WO2013082226A1

WO2013082226A1 - Multipackage applicator device

Info

Publication number: WO2013082226A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/066961
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vitoldas Karaliukas
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Priority date: 2011-12-01
Filing date: 2012-11-29
Publication date: 2013-06-06

Abstract

A device for applying a flexible carrier (80) to a plurality of contain¬ ers (15)includes a base (50) and a turntable (60) rotatably positioned with respect to the base (50). Two sets of jaws (30) are positioned on the turntable (60) so that the sets of jaws (30) are moveable between a closed position and an open position when the turntable (60) is ro¬ tated relative to the base (50). As a result, a flexible carrier (80) is stretched to permit insertion of the plurality of containers (15) within corresponding container receiving apertures (85) of the flexible carrier (80).

Description

MULTIPACKAGE APPLICATOR DEVICE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/565,598, filed 01 December 2011. The co-pending Provisional Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for applying a carrier to a plurality of containers such as cans or bottles.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Conventional container carriers are used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes and/or similar containers that require unitization. Flexible plastic ring carriers are one such conventional container carrier. Flexible plastic ring carriers may be used to unitize groups of four, six, eight, twelve or other suitable groups of containers into a convenient multipackage.

Often, merchandisers and/or bottlers desire options for unitizing groups of individual containers into desirable multipackages. Large bottling operations utilize automated packaging lines that can efficiently unitize hundreds of containers per minute into corresponding flexible carriers. Such equipment is large and impractical for smaller operations. In particular, smaller, low-volume merchandisers, such as liquor stores and convenience stores, and/or bottlers that do not have the necessary volume requirements, floor space or equipment for automated operations may desire a hand-operated device for low- volume application of flexible carriers to groups of containers. Existing equipment for such hand application of flexible carriers to groups of containers include a small, pencil- sized device with an angled end, operated in a manner similar to a shoe horn, for stretching individual apertures of the flexible carriers into engagement with individual containers. This process is time consuming and inconsistent. In addition, table-top fixtures exist whereby a carrier is stretched into position using a large pivoting, cantilevered handle to separate the apertures of the carrier for placement of containers therein. These fixtures are often large, expensive and unwieldy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers. The device according to this invention preferably includes a base and a complementary turntable. The turntable is preferably rotatable relative to the base and vice versa. Two sets of jaws are preferably positioned on the turntable, whereby the sets of jaws are moveable, such as through corresponding handles, between a closed position and an open position when the turntable is rotated relative to the base.

In operation, the flexible carrier may be placed on the sets of jaws and the turntable may then be rotated relative to the base. This action from the closed position to the open position spreads apart the sets of jaws relative to each other and stretches the flexible carrier so that respective container apertures are open and exposed for loading of individual containers. Each container may be inserted into the respective container apertures and the device may be moved back to the closed position. The flexible carrier may then be removed from the device resulting in a unitized multipackage suitable for sale, shipping or similar disposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a top view of a device shown in a closed position according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 1 in an open position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of a device in an open position having a carrier stretched therein; and

Fig. 6 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 3 having a plurality of containers positioned therein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1-6 show a device 10 for unitizing six containers within a flexible carrier to form a unitized package. Although Figs. 1-6 illustrate a multipackage having six containers, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers or device shown. However, the device 10 may be configured and used to unitize four, eight, twelve or any other desired number of containers and/or flexible carriers. In addition, the device 10 may be configured and used to unitize multiple sets of a desired number of containers simultaneously, such as three sets of two containers or two sets of three containers.

The device 10 as described is used to unitize a plurality of appropriate containers 15, preferably cans or bottles. However, any other commonly unitized container may be used with the device 10 according to this invention. The containers 15 are preferably like-sized within a single flexible carrier 80.

A multipackage results from application of the flexible carrier 80 to the plurality of containers 5. Flexible carriers 80 are generally applied to such containers 15 by stretching the flexible carrier 80, specifically the material surrounding individual container apertures 85 around a perimeter of the respective container 15, and allowing the stretched flexible carrier 80 to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement. The flexible carrier 80 is typically applied to a chime or rib of the container 15, where this structure exists, or to a main sidewalk According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 10 for applying the flexible carrier 80 to a plurality of containers 15 includes a base 50 and a complementary turntable 60. The turntable 60 is preferably rotatable relative to the base 50 and vice versa. As shown in Fig. 1, two sets of jaws 30 are positioned on the turntable 60, whereby the sets of jaws 30 are moveable between a closed position, shown in Figs 1 and 2, and an open position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the turntable 60 is rotated relative to the base 50.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the device 10 for applying a flexible carrier 80 to a plurality of containers 5 includes a pair of oppositely disposed jaw sets 30. As best shown in Fig. 1, each jaw set 30 includes two or more jaws, three jaws as shown in the figures, wherein each jaw includes a generally curved inner surface 35 and an upwardly extending shoulder 45 with a generally corresponding curve. The curved inner surface 35 of each jaw preferably generally corresponds with a contour of a sidewall of the container 15. As such, when the flexible carrier 80 is applied to the jaws 30 on the respective shoulder 45, the flexible carrier 80 is urged into a flush engagement with the containers 15. Alternatively, any other suitable jaw configuration known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be utilized that permits the flexible carrier 80 to be stretched between jaws sets 30.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the device 10 further includes a central pivot block 55 connecting the base 50 to the turntable 60. The central pivot block 55 is preferably a pinned or similar connection that enables the free and smooth rotation of the turntable 60 relative the base 50. The central pivot block 55 preferably includes a height suitable to locate containers 15 at a desired location within the flexible carrier 80 following insertion of individual containers 15 as described in more detail below.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the base 50 further includes one or a pair of slots 64 formed in the base 50. The pair of slots 64 are preferably formed in a generally arcuate shape that corresponds with a desired rotation of the turntable 60 relative to the base 50. A pair of corresponding pins, such as cam follower 66, may be positioned to extend from the turntable 60 and into the slots 64, thereby fixing the rotation of the turntable 60 into a predictable angle of rotation. Although shown as generally arcuate or crescent shaped, the slot or slots 64 may be configured in any desirable configuration to permit the desired rotation of the turntable 60 relative to the base 50.

The device 10 further comprises a handle 70 connected with respect to the turntable 60. More preferably, a pair of handles 70, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are positioned so that one handle 70 of the pair extends from each jaw set 30 to enable a user to rotate the turntable 60 relative to the base 50 and thus move the jaw sets 30 apart to a desired distance. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, shown in the drawings, both sets of jaws 30 move away from each other as the turntable 60 is rotated to the open position. However, one alternative embodiment may include a fixed set of jaws 30 and a moveable set of jaws 30 whereby the moveable set of jaws 30 move away from the fixed set of jaws during rotation of the turntable 60.

In operation, the device 10 is preferably positioned on a work surface. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, a mechanism 75, such as tactile feet, a suction cup and/or a clamp may be positioned with respect to the base 50 to anchor the base 50 relative to the work surface. The flexible carrier 80 having a plurality of apertures 85 is then loaded into the device 10 by positioning apertures 85 on each corresponding jaw 30 so that the flexible carrier 80 extends between the set of jaws 30.

The user then rotates turntable 60 to initiate separation of the sets of jaws 30. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the turntable 60 is rotated until the cam followers 66 or pins reach the termination of a respective slot 64 in the base 50. At that predetermined distance, flexible carrier 80 is provided with a desired stretch or tension to permit insertion of the plurality of containers 15 within each of the plurality of apertures 85. It may be preferable to include a stop at an outer limit of motion to prevent excessive stretching or Anecking@ of flexible carrier 80. As such, the pair of slots may be sized to extend at a desired length to stretch but not neckdown the flexible carrier 80.

Following insertion of containers 5 within flexible carrier 80, the unitized plurality of containers 5 may be removed from device 10. As shown in Fig. 6, containers 15 may be cans and may be inserted into the carrier top side down to result in a unitized package having a desired placement of the flexible carrier 80 relative to the containers 15. The user may then reset device 10 by moving the turntable 60 to a closed, starting position of jaws 30.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that device 10 is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers, the device comprising:

a base;

a turntable rotatably positioned with respect to the base; and two sets of jaws positioned on the turntable, the sets of jaws moveable between a closed position and an open position when the turntable is rotated relative to the base.

2. The device of Claim 1 further comprising a central pivot block connecting the base to the turntable.

3. The device of Claim 2 wherein the central pivot block includes a height suitable to locate containers at a desired location within the flexible carrier.

4. The device of Claim 1 further comprising a pair of generally arcuate slots formed in the base and a pair of corresponding pins extending from the turntable and into the slots.

5. The device of Claim 1 further comprising a handle connected with respect to the turntable.

6. The device of Claim 1 further comprising a pair of handles, each handle extending from a set of jaws of the sets.

7. The device of Claim 1 wherein each set of jaws includes at least two jaws each having a generally curved inner surface and an upwardly extending shoulder having a generally corresponding curve.

8. The device of Claim 1 wherein both sets of jaws move away from each other as the turntable is rotated to the open position.

9. The device of Claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of slots formed in the base; and

a pair of cam rollers extending from the turntable and into the base.

10. A device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers, the device comprising:

a base;

a turntable rotatably positioned with respect to the base; two sets of jaws positioned on the turntable;

two handles, each handle attached to a set of jaws of the two sets of jaws;

a pair of slots formed in the base; and

at least one cam roller extending from the turntable and into a slot of pair of slots, the sets of jaws moveable between a closed position and an open position when the turntable is rotated relative to the base.

11. The device of Claim 10 further comprising a central pivot block connecting the base to the turntable.

12. The device of Claim 10 wherein each set of jaws includes at least two jaws each having a generally curved inner surface and an upwardly extending shoulder having a generally corresponding curve.

13. The device of Claim 10 wherein the pair of slots extend at a desired length to stretch but not neckdown the flexible carrier.

14. The device of Claim 10 further comprising:

a mechanism for anchoring the base to a work surface.

15. A method of applying a flexible carrier having a plurality of apertures to a corresponding plurality of containers, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the flexible carrier on a device having two sets of jaws;

rotating a turntable of the device relative to a base to separate the sets of jaws and stretch the flexible carrier;

placing a container of the plurality of containers into each aperture; and removing the flexible carrier from the jaws so that the plurality of containers are engaged within the flexible carrier.