Abstract: Systems and methods for making a paperboard container include a sidewall blank heater assembly having upper and lower sidewall blank heaters for simultaneously heating upper and lower edge strips of the sidewall blank adjacent lateral edges thereof, and a bottom sidewall seam heater for heating a generally curved strip adjacent an arcuate bottom edge of the sidewall blank simultaneously with the upper and lower edge strips. The sidewall blank is thereafter curved about a forming mandrel at a container-forming station so as to overlap the heated upper and lower edge strips of the sidewall blank to form a longitudinal container side seam, while the bottom edge of the sidewall blank is brought into contact with a paperboard bottom wall blank to form an annular container bottom seam. A bottom seam heater assembly is most preferably provided for circumferentially heating the container bottom seam simultaneously while the sidewall blank is curved about the forming mandrel at the container-forming station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a paperboard container include a sidewall blank heater assembly having upper and lower sidewall blank heaters for simultaneously heating upper and lower edge strips of the sidewall blank adjacent lateral edges thereof, and a bottom sidewall seam heater for heating a generally curved strip adjacent an arcuate bottom edge of the sidewall blank simultaneously with the upper and lower edge strips. The sidewall blank is thereafter curved about a forming mandrel at a container-forming station so as to overlap the heated upper and lower edge strips of the sidewall blank to form a longitudinal container side seam, while the bottom edge of the sidewall blank is brought into contact with a paperboard bottom wall blank to form an annular container bottom seam. A bottom seam heater assembly is most preferably provided for circumferentially heating the container bottom seam simultaneously while the sidewall blank is curved about the forming mandrel at the container-forming station.

Abstract: A machine and system are disclosed for filling containers with food products, such as liquid and semi-solid dairy products. The machine is driven by solenoid-controlled pneumatics and a servo-motor, all of which can be controlled by computer. The machine and system provide greater flexibility in changing the machine over from one product to another. The system also allows remote monitoring of the operation of the machine.

Abstract: In a cup sealing system including a cup former and at least one burner for sealing a cup bottom seam where a cup side wall blank is mated with a bottom disk, with one portion of the side wall extending beyond the bottom disk, an improvement wherein at least one burner includes a burner head with a plurality of circumferentially arranged flame nozzles and a pilot flame aperture, the pilot flame aperture adapted to be located axially adjacent the one portion of the cup side wall; a flame ignitor/sensor positioned adjacent the flame aperture; and a combustion chamber which extends from a forward edge of the burner at the flame nozzles to a location axially beyond the container side wall to thereby achieve uniform heating of the extended portion of the cup side wall. The burner head also includes a pair of relatively movable sleeves adapted to create an annular pilot flame ring gap on start-up.

Abstract: The testing of containers for leaks is accomplished solely by means of volumetric compression of air trapped within the container interior during a stroke of a top cuff forming mandrel. Upon sensing the presence of a defective container, a container transfer chute is activated so as to remove the defective container from the container-making machinery and thereby separate it from those containers determined to be acceptable. In the event that a number of containers per predetermined unit time period (e.g., at least 10 containers per minute) have been determined to be defective, a controller will initiate a machine self-diagnostic mode. Once a first threshold number of defective containers per unit time is sensed, then a complete machine shut-down will occur if a second threshold number of defective containers is sensed in the next subsequent unit time period (e.g., greater that 10 containers during the next successive minute of operation).

Abstract: Single ply paperboard containers are wax-coated by directing a relatively narrow spray band of atomized wax towards the interior surfaces of the containers being treated. The spray band is volumetrically asymmetrical and is oriented relative to the interior surfaces of the container such that its volumetric asymmetry is directed towards the bottom circumferential seam between the tubular side wall and bottom wall of the containers. In this manner, a minimal (but fluid-impervious effective) nonsaturating amount of wax will be applied to the interior surfaces of the container so as to preserve the vivid appearance of color graphics and/or indicia that may be printed on the exterior surface of the container. At the same time, the volumetric asymmetry and orientation of the spray band ensures that a maximum amount of wax will be applied at or near the circumferential bottom seam so that a fluid-impervious fillet seal may be established thereat.

Abstract: Single ply paperboard containers are wax-coated by directing a relatively narrow spray band of atomized wax towards the interior surfaces of the containers being treated. The spray band is volumetrically asymmetrical and is oriented relative to the interior surfaces of the container such that its volumetric asymmetry is directed towards the bottom circumferential seam between the tubular side wall and bottom wall of the containers. In this manner, a minimal (but fluid-impervious effective) nonsaturating amount of wax will be applied to the interior surfaces of the container so as to preserve the vivid appearance of color graphics and/or indicia that may be printed on the exterior surface of the container. At the same time, the volumetric asymmetry and orientation of the spray band ensures that a maximum amount of wax will be applied at or near the circumferential bottom seam so that a fluid-impervious fillet seal may be established thereat.

Abstract: Single ply paperboard containers are wax-coated by directing a relatively narrow spray band of atomized wax towards the interior surfaces of the containers being treated. The spray band is volumetrically asymmetrical and is oriented relative to the interior surfaces of the container such that its volumetric asymmetry is directed towards the bottom circumferential seam between the tubular side wall and bottom wall of the containers. In this manner, a minimal (but fluid-impervious effective) nonsaturating amount of wax will be applied to the interior surfaces of the container so as to preserve the vivid appearance of color graphics and/or indicia that may be printed on the exterior surface of the container. At the same time, the volumetric asymmetry and orientation of the spray band ensures that a maximum amount of wax will be applied at or near the circumferential bottom seam so that a fluid-impervious fillet seal may be established thereat.

Abstract: A stepping motor is used to feed sheet stock to a blank making assembly in a container making process. A translator provides necessary pulses to the stepping motor and is controlled by a counter which is provided with a pulse train indicative of the number of pulses provided the stepping motor. The contents of the counter compensate for the number of pulses necessary to stop the motor which will be produced by the translator. Alternatively, a print registration indicia may be sensed to initiate deceleration of the stepping motor. The indicia is offset a predetermined distance from a point of proper registration in order to compensate for the distance necessary to decelerate the stepping motor.

Abstract: An induction furnace utilizes a channel-shaped induction coil disposed along a mandrel movement line within a cup-making machine to produce eddy currents within a conductive grid arranged intermediate between the induction coil and the mandrel movement line and also within the mandrels themselves. Cylindrical thermoplastic sheet blanks are mounted on the mandrels, and as a result of the heat generated by the eddy currents within the conductive grid and mandrel itself, shrink about the mandrel to produce a finished container conforming to the surfaces of the mandrel. The induction coil is driven by a high frequency alternating current power supply and may be controlled by the placement of a thermocouple within the furnace. By varying the permeability of the inductive grid and the forming mandrel, the mandrel temperature may be controlled separately from the temperature applied to the exterior surface of the cylindrical blanks of thermoplastic material by the conductive grid.

Abstract: A low-frequency induction heater is disclosed for heating air or gas and dispelling this gas for sealing polycoated papers. The low frequency induction heater has an induction coil surrounding a steel core and a core insulator for heating the core and insulator through electromagnetic induction bypassing a low frequency AC current through the induction coil. Air or gas enters the low frequency induction heater through an air inlet and passes through the core and/or over the surface of the core insulator of the low frequency induction heater such that the heat generated in the core is transferred to the air or gas. The heated air or gas is then expelled from the low frequency induction heater through an outlet nozzle which is configured for sealing polycoated papers together in structures such as the lapped side seam of a cup sidewall.

Abstract: Apparatus for causing drawn and ironed cans having rolled-back edges to be detected as faulty and discharged by state-of-the-art can transfer and coating systems. An arcuate shoe is disposed so as to frictionally engage, and cause the rotation of, can-receiving mandrels. A rigid, arcuate arm is disposed adjacent the path of the mandrels, far enough away to allow acceptable cans to slide over the mandrels but close enough to prevent cans having rolled-back edges from doing so. The cans which are prevented from fully seating upon the mandrels are then discharged from the mandrels by air pressure.