Sheet metal container making – Apparatus applying closure to receptacle – Seamer
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-28
2004-12-14
Larson, Lowell A. (Department: 3725)
Sheet metal container making
Apparatus applying closure to receptacle
Seamer
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830420
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jigs and, more particularly, to a jig for holding a non-uniform container.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 15
shows a typical sealing apparatus
500
of the type used to attach a lid, or top,
502
to a container body
504
. The container body
504
is shown as a can, such as one of the type used to contain carbonated beverages. It is noted that other types of containers, such as those used to contain food items, are sealed with the sealing apparatus
500
with only minor modifications.
The sealing apparatus
500
includes a jig
506
that supports a bottom portion of the container body
504
. The jig
506
is movable relative to a base member
508
of the apparatus
500
via a piston
510
. The apparatus
500
also includes a pressing structure
512
that engages an upper surface of the lid
502
. The pressing structure
512
is vertically movable with respect to a support member
514
via a piston
516
.
The sealing apparatus
500
is shown to include a pair of seaming rollers
518
,
520
that are radially movable with respect to the container body
504
via respective support mechanisms
522
,
524
.
To attach the lid
502
to the container body
504
, the lid
502
and body
504
have a vertically directed force applied thereto via the jig
506
and pressing structure
512
. The seaming rollers
518
,
520
are then brought into engagement with a lip portion
526
of the lid
502
and are rotated about a vertically extending longitudinal axis of the container body
504
and lid
502
. As the seaming rollers
518
,
520
are rotated, the lip
526
is caused to deflect and interlock with an upper portion
528
of the container body
504
. The seaming rollers
518
,
520
are rotated about the longitudinal axis of the container body
504
until an entire annular periphery of the lid
502
is interlocked and sealed with the upper portion
528
.
The above-described process is often referred to as a “seaming process.”Several factors, such as the specific material and/or thickness of the container body
504
and lid
502
, the diameter of the lid
502
and container body
504
, and the particular interlocking arrangement, or seam, formed between the lid
502
and container body
504
, effect a relatively large resistance to movement of the seaming rollers
518
,
520
, i.e., effect a large resistance to deflection of the lip portion
526
and upper portion
528
. Accordingly, the container body
504
and lid
502
must be held rotationally stationary as the seaming rollers
518
,
520
rotate there about to ensure that the entire periphery of the lid
502
is sealed with the container body
504
. In a case where one of the container body
504
and lid
502
are allowed to pivot, even slightly, the periphery of the lid
502
may not entirely be sealed with the container body
504
, thus preventing a hermetic seal of the contents within the container body
504
.
With the sealing apparatus
500
shown in
FIG. 15
, the container body
504
and lid
502
are held rotationally stationary by applying a significantly large vertically directed pressure on the container body
504
and lid
502
via the jig
506
and pressing structure
512
, which prevents relative rotation due to the corresponding frictional engagement between the container body
504
and jig
506
and the lid
502
and pressing structure
512
. However, in order to withstand the vertically directed holding pressure, a side wall
530
of the container body
504
must be made relatively rigid in the vertical direction. This is typically accomplished by utilizing a relatively durable material and/or constructing the side wall
530
with a relatively large thickness. Accordingly, costs of manufacturing containers utilizing a seaming process, such as one carried out by apparatus
500
, is relatively large due to the structural necessities of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a jig for a seaming apparatus that eliminates the need to place a container under a large vertical pressure to prevent rotation thereof during a seaming process.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a jig for a seaming apparatus that is capable of holding a container with a retaining element in a manner to prevent rotation of the container during a seaming process.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a jig that is capable of holding containers of different sizes and shapes in a manner to prevent rotation thereof during a seaming process.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a jig for holding a container having a retaining element is provided that includes a support portion configured to receive and vertically support the container thereon. The support portion has at least one retaining portion that is configured to non-rotationally lock with the retaining element of the container so as to substantially prevent relative rotation between the jig and container.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a sealing apparatus to seal a lid to a container without placing a substantial vertical pressure on the container.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a sealing apparatus that is capable of supporting a container with a retaining element in a manner to prevent rotation of the container during a seaming process.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a sealing apparatus that is capable of sealing containers of different shapes and sizes without placing a substantial vertical pressure of the container.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sealing apparatus for sealing a container having a retaining element is provided that includes a fixture having a jig thereon and a pressing structure. At least one of the fixture and pressing structure is movable with respect to the other in the vertical direction. The jig includes a support portion configured to receive and vertically support the container thereon. The support portion has at least one retaining portion, which is configured to non-rotationally lock with the retaining element of the container so as to substantially prevent relative rotation between the jig and container.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a container without placing a substantial vertical pressure of the container.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a container is provided that includes forming a container body having a retaining element and providing a jig having a support portion configured to support the container body thereon and having a retaining portion configured to non-rotationally lock with the retaining element. The method also includes positioning the container body relative to the jig so as to effect the non-rotational lock between the retaining element and retaining portion and positioning a lid on an open end portion of the container body. Furthermore, the method includes attaching the lid to the container body by forming a seam between a periphery of the lid and the open end portion of the container body.
These and other aspects are described in or apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
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