US2830419A - Device for applying covers to receptacles - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1958 .1. E. ANNEN DEVICE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 31, 1955 INVENTOR. famz'si'. Anne? W VQ c. 041

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR APPLYING COVERS T0 RECEPTACLES James E. Annen, Kalamazoo, Mich assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

This invention relates to a device for applying covers to receptacles, particularly paper receptacles, for example, cups and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a portable manually operated device for applying paper covers to paper cups or like receptacles which may be conveniently and rapidly manipulated to effectively secure the cover to the receptacle in a substantially sealed and liquid tight manner.

Second, to provide a device having these advantages in which the cover is applied by a single downward thrust stroke.

Third, to provide a device of this character in which a cover of paper stock is so supported during the application thereof to the receptacle that no portion of the cover is distorted or weakened.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages in which the rim of the cover is embracingly folded around the rim of the receptacle throughout.

Fifth, to provide a device of this character which is simple and economical in its parts, readily assembled and once assembled the parts are retained in assembled relation with relatively few screws or securing elements.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showing a receptacle and cover with the cover applying device of my invention associated therewith in fully actuated position, parts being sectioned on a line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View on a line corresponding to broken line 2-2 of Fig. l with the hand piece omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. l with the jaws in retracted position.

Fig. 4 is an inside perspective view of one of the forming jaws.

It will be understood that the term paper is here used in the sense that it is commonly applied to cups and like receptacles formed of fiber stock.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a cup-like receptacle provided with an annular outtumed beadlike rim 2.

The cover 3 is provided with a rim 4 which is embracingly folded around the rim 2 of the receptacle. The cover is initially formed with the edge 5 of the rim projecting downwardly so that the cover may be positioned on the receptacle as is shown in-Fig. 3, and with the edge of the rim positioned to be wrappingly folded around the rim of the receptacle, as is shown in Fig. 1.

My cover applying device, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a head member 6 provided with a handle or grip 7 disposed centrally thereof. The head member is ice provided with a downwardly projecting peripheral flange 8 terminating in an annular inwardly facing transversely curved rib or bead-like bearing member 9. The support member 10 'is generally cylindrical and is disposed centrally within and with its periphery spaced from the head member flange 8 and its bearing member 9. The support member is provided with an annular groove-like bearing 11 opposed but spaced from the bearing 9 of the head member. The bearing 11 is likewise transversely curved. The segmental complimentary forming jaws 12 are arranged to provide an annular series and are provided with groove-like bearings 13 coacting with the bearings 9 of the head member and rib-like bearings 14 coacting with the groove-like bearings of the support member 10.

I When the support member 10 is positioned upon a cover disposed on a receptacle, as shown in Fig. 3, and the head member actuated axially of the support member, the jaws are closed to wrap the depending edge 5 of the cover rim around the rim of the receptacle. To securely hold the cover is position during this operation, the

support member is provided with a flat face 15 which engages the cover throughout the area thereof and with a downwardly facing annular groove 16 surrounding the face 15 engaging the top of the rim portion of the cover so that the cover is held against any slipping or sliding movement or other distortion as its edge is folded or wrapped around the underside of the rim of the receptacle. The device is released from the covered receptacle merely by lifting therefrom. The upward lift on the bead member retracts the jaws to the position shown in Fig. 3. The jaws are provided with inturned tips 17 having curved faces 18 conformed to the curvature of the completely wrapped or closed cover rim, see Fig. 1.

To facilitate assembling the support member is formed of lower and upper sections 19 and 25 respectively, the joint line of the sections being in a plane centrally of the bearing 11. In assembling, the upper section is positioned within the head member with the jaws disposed therearound and in engagement with the bearing of the head member 9. The bottom section of the support is then positioned and secured by means of screws 20 which secure the parts in assembled relation.

In the embodiment illustrated, the head member is provided with a hole 21 through which the screws 20 may be manipulated.

To limit the closing movement of the jaws, the support member is provided with an annular stop member surface 22 to permit full opening movement, and also to provide clearance for the jaws and a stop, the upper edge of the support member is beveled at 23. However, the inside of the flange of the head member also serves as a stop limiting the closing movement. It is quite important that the closing movement of the jaws be limited to prevent injury to the cup or receptacle and permit a rapid thrust cover applying stroke.

The device of my invention is portable, of light weight, and mechanically adapted for manual operation by unskilled iversons. While the device is desirable for use in various relations, it is particularly desirable for use in the dispensing of filled receptacles, for example, in the dispensing of beverages and other products which are commonly filled and dispensed directly to the customer.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment thereof which I found to be highly practical. I have not attempted to describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosure would enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacles having outwardly projecting curved rims, the device comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annular flange provided at its lower edge with an annular inwardly projecting transversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member having a flat cover engaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facing transversely curved rim receiving groove, said support member having an annular transversely curved groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, and a plurality of independent segmental complementary forming jaws having transversely curved bearings rockably engaging the hear ing of said support member and having outwardly facing curved bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are actuated by relative axial movement of th, head and support members, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips with curved faces for engagement with the edge portion of. a cover rim to wrap it around the rim of the receptacle to which the cover is applied, said support member having stops above and below its said bearing for limiting the movement of the aws.

2. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacles having outwardly projecting rims, the device comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annular flange pro'dded at its lower edge with an annular inwardly projecting transversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member having a cover engaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facing receiving groove, said support member having an annular transversely curved groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, and a plurality of independent segmental complementary forming jaws having transversely curved bearings rockably engaging the bearing of said support member and having outwardly facing curved bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are actuated by relative axial movement of the head and support members, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips for engagement with the edge portion of a cover rim to wrap it around the rim of the receptacle to which the cover is applied, said support member having stops above and below its said bearing for limiting themovement of the jaws.

3. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacles having outwardly projecting rims, the device comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annular flange provided at its lower edge with an annular inwardly pro- I jecting transversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member having a cover engaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facing receiving groove, said support member having an annular transversely curved groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, and a plurality of independent segmental complementary forming jaws having transversely curved bearings rockably engaging the bearing of said support member and having outwardly facing curved bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are actuated by relative axial movement of the head and support members, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips for engagement with the edge portion of a cover rim to wrap it around the rim of the receptacle to which the cover is applied, said support member having an annular stop surface below its said bearing limiting closing movement of the jaws, the upper end of said support member being beveled providing a stop for the jaws when the head member is in retracted relation to the support member.

4. A device for applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annular flange provided with an annular inwardly facing rib-like bearing, a support member having an annular groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing on said head member, said head member being axially movable relative to said support member, and an annular series of segmental complementary forming jaws rockingly supported by said bearing on said support member and having outwardly facing groove-like bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are simultaneously actuated by relative axial movement of the head and support members, said support member having annular stop surfaces above and below its said bearing limiting the opening and closing movement of the jaws.

5. A devicefor applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting flange provided with an annular inwardly facing bearing, a support member having a bearing opposed to said bearing on said head member, said head member being axially movable relative to said support member, and an annular series of segmental complementary forming jows rockingly supported by said bearing on said support member and having outwardly facing bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are simultaneously actuated by relative axial movement of the head and support members, said support member having stop surfaces above and below its said bearing limiting the opening and closing movement of the jaws.

6. A device for applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising a head member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting flange provided with an annular inwardly facing bearing, a support member having a bearing opposed to said bearing on said head member, said head member being axially movable relative to said support member, and an annular series of segmental complementary forming jaws rockingly supported by said bearing on said support member and having outwardly facing bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are simultaneously and positively actuated to closed and to open position by relative axial forward and retracting movement of the head and support members, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips at their lower ends provided with curved faces for engagement with the edge portion of a cover rim of the receptacle to which the cover is applied, said support member having stop surfaces above andbelow its said bearing limiting the opening and closing movement of the jaws.

7. A cover applying device comprisinga head member having an integral downwardly projecting flange provided with an inwardly projecting annular rib-like bearing, a support member having an outwardly facing annular groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, said support member being formed of upper and lower sections, the joint between the sections being in the plane of the center of said groove-like bearing of said support member and a plurality of segmental jaws having bearing recesses on their outer sides coacting with said bearing of said head member and projecting bearings on their inner sides coacting with said groove-like bearing of said support member whereby the jaws are actuated by the axial movement of the head member relative to the support member, said jaws being engageable with said bearings when the support member sections are disconnected and being rockably supported and retained thereby when the support member sections are secured together, and screws accessible through said head member for connecting said support member sections.

8. A cover applying device comprising a head member having an integral downwardly projecting flange provided with an inwardly facing annular bearing, a support member having an outwardly facing annular bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, said support of segmental jaws having bearings on their outer sides References Cited in the file of this patent rockingly engaged with said bearing of said head mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS her and hearings on their inner sides rockingly engaged with said bearing of said support member whereby the Caneson 1911 jaws are actuated by the axial movement of the head 5 232 g member relative to the support member, said aws being 1,257,709 Januchowsky et a1. Feb. 26, 1918 engageable with said bearings when the support member sections are disconnected and being rockably supported and retained thereby when the support member sections are secured together.

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