US2216331A - Method of and apparatus for producing paper cups - Google Patents

Description

nm'raon OF AND APPARATUS ron PRODUCING PAPER curs Oct. 1, 1940. F. P. SWALLOW ET AL Filed Oct. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7227672far15= Fi'PANC/S P SWALLQW H W M S m m% m M E m@ (k t 1, 0- -F. P. swALLbw ET AL A 2,215,331

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PAPER-CUPS Filed Oct. 28, 1958 A 2 Sheets-sheaf? 34 072s:- A Fk zvc/s BS/WALLOW gig. Q TRED/ck CSM/TH Patented. Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PAPER CUPS Francis P. Swallow and Fredrick C. Smith, Worcester, Mass, assigndrs to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass, a corporationof Maine Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,536

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of paper drinking cups, of the type comprising a tubular sleeve-like body and a separatelyv formed, disk-like bottom portion located within the body and adhesively secured to the body wall at one end, to provide a water-tight closure for the cup.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for producing cups of the above indicated character, the invention being partlcularly concerned with the attachment of a bottom disk to a cup sleeve, in such a manner that an extremely close watertight junction is obtained between the cup parts. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view, showing the general relation that exists between various steps in the formation of a cup, in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view, illustrating the cup forming operations indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a mechanism for producing cup bottoms anddelivering them to a cup forming station.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along theline 5--5 of Fig." 3.

Fig. 6 shows the application of gum to a cup sleeve, preparatory to the final positioning of a cup bottom.

Fig. 7 shows the cup bottom in register with the gum on a sleeve.

Fig. 8 illustrates spinning of the end of the tom flange.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the steps of interlocking and compressing the engaged flanges on the cup sleeve and bottom.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line ll-ll of Fig. 9. r i

Fig. 12 shows the appearance of a completed cup.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the cup shown in Fig. '7.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the various steps and related apparatus for carrying out the invention, a general description of the mode of operation involved will first be 55 outlined, with reference to the diagrammatic views of Figs. 1 and 2. As shown, a stack of cup sleeve, preparatory to engaging the cup bot- 1 has a band ofgum 3 applied to one straight edge thereof, and upon arrival at theform 2, the gummed blank is operated upon by suitable Wrapping devices, indicated at 4. Operation of thedevice 4 serves to wrap the blank around theform 2, with its straight edges in overlying relation, and with thegum 3 forming a seam extending longitudinally of the frusto-conical sleeve 5.

The particular mechanisms for wrappingeach gummed blank around acup form 2, are no part of the present invention, and are merely indicated as being of the type fully shown and described in Patent No. 1,876,931, issued September 13, 1932. 0bviously, other types of mechanism may be employed for the purpose of providing a frusto-conical cup sleeve on aform 2, since the invention has wholly to do with the formation of bottom disks and their subsequent positioning in and cooperation with previously formed cup sleeves, for the purpose of providing water-tight closures for the finished cups.

For purposes of illustration, thecup form 2 is shown as being mounted on a rotatable turret 6, in association with a plurality of similar cup forms, and the turret is given a step-by-step rotative movement, so as to bring eachform 2, with acup sleeve 5 thereon, into register with various lnstrumentalities, at stations indicated A to .35, inclusive. At these stations, previously formed bottom disks are inserted in thecup sleeves 5 and subsequently adhered thereto by a series of operations, hereinafter described. These bottom disks may be conveniently punched from a web I that extends adjacent to the first station A, and as best shown in Fig. 2, eachbottom disk 8, punched from the Web 1, is formed with anannular flange 9.

At station A, abottom disk 8 is inserted, with its flange trailing in the smaller end of acup sleeve 5 carried by aform 2, with the disk loosely positioned in thesleeve 5 at an appreciable distance from the end thereof. At station B, an annular band of gum I0 is applied to the inside of the smaller end of the cup sleeve, after which, at station C, thebottom disk 8 is shifted to bring itsflange 9 in register with the gum Ill. A portion of thesleeve 5 then extends beyond the flange of the bottom disk, and this portion is next spun over at right angles to the axis of the sleeve, as indicated at station D. The spun-over lip at 50 the end of the cup is then turned inwardly into overlapping relation with theflange 9, as indicated at station E, after which the interlocked flanges are expanded radially outward to compress the same and cause close adhesion between 5 the gummed parts, as indicated at station F.

' When abottom disk 8 is shifted from its original position within acup sleeve 5, itsflange 9 engages the gum l0, and the present invention contemplates a procedure whereby the gum H) 60 will not be appreciably disturbed by the advancing edge of theflange 9. In order. to accomplish this result, each bottom disk 8' is formed so as to provide a series of crimps I I extending around the periphery of theflange 9, and there will next be described suitable mechanism for cutting and crimping abottom disk 8, as well as for inserting it in a cup sleeve, in advance of the gum applying operation.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the web I is fed across a die plate I2, providing openings I3 and I4 of different diameters. A punch sleeve I5 cooperating with opening I3 serves to sever a bottom disk blank from the web I, as indicated in dotted lines, after which a second internal punch I6 is projected beyond the end of the punch sleeve l5 to thrust the blank through the smaller die opening I I, so as to form aflange 8. The flanged disk on the end of the punch I6 is then engaged with a rotatably driven tool I'I, it being noted that the end portion of the punch I6 provides serrations I611, and is free to turn. While thedisk 8 is rotated by contact with the tool I I, the serrated surface of a crimping roll I8, mounted on a reciprocatory carriage I8a, is brought into engagement with theflange 9. A series of crimps II are thus formed around the periphery of theflange 9 by cooperationbetween the serrated surfaces of the roll I8 and punch end, after which the punch I6 and the roll I8 are withdrawnfleaving the crimpedbottom disk 8 held on the tool H by suitable suction means, as shown by pipe IIa. v 77 A reciprocatory slide I9, having an opening I9a in which thedisk 8 is received during the crimping operation, then moves upwardly to carry the disk into register with aholder 20 that is slightly tapered inwardly in the direction of analined cup form 2 at station A of the'turret 6. Acup sleeve 5 is carried by thecup form 2, and a transfer plunger 2I then projects thebottom disk 8 through theholder 28 to insert the disk within the smaller end of the cu .lsleeve, after .which the plunger 2I withdraw The slight in;v .8 ward taper of theholder 20 tendstggmewhat contract thecrimped flange 9, so that the disk enters readily within the small end of the cup sleeve. Obviously, abottom disk 8 with crimps II formed in itsflange 9, can be produced by means other than the particular mechanism of Figs. 3 and 4, which is shown for purposes of illustration.

After the insertion of a crimpedbottom disk 8 at station A, the turret 6 is turned one step, to move the cup sleeve and disk to the next station B. As best shown in Fig. 6, thebottom disk 8 with its crimpedflange 9 facing towards the smaller end of the surroundingsleeve 5, then rests loosely within the sleeve, thedisk 8 being supported in a substantially vertical position by ahead 22 mounted on arod 22a movable within thecup form 2. While the cup sleeve remains at this station B, gum I0 is applied around the inside thereof substantially up to the crimped flange of thedisk 8.

The gum I8 is applied to the inside of thesleeve 5 by means of agumming element 23 of less diameter than the open end of a sleeve, and movable with respect to the sleeve, by means of areciprocatory carrier 24. Thegumming element 23 is mounted on acylindrical holder 25 that is received within anopening 26 of the carrier, eccentric with respect to the central axis of thecarrier 24, and the element is carried by aspindle 23a eccentric within theholder 25.

When thegumming element 23 is inserted within the open end of the cup sleeve and theholder 25 is turned through a portion of a revolution, the combined eccentricities of the spindle, the carrier and the holder, cause theelement 23 to engage the wall of thesleeve 5. Rotation of thecarrier 24 then applies the gum I0 in an annular band extending beyond the flange Set the bottom disk substantially to the edge of the sleeve.

After application of the gum Ill within the open end of thecup sleeve 5, the turret moves the gummed sleeve to station C, Fig. '7, where atool 21 lightly engages the end of thecup sleeve 5, so as to prevent any movement thereof on thecup form 2. Therod 22a carrying thehead 22 is then moved within the cup form to cause thehead 22 to engage the bottom disk and shift it towards the gum I8. When thebottom disk 8 is so moved, the crimps II of thedisk flange 9, engage the gum It) only at spaced points around the inner periphery of the sleeve. Therefore, as indicated in Fig. 13, the gum I0 is not wiped off by the movement of theflange 9, but tends to be concentrated in the spaces between the crimps II. Owing to the fact that thedisk 8 is moved toward the smaller end of the sleeve, and is backed up by thehead 22, thedisk 8 remains in the position of Fig. 7, in register with the gum I0, during subsequent operations performed on the sleeve and the disk.

Referring now to Fig. 8, which shows the cup sleeve as having been moved to station D, a rotatingspinning tool 28 is caused to engage the end of thesleeve 5 and spin over the gummed endportion of the sleeve, which extends beyond thedisk 8. The'tool 28 is then withdrawn, and the turret turned again to bring the cup form with the spun-over sleeve to the next station E, as shown in Fig. 9. At'this station, acylindrical tool 29, having a diameter less than the inside of thebottom disk flange 9, is moved into the cup sleeve to engage the spun-over lip and convert it into anannular flange 30, loosely surrounded by the crimpedflange 9. Since the act of spinning over the end of thecup sleeve 5 results in the formation of irregular crimps, due to the contraction of the material, theturnedin flange 30 will have a considerable irregularity of contour that causes it to interlock with the crimps II, this relation between theflanges 9 and 30being shown clearly in Fig. 11.

Upon withdrawal of thetool 29, the turret is turned through another step to bring the cup with the interlockedflanges 9 and 30 into posie tion at the final station F, as shown in Fig. 10. At this" station, anoutside form 3| having an opening-3H1 with the same taper as the smaller end of thecup sleeve 5, is moved to engage the end of the cup sleeve. Theform 3| is held by a casing 32 that is adapted for shifting movement with acarrier 33 which is also adapted to receive rotative movement. The carrier provides anopening 34 eccentric with respect to the carrier axis for receiving aholder 35 for ani oning tool 36. The tool spindle 36a is eccentric with respect to the holder axis, and when thetool 36 is first inserted within the cup sleeve flanges and then turned through a portion of a revolution, the combined'eccentricities of the spindle, the holder and the carrier, cause the tool to closely engage the interlockedflanges 9 and 30, which are surrounded by theform 3|. Rotation of thecarrier 33 then causes close compression of theflanges 9 and 30 by theironing tool 36, in cooperation with the form ll, which is held against rotation. by its casing 32.

As a result of subjecting the interlockedflanges 9 and 30 to action of thetool 36, the

crimping shown in Fig. 11 is entirely ironed out, and the gum between the crimps thoroughly distributed between thebottom disk flange 9 and the wall of the cup sleeve. The lower portion of a completed cup is shown in section in Fig. 12, from which it is evident that theflanges 9 and 30 are in very close engagement, with theupturned flange 30 presenting a smooth annular surface. In a completed cup, thebottom disk 8 is therefore .very firmly adhered to thecup sleeve 5, with the junction between thebottom disk flange 9 and the wall of the sleeve being entirely water-tight.

We claim:

1. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then applying pressure to smooth out said. serrations and cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edgesof said serrations.

2. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations,

v shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then applying pressure around the inside of said serrations to smooth out the same and cause their adhesion to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edges of said serrations.

3. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then turning over the end of said sleeve to interlock with said serrations and cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum remaining between the edges of said serrations.

4. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk having peripheral serrations extending axially of a surrounding sleeve having an internal application of gum near one end spaced from said serrations, shifting said disk axially 01 said sleeve to engage only the outer edges of said serrations with said gum, and then turning over the end of said sleeve to compress and smooth out said serrations into adhesive engagement with said sleeve.

5. The improvement in making cups, which consists in positioning a circular disk with a crimped flange within a sleeve, providing an internal application of gum to said sleeve adjacent to said disk, shifting said disk axially within the sleeve to bring its flange into register with said gum, turning over said sleeve, beyond the disk, into interlocking relation with said disk flange and finally expanding the engaged parts to smooth out the crimping of said flange.

6. The improvement in making cups, which consists in initially positioning a circular disk with a crimped flange within a sleeve, providing an application of gum around the inside of said sleeve adjacent to said flange, shifting said disk axially within said sleeve to engage its flange crimps with said gum, turning over the end of said sleeve to provide a flange loosely surrounding said crimped disk flange, and finally compressing the engaged flanges to remove the crimping. I

7. The improvement in making cups, which consists in providing a circular disk with a crimped flange, inserting said disk through the small end of a tapered sleeve, providing said sleeve near one end with an internal application of gum adjacent said flange, shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum,

' with only the outer points of said crimped flange engaging the gum, and finally flanging over the end of said sleeve to engage and smooth out said disk flange.

8. A step in the making of cups, involving a sleeve provided with an internal application of gum partially engaged only at intervals with the edges of serrations formed around the periphery of a circular bottom disk, with said gum extending beyond said disk, which consists in engaging a turned-over end of said sleeve with the inside edges of said serrations and in compressing the engaged sleeve and serrations to cause adhesion of said disk to the sleeve by the gum left between the edges of said serrations and the gum remaining on said turnedover sleeve end.

9. A step in the making of cups, involving a sleeve provided with an internal application of gum partially engaged only at intervals by the edges of serrations formed on the flange of a. circular bottom disk, with said gum extending beyond said flange, which consists in engaging a turned-over end of said sleeve with the inside edges of saidserrations, and in pressing the engaged sleeve and disk flange to smooth out said serrations.

10. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means for crimping the flange and means for inserting said disk, with itsflange already crimped, in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve.

11. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means-for crimping the flange, means for inserting said disk, with its flange already crimped, in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve, means for applying gum to the inside of said sleeve adjacent to the flange of said disk and means for shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum.

12. Apparatus for producing paper cups, comprising means for forming a circular disk with a flange, means for crimping the flange, means for inserting said disk, with its flange already crimped in one end of a previously formed cup sleeve, means for applying gum to the inside of said sleeve adjacent to the flange of said disk, means for shifting said disk axially of said sleeve into register with said gum, means for turning over the end of said sleeve to loosely engage said crimped disk flange and means for applying pressure to the engaged sleeve and disk portions to

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