Container carrier applicating machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12466593-B2
Application number	US-202418639476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2024
Priority date	Apr 19, 2023
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for applying container carriers to unitize a plurality of containers. An applicating drum applies each container carrier to a group of containers and a push down wheel subsequently firmly engages the container carrier to the group of containers so that each applied container carrier is engageable with each container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A system for applying a container carrier to unitize a plurality of containers, the system comprising:
a supply of container carriers, wherein two or more container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and the supply of container carriers comprises a stack of sticks; an applicating drum configured to accept the supply of container carriers and apply one or more container carriers to a corresponding group of containers; and an applicator configured to move the one or more container carriers from a first position in loose engagement with the group of containers into a second position in final engagement with the group of containers and thereby form a package of unitized containers.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein in the final engagement, the one or more container carriers engage with a surface feature of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the surface feature comprises a circumferential groove.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein in the final engagement, the one or more container carriers engage with a predetermined height of the container.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein four container carriers are connected in the unitized stick.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises a push down wheel with a plurality of pairs of collars spaced circumferentially around the push down wheel.

7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of pairs of collars are positioned below an outer engagement diameter of the applicating drum.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises a push down wheel with a plurality of bars positioned circumferentially around the push down wheel, each bar of the plurality of bars spaced to extend between pairs of containers.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the applicating drum comprises a plurality of carrier shoes configured to engage respective containers.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises a rotary stomper to push individual carriers onto groups of containers.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the applicator drops the one or more container carriers over necks of respective containers.

12 . A system for applying a container carrier to unitize a plurality of containers, the system comprising:
a supply of container carriers, wherein two to four container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and the supply of container carriers comprises a stack of sticks; an applicating drum configured to accept the supply of container carriers and apply a stick of container carriers to a corresponding group of containers; and a push down wheel with a plurality of pairs of collars spaced circumferentially around the push down wheel, the push down wheel configured to move the stick of container carriers from a first position in loose engagement with the group of containers into a second position in final engagement with the group of containers and thereby form a package of unitized containers.

13 . The system of claim 12 wherein in the final engagement, the one or more container carriers engage with a surface feature of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.

14 . The system of claim 12 wherein in the final engagement, the one or more container carriers engage with a predetermined height of the container.

15 . The system of claim 12 further comprising a tapered plate positioned within a rotation of space the pushdown wheel, the tapered plate urging the stick of container carriers between the first position and the second position.

16 . The system of claim 12 wherein the push down wheel is driven by a flow of containers.

17 . The system of claim 12 wherein the push down wheel is actively driven by a synchronized motor.

18 . The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of collars comprise a plurality of bars positioned circumferentially around the push down wheel, each bar of the plurality of bars spaced to extend between pairs of containers.

19 . The system of claim 12 wherein the supply of container carriers is positioned on a same side of the system as an outlet of unitized containers.

20 . The system of claim 12 further comprising a roller stand including two or more rollers arranged in different alignments and configured to bend a handle of the carrier against the plurality of containers.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Whitten Jimmy D
• Lockaby Sam
• Shiflet Charles Bryan
• Williams Brian

Classifications

• B65B65/003

  Packaging lines, e.g. general layout · CPC title

• B65B17/025 Primary

  the articles being joined by a top carrier element · CPC title