Vercon Inc.

Cosden Technology, Inc.

Packaging Resources Incorporated

Donald N MacLaughlin

Vincent E Fortuna

Mark W Sumeren

Vincent F Fortuna

An insulated cup includes a tapered side wall that defines an array of spaced, parallel ridges separated by grooves. A label is supported by the ridges around the exterior of the cup to define an array of air gaps in the grooves between the ridges. These air gaps provide thermal insulation tending to reduce heat flow through the label into or out of the cup, and the side wall includes solid resin outer layers and a foamed resin central layer to improve thermal insulation further.

Cup with thermally insulated side wall

A leak detection device includes a container-rotating disc mounted for rotation about a rotation axis. Multiple container-supporting test heads are mounted to the disc for rotation about the rotation axis. Each test head includes a sealing assembly supported by a first cam follower and comprising a cylinder, and a piston supported by a second cam follower and received in the cylinder. First and second annular cams are mounted above the disc to operate the first and second cam followers, respectively, such that the sealing assemblies and the pistons are moved between respective upper and lower positions as the disc rotates with respect to the cams. The cams are shaped to press the sealing assemblies against the containers, to raise the pistons to draw a partial vacuum in the containers, and then to lift the sealing assemblies and any sealed containers for a vacuum test. An improved seal accommodates a wavy upper surface of the container. An improved test head includes a first element that supports the seal and a second element supported by the first cam follower, wherein the first and second elements are mounted for limited axial movement with respect to one another.

Leak detection device and components therefor

A high barrier container includes a barrel-shaped container body having a sealed end and an open end, and a closure member. The closure member includes a circular laminated central closure panel and a peripheral flange. The laminated central closure panel includes a top plastic layer and gas-impermeable layer bonded thereto. The closure member is spin welded to the container body such that a spin-weld interface is formed between the open-end part of the container body and the flange.

High barrier plastic container and method of making same

Packaging container

A thermoplastic end (110), particularly a bottom, for a container which has upstanding paperboard sidewalls (112) and which is inertially spinwelded onto the paperboard sidewall for bonding. The end portion (110) has an annular groove (148) for snugly receiving the sidewall (112) and a wall configuration (136, 138, 140, 142 and 144) which minimizes the forces exerted on the bond which would tend to dislodge the end portion. The wall configuration is generally in the form of an inverted U-shape with a portion of an upstanding wall of the U forming a side of the annular groove. The end portion has strengthening ribs (122) positioned generally within the region of U-shape and additional radial ribs imparting strength and rigidity to the container end. The paperboard sidewall may be internally lined with a layer of thermoplastic material or may be unlined. During spinwelding, a sidewall supporting mandrel having an expansible engaging portion is inserted into the sidewall and subsequently expanded to define a cylindrical surface of a diameter equal to that of the specified internal diameter of the sidewall. A Teflon seating member at the end of the sidewall supporting mandrel establishes the depth to which the container end is inserted into the sidewall.

Thermoplastic container end for inertial spinwelding of thermoplastic

A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a heater element in accordance with the dwell time of an item to be heated by the heater element. The apparatus of the invention utilizes a temperature tracking circuit which is energized by a low voltage DC power source and a switching system for operating the tracking circuit in either an automatic or standby mode. Sensors are provided for determining the dwell time of an article to be heated by the heater element and a thermocouple or the like is provided for sensing the temperature of the heater element. A heat controller, preferably of the digital programmable variety, is connected to the heater element and is responsive to the dwell time and the thermocouple for controlling the power to the heater in accordance with the dwell time and instantaneous heater temperature whenever the equipment associated with the heater element is operating in the automatic mode. Interposed between the programmable heat controller and the heater element may be a power control device which is responsive to the output of the programmable heat controller for supplying a regulated portion of a high voltage power source to the heater element. In either the automatic or the standby mode, a signal is inputted to the programmable heat controller for maintaining the heater element above a predetermined minimum temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Midland, MI, United States of America

Donald N MacLaughlin