Cutting And/or Shaping Means Patents (Class 53/296)
  • Patent number: 11897653
    Abstract: An applicator assembly (100) for closing a sample container (500) with a plug (16) is proposed. The applicator assembly comprises a magazine (102) configured to store a string (10) comprising polymer-based material, an insertion device (104) configured to insert an end piece (12) of the string at least partly into an opening (502) of the sample container (500), and a drive system (106) configured to supply at least a part of the string (10) from the magazine (102) to the insertion device (104). The applicator assembly further comprises a separator (108) configured to separate the end piece (12) from the string, such that the end piece (12) forms a plug (16) closing the sample container (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Bruggaier, Diana Illichmann
  • Patent number: 11548667
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Michael Cittadino, Mark Edwin Peters, Lenox Gregory Wilson, Roy J. Rozek, Erik Lips
  • Patent number: 11472579
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Michael Cittadino, Mark Edwin Peters, Lenox Gregory Wilson, Roy J. Rozek, Erik Lips
  • Patent number: 11214394
    Abstract: A process for packaging a product (P) arranged in a support (4) comprising unrolling a film (10a), transversely cutting the unrolled portion of film (10a) and preparing cut film sheets (18), moving the cut film sheets (18) to a packaging assembly (8) defining at its inside a packaging chamber (24), progressively moving a number of supports (4) inside the packaging chamber (24) of a packaging assembly (8), keeping the packaging chamber (24) open for a time sufficient for a number of supports (4) and for a corresponding number of film sheets (18) to properly position inside said packaging chamber (24), hermetically closing the packaging chamber (24) with the film sheets held above the respective support (4) and at a distance sufficient to allow gas circulation inside the support (4), optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber (24) and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film sheet (18) to said support (4), wherein the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventor: Riccardo Palumbo
  • Patent number: 9821569
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing different colors on packages includes holding-and-centering units, each having a primary and a secondary part. The primary part is held at a holding position during package handling. The secondary part is mounted in the primary part to be rotatable about a vertical axis of the unit. The secondary part receives a functional element necessary for handling a package. A plurality of secondary parts adapted to different types, forms and/or sizes of packages are associated with the primary parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Reiniger, Martin Schach, Holger Stenner
  • Publication number: 20130047551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a foam-in-bag dispensing system, including a dispensing apparatus operative to dispense foam precursor, the foam precursor being configured for expanding and solidifying into a polymeric foam, to a dispensing location between first and second web plies extending respectively on first and second sides of the dispensing apparatus; and a bag-status indicator associated for providing an indication to the operator indicative of the readiness of the bag for removal from the device for avoiding premature bag removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Pregis Intellipack Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Paul Jones
  • Publication number: 20120324835
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing at least a packaging unit by means of a sealing tool lower part carrying the packaging unit, a sealing tool upper part, and a sealing plate. The sealing tool lower part is configured to perform a lifting movement by means of a drive. The invention is characterized in that the lifting movement is performed in a uniform, continuous motion from a lowered position, via an intermediate position in which a packaging unit is clamped, to a final position. The invention further relates to a sealing station for a packaging machine in which the sealing plate is suspended via a damping unit at the sealing tool upper part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Ickert, Andreas Mader, Bernhard Langer
  • Patent number: 8316623
    Abstract: A method of forming a sealed seam between a tear-off film (12), that is provided with a tear-off strip, and a packaging member (14), the method including at least one sealing step, in which the packaging member (14) and the film 12 are compressed between a lower die (20) supporting the packaging member (14) and an upper die (22) such that an annular sealed seam (28) is formed in the peripheral portions of the film (12) and the packaging member (14), in which wherein, during a sealing step or in a subsequent non-sealing step, the sealing seam (28) is partly destroyed or weakened at is internal peripheral edge (30) in the vicinity of the tear-off strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rainer Naroska Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marcus Naroska
  • Patent number: 8268103
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the circumferential labeling containers where the individual containers may have at least one varying dimension, due to manufacturing tolerances. The method and apparatus may provide more consistent labeling of individual containers in the run of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Till
  • Publication number: 20110083401
    Abstract: A method for producing a package using a traysealer is provided, wherein the package includes a container, at least two sealing films and a plurality of products, of which a first product is located in the container and a second product between two sealing films. The first product is moved into the container upstream of a sealing station, the second product is moved onto a first sealing film before the container, the sealing film and the products are supplied together with a second sealing film, which is located above the first sealing film, to the sealing station. The first sealing film moves above and spaced apart from the container and the first product until the sealing station is reached. In the sealing station the container, the first sealing film and the second sealing film are subsequently sealed to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Scheibel, Armin Beckel
  • Publication number: 20110078981
    Abstract: The device for the production of a packaging for pharmaceutical products includes a forming station for forming troughs in a nonstretchable cover sheet in a stepwise, individual, successive manner, and further includes a transport device for laying the formed cover sheet onto a bottom sheet. This bottom sheet has pockets, which serve to hold the pharmaceutical products, and webs arranged between the pockets, and at least portions of some of the webs have ridges corresponding to the shape of the troughs in the cover sheet. The device further includes a sealing station for sealing the cover sheet to the bottom sheet. This sealing station has two sealing plates shaped in correspondence with the troughs in the cover sheet, thus resulting in the sealing of the cover sheet to the bottom sheet also in the area of the ridges of the bottom sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: UHLMANN PAC-SYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Bongers-Ambrosius, Uwe Hiller, Reinhold Ruf, Sven Kuhnert, Guenter Felk, Lutz Forst
  • Publication number: 20100287893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for closing already preformed and separated containers (19), for example trays, with a lid foil (24) in a closing station (3). The invention is characterized in that a deep-drawable foil is used as lid foil (24), that the lid foil (24) is deep-drawn in a forming means (23) of the packaging machine (1), and that the deep-drawing of the lid foil (24) is accomplished before the containers (19) are closed with the lid foil (24). The invention also relates to a packaging machine (1) suited for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Ehrmann, Helmut Sparakowski, Hans-Joachim Boekstegers
  • Patent number: 7562611
    Abstract: The planetary tubing cutter of the invention provides a gearing assembly having a pair of ring gears and a number of pinions with a blade affixed to each pinion. The ring gears are parallel to one another and are individually driven. The pinions are rotatably mounted to a side surface of one ring gear and engage a sun gear assembled to the other ring gear. When the ring gears rotate at the same speed, the pinions and blades do not revolve around their respective axes, and when one ring gear rotates at a speed different from the other ring gear, the pinions and blades revolve about their respective axes, intercepting and cutting a tube passing through an axial passage through the ring gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Axon LLC
    Inventor: Kuo-Raid Grant Chen
  • Publication number: 20080276572
    Abstract: Method for sealing a tear-off foil (16) onto a packaging element (12) including a sealing step in which the packaging element (12) is conveyed in a direction of transport (A) and, by a sealing stroke crosswise to the direction of transport (A), is moved towards a stamp tool (28) carrying foil (16), and is pressed against foil (16), with foil (16) and packaging element (12) being sealed together under the influence of heat, and in which the sealing step is preceded by a heating step in which packaging element (12) is heated by non-contact arrangement to at least the temperature required for subsequent sealing, and in that during the sealing step, stamp tool (28) is moved towards packaging element (12) by a feed stroke executed counter to the sealing stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Marcus Naroska, Rainer Naroska, Joachim Lachnitt
  • Patent number: 7412813
    Abstract: Shown and described are a device and a method for securing closure films to pouring elements arranged on composite packages with a cyclic or phased conveying device for conveying the closure films, with a feed device, with a welding device, and with a transport device for transporting the composite packages. In order to allow closure films to be secured reliably and rapidly to pouring elements on the composite packages during the manufacturing process, the welding device is arranged above the transport device, the feed device exhibits at least one clamping device for taking up the closure films and is arranged so as to be movable between a take-up position and a welding position, and the take-up position is turned towards the phased conveying device and the welding position is turned towards the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: SIG Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Heil, Thomas Vetten
  • Publication number: 20080110230
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for attaching components to strips of material to form assemblies, e.g., a system for fastening pre-sharpened razor blades to individual support strips on a continuous band of material, such as a metal, to form discrete blade assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew J. Guay, Robert Genovisi, Stephen A. Green, Norbert Binkowski, Craig Stephen Vickery, Jon Fraser Ewing, Ingomar JK Summerauer
  • Patent number: 7343842
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting film tubing in a machine for applying tubular labels to each of a series of containers that are transported on a conveyor. The film tubing is advanced incrementally through a ring gear and a bore in a platform on which the ring gear is rotatably mounted. A number of pinions with attached cutting blades are rotatably mounted to the platform in positions to mesh with the ring gear. One of the pinions is driven to rotate a single revolution when the film tubing has been advanced. The driven pinion causes the additional pinions to rotate through rotation of the ring gear, causing the blades to cut the film tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Axon LLC
    Inventor: Kuo-Raid Grant Chen
  • Patent number: 7275469
    Abstract: The planetary tubing cutter of the invention provides a gearing assembly having a pair of ring gears and a number of pinions with a blade affixed to each pinion. The ring gears are parallel to one another and are individually driven. The pinions are rotatably mounted to a side surface of one ring gear and engage a sun gear assembled to the other ring gear. When the ring gears rotate at the same speed, the pinions and blades do not revolve around their respective axes, and when one ring gear rotates at a speed different from the other ring gear, the pinions and blades revolve about their respective axes, intercepting and cutting a tube passing through an axial passage through the ring gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Axon LLC
    Inventor: Kuo-Raid Grant Chen
  • Patent number: 7231748
    Abstract: An adjusting device that is mounted in a film packaging machine includes a moving mechanism that selectively moves two support blocks in opposite directions and toothed wheels mounted to the support blocks in a symmetric manner and driven by a timing belt that is mechanically coupled to a motor for rotating film drive rollers that are mounted to selected ones of the toothed wheels. Thus, the film drive rollers are movable in opposite directions with the support blocks for adjusting the distance between the rollers, which allows for accommodation of packaging films of different sizes between the rollers, while not interfering with the operation of the film drive roller for driving the packaging film therebetween. This arrangement allows for uniform application of driving force to the film by the film drive rollers and thus realizing smooth and stable movement of the film in packaging an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Benison & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Benker P. C. Liao
  • Patent number: 6523331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for fitting sleeves of heat-shrink plastics material on objects, the sleeves being taken from a continuous sheath that is rolled flat. In the invention, a horizontal shaping mandrel (40) is provided that comprises two torpedoes (41, 42) in axial alignment and interconnected by a thread-like central element (43), the two torpedoes having facing ends (45, 46) each with a pair of smooth chamfers, and each torpedo resting freely on an associated V support (60). The sheath drive means comprises two adjacent pinch wheels (25, 26) disposed symmetrically on either side of the thread-like element (43) between the two V-supports (60) and passing in the vicinity of the pairs of smooth chamfers of the torpedoes (41, 42), each wheel (25, 26) having a peripheral groove (65, 66) that is complementary to the groove of the other wheel so as to form a horizontal axis passage for said thread-like element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sleever International Company
    Inventor: Eric Fresnel
  • Publication number: 20020020708
    Abstract: A lid for a container including a closure surface, a circumferential rim extending about a periphery of the closure surface with the rim including an outer side wall, an inner side wall and a transition wall interconnecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall with the closure surface extending from the inner side wall and at least one cut out formed in at least one of the inner side wall, the outer side wall and the transition wall such that a portion of a brim of the container is visible through the cut out when the lid is properly positioned on the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: David Weiss, Ronald I. Kall
  • Patent number: 6216419
    Abstract: In a parts storing tape, a first stepped part which has the predetermined height and is more extended than the other inner side faces of a recessed part in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the above parts storing tape is provided at each corner part of the recessed part. Thereby, even if the corner part of a storing part is more projecting outside than the other peripheral part, the above storing part can be supported without that its corner parts contact or stick in the inner side faces of the parts storing tape by each of the first stepped parts. At the same time, in a tape-shaped parts package, a tape-shaped cover and a parts packaging apparatus, projecting parts which have resilience and are elastic in the direction of thickness of the above tape-shaped cover are provided or can be provided respectively corresponding to each recessed part of the parts storing tape on the surface opposite to the parts storing tape of the tape-shaped cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Yayoi Corporation
    Inventor: Teruyasu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6207100
    Abstract: A lid for a container including a closure surface, a circumferential rim extending about a periphery of the closure surface with the rim including an outer side wall, an inner side wall and a transition wall interconnecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall with the closure surface extending from the inner side wall and at least one cut out formed in at least one of the inner side wall, the outer side wall and the transition wall such that a portion of a brim of the container is visible through the cut out when the lid is properly positioned on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Design Safety Corporation
    Inventors: David Weiss, Ronald I. Kall
  • Patent number: 6070399
    Abstract: The present practical new design is to provide a guide feeding device for thermal-shrinking film mechanism that mainly is related to the feed wheels which are mounted on the upper, middle and lower peripherals of the central guide rod and all connected by the connecting rod. The transmission gears are driven by a motor to let another meshed transmission gear adverse transmitted correspondingly and to stably transport the shrinking film downwards. By the opposed reverse threads at both ends of an axial rod, each feed wheel is mounted on the corresponding reverse thread and an adjusting wheel is mounted on the other end of the axial rod. And it only needs to rotate the adjusting wheel and move the two mutual opposed feed wheels along the axial rod in or out correspondingly to adapt the central guide rods with different sizes. The adjustment is very convenient and fast, and is able to upgrade the producing efficiency and the product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventors: Fu-Chuan Huang, Chin-Tsai Wu, Chien-Tsai Huang
  • Patent number: 5953886
    Abstract: A food packaging machine and a method of food packaging with which food can be put into a container, and a film heat sealed to the container to cover the top of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Anchor Packaging
    Inventor: Terry Eppler
  • Patent number: 5946883
    Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Hiroyasu Hamada
  • Patent number: 5737900
    Abstract: Banding apparatus in various embodiments include accelerator members for accelerating plastic bands downstream along a floating mandrel for propelling them at high speed with significant kinetic energy in being ejected off from an end of the mandrel toward and around articles to be banded. In one apparatus belts accelerate elongated label bands to more than 1,000 feet per minute. The peripheries of tear-off rollers turn continuously at a first speed for tearing successive bands off from perforated plastic tubing which may be pre-perforated label tubing. Alternatively, plastic tubing may be perforated during operation by continuously feeding flattened tubing between perforator and anvil rollers positioned upstream from the mandrel. Accelerator members shown as rollers or as revolving belts have repetitive first and second peripheral speeds alternating with each other in cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: PDC International Corporation
    Inventors: Anatole E. Konstantin, Jaroslaw T. Malkowski
  • Patent number: 5715652
    Abstract: For an opening for a container wall, a rivet-shaped protective covering is made and applied by an apparatus. A sheet-like piece of foil is laid down by all applying device on a first wall area bordering the opening. The section overlapping the opening is formed into the opening by a first forming device. A part of the section projects out of the opening at a second wall area bordering the opening. The part of the foil piece projecting out of the opening is formed against the second wall area by a second forming device, whereby the rivet-shaped form of the foil piece is maintained. The rivet-shaped protective covering is affixed permanently to the container wall by an affixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ruediger Haaga GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 5569351
    Abstract: A banding machine applies labels to the top of containers and has a frame with a turret plate rotatably mounted thereon and driven by a drive mechanism. Band holders are positioned on the turret plate and receive cut film sleeves having spaced indicia thereon in an unopened, flattened condition. The band holders open the band into a circular sleeve, and then hold and move the band onto the top of a vertically oriented container advancing into a banding position as the turret plate rotates. A registration sensor senses film indicia before label cutting and generates a signal indicative of the sensed registration. A controller stops film advancement upon the sensor's detection of film indicia so as to initiate film cutting and initiate film feeding again to advance film a predetermined amount for a newly cut label. The feed roller is initiated for feeding film upon rotation of the turret plate and movement of a band holder into an indexed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: CMS Gilbreth Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Menta, Michael Yager
  • Patent number: 5566527
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for applying a heat-shrinkable band to the neck or to the body of a container. The apparatus comprises a feeding assembly for advancing a continuous sleeve of heat-shrinkable polymeric material along a predetermined path to slip the sleeve over the cap of the container. A cutting assembly then severs the sleeve to leave on the container cap a short band which can be heat-shrunk to form the tamper-proof seal. The cutting arrangement includes a blade carrier rotatable about the feed axis of the sleeve. An extendable cutting blade is mounted to the blade carrier. When the blade is extended to the cutting position, it pierces the sleeve. By rotating the blade carrier, the cutting blade is caused to slit the sleeve circumferentially until a complete cut is effected. The advantage of this arrangement is reduced blade wear, higher speed and possibility to apply the sleeve without any gating or timing of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: H.G. Kalish, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugues Drewitz
  • Patent number: 5557999
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a plastic closure particularly to facilitate orientation of the closure so that a manufacturing process, such as vertical scoring, can be effected at one of at least one predetermined portion of the closure. Such orientation is achieved by the provision of an orientation mandrel on to which the closure is moved. The closure is initially rotated relative to the orientation mandrel, with a stop mechanism of the mandrel thereafter engaging the closure and stopping such relative rotation. The stop mechanism of the mandrel is configured in a predetermined orientation with respect to an associated component of the apparatus, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a vertical scoring mechanism. By this manufacturing technique, a closure having a tamper-indicating pilfer band can be scored and cut at a particular portion of the band, such as between container-engaging projections of the pilfer band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: H-C Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Smith, Ramesh Kamath
  • Patent number: 5491955
    Abstract: A suture winder machine and, more particularly, a semi-automated suture winding station of the machine adapted to facilitate the high-speed winding of multiple sutures, which are each attached to needles, into a peripheral channel of a tray utilized for packaging the needles and attached sutures. A substantially flat suture tray loaded with multiple needles and sutures extending therefrom is mounted on a rotatable platform incorporating registration structure for ensuring the appropriate mounting and positioning of the suture tray thereon, and with the winding machine containing operative structure adapted to rotate the suture tray about an axis perpendicular to the planar surface thereof so as to enable the extending multiple sutures to be bundled and wound for depositing in a channel formed along the periphery of the suture tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Sobel
  • Patent number: 5448876
    Abstract: The present invention entails a band application machine for applying tamper-evident bands and other bands about the circumference of a container. The band application machine directs a supply strip of banding material to a curing mechanism which cuts the supply strip into a series of cut bands. A band transfer system transfers the cut band to a container being conveyed adjacent to the band application machine on a conveyor assembly. The band transfer system includes a gripping mechanism having a pair of opposing gripper arms with attached suction cups. The gripper arms and attached suction cups engage opposite sides of a closed band and then move apart to open the band. An actuator laterally positions the gripper mechanism to a position where the grippers extend over the conveyor assembly. A tilting actuator rotates the gripper mechanism from a generally horizontal position to a tilted position where a lower section of the gripped band extends into the pathway of the passing containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventor: Victor V. Menayan
  • Patent number: 5444963
    Abstract: A process and equipment for shaping seals for containers with an electromagnetic pulse. The pulse is generated by a current pulse coil positioned around the seal and energized by the discharge current of a condenser. The process and the equipment are particularly suited for sealing containers for milk and dairy products and also for other beverages and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Magnet-Physik Dr. Steingroever GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Steingroever, Udo Biedermann
  • Patent number: 5158633
    Abstract: A pack for liquids is made at least partially from cardboard or the like, which is impervious to liquid at least on its one surface, by virtue of a plastics coating. The pack has side walls (2-3), a bottom and a top wall (1), which are connected together at least partially by fold (9) and/or sealing seams (4), a tear-open pouring opening (6) which is disposed in the top wall (1) adjacent the edge line (9) and which is preferably covered over by a tear-off cover strip (7) and a pouring edge (8) which is disposed in one plane with the top wall (1). A separate plastics strip (10) is sealed in position in the region of the pouring opening (6), covering over same, and extends beyond the edge line (9) of the top wall (1) with an unsealed end (11), forming a pouring edge (8), and the surface of the plastics strip (10), which covers over the pouring opening (6), is stamped out, exposing the opening (6), and is laid over around the edge (12) of the opening and is sealed in position from the underside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Tetra Pak International AB
    Inventor: Hans Rausing
  • Patent number: 4989393
    Abstract: A web of heat-sealable film is advanced in overlying relation with filled cups to a sealing station where both the web and the cups dwell momentarily. During the dwell period, sealing heads advance downwardly and seal the web to the upper end portions of the cups. The heads are advanced downwardly with a two-step stroke, the heads first advancing in unision with a carriage and then being individually advanced by individual pneumatic actuators which are mounted on the carriage. After being sealed, the cups are indexed to a cutting station where annular knives are advanced downwardly to cut through the web and leave each cup with a circular sealing membrane. The knives are advanced with a two-step stroke similar to that of the sealing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Rutherford Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Sell, John H. Adams
  • Patent number: 4969915
    Abstract: An outer container is detachable mounted on a neck of an inner container having its interior previously sterilized and sealed with a portion of the inner container underlying the neck being sealed. Such container assembly of double structure is sterilized and dried, then transferred into a germ-free filling chamber isolated from the atmosphere here the top of the inner container is cut off, then the inner container is filled with food or drink and the cut off portion is sealed again. Finally the outer container is separated from the inner container outside the germ-free filling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Hatanaka, Takeo Ide
  • Patent number: 4947627
    Abstract: A recipient having an axially upwardly open neck formed with at least one radially projecting neck thread is capped by fitting a circumferentially thermally shrinkable sleeve around a plug, fitting the plug into the open neck to block same, fitting the sleeve also around the neck over the neck thread, and heating the sleeve and thermally shrinking it circumferentially into tight engagement with the plug and with the neck and neck thread. The sleeve can be first fitted around the plug and then shrunk over the plug, after which the plug and sleeve are fitted together to the recipient, whereupon the sleeve is shrunk over the neck. Alternately the plug is fitted to the neck, then at the same time the sleeve is fitted around the plug and around the neck, and then the sleeve is heated to shrink it onto the plug and neck at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Etablissements Scheidegger W. & Cie S.A.
    Inventor: Albert Scheidegger
  • Patent number: 4922683
    Abstract: A banding machine provides for a controlled intermittent flow of a tubular web or sleeve of thin plastic material from a storage reel, over a tensioning arm and guiding rollers onto a group of machine elements which first open the tube somewhat, stop the flow of material, slice the tube transversely, and pass the cut segment of web over a floating mandrel to form it into the shape of a container positioned below it, while continuing the flow of tubing from the reel down onto the same group of elements to form the next band. The open segment of band is now placed over the container automatically to complete the banding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Austin-Gordon Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Connolly
  • Patent number: 4910941
    Abstract: A folded tube is paid out downward through the rotation of opposing feed rollers, and fitted on a mandrel member. The tube is then fitted on the mandrel and cut to a predetermined length by a cutting device disposed between the feed rollers and the mandrel. Subsequently the tube cut to the predetermined length is drawn downward along the mandrel by the rotating members and the tube is unfolded. Finally, the sufficient unfolded tube is dropped down from the mandrel and fitted on a cap portion of a bottle or container to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Fuji Seal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagano, Yoshinori Hotta, Nobuyuki Takagaki
  • Patent number: 4876840
    Abstract: A bag covering apparatus that puts a cover, which has been folded in two at the folding portion, on the opening of a bag. The same bag covering apparatus includes a folding piece which can operate to fold the cover in two at the folding portion and a cover retaining piece provided near the folding piece, having at least two holding portions capable of holding the folding portion of the cover. The folding portion of the cover is inserted into the holding portion of the cover retaining piece by the action of the folding piece, the cover retaining piece being movable such that when one of the holding pieces of the cover retaining piece faces the opening of the bag, the other holding piece of the cover retaining piece faces the folding piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Fuji Pack System Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Takamura
  • Patent number: 4866913
    Abstract: The method and machine according to the invention allow the closing of containers, particularly pots and small trays for food products. The method consists successively in separably fixing a strip of closure material (1) on a support strip (2), the closure material strip comprising pre-cutouts (4) defining lids (5) for closing the containers (6), separating from the support strip (2) the portion (10) of the closure material strip (1) which is situated externally of the lids (5), fixing a lid (5) on each of the containers (6) and separating the support strip (2) from each of the lids (5) fixed on the containers (6). The machine according to the invention comprises a supply station (7) for delivering a complex formed by a closure material strip (1) fixed separably to a support strip (2), a separation station (9) for separating from the support strip (2) the portion (10) of the strip (1), and a recovery station (12 ) for receiving the support strip (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Alsacienne d'Aluminum
    Inventor: Robert A. Rebischung
  • Patent number: 4833864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for closing containers with a cover foil. In the method and with the apparatus of the invention, the containers are conveyed without change in vertical position and without stopping between rotation systems bearing the closure tools and rotating above and below the plane of the conveyor belt, and provided with covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventors: Horst F. Schnippering, Peter Stenzel
  • Patent number: 4807423
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for feeding covers to a continuously operating container closing machine. The device makes it possible continuously to feed covers to closure tools which revolve in a circular path and during their rotary movement descend, for the closing, onto containers moved past below the closing station, so that the closure tools place and close the covers on the containers. For the transfer of the covers, a cover guide path is moved over a certain region of the rotary movement of the closure tool synchronously and in alignment with the closure tools so that the covers can be delivered during this phase to the closure tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Horst F. Schnippering, Peter Stenzel
  • Patent number: 4744206
    Abstract: A flattened tubular plastic tube having one pair of edge creases is withdrawn from a vertical axis reel and passed through horizontal axis rollers to impart a pair of intermediate creases. Cooperating rotating and stationary blades cut the plastic tube into short sleeves which are immediately gripped between actuator shoes on a pair of translating chains and a pair of translating frictional belts. The compressively interfaced actuator shoes and belts advance the sleeves to the inlet of a channel defined by laterally spaced apart slide members which have v-grooves into which opposite creased edges are inserted at the inlet whereupon hooks on another chain loop push the sleeves through the channel. The channel width converges so the sleeves open as they are pushed along the channel to be engageable by the head of a passing bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Horst Winter
  • Patent number: 4737209
    Abstract: A method of and device for applying foil to a container that has a closure over its upper surface, and especially to a bottle with a head that along with its cap is to be wrapped all the way around with a blank, especially of foil, by applying the blank around the head while leaving part of the blank to project beyond it, wrapping the sleeve-shaped extension to one side against the upper surface of the cap to create an outer cap cover, and pressing it down, especially with a resilient pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventors: Josef Tomashauser, Rudolf Zodrow, Rudolf Gruber
  • Patent number: 4691835
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for formation of a spirally-wound, heat-shrinkable tube from which a great multiplicity of tamper-evident bands can be cut for subsequent heat-shrinkable application to containers. A strip of strinkable material oriented primarily in the direction of its length is spirally-wound to form the tube from which the bands are severed, with heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands being primarily in a radial direction. The radial heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands assures proper heat-shrink fitment of the bands to associated containers for tamper indication, with the spirally-wound formation of the tube facilitating very economical fabrication of the tamper-evident bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Inventor: Martin L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4649697
    Abstract: A banding machine is made capable of dependable, high-speed operation by being provided with a rotatably mounted, driven, "C" shaped arm which holds each opened band in a tilted position for being picked up by the article to be banded as it is conveyed past the banding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventor: Anatole E. Konstantin
  • Patent number: 4633650
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the cutting of end disks for the packing of paper rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Broderna Solbergs Forsaljnings Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Jan-Henrik Sohlberg, Seth I. S. Olsson
  • Patent number: 4562684
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a tubular member over an article includes a supply of individual tubular members. A pair of opposed gripping members that are movable towards and away from each other are disposed on a rotatable pick-up and deposit wheel. As the wheel rotates, the gripping members come together to mechanically grip a tubular member from the supply. A vacuum is connected to the gripping members after they have mechanically gripped the tubular member, and the gripping members are moved apart as the wheel rotates them towards the application station so as to open the tubular member. The article is conveyed to the application station at a speed greater than that of the tubular member such that at the application station, the article meets the tubular member, is threaded therein, and pulls it fully open and around the article by a camming action. The vacuum is then disconnected so that the tubular member rests loosely around the container for further processing such as heat shrinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Culbro Corporation
    Inventor: Hans C. Dreher