Method and apparatus for assembling a double-walled container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019337652-A1
Application number	US-201916514475-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Nov 7, 2019
Grant date	—

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 suction arm. The suction arm can be configured to couple to a suction source and can have a portion defining a suction surface. At least one suction opening 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 suction arm configured to couple to a suction source and having a portion defining a suction surface; at least one suction opening 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 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 at least one suction opening comprises a plurality of suction openings that 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 the 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 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; at least one suction opening 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 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 at least one suction opening comprises a plurality of suction openings that 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 the unflexed position relative to the sealing body.

Assignees

• Dart Container

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• B31B50/07

  by air pressure or suction · CPC title

• B32B38/1858

  using vacuum · CPC title

• B65B35/18

  by suction-operated grippers · CPC title