APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING ARTICLE CARRIERS

• US 3,710,535 A
• Filed: 06/08/1970
• Issued: 01/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard T. Walter
• Original Assignee: Richard T. Walter
• Inventors: Walter, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Condon, Theron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Application Number:
  US05/044,336
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 53/30,84,198,48,3,29,183
• US Class Current: 53/398
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 17/025 the articles being joined by a top carrier element

Abstract

Method and apparatus for forming a carrier for an article group. The carrier is formed from webs extending around the individual articles of the group. Apparatus is provided for feeding a pair of inner webs between two rows of the group, and structure is provided for forming the webs so that each web half encircles the articles of each row. These webs are joined at the points of conjugacy of the articles. Apparatus is also provided for feeding a pair of webs along the outer sides of each row, and for joining such outer webs to the inner webs. Structure is provided for stretching the outer webs as they are adhered to the inner webs to rely on the memory characteristics of the thermoplastic resins forming the webs to insure that the article enclosing loops snugly fit the articles.

Claims

1. In apparatus for forming article carriers having:

a. means for feeding a pair of inner webs in side-by-side relationship;

b. means for adhering the same together at longitudinally spaced points therealong;

c. means for spacing the webs laterally so as to define an article receiving pocket between each point of adherence of said webs;

d. means for delivering an article to each of said pockets so that said articles move in side-by-side rows;

e. means for feeding a pair of outer webs along the outer sides of said articles;

f. means for forming said last named webs about said articles and for adhering the same to corresponding inner webs to define an article encircling loops which are connected together;

g. the improvement in said last named means wherein said last named meaNs is;

i. first operable to successively adhere said outer webs to said inner webs at points marking the beginning and end of a group of articles to be retained between all of the aforesaid webs;

ii. said outer webs extending along the outer sides of said group between the beginning and the end of said group;

iii. subsequently operable to engage the outer webs between articles of said group intermediate said beginning and end points to stretch said outer webs prior to adhering same to said inner webs.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner webs spacing means includes an endless conveyor having web engaging flights extending therefrom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for forming said outer webs about said articles includes means movable against said inner web spacing means with one of said inner and outer webs engaged therebetween.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said webs are formed from resinous materials having memory characteristics and wherein the means for feeding said inner webs includes means for stretching said webs whereby the memory characteristics of said resinous material causes said webs to engage said articles snugly.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for forming the outer webs around said articles stretches said outer webs whereby the memory characteristics of said resinous materials causes said outer webs to engage said articles snugly.

6. The invention according to claim 1 where means are provided for severing said article carrier at regular intervals to provide discrete article groups.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said webs are formed of thermoplastic materials and wherein the adhering means are adapted to heat said webs for adhesion.

8. A method of forming article carriers which comprises the steps of:

a. feeding a pair of inner webs in side-by-side relationship;

b. adhering same together at longitudinally spaced points therealong;

c. spacing the adhered webs laterally between the points of adherence thereof to define article receiving pockets in each web;

d. delivering an article to the pockets of each web so that said articles move in side-by-side rows;

e. feeding a pair of outer webs along the outer side of said articles;

f. forming said outer webs about said articles and adhering the same to corresponding inner webs to define article encircling loops which are connected together;

g. the improvements in said method comprising the steps of;

i. adhering said outer webs to said inner webs at points marking the beginning and end of a group of articles to be retained between all of the aforesaid webs;

ii. adhering said outer webs to said inner webs between articles of said group intermediate said beginning and end points for stretching said outer webs prior to adhering the same to said inner webs.

9. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step of stretching said webs to rely on the memory characteristics thereof to cause the article engaging loops to firmly engage said articles.

10. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step of severing said webs at intervals defining said articles as article groups.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein said webs are formed from thermoplastic material and said webs are adhered by pressure and heat.