Method and apparatus for assembling a double-walled container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10377517-B2
Application number	US-201816117233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

An assembly system for wrapping an outer wrapper to an inner sleeve to form an outer wall of a double-wall container can include a moveable suction arm. The moveable suction arm can be configured to couple to a suction source and can have a portion defining a suction surface. A plurality of suction openings can be provided within the suction surface and fluidly coupled to the suction source. A sealing edge can circumscribe at least a portion of the suction surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly system for wrapping an outer wrapper to an inner sleeve to form an outer wall of a double-wall container, the assembly system comprising:
a moveable suction arm configured to couple to a suction source and having a portion defining a suction surface;
a plurality of suction openings provided within the suction surface and fluidly coupled to the suction source; and
a flexible sealing edge circumscribing at least a portion of the suction surface and having an unflexed position in contact with a portion of the outer wrapper in an unwrapped condition and a flexed position in contact with the outer wrapper in a wrapped condition.

2. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the moveable suction arm comprises an angled portion, the angled portion defining the suction surface.

3. The assembly system of claim 2 wherein the angled portion can be adjusted to accommodate a pitch of the double-wall container.

4. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of suction openings are distributed throughout the suction surface.

5. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the flexible sealing edge forms a continuous perimeter about the periphery of the suction surface.

6. The assembly system of claim 5 wherein a suction seal is formed between the outer wrapper and the flexible sealing edge.

7. The assembly system of claim 6 wherein the suction seal is an airtight suction seal.

8. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the flexible sealing edge is substantially flush with the suction surface.

9. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the suction surface has a degree of curvature that is the same as or flatter than a desired degree of curvature of the double-wall container.

10. The assembly system of claim 1 wherein the flexible sealing edge comprises a sealing body and a sealing flange, the sealing flange defining the flexed position and unflexed position relative to the sealing body.

11. A wrapping station for wrapping an outer wrapper about an inner cup to form a double-wall container, the wrapping station comprising:
a moveable suction arm configured to couple to a suction source and having a portion defining a suction surface for holding the outer wrapper against the suction surface by suction from the suction source;
a plurality of suction openings provided within the suction surface and fluidly coupled to the suction source; and
a flexible sealing edge circumscribing at least a portion of the suction surface and having an unflexed position in contact with a portion of the outer wrapper in an unwrapped condition and a flexed position in contact with the outer wrapper in a wrapped condition;
wherein the flexible sealing edge moves from the unflexed position to the flexed position as the outer wrapper is wrapped upwardly about the inner cup.

12. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the moveable suction arm comprises an angled portion, the angled portion defining the suction surface.

13. The wrapping station of claim 12 wherein an angle of the angled portion can be adjusted to correspond to an angle of the inner cup.

14. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the plurality of suction openings are distributed throughout the suction surface.

15. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the flexible sealing edge forms a continuous perimeter about the periphery of the suction surface.

16. The wrapping station of claim 15 wherein a suction seal is formed between the outer wrapper and the flexible sealing edge.

17. The wrapping station of claim 16 wherein the suction seal is an airtight suction seal.

18. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the flexible sealing edge is substantially flush with the suction surface.

19. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the suction surface has a degree of curvature that is the same as a desired degree of curvature of the double-wall container.

20. The wrapping station of claim 11 wherein the flexible sealing edge comprises a sealing body and a sealing flange, the sealing flange defining the flexed position and unflexed position relative to the sealing body.

Assignees

• Dart Container

Inventors

• Garza Dean Aaron
• Hills Richard Arnold
• Wendt Daniel George

Classifications

• B31B2110/20

  having a curved cross section, e.g. circular · CPC title

• B31B2110/10

  having a cross section of varying size or shape, e.g. conical or pyramidal · CPC title

• B31B2105/0022

  Making boxes from tubular webs or blanks, e.g. with separate bottoms, including tube or bottom forming operations · CPC title

• B31B50/28

  around mandrels, e.g. for forming bottoms · CPC title

• B65D3/22

  with double walls; with walls incorporating air-chambers; with walls made of laminated material {(for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3818)} · CPC title