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US 4,578,051 AGranted
Film tube gusset forming machine
AssigneeContainer Corporation of America
InventorWayne F. Everman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for converting tubular plastic film from flat fold to pleated fold cross section which includes self-contained radio controlled inflating capsule positioned within the tube to inflate it as the gussets are being formed by conventional forming or plowing mechanism.
Claims10
A machine for converting tubular plastic film from flat fold to pleated fold cross section, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) first and second film holding means mounted on said frame and spaced from each other for holding tubular plastic film in flat fold condition and pleated fold condition, respectively;
- (c) a film pleat forming assembly mounted on said frame intermediate said first and second film holding means;
- (d) said pleat forming assembly including:
- (i) first and second sets of nip rolls spaced from each other adjacent said first and second film holding means, respectively;
- (ii) means for advancing said film between said sets of nip rolls;
- (iii) means for inflating that portion of the film passing between said sets of nip rolls;
- (iv) means for maintaining said inflated film in a specific shape;
- (v) means for forming pleats or gussets in opposite sides of said film before said film enters said second set of nip rolls;
- (e) said inflating means including an air filled container positioned within said tube of film between said sets of nip rolls and having a valve including a radio receiver for operating same;
- (f) a radio transmitter located without said tube for transmitting signals to said valve operating receiver.
8 more elements
A method for converting tubular plastic film from flat fold to pleated fold cross section, comprising:
- (a) providing a length of plastic film in the form of a tube;
- (b) inserting into said length of said tubular film a container of air having a radio controlled valve for releasing from said container a sufficient amount of air to inflate said length of tubular film to the desired degree;
- (c) providing outside of said length of tubular film a radio for controlling said valve;
- (d) confining opposite ends of a length of said film between first and second said sets of nip rolls;
- (e) inflating said length of film between said sets of nip rolls through said radio controlled container valve;
- (f) advancing said length of film between said sets of nip rolls;
- (g) while said length of film is being advanced:
- (i) maintaining a predetermined contour therefor by engaging upper and lower surfaces thereof with forming elements;
- (ii) forming gussets therein by engaging the sides thereof with gusset forming elements.
6 more elements
A machine for converting tubular plastic film from flat fold to pleated fold cross section, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) means providing a tubular web of plastic film;
- (c) a film pleat forming assembly mounted on said frame and downstream from said film providing means including:
- (i) first and second sets of nip rolls spaced from each other;
- (ii) means for advancing said film between said sets of nip rolls;
- (iii) inflating means, located within the film portion being advanced between said sets of nip rolls including a capsule with a valve which can be radio controlled from without said film portion, for inflating said film portion;
- (iv) valve controlling radio means located without said film portion;
- (v) contouring means for forming pleats or gussets in opposite sides of said film before said film enters said second set of nip rolls.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.