Method and apparatus for spin welding container closures
First Claim
1. The method of making sealed synthetic resin containers comprising:
- (a) molding thermoplastic synthetic resin into bowls and lids therefor, said lid and bowl having substantially complimentary mating surfaces extending about the periphery thereof;
(b) filling one of said bowls with product;
(c) bringing opposed, generally horizontal mating surfaces of said lid and bowl into contact under a predetermined axial pressure while gripping said product filled bowl and lid securely;
(d) rapidly accelerating rotation of said lid relative to said bowl while maintaining substantially said axial pressure to produce melting of said mating surfaces until a desired torque value is attained; and
(e) then immediately decelerating said rotation of said lid to terminate said rotation and allow said mating surfaces to bond.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sealed synthetic resin containers are spin welded by bringing opposed, generally complimentary horizontal mating surfaces of the lid and bowl into contact under a predetermined axial pressure and rapidly accelerating rotation of the lid relative to the bowl while maintaining substantially the axial pressure to produce melting of the mating surfaces until a desired torque value is attained. Thereafter, the rotation of the lid is immediately decelerated to terminate the rotation and allow the mating surfaces to bond. Generally, the torque is monitored repeatedly during the accelerating rotation until a plateau is reached and the accelerating step is continued for at least 50 milliseconds thereafter.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. The method of making sealed synthetic resin containers comprising:
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(a) molding thermoplastic synthetic resin into bowls and lids therefor, said lid and bowl having substantially complimentary mating surfaces extending about the periphery thereof;
(b) filling one of said bowls with product;
(c) bringing opposed, generally horizontal mating surfaces of said lid and bowl into contact under a predetermined axial pressure while gripping said product filled bowl and lid securely;
(d) rapidly accelerating rotation of said lid relative to said bowl while maintaining substantially said axial pressure to produce melting of said mating surfaces until a desired torque value is attained; and
(e) then immediately decelerating said rotation of said lid to terminate said rotation and allow said mating surfaces to bond. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for producing spin welded containers comprising:
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(a) a holder for firmly gripping a bowl;
(b) a holder for firmly gripping a complimentary lid;
(c) means for moving said holders relative to each other to bring mating surfaces into contact;
(d) pressure applying means for applying predetermined axial pressure on the mating surfaces;
(e) acceleration and deceleration means for rapidly accelerating rotation of the holders relative to each other and for rapidly decelerating said relative rotation while maintaining substantially the predetermined axial pressure; and
(f) torque sensing means for sensing the torque generated at the mating surfaces and is operative upon said acceleration means to determine when the acceleration has reached a desired value indicative of the desired melting of the mating surfaces to effect said deceleration. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification