U.S. patent number 3,695,806 [Application Number 05/049,492] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-03 for apparatus for forming a peripheral bead in flange means of a preformed container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Reynolds Metals Company. Invention is credited to Horst F. W. Arfert.
United States Patent |
3,695,806 |
Arfert |
October 3, 1972 |
APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PERIPHERAL BEAD IN FLANGE MEANS OF A
PREFORMED CONTAINER
Abstract
A closure having a peripheral flange portion provided with an
annular bottom surface is sealed by the application of heat and
pressure to a dish-like container having a peripheral flange
portion provided with a cooperating annular top surface so as to
define a high quality bonded lamination comprised of the flange
portions. The outer portion of the lamination is then curled to
form a high strength annular bead which defines the peripheral
outline of the side wall of a sealed container.
Inventors: |
Arfert; Horst F. W. (Richmond,
VA) |
Assignee: |
Reynolds Metals Company
(Richmond, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
21960111 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/049,492 |
Filed: |
June 24, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
854108 |
Aug 29, 1969 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
425/398; 425/504;
425/520; 425/508 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
77/2024 (20130101); B65D 77/2012 (20130101); B65B
7/2857 (20130101); B29C 57/12 (20130101); B65D
2577/2025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B29C
57/00 (20060101); B29C 57/12 (20060101); B65D
77/10 (20060101); B65D 77/20 (20060101); B65B
7/28 (20060101); B29c 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;18/DIG.62,19BC,19BE,19H,2RM,2RP ;425/109,398 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kilby, Jr.; H. A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
854,108 filed Aug. 29, 1969 , now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for forming a bead in a peripheral portion of
flange means of a preformed dish-like container, said apparatus
comprising a lower support, a container supporting ring carried by
said lower support and having an annular top surface adapted to
support the outer portion of said flange means and a stop surface,
a lower die carried by said lower support and being axially movable
within said container supporting ring, said lower die having a
cavity therein for receiving said container and said lower die
having a stop which is adapted to engage said stop surface and
positively limit its axial movement vertically upwardly, an upper
support having an upper die fixed thereto for movement therewith, a
clamping ring supported around said upper die and being axially
movable relative thereto, means for relatively moving said supports
toward and away from each other, said moving means initially moving
said supports and hence said dies and rings toward each other to
clamp said flange means therebetween and with further movement of
said supports toward each other said dies and rings cooperate to
first define a substantially tubular section and upon moving said
supports away from each other said dies and rings cooperate to form
said section in the form of an annular bead having a roughly
circular cross-sectional outline, said upper die having a
peripheral annular bottom surface and a cylindrical outside surface
adjoining said peripheral bottom surface which defines the inside
surface of said tubular section, said clamping ring having an
annular clamping surface and first means yieldingly urging said
clamping ring so that its clamping surface is substantially
coplanar with said annular peripheral bottom surface of said upper
die, said lower die having an annular surface and second means
yieldingly urging said lower die until said stop engages said stop
surface to thereby position its annular surface substantially
coplanar with said annular top surface of said container supporting
ring, said container supporting ring having an inside surface
corresponding to and being spaced outwardly from said cylindrical
outside surface of said upper die by a controlled thickness
determined by the thickness of said flange means and said container
supporting ring having a first annular cutout adjacent the top edge
of its inside surface, said clamping ring having a second annular
cutout adjacent the lower edge of its inside surface, said annular
cutouts cooperating to define a substantially toroidal inside
surface, said moving means initially relatively moving said
supports and their associated dies and rings together to clamp said
flange means therebetween and with further movement together said
upper die overrides said second means of said lower die and said
container supporting ring overrides said first means of said
clamping ring to move said dish-like container beneath the top
surface of said container supporting ring to define said tubular
section and upon said movement of said supports away from each
other said yielding means urge their associated components
outwardly with said dies held firmly together to thereby move said
container upwardly causing said tubular section to be formed in
said substantially toroidal inside surface to define said annular
bead, a plurality of cooperating openings in said upper die and its
associated components and a plurality of cooperating openings in
said lower die and its associated components for relieving any air
trapped between said container and said dies to prevent buildup of
pressure during the forming of said annular bead, and a device for
lifting said container away from said supporting ring and said
lower die to enable easy removal thereof from said apparatus, said
device comprising a plate carried within a cavity in said lower die
and a rod attached to said plate, said rod extending through said
lower die and being movable to raise and lower said plate so that
said container may be lifted vertically above said supporting ring
and lower die to enable removal thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In packing food products in disposable containers, for example, it
is important that the container in which each food product is
packaged be sealed in a high strength manner to minimize the
likelihood of air leakage into the container which may cause
spoilage of the food product. In addition, the container should
have sufficient structural strength to assure it will not be easily
damaged.
Many apparatus and methods have been proposed heretofore for making
and sealing disposable food containers; however, many of these
previously proposed apparatus and methods rely entirely on a
mechanical swaging action, or the like, to provide a seal between a
container closure and an associated container and such mechanical
swaging has only proven satisfactory for comparatively expensive
containers which have comparatively thick walls. Other apparatus
and methods use heat sealing techniques to fasten a closure in
position and the heat sealing is generally achieved after the
associated closure has been mechanically attached in position which
does not assure the provision of an optimum seal between the
container and its closure and it is very undesirable to provide a
seal in this manner because it tends to also heat the packaged food
product which may be detrimental thereto.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved sealed container and apparatus
for and method of making same wherein the container has a closure
which is sealed in position to a dish-like member in a high
strength manner so as to bond flange portions of the closure and
dish-like member together under heat and pressure to define a high
quality bonded lamination. The outer portion of such lamination is
curled to form a high strength annular bead which defines the
peripheral outline of the side wall of the sealed container with
the inner portion of the lamination serving to hold the annular
bead in spaced relation from such side wall as a protective shield
therefor and said inner portion may be arranged substantially in
one plane, or may have an arcuate or undulating configuration as
viewed in cross section.
Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become
apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiments
thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show a present exemplary embodiment of
this invention, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary sealed container of
this invention comprised of a dish-like member having a
substantially flat sheet-like closure bonded in position thereon to
define a lamination or flange means;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the exemplary
embodiment of the container of FIG. 1 taken essentially on the line
2--2 of FIG. 1 and showing, in an exaggerated manner, the
heat-sealable material provided on the inside surfaces of the
dish-like member and closure.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are fragmentary cross-sectional views similar
to FIG. 2 illustrating three additional exemplary embodiments of
the container of this invention wherein the container of each
embodiment is substantially identical to the container of FIG. 1
with the exception of the cross-sectional configuration of the
inner portion of its bonded lamination and a recess in its top
closure;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and
prior to sealing the sheet-like closure in position and forming an
annular bead in the outer edge portion of such lamination;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view with parts broken away
illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this
invention which may be used to define the sealed container of FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view with parts in cross section, parts in
elevation, and parts broken away illustrating the apparatus of FIG.
4 with the closure being urged tightly against the peripheral
flange of the dish-like container;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view particularly
illustrating a multiple thickness annular portion defined by a
peripheral flange portion of the dish-like container held against a
cooperating flange portion of the closures and adjoining portions
of the apparatus;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the
action of the die comprising such apparatus moved so as to fold the
multiple thickness annular portion shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to define
a substantially tubular heat laminated section which is
subsequently curled to define an annular bead;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrating the tubular
section and adjoining portions of the apparatus;
FIG. 8A is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
illustrating surface portions defining an annular cutout in the
lower forming die;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating the dies and
container after forming the outer portion of the tubular section to
define an annular bead having a roughly circular cross-sectional
configuration;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 particularly illustrating the
annular bead and adjoining portions of the apparatus;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating another
exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which may
be used to provide a peripheral bead in a dish-like container and
sealed closure to define the container of FIG. 2;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with parts in cross section,
parts in elevation, and parts broken away, illustrating cooperating
dies and rings urged together to sandwich peripheral flange means
of a dish-like container therebetween at the beginning of an
operating cycle used to form an annular bead in the outer portion
of such flange means;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the action of
the apparatus in folding the flange means of the dish-like
container to define a substantially tubular section which is
subsequently curled to define an annular bead;
FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
illustrating the tubular section and adjoining portions of the
apparatus;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrating the apparatus
after forming the outer portion of the tubular section to define an
annular bead therein;
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 particularly illustrating the
formed annular bead and adjoining portions of the apparatus;
FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 and particularly illustrating
the operation of a device used to lift the dish-like container away
from the supporting ring and its associated lower die;
FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 illustrating by solid lines a
modification of the apparatus of FIGS. 11-16 which may be used to
define the container of FIG. 2A and illustrating by dotted lines a
modification of such apparatus which may be used to define the
container of FIG. 2B; and
FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 and particularly illustrating
a modification of the apparatus which may be used to define the
container illustrated in FIG. 2C of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings which illustrate
one exemplary embodiment of a sealed container of this invention
which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The
container 20 comprises a dish-like container portion or member 21
having a peripheral flange portion 22 provided with a planar top
annular surface 23 and a closure 24 having a peripheral flange
portion 25 provided with a cooperating planar bottom annular
surface 26. The dish-like member 21 may be made of a suitable
material such as a metallic foil containing aluminum and has a
coating or layer 30 of heat-sealable material defining its inside
surface and the closure 24 comprises a sheet-like closure which may
also be made of metallic foil and has a coating or layer 31 of a
heat-sealable material defining its inside surface.
The layers 30 and 31 of the heat-sealable material extend over
planar surface portions or surfaces 23 and 26 and define what
amounts to adhesive means which serve to bond such surfaces
together in a high strength manner and provide a high quality
bonded lamination 32 comprised of the associated flange portions 22
and 25. The container 20 also has an annular bead 33 formed in the
peripheral outer portion of the lamination 32 and with the inner
portion 34 of such lamination lying substantially in one plane.
The inner portion 34 of the lamination 32 serves to hold the
annular bead 33 in spaced relation from the main portion or
substantially vertically arranged peripheral side wall of the
dish-like member 21 and thereby effectively uses the annular bead
33 as a protective shield for such main portion. It will also be
appreciated that the bead 33 has a substantially circular
cross-sectional peripheral outline and inasmuch as the container 20
has a roughly oval peripheral configuration the bead 33 has a
substantially toroidal configuration which has high hoop strength
and is capable of withstanding comparatively high external loads
applied against the bead 33 to provide maximum protection for the
container 20 even under conditions where the container is made of
comparatively thin materials such as metal foil, laminated paper,
and the like.
The flange portion 22 and 25 of members 21 and 24, respectively,
are heat laminated together utilizing those portions of the
heat-sealable layers 30 and 31 provided on their planar surfaces as
adhesive means by the application of heat and pressure to thereby
provide a high quality seal about the entire outer periphery of the
sealed container 20. The annular bead 33 is defined in container 20
after sealing the closure 24 in position whereby the product 35
contained within container 20 is assured of being maintained in a
sealed condition and the subsequent provision of the annular bead
33 serves to provide added structural integrity for the container
20 without disrupting the character of the seal defined between
closure 24 and the dish-like member 21.
The container 20 is preferably formed utilizing the apparatus and
method of this invention and an exemplary apparatus and method is
presented in FIG. 4 of the drawings and designated generally by the
reference numeral 36. The apparatus 36 comprises a fixed support in
the form of a plate 40 which has a container supporting member or
ring 41 carried by support 40 and preferably fixed in position
thereon. The ring 41 has a planar top annular surface 42, see FIG.
5, which is adapted to support the top peripheral flange 22 of
container 20 with a terminal edge portion 43 of such flange
extending beyond the peripheral edge of the annular surface 42. The
apparatus 36 also has a movable support which is in the form of a
movable support plate 44 and the plate 44 has a clamping ring 45
suitably fixed thereto. The clamping ring 45 is particularly
adapted to clamp both the peripheral flange 25 of closure 24 and
the peripheral flange 22 of member 21 together against the top
surface 42 of ring 41.
The movable plate 44 is moved toward and away from the fixed plate
40 by an actuating device comprised of a pair of direct acting
fluid cylinders 46 and each cylinder 46 has an outer housing 50
which terminates in a mounting flange 51 which has a plurality of
openings 52 therein which are adapted to receive a threaded bolt 53
therethrough and each threaded bolt is received in a cooperating
threaded opening provided in the fixed plate 40 to thereby support
each housing 50 and cylinder 46 in a fixed manner against the lower
surface of plate 40. Each fluid cylinder 46 has a piston 54 and an
axially slidable piston rod 55 fixed to such piston and extending
outwardly in sealed relation through the flange portion 51 and
through an opening 56 in the fixed plate 40 with the terminal outer
end of each rod 55 being threadedly connected in the movable
support plate 44 as indicated at 60. Each cylinder 46 has a
compression spring 61 acting between the bottom surface of the
movable plate 44 and the top surface of the fixed plate 40 and the
springs 61 tend to urge plate 44 away from plate 40.
Each cylinder 46 is provided with a suitable fluid, such as air,
under regulated pressure from a suitable source and upon supplying
air through a supply conduit 62 in each housing 50 the associated
piston rod 55 is urged outwardly to move the movable plate 44 away
from the fixed plate 40. The movable plate 44 and its associated
components are moved toward the fixed plate 40 by supplying air
under pressure through supply conduits 63 extending through
housings 50 of cylinders 46.
The apparatus 36 has die means shown as a pair of cooperating dies
each carried by an associated support or plate and each die is
movable relative to its associated plate. One of the dies shown in
the drawings as a lower die 64 is supported around the container
supporting member or ring 41 and is axially movable relative to
ring 41 and essentially along a central vertical axis 65 through
the apparatus 36. The other die 66 of the previously mentioned pair
of dies is supported around clamping ring 45 and is also axially
movable relative thereto.
The lower die 64 in this example of the invention has heating means
shown as a substantially annular electrical heating device 70 fixed
to the outer surface of its top portion, as viewed in FIG. 4. The
heating device 70 serves to heat the die 64 and adjoining ring 41
to define the previously mentioned bonded lamination 32 and in a
manner to be described in more detail subsequently.
The apparatus 36 may be provided with suitable automatic means to
place each closure 24 in position over an associated dish-like
container or member 21 in an aligned manner or such closure may be
placed in position manually. Once a particular closure is placed in
position the cylinders 46 are energized through a suitable control
system to move the clamping ring 45 and die 66 toward ring 41 and
die 64 to define the multiple thickness annular portion or bonded
lamination 32 essentially as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the
drawings.
The rings 41 and 45 and dies 64 and 65 are urged together in a
manner as illustrated in FIG. 6 and the heating device 70 serves to
heat the outer portions of the die 64 and ring 41 as well as the
flange portions 22 and 25 of dish-like member 21 and closure 24,
causing their respective heat-sealable layers 30 and 31, seen in
FIG. 3, adjoining annular surfaces 23 and 26 to be heat sealed
together. The heat sealing is thus achieved under conditions of
both heat and pressure to define the bonded lamination 32 which
will also be referred to as a multiple thickness annular portion.
The dies 64 and 66 have suitable actuating means and are operated
in a manner now to be described to define a substantially tubular
heat laminated section 74 which is then formed to define the
annular bead 33 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
As seen particularly in FIG. 4, each die 64 and 66 has an actuator
shown in each instance as an air cylinder 75. Each cylinder 75 is a
reverse acting cylinder which has a piston rod 76 provided with one
end fixed to an associated support plate either 40 or 44 and its
opposite end fixed to a piston 77. Each air cylinder 75 has a
tubular outer housing 80 attached to an associated die, either 64
or 66, by a plurality of pins 81 which are axially slidable through
associated openings 82 in an associated plate either 40 or 44. Each
pin has one end threadedly connected to its associated die as
indicated at 83 and an opposite threaded end attached to a flange
84 fixed to the base of its associated tubular housing 80 by a
plurality of nuts 85 as indicated at 86. Thus, each air cylinder 75
in essence has its piston rod 76 and piston 77 fixed with respect
to an associated support plate while the housing portion 80,
together with pins 81 and its attached die (either 64 or 66) move
with respect to the associated support plate and rod 76.
Each air cylinder 75 is supplied with air under regulated pressure
from a suitable pressure source to either one or the other of a
pair of conduits 87 or 88 operatively connected to housing 80 on
opposite sides of piston 77. As air is supplied to each outermost
conduit 87, the housing 80, its pins 81, and associated die fixed
to such pins are moved outwardly relative to the associated support
plate until the bottom surface of the associated die engages the
inside surface of the associated support plate. Similarly, when it
is desired to move a particular die inwardly or away from the
inside surface of its associated support plate, air under regulated
pressure is supplied through conduit 88 to thereby urge the
associated die inwardly or toward the center of the apparatus 36
and in essence toward the dish-like member 21 and its closure
24.
This arrangement of reverse acting air cylinders enables the
utilization of commercially available components while providing
the application of forces on a broad stable base defined by the
outside periphery of the tubular housing 80 and such stable base
may be further increased in peripheral outline by using flange 84
and placing the pins 81 in the flange 84 in a predetermined pattern
corresponding to the peripheral configuration of the associated
die, whether it be lower die 64 or upper die 66.
The dies 64 and 66 have annular projections 64A and 66A
respectively defining the base portion thereof and each projection
64A and 66A is adapted to engage an associated inwardly extending
annular flange 90 comprising an integral part of an associated die
holder 91. Each die holder 91 with its annular flange 90 is fixed
to an associated support plate by a plurality of threaded bolts 92
which extend through associated openings in the particular support
plate and through cooperating threaded openings 93 in the die
holder 91 and each annular flange 90 serves to limit movement of an
associated die relative to its support plate.
The apparatus 36 also has suitable guide posts 95 which have their
lower ends suitably fixed in the fixed plate 40 and each guide post
95 has its upper end extending through an associated sleeve bearing
96 fixed to the movable plate 44 and through an associated aligned
opening in the plate 44. As the movable plate 44 is moved toward
and away from the fixed plate 40, the guide posts 95 provide the
guiding function in a manner well known in the art.
The apparatus 36 has a vacuum ring 101 suitably fixed to the fixed
plate 40 outwardly of the die 64 and die holder 91, see FIG. 5. The
vacuum ring 101 has an annular groove 102 defined therein and the
groove 102 has a substantially rectangular peripheral outline
comprised of a pair of vertical surfaces 103 and 104. The ring 101
has a pair of seal-supporting grooves extending inwardly therein
from each of its surfaces 103 and 104 and a pair of sealing rings
105 and 106 respectively are suitably supported in such grooves.
The apparatus 36 also has a vacuum ring 107 suitably fixed to the
movable plate 44 and the ring 107 has a lower end portion 108 which
is adapted to be received within the groove 102.
The vacuum rings 101 and 107 have a combined height which is
greater than the combined height of the rings 41 and 45 such that
upon moving the movable plate 44 toward the plate 40 to a position
where the terminal lower end of end portion 108 is moved to the
dotted line position indicated at 109 in FIG. 5, the terminal lower
ends of the clamping ring 45 and die 66 are at the dotted line
position illustrated at 110 whereupon the vacuum rings 101 and 107
enable the forming of a sealed chamber 111 prior to clamping the
closure 24 in position against the dish-like member 21.
As seen in FIG. 4, the apparatus 36 also has means for providing a
vacuum in the chamber defined by the rings 101 and 107 and such
means comprises a conduit 112 which extends through ring 107 and is
operatively connected to a suitable vacuum pump 113. Once the
movable plate 44 is positioned so that vacuum ring 107 is in the
dotted line position 109 and the clamping ring 45 is in position
110, see FIG. 5, the entire chamber 111 surrounding the dish-like
container and the space indicated at 115 between the sheet-like
closure 24 and the dish-like member 21 will be evacuated upon
starting the vacuum pump 113. The apparatus 36 then operates to
seal the closure 24 in position in a manner to be subsequently
described in more detail to define the annular bead 33 in the outer
periphery of the sealed container 20.
The apparatus 36 may also be provided with means for supplying an
inert fluid such as an inert gas into the evacuated chamber 111 and
into the space 115 of the container 20 prior to sealing the closure
24 in position and such means may comprise a conduit 116 which may
be supplied with an inert gas such as nitrogen from any suitable
source such as a supply tank 120, see FIG. 4.
As seen particularly in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the clamping ring
45 has an outer surface 121 which defines the inside surface of the
tubular section 74 and the die 64 has an inner surface 122
corresponding in configuration to and being spaced outwardly from
the outer surface 121 by a controlled distance indicated at 123
determined by the thickness of the multiple thickness annular
portion 32 and hence the thickness of the tubular section 74. The
die 64 is moved upwardly after defining the multiple thickness
annular portion 32 to define the tubular section 74 and the die 66
is then moved downwardly to define the annular bead 33.
As seen particularly in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the die 64 has an
annular cutout 125 adjacent the outer edge of its inside surface
122 and the die 66 has an annular cutout 126 adjoining the outer
portion of its inside surface 127. The annular cutouts 125 and 126
cooperate to define a substantially toroidal inside surface which
defines bead 33 upon moving the dies in a manner to be described
subsequently.
The annular cutout 125 is defined by an outwardly concave surface
portion 128 and an outwardly convex surface portion 130 adjoining
the inner edge of the outwardly concave surface portion 128 at one
end and the outer edge of the inside surface 122 of die 64 at its
opposite end to thereby define a roughly S-shaped surface on the
outer edge portion of the die 64, see FIG. 8A. The die 64 is
adapted to be moved by its actuator or cylinder 75 by a controlled
fixed distance indicated at 131 to thereby define a terminal end
portion 132 in the tubular section 74 which tends to flare
outwardly into cutout 125 and is more easily engaged by the inner
edge 133 of the die 66 to thereby enable easier formation of the
bead 33.
Having described the various component parts of apparatus 36 in
detail, a brief presentation will now be made to highlight the
simplicity with which the apparatus and method of this invention
enable the sealing of a closure on an associated dish-like
container in a high strength manner. In particular, it will be seen
that the dish-like member 21 is supported in position on the
supporting ring 41 and a sheet-like closure 24 may be placed in
position thereon or suitably held as by vacuum or the like against
the lower surface of the clamping ring 45. The cylinders 46 are
then energized to move the vacuum rings 101 and 107 in aligned and
sealed end-to-end relation to define vacuum chamber 111 while
keeping the clamping ring 45 and die 66 spaced away from the top of
the dish-like member 21. The vacuum pump 113 evacuates the air from
the vacuum chamber 111 thus defined and from the area 115 between
closure 24 and a product 35 contained in dish-like member 21. If
desired at this point an inert gas such as nitrogen may be
introduced into the chamber 111 and suitably introduced into the
container 20 by holding the closure 24 spaced from member 21 for a
short time interval.
The cylinders 46 are then actuated until the clamping ring 45 and
die 66 engage and sandwich the peripheral flange portion 25 of the
closure 24 against flange portion 22 of dish-like member 21 which
is supported by ring 41 and die 64, see FIGS. 4 and 5, and air at a
pressure of roughly 100 psig is supplied through conduit 88 of the
upper cylinder 75 to hold the die 64 with its lower surface
substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the clamping ring.
The heating device 70 is in operation so that a heat seal is
provided utilizing both heat and pressure which efficiently seals
the closure 24 to the dish-like member 21 in a high strength and
optimum manner to define the multiple thickness annular portion 32
illustrated in FIG. 6.
With the cylinders 46 still actuated, air under pressure in upper
cylinder 75 is suitably switched from conduit 88 to conduit 87 and
decreased to a level of about 20 psig. Simultaneously, air at a
pressure of roughly 100 psig is supplied through conduit 88 of the
lower air cylinder 75 causing movements of the dies 66 and 64 from
their positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to positions illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8 to thereby form the heat laminated tubular section
74.
Once the section 74 has been defined the air under pressure
supplied to the lower cylinder 75 is suitably switched from its
conduit 87 to its conduit 88 and reduced from 100 psig to a
pressure generally of the order of 20 psig while simultaneously the
air under pressure in the upper cylinder 75 is changed from its
conduit 87 to its conduit 88 and increased from roughly 20 psig to
100 psig. This switching action causes movement of the dies 64 and
66 from their positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to new positions
illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 whereby the substantially toroidal
inside surface defined by cooperating cutouts 125 and 126 forms the
annular bead 33 which is spaced from the vertical side wall of the
container 20 by the annular planar portion 34 of lamination 32 and
serves as a shield for such side wall.
The curling action illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings
which defines the peripheral bead 33 is such that a substantial
curling effect takes place. However, it will be appreciated that
the curling may be precisely controlled simply by controlling the
length of the tubular section 74 and the configuration of the
cutouts 125 and 126 in a manner well known in the art.
In this example of the invention the heating device 70 is shown as
an electrical heating device and provided adjoining the upper
portion of the die 64. However, it will be appreciated that any
suitable means may be provided for heating the heat-sealable
material provided on flange portions 22 and 25 of members 21 and 24
respectively. In addition, the heating device 70 may be carried by
the die 66, if desired.
The various cylinders 46 and 75 illustrated in this example of the
invention are shown as air cylinders and the air pressures
previously mentioned as being used with certain cylinders were only
given for explanatory purposes. It will also be appreciated that
any suitable actuator may be provided whether it be a fluid
operated actuator, an electric motor driven actuator, or the like.
In addition, the closure 24 may be placed in position using any
suitable automatic or manual means, as desired.
In this example of the invention suitable controls and associated
control circuitry have not been illustrated and described for
moving the various components to provide heat sealing of the
closure 24 on the dish-like member 21. However, it is to be
understood that any suitable control means may be provided for
sequencing the components such as the cylinders, heating elements,
vacuum pump, etc., to provide either semiautomatic or substantially
fully automatic sealing of each closure on an associated dish-like
member. Further, suitable conveyor means may also be provided to
enable automatic loading of dish-like members and closures into the
apparatus 36 and unloading of sealed containers 20 therefrom.
In this example of the invention the entire inside surface of the
dish-like member 21 and the inside surface of the closure 24 is
shown as having a heat-sealable material bonded thereagainst as a
layer. However, it will be appreciated that the heat-sealable
material may be provided only on one of such inside surfaces or
only on one or both of the peripheral flange portions 22 and 25 of
the members 21 and 24 respectively, if desired. Further, any
suitable heat-sealable material may be used and typical materials
which may be used include hot melt adhesives, polyvinyl chloride,
polypropylene, and polyethylene, for example.
After forming the multiple thickness bonded portion 32 in this
exemplary presentation of the invention, the dies 64 and 66 are
first moved upwardly, as seen in FIG. 8, to define the tubular
section 74 and then such dies are moved downwardly to define the
integral annular bead 33 around the container 20. However, it will
be appreciated that in some applications of this invention it is
preferable that the dies 64 and 66 and associated components be
suitably modified and such dies operated by being first moved
downwardly to define a substantially tubular section, similar to
section 74, which extends beneath the main portion of the multiple
thickness bonded portion 32. The modified dies 64 and 66 are then
suitably moved upwardly to define an annular bead which is
substantially identical to the bead 33.
The apparatus 36 has been described above as being used to define
the exemplary dish-like container 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and
3; however, it will be appreciated that the apparatus 36 may be
used to define the dish-like container illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B,
or 2C by suitably modifying various component portions thereof in a
manner now to be described. In particular, it will be appreciated
that the ring 41 may have its top annular surface 42 suitably
modified to be either upwardly convex, upwardly concave, or
undulating while modifying the oppositely arranged bottom surface
of the clamping ring 45 in a cooperating manner so as to be either
downwardly concave, downwardly convex, or undulating respectively
to thereby enable forming of dish-like containers having peripheral
flange means as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C.
Because the containers of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are very similar to
the container 20 they will be designated by the reference numerals
20A, 20B, and 20C. For ease of presentation and understanding, the
various component portions of each container have also been
designated by the same reference numerals as in the container 20
followed by the letter designation A, B, or C, corresponding to the
particular letter designation of the dish-like container being
referred to; and, it is to be understood that the previous detailed
description of each component of container 20 is in general fully
applicable to each container 20 A-C and thus will not be
repeated.
Another exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 11-17 of the drawings and such apparatus is
designated generally by the reference numeral 135.
The apparatus 135 is particularly adapted to form a bead in the
peripheral portion of the lamination or flange means 32 of the
dish-like container 20. The apparatus 135 receives the dish-like
container after its closure 24 has been sealed in position
thereagainst in a similar manner as previously described and forms
an annular bead 33 in the peripheral portion of such flange means;
however, it will be appreciated that the apparatus 135 may be
suitably modified to incorporate the necessary heating means
similar to the heating device 70 to enable placing of the dish-like
portion or member 21 in position within the apparatus 135 and then
sealing the closure member 24 thereagainst. Further, it will be
appreciated that suitable means may also be incorporated in the
apparatus 135, if desired, to evacuate the space 115 within the
container prior to sealing the closure 24 in position, as well as
supplying means for introducing an inert gas such as nitrogen from
any suitable source into the container 20 prior to sealing the
closure 24 in position.
The apparatus 135 comprises a lower support 136 which carries a
container supporting ring 137 which is fixed thereto using any
suitable technique and the ring has a stepped top surface indicated
generally by the reference numeral 138 and is comprised of an outer
portion 139 and an inner portion 140 both of which will be
described in more detail subsequently. The top surface 138 is
particularly adapted to support the outer portion of the flange
means 32 of the dish-like container 20. The ring 137 also has an
inside cylindrical surface 141 defined by a bore therethrough and a
cylindrical surface 142 of larger diameter which is defined by a
counterbore in the lower portion of ring 137 to thereby define a
stop in the form of an annular surface 143 extending between the
top edge of surface 142 and the bottom edge of surface 141.
The apparatus 135 has a lower member which will be referred to as a
lower die 145 which is carried by the lower support 136
concentrically within ring 137 and die 145 is axially movable
within such ring. The die 145 has an annular top surface 147 and
means in the form of a plurality of compression springs 150 acting
between the lower support 136 and the die 145 yieldingly urging the
die 145 so that the top surface 147 is substantially coplanar with
the outer portion 139 of the stepped top surface 138 of ring 137.
Each compression spring 150 has a lower end thereof received within
a cavity or bore 151 in the lower support 136 and has an upper end
thereof received within a cooperating bore 152 in the lower die 145
and the bore 152 which is arranged in axial alignment with the bore
151 of the lower support 136.
The lower die has a cavity 153 defined therein which is
particularly adapted to receive an unbeaded container comprised of
member 21 having a closure 24 sealed thereagainst to enable forming
the peripheral bead 33 in the peripheral portion of the flange
means 32. The lower die 145 also has a lower comparatively large
diameter cylindrical surface 154 which engages and supports the die
145 for sliding movement along surface 142 of ring 137 and has a
smaller diameter cylindrical surface 155 which supports such die
for sliding movement along the surface 141. A surface 156 extends
between the top edge of surface 154 and the bottom edge of surface
155 and defines a projection or stop which engages the stop surface
143 to limit the outward movement of the lower die 145 and thereby
control the extent that the compression springs 150 may yieldingly
urge the lower die 145 upwardly.
The apparatus 135 has an upper support 157 which has an upper die
160 suitably fixed thereto for movement therewith. The upper die
160 has a bottom surface 161 which is surrounded by an adjoining
surface which will be referred to as an annular peripheral bottom
surface 162 which is arranged above and substantially parallel to
the surface 161. The upper die 160 has a cylindrical outside
surface 163 which adjoins the outer edge surface 162 with a small
arcuate surface 164 being provided therebetween. The surfaces 161
and 162 enable a recess 159 to be defined in the closure 24 of
container 20 which allows for outward expansion of such closure
without damaging the container in the event of a pressure build-up
in the container or expansion of its contents by freezing.
The apparatus 135 also has what will be referred to as clamping
ring 165 which is supported around the upper die 160 and the ring
165 is axially movable relative to the upper die 160. The ring 165
has an annular bottom clamping surface 166 and a plurality of
compression springs 167 are provided and act between the upper
support 157 and the clamping ring 165 to yieldingly urge the ring
165 so that its clamping surface 166 is substantially coplanar with
the annular surface 162 of the upper die 160.
Each compression spring 167 has an upper end received within a
cylindrical bore 170 in the upper support 157 and a lower end
received within a bore 171 in the clamping ring 165 which is
arranged in axial alignment with bore 170. The clamping ring 165 is
provided with a suitable stop means defined by bolts 168 each
having a head portion 168A, a threaded lower portion 168B
threadedly received within the clamping ring 165, and an
intermediate smooth rod-like portion 168C, see FIG. 11. Each
rod-like portion extends through an opening or bore 169 in the
upper support 157 and each bore 169 has a counterbore 169A which
receives a head portion 168A of an associated screw therethrough
with an annular stop surface 169B being defined between each bore
169 and counterbore 169A. The compression springs 167 yieldingly
urge the ring 165 outwardly until the lower surfaces of the bolt
head portions 168A engage stop surfaces 169B whereby the clamping
surface 166 is initially held substantially coplanar with annular
surface 162 and during a part of the beading operation to be
subsequently described the springs 167 are overridden and the top
surface of ring 165 is urged tightly against the bottom surface of
the support 157, see FIG. 13, with the bolt heads 168A moved
upwardly within their associated counterbores 169A. However, it
will be appreciated that the stop means or stop for ring 165 may be
constructed in a similar manner as the stop for the lower die 145,
if desired.
The apparatus 135 has a plurality of guide posts 172 which have
their lower ends suitably fixed to the lower support 136 and have
their upper ends slidably received within an associated sleeve
bearing 173 which is fixed to the upper support 157 by press
fitting, welding, or the like, as shown at 174. The apparatus 135
normally holds its supports in the open or spaced position
illustrated in FIG. 11 so that it can receive a dish-like container
which is to be beaded therewithin whereby the upper end portions of
the guide posts 172 engage only the lower portions of the sleeve
bearings 173. Upon moving the supports 136 and 157 together in a
manner to be subsequently described, the upper ends of the guide
posts 172 are received within the sleeve bearings 173 initially as
illustrated in FIG. 12 and then as illustrated in FIG. 13 whereby
the supports 136 and 157 and their associated components are moved
while being held in precise vertical alignment to enable forming of
the peripheral bead 33 in the peripheral flange means of the
dish-like container.
The upper die 160 has a plurality of vertical passages 175
extending from the lower surface thereof to a central chamber 176
in such die and chamber 176 in turn has suitable passage means 177
interconnecting such chamber to ambient. The passages 175 and 177
with their associated chamber 176 assure that as the upper die 160
is brought into position toward the closure member of the dish-like
container there will be no air trapped between such upper die and
the upper portion of the container which would tend to prevent
proper operation of the apparatus 135.
The exemplary apparatus 135 has its lower support 136 and its upper
support 157 suitably fixed to plates 180 and 181 respectively which
may comprise a lower and upper platen respectively of a standard
press. Accordingly, any suitable moving means, whether mechanical
(such as a standard mechanical device used to provide reciprocating
movements), hydraulic, or pneumatic may be utilized to relatively
move the plates 180 and 181 and, hence, their respective supports
136 and 157 toward and away from each other.
For simplicity of presentation, a double arrow 182 has been shown
on the plate 181 to indicate moving means for moving such plate and
its support 157 vertically in either direction with the lower plate
180 and support 136 being held stationary. However, it will be
appreciated that the upper plate and its support may be held
stationary and only the lower plate and its support relatively
moved toward and away therefrom or both upper and lower supports
and their associated plates may be moved toward and away from each
other.
The container supporting ring 137 has what will be referred to as a
first annular cutout 184 adjoining both the outer edge of its
inside cylindrical surface 141 and the inner edge of surface 140.
Similarly, the clamping ring 165 has a second annular cutout 185
adjoining both its cylindrical surface 163 and the inner edge of
its surface 166. The cutouts 184 and 185 cooperate to define a
substantially toroidal inside surface which is used to form the
bead 33 in the container 20 in a manner to be subsequently
described, see FIG. 14.
Having described the cooperating component portions of the
apparatus 135 in detail, a detailed presentation will now be made
of the manner in which the components of apparatus 135 and their
associated surfaces cooperate to define the bead 33 in the bonded
lamination or flange means 32 to define the completed container
20.
The apparatus 135 is opened to the position illustrated in FIG. 11
and an unbeaded sealed container is moved in position so that its
flange means 32 is supported on the outer annular surface portion
139 of the stepped surface 138 of the supporting ring 137 with the
inner portion of such flange means being supported on the surface
147. The moving means for the upper plate 181 and support 157 is
then actuated to thereby initially relatively move the supports
and, hence, the dies and rings toward each other and clamp the
flange means 32 therebetween essentially as illustrated in FIG. 12.
In this position the outer portion of the flange means 32 is
clamped tightly in position between the surface 139 and surface
166, as shown at 178, to assure that once the cooperating dies and
rings are moved further together the outer portion will not slip or
"flap" in a detrimental manner.
With further movement of the supports 136 and 157 toward each
other, the outer portion of the flange means is moved between
surfaces 140 and 166 which exert sufficient pressure to prevent
wrinkling and yet allow slipping movement. The vertical distance or
gap indicated at 179, see FIG. 14, between surfaces 139 and 140
will vary depending upon the particular container being beaded;
however, in one application wherein the thickness of the flange
means or lamination was 0.012 - 0.015 inch the gap at 179 was 0.010
inch.
The dies and rings cooperate to first define a substantially
tubular section which is also designated by the reference numeral
74 as in the previous description in connection with the apparatus
36 and as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings. Upon moving the
supports away from each other, the dies and rings cooperate to form
the section 74 in the form of the annular bead 33 which has a
roughly circular cross-sectional outline as illustrated in FIGS. 15
and 16 of the drawings.
The action of the apparatus 135 is such that once the supports 136
and 157 are moved together in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12,
the peripheral annular surface 162 of the upper die 160 is arranged
generally opposite the annular top surface 147 of the lower die
145, with the inner portion of the annular clamping surface 166 of
clamping ring 165 being arranged generally opposite the stepped
surface 138 of the container supporting ring. In this position, it
will be seen that the peripheral portion of the flange means 32 is
tightly clamped between the surface 139 and the clamping surface
166 so that during subsequent movement of the upper die 160 within
the ring 137 the flange means 32 is firmly held during the initial
movement used to form the tubular section 74, as previously
mentioned.
The ring 137 has its inside surface 141 spaced outwardly from the
outside surface 163 of the upper die 160 by a controlled thickness
which is determined by the thickness of the flange means 32. Thus,
after initially moving the supports 136 and 157 together to clamp
the flange means in a forming position in the manner described
above, further relative movement of the supports 136 and 157 toward
each other causes the upper die to override lower compression
springs 150 and causes the container supporting ring 137 to
override the compression springs 167 and thereby vertically move
the entire filled and sealed dish-like container beneath the
stepped surface 138 of the ring 137, see FIG. 14, to define the
tubular section 74. In this position the upper end of the tubular
section 74 is within the substantially toroidal surface defined by
surfaces 184 and 185.
Upon actuation of the moving means so that the plates 180 and 181
and, hence, their associated supports 136 and 157 are relatively
moved apart, the now compressed compression springs 150 operate to
move the lower die 145 in a telescoping manner upwardly while the
compression springs 167 operate to move clamping ring 165
downwardly causing the outer portion of the tubular portion 74 to
engage surfaces 184 and 185 and define the annular bead 33
essentially as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 of the drawings.
The apparatus 135 also has a device designated generally by the
reference numeral 186, refer to FIGS. 13 and 17, which is
particularly adapted for lifting the now beaded container 20 away
from supporting ring 137 to the dotted line position indicated at
187 in FIG. 17. The device 186 comprises a comparatively thin flat
plate 188 carried within the cavity 153 in the lower die 145 and
plate 188 has a rod 190 suitably attached thereto, such as against
the lower surface thereof. The rod 190 extends through aligned
openings 191, 192, and 193 in the plate 180, support 136, and lower
die 145 respectively and such rod may be actuated by a suitable
actuator of known construction to raise the plate 188 and the
beaded container 20 once the the beading operation has been
completed and then lower such plate back into position against a
surface 194 defining the bottom of the die cavity 153. The actuator
for rod 190 and action thereof is represented schematically by the
double arrow 195.
The rod 190 may be synchronized with the operating movement of the
plate 181 so as to automatically raise the beaded container when
the beading operation has been completed. Further, the rod 190
preferably raises the beaded container sufficiently above the ring
137, as shown at 187 in FIG. 17, to enable removal of such
container by a lateral transfer mechanism essentially in a
horizontal direction substantially parallel to the top surface of
the plate 188.
The upper die 160 and its associated components have been provided
with suitable passage means to prevent air from being trapped
between the closure 24 and the upper die 160 during the beading
operation. Similarly, the plate 188 may also have suitable openings
188A provided therein communicating with passages 193, 192, and 191
to prevent air from being trapped between the dish-like container
and the lower die 145.
The exemplary apparatus 135 has been illustrated and described with
its supports 136 and 157 suitably fixed to plates 180 and 181
respectively comprising a standard press. However, it will be
appreciated that the plates 180 and 181 may be suitably modified to
define supports 136 and 157 without requiring the provision of the
separate supports 136 and 157.
As previously indicated, the apparatus 36 may be suitably modified
to define containers 20A, 20B, or 20C. It will also be appreciated
that the apparatus 135 may also be suitably modified to define such
containers and particular attention is now directed to FIGS. 18 and
19 of the drawings. FIG. 18 illustrates the manner in which the top
surface of die 145 and the peripheral surface portion of the upper
die 160 may be modified as indicated by solid lines and designated
respectively by the reference numerals 147A and 162A to enable
forming the beaded container 20A of FIG. 2A having the inner
portion of its flange means 32A defined in an upwardly convex
configuration with the bead 33A at the terminal end of such flange
means. FIG. 18 also illustrates the manner in which the top surface
of lower die 145 and the peripheral surface portion of the upper
die 160 may also be suitably modified as indicated by dotted lines
and designated respectively by the reference numerals 147B and 162B
to enable forming the beaded container 20B of FIG. 2B having the
inner portion of its flange means 32B defined in an upwardly
concave configuration with the bead 33B at the terminal end of such
flange means.
As seen in FIG. 19, the lower die 145 may also have its annular top
surface made as an undulating surface 147C with the annular
peripheral surface portion of the upper die 160 made as a
cooperating undulating surface 162C to thereby define a dish-like
container having its bonded lamination or flange means 32C made in
the form of an undulating configuration, as viewed in
cross-section, with the bead 33C at the end of such flange means.
It should be emphasized that by forming the inner portion of the
flange means or bonded lamination, either to an arcuate
configuration or to an undulating configuration, the annular bead
formed in the outer periphery of its associated dish-like container
is held in spaced relation from the side walls of the dish-like
container with greater strength and rigidity and thereby provides
optimum shield-like protection for such side walls. In addition,
the roughly toroidal configuration of the peripheral bead greatly
strengthens such bead and assures such bead and its adjoining
flange means cannot be deformed radially inwardly against the
container.
Certain words and phrases such as "top," "bottom," "inner,"
"outer," "upwardly," "downwardly," etc., have been used throughout
this specification and claims to indicate various positions of
certain parts and surfaces as illustrated in the drawings; however,
it is to be understood that these parts and surfaces may be
suitably arranged in any desired manner. For example, the overall
apparatus disclosed herein may be inverted and the unbeaded sealed
container may be suitably repositioned for forming to take this
into account.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods
of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it
will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously
embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *