# US 10,308,435 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for producing containers

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- Number: US 10,308,435 B2
- Document ID: US10308435B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/615,542
- Filed: 2015-02-06
- Published: 2015-08-06
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2008-03-05
- Assignees: Sarong S.p.A.
- Applicants: Sarong S.p.A.
- Inventors: Andrea Bartoli; Alberto Bartoli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308435B2

## CPC

- B65G 17/12: comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element
- B26D 1/205: {for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like}
- B26F 1/40: using a press, e.g. of the ram type (presses in general B30B)
- B29C 51/20: having movable moulds or mould parts
- B29C 51/261: {Handling means, e.g. transfer means, feeding means (B29C51/44 takes precedence)}
- B29C 51/264: {Auxiliary operations prior to the thermoforming operation, e.g. cutting (B29C51/42, B29C51/46 take precedence)}
- B29C 51/32: having cutting means
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/745: {using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool}
- B29C 65/7891: {of discontinuously moving sheets or webs}
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/131: {Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area}
- B29C 66/1312: {Single flange to flange joints, the parts to be joined being rigid (the parts to be joined being flexible B29C66/133)}
- B29C 66/24244: {forming a rectangle}
- B29C 66/53461: {joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies}
- B29C 66/81429: {comprising a single tooth}
- B29C 66/81431: {comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove}
- B29C 66/83221: {cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 66/8432: {Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series}
- B29C 66/849: {Packaging machines}
- B31B 50/64: by applying heat or pressure, e.g. by welding (to unite areas where adhesives are applied B31B50/62)
- B31B 50/94: singly or in succession
- B32B 37/0046: {characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus}
- B32B 37/0076: {characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces}
- B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method
- B32B 37/22: involving the assembly of both discrete and continuous layers
- B32B 37/26: with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
- B32B 38/0004: {Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details (cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence)}
- B65B 3/02: Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
- B65B 3/022: {Making containers by moulding of a thermoplastic material}
- B65B 3/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
- B65B 7/162: {by feeding web material to securing means}
- B65B 7/164: {Securing by heat-sealing}
- B65B 61/06: by cutting
- B65G 17/46: Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic
- B65G 43/10: Sequence control of conveyors operating in combination
- B26D 1/18: mounted on a movable carriage
- B26F 1/24: Perforating by needles or pins
- B29C 51/421: {of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming (preheating sheets in general B29B13/023; B29C51/427 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/8242: {Pneumatic or hydraulic drives (using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266)}
- B29C 66/91231: {of the joining tool}
- B29C 66/9672: {involving special data inputs, e.g. involving barcodes, RFID tags}
- B29C 66/9674: {involving special data outputs, e.g. special data display means (B29C66/8748 takes precedence)}
- B29C 2793/0027: Cutting off
- B29C 2793/0081: before shaping
- 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)}
- B29L 2031/7164: {Blister packages}
- B32B 2037/268: {Release layers}
- B32B 2307/748: Releasability
- B32B 2435/02: for containers
- B65B 61/202: {for attaching articles to the outside of a container (B65B61/205 takes precedence)}
- Y10T 156/1062: Prior to assembly
- Y10T 156/12: Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
- Y10T 156/17: Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
- Y10T 156/19: Delaminating means
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04)
- B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for producing containers, comprising
(a) a coupling device configured to couple a portion of a closing film in the form of a continuous web with a sheet material having a plurality of containing cavities, said coupling device including a lower plate interacting with an upper plate,
(b) a cutting unit for removing a portion of said closing film to define a zone of said sheet material which remains uncovered by said closing film when said closing film is coupled with said sheet material,
(c) a supply device supplying said closing film in a supply direction through said cutting unit, and
(d) an adjusting device for regulating the position of said cutting unit along said supply direction, said adjusting device including a locking device for locking said cutting unit in a desired position along said supply direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutting unit comprises a shearing member for removing said portion of said closing film by shearing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutting unit is positioned upstream of said coupling device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting device comprises a guiding element along which a supporting base of said cutting unit is slidable, said guiding element extending along said supply direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said adjusting device comprises a driving device for moving said supporting base along said guiding element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coupling device is included in a welding unit for welding said closing film to said sheet material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a joining device arranged upstream of said coupling device to join a removing element to said closing film, said removing element being usable by a consumer for removing contents from a containing cavity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said joining device comprises a welding device for welding said removing element to said closing film.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said welding device comprises a thermowelding device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said welding device comprises an ultrasound-welding device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said removing element comprises a spoon element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

Apparatus according to claim 7, and further comprising a positioning device to position said removing element on said closing film.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

Apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a separating unit positioned downstream of said coupling device for separating one or more containing cavities from said sheet material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

Apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a forming unit positioned upstream of said coupling device for forming said containing cavities on said sheet material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

Apparatus according to claim 14, and further comprising a filling unit interposed between said forming unit and said coupling device for filling said containing cavities with a desired product.

### Claim 16

A method for producing containers, comprising the steps of
(a) supplying a closing film in the form of a continuous web in a supply direction through a cutting unit,
(b) removing a portion of said closing film in said cutting unit,
(c) coupling said closing film with a sheet material having a plurality of containing cavities in a coupling device including a lower plate interacting with an upper plate,
(d) adjusting the position of said cutting unit to adjust the position of the removed portion of the closing film, whereby after said coupling step, a preset zone of said sheet material faces a region of said closing film from which said portion has been removed, and
(e) immobilizing said cutting unit in a desired position along said supply direction after said adjusting step.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, wherein said cutting unit comprises a shearing member that removes said portion from said closing film by shearing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, wherein the preset zone of said sheet material that remains uncovered by said closing film comprises a tab for opening a container including a containing cavity.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

Method according to claim 16, wherein the preset zone of said sheet material that remains uncovered by said closing film comprises a protrusion that projects from a surface of said sheet material opposite a further surface of said sheet material from which said containing cavities project.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, wherein said closing film is coupled with said sheet material by welding.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of joining a removing element to said closing film before said closing film is coupled with said sheet material, said removing element being usable for removing contents from a containing cavity of a container.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21, wherein said removing element comprises a spoon element.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A method according to claim 22, wherein said spoon element is substantially flat.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21, wherein said removing element is made of plastics material.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

A method according to claim 21, wherein said removing element is joined to said closing film by welding.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A method according to claim 25, wherein said removing element is joined to said closing film by thermowelding.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

A method according to claim 25, wherein said removing element is joined to said closing film by ultrasound welding.

### Claim 28 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of separating one or more containing cavities closed by said closing film from said sheet material after said closing film has been coupled with said sheet material.

### Claim 29 (depends on 16)

A method according to any claim 16, wherein said sheet material is shaped as a continuous strip.

### Claim 30 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, wherein said containing cavities are joined by a strip of said sheet material to form a discrete group of containing cavities.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein removal of the removed portions define openings within the closing film and wherein said adjusting device defines the openings in desired positions within the closing film corresponding with preset zones of the sheet material that remain uncovered by said closing film when the closing film is coupled with the sheet material.

### Claim 32 (depends on 16)

A method according to claim 16, wherein removal of the removed portions define openings within the closing film in desired positions of said closing film corresponding to preset zones of said sheet material, wherein the preset zones of the sheet material are positioned at said openings of said closing film after said coupling step.