Patents Assigned to United Container Machinery, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20010000390
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method for forming a single face paperboard web are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a forming corrugating roll for corrugating flutes on a medium web and a carrier corrugating roll operably connected to the forming corrugating roll for carrying the medium web into contact with a liner web. A bonding nip is defined by the carrier corrugating roll for pressing the liner web into adhering contact with the medium web, thereby forming a single faced web. A steam supplying device, including at least one fluid port in fluid communication with the bonding nip, supplies a low pressure steam against at least one of the liner web and the medium web. The steam supplying device further includes a body having a heated surface facing one of the liner and the medium webs. A primary channel extends within the body and is in thermal communication with the heated surface. A high pressure steam is supplied to the primary channel for heating the heated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: April 26, 2001
    Applicant: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Finke, Kent W. Thurston, Charles E. Thomas, Stephen Joseph Mettee
  • Patent number: 6155320
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method for forming a single face paperboard web are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a forming corrugating roll for corrugating flutes on a medium web and a carrier corrugating roll operably connected to the forming corrugating roll for carrying the medium web into contact with a liner web. A bonding nip is defined by the carrier corrugating roll for pressing the liner web into adhering contact with the medium web, thereby forming a single faced web. A steam supplying device, including at least one fluid port in fluid communication with the bonding nip, supplies a low pressure steam against at least one of the liner web and the medium web. The steam supplying device further includes a body having a heated surface facing one of the liner and the medium webs. A primary channel extends within the body and is in thermal communication with the heated surface. A high pressure steam is supplied to the primary channel for heating the heated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Finke, Kent W. Thurston, Charles E. Thomas, Stephen Joseph Mettee
  • Patent number: 6110095
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method for forming a double face paperboard web are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a heating section upstream from a drawing section. The heating section includes at least one heating plate having an upper surface facing a paperboard web and heated by a plurality of primary channels supplied with steam. A plurality of secondary channels extend through the heating plate intermediate the primary channels and a lower surface of the plate. A plurality of outlet ports communicate with each secondary channel and the upper surface of the heating plate. Steam supplied to the secondary channels exits through the outlet ports thereby producing a steam film between the upper surface of the heating plate and the lower surface of the paperboard web. The steam film substantially reduces frictional forces opposing movement of the web while also dramatically increasing the heat transfer to the paperboard web and accelerating the gelatinization of the glue therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Finke, Kent W. Thurston, Gary S. Podhorniak, Charles E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6092465
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing erasable relief images including providing a face surface formed of a temperature sensitive shape memory material. The face surface may be selectively heated to cause the shape memory material to displace and form a predetermined relief image. Alternatively, the shape memory material may be selectively engaged with die elements to form a predetermined relief image. The relief image may be erased by heating the face surface to thereby cause the shape memory material to return to a uniform surface contour, or to soften the shape material sufficiently for it to be engaged and compressed to a predetermined uniform configuration by an erasing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Agronin
  • Patent number: 6059705
    Abstract: A paperboard blank processing apparatus including a rotatably mounted processing head for operating upon successive paperboard blanks is disclosed. A paperboard blank registration sensor is provided upstream from the processing head for detecting a preprinted registration mark on a surface of an approaching paperboard blank. A controller is responsive to the registration sensor for determining whether the approaching paperboard blank is in proper registration with the rotary processing head. A registration correction window is defined by the controller and includes upper and lower limits defining upper and lower maximum correction values for bringing the angular position of the processing head into proper register with the linear position of the approaching paperboard blank. The controller further defines an averaging window containing the registration correction window wherein the registration correction window may be shifted within the averaging window in response to consistent registration errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Meyer L. Ruthenberg, Douglas H. Silate, Barry E. Larkin
  • Patent number: 6050316
    Abstract: A single facer including a preheater for conditioning a paperboard web. The preheater is positioned upstream form a corrugating nip and includes an arcuate surface facing the web. A plurality of primary channels are disposed internally within the preheater in thermal communication with the arcuate surface. High pressure steam is supplied to the primary channels for heating the arcuate surface. A plurality of outlet ports extend within the preheater and are in fluid communication with the heated arcuate surface. Low pressure steam is released through the plurality of outlet ports thereby producing a steam film between the heated arcuate surface and the paperboard web. The steam film dramatically increases heat transfer to the paperboard web while also reducing frictional forces opposing movement of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Finke, Kent W. Thurston, Charles E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6027591
    Abstract: A single face splicer for creating a splice between a running web from a first source of single face material and a ready web from a second source of single face material to provide an uninterrupted supply of single face material to a double backer system in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard. The splicer includes an upper and lower bridge positioned above the first and second sources of single face material, and a splice head adjacent the upper bridge for creating the splice between the running web and the ready web. A drive system draws the running web through the splice head at an output speed which is greater than the speed at which the double backer system draws the running web from the splicer. The running web is deposited on an upper bridge supply belt which rotates at a speed which is slower than the output speed thereby causing the running web to accumulate on the upper bridge supply belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: John O'Dwyer
  • Patent number: 5951817
    Abstract: A single facer including an auxiliary nip providing an adjustable auxiliary force acting upon a corrugated medium web and a liner web for effective bonding therebetween to form a single faced board is disclosed. An endless belt cooperates with a corrugating roll thereby defining a primary nip. The endless belt is guided over a plurality of belt rolls wherein one of the belt rolls defines an auxiliary nip for providing an auxiliary force pressing the endless belt and the liner web together with the flutes of the medium web. An adjustment means is provided for adjusting the auxiliary force within the auxiliary nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5888183
    Abstract: A method of working paperboard blanks is disclosed. The method includes providing first and second pairs of parallel rotary shafts supporting first and second pairs of tool heads respectively. The first pair of tool heads is moved to a predetermined longitudinal position along the first pair of shafts to define a first line of working. Likewise, the second pair of tool heads is moved to a predetermined longitudinal position along the second pair of shafts to define a second line of working wherein a center of the first line of working is displaced relative to a center of the second line of working. The paperboard blank is conveyed between the first and second pairs of tool heads to form a panel line on the paperboard blank. The tool heads may be automatically positioned along their respective shafts by coupling members which move linearly parallel to the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Meyer L. Ruthenberg, Barry E. Larkin
  • Patent number: 5779617
    Abstract: A tool positioning device for use in combination with a machine for working paperboard blanks conveyed in a horizontal direction through the machine. The machine includes pairs of parallel rotary shafts wherein each pair of shafts includes upper and lower shafts and carry a plurality of tool heads. The positioning device includes a plurality of coupling members actuated in a vertical direction by actuators wherein the coupling members are moved downwardly into engagement with the tool heads. The coupling members are supported on an actuator support which is mounted to a transfer structure wherein the transfer structure moves the actuator support in axial movement to thereby slide the tool heads along their respective shafts to preselected positions along the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry E. Larkin, Meyer L. Ruthenberg