Worm-type dispenser for rimmed containers

• US 3,932,978 A
• Filed: 10/21/1974
• Issued: 01/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SealRight Co., Inc. (Huhtamaki Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Kinney, Alfred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGehee, Travis S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culver, Horace M.
• Application Number:
  US05/516,479
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 53/40, 53/37, 53/29, 53/41, 53/289, 53/282, 53/313, 53/314, 53/367, 221/222
• US Class Current: 53/471
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/44 from supply magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

A worm-type dispenser for rolled rim paperboard containers has a compression bead in the rim-engaging grooves of the worm to flex the central portion of the rim to render it more resilient so a cover having a rim contacting cylindrical skirt may be applied more easily.

Claims

1. A process for filling and capping a paperboard container having a circular horizontal cross section and having an annular rolled rim projecting outwardly and downwardly from the upper end of said container, said rolled rim having an outer generally vertical wall with an original maximum outside diameter, said outer generally vertical wall having a central portion as determined by measuring vertically with the container in the normal position, which comprises applying inwardly directed pressure about the at least substantially entire horizontal circumference of said rim to said central portion of said outer generally vertical wall of the rim of the container to thereby inwardly compress said central portion so that the diameter of the thus compressed central portion is less than the original maximum outside diameter of said rim, and substantially immediately thereafter filling and capping the thus treated container with a closure having a depending cylindrical skirt, said skirt having an internal diameter greater than the maximum outside diameter of the thus compressed rim and approximately equal to said original maximum outside diameter of the uncompressed rim such that said skirt frictionally engages the outer surface of said rim when said compressed rim tends to return to its original condition after said thus treated container is capped with said closure.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pressure is applied to said rim about the at least substantially entire horizontal circumference of said rim to form a horizontal corrugation in said rim.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 which further comprises vertically positioning a stack of a plurality of paperboard containers, each of said plurality of paperboard containers having a circular horizontal cross section and having an annular rolled rim projecting outwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the respective container, each said rolled rim having an outer generally vertical wall with an original maximum outside diameter, each said outer generally vertical wall having a central portion as determined by measuring vertically with the container in the normal position, and separating the lowermost container in said stack from the remainder of the containers in said stack;

and wherein said step of applying inwardly directed pressure is effected on the rim of said lowermost container in said stack as said lowermost container is separated from the remainder of the containers in said stack.

4. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of applying inwardly directed pressure is effected simultaneously at a plurality of points spaced circumferentially about said rim.

5. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container is rotated about its longitudinal axis as said pressure is applied to the rim thereof.

6. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rim is relatively rigid and wherein said step of applying inwardly directed pressure transforms said central portion of the vertical wall of said rim to a relatively flexible state that permits said rim to flex inwardly as said closure is applied and to spring outwardly against the inside of the depending skirt of the closure when the closure is in place, thus providing frictional retention of said closure on the thus capped container.

7. A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pressure is applied to said rim about the at least substantially entire horizontal circumference of said rim to form a horizontal corrugation in said rim.

8. A process in accordance with claim 7 which further comprises vertically positioning a stack of a plurality of paperboard containers, each of said plurality of paperboard containers having a circular horizontal cross section and having an annular rolled rim projecting outwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the respective container, each said rolled rim having an outer generally vertical wall with an original maximum outside diameter, each said outer generally vertical wall having a central portion as determined by measuring vertically with the container in the normal position, and separating the lowermost container in said stack from the remainder of the containers in said stack;

and wherein said step of applying inwardly directed pressure is effected on the rim of said lowermost container in said stack as said lowermost container is separated from the remainder of the containers in said stack.

9. A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of applying inwardly directed pressure is effected simultaneously at a plurality of points spaced circumferentially about said rim.

10. A process in accordance with claim 9 wherein said lowermost container is rotated about its longitudinal axis as said pressure is applied to the rim thereof.