Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Container making – Rigid container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-10-23
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Container making
Rigid container
C493S177000, C493S316000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306070
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of containers and container systems, and, more particularly, to a container erecting and sealing apparatus and associated methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many industries where products are produced, packed, stored, or shipped to various locations, these products are produced or stored in warehouses from which to be distributed to customers or retailers. These products, e.g., produce, are often placed in cartons or boxes made of cardboard or other materials to be stored in or shipped from the warehouses. Because of the various demands on these suppliers, such as need for more timely deliveries, for lower or more control of labor costs, space for expanding production, and space for storing more products, problems have arisen at various stages of these processes
One of the areas where problems have arisen is in the supply speed and control of the containers used in the shipping and storage of products. The erecting and sealing of the containers used for storage and shipping can be time consuming, particularly in the industries where the needs are for increased speed without damage to the containers being readied for use. The machines used for this purpose can also be large, occupy a lot of square footage of a warehouse facility, be complex, and have increased mechanical reliability problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, the present invention advantageously provides a container erecting and sealing apparatus and methods for erecting and sealing collapsed or flat containers at higher speeds. The present invention also advantageously provides a container erecting and sealing apparatus and methods for erecting and sealing collapsed or flat containers which occupy less foot print or space on a production, packaging, or manufacturing floor. The present invention further advantageously provides a container erecting and sealing apparatus and methods which enhances control over the erecting and sealing of collapsed or sealed containers.
More particularly, a container erecting and sealing apparatus for enhancing the production speed of container erecting and sealing according to the present invention preferably includes collapsed container erecting means for erecting each of a plurality of collapsed containers during travel along a first predetermined path. The plurality of collapsed containers each preferably have a plurality of non-folded bottom panels. The apparatus also includes first bottom panel folding means positioned in the first predetermined path of travel for folding a pair of the plurality of non-folded bottom panels. The bottom panel folding means also includes bottom panel positioning and container advancing means positioned to move the pair of the plurality of non-folded bottom panels of each erected container inwardly toward each other and advance the erected container downstream along the first predetermined path of travel. The apparatus additionally includes second bottom panel folding means positioned to overlie at least one of the non-folded bottom panels of an erected container and downstream from the first bottom panel folding means along the first predetermined path of travel for inwardly folding the at least one of the non-folded bottom panels downwardly to thereby contact the folded bottom panels, conveying means positioned along a second predetermined path of travel transverse to the first predetermined path of travel for receiving and conveying the plurality of erected containers along the second predetermined path of travel, and third bottom panel folding means positioned adjacent the conveying means along the second predetermined path of travel for folding a remaining non-folded bottom panel inwardly to a position closely adjacent the previously folded bottom panels. The apparatus further includes adhesive applying means positioned downstream from the third bottom panel folding means along the second predetermined path of travel for applying adhesive only to selected portions of the bottom panels and compressing means positioned downstream from the adhesive applying means along the second predetermined path of travel for compressing surfaces of the bottom panels to thereby seal the bottom panels in a closed position.
The present invention also advantageously includes methods of erecting and sealing containers. A method preferably includes receiving a plurality of erected containers from a first predetermined path of travel, conveying the plurality of erected containers along a second predetermined path of travel, folding at least one non-folded bottom panel of each of the plurality of erected containers inwardly toward a closed position during travel along the second predetermined path of travel, applying adhesive only to selected portions of bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers during travel along the second predetermined path of travel, and compressing surfaces of the bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers along a second predetermined path of travel to thereby seal the bottom panels in a closed position.
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Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Desai Hemant M.
Vo Peter
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