Tetrahedron volume control

• US 5,220,771 A
• Filed: 04/14/1992
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
• Inventors: Burns, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culver, Horace M.
• Application Number:
  US07/868,226
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 53/551, 53/552, 53/554, 53/113, 53/373.5, 53/374.2, 53/374.5, 53/374.6
• US Class Current: 53/551
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/009 after shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/48 for articles of indefinite length, i.e. bending a strip progressively
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4312 for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72328 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81435 comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping comprising a single ridge B29C66/81427
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8167 Quick change joining tools or surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83533 Cooperating jaws mounted on cooperating chains and moving in a closed path
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/841 Machines or tools adaptable for making articles of different dimensions or shapes or for making joints of different dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/849 Packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2711/123 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/306 Counter-rotating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/2049 Package shaping devices acting on filled tubes prior to sealing the filling opening shaping or reshaping completed packages B65B61/24
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/2056 Machines for packages of special type or form
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/207 the web advancing continuously B65B9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/50 : Tetrahedral packages

Abstract

A tetrahedronal packaging machine packaging liquids which has a package-forming member mounted on each heat jaw to maintain the shape of the package being filled. The package-forming member is spring loaded to allow the forming member to be rotated to a second position to provide a different size package of liquid fill.

Claims

1. A packaging machine for continuously producing packages from a web of packaging material, said web being supplied to said machine via roll means positioned in a path of said web, said web contacting said roll means so as to impart rotary motion to said roll means, said machine including tube forming means positioned in the path of said packaging material by which said material is formed into an elongate tube, said packages being formed by the action of opposed sealing means, positioned in the path of said packaging material following said roll means, which sealing means compress and seal together opposite sides of said tube along narrow zone disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of said tube, said sealing means also serving to advance said tube through aid machine, said seal means comprising a plurality of pairs of heating jaws with the jaws in each pair mounted to oppose one another and adjustable package forming means mounted on the top and bottom of each heating jaw to contact and maintain the shape of a package formed between said jaws, said adjustable package forming means each having a base plate and a spring hinged forming member mounted thereon, said forming member each having an axis substantially perpendicular to said base plate and at least two outer surfaces forming an angle to said axis with the degrees of angle of one surface being different from the degrees of angle of the other surface.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein adjacent pairs of jaws are mounted 90°

from one another to form tetrahedronal packages.

3. The packaging machine of claim 2 wherein one side of said package forming member has indicia thereon and the upper surface of said base plate has two different types of indicia thereon so if said package forming member is moved against the bias of said spring biased forming member and rotated the indicia thereon will cooperate with one of the two indicia on the base plate to indicate which outer surface of the package forming member is in the desired position.

4. A package forming member comprising:

a base plate and a truncated member having an axis substantially perpendicular to and mounted on said base plate with a spring therein to allow the truncate member to be rotated, said truncated member having at least two opposing outer surfaces thereof cut at different degrees of angle to the axis of said truncated member whereby one or the other of said surfaces can be positioned into operative position against the outer surface of a formed package.

5. The member of claim 4 wherein one of the surfaces of the truncated member has indicia thereon, said base plate having at least two spaced indicia on the upper surface thereof which cooperate with the indicia on the truncated member to indicate which outer surface thereof is in the desired position.