US3454987A - Apparatus for separating rim nested containers - Google Patents

Apparatus for separating rim nested containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3454987A
US3454987A US582284A US3454987DA US3454987A US 3454987 A US3454987 A US 3454987A US 582284 A US582284 A US 582284A US 3454987D A US3454987D A US 3454987DA US 3454987 A US3454987 A US 3454987A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rim
containers
container
rims
separating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US582284A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bryant Edwards
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dart Container Corp
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3454987A publication Critical patent/US3454987A/en
Assigned to DART CONTAINER CORPORATION reassignment DART CONTAINER CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C57/00—Shaping of tube ends, e.g. flanging, belling or closing; Apparatus therefor, e.g. collapsible mandrels
    • B29C57/12—Rim rolling
    • B29C57/125—Rim rolling using tools with helical grooves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
    • B65G59/107—De-stacking nested articles by means of rotary devices or endless elements
    • B65G59/108—De-stacking nested articles by means of rotary devices or endless elements the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the axis of the stack

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for forming a rolled under rim on a thin wall plastic container which includes means for separating and initially folding back the rim of each container toward its side wall at least to an extent where nesting with the rim of a superposed container is prevented, the apparatus further including elements which are capable of receiving in successive fashion the thus formed plastic containers and forming rolled under rims thereon.
  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for separating rim nested plastic containers or the like from one another, and more particularly, to an apparatus for separating and folding back the rims of rim nested containers to an extent where subsequent nesting between the rims of adjacent containers is prevented.
  • the rim curling operation has conventionally been a post forming technique primarily because simultaneously operations have not operated satisfactorily.
  • difficulties have been encountered in handling the containers prior to and during the rim curling operation which have caused machine jam-up with consequent downtime and inefiiciency. These difficulties have included such things as cocking of individual containers and nesting of the container rims with attendant container jamming, all of which have contributed to the inefliciencies aforementioned.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which separates rim nested containers from each other and forms the container rims such that the containers may be moved in jam-free relationship to a rim curling station or operation.
  • a further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus which, in addition to the aforementioned objects, assures fast, repetitive, trouble-free operation of a rim rolling or curling station, and which can be simply and easily adapted thereto.
  • a method and apparatus which separates stacked, plastic containers or the like each of which have a side wall terminating in an outwardly directed, reversely bent circumferential rim capable of nestably receiving and being nested within the rims of adjacent similarly configured containers, said method and apparatus being operative to separate the nested rims between adjacent containers in a stack of containers, and while separated, the previously nested rims are formed in a manner to preclude subsequent nesting of the containers whereupon they may be released or further treated by a rim rolling station or operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, of an inverted stack of nestable insert cups constructed to provide rim on rim stacking between adjacent containers;
  • FIG. 2 is also a partial fragmentary side elevational view of an inverted stack of insert cups prior to the rolling or curling of the rims thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a container rim rolling or curling machine which incorporates features of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the rim curling or rolling apparatus showing the manner in which rim nested containers are engaged and separated from each other;
  • FIG. 5 is also an enlarged fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 4 which illustrates further engagement and separation of the rims between adjacent containers;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in which rim nested containers are separate and formed to preclude subsequent nesting thereof;
  • FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a container separating and forming element which is employed in conjunction with the rim curling or rolling apparatus shown in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the rim separation and forming element depicted in FIG. 7.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 The method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful with containers of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • These containers which are generally identified 10 are of the type known as disposable insert cups or containers which are adapted to be used with a. supporting holder of hollow construction.
  • Disposable insert cups made of paper have been sold commercially for quite a number of years, and have proved quite successful since the insert can be discarded after usage and replaced with an unused cup.
  • the insert cups 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 employ the conventional conical shape, but preferably are made from thermoplastic material such as high impact polystyrene. It has been found that plastic disposable insert cups have a high incidence of jamming, and to avoid this, stacking means have been employed to limit the amount of telescoping between adjacent stacked containers and thereby prevent jamming. While various types of stacking configurations may be used, it has been found that the containers of the type illustrated function well by stacking llll'l upon run.
  • the containers 10 can be formed into a one-piece seamless body with a projecting rim portion 12 which is usually outwardly directed and reversely bent relative to the container side wall, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, to aid in the post rim rolling or curling operation.
  • container stacking means may be employed to prevent the jamming of adjacent, nested containers, there is still the possibility that the rims 12 of adjacent containers can nest within one another, particularly where it is desired to use the subsequently curled rolled rims as the primary container stacking means.
  • a stacking ring 14 in the vicinity of the bottom thereof is preferably employed to limit the degree of telescoping between adjacent containers.
  • the stacking rings 14 may employ a reverse taper construction of the type disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No. 3,139,213.
  • the container stacking rings 14, while usefully employed in transporting the containers 10 from the forming station to the rim rolling or curling station, must have a limited axial height Where container rim stacking is employed so as to keep from interfering therewith. In other words, the axial height of each stacking ring 14 must be less than the axial height of the container rim when subsequently curled or rolled so that container rim stacking between adjacent nested containers can take place.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings The type of rim stacking which has been usefully employed in disposable insert containers 10 and the like is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
  • each of the containers 10 have a rolled or curled rim 16 which engages and rests upon an adjacent rim 16 of a similarly configured container 10 to prevent jamming between the side wall of adjacent containers.
  • Each of the rolled or curled rims 16 have been formed from the outwardly directed, reversely bent circumferential rim 12 which is formed in that manner at the container molding station.
  • the containers 10 shown in FIG. 1 are in their completed form in the sense that they are now capable of being mounted or held within a hollow supporting holder as is conventional.
  • the containers 10 come from the container molding or forming station in the shape shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and are transported by suitable means such as pneumatic tubes and the like to a machine for curling or rolling the outwardly directed, reversely bent circumferential rim 12.
  • a machine which can be used for this purpose is represented by numeral 20 in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
  • Such a machine is specifically disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 3,096,546, and generally comprises a platform 22 which is mounted on the supporting leg 24.
  • a plurality of spirally grooved cylindrical rim curling or rolling elements 26 are mounted on the platform 22 and encased within the sheet metal drum 28 also supported by the platform 22.
  • a motor 30 is positioned below the platform 22 and drives a speed reducer 32 by means of a belt 34.
  • the speed reducer 32 drives a shaft 36 which extends up through the platform 22 and drives a gear train (not shown) for rotating the elements 26.
  • the specific gear train mechanism employed may be of the type described in US. Patent Nos. 3,096,546, and reference is made to that patent for understanding the driving system employed.
  • a plurality of the rims roller elements are disposed in spaced relationship from each other around the circumference of a circle for receiving a stack of containers 10, and for engaging each rim 12 thereof at a plurality of accurately spaced positions.
  • the specific number and arrangement of rim roller elements 26 may be varied to suit the particulars desired.
  • Each of the rim roller elements 26 includes a screw thread or groove 38 which is designed to form the outwardly directed, reversely bent circumferential rim 12 of each container 10 to the curled or rolled shape 16 shown in FIG. 1.
  • Any type of screw thread or groove formed may be employed which functions to progressively deflect the container rims 12 as the containers 10 are moved through the machine 20.
  • a V-shaped groove is employed having a maximum depth at the upper end of the rim roller element 26 which tapers uniformly to a minimum depth near the bottom of the roller, and again deepening to a lesser maximum at the bottom of the roller.
  • the container rims 12 are designed to sequentially engage within the screw thread or groove 38 so that each rim is brought or folded back toward its side wall and assumes the curled or rolled shape 16 illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • a smooth, even rim roll or curl is obtained by employing a heating element in connection with one or more of the thread roller elements 26.
  • the heating device may take the form of a Calrod unit or the like. While it is preferable that each of the rim roller elements 26 which are disposed in a circumferential array are formed with a screw thread or groove, it has been found that an acceptable rim roll or curl can be obtained by using a single rim roller element 26 with the other elements disposed in circumferential position relative thereto having a smooth face so as to function in guiding and supporting the containers, but without forming the container rims which is left to the single rim roller element.
  • Element 40 as best seen in FIGS. 7-8, comprises an annular body member having a depending plug element 42 extending from the lower face thereof.
  • the plug element 42 is adapted to be received within a complementary shaped recess formed in the upper end of the corresponding rim roller element 26 with which it is to be associated.
  • a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 44 are formed in the separating and forming element 40 for receiving bolts of suitable size to mount the element 40 to a rim roller element 26.
  • the upper face of the element 40 is substantially planar in construction and merges at its outer periphery into a downwardly and outwardly tapering face 46 which receives and guides the containers through the rim roller apparatus.
  • each of the rim roller elements 26 mounted in circumferential array will include an element 40, thus providing a plurality of spaced downwardly and outwardly tapering faces 46 which receive and guide the containers in the manner desired.
  • Each separating and forming element 40 includes a pair of axially spaced and interrupted flange or ledge elements 48, 50 which define there-between a groove 52 for receiving the rims of containers therein.
  • the lower flange or ledge element 50 has a greater diameter than the upper flange or ledge element 48 for supporting the container rims as they are being worked upon by the upper flange or ledge element 48 as will be discussed in detail hereinafter.
  • the lower flange or ledge element 50 is peripherally uninterrupted between the points A and B as shown in FIG. 7. Individual container rims are supported by the lower flange or ledge element 50 between points A and B. The are subtended between points A and B is approximately 240 which means that the container rims will be supported for approximately a 240 arc.
  • the flange or ledge element 50 is interrupted or radially reduced in size between point B and point A. Thus, individual container rims are supported between points A and B, but upon reaching point B they are no longer supported and can drop or disassociate themselves from the separating and forming element 40 for movement to the rim roller elements 26.
  • the upper flange or ledge element 48 is peripherally interrupted between points Y and Z while being peripherally continuous between Z and Y.
  • the are subtended between points Y and Z is approximately 120, and this arc is related to the 240 are between points A and B of the lower flange or ledge element 50 in the sense that the peripherally interrupted portion between points Y and Z on the upper flange or ledge element 48 generally coincides with the peripherally continuous portion between the points A and B of the lower flange or ledge element 50.
  • the upper flange or ledge element 48 begins its radial enlargement such that the are between points Z and Y will coincide with the peripherally continuous as well as the peripherally interrupted portions of the lower flange or ledge element 50.
  • FIGS. 36 for an understanding of the manner in which the separating and forming elements 40 operate in conjunction with the rim roller elements 26.
  • the containers are telescopically nested in container stacks and placed in inverted position as shown in FIG. 3 atop the machine 20.
  • Each stack of containers 10 is adapted to be received within an axial opening which extends through the upper surface of the machine 20 around which a plurality of rim roller elements 26 are disposed.
  • U :8. Patent No. 3,096,546 to which reference has been earlier made, there are six circumferentially spaced rim roller elements 26 for each axial opening, and thus each stack of containers are engaged at six circumferentially spaced locations. It will be understood that the number and spacing of the rim roller elements 26 may be varied to suit the particulars desired, it already having been indicated that a single rim roller element 26 may be employed in conjunction with one or more smooth faced cylindrical rollers.
  • each separating and forming elements 40 are driven in phase with one another in the sense that at any point during the cycling of the apparatus, any of the points A, B, X and Y will be positioned at the same arcuate position.
  • the interrupted portion between the points Y of each upper flange or ledge 48 will be moved into the vicinity of an individual container rim 12 permitting it to drop by gravity onto the lower flange or ledge element 50.
  • FIGURE 4 illustrates the manner in which containers are deposited on the lower flange or ledge element 50 once they have been moved through the opening created by the radially reduced area located between the points Y and Z of the upper flange or ledge element 48.
  • each radially enlarged portion of each upper flange or ledge element 48 comes into contact with the rim of the bottommost container in the stack.
  • the radially enlarged portion begins at point Z and continues until it reaches point Y where the radially reduced area begins.
  • the effect of each radially enlarged portion between the points Z and Y is the creation of a knifing-action between the rims of the bottommost and penultimate containers in the stack. This action, as best seen in FIGS.
  • each separating and forming element 40 between the points B and A is radially reduced to an extent where it can effectively merge with the uppermost projecting spiral thread portion to permit free and uninterrupted movement of containers from the separating and forming element 40 to the rim roller element 26.
  • the container rims may be cold worked beyond their point of elastic recovery, it is preferable that the container rims when assuming the position 12' are merely in a temporary state without permanent deformation thereof since it has been found that the combination of heat and pressure through the medium of a heated rim roller element 26 provides an exceptionally good curl or roll of the type that has been found necessary.
  • the rim and separating element 40 is associated with a rim roller element 26, although a partial cold working of the rim may be efifected if it desired to feed the containers to a separate rim rolling station.
  • each container rim should preferably assume the shape which is identified by 12" in the drawings where the smooth curvilinear roll or curl has been obtained.
  • Apparatus for forming a rolled under rim on a plastic container or the like of the type having a side wall terminating in an outwardly directed, reversely bent circumferential rim said apparatus comprising means for separating and initially folding back the rim of each container toward its side wall at least to an extent where nesting with the rim of a superposed container is prevented, a plurality of cylindrical elements having their axis parallel and disposed on the circumference of a circle for receiving the plastic containers from the aforementioned means and for guiding the plastic containers in a predetermined path, at least one of said cylindrical elements carrying a spiral groove which is configured to receive and progressively deflect the rim of each container toward its side wall to provide a rolled under rim, said means for separating and initially folding back the rim of each container toward its side wall comprising a grooved cap member which is mounted on said spirally grooved cylindrical element at the upper end thereof,
  • each of the cylindrical elements are spirally grooved for receiving and progressively deflecting the rims of said containers, each of said spirally grooved cylindrical elements having a grooved cap member mounted thereon at the upper end thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
US582284A 1966-09-27 1966-09-27 Apparatus for separating rim nested containers Expired - Lifetime US3454987A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US58228466A 1966-09-27 1966-09-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3454987A true US3454987A (en) 1969-07-15

Family

ID=24328550

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US582284A Expired - Lifetime US3454987A (en) 1966-09-27 1966-09-27 Apparatus for separating rim nested containers

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3454987A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1704127C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1138268A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6710148A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3579737A (en) * 1968-10-15 1971-05-25 American Can Co Brim curling apparatus
EP3363752A1 (de) * 2017-02-16 2018-08-22 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG Entstapelvorrichtung mit rotierender schalenentlastung
US11180329B2 (en) * 2017-10-19 2021-11-23 Evoca S.P.A. Device for dispensing items from a stack of nested items, in particular cup lids

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109677940A (zh) * 2017-10-19 2019-04-26 比亚迪股份有限公司 一种分杯装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3096546A (en) * 1958-08-19 1963-07-09 Illinois Tool Works Machine and method for curling lips of container articles
US3239887A (en) * 1964-05-11 1966-03-15 Haveg Industries Inc Container lip-forming machine
US3339005A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-08-29 Brown Machine Co Of Michigan Lip curling method and machine
US3337919A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-08-29 Brown Machine Co Of Michigan Container rim beading apparatus
US3358331A (en) * 1964-03-09 1967-12-19 Haveg Industries Inc Container lip rolling machine

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1545177A (en) * 1920-11-17 1925-07-07 American Can Co Apparatus for can-end curling and sizing

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3096546A (en) * 1958-08-19 1963-07-09 Illinois Tool Works Machine and method for curling lips of container articles
US3358331A (en) * 1964-03-09 1967-12-19 Haveg Industries Inc Container lip rolling machine
US3239887A (en) * 1964-05-11 1966-03-15 Haveg Industries Inc Container lip-forming machine
US3339005A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-08-29 Brown Machine Co Of Michigan Lip curling method and machine
US3337919A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-08-29 Brown Machine Co Of Michigan Container rim beading apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3579737A (en) * 1968-10-15 1971-05-25 American Can Co Brim curling apparatus
EP3363752A1 (de) * 2017-02-16 2018-08-22 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG Entstapelvorrichtung mit rotierender schalenentlastung
US10549933B2 (en) 2017-02-16 2020-02-04 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg Dispensing device with rotating tray discharge with stack weight relief
US11180329B2 (en) * 2017-10-19 2021-11-23 Evoca S.P.A. Device for dispensing items from a stack of nested items, in particular cup lids

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1704127C2 (de) 1973-01-04
NL6710148A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-03-28
DE1704127B1 (de) 1972-05-25
GB1138268A (en) 1968-12-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3096546A (en) Machine and method for curling lips of container articles
USRE28797E (en) Lid
US10524599B1 (en) Flexible straw and system and method of manufacturing the same
EP0403869B1 (en) Ring dispenser
US5353619A (en) Apparatus and method for necking tubular members such as containers
KR100842145B1 (ko) 단열용기
US3862702A (en) Self-adjusting cup dispenser and method
US3192565A (en) Automatic rim rolling apparatus
US5000370A (en) Method and apparatus for the production of frusto-pyramidal can bodies
AU2002239827B2 (en) Method and apparatus for necking the open end of a container
JPH03261536A (ja) 熱可塑性材料からなる容器の縁形成方法及び装置
US3454987A (en) Apparatus for separating rim nested containers
US3635325A (en) Closure-handling apparatus
AU2002239827A1 (en) Method and apparatus for necking the open end of a container
US1126194A (en) Automatic feed for sheet-metal can-heads.
DE60211959T2 (de) Maschine zum versiegeln von kapseln für lebensmittel- und getränkebehälter
US5443149A (en) Apparatus for aligning disorderedly supplied bodies
US20230292936A1 (en) A dispenser for contactless ejection of disposable cups or lids
US3840150A (en) Separating and dispensing means for nested containers
KR950024819A (ko) 금속링제조장치 및 그 제조방법
CN111203710A (zh) 一种膨胀螺栓组装设备
JPH0738052U (ja) コンパクトソータ
EP3365255B1 (en) Method for rolling up definite lengths of mats in unidirectional rolled rolls, and a mat rolling station for performing the method
JP3626193B2 (ja) 容器の上蓋の製造装置
US3248785A (en) Automatic assembly apparatus

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: DART CONTAINER CORPORATION, 432 HOGSBACK ROAD, MAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004568/0710

Effective date: 19840127