Methods and apparatus for forming and sealing a container having centering tabs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10076887-B2
Application number	US-201313826914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 19, 2012
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A machine for forming and sealing a top of a container is provided. The machine includes a conveyor configured to transport the container through the machine, a forming section including at least one bullet arm configured to fold a trailing centering tab of the container, and a compression section downstream from the forming section and including a compression device configured to fold a leading centering tab of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for forming and sealing a top of a container, the container comprising a leading centering tab and a trailing centering tab that are folded into face-contacting relationship with said top, said leading centering tab and said trailing centering tab being positionable within notches formed in a bottom of a second container for facilitating alignment of a plurality of containers, said machine comprising:
a forming section comprising at least one bullet arm, the at least one bullet arm comprising a tip, a shaft, and an actuating cylinder, wherein the actuating cylinder moves the tip and the shaft between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the shaft is housed within the actuating cylinder when in the retracted position, wherein the tip and shaft are moved from the retracted position to the extended position, the tip strikes the trailing centering tab of the container and folds it into face-contacting relationship with the top; and
a compression section downstream from said forming section and comprising a compression device that folds the leading centering tab of the container into face-contacting relationship with the top.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said compression device compresses a formed top of the container to seal the formed top of the container.

3. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said compression device comprises: a compression conveyor; and a plurality of biasing members that bias said compression conveyor downward against the formed top of the container.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said forming section further comprises a central stationary plow that folds a leading minor flap of the container.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said forming section further comprises a swing arm that folds a trailing minor flap of the container.

6. A machine in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said forming section further comprises stationary spreader bars that spread a first major flap and a second major flap of the container apart from each other while said swing arm folds the trailing minor flap.

7. A machine in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said forming section further comprises stationary side plows that fold the first major flap and the second major flap.

8. A machine in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said swing arm comprises a curved member and a contact bar.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said forming section further comprises a central stationary plate that maintains alignment of the container as the container passes through said forming section.

10. A machine in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising an actuating cylinder that moves said shaft between the retracted position and the extended position.

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc
• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Aganovic Amer
• Graham Thomas Dean

Classifications

• B31B50/0045

  the boxes being cylindrical · CPC title

• B65D21/023

  Closed containers provided with local cooperating elements in the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. projection and recess (B65D21/0223 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B31B50/36

  by continuously feeding the sheets, blanks or webs to stationary members, e.g. plates, ploughs or cores · CPC title

• B31B50/02 Primary

  Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs · CPC title

• B31B50/54

  operating on moving material · CPC title