Package making – Methods – Closing package or filled receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-02-27
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Closing package or filled receptacle
C053S141000, C053S290000, C053S329200, C053S373900, C053S075000, C156S069000, C156S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192660
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a cap applying apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for applying a cap body to a packaging container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Brick-shaped packaging containers for holding liquid food products such as milk, carbonated drinks and the like are provided with a cap body that is adapted to be opened and closed as required so that the liquid food product can be repeatedly poured out and dispensed from the container. In these types of containers, the cap body is usually applied to the top portion of the packaging container by a hot melt process, a heat sealing process, an ultrasonic sealing process or other similar techniques.
In the case of the hot melt process, glue in a liquid state is ejected from a hot melt gun nozzle onto the portion of the packaging container where the cap body is to be applied. When the cap body is then applied to the container, the cap body is glued in place on the packaging container.
With the heat sealing process, hot air is blown onto the portion of the packaging container where the cap body is to be applied to melt the surface film of the packaging container. The cap body is then applied to the melted film where it becomes fixed in place.
With the ultrasonic seal process, ultrasonic waves are applied to the cap body while pressing the cap body against the portion of the packaging container where the cap body is to be applied. As a result, the surface film of the packaging container is melted and the cap body is secured to packaging container.
However, the conventional processes discussed above suffer from various disadvantages and drawbacks. With the hot melt process, it is difficult to apply the glue accurately and uniformly to the portion of the packaging container where the cap body is to be applied. As a result, it is difficult to apply the cap body to the packaging container in a manner that provides sufficient strength.
In the case of the heat sealing process, because the surface film of the packaging container is melted by blowing hot air on the portion of the packaging container where the cap body is to be applied, building up the hot air temperature takes a significant amount of time. Moreover, melting the film also requires a considerable amount of time. As a result, the processing speed with this process is rather slow.
With the ultrasonic sealing process, since the surface film of the packaging container is melted by ultrasonic waves, an ultrasonic wave apparatus is required. As a result, the cap body applying apparatus is quite expensive. Also, the melting of the film takes a significant amount of time. As a result, the speed associated with this process is also quite slow.
In light of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved cap body applying apparatus that is capable of applying the cap body to the packaging container in a relatively simple manner, with a high processing speed, and while maintaining sufficient strength at the cap body/packaging container interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address the foregoing needs, the present invention provides a cap body applying apparatus for applying a cap body to a packaging container. The cap body applying apparatus includes a gas supplying device for supplying hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture obtained by electrolyzing water, a burner unit for receiving and burning the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture, and a pickup apparatus for transporting a cap body to a heating position above the burner unit.
The above burner unit also includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a pattern corresponding to the underside periphery of the cap body. The cap applying apparatus of the invention can further include a shield plate selectively disposed over each of the nozzles, and an igniter disposed adjacent one of the nozzles. A CCD camera can also be provided for monitoring the flames of the nozzles.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for supplying and applying cap bodies to a packaging container includes a gas generator for supplying a hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture, and a burner unit connected to the gas generator for receiving the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture. The burner unit includes a plurality of nozzles from which the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture is emitted. An igniter is provided for igniting the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture emitted from at least one of the nozzles to produce a flame at the tip of the nozzle. The apparatus also includes a transport device and a pickup apparatus mounted on the transport device for holding a cap body. The pickup apparatus is transported by the transport device to a heating position above the burner unit to permit the underside surface of the cap body to be heated by the flame emitted from the nozzles and is further transported from the heating position to an applying position at which the cap body is applied to a packaging container. A packaging container holder holds a packaging container to which is to be applied the cap body.
Another aspect of the invention involves a process for applying a cap body to a packaging container. The process includes positioning a cap body adjacent a burner unit that includes at least one nozzle that emits a flame, and heating the underside surface of the cap body with the flame that is emitted from the nozzle of the burner unit. The cap body with the heated underside surface is then applied to a packaging container to secure the cap body in position on the packaging container.
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Katsumata Shigeo
Mock Elmar
Moriyama Yasuyuki
Sugata Michio
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Huynh Louis
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
Vo Peter
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