Method and system for forming a container with insulating features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12291003-B2
Application number	US-202318135854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2023
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A system, apparatus, process, or machine for forming a container for containing a cold fluid. The container includes a sidewall construct that includes an inner sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container, an outer sleeve attached to the inner sidewall, and a cavity defined between the inner sidewall and the outer sleeve. The container also includes a closed bottom defining a bottom of the interior of the container, and insulating features that include the cavity and a plurality of annular bands, each annular band of the plurality of annular bands includes a spacer that extends in the cavity from the inner sidewall to the outer sleeve. Adjacent bands define a respective pocket of a plurality of pockets in the cavity such that the insulating features maintain a desired temperature of the cold fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a container for containing a cold fluid, comprising;
obtaining a base container having an inner sidewall and a bottom secured to the inner sidewall, the inner sidewall extending at least partially around an interior that defines an interior volume of the container;
forming a plurality of annular bands on the inner sidewall of the base container; the forming the plurality of annular bands comprises applying a first layer of material to the inner sidewall and a second layer of material to the first layer of material;
obtaining an outer sleeve;
attaching the outer sleeve to the inner sidewall to form a sidewall construct of the container with insulating features defined between the inner sidewall and the outer sleeve, the attaching the outer sleeve comprises pressing the outer sleeve against the plurality of annular bands to adhesively secure the outer sleeve to the inner sidewall, the insulating features comprise a cavity between the inner sidewall and the outer sleeve, the plurality of annular bands, and a plurality of pockets in the cavity formed between adjacent annular bands, the insulating features are for maintaining a desired temperature of the cold fluid in the interior volume of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying air to the plurality of annular bands with an air applicator to cool at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the forming a plurality of annular bands on the inner sidewall of the base container further comprises applying a third layer of material to the second layer of material.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming a plurality of annular bands on the inner sidewall of the base container further comprises applying a fourth later of material to the third layer of material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands has a width between about 80 mils and about 120 mils.

6. A system for forming a container for containing a cold fluid, comprising:
a base container forming machine for forming a base container having an inner sidewall, a bottom secured to the inner sidewall, the inner sidewall extends at least partially around an interior that defines an interior volume of the container;
an intermediate container forming machine for receiving the base container from the base container forming machine and forming an intermediate container, the intermediate container forming machine has a first material applicator for applying a first layer of material to the inner sidewall of the base container and a second material applicator for applying a second layer of material to the first layer of material to form a plurality of annular bands on the inner sidewall of the base container, the intermediate container comprises the first layer of material and second layer of material applied to the base container; and
an outer sleeve attachment machine for receiving the intermediate container and attaching an outer sleeve to the intermediate container.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate container forming machine comprises a turret assembly, the turret assembly comprising a turret body supporting a plurality of mandrels extending therefrom, a respective mandrel of the plurality of mandrels for being at least partially inserted into the interior volume of the base container.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the turret body is rotatable to move the base container supported on the respective mandrel in a rotational machine direction from the first material applicator to the second material applicator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intermediate container forming machine comprises an air applicator for applying air to the plurality of annular bands to cool at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine comprises a third material applicator for applying a third layer of material to the second layer of material of the intermediate container.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine is configured to attach the outer sleeve to the third layer of material.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine comprises a fourth material applicator for applying a fourth layer of material to the third layer of material of the intermediate container.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine is configured to attach the outer sleeve to the fourth layer of material.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine comprises an air applicator for applying air to the plurality of annular bands to cool at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands.

15. In a system for forming a container for containing a cold fluid, an intermediate container forming machine for receiving a base container from a base container forming machine, the base container having an inner sidewall, a bottom secured to the inner sidewall, the inner sidewall extends at least partially around an interior that defines an interior volume of the container, the intermediate container forming machine being for forming an intermediate container and discharging the intermediate container to an outer sleeve forming machine, the intermediate container forming machine comprising:
a turret assembly for receiving the base container and moving the base container within the intermediate container forming machine, a first material applicator for applying a first layer of material to the inner sidewall of the base container, and a second material applicator for applying a second layer of material to the first layer of material, a discharge station for discharging the intermediate container to an outer sleeve attachment machine, the intermediate container comprises the first layer of material and second layer of material applied to the base container to form a plurality of annular bands on the inner sidewall of the base container.

16. The intermediate container forming machine of claim 15 , in combination with an outer sleeve attachment machine, the outer sleeve attachment machine comprises:
a turret assembly for receiving the intermediate container and moving the intermediate container within the outer sleeve attachment machine, a third material applicator for applying a third layer of material to the second layer of material.

17. The combination of claim 16 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine further comprises an overwrap station for applying an outer sleeve to the third layer of material.

18. The combination of claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine further comprises a fourth material applicator for applying a fourth layer of material to the third layer of material.

19. The combination of claim 18 , wherein the intermediate container forming machine comprises an air applicator for applying air to the plurality of annular bands to cool at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands.

20. The combination of claim 19 , wherein the outer sleeve attachment machine comprises an air applicator for applying air to the plurality of annular bands to cool at least one annular band of the plurality of annular bands.

Assignees

• Williams Debra
• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Mohan Kosaraju
• Baird Kyle
• Milewski Jozef
• Vogt James
• Kaestner Ryan
• Baldwin Mark
• Best John
• Koupeny Robert

Classifications

• B31B50/024

  Rotating holders, e.g. star wheels, drums · CPC title

• B65D3/14

  Discs fitting within container end and secured by bending, rolling, or folding operations · CPC title

• B31B2110/10

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

• B31B2120/40

  lined or internally reinforced · CPC title

• B31B2105/0022

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