US 4,078,357 A · Method and apparatus for inserting and fastening an adhesive-coated ring into a group of four cans

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel method for detachably fastening cylindrical cans together in assembled relation which includes mounting a generally rectangular ring-like insert on a compressible pick-up member carried by a mandrel preparatory to applying an adhesive to the exterior insert surfaces, arranging the cans in groups of four or six defining an open rectangular array, inserting one or more mandrels carrying precoated inserts into the center of the array, closing the array so as to press the adhesive-coated portions of the inserts into concave engagement with the can walls as they compress the mandrel pick-ups, and withdrawing the mandrel once the adhesive has set. The invention also encompasses the apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method which includes a conveyor having provision for arranging and temporarily holding a group of four or more cans in spread array while adhesive-coated inserts are placed therebetween and then closing the array thereagainst to fasten the inserts thereto preparatory to stripping them from their mandrels. The apparatus also includes a rotating turret that carries several mandrels that move therewith to various positions and both rotate and reciprocate independently thereof. These mandrels receive the uncoated inserts, rotate them past a source of quick setting adhesive, extend the coated inserts into position between a spread array of cans from either the top or bottom or both, and retract leaving the insert in place between the cans once they have been moved together and the adhesive has set.

Claims29

Dependent claims

The improved method for assembling and joining an even number of four or more like cans together to form a unitary package which comprises the steps of:

assembling the cans in two lines alongside one another, releasing the same number of cans greater than one from each line, picking up the cans thus released and collecting those from each line into a longitudinally aligned row, placing the rows in transversely-aligned side-by-side spaced relation, inserting an adhesive coated bendable ring vertically into the space between each group of four cans while yieldably supporting said ring from the inside, closing the rows to eliminate the space therebetween while using the four cans of each group to press the ring against the yieldable support therefor and reshape said ring to conform with the cylindrical can wall surfaces pressing thereagainst, maintaining the groups thus closed until the adhesive sets, and extracting the yieldable supports from within the reshaped rings to strip the latter therefrom.

The apparatus for assembling and joining together an even number of four or more like cylindrically-walled cans to form a unitary package which comprises:

means for discharging cans one at a time from each of two side-by-side rows thereof;
divider means positioned to receive and maintain the cans discharged from each row in transversly-spaced relation;
conveyor means positioned and adapted to receive at least two cans from each row and move them along opposite sides of the divider means in transversely-aligned relation to produce an open array thereof containing at least one four-can subgroup of two cans in each row;
carrier means mounted for vertical reciprocating movement between an extended position projecting into the center of a four-can subgroup and a retracted position disengaged therefrom;
a compressible jacket carried by said carrier means adapted to detachably retain an adhesive coated bendable ring-like insert in encircling relation thereon, said jacket being deformable to the extent necessary to reshape said insert into concave contacting relation with the cylindrical walls of the associated four-can subgroup when the latter is moved into closed array thereagainst;
divider actuating means connected to the divider operative upon actuation to remove the latter from between at least the two cans in each row of one subgroup;
carrier reciprocating means connectable to the carrier operative upon actuation in one position to extend the latter and place an adhesive coated insert carried thereby into the center of a subgroup in open array, and said means being operative in a second position to remove the carrier and to strip the insert therefrom after the adhesive as set with said subgroup in closed array;
and, pusher means operative upon actuation with the divider removed to engage the cans of a subgroup in open array and move same together into closed array.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for inserting and fastening an adhesive-coated ring into a group of four cans

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for inserting and fastening an adhesive-coated ring into a group of four cans

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29