US2820587A - String-opening container and method of fabricating the same - Google Patents

Description

Jam. 21, 1958 v M. 5. GOLD ET AL 2,820,587

STRING-OPENING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME Filed Jan. 13, 1956 6- f INVENTOR$ 3552 oiik w BY & 2%; yw g fiwaw ATTORNEYS.

United States fatent O STRING-OPENING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME Maxwell B. Gold, Englewood, N. L, and Jack D. Roberts, Roslyn, N. Y., assignors to Harcord Manufacturing Company Incorporated, Jersey City, N. L, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 13, 1956, Serial No. 558,919

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) a wound single or multi-ply container to be effected quickly, easily and without the need of accessory opening devices, or the possibility of damaging the container contents, through the provision of an opening string or rip-cord which in the case of a single-ply container is attached to the ply, and in the case of a multi-ply container is disposed between the container plies.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a wound multi-ply container adapted to be easily separated into sections along an intended severance line, by means of an inter-ply string or rip-cord disposed along or substantially along the severance line and between the plies, the inner ply or plies of the container being, preferably, weakened along the intended severance line as by cutting, scoring, or perforating so as to enable the sections to be broken apart easily after the outer plies have been severed by the rip-cord, and the outer plies of the container being, preferably, left unweakened along the severance line so as to preserve the full strength of the outer plies and prevent accidental separation into sections during handling, shipping, etc. of the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new, useful and improved string-opening wound container and a method of manufacturing such containers.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing ends and objects and in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a string or rip-cord is disposed and arranged on a length of the ply material, either before or during the winding and gluing together of the container plies, so as to lie between and be attached to the plies of the container when formed, along a severance line, dividing the container into sections which are in initially integral but separable relation to each other. construction and arrangement the string or rip-cord, which is of a length preferably coextensive with that of the length of ply material, is adapted to function to sever the container plies successively and circumferentially of the container and along the severance line, from the outside to the inside of the container, as the cord is unwound.

In the fabrication of the container one or more of the plies may be scored suificiently as to be cut through or substantially through along the severance line, some of the plies being left uncut however so as to preserve the strength of the container. In such case, the scored ply or plies of the sections at opposite sides of the line will be held together, if at all, by whatever uncut fibres may remain and by whatever glue layer traverses the severance line and joins the plies to each other. Since the rip- By reason of this "ice cord is disposed between the plies along or substantially along this line in the glue layer therebetween, unwinding of the cord will serve to rupture or sever the glue layer at the same time it severs the plies, and the scored ply or plies will permit the sections to be separated cleanly from each other. Preferably, only the inner ply is scored so as to preserve the strength of the container.

The inter-ply rip-cord my be applied to either the outer or the inner perimeter of each ply of paper as the canister is wound. In the former case, a terminal portion of the cord in the finished product is necessarily exposed over the outer perimeter of the outer ply. Hence, if a label is applied to the outer perimeter of the canister and over this exposed terminal portion of the cord, the label can be severed by unwinding the terminal portion of the cord. Once the label has been severed, continued unwinding of the cord severs the underlying uncut plies successively from outside to inside of the canister so that when the scoring is reached the container sections may be easily broken apart along the severance line.

In the case where the rip-cord is continuous with and applied to the inner perimeter of each ply of the canister from the inside to the outside, it will be apparent that the terminal portion of the cord, that is, the final outer turn, is not circumferentially exposed and a label, if applied over the canister perimeter, will be severed simultaneously with the severing of the outer ply of the canister, as the cord is unwound. Score cutting of the inner ply is not required in such case but is preferred to ensure clean separation of the sections at the inner ply.

In either of the above cases the rip-cord may be stitched to the ply material before winding, the line of stitching coinciding with the desired severance line of the canister. Thus, by taking hold of the outer end of the stitch cord and pulling out the line of stitching around the perimeter of the canister, the ply material will be ripped apart along the severance line so as to sever the plies successively from the outside to the inside and separate the sections from each other. Preferably, the stitching is of the lock-stitch type so that as the stitches are successively pulled out they will also rip the ply material apart progressively along the severance line. It will be apparent moreover that the glue layer by which the plies are bonded to each other will also serve to fasten the individual stitches to the ply material so as to facilitate the ripping of the ply material as the stitches are successively pulled out. In the case of a single ply container, that is, a container having a single turn of ply material, such a stitching enables the single ply to be cut through circumferentially in a simple and expeditious fashion as the stitching is pulled out around the container.

The overlying label, it used, is preferably die-cut to provide a cut-out section spotting and providing access to the outer end of the cord, and exposing the chipboard and/or the ply scoring, if any. Furthermore, in order to present a better appearance and better to spot, for the consumer, the place on the canister where the latter is to be opened, the chipboard exposed. by the cut-out section may be colored.

In the accompanying drawings which form part ofthe instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of a multi-ply container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention in which the inter-ply rip-cord is applied to the outer perimeter of the plies;

Fig. is. airagmentary-"enlarged view of a multi-ply container in accordance-with a--modifiedembodiment of this invention in which the rip-cord is applied to the inner perimeter of the plies;

Fig. 4 is a schematic showing-inelevationef one form of apparatusf'or carrying-out t-heeme-t-hodf-of this invention; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryand -sornewhatenlargedview of a detail ofthepl-y scor'ing device of the apparatnsasystem of -Fig. 4, taken aIOng-tlre lineS -S of Fi-gzA-t" Fig. 6 is a fragmentary andsomewhat enlarged view of the cord-applyingadevice of T the apparatus of Fig. .4 taken alongthe line 6'6 of- Fig; 4;

Fig. 7'is a fragmentary view in-planof the system of Fig: -4 taken at the container-formingend'of the system, the viewshowing the disposition;of the'rip-cord' on the outer perimeter of the container; and

Fig; "8" is a fragmentary view of a section of: pre-stitched containerply in accordance'withthis invention;

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, and especially to Figs. 1' and Zithereo'f, a length of thin sheet material, snch as chipobard, is convolutely wound into a multi-ply open-ended container body 1 which isd'epicted as sealed ateacl1 end by suitable metal closures 2. p

The body 1 as shown 1 is cylindrical in contour but :may be ot'rec'tangular or other suitable contour as desired, It may comprise as many individual plies'3 as necessary: for the strength' required inthe type of service to which the container is to be put. Asaherepreferably embodied it comprisesfour plies each bonded to'theneXtby -acontinuous layer 4 of adhesive into a single unit. The-outer surface of this'unit as 'shownis'coveredbya suitable label 5 bonded to' the outer ply by the outer layer 4iof adhesive. It will be understood thatthe label 5'may=be:omit.-

ted if desired.

A string or 'rip-cord'7 is located between' eachpair of the plies3 and between the outermost'ply and thelabel 5; The-rip-cord consists of a single length vofrelatively small diameter'cordmaterial and lies between .ithewplies along a continuous severance line 8 marking and dividing the container into sections 9 and 10' in' initially integral but separable relation to each-other,

The innermost ply is preferably: completelyascorez cut as at 8' in Fig. 2 to' provide opposing cutedges'of the sections '9 and 10-which are united; if at all, only-by adhesive which" 'hasflowed from between theeplies :into :the scoring-and-set aroundthecordT. The rremaining-plies are preferably not :scoredr =atzsall along'the" severance line so that th'e sections' 9 andtlfl; as respects theouter pliesg are integral'with each .othertalong the severan'ce' line sso as toapreserve the desired strength of: the containers Moreover the -score- 85 al'ong1the-inner P y" provides: a trough. forthe rip-cord 7' 'in% the fabrication- 0f thercontain'er; andf a;-continuous pocketifor the adhesive by: which the 'plies are united. Scoring of the labeli5 is not :necessary since the label materialIis-reasily severed by thewipecord.

The cord? is:preferablyscoextensive in lengthawith the length: otrply material which forms: theseveral plies and 't'erminates in' endportion'fl" by which the cord'may be pull'ed'iand unwound so-as to sever the label and 'thecon- :tainer. plies: successively :and zcircumferentially :of the container along the severance line 8 from the-outside to the inside of. the container.

overlying. label 5 depictedin Figs; 1 and'2 is preferably. die-'cutrto provide a .cut+out section 5. spotting and providing access to the terminal end '7' of'th'e cord and exposing a portion 11 of; the immediately: underlying ply 3: .Freferably, 'the=exposed' portion 11 is of a-color-'dif- 'ferent from-that of -the imme'diately surrounding area of the. label so as to present a hetter'appearance and better 'tospotgfor the consumemtheplace on-thecontainer'where the-latteris'tohe opened: 'In' -order "to open "thecontainer of F1"gs; l and 2 the 4:; terminal end 7 of the cord 7 is grasped manually and the, cordunwound. The unwindingof the firstturnsevers the convolutely Wound label 5. The second turn severs the first ply along the severance line 8, and so on, working from outside to inside until the last ply is reached. As previously noted, theallastply in the embodiment of Fig. 2, is, cut through along the severance line 8 so that when the-last=-ply is reached, the container sections may be easily broken apart along the severance line to provide-access to the container interior and its contents; By reason of. the uncut outer pliesrthe container retains a high. degree of-strengthuntil the cord isunwound,- thus ensuring that it will not be broken easily into sections as Wouldbe thecasewere the outer. pliesalsocutand the rip-cord not adhesively bonded to the plies along the severance line.

In the container embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the rip cord-:7-is located alongthe severanceline 8-on theainner perimeterv of the container plies .3 beginning with the innermost ply, theplies and coveringlabel shown being adhesively united each to the next by the layers 4 of ad'- hesive .as above mentioned; The cord 7 is coextensive in length with the length of ply material forming the several plies. -3 and extends from the inside to the outsideaof the container. along the continuousv severance. line, 8, which marks theproposed line of separationbetween the con- .tainer sections 9.and 10. The inner turn of the cord is .adhesively attached to the. ply material. The same. con,- di-tionobtains with respect to the outer. turnsof the cord.

The cord 7 terminates attheexterior of the container with its cut end.7 flushor substantially flushwiththe end-of the outer ply of the container.

.ter off'the plies. i exposed over the outer ply except as covered by the label 5, the final turn of the cord .7 in the container of Fig. 3 liesbetween the outer ply and,the next inner,- ply and not between the label 5 and the outer ply. Hence, in unwinding the cord, the first turn serves to sever the label and the first ply simultaneously; It will be understood that the label may be provided with acut-out portion (not shown) corresponding to that of the container. of Fig. 2, for marking the end 7 of the cord and spotting it for the consumer. Asthe cord is unwound' it successively severs the, plies from. the outside to the inside of the container.

Instead of the rip-cord being located in and heldby the adhesive, along or substantially along thev severance line 8; it may he stitched to, the length of ply material.

along the proposed severancefline, before the .ply material is wound into' container form. Such a construction is depicted in Fig. 8 wherein the rip-cord 16 is. stitchedto the ply material 17 along the intended line .of severance. Such a mode. of; attaching the cordis, particularly advantageous in connection with aso-calledlsingle-ply container, that is, a container having a single turn of ply material. The stitching,circumferentiallyv or the, container along the desired severance line. serves to sever the container sections from each other as the, stitching is pulled out fi'o'mend to end; Alock stitch ensures that the ply material will be separated along the, severance line but this may be enhanced by the application 'of a coating ofadhesive along the stitch line serving ,to lock the stitchingandply material together.

Referring now more particularly to Figs; 4 to 7, in: elusive, there is depicted schematically one form of apparatns suitable for carryingoutthe method of this invention as applied particularly to the fabrication of the container of'Fi'g. 2.. In accordance'with this invention, chipboard or other suitable ply material incontinuous strip form is drawn from a rollh2.0.',.the strip 20. being conducted via a tensioning roller system 21 .ontoaand along awork table22. The leadingedge of thestripsis attached. toa suitable winding ,mandrel 23.,uponand by which the strip is convolutely wound into container'iorm.

'Ihe-tensioning roller system serves injknown manner to Unlike the con-- tainer. of Fig. 2 wherein the cord 7 on the outer perime' permit acceleration and deceleration of the strip between the roll 20 and the mandrel 23 without affecting the feed of material from the roll 20' which latter rotates at a suitable speed. A cylindrical mandrel is depicted in Fig. 4 but it will be understood that the mandrel may be of a contour to form a rectangular container or container of any other suitable contour.

The strip 20 in'advancing along the table 22 passes through an adhesive applying zone wherein a layer 24 of adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the strip as by means of an adhesive applicator 25. The adhesively coated strip in advancing passes under a scoring wheel 26 which, preferably, is disposed to cut through the strip, as indicated in Fig. from its leading edge over a length corresponding to the length of the first turn on the mandrel 23. The scoring wheel may be vertically adjustably mounted on carriage 27 which in turn is supported for vertical movement by means of a springpressed push-rod 28 adapted to be downwardly actuated by a cam 29 through a rocker 30. Rotation of the cam by suitable means, not shown, serves to move the carriage and hence the scoring wheel, downwardly to whatever elevation is required for either cutting or merely scoring the moving strip. The cam contour and angular motion are preferably suitably correlated to the angular motion of the mandrel 23 to achieve a complete cutting of the strip along the desired severance line for and only for a distance corresponding to the perimeter of the first or inner ply formed on the mandrel 23. This may be extended to effect the partial scoring of additional ply lengths, if desired. By raising the wheel 26 under the control of the cam 29, the material which is to form subsequent plies may be scored to whatever depth is required, in a manner which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The coated and scored strip advances from the scoring stations to and through a cord applying station wherein a cord applying head 32 operates to lay a length of string or rip-cord 7 along the desired severance line 8. To this end, the head 32 is recessed in its undersurface to provide a groove 35 (Fig. 6) in which the cord lies and is guided by the head onto the severance line 8. The head 32 is pivotally supported from a bracket 36 by arms 37 for movement in a vertical plane, the bracket 36 being adjustable transversely of the strip for laying the cord along the desired severance line. A spring 38 adjustable as to tension connects the arm 37 to the bracket 36 and serves to maintain the head 32 in suitable sliding contact with the moving strip of ply material. The cord 7 passes through a guide channel 39 in the bracket 36 to a cord supply cone 40. It will be understood that by reason of the layer 24 of adhesive material, the cord at the head 32 is caused to adhere to the strip and be drawn from the head 32 as the strip advances.

Suitable knife means 31 are disposed adjacent the mandrel 23 for severing the strip and its applied cord after the requisite length of ply material has passed by. It will be understood that suitable feeding means (not shown) are provided for advancing each strip length in suitably timed relation to operation and cycling of the mandrel 23, and affixing the leading edge of each strip to the mandrel for the winding of the container thereon. As will be seen from Fig. 7, the strip material and the applied cord 7 are simultaneously convolutely wound on the mandrel 23, the cord being on the outer perimeter of each ply as formed. If a label 5 is to be applied to the container, wrapping of the label 5 (Fig. 2) on the formed container over the outer ply and exposed cord may be accomplished by suitable label wrapping devices well known in the art, care being taken however that in applying and winding the label, the cut out section of the label is disposed to expose the terminal (or free) end of the cord as shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of applying the cord by means of the applying ,head 32, the cord' may be stitched beforehand to the ply material. To this'end, as indicated in Fig. 4, a sewing machine 40 is disposed in suitable relation to the roll 20 of strip material to operate on the moving strip and stitch the cord 41 thereto along the proposed line of severance longitudinally of the strip after the manner of the stitched strip depicted in Fig. 8. The subsequent coating of the strip with the glue will serve to bind the stitching securely to the ply material so that in unwinding the line of stitching to open the container, the stitching and glue adhesively bonding the stitching to the ply material will together function to sever the ply material along the established severance line. If desired the stitching may be applied in spaced apart parallel rows defining a narrow strip therebetween which will be stripped out of the ply material as the stitch rows are unwound together. It will be understood that in either of such cases the head 32 may be dispensed with although the scoring wheel 26 may continue to function as before. In order to maintain a steady movement of the strip material under the sewing machine 40 two tensioning take up systems such as are indicated at 21 may be employed between the mandrel 23 and roll 20, one in connection with the stitching machine and one in connection with the coating and scoring heads of the machine.

Thus it will be seen that the objects of this invention have been accomplished. The container with its interply rip-cord may be neatly and simply severed into sections lying at either side of the established severance line merely by unwinding the rip-cord. By reason of the innermost ply being scored so as to be cut through or substantially through beforehand the last ply will break apart easily after the outer plies have been severed by the interply rip-cord, and the sections cleanly and easily separated. Where the plies have merely been scored to varying degrees and not completely score cut or are entirely uncut or unscored, the cord will serve to sever the plies successively as it is unwound along the severance line. A multiply container in accordance with this invention is characterized particularly by the fact that it possesses substantially all of its potential strength by reason of the fact that, contrary to the construction of conventional or score-cut containers, the outer plies are uncut and are in initially integral and severable relation and are severable along a determined severance line by means of an inter-ply rip-cord.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific steps, combinations and improvements described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A container comprising a multi-ply wound container body having a severance line extending circumferentially thereof and dividing said body into sections in initially integral and separable relation along said line, the inner ply of said body being weakened along said severance line; a label covering the outer ply of said body along said line; and, a rip-cord running along said line between said label and the outer ply and between the remaining plies from the outside to the inside of said body, for severing said label and plies so as to separate said sections along said line, said rip-cord being secured to said plies.

2. A container comprising a multi-ply wound container body having a severance line extending circumferentially thereof and dividing said body into sections in initially integral and separable relation along said line, the inner ply of said body being weakened along said severance line; a label overlying the outer ply of said body along said line, said label having an opening exposing a portion of said outer ply along said line; and, a rip-cord located in part between said label and said outer ply and in part between said plies, said rip-cord running along said severance line from the outside to the inside of said body for games? severing saidilabelandplisso asitoseparate saicLsee:

tionsnlongsaid. line; ,saidstand-.lheing v secured nto. saidgplies and .haying itspouter. .endf locatedlin the .ogening' in; said labe1..'

3.. A container. comprising a. mnlti-ply woundcontainer body having a severance .line extending circumferentially thereof vandwdividi-ng saidvbody into ,setctionsin initially integral and separable relationwalongsaid line, the inner ply of. said body being weakened along. said severance line; and, a rip-,cordlbeated betweensaid plies; andvrunningv along said severance linen-from the outside to the insidetof said body, for seven'ng said pliesso as to, sepavratehsaid, sections along saidllline, said rip-cord being secured .to saidplies.

4;.A- container in, accordance with, claim 3 wherein said container bodyis convolutely wound.

5- A; pnt inerr n. csor n ew h laim 3 where n sfiidrifiwnrdiiloeatedion h r nne tpe ime er o the SPfiQfiYepli'es ineliidinggthe inner perimete 'ofth e inner Pl 6'. A container inaceordancewith. claim 3'. wherein said fip-cordis located on the outer perimeter oftlie respect'ive plies.

References 'Cited' in the -file*of patent STATES PATENTS l;24 3 ,699- Brown; Oct; 23,1917 1,265,507: Berraulti Mayi7; 1918 1922,565 Adair! V Aug. 15;:1933 2323377 93 Kennedy Julyi'46;:1943 2,433,683 Cbyle Dec. 30; 1947

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