ends of the finger elements will be slightly above the surface of the closure when brought into final position within the container. Due to this arrangement, the finger members I! will serve to guide the closure into substantially its final position, the final movement of the closure, however, causes it to pass out from contact with the finger elements thereby freeing the elements to swing upwardly as soon as the plunger has been withdrawn upwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the use of the device of the present invention the operator will first place a container in position between the

guides

40, 40, while the plunger and the closure supporting finger members are disposed in substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 1. It may be stated at this point that the device is well adapted for treating or forming containers of the type illustrated in the co-pending application of Van Saun, Ser. No. 320,313, filed February 23, 1940, for Container. In this applicaazaazsos 3 tion a form of tubular container -"or drum ris disclosed which :isad a' pted to be handled in a flat condition until readyioruse. If thistype of drum is to "beused with the ipresent device, the drum. will be partially expanded by hand so as to enable the tabs at one end ofthedrum tobe inserted into the groove "45, thusicausing the lower end of the drum to beihel-d ina circular condition. Due to the provision of

theguides

40,10, the upper end of thedrum will be held 'in approximately a circular condition.

In the eventthe drum has been made collapsiblebytheformation of two score linesin a' body blank, as indicated in my said application, the drum, uponbeing partially expandedbyhand will bepla'cedso that theopposite score lines will be in contact respectivelywith the

guide members

43, 43.

After the container has been placed in the device, "as illustrated inFig.1, the operator will next select a closuredisc of the proper size and willpl'ace this disc Within the annular frame l8 so that it comesto restupon the upper'su'rfaces [9 of the displaceable-finger elements 11. The follower head "22 is 'then brought down into contact with the closure "disc, as indicated in Fig. 5, and movement of the follower is continued with the effect that the finger members are dis placed downwardly so as topermit passage of the closure disc, the movement being continued until the disc comes to rest at the *bases of the tabs I3, 13, as illustrated in Fig. 6. By providing the container with a concave score on its inner surface, as best illustrated in Fig. 5, the edge portionsof "theclosure disc can be forced down so as "to snap into place within the concave score. As previously stated, the arrangement is such that the ends of the finger elements will extend short of the final position of the closure disc whereby the disc will slip oil. of the ends of the finger elements just before it reaches its final position within the end of the container.

After the closure has been brought into position, as just described, the follower 22 is raised, the movement being assisted by the springs 3|. At the same time, the finger elements I! will return to their normal inclined position with their upper edges contacting the lower edges of the flange 31 of the annular frame I8, this being due to the provision of the counterweighted portion 36 of the finger elements. The container is now ready to be removed for the purpose of securing the flaps l3 to the closure disc.

After one end of the container has been closed,

the container will be again placed in the device with the closed end directed downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 3. The operation of inserting the closure disc within the other end of the container is then repeated in the manner previously described. The container is then removed and the remaining closure secured in place.

It is to be noted that one of the closure discs will be in the form of a solid element and the other will have a supplemental opening therein as described in my co-pending application above identified.

When the device is employed in forming tubular containers or drums from collapsed body blanks, it is apparent that the body blank will not assume an accurately circular form before the closure discs are inserted in place. The provision of the displaceable finger elements, however, tends to cause the end of the container which is about to receive a closure to assume a substantially cylindrical, or as in the present instance a circular form, due to the iiact that the finger 'elements come into individual contact with "numerous points on the container. More specifically, they 'come in contact with the tabs l3 and, as the follower moves downwardly, forcing the finger elements outwardly, thecontaine'r is forced into circular form. There are preferably the same number of finger elements as there "are tabs so that there will be one finger element for'eachtab. It isalsopreierable to s'ition "the containers so that the *fin'ger elements will register substantially centrally of the tabs which they contact.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides an effective device for inserting closure discs within the ends of collapsible, tubular containers or drums of formed sheet material. The provision of independently mounted finger elements insures the proper expansion of the container cylindrical form just prior to the insertion of the closure-discs therein, the action being such as to move the parts of the drum gently but firmly into properly curved condition sothat there will be no danger of tear ing or otherwise mutilating the drums during the closure inserting process.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction with out deviating from. the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that thepresent embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A mechanism for inserting a closure within the end of a collapsible type, cylindrical container including a plurality of spaced tabs extending from one end thereof, said mechanism comprising, in combination, a supporting base, means on the base for maintaining a cylindrical container in approximate cylindrical shape, a closure supporting member adapted to support a closure in proximity to an open end of a container on the suporting base, said closure supporting member comprising a plurality of swingably mounted finger elements having free end portions of reduced thickness, the finger elements being adapted to support the closure in one position and being adapted, when swung, to come into contact with the inner surfaces of tabs on the container, a follower member having a head portion of comparable size and shape with the interior of the container and adapted to contact a closure on the finger elements and force it in a direction causing swinging of the finger elements whereby the finger elements will tend to engage the spaced tabs on the container, bringing the end of the container, in the event of imperfect expansion thereof, into conformity with the shape of the closure, the container supporting means being so positioned with respect to the closure supporting member and so related to the length of the tubular containers to be employed therewith, that the follower member will cause the closure to pass out of contact with the reduced ends of the finger elements just prior to forcing the closure into final position within the open end of the container.

2. Apparatus for inserting a closure within the end of a tubular container comprising, in combination, means for supporting said tubular container, a plurality of swingably mounted finge'r elements having free end portions of reduced thickness, said finger elements being normally urged into position whereby they are adapted to support said closure in proximity to an open end of said container and being so constructed and arranged that they are adapted to be swung outwardly into position such that said closure can be passed therebetween into said open end and said free ends come into contact with the inner surface of said container and terminate at a point just short of the desired final position of said closure, and means for simultaneously swinging said finger elements into contact with said container and moving said closure from its supported position on said finger elements into said desired final position within said container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said finger elements are substantially symmetrically mounted in annular relation to the longitudinal axis of said container.

4. Apparatus for inserting a closure within the end ofa tubular container comprising, in com bination, means for supporting said tubular container, a plurality of swing-ably mounted finger elements having free end portions of reduced thickness, said finger elements being normally urged into position whereby they are adapted to support said closure in proximity to an open end of said container and being so constructed and arranged that they are adapted to be swung outwardly into position such that said closure can be passed therebetween into said open end and said free ends come into contact with the inner surface of said container and terminate at a point just short of the desired final position of said closure, a follower member having a head portion adapted to contact said closure on said finger elements, and means for moving said follower member against said finger members toward said open end of said container until said closure is moved just beyond said free ends into said desired final position.

5. Apparatus for inserting a closure within the end of a substantially cylindrical container comprising, in combination, means for supporting said container with an upwardly facing open end, a plurality of swingably mounted finger elements having free end portions of reduced thickness, said finger elements being normally urged into position whereby they are adapted to support said closure above and in proximity to said open end and being so constructed and arranged that they are adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly into position such that said closure can be passed therebetween into said open end and said free ends come into contact with the inner surface of said container and terminate at a point just short of the desired final position of said closure, a follower member having a head portion with a diameter not greater than that of said closure, said head portion being adapted to come into contact with said closure at least adjacent the edges thereof, and means for forcing said follower member downwardly until said closure has passed said free ends and has reached said desired position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said container-supporting means includes means for preventing said container from collapsing along fold lines therein.

RAYMOND H. VAN SAUN. REESE TREHARNE. JOHN L. FERGUSON.