US2386546A - Container for blasting caps - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1945. A. R. E4LY ETAL 2,386,546

CONTAINER FOR BLASTING CAPS Filed Dee. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A/berr R. Ely

/ Roscoe 5. \Smifh Oct.9,1945.' A R ELY ETAL 2,386,546

CONTAINER FOR BLASTING CAPS Filed Dec. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTQPNE Y Patented Oct. 9, 1945 CONTAINER FOR BLASTIN G GAPS Albert R. Ely and Roscoe B. Smith, Wilmington, Del., assignors to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application December 2'7, 1941, Serial N 0. 424,620

5 Claims.

This invention relates to the packaging of blasting caps and more particularly to an improved method of packaging fuse blasting caps, and the package produced.

Fuse blasting caps contain a detonating charge pressed into the base or closed end of a shell which then has the other end open to allow the insertion of a safety fuse which is then crimped into place in the open end. In order to fire the cap, the fuse is lighted and allowed to burn and ignite the detonating explosive in the base of the blasting cap. The fuse blasting caps known to the art are closed end copper or aluminum casings having a diameter of between about .22 inch and .25 inch and a length of from about 1 /2 to 2 inches. The art provides the industry with these blasting caps packaged usually in tin boxes Y adaptable for insertion into a square or rectanguwhich contain 10, 25 or 100 individual caps. The

normal method of packaging blasting caps within the tin boxes is to place each cap in the box with its open end up, i. e., in a position that allows an operator to look down onto the explosive composition in the bottom of the cap. This method is usually adhered to because visual inspection is possible and misfires due to foreign material being in the cap are prevented. However, there is danger experienced in this type package because the explosive charge is exposed and foreign material can fall into the cap. This foreign material may be sparks, ashes, abrasives, liquids or the like and such material may cause premature explosion or misfires, either of which are dangerous in operations.

To overcome such difficulties, it is known to pack the caps with their closed end down. However, such packing is not well thought of by the art, and the very large majority of caps are packed with their open face up.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved packaging method for packaging fuse blasting caps.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved container for fuse blasting caps.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liner for the tin boxes now in use which will allow a safer method of packaging fuse blasting caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for fuse blasting caps which will prevent any foreign material from entering the blasting cap,

Another object of the invention is to provide a container in which blasting caps may be packed by a suitable method to provide inspection thereof, and which is then suitable for insertion into lar box suitable for packing a plurality of blasting caps. This liner is so designed that the blasting caps may be either packed therein by first placing them into a jig where they are inspected and counted and then transferred to the liner or the caps may be packed into the liner in an upright position, counted and inspected by looking into the open end thereof. The caps and liner are then inserted preferably into a metal container receiving blasting caps.

of normal tin can construction, but heavy cardboard or the like may be used. The design of the container allows easy removal of the caps and further causes positioning of the caps within the box with their long axes parallel to the bottom and top of the box.

portion or the entire top, which opening also is provided with a cover hinged to an edge of the liner. The container which exposes only a single blasting cap, and that only along its length, is preferred in many instances, but the container having a larger openingdischarges caps more easily. In all containers, however, the open ends of the caps are abutted against one side of the box, and thus they are effectively sealed against entrance of any foreign material.

In order to describe the container of this invention in more detail, a description of preferred embodiments thereof is made with reference to the attached drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view of the tin box with the cover in place;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but without the cover and showing the liner;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the container with blasting caps in place and a cap in the act of being discharged from the container;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the container of Fig. 3 with one side cut away to show the arrangement of caps therein;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank forming the liner of Figs.'2', 3and 4; l l

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a form or jig suitable for use as an aid in packing caps into liners and containing a number of caps that have closed ends up but can be reversed; 1

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a liner posi:

tioned for receiving caps from the-dig shown in i Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blank forming the, liner of Fig. '7. The blasting cap package, in accordance with this invention, comprises a liner l which contains a. plurality 15f ruse blasting caps 2 positiori e d with theirlongitudihal a'x'es itatann td mana e a of the container. linr I is positioned in a supporting tin box 4 which has a closlii fitting tin'tt'ver 5;. In' Fig. 1; the tin box has its cove in place; while in"Fig. "2, the cover is' omitted and the liner I exposed. I '---'I he' linei" I which fits into the tin box 4 has anipening 5 which openih'is C'oor'dinatedwith the long axes of the blasting cap's'"2,-"so that the blasting caps may be discharged'from" the-liner sihglylFig. 37. ov r 'the tpenmga may be folded thcover flap? which 'willform' a' continu'ous cover 'whe'rl it contacts the cover member 9 that extends 'c'ver a large pet centof the-top; and thus a closed box is formdfi In Fig. 4 one side of the liner l "an tin box is cutaway'in order to show the positioriingof the blasting cap's Z'within the linerf Itwillb'e' bbvio'usf'ro'nf Fig. and 'Fi'g'l 3' thatif the b'tx i's' 'tilted-a single blast ing capwillroll from opeiiing 6. Furtheh- 'it will be apparent that no foreigri'fnatte'r an possibly'enter intoth'e variousbla'sti'ng caps since only one cap is exposedat a" ihie'and t'h expo sure of this cap does not permit the openehd thereof to be in a position such "that fo'reign matter can'fall therir i to and on to the 1310} sive charge. 1 1:-

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which 111191 [is formed prior to the rorntgtnaetfto term a*"comple't'e assembly? "r1315 1am: tam; prises arectan'g'ulafbotto I there rtms iq'es l2 and lgga-rf nt sja' d a. back I6L" 'Anextensionflap onbaelflfi formsfthe' top9 folds from back It into" a 'ppsiti n parallel with base? and contacts the top e 'f ides I2 a J4- ot' ide 1 and '4. th re'ar extension 'flaps ll and!!! which" fold inwardly until they ar'parallel t thebottoin nd which may b iem d 'i'n aim uitab e manner t i the upper"or'lower face "of top 9? 'I t"will"be noted that the extension flaps I1 and {9 do not ex (1 for the nib etj lenet Of the idfi eh, Thus; they a $hW by 11m n '2 l a manner which provides the OpeningGXFigisJ 3 m l'i t Q'e l d' t e s d flats l and 19 are'of approxim'tely the samele'ngthji. e., he front edge of the tap tap 9 att y' i ci sti" extends slightly 'beYond-thed nes' 2'0 and-211" "By this expedient the pa ing 61 i left forthe is} chargeof c'aps 2. i

An extension of the front [5 is provided to form the cover 1 for the 'op'e'rii'ng isleftwhen the flaps 9, l1 and l are'positi oned cover I, is of sufficient width to fully close opening 6 when it is folded into a position parallel to the bottom 3.

When the liner is folded or formed, the various sides, bottom, top and covers may be provided at appropriate points with an adhesive to aid in formation of the completed assembly, for example, adhesive at points 24, 25 and 26 will aid in theassembling of the blank shown in Fig. Sin'to liner 1.

It is essential in this embodiment that the length of the various sides, bottoms, tops, and flap extensions be coordinated in a manner that will produce a carton which provides a longitudi- ,na Pnenin lon one ed e or side just sufiiciently wide for the discharge of a blasting cap 'when"the blasting "cap has its long axis parallel to the opening. For example, the section 9 could be a narrow flapand either sections I! or I9 be extended in length to form a top for the liner.

The discharge O ni i p e e ably mltd o the tenor x. 'I Iowever'; it is conte np ed t i bnm gmerb i tmd t em wi 1 .1. the box whic h is found in" tconvenientf "flhus, for example, the opening ay'becenteed ab s's the topfor it"rn'aj be poslti ned on one the boil ew f W en' h emh y i as" a'linerfand it is" insertedin a 'snpport g box, such as the box 4; withpove'r been foundmost *desirableto have the 'op on the top so that it w'ill necessary to remove the liner'from the box in order todis' charge blasting caps. Ifthe assembly is madedi suffiientl'y "rigid meta t'ma arm or container of its 'own' accord and obviate the need or thetin 'suppo'r'tand such instances the o'p'iim maybei qn a an Friilhbl? rent- It'is further cont? ftd'l hat "various typ of openings hem rttrtt d'w tnmtt' t thes Thus, if fie'cessarvaslide'maybe incorpora d instead ofthe 'remo vablec'qver, or if desi r other types of openings may be'used.

h ant' e f i 'Qt'iri the oap frgm th introduction or any foreign interment to 'th t; ie' t i l eeilf he .i open endsthereof arenot exposed to the 'gpen are paclged into, the line the b6 m y per (1 with one side thereof, for'exa p ?n$ on H. a a ne. g an through thisf opening packed intb'the'l r t W he. de this: When'the caps areso'paq g ldi Y nsp ted d cou ted b a iii 9 3 nsl i' a d h' pe'rehe rrient in the' bbx, aftefwhi'ch the h tension [1 may b an [2 stride};- t lde into. n sit blii art, the assembled liner c'ont ingthet shells inserted into'thet b" 1 N e. h QX i5" re dy or distr rade "UPPH in h bdx. he move'd, thecover flap"? raised, the the n v du l la tin can 2 di q A material. The form desirably has the same in teriorlength and width as theliner but is of about one-half the depth thereof; This shallow form allows easy transfer of the caps 2' into the liners and facilitates packing'into the form 30. Inspection and counting is also facilitated. To assist in racking the caps in the jig 5, it has been found highly desirable to attach spacing members 3|, such as a shim or fin to the jig 5 at one endof each odd row of caps 2 and a similar spacing member 3! (fin or shim) to the jig at the opposite end of the even row of caps. These spacing, members cause the individual caps in each row to fit closely together and also they'align the, caps in adjacent rows so that they fit into thevalleys formed by the contacting row. Reference to Figs. 4 and 6 will show that the spacing members would obviously cause neat efficient positioning.

The preferable method of packing caps thereforecomprises placing caps into a jig or form 38 having spacing members 3| at opposite ends of alternate rows until the form is filled, inspecting the'caps to determine whether any foreign material has fallen therein either before or after transferring this group of caps into the partly formed liner, closing the side of the liner over the caps, and inserting the filled liner into a tin or similar supporting box so that the caps have their long axes parallel to the top of the box.

Whenever the present package is in use, there is no danger of foreign matter entering the blasting cap shells, as the open ends thereof are not exposed and this improvement constitutes a definite increase in the safety of handling these highly dangerous objects.

If desirable, a slit or window may be formed in the top cover I, 9, or 31 which will be perpendicular to the long axes of the blasting cap shells. Such a window or slit has, in some cases, been found very useful in order to quickly and easily check the contents of the box. Thus, for example, if there are only a few caps left within the box, it is quite easy to determine the exact number present or the approximate fulness of the box by a glance into the window or slit. The opening 6 does not in itself make for quick inspection of the contents of the box due to shadows formed and the fact that the caps in the box are parallel to this opening. However, a window or slit perpendicular to the long axis of the cap provides the rapid examination of the contents. It is contemplated that such a window or slit may be either left open or may be covered with a transparent material, such as for example, Cellophane, or the like, and it will be further appreciated that this window may be located at any convenient point on the box depending entirely upon the design of the opening and the entire design, and material of construction of the box.

A more easily prepared liner than shown by Fig. 5, which, while not giving the full protection afforded by the liner of Fig. 5 having the dispensing slot, does afford more protection than the a prior art methods of packing may be prepared as follows:

A blank 34 (Fig. 8) similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but without the side flaps IT and I9 is made. This blank during the packing operation is formed with flap 32 left unfolded to allow caps to be packed perpendicular to folded side 35 (Figs.

6 and 7). Placing of the caps manually or by means of a jig 30 into the liner 34, folding of the unfolded flap 32 into place and insertion of said liner and contents into a tin box, completes an alternateassembly in accordance with the invention. When the caps are packed directly into the liner, they are packed open end up, inspected and counted before the flap 32 is folded thereover. However, when a jig is used, which is desirable, it is preferable to pack the cap open end up in the jig and inspect and count them' while in the jig."

,The two-piece covers 1 and 9 '(Fig. 2) can, if desired, be designed as'one cover flap 31 (Fig. 8) which will be hinged to one of the four sides. This type package provides protection from foreign material and allows more readily removal of any number of caps than the liner having the cover secured so that caps must be discharged singularly. The cover flaps I or 37 may, if desirable, have a rectangular or semicircular groove 39 cut therein (Figs. 7 and 8) to assist in opening the flap. The groove is desirably located adjacent the closed end of the cap to prevent formation of any channel into the caps open ends.

In regard to the material of construction, it has been found that if the liner is to be used in conjunction with a metal box of normal tin can construction material, the liner may be fairly light cardboard or heavy paper. However, if the liner is to comprise the box per se, the material of construction must be heavier, for example, a heavy cardboard, corrugated or laminated paper,.or the like. Further, if the liner is to be used as the box per se, the side joints will, of course, be closed by means of extension flaps, tape, or, the like, and various means for performing such closures are contemplated and are well within the skill of the art.

In packing of the blasting caps within the container, it has been found preferable to so coordinate the width of the container with the length of the cap that there is suificient play to allow easy removal if the cover used provides a large opening or if it provides only a dispensing slot. However, it is to be appreciated that in shipping caps, they should be packed tightly within the box in which they are shipped; and in order to insure tight packing and still provide means whereby the caps can easily be discharged from the container when so desired, it has been found possible to insert a shim which is easily removable before discharge of the caps, either on the top of the container or along one side thereof. Such a shim gently wedges the caps into a tight position without deforming the caps and accomplishes the desired purpose in a manner which fully meets all shipping regulations. Further, the liner itself may be of materia1 of a thickness which will act as the necessary cushioning and positioning means, for example, felt or blotting paper.

Where in the specification the term tin box is used, it will be appreciated that the term broadly covers the metal containers used in the art and such containersmay be tinned, lacquered, or otherwise protected.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A package of fuse blasting caps comprising in combination a plurality of open-end fuse blasting caps having long longitudinal axes and stacked together with their longitudinal axes in parallel alignment; a rectangular box of flexible sheet material entirely enclosing the caps and having a bottom, sides, and a top portion, said top portion being adapted toprovide' alongitudinal opening with a long axis' parallel to' thelongitudinal axes of'said caps and ofasize sufiicient to permit lateral, discharge therethrough of one of said caps, and one of said sidesjhavinga rectangular extension flap foldably extending over and closing said opening and adapted to be foldably opened; one of said sides which'is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of. said opening being adapted to be'foldablyopened; and a substantially rigid supporting'boxf-like structure enclosing the box, said'structurehaving"sidesfand a bottom integral'therewithfand a removabletop, saidtop being disposed'over and contiguous to the top of said-box and adaptedtojbeflremoved to expose said topporti'on and said? extension flap of'said' box. l V

'2; A package of fuse blasting caps comprising incombination a plurality of open-end fuse blasting caps having long longitudinal axes and stacked together with their longitudinal axes in parallel alignment; a rectangular box entirely enclosing the caps and having a bottom, sides, and a top portion, said, top portion beingadapted to provide a longitudinal Opening with along axis-parallel to the longitudinal axes of said caps and of a size suificientto permit lateral: discharge therethrough of one of said caps, and-one ofsaid sideshaving a rectangular extension flap fold: ablyextending over and closing said opening and adapted tobe foldably opened; one of said sides which isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofsaid opening being adapted to be ioldably opened; and a substantially rigidsu-pportingboxlike structure enclosing the box, said structure having sides and abottom integral therewith and a removable top, said top beingdisposed over andcontiguous to the top ofsaidboxand adapted to'be removed-toexpose said top portion and said extension flapof saidbox.

'3; A package of fuseblast-ingcaps comprising in combination a'plurality of{ cylindricalopenend fuse blasting caps having longitudinal axes stacked together with their longitudinal axes inparallel alignment; a first enclosing means made of flexible sheet material entirely enclosing the pluralityof capsand having a first member adapted to form a longitudinal opening insaid first enclosing means with a long axis parallel to the longitudinal axes ofsaid caps and of" asizeextending over and closing saidopening and,

adapted to be opened; one of said sides'which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis oi said opening being adapted to be foldably opened; and a second enclosing means entirely enclosing and supporting the first enclosing means and having a. removable closure member. disposed over the first member of said first enclosing means and adapted to be removed to expose said first member and said extension flap of said first enelosingmeans.

4., A prepared package for open-end fuse blasting caps having long longitudinal axes which comprises means forming a substantially rigid box having sides and a bottom integral. therewith, and a removable top cover; and flexible sheet means forming a box liner for the rigid box, said liner having bottom, sides, and top portion, said top portion being adapted to provide a longitudinal opening adjacent an edge of one side of the liner and being of proper dimensions to allow the discharge therethrough of a blasting cap when the blasting cap islaid with its long axis parallel to said opening, said one side having an extension flap adapted to foldably cover said opening, one of said sides which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said opening being adapted to be foldably opened, said liner being enclosed and supported by said rigid box with the top cover of said box disposed over and contiguous to the top portion of said liner.

5. A prepared package for open-end fuse blasting caps having long longitudinal axes which comprises in combination a rectangular boxof flexible sheet material having a bottom, sides, and a top portion, one of said sides adapted to be foldably opened to provide a side opening and foldably closed to close said side opening, said top portion being adapted to provide a longitudinal top opening with greater dimensions than the longitudinal cross section dimensions of one of said blasting caps and with the longitudinal axis of said opening-being perpendicular to said side adapted to be foldably opened, another one of said sides having an extension flap adapted to foldablycover said top opening;jand a substantially rigid, rectangular, box-like structure entirely enclosing andsupporting the box, said structure having sides and a bottom integral therewith and a removable top, said top being disposed over and contiguous to the top portion and extension flap in closed position of said box.

ALBERT R. ELY. ROSCOE B. SMITH.

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