GB1570301A - Composite containers - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO COMPOSITE CONTAINERS (71) We, AIRFIX INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a British Company, of 17 Old Court Place, London, W.8. do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to composite containers, that is to say containers made from flexible sheet material in which juxtaposed edges of that material are seamed by injection moulded material.

An example of such a container and machinery for making it are described in our Patent No. 1,448,443. There a blank of flexible sheet material is cut to define a base panel from which extend two side panels.

These can be folded relative to the base panel to define the peripheral wall and base of the container and while so folded and held between mould tools can be seamed by injection moulding.

In that case the container is made from a single blank which is fed, preferably by gravity along guides, to position the base panel between the core mould tool and the cavity mould tool, while these are open, and in line with the end of the core tool. As the tools close the core tool drives the base panel into the cavity tool and as this occurs the side panels fold on to the core tool. The seams of such a container may be internal or external in the finished container and, preferably, at the open end of the container a reinforcing lip is moulded.

In certain cases it is preferable to make a composite container from more than one blank and the present invention provides a machine for this purpose.

According to this invention there is provided apparatus for making a composite container, the apparatus comprising a core tool, a plurality of side cavity tools and a cavity end tool, the tools being relatively movable from a closed condition in which together they define à cavity in which a plurality of blanks can be clamped with edges to be seamed in their final relative positions and mould cavity means and an open condition and injection means for injecting material into said mould cavity means to seam said edges, a plurality of guide means being provided along which planar blanks may be fed under gravity to position a blank between the core tool and each side cavity tool when the tools are in the open condition.

In order that the present invention may be well understood there will now be described one embodiment, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section on the line I-I of Figure 2 showing two cavity tools, a core tool and an end tool in open condition; Figure 2 is a section on the line II--II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a completed container; Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of the container of Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 are scrap sections through the lower and upper corners, respectively of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a scrap section at VII--VII in Figure 3; Figure 8 is a plan view of the complete container where the mould is split on a plane parallel with the major sides, and Figure 9 is a plan view of a complete container which can be provided by splitting the mould at the corners.

Referring to Figures 3 to 8 it will be seen that the container is generally rectangular in horizontal section. Referring then to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that there is a core tool 1 which is the shape of the interior of the container, its free end 2 corresponding to the inside face of the closed end and the four sides 3 to 6 corresponding to the inside faces of the side walls of the container. The core tool however is longer than the container is deep. In its upper region the core is suspended on a plate 7 supported on bearings such as 8 slidable on an upper pair 9 of twp pairs of tie rods, the other pair being shown at 10.

Movable through the plate 7 are stripper rods 11 carried on upper plate 12, itself carried on stripper pistons 13 of jacks 14 carried by plate 7. A stripper ring 15 is coupled to rods 11.

Also movable parallel with the path of the core tool along tie rods 9 and 10 is a movable platen 17 carrying a first side cavity tool 18.

On a fixed platen 19 in which the tie rods are anchored, is a second side cavity tool 20.

Dowel rods may extend from cavity tool 20 into bores (not shown) of cavity tool 18 which ensures correct register of the cavity tools when closed and each cavity tool has a rib 23 which mates with a channel 24 in the upper region of the core tool to correctly position each cavity tool relative to the core tool.

An end cavity tool 25, the upper surface of which corresponds to the underface of the base panel is movable parallel with the path of the core tool being carried on arms 26 extending from a plate 27 movable transversely relative to said path on guide rods 28 by a jack 29 anchored to the second cavity tool 20 or to the fixed platen. Channels 51 on the end tool are engaged by ribs 50, 49 on cavity tools 18 and 20 respectively.

In the fixed platen is the conventional form of hot runner nozzle 30 communicating with hot runners 31 provided in the second cavity tool 20, the hot runners terminating in pin gates 33, 34.

To load the machine to make a container, the tools being in the open condition, one blank is fed by gravity down a pair of guide rails 40 and another down guide rails 41.

Rails 40 and 41 are carried by bearings 43 and 44 respectively slidable along tie rods 9 and 10. The spacing between the rails of each pair is such that they will aecept a cavity tool therebetween and each cavity tool is of a depth in a direction parallel with the tie bars that a pair of rails can be accommodated within that depth as illustrated by rails 40 shown in broken line between parting face 45 of cavity tool 20 and the front face 46 of the fixed platen.

So that the plates 7 and 12 can accommodate the rails, such plates spanning each pair of rails, cut outs indicated at 47 are provided.

When the blanks are in place the tools 1 and 17 move along the tie bars by suitable drive means not shown. As the core tool enters the cavity tool 20, the forwardly pro- jeeting sides 48 of that tool fold the blank around the core tool. Likewise as cavity tool 17 closes on to the opposite face 5 of the core tool the other blank is folded round the core tool. Ribs 23 finally enter the channel 24 and the peripheral wall of the container is ready for seaming. In moving toward cavity tool 20, the core tool moves over the end tool 25 which is raised and is then moved toward cavity tool 20 by cavity tool 17, ribs 49, 50 of the cavity tools engaging channel 51 on the base tool to correctly position tbat tool.

Material is then injected through the pin gates which register with a lip channel and a base seam channel, each in the cavity tools, which communicate with side seam channels and a base cavity. Injected material forms a lip 52, a closed end 53, an end seam 54 and side seam 55. In the container shown the lip and seams are external. ~ By putting the channels in the core tool and providing recesses in each blank which register with the pin gates, the lip, seams and closed end can lie within the peripheral wall defined by the blanks. The lip channel may be partially in the core, partially in the cavity thereby to reduce the depth of the channel in the core and the force required to spring the lip moulding off the core tool.

After injection moulding the lips, seams and closed end, the tools re-open to the condition shown and jacks 14 are actuated to drive the stripper ring 15 toward the free end of the core tool thereby to push the container off the core tool.

Where the cavity tools part on a mean plane extending through the side seams, as in Figure 8, the sides of each blank should make a small divergent angle so that the container can be readily stripped from the core tool.

However, if preferred, the mould can be split on the diagonal as shown in Figure 9 in which case each blank may make a right angle at the corners, and the sides of the blank can be flat.

Other cross sectional shapes can of course be adopted than those shown.

With apparatus as described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is possible with minor modification to make a container with an end panel formed from a blank instead of an an injection moulding. Referring to Figure 1, if rail 40 is allowed to slide to the chain dot position, a blank side panel with an end panel extending from the central part of its lower edge can be fed down the rails to position the end panel to the left of the end tool 25 as viewed in Figure 1. Now when the tools close, that side panel will fold around the core tool and the end panel will fold relative to the central part of the side panel about a lower edge of the core tool and be positioned overlying the end tool. When that too rises the end panel will be clamped between the end tool and the core tool. Upon injection the free edges of the end panel will be seamed to the side panels.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for making a composite

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. deep. In its upper region the core is suspended on a plate 7 supported on bearings such as 8 slidable on an upper pair 9 of twp pairs of tie rods, the other pair being shown at 10. Movable through the plate 7 are stripper rods 11 carried on upper plate 12, itself carried on stripper pistons 13 of jacks 14 carried by plate 7. A stripper ring 15 is coupled to rods 11. Also movable parallel with the path of the core tool along tie rods 9 and 10 is a movable platen 17 carrying a first side cavity tool 18. On a fixed platen 19 in which the tie rods are anchored, is a second side cavity tool 20. Dowel rods may extend from cavity tool 20 into bores (not shown) of cavity tool 18 which ensures correct register of the cavity tools when closed and each cavity tool has a rib 23 which mates with a channel 24 in the upper region of the core tool to correctly position each cavity tool relative to the core tool. An end cavity tool 25, the upper surface of which corresponds to the underface of the base panel is movable parallel with the path of the core tool being carried on arms 26 extending from a plate 27 movable transversely relative to said path on guide rods 28 by a jack 29 anchored to the second cavity tool 20 or to the fixed platen. Channels 51 on the end tool are engaged by ribs 50, 49 on cavity tools 18 and 20 respectively. In the fixed platen is the conventional form of hot runner nozzle 30 communicating with hot runners 31 provided in the second cavity tool 20, the hot runners terminating in pin gates 33, 34. To load the machine to make a container, the tools being in the open condition, one blank is fed by gravity down a pair of guide rails 40 and another down guide rails 41. Rails 40 and 41 are carried by bearings 43 and 44 respectively slidable along tie rods 9 and 10. The spacing between the rails of each pair is such that they will aecept a cavity tool therebetween and each cavity tool is of a depth in a direction parallel with the tie bars that a pair of rails can be accommodated within that depth as illustrated by rails 40 shown in broken line between parting face 45 of cavity tool 20 and the front face 46 of the fixed platen. So that the plates 7 and 12 can accommodate the rails, such plates spanning each pair of rails, cut outs indicated at 47 are provided. When the blanks are in place the tools 1 and 17 move along the tie bars by suitable drive means not shown. As the core tool enters the cavity tool 20, the forwardly pro- jeeting sides 48 of that tool fold the blank around the core tool. Likewise as cavity tool 17 closes on to the opposite face 5 of the core tool the other blank is folded round the core tool. Ribs 23 finally enter the channel 24 and the peripheral wall of the container is ready for seaming. In moving toward cavity tool 20, the core tool moves over the end tool 25 which is raised and is then moved toward cavity tool 20 by cavity tool 17, ribs 49, 50 of the cavity tools engaging channel 51 on the base tool to correctly position tbat tool. Material is then injected through the pin gates which register with a lip channel and a base seam channel, each in the cavity tools, which communicate with side seam channels and a base cavity. Injected material forms a lip 52, a closed end 53, an end seam 54 and side seam 55. In the container shown the lip and seams are external. ~ By putting the channels in the core tool and providing recesses in each blank which register with the pin gates, the lip, seams and closed end can lie within the peripheral wall defined by the blanks. The lip channel may be partially in the core, partially in the cavity thereby to reduce the depth of the channel in the core and the force required to spring the lip moulding off the core tool. After injection moulding the lips, seams and closed end, the tools re-open to the condition shown and jacks 14 are actuated to drive the stripper ring 15 toward the free end of the core tool thereby to push the container off the core tool. Where the cavity tools part on a mean plane extending through the side seams, as in Figure 8, the sides of each blank should make a small divergent angle so that the container can be readily stripped from the core tool. However, if preferred, the mould can be split on the diagonal as shown in Figure 9 in which case each blank may make a right angle at the corners, and the sides of the blank can be flat. Other cross sectional shapes can of course be adopted than those shown. With apparatus as described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is possible with minor modification to make a container with an end panel formed from a blank instead of an an injection moulding. Referring to Figure 1, if rail 40 is allowed to slide to the chain dot position, a blank side panel with an end panel extending from the central part of its lower edge can be fed down the rails to position the end panel to the left of the end tool 25 as viewed in Figure 1. Now when the tools close, that side panel will fold around the core tool and the end panel will fold relative to the central part of the side panel about a lower edge of the core tool and be positioned overlying the end tool. When that too rises the end panel will be clamped between the end tool and the core tool. Upon injection the free edges of the end panel will be seamed to the side panels. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for making a composite

container, the apparatus comprising a core tool, a plurality of side cavity tools and an end cavity tool, the tools being relatively movable from a closed condition in which together they define a cavity in which a plurality of blanks can be clamped with edges to be seamed in their final relative positions and mould cavity means and an open condition and injection means for injecting material into said mould cavity means to seam said edges, a plurality of guide means being provided along which planar blanks may be fed under gravity to position a blank between the core tool and each side cavity tool when the tools are in the open condition.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the core tool and cavity tools are relatively movable between the open and closed condition along one path tool guide means being provided extending parallel with that path.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the end cavity tool is movable relatively to the core tool parallel with said path and in a direction transverse relative to said path toward and away from the free end of the core tool.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which a pair of blank guide means is provided in respect of each side cavity tool to position a blank between the core tool and that cavity side tool when those tools are in the open condition.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the blank guide means are displaceable along the tool guide means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein in use, during relative closing movement of the core tool and cavity tools, the core tool moves toward a position where the free end is opposite the end tool, in respect of the side cavity tool on that side of the core tool nearest the end tool in the open condition being positioned in the open condition of the tools to position a blank carrying an end panel between the core tool and said side cavity tool with that end panel projecting beyond the free end of the core tool and to that side of the cavity end tool nearest the core tool whereby as the core tool moves toward the position in which the free end is opposite the end tool, theend panel will be folded over the free end of the core tool by the end tool.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6 in which the core tool and each side cavity tool are positioned in the closed condition relative to one another in a direction normal to the direction of relative closing movement by projection means on one tool engaging recess means on the other tool.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 7 to which the end tool and each cavity tool are positioned in the closed condition in a direction normal to the direction of relative closing movement of the core tool and cavity tools by projection means on one tool engaging recess means on the other tool.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which the projection means comprise a rib having flanks converging in a direction away from the associated tool and the recess means comprise a channel having sides converging in a direction toward the channel base.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 9 in which a stripper element is movable relative to the core tool toward and away from the free end of the core tool, means being provided to drive the stripper element.

11. Apparatus substantially as herein described with references to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.