Package making – Multiple bottle or can carrier type package – Wrap
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-21
2003-07-08
Sipos, John (Department: 3721)
Package making
Multiple bottle or can carrier type package
Wrap
C053S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06588173
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a machine for unitizing a plurality of containers using a flexible container carrier.
2. Description of Prior Art
Container carriers connect two or more containers into a sturdy unitized package of containers. Carriers are generally planar arrays of rings, sometimes referred to as “six-pack carriers,” typically formed from a thermoplastic sheet material. Carriers are applied to containers of various sizes and shapes along various points along the sidewall or under the chime of the container. A preferable machine would be capable of application of a container carrier to a wide range of container sizes in a number of different package sizes in one of several positions along the container sidewall and/or chime.
Prior art multi-packaging devices and methods generally require several different versions or configurations of machines to accommodate different container carrier, package sizes and package configurations. Machines are traditionally a limitation on the range of container diameters, size of package or configuration of package that can be effectively packaged by a single system.
In addition, different machines or complex set-up procedures would also be required for different sizes of packages, for instance 4-packs, 6-packs and/or 12-packs. Each different package size would typically require different machines and/or complex set-up of machine configurations to accommodate division and diversion of differently sized packages.
Finally, different machines or complex set-up procedures would also be required for containers having different heights or requiring application along different points along the container sidewall and/or chime. Two traditional configurations of container carrier to container are the sidewall-applied carrier (SAC) position and the rim-applied carrier (RAC) position. A sidewall-applied carrier requires that the carrier is applied lower along the container than the rim-applied carrier. As such, different machines and/or set-up procedures are traditionally required to bring the carrier up or down along the container. Likewise, such different equipment and/or set-up procedures are traditionally required to package containers having different overall heights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of this invention to provide a machine that combines speed, flexibility, quick changeover and ease of operation and maintenance.
It is another object of this invention to provide a machine for unitizing a plurality of containers along two or more positions along the container sidewall, for example, with a sidewall-applied carrier, or under the chime, for example, with a rim-applied carrier.
It is one object of this invention to provide a machine for unitizing a plurality of containers using a carrier having a range of possible configurations and/or sizes.
It is another object of this invention to provide a machine for unitizing a plurality of containers in one of several possible multipackage sizes.
It is another object of this invention to provide a machine for unitizing a plurality of containers having a range of possible container heights, diameters and/or sizes.
A machine for packaging multiple container heights, using multiple container carriers and/or multiple package sizes includes a carrier that moves through a jaw drum. The carrier is positioned around a perimeter of the jaw drum, and rotates onto uniform groups of containers. The containers are assembled and unitized in a single package. After a brief set-up period, a uniform group of containers having a second physical size, a second package size, a second package configuration, for example a carrier positioned along a second position along a carrier sidewall or a carrier chime and/or a second carrier size may be packaged with the machine according to this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3816968 (1974-06-01), Morgan et al.
patent: 4250682 (1981-02-01), Braun
patent: 4324085 (1982-04-01), Olsen
patent: 5117609 (1992-06-01), Seymour et al.
patent: 5383321 (1995-01-01), Krogman et al.
patent: 5542231 (1996-08-01), Ungar et al.
patent: 5813193 (1998-09-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6122893 (2000-09-01), Weaver et al.
patent: 6170225 (2001-01-01), Cervantes et al.
ITW Hi-Cone 2000MPA-III Service Manual, Nov. 15, 1999.
ITW Hi-Cone Model 2000 MPA Multipackaging Machine, product information sheets, 2 pages, 2000.
Hamilton Keith
Lund Kenneth John
Moore Kevin
Walker Rachell
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Sipos John
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