Auto-mask for packaging
AssigneeCo2 Packaging LLC
InventorJOSEPH CICCI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for automatically attaching a decorative mask to an underlying tray, where the tray has apertures for the placement therein of customer products and the mask has apertures corresponding to those of the tray. The apparatus includes mechanisms for placing the masks and the trays along conveyor belts, for applying glue to the top surface of the tray for enabling the tray and mask to be attached, and sensing means for determining the respective locations of the trays and the masks to ensure precise registration of the apertures of the masks with the corresponding apertures of the tray.
Claims14
Apparatus for automating the attachment of a mask to a tray, where the tray has cut outs for the placement therein of customer products and the mask has cut outs corresponding to those of the tray, comprising:
- a tray auto-feed mechanism for receiving trays and placing them sequentially onto a speed controllable first conveyor belt for transporting the trays;
- a mask auto-feed mechanism for receiving masks and placing them sequentially onto a speed controllable second conveyor belt for transporting the masks;
- a gluing mechanism for applying glue to one of the bottom surface of the mask or the top surface of the tray;
- a tray edge detector responsive to sensing an edge of a tray for producing a signal indicative thereof;
- a mask edge detector responsive to sensing an edge of a mask for producing a signal indicative thereof;
- circuit means responsive to the signals produced by the tray and mask edge detectors for generating signals controlling the relative motion of the first and second conveyor belts to ensure precise alignment of the cut outs of the masks with the corresponding cut outs of the trays.
A method for automating the attachment of a mask to a tray, where the tray has cut outs for the placement therein of customer products and the mask has cut outs corresponding to those of the tray, comprising the steps of:
- automatically feeding trays onto a speed controllable first conveyor belt for transporting the trays;
- automatically feeding masks onto a speed controllable second conveyor belt for transporting the masks;
- applying glue to one of the top surface of the tray and the bottom surface of the mask;
- sensing an edge of a tray as it is moving along said first conveyor belt the for producing a first signal indicative of the presence and location of a tray;
- sensing an edge of a mask as it is moving along said second conveyor belt for producing a second signal indicative of the presence and location of a mask;
- and
- feeding said first and second signals to a control mechanism for controlling the relative movement of the first and second conveyor belts to ensure precise alignment of the cut outs of the masks with the corresponding cut outs of the trays.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.