US2033888A - Method of fabricating containers - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1936.` L, E, LA BOMBARD 2,033,888v

METHOD OF FABRIGATING CONTAINERS i Filed Feb. 14, 1934 s sheets-sheet 1 iL 45" /z/ ATTORNEYo. 0

MalCl'llo, 1936.. LA BOMBARD l METHOD oF FABRICATING CONTAINERS' Filed'Fem 14, 1934 :s Asmet=ssnmat 2 .se l

IN VENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

March l0, 1936. L, E LA BQMBARD 2,033,888

i METHOD o F FABRICATING conumns Filed Feb. i4, 1954 s sheets-shea 's INVENTOR.'

leoni. Lavmafd, B ,/Mf/wm ATTORNEY.

y and durable in use. of paper material Ii, each ply being wound spirally .10

yPatented Mar. 1o,- 1936 'i l l l 2,033,888]

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i METHOD or FABRICATING' coN'rAnvEas Leon E. La Bombard, Fulton, N. Y., 'assirnor to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N.. Y., a corporation of'New York Application February 14, 1934, Serial No. '711,282

` 4 claims. (c1. 15s-1) 'I'his invention relates in generalto containers crimping dies in spaced apart relationship, the for semi-liquid products such as ice cream, which bottom of the container resting upon the` end of containers are shipped in knock down condition the barrel. and assembled at the place where the contents is Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, with'the 5 put into the container. l movable die partially actuated toward the sta- 5 The invention relates further to a container tionary die, and the bottom 4entering the barrel fabricated from comparatively lightweight paper? o-f the container. I material in such manner that the container, when y This container comprises generally, a barrel or assembled, is liquid tight and particularly strong body I0 which is made up of a plurality of plies vThe invention relates further to a container the one upon the other so that the barrel consists of body portion of which is shipped to the user in a 'a section of a tube. Due to the fact that this tube knock down or collapsed form, and which is exis formed of a plurality of spiralwound layers of panded and fabricated into a complete article materiaLitpOssesses comparatively'great strength with a minimum expenditure of time and energy, due' to the fact that it isa portion of a continuous 15 and when assembled is 'neat in appearance and tube, and has no seams or joints. Also, due to sanitary in use.. the, fact that the barrel is formed of wound lay- The invention relates further to a collapsible ers, each layer being wound with uniform tencontainer which; when assembled, is of suiiision, the strength of the barrel is materially 'incient strength and durability to be handled when creased. Where the barrels are formed of. a sin- 20 lled in the same manner and by the same means 'gie thickness of stock, an initial strain, or stress, as metallic containers used for the same purpose.' is created when the ilat strip is rolled into cir- The invention has for its obje'ct a method by cular form, and this results in materially dewhich the knock down container may be -assem-A creasing the strength of the barrel, as is well bled with the minimum expenditure of time and known to those skilled in the art. 25 money, and by comparatively simple apparatus` The body I0 is provided with a plurality of` which may be operated by unskilled labor. 'More scores I2 extending longitudinally thereof, there particularly, it is a method of securinga head of being several such scores about the periphery of paper, or similar material, havingan annular the body. These scores serve atwo-fold purpose.

flange, to one end of a tubular brousbarrelof They Vincrease the strength and rigidity of the 30 a container, with the annularflange lying against body, and-further these scores, or corrugations, the inner face of the margin-of the barrel, and .provide folding creases whereby the body may be with its edge toward the outer edge of the barrel. folded ilat, and due to the fact that there are a Aside from the generalobjects', above recited, plurality of scores, the body will fold substanfurther objects will appear as the description protiall'y ilat in the form of a series of small arcs 35 ceeds, f (Figure 2), whereby the folded bodies may be The invention consists in the novel features packed inapressed condition without placing any and in the combinations and constructions here'- undue strain upon the material from which the inafter set forth and claimed. barrel is made.

40 In describing this invention, referencev is had These containers. are intended for use by v40 to the accompanying drawings in which like charmanufacturers of liquid, or semi-liquid, prodacters designate corresponding parts in all the `ucts, such as ice cream, and theV general object views. y is to replace the commonly used heavy'metallic Figure 1 is a perspective View of the container',` containers which require a substantial initial l partly in section,'showing the' top'and-bottom investment, and which must be returned,.and 45 structure. cleaned, and sterilized, before they can be re- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the barrel of villed. i I the container in folded or lflat position. The bodies I0. are furnished to the ice cream Figure 3 is a perspective view'of the meena-v `\manufacturer in folded or collapsed condition, nism for securing the top andbottomrings to and are expanded` into a tubular form,-and the-50 the barrel of the container. ends secured thereto at the manufacturers plant,

Figure 4 is an'elevation of the assembly mechaaccording to the demands of his needs. nism, partly in section, showing. the bottom se- I am aware of the fact that attempts have cured to the `barrel of the container. f Y been, previously made to provide a collapsible Figure 5 is a partial sectionalview fof the ring. container which is fabricated, or assembled, at' 55 the manufacturers plant, but vthese containers have possecdk generally such disadvantages that they have not been accepted and adopted by the general trade. Such disadvantages are, in brief, the fabrication, or assembly, of containers at the manufacturers plant consumes a considerable amount of time and energy and, unless the fabrication is done by an expert, a liquid tight' container was not produced. Also, the containers so fabricated were not of suillcient durability, particularly when they were filled and stored three and four deep in storage rooms. Very often, the weight of the contents would crush, or damage, the containers in the lower rows. Also,

it is, and has been, common practice to handle v the metallic containers with tonge, or hooks, due to the fact that it is impractical to provide the containers with integral handles, because of the fact that they are placed, by the retailer, in refrigerator cabinets provided with a cylindrical recess substantially the size of the containers. I have been able to perfect my container to the point where all of these disadvantages have been overcome. I

Myvcontainer, when fabricated, or assembled, consists of the body Il and a bottom I5. The bottom is secured, in a liquid tight manner, to the body by a simple crimping process whereby a split metallic ring is crimped onto the lower end of the body in such manner that a liquid tight Joint is established between the bottom and the body. A similar ring is provided at the upper, or top end of the body, and over which is secured a suitable cover.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, I5 indicates the bottom which is formed from a disk of paper material, and when secured in position has an integral depending annular ilange I'I which snugly fits the bore of the body. This annular ilange I1 spaces the bottom of the container from the lower end of the body, whereby the container, when illled, rests upon the lower annular edge of the body. This is important due to the fact that the ice cream is poured into the container in liquid, or semi-liquid, form, and the container is then placed in storage over a period of time during which the ice cream is frozen solid, and seasoned until it has the proper palatable qualities. In this freezing process, the bottom of the container is bulged downwardly, and unless it is spaced apart from the surface, upon which the container rests, it will contact with said surface, and provide a rocking support for the container which causes considerable trouble in stacking and handling the containers thereafter.

'I'he bottom I5, or the flange I1 thereof, is secured to the body or barrel Il) by means of a crimped ring I8. The bottom ring I8 and top ring I 9 are the same in cross section, and formed from a strip of apparently thin metal, and are substantially U shaped in cross section, with one side or leg 20 of the U of greater length than the other. These rings are not continuous, but split at one point, and the ends overlap and telescope as at 2|.

In assembled condition, the bottom I5 is located in one end of the barrel I0 with the flange I 'I coacting with the bore of the barrel, and the edge being substantially flush with the end of the barrel. 'Ihe longer side 20, of the ring I8, coacts with the' inner side of the flange I1, and the shorter side with the outside of the barrel, and is crimped tightly against the same, so that when the ring I8 is in position, it forms a rounded bead at the bottom of the container. I'he top ring I9 is secured to the opposite end of the barrel in a similar manner. Any suitable cver may be employed with this container, such 'as a 'stiil' paper slip cover.

Due to the fact that the rings I8, I9, are split, i fthese rings may he secured to either the top, or

bottom, of the oontmner. Due to the fact that the ring is split, the difference in thickness of the flanges' I1 is compensated for by the overlapping ends of the rings, which have a relative sliding motion during the operation of the crimping dies. l

As above stated, the barrels I0 oi the containers are shipped in fiat, or folded, condition. Obviously, it would be impractical to ship the containers in expanded, or completed, condition, due to the fact that they are bulky, and require considerable space. Due to the fact that these containers are not returned by the retailer to the manufacturer of the contents of the container, it is necssary for the manuacturer to maintain a substantial inventory of the containers on hand, which, if in expanded conditon, would require considerable storage and special handling. Accordingly, the method used in fabricating the container, at the manufacturers plant, is of great importance, and a liquid tight container must be fabricated, at the manufacturers plant, without the aid of intricate mechanism, and skilled labor.

In my invention, the rings I8, I9, are secured, or crimped, in place by a simple die mechanism consisting of a stationary and a movable die, the operation of which isl exceedingly simple, and does require skilled operators.

The particular mechanism here shown for fabricating the container forms no part of this invention, but constitutes the'subject matter of an additional application. 'Ihis mechanism consists of a stationary die 25, which is annular in general form, and split dia-metrically, the rear half being supported by any suitable means, such as rods 26, which in turn are carried by the base structure 21. The forward half 28, of the die 25, is carried by the supports 29 which are pivoted at their lower ends at 30 in such manner that the front half 28 of the die may be swung into and out of juxtaposition with the stationary half of the die. Suitable means 3I is provided for locking the pivoted section 28 of the die into engagement with the stationary portion of the same. The rear, or stationary, half of the die 25 is 'rigidly supported in the rear by the rod 32.

The die 33 is mounted above the die 25, and is movable toward and from the same. It is carried by a suitable support 34 provided with end portions 35 which are formed with passages to slidably receive the rods 26. Springs 36 are mounted upon the rods 26 between the ends 35 of the supporting member- 34 for the upper die 33 and the support for the lower die, which is secured to the rods 26 by means of pins 3l. A cross member 38 is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the rods 26, and carries the rotatable cam 39, the surface of which coacts with a roller 40 secured to the support 34 of the upper die. 'I'he cam 39 is provided with a handle 4I, and upon clockwise rotation of the handle 4I and cam 39 (Figure 4), the upper die is caused to mo've toward the lower die 25. As here shown, the lower die 25 is formed with a plurality of bores, the upper bore 43 and lower bore 44 extending substantially parallel with the axis of the die. The lower bore 44 is of less diameter than the upper bore 43. 'I'he intermedi-ate 4'portion as, between the oor-es 4a, 44, is `tapered, o"r formed at' an' angle, to form a connecting surface between the bores 43, 44. i The bottom 46 of the bore 44 is curved inwardly to meet the straight bore 41. The upper die 33 comprises .a straight periphery 48, and a curved ledge- 49, connecting the surfaces 48,58. The di-l ameter of the surface 48 is equal to the bore 41 of vthe die '25, less the thickness of the `barrel I8 and flange I1.- The outer surface of the die 33v is of such diameter that it slidably Vfits the bore 44 of the vdie 25. 'Ihe upper die 33 is provided with a plunger 52,` carried by thescrews 53, the ends of which are threaded into the plunger 52 and the `stems extending through the inner/face of the die 33. The upper face of the die 33 is counterbored at 55 to receive the heads 56 of the screws A spring 51 surrounds the stems ofthe screws 53, and normally holds the plunger 52 in spaced 59, 60. The rings 59, 60, are secured together, and mounted on the base 58 so -as to have rela- 4tive movement with'the base 58.

As here shown, the rings 59, 60, are slidably mounted on the studs 6I, the ends of vwhich are threaded into the base 58, and springs 62 sur- 1 roundqthe studs 6I and interposed betweenthe ring 59 and the base 58, so that the rings 59, 60,

are normally spaced apart from thebase'58. The purpose of the rings 59, 68, is to provide a` rigid support for the barrel' I0 of the container, when the top and bottom rings are being the ends thereof. n y

A plate 18 is supported within the lower portion of the lower die 25, and is of the `diameter of the 'bore of the barrel III of the container. vThe plate 18 is rigidly secured to the base 58 by means of the stud 1I. A'I-he plate 18 is held in a predetermined spaced relationship with the base 58 and thedie 25. v

In operation, the forward half 28 of the die 25, together with the base 58,*is swung outward,

as shownl in Figure 3. The barrel is expanded from flat position (Figure 2) to expanded position, and passed over the plate 18 with lits end restingv onthe ring 59, and being positioned by Vthe ring 68. The forward portion-28 ofthe die 2,5 is ,then swung inwardly andlockedlinto engagement with the stationaryjportion .of the. die 254 forming a solid die. The ring -I9 is then placed in the die, and the handle 4I is moved in clockwise direction (Figure 4), and as the cam 39 rotates, the upper die 33 .is caused to move with the outer side voi.' the barrel.

downwardly toward the stationary die 25. The outer, or shorter, side of the ring I9 coacts with the tapered bore 45 of the die 25, whereupon'the ring I9 is constricted to the proper diameter ywith the inner, or longer, side 28 sliding into the bore of the barrel I8. Further downward lmovementv of thedie 33 causes the outer, .or shorter, lside of the ring I9 to be crimped into tight engagement This, because of the curved surfaces 46, 49. The handle 4I is then rotated in a. counter-clockwise direction (Figure 4) raising the upper die 33. The lfront portion 28 of the die 25 isthen unlocked from the rear portion, and swung outwardly, and thev barrelremoved from the machine. The upper end of the barrel, with vthe ringv I9 crimped in position, is now passed over the plate 10 and seatedupon the ring 59. rThe die 25 is closed clamped to and, as here'shown, the bottom I5 placed in the die 25 on the upper edge of the barrel I0. The bottom I5, in this case, is formed with the flange 1 I1 extending at an angle greater than a right angle to the disk, or center portion of the bottom, and the edge of the flange I1 coacts with the upper portion of the bore 45 of the die 25. This aids in positioning the bottom relatively to the dies and the barrel. The ring I8 is then placed in the die 25, and the upper die moved downwardly in the manner described concerning the crimping of the ring I9. A slight downward movement of vthe die is shown AinFigure 5, and upon further downward movement, the plunger 52 coacts with the bottom I forcing it into the barrel I0 at which time the ange I1 is swung to a right angle with the bottom, and the ring I9 contracted to the proper diameter, by action of the tapered bore surface 4,5, and arranged in alinement with flange I1. The plunger 52 is so spaced normally, relay tive to the die 33, that the die coacts with the up' per surface of the ring I8 before the plunger 52 coacts with the bottom I5, so that the ring I8 is moved slightly toward the bottom I5. Then, as the plunger 52 coacts with the bottom, and forces it into the barrel of the container, the

`flange I1 is swung at a right angle and coacts with the outersurface of the leg 28 of the ring I8, at which time the parts have assumed the position shownjin Figure 6.

Upon furtherdownward movement of the die 33, the bottom I5 is forced against the plate 10. The plate 10 is so spaced relatively to the rings 59, 68, that the bottom I5 is pressed into the barrel IIl until the edge of the flange I1 is substantially ush with the edge of the barrel. The springs 51 have less tension, or are weaker, than the springs `62 under the rings 59, 60. In the event a particular barrel I0 happens to be longer than the average barrel, whereby the upper edge yof the barrel extends upwardly beyond the edge of the ange I1, when the bottom I5 is resting upon the plate 18, the barrel itself will be moved downwardly when the curve portion of the ring I8 coacts with the edge of the barrel, due to the fact that the barrel is composed of a plurality of plies of material wound spirally, and is corrugated lengthwise to be of sufficient strength to cornpress the springs 62 withoutcollapsing.

When the die-33 has reached the end of its travel, the outer, or shorter, side of the ring I8 is crimped tightly into engagement with'the sur face of the barrel in the same maner that the top ring was so crimped. The handle 4I is then ro,- tated ina counterclockwise direction, the die 33 raised,- the forward half 28 of the die 25 swung outwardly, and the completed container removed.

Insteadvof the bottom I5 and the ring I8 being placed separately in the die 25, the vflange I1 can be vformed substantially at right angles to the bottom I5, andthe ring I8 placed on the flange I1, and the bottom and ring I8 both placed in the die at the same time. In this case,

one tapered surface 45 of the die' 25 would not be necessary.v

AIt will be observed that I have provided a most economical and eiiiclent method of securing bottoms to containers, and means for carrying out such method.' It has been common practice heretofore, to secure similar bottoms in containers by means of a crimped ring by spinning the outer side of the metallic ring with a rotating head, or tool; lTheunderstanding has been that a satisfactory clamp could not be eiected by any means other than spinning. The spinning method .is

satisfactory in container manufacturing plants, but entirely impractical for the fabrication of containers by the users thereof who are not in the least familiar with the manufacture, or assembling, of containers. Machines heretofore used would involve an excessive cost. and involve the services of an expert to operate and maintain them which would more than offset any saving through the use of the knock down container. It will also be observed that I insert the bottom in the container, `and secure it to the container in a single operation. Heretofore, the bottoms have been inserted and secured by separate operations.

What I claim is:

1. The method of securing a closure having an annular flange in one end of an open tubular barrel consisting of pressing the closure in the barrel with the flange toward the outer edge of the barrel, and simultaneously pressing a channel shaped metallic ring over the outer edge of the barrel and the ange of the closure, and crimping the outer side of the ring into contact with the outer face Yof the barrel by such pressing action. v

2. The method of securing in one end of a tubular barrel a head having an annular flange whereby the head is cup shaped, with the ange lying against the inner face of the margin of the barrel and its edge toward the outer edge of the barrel, by means of a ring, channel shape in general form'in cross section, consisting in effecting relative axial movement of the ring and the barrel, and bringing one side-of the channel formation first into engagement with the flange when flared outward slightly and while the head is displaced outward slightly from the barrel, and

thereby forcing the head and its ange into the I end of the barrel, and in the same operation contracting the margin of the other side of the channel formation onto the outer face of the margin of the barrel.

3. The method of securing a closure, having an annular flange, in the open end of a fibrous barrel; consisting of placing the closure on the end of the barrel with the flange extending outwardly, placing an inverted U shaped metallic ring over the flange of the closure and concentrically therewith, with the inner side of the ring arranged on the inner side of the flange of the closure, pressing the ring toward the barrel and the closure into the open end of the barrel with the flange of the closure arranged concentrically Within the barrel and extending at a right angle to the closure and simultaneously, during said pressing action, crimping the outer side of the metallic ring into contact with the outer face of the barrel.

4. The method of securing a fibrous closure having an annular flange in one end of an open fibrous barrel; consisting of arranging a closure and a metallic ring U shaped in cross section concentrically on the end of the barrel with the inner side of the ring engaging the inner side of the flange of the closure, pressing the closure into the open end of the barrel with the flange of the closure arranged parallel and concentric with the inner surface of the barrel, and simultaneously pressing the metallic ring over the end of the barrel and the flange of the closure, and while said closure and ring are so positioned, by such pressing action, crimping the outer side of said ring into engagement with the outer surface of the barrel of the container.

LEON E. LA BOMBARD.

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