# US 4,395,300 A · Base cup applying apparatus and method

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- Number: US 4,395,300 A
- Document ID: US4395300A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/311,420
- Filed: 1981-10-14
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1979-10-15
- Assignees: B & H Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Wolfgang Hoffmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395300A

## CPC

- B29C 66/8746: {Detecting the absence of the articles to be joined}
- B29C 65/521: {by spin coating}
- B29C 65/7882: {said parts to be joined moving in a circular path}
- B29C 65/8246: {Pressure tests, e.g. hydrostatic pressure tests}
- B29C 66/5452: {joining hollow bottoms to bottom of bottles}
- B29C 66/632: {using a fluid}
- B29C 66/8242: {Pneumatic or hydraulic drives (using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266)}
- B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- Y10T 156/1744: Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
- Y10T 156/1771: Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor
- Y10T 156/1798: with liquid adhesive or adhesive activator applying means
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Apparatus and method for applying plastic base cups to plastic containers, such plastic containers being blow-molded, having round bottoms and being unable to stand erect, such base cups providing a flat, stable base for the container. Cups are supplied automatically to holders or sockets at a cup receiving station; they are then indexed to an adhesive applying station where a circular line of adhesive is applied to the bottom of the cup by spinning the cup; the cup is then indexed to a container delivery station, where a container is deposited in the cup, and air under pressure is applied to the interior of the container to apply pressure to the glue line, such pressure also acting to smooth out irregularities in the container. Each container-cup assembly is removed at a removal station. Detector means may be employed at or ahead of the adhesive applying station to determine whether a cup is present in a holder. Following the container delivery station, pressure testing, leak testing and/or alignment testing stations may be provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for applying flat bottom cups to the bottoms of round bottom containers comprising:
(a) a cup holder adapted to hold a cup in upright position and capable of spinning about the common axis of the cup and the holder,
(b) means at a cup delivery station for delivering a cup to the holder in such position,
(c) means for transporting the holder and cup to an adhesive applying station,
(d) means for spinning the holder and cup in upright position at such adhesive applying station and for applying adhesive to the interior of the spinning cup,
(e) means for then transporting the holder and the cup to a container delivery station,
(f) means for transporting a container to such delivery station and for depositing the container within the cup to adhere it to the cup,
(g) means for separating the container and adhering cup from the holder, and
(h) means for transporting the empty holder back to the said cup delivery station.

### Claim 2

A method of applying flat bottom cups to the round bottoms of containers which comprises:
(a) providing a plurality of holders each capable of supporting a cup in upright position and of spinning the cup about the common axis of the holder and the cup,
(b) applying cups to each holder in sequence at a cup receving station,
(c) spinning the holder and cup in upright position and while so spinning applying adhesive to the interior of the cup,
(d) moving each holder and cup with adhesive therein to a container applying station,
(e) moving a container to a position in alignment with the cup at the container applying station and depositing the container in the cup and adhering it to the cup,
(f) then separating each container and its adhering cup from the holder, and
(g) returning the empty holder to the cup receiving station.