US 5,851,346 AGranted

Apparatus for sealing containers

AssigneeBeckman Instruments, Inc.

InventorJohn R. Hitch

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Abstract

The present invention fulfills the above stated needs, as well as others, by providing a automated container sealing apparatus that automatically removes seals from a backing and applies the seals to the container. The seals are pre-cut and have a size corresponding to the size of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for sealing containers, the containers defined by a generally planar sealing surface and one or more receptacles, wherein each of the one or more receptacles include an opening coplanar with and defining corresponding openings in the sealing surface. The container sealing apparatus comprises: a plurality of seals, each of said plurality of seals having a shape corresponding to the sealing surface, the plurality of seals peelably affixed to a length of backing; a movable vacuum platen for removing a seal comprising one of the plurality of seals from the backing and transporting the removed seal to a container; and a movable container support for causing the container to engage the seal, thereby sealing the container.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for sealing containers, the containers defined by a generally planar sealing surface and one or more receptacles, wherein each of the one or more receptacles include an opening coplanar with and defining corresponding openings in the sealing surface, said apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of seals, each of said plurality of seals having a shape corresponding to the sealing surface, the plurality of seals peelably affixed to a length of backing, the length of backing affixed on one side to supply reel and at a second side to a take-up reel;
b) a housing;
c) a separation element affixed to the housing, the separation element located within a path of the backing between the supply reel and the take-up reel;
d) a vacuum platen having an engagement surface and movably affixed to the housing, said vacuum platen operable to generate a vacuum force that urges one of the plurality of seals towards the engagement surface while said vacuum platen moves in a substantially linear direction towards the separation element;
e) a drive means rotatably affixed to the housing for rotating and moving in coordination with the movement of the vacuum platen a portion of the backing that includes the one of the plurality of seals in the direction of and in synchronization with the vacuum platen movement;
and
f) wherein during said synchronous movement of the vacuum platen and the portion of the backing, the portion of the backing engages the separation element, said separation element causing the portion of the backing to move in an angular difference direction from direction of movement of the vacuum platen, said movement of the vacuum platen and the vacuum force causing the one of the plurality of seals to separate from the backing, and wherein said vacuum platen moves said one of the plurality of seals to a vicinity of a container to be sealed.

4 more elements

An apparatus for sealing containers comprising:

a. a container having a generally planar sealing surface and one or more receptacles, wherein each of the one or more receptacles include an opening coplanar with and defining corresponding openings in the sealing surface
b. a plurality of seals, each of said plurality of seals having a shape corresponding to the sealing surface, the plurality of seals peelably affixed to a length of backing, the length of backing affixed on one side to supply reel and at a second side to a take-up reel;
c. a housing;
d. a separation element affixed to the housing, the separation element located within a path of the backing between the supply reel and the take-up reel;
and
e. a vacuum platen having an engagement surface and movably affixed to the housing, said vacuum platen operable to use a vacuum force to engage a seal affixed to the length of backing, maintain engagement with the seal while the vacuum platen and the seal move in a substantially linear direction, cooperate with the separation element to remove the seal from the length of backing, and relocate the seal to a sealing area.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/865,354Filed 29 May 1997
Granted: 22 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B65B 7/28
Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons: by applying…
B65C 9/1884
And being transferred by suction means: the suction means being a movable vacuum arm or pad
Y10T 156/1309
Means making hole or aperture in part to be laminated: and securing separate part over hole or aperture
Y10T 156/1707
Lamina transferred to base from adhered flexible web or sheet type carrier: discrete spaced laminae on adhered carrier