Apparatus for inserting a resilient band on a container

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for inserting a resilient band on a container and, more particularly, relates to an apparatus for inserting a plastic bail band on a metallic can or similar container for a variety of products.

#Cans to which the present invention relates, for example, paint cans, are, in most cases, equipped with a metallic bail handle which is hooked to two diametrically opposite elements welded to the body wall of the can. One disadvantage of a metallic bail handle is that the wall of the can must first be treated and coated to avoid welding with corrosion parts of the can. Additionally, the label that goes on to the body wall must be so shaped as to fit the contour of the welded parts of the container wall.

#Some containers equipped with a plastic bail band having a semi-circular shaped handle to support the container are known. One example of such a handle is found described in applicant's Canadian Pat. No. 1,019,705 issued Oct. 25, 1977 or in applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 131,130 filed Aug. 22, 1979.

#FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly cross-sectional, of an apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

#FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar elevational views showing two successive steps in the band insertion steps;

#FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is shown an apparatus, generally denoted 10, for insertion of a resilient plastic band 12 onto a cylindrical container shown in dotted lines 14. The apparatus includes a structural frame that may consist, as shown, of a horizontal base 16 and of four uprights 18. A support member 20, centrally located on the frame and having an inverted frusto-conical body is mounted at the upper end of an elongated shaft 22 having its lower end extending through base 16. Support member 20 has a circular top wall 24 of a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical container 14. A first set of segments 26 is arranged circumferentially about the support member, each segment having a top face 27 extending below the top wall 24 of the support member. The inner wall of each segment is tapered to correspond to the taper of the side wall of the frusto-conical body of support member 20.

#A second set of segments 28 is arranged circumferentially about the first set of segments 26. Again, the top wall 29 of the segments 28 are disposed below the top face 27 of the segments 26 to thereby define therebetween an area in which may be placed the band 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Each segment 28 is mounted for sliding movement on a horizontally extending pin 30 which is fixed at one end to an upright 18, the opposite end being received in a vertically extending slot 32 provided in the outer wall of each segment 26. A small spring 34 is coaxially mounted on each pin 30 to urge segment 28 against the outer wall of segment 26.

#A spring 36 is coaxially mounted on shaft 22 and has its upper end bearing against the bottom face of the support member 20 and its lower end bearing against base 16 of the frame structure. A second spring 38 of larger diameter than that of spring 36 is also coaxially mounted to shaft 22 and has its lower end bearing against base 16 and its upper end acting on the segments 26.