WO2001030656A1 - Mecanisme destine a l'insertion d'une paille dans un recipient et procede associe - Google Patents

Mecanisme destine a l'insertion d'une paille dans un recipient et procede associe Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001030656A1
WO2001030656A1 PCT/US2000/029486 US0029486W WO0130656A1 WO 2001030656 A1 WO2001030656 A1 WO 2001030656A1 US 0029486 W US0029486 W US 0029486W WO 0130656 A1 WO0130656 A1 WO 0130656A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
straw
container
lifter
feeding system
positioning
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/029486
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter F. Murphy
James H. Kurtz, Jr.
Original Assignee
The Popstraw Company, Llc
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 The Popstraw Company, Llc filed Critical The Popstraw Company, Llc
Priority to AU13455/01A priority Critical patent/AU1345501A/en
Publication of WO2001030656A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001030656A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
    • B65B61/205—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents for adding drinking straws to a container

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for placing a straw into a container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for placing a straw into a container which can be incorporated into an automatic fluid filling line for the container.
  • Various designs have been proposed in the prior art for placing a straw within a beverage container.
  • the straw is designed to become accessible to the user when the beverage container is opened.
  • One prior art design relies upon the user to manipulate the container once it is opened to align the straw with the opening.
  • Other prior art designs include a mechanism located within the container which has the ability to position the straw in alignment with the opening. The act of opening the container imparts a force and/or motion to the mechanism which then positions the straw in alignment with the opening.
  • Still other prior art designs releasably trap the straw within the container. Once the container is filled, the straw is released in the container to be located within the closed opening. When the container is opened, it extends out of the container through the opening.
  • the present invention provides the art with a unique mechanism which is capable of inserting a straw into a beverage container automatically.
  • the mechanism of the present invention can be incorporated into an existing automatic and/or high speed beverage container filling line or the mechanism of the present invention can be a stand alone system which provides containers having straws which are accumulated and then transferred to the filling machine manually or by other methods known well in the art.
  • Figure 1 is a side view of a straw and a lifter which is to be inserted into a container;
  • Figure 2 is a side view of a container into which the straw of Figure 1 is to be inserted;
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the straw of Figure 1 assembled into the container of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a side view of a mechanism which inserts the straw of Figure 1 into the container of Figure 2 in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 5 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Figure 4
  • Figure 6 is a side view of a mechanism which anchors the straw of Figure 1 into the container of Figure 2 in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 7 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Figure 6.
  • Straw 10 comprises a lower tubular section 12, a pleated section 14 and an upper tubular section 16.
  • a lifter or float 18 is secured to lower tubular section 12.
  • Lifter 18 is secured to straw 10 in order to enhance the buoyancy of straw 10. While lifter 18 is being used to enhance the buoyancy of straw 10, other methods known in the art can also be used.
  • a container 20 comprises a generally cylindrical body 22, a closed bottom 24, an open top 26 and a shoulder 28 located adjacent open top 26.
  • straw 10 is shown releasably retained within container 20 which is the position prior to being fed into a high speed filling line for container 20.
  • Straw 10 is retained between a corner 32 defined by body 22 and bottom 24 and shoulder 28.
  • Straw 10 is bent at pleated section 14 and is held in the position shown due to the flexing of pleated section 14.
  • the elasticity of the material for straw 10 creates a restoring force which urges straw 10 back into its straight position. This restoring force reacts against corner 32 and shoulder 28 to retain straw 10 within container 20.
  • the outer surface of container 20 is flexed inward adjacent shoulder 28 to release straw 10 from shoulder 28.
  • Mechanism 40 for assembling straw 10 within container 20 is disclosed.
  • Mechanism 40 comprises a hopper 42, a vibrator feeder 44, a float assembly wheel 46, a positioning track 48, a feeding track 50, a feeding wheel 52 and a positioning system 54.
  • Hopper 42 is filled with a plurality of straws 10 in a straightened condition. Each of straws 10 within hopper 42 do not include lifter 18. Hopper 42 gravity feeds straws 10 to float assembly wheel 46 which rotates in a counter clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4. Wheel 46 includes a plurality of notches 60 each of which receives one straw 10. Vibratory feeder 44 is filled with a plurality of lifters 18. Each lifter 18 is a generally cylindrical member having a centrally located bore for receiving a respective straw 10. Vibratory feeder 44 feeds lifter 18 into a track 62 which turns to be generally vertical adjacent wheel 46. Track 62 positions an individual lifter 18 adjacent a respective notch 60 of wheel 46 which contains a respective straw 10. An assembly device 64 engages straw 10 with lifter 18 and the assembled straw 10 and lifter 18 proceed around wheel 46 within notch 60. A retaining plate 66 prevents the assembled straw 10 and lifter 18 from falling from notch 60.
  • Wheel 46 engages with positioning track 48 and feeds each straw 10 assembled to lifter 18 to individual pockets 70 located on track 48.
  • a pair of positioning plates 72 and 74 engage straw 10 and lifter 18, respectively, to place lifter 18 at a specified position on straw 10. Straws 10 and lifters 18 proceed up to the top end of track 48 where they are delivered to feeding track 50.
  • Feeding track 50 is located between positioning track 48 and feeding wheel 52. Straws 10 assembled with lifters 18 are delivered from track 50 to wheel 52 by track 50. Straws 10 with lifters 18 proceed along track 50 due to gravity.
  • Feeding wheel 52 includes a plurality of notches 80 each of which receives one straw 10 with the attached lifter 18 from track 50. Wheel 52 rotates clockwise and thus positions each straw 10 and lifter 18 adjacent a glue gun 82. Glue gun 82 dispenses a specified quantity of glue at the interface or corner of straw 10 and lifter 18. As wheel 52 continues to rotate a final positioning plate 84 pushes straw 10 further into lifter 18 such that the glue which is dispensed by gun 82 is distributed along the interface between straw 10 and lifter 18. Plate 84 moves straw 10 relative to lifter 18 to finalize the position of lifter 18 on lower tubular section 12 of straw 10. Once the final position for lifter 18 has been set, wheel 52 continues its rotation until positioning system 54 is engaged by straw 10 and lifter 18.
  • Positioning system 54 is designed to rotate straw 10 and lifter 18 approximately 90° or from a horizontal position to a vertical position as shown in Figure 4 with lower tubular section 12 being positioned to enter container 20 first.
  • Positioning system 54 includes a stop 86 which engages upper tubular section 16 while lower tubular section 12 is left unrestrained.
  • upper tubular section 16 is held by positioning system 54 while lower tubular section 16 is free to continue its movement.
  • Lower tubular section 16 continues it downward movement as shown in Figure 4 while stop 86 engaging upper tubular section 16 causes the rotation of straw 10.
  • straw 10 and lifter 18 will reach a generally vertical position as shown in Figure 4 and straw 10 and lifter 18 will fall from wheel 52 into a respective container 20.
  • a plurality of containers 20 are positioned to travel past wheel 52 at a rate which is synchronized with the rotation of wheel 52.
  • a new container 20 is positioned below the falling straw 10 and lifter 18 such that each container 20 passing wheel 52 receives a single straw 10 with its attached lifter 18.
  • Mechanism 90 for retaining straw 10 and lifter 18 within container 20 is disclosed.
  • Mechanism 90 comprises an in feeding turret 92, an anchoring turret 94 and an out feeding turret 96.
  • In feeding turret 92 receives the plurality of containers 20 with straws 10 and lifters 18 located within them from mechanism 40.
  • Mechanism 90 can be positioned to receive containers 20 directly from mechanism 40 or mechanism 90 can be positioned to receive containers 20 from an accumulation of containers 20 which is located between mechanisms 40 and 90. If an accumulation of containers 20 is utilized, mechanism 40 creates the accumulation of containers 20 while mechanism 90 reduces the accumulation of containers 20.
  • Turret 92 includes a wheel 100 having a plurality of pockets 102. Each pocket 102 receives a respective container 20. Turret 92 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to feed the plurality of containers 20 to anchoring turret 94 in a predetermined spaced pattern. Turret 94 includes a wheel 104 having a plurality of pockets 106. Each pocket 106 receives a respective container 20 from turret 92. Turret 94 rotates in a clockwise direction. As turret 94 rotates, containers 20 are moved up a ramp 108. As containers 20 move up ramp 108, they are lifted such that a retaining cylinder 110 is directed through open top 26 of each container 20.
  • a second wheel 112 includes a plurality of cylinders 110 which are spaced to align with the plurality of pockets 106. Wheel 112 is connected to and rotates with wheel 104. As each cylinder 110 enters its respective open top 26, it engages the top end of upper tubular section 16 of straw 10. Once upper tubular section 16 is engaged, continued inward movement of cylinder 110 will cause straw 10 to bend or flex at pleated section 14. Once straw 10 has bent at pleated section 14, continued inward movement of cylinder 110 will push straw 10 to the side of container 20 forcing the top end of upper tubular section 16 to engage with shoulder 28 of container 20. The flexibility of pleated section 14 creates a restoring force which then retains straw 10 within container 20.
  • the end of each cylinder 110 is contoured in shape to urge straw 10 into engagement with shoulder 28 if desired.
  • the contour of the end of cylinder 110 can be spheroidal, conical or any other contour which urges upper tubular section 16 into engagement with shoulder 28.
  • Outfeeding turret 96 includes a wheel 114 having a plurality of pockets 116. Each pocket 116 receives a respective container 20.
  • Turret 96 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to receive the plurality of containers 20 from anchoring turret 94 and feed them to a supply line 118.
  • Supply line 118 can feed directly to a filling machine, it can feed directly to an accumulation of containers 20 in front of a filling machine or it can feed directly to a packing mechanism which loads the plurality of containers 20 with the retained straws 10 and lifters 18 into containers to be transported to a filling machine. While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une machine d'insertion de pailles à vitesse élevée comprenant un dispositif destiné à acheminer une paille (10), à acheminer un organe d'élévation (18), puis à glisser la paille dans cet organe d'élévation. L'ensemble est transporté vers un mécanisme (40) servant à fixer l'organe d'élévation (18) à la paille (10), puis à introduire la paille et le flotteur (18) dans un récipient (20). Le récipient (20) contenant cette paille (10) et ce flotteur (20) est transporté vers une machine d'ancrage entrant en prise avec la paille (10) et le récipient (20) de façon à loger la paille et le flotteur entièrement à l'intérieur dudit récipient (20). La paille (10) est placée entre un coin (32) et un épaulement (28) définis par le récipient (20), et conserve cette position grâce à sa souplesse.
PCT/US2000/029486 1999-10-27 2000-10-26 Mecanisme destine a l'insertion d'une paille dans un recipient et procede associe WO2001030656A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU13455/01A AU1345501A (en) 1999-10-27 2000-10-26 Mechanism for inserting a straw into a container and method therefor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42911599A 1999-10-27 1999-10-27
US09/429,115 1999-10-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001030656A1 true WO2001030656A1 (fr) 2001-05-03

Family

ID=23701872

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/029486 WO2001030656A1 (fr) 1999-10-27 2000-10-26 Mecanisme destine a l'insertion d'une paille dans un recipient et procede associe

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1345501A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001030656A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103144804A (zh) * 2013-03-20 2013-06-12 广东喜之郎集团有限公司 一种吸管单根投放装置
CN104909012A (zh) * 2015-05-29 2015-09-16 江苏新美星包装机械股份有限公司 一种吸管插入装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106379614B (zh) * 2016-11-29 2018-11-30 无锡特恒科技有限公司 饮料管双头压入机构

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3019575A (en) * 1959-02-13 1962-02-06 Walter G Charley Apparatus for inserting straws or the like
US3656654A (en) * 1970-06-25 1972-04-18 William J Brinkley Container and drinking tube

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3019575A (en) * 1959-02-13 1962-02-06 Walter G Charley Apparatus for inserting straws or the like
US3656654A (en) * 1970-06-25 1972-04-18 William J Brinkley Container and drinking tube

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103144804A (zh) * 2013-03-20 2013-06-12 广东喜之郎集团有限公司 一种吸管单根投放装置
CN104909012A (zh) * 2015-05-29 2015-09-16 江苏新美星包装机械股份有限公司 一种吸管插入装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1345501A (en) 2001-05-08

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