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US 12,103,221 B2Granted
Brim-forming machine and method of use
AssigneeBerry Global, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Pressley, Jeffrey A. Mann, Leif D. Gabrielson, Zachariah N. Fellers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drink cup includes a body formed to include an interior fluid-storage region and a brim. The brim is coupled to the body to surround an opening into the interior fluid-storage region. The brim is formed by a brim-forming machine.
Claims19
A method of forming a rolled brim on a container, the method comprising
- providing a plurality of brim formers arranged circumferentially around a central axis,
- rotating each brim former about an associated former axis that is spaced radially from the central axis,
- feeding the container between the plurality of brim formers with an unrolled brim of the container in contact with each of the brim formers,
- advancing the container along each of the brim formers as each brim former is rotated about each former axis,
- heating a first portion of each brim former with hot air to heat the brim of the container as the container is advanced along each brim former,
- cooling a second portion of each brim former that is downstream of the first portion to cool the brim of the container, and
- applying pressure on the brim of the container with each of the brim formers as the container is advanced along the first portion and the second portion to provide a rolled brim for the container,
- wherein each brim former includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder spaced radially from the inner cylinder and the step of heating includes injecting hot air through a first hot-air passageway defined by the inner cylinder in a first direction and through a second hot-air passageway between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in a second direction opposite the first direction.
5 more elements
A method of forming a rolled brim on a container, the method comprising
- providing a plurality of brim formers arranged circumferentially around a central axis,
- rotating each brim former about an associated former axis that is spaced radially from the central axis,
- feeding the container between the plurality of brim formers with an unrolled brim of the container in contact with each of the brim formers,
- advancing the container along each of the brim formers as each brim former is rotated about each former axis,
- heating a first portion of each brim former with hot air to heat the brim of the container as the container is advanced along each brim former,
- cooling a second portion of each brim former that is downstream of the first portion to cool the brim of the container, and
- applying pressure on the brim of the container with each of the brim formers as the container is advanced along the first portion and the second portion to provide a rolled brim for the container,
- wherein the hot air is blocked from flowing from the first portion to the second portion by an insulation block including at least one insulating panel arranged to lie between the first portion and the second portion and exterior to the first portion.
5 more elements
A method of forming a rolled brim on a container, the method comprising
- advancing a container along a plurality of brim formers, each brim former including a rotating spindle having a threaded surface that engages a brim of the container to roll the brim of the container as the container is advanced along the plurality of brim formers,
- heating a first portion of each brim former with hot air to heat the brim of the container as the container is advanced along the first portion of each brim former,
- cooling a second portion of each brim former downstream of the first portion with a cool liquid to cool the brim of the container, and
- insulating between the first and second portions by blocking flow of the hot air along the threaded surface from the first portion to the second portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.