CA1311198C - Strip material for disposable container - Google Patents

Strip material for disposable container

Info

Publication number
CA1311198C
CA1311198C CA000616146A CA616146A CA1311198C CA 1311198 C CA1311198 C CA 1311198C CA 000616146 A CA000616146 A CA 000616146A CA 616146 A CA616146 A CA 616146A CA 1311198 C CA1311198 C CA 1311198C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
container
strip material
blanks
throat
strip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000616146A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Derek V. Mancini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SNOFORM EQUIPMENT Ltd
Amcor Packaging Canada Inc
Original Assignee
SNOFORM EQUIPMENT Ltd
Twinpak Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA 542347 external-priority patent/CA1303519C/en
Application filed by SNOFORM EQUIPMENT Ltd, Twinpak Inc filed Critical SNOFORM EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority to CA000616146A priority Critical patent/CA1311198C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1311198C publication Critical patent/CA1311198C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29CSHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C51/00Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C51/26Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C51/42Heating or cooling
    • B29C51/421Heating or cooling of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming
    • B29C51/422Heating or cooling of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming to produce a temperature differential
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/32Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/32Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
    • B65D75/321Both sheets being recessed
    • B65D75/322Both sheets being recessed and forming one compartment

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Strip material for use in thermoforming containers comprises a series of inter-connected paired container blanks symmetrically disposed, and made of a thin plastic thermoformable material; each container blank is connected to adjacent container blanks of the series at connection segments forming an extension of the blanks in the length of the strip material which connecting segments are to be severed to separate the blanks; each container blank has a curved body portion generally of a semi-circular shape smoothly merging with an elongate throat portion extending inwardly of one of the connecting segments; the curved body portion opposite the throat portion includes at an edge thereof a further connecting segment; each container blank is orientated to be the mirror image of blanks immediately either side thereof such that the orientation of the blanks continuously alternates in the length of the strip material and the throat portions extend in the length of the strip; the strip is especially suitable for manufacture of small disposable containers for individual portions of cream or other liquids.

Description

1 3 ~

The present invention relates to strip material for use in the manufacture of small containers.
This Application is a division of Canadian Paten-t Application, S.N. 5~2,3~7, filed July 17, 1987.
There is also disclosed herein an apparatus and me-thod adapted to form, fill and seal a plas-tic container. ~}liS method and apparatus has par-ticular application for the forming, filling and sealing of small con-tainers such as creamers and/or conAiments where the container is preferably sized for a single serving.
Apparatus for forming, filling and sealing of creamers are known and have a number of advantages over the pre-fol~med creamer containers which are subsequently used in a ~illing and sealiny machine.
The container forming operation su:itable for the forming of plastic containers is normally accomplished b~ heating of a flat substr~te in preparation for an extruding or shaping step. This heating opera-tion acts to partially disinfect or sterilize what will become the interior o the container. Form fill seal machines are also advantageous in that the supply stock, namely, flat plastic disks, sheeting, strip material of plastic or Eoil paper laminate and the like are easily stored.
The main advantage wi-th a form, fill and seal machine is the reduced overall production cost :Eor the seal machine is the reduced overall production cost for the operator as the container is formed in the filling apparatus and is made from relatively low cost material which may or may no-t be pre-cut by a diecutting operation. In most cases, the forming material is pre-printed and little additional labelling is required.

_ ] _ The packaging of creamers has been qenerally conEined -to small frusto conical containers which have a flat lid of a paper foil laminate heat sealed -the~eto. The volume of the container is quite small and the normal practice is -to fill the con-tainer with 3/~ to 5/8 of an ounce of pro~uct.
Numerous approaches have been -taken with respect to filling oE these containers, as generally -the fillin~
step determines the maximum ou-tput of -the machine.
In known filling machines, preformed open top con-tainers are moved along a prede-termined path past a filling operatlon and subsequen-tly advanced through a heat sealing operation where a suitable lid is aligned with an~ heat sealed to the container. In some cases, the apparatus will have a conveyor driven intermittently, with various stations along the length of the conveyor which operate when the con-veyor is stationary; or in other cases, the con-tainers are continuously advanced and the various operations are carried out as the containers are advanced. In designing machines oE ei-ther type described above, high output is difficult due to the time required for filling and sealing of the con--tainers. The conventional containers are relatively shallow, and product splash can contaminate the generally flat flange area at the open top of the containers which is used for heat sealing the lid material to the container. Typically, the paper foil laminate has a thermally ac-tivated adhesive film on the lower surface to effect a seal between the lid and the container flange.
According to the present invention, a form, fill and se~l appara-tus and method are possible, suitable for the packaging of cream as well as other liquid like products including condiments. The apparatus and method allow the forminq, filling and sealing of a container made from a previously diecut formable strip material such as plas-tic or foil.
This method and appara-tus in most cases reduces the unit cost to the operator, such as a dairy, for filling of a container as the need ror previously formed containers is eliminated. A unique container is also disclosed which can be filled at a faster rate due to its generally closed configura-tion and is of a particular shape to render -the container more stable in a free-s-tanding disposition.
In accordance wi-th the invention -there is provided strip material for use in thermoforming containers comprising a series of inter~connected paired container blanks symmetrically disposed, and made of a thin plastic -thermoformable material, each container blank being connected to adjacent container blanks of the series at connection segments forming an extension of the blanks i.n the length o~ the strip material which connecting segmen-ts are to be severed to separate the blanks, each container blan]c having a curved body portion generally of a semi-circular shape smoo-thly merging with an elongate throat portion tapering extending to one of the connecting segments, said curved body por-tion opposite said throat portion including at an edge -thereof a fur-ther connecting segment, each container blank being oriented to be the mirror image of blanks immediately either si~e thereoE such that the orientation of the blanks continuously alternates in the length of the strip material and said throat por-t:ions extend in the length of the strip.
The strip material is employed in the manufacture of a disposab]e container which is shallow and includes support surfaces :Eor supporting the container in a f.ree-standing disposition with the container having a low profile due to the shallow depth of the con-l-ainer. The container is shaped to lirnit the extent:. of inadvertent -tipping oE the 9 ~

container ~n~ to provide an inherent bias urgin~ the con-tainer to return to the ~ree-s-tanding disposition.
The throat of -the container is positioned ~o take advantage of this inheren-t bias and reduce the likelihood of spilled product if the contalner is inadver-tently tipped.
Such a disposable container suitable for retaining liquids and the like comprises two opposed container sections r formed from the s-trip material, each having a peripheral ring like Elange about a recess with the flanyes being sealed therebetween.
The recesses in the con-tainer halves defines a common central cavity of the container and the flanges include a throat which opens into -the cavity through which product within -the cavity can be dispensed.
The throat is at least partially defined by the opposed flanges. Each container section is of a similar thermoformable plastic material and the sections collectively define the cavity.
The strip of packaging material of the invention, used in the form.ing of the container may suitably have diecut side edges and includes con-tainer body sections each having a neck portion which serves to join container body sections. The strip is suitably of a thermoformable sheet material which, on one side, may include an adhesive, preferably a thermally activated adhesive, appropriately placed for eventual sealing of opposed container sections.
The strip o:E the shape described above is passed along predetermined path past a number of stations to produce a strip of thermoformed plastic container sections joined in series, with each container section having a flat generally planar peripheral flange area surrounding the upper edge of a generally upwardly opening cen-tral cavity. The flange is in-terrupted by a sunken neck portion which connects with the neck portion of an adjacent con-:~ 3 ~
tainer. Each flange incl~ldes means on the uppersurface thereoE used to eventually join opposed container sections.
A plastic container oF fixed shape may be formed by intermi-t-tently advancing, along predeter-mined paths, two s-trips of plastic thermoformable ma-terial through separa-te thermoforming operations.
These thermoforming operations shape each strip to form the strip material of the inven-tion having a series of container sec-tions with each half container section having a recess -therein generally surrounded b~ a similarly sized flange and including a neck area, with the neck area accessing -the recess. The flange is used as a sealing surface for joining o~
the container sections in forming a finished con-tainer. Following the thermoforming operation, the strips are aligned in an opposed manner to create a series of containers, with each container being defined by a pair of container sections with said respec-tive neck areas aligned to define a narrow throat for filling of the container. The WH-6691-1 ~46~HJ0081F

aligned strips are then sealed about the containers by applying sufficient heat to sai~ flanges while maintaining the narrow throat open. All this preferably occurs as the strips are helû
stationary during a dwell time between aavances of the strip.
The containers are retained in a predetermined position within the conveyor and are subsequently cut From the strlp in preparation for the filling operation. The containers are then appropriately filled through the throat of each container and after completion, the throat is sealed and tne containers are released and removed frorn the Conveyor for bul~c packaging.
A packaging machine for the forming? filling and sealing of a container comprises two forming conveyors, each advancing thermoformable plastic strip material through separate forming operations, means for bringing tne output of the forming operations intD appropriate registration; container sealing means for sealing said container sections to provi~e a generally sealed container with a throat through which pro~uct "
can be introduced; a further conveyor for receiving the sealea strip of containers, said further conveyor engaging each container and a~vancing the same through cu~ting, fill .
_ sealing stations associated witll said further conveyor for first cutting said containers from said strips, orienting said containers, filling said containers and sealing said filled containers; and means associated with said further conveyor for discharging said sealed filled containers.

~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a partial side elevation showing the packaging machine;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the strip material;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view showing the strip material after it has been shaped;
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the registration of opposed container halves;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing the strip material after the first sealing operation and after the cutting operation;
Figure 6 shows the containers positioned for filling;
Figure 7 shows the containers after they have been subjected to a heat sealing operation after the filling step;
Figure ~ is a cross-section through a conveyor plate and the forming station;

WH-6691A-1 0382H~0051f Figure 9 is a view sirnilar to Figure 8 with the forming station in a position clear of the strip;
Figure 10 is a sectional view through the first heat sealing station;
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 with the pad of the heat sealing station in contact with the strip material;
Figure 12 is a partial perspective view showing the conveyor plates used in the forming of the strip material;
; Figure 13 is a sectional view showing movement of the ~;;.~, final conveyor plates to a filling orientation;
Figure 14 is a top view showing a rnechanism for retaining the containers in the final conveyor;
Figure 15 is an elevation showing the sealing of the filled containers;
Figure 16 is an end view of a filled container; and FiguIe 17 is a front view of the filled container.
..~. ~.
~ ,;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE_PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The packaging machine 2 shapes previously diecut flat strip material generally shown as 4 by passing the same through Forming stations 6. The forming stations heat the strip material after it has been registered in a conveyor and therefore physically urge the material into the conveyor plate and create the first formed container strip 8 and the second formed container strip 10. These formed container strips, after passing through trle:ir separate forming stations 6, are brought into opposed alignment as generally indicated at point 12 immediately upstream of the flange sealing station 14 and are so maintained by thE.~ conveyor plate~ Each of the formlng stations 6 have their own conveyor 16 comprising linked plates having recesses therein for recei,ving in a registered manner the flat strip material 4. The recesses also define the final shape of the container sections and are used in the forming thereof. T,he aligned strips, at point 12, are both engaged by the conveyor 16 of the second forming station and are advanced together by the conveyor. Both conveyors are of the intermittent movement type and the various operations, particularly the forming, are carried out while the conveyor is stationary.
The conveyor plates are shown in section in figures 8 and 9 and the strip is advanced with the conveyor as the formed container se~tiDns are nested therein. The cavity o~ the plates are similar to those of the final conveyor, shown in figure 12 and, additionally, may be recessed to engage connecting portions 52 of the strip material to assist in registrati.on. Flange sealing station 14 operates on four containers disposed in series and seals the container sections generally about the periphery by thermally activating an adhesive between opposed flanges. The preferred hot melt adhesive is activated by applying heat to the upper flange as the containers are held stationary at the sealing station.
Care must be exercised as the activation temperature of the hot melt adhesive is normally ~S~ r~

only about 30F to 50F below the softening point of the thermoformable materia~. Too much heat will cause adhesion of the flange to the heating members and the flange would not fulfill its intended function essentially as an inert separator between the heating member and the hot melt adhesive. Styrene, a suitable paci<aging material generally softens or starts to become active at about 300F and therefore the rate of heat transfer to the flanges is important to avoid the flanges reaching a temperature resulting in adhesion of the flanges to the heads~ These heads are preferably coated with a Teflon or like material to reduce adhesion problems.
The partially sealed containers are then advanced across a transition zone gene~ally designated as 21 downstream of the flange sealing station 14 and upstream of the final oonveyor 26.
The final conveyor 26 has Totatable platPs to cause the containers to rotate for the filling and final sealing ope~ations. The first station associated with the final conveyor is the slitting station 1~ which includes reciprocating slitters 20. During the conveyor d~ell time, the slitters cut the containers fro~ the strip material and thus allow the containers during the next advancement of the conveyor to rotate as gene~ally shown at position 27 Once the containers are rotated, product is filled through a throat-like opening while the containers are stationary at the fil~ing station 22. After the fi ling station, the throat sealing *Tra~e-Mark station 24 closes the container, whereafter the containers are finally discharged for bulk packaging at 28. The dlscharged containers from the final conveyor 26 are suitably collected at collection point 30. An automatic bulk packaging arrangment can be used in conjunction with and controlled by the packaging machine 2.
Figures 2 through 7 illustrate the various steps completed to transform the container strip material 4 into the separate containers shown as 68. The flat strip material 4 is made up of a number of container blanks 40, having a suitable non-toxic, food safe adhesive at least about the periphery of the container blank. This adhesive is preferably previously printed or otherwise applied, on the strip of packaging material and thus the strip material 4 used by the filling machine has been previously coated with the adhesive. It should also be noted that the adhesive need not be restricted to peripheral areas and in some cases can entirely cover one ~ . "
surface of the container blank. Note that the strip material 4 comprises a series of paired container blanks symmetrically disposed with the pair of container blanks being interconnected to adjacent pairs by connecting portions 46. Neck connecting portion 48 serves to join container blanks of a pair. Notches 49 are associated with khe neck portion and have been previously formed by die cutting and are used to assist in opening the filled and sealed container. The notches ~9 in the finished container are prel`erably about 3/8 of an inch from the sealing ~ 11 -. .

~IlH-6691A-l 0~2H/OOSlF
end of the throat (sealed bead 72 in Figure 7). The outer periphery of the flat strip material 4 is also die cut and is used to cooperate with -the conveyor plates to assure proper registration of the container blanks in the conveyor plates, particularly of the forming conveyors. The die cut periphery is generally shown as 44.
In figure 3 the container blànks 40 have undergone the forming operation resulting in individual container sections 50 each having a perhipheral flan9e 52 extending laterally therefrom with the adhesive 42 on this peripheral flange.
Container section 50 has an open container section cavity 54 and a container section inlet 56 opening into the container section cavity 54. A flat panel 58 defines the lo~er portion of the container section cavity and will provide a support surface or area for the finished container 68. Sidewall ~0 extends upwardly from the panel 58 oF a container section 5û
-. and Joins the panel with the peripheral flange 52. The inlet 56 is generally positioned at the upper edge of the container section sidewall 60.
The formed strip of container sections are brought into registration with an opposed formed strip of container sections as illustrated in figure 4. Each container section ls in an opposed Facing relationship with a like container section to cooperate therewith and eventually define the strip of joined containers 61. The opposed connecting portions 46 of the strip mater~al are secured and each container section is secured to .......... . .. . . . . . . . .

,, :i, -; . ' . . .

an opposed container section by means of the adhesive 42 on the peripheral flanges 52. The opposed container section inlet 56 now define a throat 62 which is in cnmmunication with the cavity of the open container generally shown as 59 in figure 5. The throat 62 is in a sidewall of the container 59 intermediate and spaced from panels 58.
The open containers 59 have been cut one from the other by the cutting station and are shown oriented for filling in figure 6. The throat 62 is oriented to allow filling of the __ open containers 59 through the throat mouth 63 which is in direct fluid flow communication with the container cavity. The containers are maintained in their vertical orientation after filling to effect sealing of the containers to produce the sealed containers 68 shown in figure 7. These seal2d containers each have a melted bead 72 which extends across the throat and serves to assist the adhesive in maintaining the throat closed. Note that the thr~at has been partially collapsed by the sealing operation and the seal of the throat area is somewhat more dif~icult. By melting the edges o~ the opposed container sections in this area, -the possibility of release of the adhesive and leakage o~ the product is reduced.
As shown in the cut-away portion of one of the filled and sealed containers 68, a liquid portion 70 is retained within the container cavity and when the container is in position as shown in figure 7, this product kends to accumulate in the lower portion of the container. rhus when the container .. .. . . . ,. , -WH-66~1~-l 0382H/0051F
is open the likelihoo~ of spillage of the product is reduced.
The flat strip material 4 can be pre-printed such that the flat panels 58 act as labelling surfaces and include a pre-printed label thereon. The thermoforming operation will not significantly affect the print on this location as it is merely being displaced within the cavity and most extrusion of the strip material occurs in the sidewall 6û.
These panel portions 58 act as support surfaces for the container whether open or closed and when supported on one of these surFaces the throat extends laterally from th~
container cavity and is at a raised position relative to the support surface. In this position any residual product in an open container is maintained within the container cavity to the extent that the product is below the level of the throat mouth 63. Thus panels surfaces 58 are used to support the container in one of two free-standing dispositions. In this free-standing disposition as generally shown in figure 5, the container due to its inherent shape and shallow depth is not prone to tipping and even if inadvertently tipped, g~avity serves to create a bias which will force the container back to the free-standing disposition. The parhipheral Flanges 52 also cooperate with the panels 58 to act as a stop surface limiting the extent of the inadvertent tipping of the container due to the -~lange coming into Contact with the support surface. Thus the eontainer has an inherent bias urging it to one of two free-standing dispositions and in ei-ther clisposition the throat 3 p W~-6691A-1 û382H/0051F
is a raised point relative to the support surface. The peripheral flange as it extends about the container limits the angle through which the container can be tipped and gravity acting on the container forces the con-tainer to return to the free~standing disposition. The shallow profile o~ the container is also less prone to being accidentally tipped by the user.
The formed containers are elongated and of shallow depth with the depth of the cavity being less than one-third of ~,' ,r the maximum width. The c:avity volume in the case of creamers is preferable about 5/8 ounces and the filled quantity of creamers is normally about 1/2 ounce or less. The panels 58, which each act as a support surface and a la~elling surface, could be modified and the entire panel 58 need not be part of the support surface. For example, support feet could be formed in the container about the periphery of the panel 58 which collectively define a support surface similar to 58 in that the container would continue to have the inherent bias to assume the free~standing disposition on a planar surface.
The container is less prone to tipping, and even if inadvertently tipped returns to the free-standing disposition.
The container if tipped may not result in the spilling of product, as the throat may not be displaced to a position which would result in the product leaving the container. The WH-6S91A-l 0382H~005lF
container ls also more convenient to fill due to its generally closed container cavity with product being introduced through a filling tube inserted in the formed throat 62.
A further advantage of the container is the labelling are~ defined by the panels 58 and khe manner in which one of these panels is always presented at the top of the container when the container is in its free-stanr~ing disposition. Such is not the case with the prior art creamer cups where labelling iS restricted to the lid area.
Figure 8 shows the forming station which includes conveyor plates 80 having vacuum ports 82 for clrawing the plastic in contact therewith. Forming pad 84 is shaped according to the final shape of the container and ineludes a heated face 86. In order to protect the preferred thermally activated adhesive, the formincl pad 84 also includes a flange protecting portion 88, which has a fluid cooling jacket 90.
Thus, when the heating pad is brought into contact with the plastic sheet material, the flange area is cooled by the cooling jacket or at least maintained at a temperature below the activation of the adhesive. The forming pad 84 is mounted on shaft 94 which is sliclably received in cylinder portion 96.
A spring bias 92 is provided bet~een the pad 84 and cylinder portlon 96 to assist the forming of the container sections.
The pad, when it first comes into contact with the sheet material, does not boktom ouk within the cavity of the conveyor plate due to compression of the spring bias 92 and the pad will initially heat the sheet ma-terial and as the sheet material softens, the pad will move within the cavity in accordance with the spring bias and the strength of the softened sheet. From the above it can be appreciated it is preferable to restrict the adhesive to -the flange area, thus simplifying in the forming operation and reducing contamination of the heating face 86.
The movement of the sheet material within the conveyor plate 80 is assisted by the vacuum box 100 which has been brought into engagement with the lower surface of the conveyor plate. A vacuum force effectively draws the sheet material against the interior surface of the conveyor plate. Each plate 80 includes in the lower surf`ace thereof vacuum ports 82. The vacuum box loO is pneumatically actuated by actuator 102 and moves in timed sequence with the conveyor into and out of contact with the plates and similarly the forming pad 54 is r~ciprocated via the pneumatic actuator generally indicated as 98. The extreme positions of the reciprocating movement of the forming pad 84 are shown in Figure 8 ancl Figure 9 where the pad has been fully withdrawn in Figure 9 ancl the pad fully inserted in Figure 8. In Figure 9, the conveyor has been advanced to bring a new portion of sheet material within the forming station. The vertical reciprocating motion of the pad is indicated by arrow 106. Note that the forming station shown in Figure 1 includes two pairs of Forming pads and only one set o~
these pads has been shown in Figure B. In effect, the forming - 17 _ WH~6691A-1 0382H/0051F
stati~n ~orms four container sections for each cycle of the conveyor and Figure 8 only shows two heads. The forming operation is the most time consuming operation and therefore pairing of the forming pads allows the overall packaging machine to operate at a higher output. Typically, the cycle of the machine when four containers are fc)rmed per line is about 2.4 seconds, of which the stationary time is 1.8 seconds.
Thus, each index of the conveyor results in the advancement of four containers.
Details of one of the sealing heads 110 of the sealing staticn 14 is shown in Figures lû and 11. Interior to the sealing head 110 is a water cooled central member 112 which slides within the outer housing 114 of the head. The water cooled central member 112 is hollow and water is circulated through the cavity via water inlet 118 and water outlet 120.
The central member 112 is shaped to lie in intimate contact with the upper surface o~ the container to essentially limit the heat of sealing to the overlapping flange area or at least protect the rest of the container from damaging heat. The outer housing 114 includes heated surfaces 116 which contact the upper flange and heat the same. This heat is conducted through the flange to activate the adhesive between the opposed flanges of the container sections and effect sealins of the container sections. Pressure is exerted between the sealing head and the conveyor plate and the central member is spring-biased as indicated by spring 122 such that the central member initially contacts the container and further movernent of the sealing head will bring the heated surfaces 116 into contact with the container flanges. This spring biasing arrangement will also ensure that the heated surfaces 116 are first to release contact from the containers~
The water cooled central member 112 is secured at one end of the piston-like rod 124 and the outer housing 114 is movable on the lod 124. The piston-like rod 124 telescopes within the sleeve 126 and the sealing head 110 is reciprocated to effect initiation and removal of the sealing head from the container. As the central member bottoms out against the container, the spring 122 is compressed as indicated in Figure 11 and the outer housing is driven into contact with the flanges due to contact of the sleeve 126 with the upper surface of the housing generally indicated as 128. Therefore, as the sealing head is brought into contact with the container, the central member initially bottoms out against an upper container section and subsequent movement of the sealing head will cause compression of the spring and eventual contact of the heated surfaces 116 with the flanges of the container. As sleeve 126 is initially rernoved from the container sections, the heated surfaces 116 will move therewith due to the action of the spring 122 while the central member remains in contact to further ensure that integrity of container sections is maintained. Thus, this sealing head seIves to isolate the heat of the sealing head to the periphery ol` the container sec-tions, ~'~ 3 ~

and the water cooled central member protects areas of the container which are not to be raised to this higher temperature. This heat removal also serves to set the adhesive more quickly.
The sealing head of Figure 10 and 11 is only one such head for sealin~ of the flanges of two containersl however the sealing station 14 would include a second set of heads to complete sealing of four containers disposed in series along the length of the conveyor~ Thus, each of the container secti~ns is paired within a ~nveyor plate and each operation is effected on a pair of conveyor plates. Therefore, each operation is being carried out on a series of containers four in length and any number of series of containers sections can be disposed across the machine. Power is introduced to the heated surfaces 116 through the electric~l connecti~ns 1l7 The conveyor plates of the final conveyor are shown as 140 in Figure 12 and include a central member 142 secured to the chain drive and are of a generally 'I' shaped. ~xtending in the longitudinal axis of the member 142 is the slitter guide 143 to effect separation of the symmetrically opposed throat sections of a pair of containers. Secured to the central member 1421 to one side, is the trailing pivotal plate 144 and, to the opposite side, a leading pivotal plate 146 is secured.
These plates pivot relative to the central member. Pins 148 are secured to the respective plates 144 and ll~6 and are rotatably received by central member 142.

- 2~ _ WH-6691A-1 0382H~0051F
Cam actuator 152 is secured to one pins of the leading plate and a cam actuator 150 is secured to one of pins of the ~railing conveyor plate. Cam actuator 152 cooperates with the stationary cam shown as 156 and cam actuator 15û cooperates with stationary cam 154. The cam actuators 150 and 15~ control the position of the movable plates 144 and 146 and will cause the containers to move to the generally vertical orientation shown in Figures 13 and 14 for carrying out the filling operation. Two different cams are used, 154 and 156, due to ~ ., the opposite rotation that each plate must undergo. Note that the conveyor plates 144 and 146 rotate intermediate the space between the chain drive.
Prior to rotating of the plates to a generally vertical orientation, container retaining arms 16û move across the upper surface of the container to retain the container within the cavity of the pivotal plate. These container retaining arms are pivotally secured within the respective pivotal plates and pass through the plate where an actuator 162 is located on the lower surface of the plate for controlling the position of the arms.
The pivotal plates 144 and 146 have been rotated in Figure 13 and thz containers received in the plates are aligned beneath a filling tube 17û of the filling station 22 when the conveyor is brought to rest. Thus, the throat of the containers are aligned and in registry with the filling tubes WH-6691A-1 03~2H/0051F
170 whereafter the filling head may be lowered such that the filling tube is inserted throu~h the throat tc commence filling of the containers.
The movement of the pivotal plates 144 and 146 and the mechanism for actuating the reta.ining arms 160 have been described with respect to various cam mechanisms and it can be appreciated that other arrangements are also possible. In particular, the retaining arms could be biased to one position and only require Forced movement in one direction, or the aIms could be free moving and as such, full control over the actuators 162 would be necessary. Therefore, the embodiments as shown in Figures 12 and 13 can be modified and, in particular, the actuators 150 and 152 may be controlled along the entire conveyor length as opposed to merely contact.ing various cam members as indicated in Figure 12.
In order to maintain registration7 all conveyors are advanced in timed sequence.
Sealing of the filled containers occurs at the station 24 and one such sealing operation is generally shown in Figure 15. A pair of pinch arms 174 move down over a portion of the throat of the container and are actuated, deforming the throat to flatten a portion thereof. Heat is then applied to both sides of the Flattened portion to activate the hot melt adhesive located on this portion of the container and to soften the previously shaped plastic to reduce the required adhesive force. Each pinch arm includes a heated pad generally WH-6691A~1 03~2H/0051F
indicated as 176. A~ter the throat has been deformed, a melting bar 178 is preferat~ly brought into engagement with the top of the throat of the container which has been deformed and the purpose of the bar is to melt the plastic and provide a generally round bead 72 at the end of the throat to ensure a complete seal thereof. Sealing of this throat region is somewhat more difficult in that it has been de~ormed to define the throat and the strength inherent in this deformation must ~i be overcome. This area is more difficult to seal and a melted ~. .i bead at the top will ensure that the throat is fully sealed.
Melting of the plastic has been described as one approach to avoid the possibility of "leakers", however it may not be required in all cases. In some cases, it may be preferable to heat the plastic material in the throat to flatten and reshape the same, whereby sealing is easier. Therefore, other arrangements are possible including merely relying on the n, strength of the adhesive.
The sealed product is generally shown in Figure 17 and the product level within the container is generally indicated in the end view of Figure 16. This teardropped shaped product can be bulk packed in a random orien~ation and is not prone to leakage. The container, when used, is orientated in generally an upright condition and the throat of the container is opened assisted by notches 49. As can be appreciated, the product is essentially retained within the lower central cavity and the person opening the container is deforming the container in the ~ 23 -. ; . .. . ..

WH-6~91A-1 0382H~0051F
throat region and product is retained in the container cavity.
Therefore, the likelihood of spilling any of the contents of the container is greatly reduced. Tearing of the throat region will result in some pinching of the throat~ thus further reducing the likelihood of any contents of the container being inadvertently discharged.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein ir-l detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be . .
made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

. ~ .;
........

- 2~l -

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Strip material for use in thermoforming containers comprising a series of inter-connected paired container blanks symmetrically disposed, and made of a thin plastic thermoformable material, each container blank being connected to adjacent container blanks of the series at connection segments forming an extension of the blanks in the length of the strip material which connecting segments are to be severed to separate the blanks, each container blank having a curved body portion generally of a semi-circular shape smoothly merging with an elongate throat portion tapering extending to one of the connecting segments, said curved body portion opposite said throat portion including at an edge thereof a further connecting segment, each container blank being orientated to be the mirror image of blanks immediately either side thereof such that the orientation of the blanks continuously alternates in the length of the strip material and said throat portions extend in the length of the strip.

2. Strip material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side edges of the strip material defining a major border of said curved body portion and said throat portion are diecut to define a strip material having diecut side edges.

3. Strip material as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body portion of each container blank includes on one side of said strip printed indicia.

4. Strip material as claimed in claim 3, wherein said throat portion of each container blank includes opposed "V" notched areas to be used in tearing across said throat portion.

5. Strip material as claimed in claim 3, wherein said printed indicia is positioned on each blank in the area of the blank other than said throat portion and is located inwardly of the periphery of the blank a constant distance.

6. Strip material as claimed in claim 4, wherein said strip material is wound upon itself to define a roll of diecut strip material of container blanks.

7. Strip material as claimed in claim 6, wherein each blank is of a teardrop-like shape.

8. Strip material as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, in which said elongate throat tapers inwardly to one of the connecting segments.
CA000616146A 1987-07-17 1991-08-22 Strip material for disposable container Expired - Fee Related CA1311198C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000616146A CA1311198C (en) 1987-07-17 1991-08-22 Strip material for disposable container

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 542347 CA1303519C (en) 1987-07-17 1987-07-17 Packaging machine
CA000616146A CA1311198C (en) 1987-07-17 1991-08-22 Strip material for disposable container

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 542347 Division CA1303519C (en) 1987-07-17 1987-07-17 Packaging machine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1311198C true CA1311198C (en) 1992-12-08

Family

ID=25671427

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000616146A Expired - Fee Related CA1311198C (en) 1987-07-17 1991-08-22 Strip material for disposable container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1311198C (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022179892A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Mannok Pack Limited Integrated thermoformer adhesive coating system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022179892A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Mannok Pack Limited Integrated thermoformer adhesive coating system

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