US2455461A

US2455461A - Individual container sealer

Info

Publication number: US2455461A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward E Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-03-30
Filing date: 1945-03-30
Publication date: 1948-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1965-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1948. E. E. ANDERSON 2,455,461

INDIVZIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1945 55144420 Amos-e50,

INVENTOR.

BY f "/54,

ATTOPNE'X 1948- E. E. ANDERSON 2,455,461

INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER Filed March 30, 1945 ZSheets-Sheet 2 i POWER .s'u mr Jbnmeo fln/osesong INVENTOR.

VBY

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 PATENT o INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER" Edward E. AndersonpLoma Linda, Calif. Application March 30, 1945, Serial No. 585,637

1 Claim. 1

This invention pertains to a simple, inexpensive device for applying a cover made of a sheet of flexible material such as Cellophane, to the top of a carton, tube, container or the'like.

Many foodstuffs and other commodities are being dispensed in cartons or containers made of paper which is either impregnated or coated with wax, parafiin or other heat-responsive material adapted to increase the strength and render the body of the container impermeable to moisture. Cottage cheese and many other articles are dispensed in such packages. In many instances these containers are of the open top variety and it is only necessary to apply a sheet of material such as Cellophane, over the open top in order to protect the contents from. contamination. Often the grocer or retail distributor fills such containers from bulk supplies and the housewife uses the container only as a means ofcarrying the product from the store to her home. Strong or permanent coverings or seals are not essential undersuch conditions. i

The present invention, therefore, is directed to a small, simple, yet eificient device whereby the individual grocer or storekeeper may rapidly and easily cover and seal small containers.

Generally stated, the invention relates to a device whereby the clerk or other'operator may place a sheet of Cellophane or other heat-responsive material over the open top of a container which he has filled with the desired product and by the actuation of a single element, cause such cover sheet to, conform to the upper edge areas of the container and be heat-sealed thereto. In

the device of the present invention means are,

provided whereby the single energizing member lifts the container into sealing position and also actuates the heat-sealing elements, the movements of the heat-sealing elements and of the lifter being so correlatedthat the. containeris maintained in lifted elements move toward and away from the closure. In one of the g by the present invention, means are provided whereby a yielding pressure is maintained upon the containerand adjustments may be readily madeso that containers of different sizes may be handled.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to disclose and provide a simple and efiicient device for sealing the covers of fibrous contain'ers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be operated either manually, electrically or by pressure fluid, in which a sinposition while the heating forms of devices embraced 7 2 gle reciprocatable energizing member the'elements. in timed relation. These and other objects of the invention .will

become apparent to those skilled in the art from 5 thefollowing description. In order'tofacilitate understanding, reference will be had to pended drawings, in which:

.As previously stated, the machines ofithisinvention are particularly adapted for use. byv

grocers and other shopkeepers. Itis recognized that various capping and'sealing machines have been devised heretofore but substantially allof these prior machines are for usev plants which produce tremendous numbers-of containers filledwith condiments, foodstuffs, etc.

Such large complicated machines arenot adapt ed for use by anindividual grocer.

The machine shownin 'Figs nl, 2,and 3 isjfa 2'5 manually operable machine andfconsists of, a vertical framework l0 supported by'the base H;

the framework being provided with a work table A standard 13 extends and. carries an, annulus being indicated at 15., The standard l3 also carriesal circular plate It l2 at a suitablelheight. above the work table I2 31)"!4, the internal opening having downwardly extending lips atlits outer edges so as to form 'a downwardly ezitending cup? c The annulus' lc and the plate lq are in parallel, vertically spaced,stati0nary relaor recess ll.

tionship.

A pair of opposing semi circula'r heating' elements [8 and 19 (best shown in Fig. 3 are piv-f otally'mounted upon the standard 33 so as to be 6a movable toward and awayiromeagihibtheifi in'a' annulus and plate. The el'e-" l8 and 19 may have preformedheatih g: surfaces zone between said ments elements carried by their inner concave as indicated .at I8 and i9. Theheating elevments per se may be supplied rent from any suitable source maintain such elements at a ture, a thermostat 20 may be both of the elements.

scription, the jaws or carriers together with their heating elements will be'generically' referred to as heating elements.

and. inv order to Acircular recess formed in the work'table 12' immediately beneath and in axial alignment with ?the annulus M contains a lifting'plat'2 iinounted actuates the ape I Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one form of main factories or with electric cur-"j desired tempera carried by one or In order to simplify de.

upon the upper end of a rod 22 extending through a suitable sleeve or bearing 23 carried by the lower side of the work table |2. The lower end of the rod 22 rests upon a lever 24 pivoted to the frame or standard ID at 25. A cup 26 may be carried by the lever 24, the end of the rod 22 fitting loosely into the cup.

A foot treadle 21 pivoted to the frame at 28 is provided with a bifurcated end portion 29 extending around an upstanding reciprocatable energizing member 30 carrying a stop or cross piece 3| which normally rests upon the bifurcated end 29 of the treadle 21. The upstanding reciprocatable member 30 is provided with an adjustable collar 32 fastened thereon against which a compression spring 33 rests, the upper end of the spring bearing against a folding collar which supports the lever 24. The upper end of the energizing member 30 slidably fits into a sleeve or cylinder closed at the upper end, the upper end of the sleeve having

toggle links

35 and 35 pivotally attached thereto as at 31, the other ends of the links being connected to levers 38 and 39 respectively. The

levers

38 and 39 are pivoted as at 48 and 4| to a cross member 42 of the supporting frame. The upper ends of

such levers

38 and 39 are preferably provided with ball ends fitting into sockets formed in the jaw elements l9 and i8. Springs 44 and 45 are connected to the lower portions of

levers

38 and 39 for the purpose of facilitating return of the jaw'elements Hi and I9 to their normal open position. A compressible spring is contained within the sleeve fitting over the end of member 30 for the purpose of delaying the movement of the toggle and levers until the lifting plate has been actuated.

In operation, the operator, having filled a suitable container with the desired product, places a sheet of Cellophane or other heat-responsive material over the top of the container and then places the assembly upon the lifting plate 2|. By actuating the treadle 21, upward movement is imparted to the energizing member 30. Such upward movement actuates the lever 24 and causes the lifting plate 2| to rise, thereby moving the upper portion of the container through the annulus I4. The annulus permanently folds the sheet of material around the edge of the container. The top of the container then enters the circular plate It and the lip of such plate folds the sheet material around the edge. The sheet material is pressed into contact with the upper edge of the container. A yielding pressure is maintained by the lifting plate against the bottom of the container as the energizing member 30 continues its upward travel, the additional upward travel being absorbed by the spring 33. Such additional upward travel, however, actuates the toggle links 35 and 36, causing the

levers

38 and 39 to pivotally move the heating elements 18 and I9 toward each other so as to encircle and firmly press against the sides of the container in a zone immediately beneath the upper edge of the container. The heating elements thus firmly press and simultaneously heat the Cellophane or other covering sheet against the container and cause such covering sheet to be heat-bonded to the container.

When pressure is removed from the treadle 21, the

springs

44 and 45 return the jaws or heating elements l8 and I9 to their original open position and the lifting plate 2| is not lowered until the energizing member 39 has moved a considerable distance so that the spring 33 is substantially fully expanded. In this manner the container is not withdrawn from the device until the jaws I8 and 19 have opened, thereby permitting a container having a head or outward flange at its upper end to be maintained within the device until the jaws have opened.

The device illustrated in Fig. 4 is a table model capable of being used upon a counter, shelf or the like. It consists of a suitable lower housing 50, the upper surface of which furnishes a work table l2. The standard l3 extends'upwardly and sup ports the annulus l4 and the upper circular plate i6 as described hereinbefore. The semi-circular heating elements IB and H! are here provided with rearwardly extending integral fingers 58 and 59, the rearward ends of such fingers being provided with downwardly extending lips. Toggle links 69 are connected to the downwardly extending lips of the fingers 58 and 59 and to a bifurcated end portion 6| of a reciprocatable energizing member 62 which is connected to a piston 93 in a pressure cylinder 64 located within the housing 59. A lever 65 pivoted at 66 and provided with a forked end 61 engages a cross pin 86 extending through the energizing member 62. The opposite end of such lever is pivotally connected to a plunger 69 as at 19. The plunger 39 extends into a hollow shaft 1| connected to a lifting plate 2| which is normally supported within a recess formed in the top or work table l2. A spring 13 is contained within the hollow shaft 'H and bears against the top of the plunger 69. A container to be sealed is indicated at 14 and the sheet of superimposed Cellophane or the like is indicated at 15.

The fluid pressure cylinder 64 is provided with conduits connected to the top and bottom thereof as indicated at 11 and 18, these conduits leading to a four-way valve 80. The valve is supplied with pressure fluid through line 8| from a pump 82 driven by a suitable electric motor. The pump is supplied with fluid from a reservoir 83 and the valve 89 is also provided with a return line 84 leading back to the reservoir. A suitable pressure relief valve may connect the pressure line 8| with the return line 84 as indicated at 85.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the device is ready to seal the container. By imparting a quarter turn to the valve 80, the pressure line 8| may be connected with the line 18 leading to the top of the cylinder 64 while simultaneously the bottom of said cylinder is connected by line 11 to the return line 84. Downward movement of the energizing member 62 will cause lever 65 to raise the plunger 69 and the lifting plate 2| so as to cause the top of the container to pass through the annulus l4 and bear against the recess in the top plate l6. Continued downward movement of the member 62 will actuate the links 69, causing the semi-circular heating elements l8 and I9 to grasp and press the cellophane 15 against the container 14. By again turning valve 89 to its original position, the direction of flow of pressure fluid to the cylinder is reversed and the parts return to the position indicated'in Fig. 4, thereby lowering the completely sealed container. A completely enclosed hydraulic system of this type has been found very satisfactory.

It is to be understood that instead of employing liquid pressure, pneumatic pressure may also be used. Electromagnetic means or solenoid means may also be employed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes may be made. In actual practice it has been found that Cellophane may be rapidly and efiectively caused to adhere to the waxed or coated exterior surfaces of food containers and adequately protect the contents against contamination.

I claim:

An individual container sealing machine comprising: a work table, a lifting plate in said work table, an annulus provided above the lifting plate, a circular plate provided with a downwardly extending lip at its outer edge positioned above the annulus and in alignment therewith; a pair of opposing semi-circular heating elements movable toward and away from each other in a zone between said annulus and plate to grasp and release a container whose top extends through the annulus; a vertically extending reciprocatable energizing member, means for moving said member, a toggle linkage between said member and said heating elements for imparting si1nultaneous and opposing movement thereto, lever means for raising and lowering the lifting plate; and means connecting the energizing member with said lever for moving the lifting plate, said means including a spring whereby the lifting plate is maintained in yielding contact with a container while the energizing member continues to move.