Leesona Corporation

John Brown Inc.

Van Dam Machine Corporation

Van Dam Machine Corporation of America

Edward J Russell

Albert W Arends

George L Pickard

Robert W Tielrooy

Pieter S Vander Griendt

George A West

Roland Karklin

Terrance L Brokoff

James R Greiner

G Allan West

An infeed transfer system for a continuously operated container decorating apparatus comprises a mandrel wheel assembly having a rotating mandrel wheel, a plurality of regularly spaced mandrel assemblies pivotally mounted thereon, and a box cam spaced-apart from the mandrel wheel and communicating with one end of the mandrel assemblies, to guide the path of movement of the mandrel assemblies during the rotation of the mandrel wheel. A pocket wheel is rotatably mounted and is axially displaced from the mandrel wheel. The pocket wheel has a diameter smaller than that of the mandrel wheel and the box cam defines an undulating path that causes each of the mandrel assemblies to follow the circumferential periphery of the pocket wheel, in alignment with consecutive cradles defined by the pocket wheel, and such alignment continues through an arc of rotation. The box cam defines a box cam track having an undulating path that corresponds in curvature to an arcuate portion of the outer circumference of the pocket wheel. The reduction in size of the pocket wheel facilitates access for maintenance and operation of the mandrel assembly, and makes it easier for the mandrels to discharge misfed containers.

Infeed system for container decorating apparatus

A differential pressure thermoforming machine has a female mold with a female mold cavity, and an opposing mold, with a mold closing portion cooperable therewith. A foam injection head is perimetrally separated from the mold closing portion and is provided on the opposing mold. When the molds are initially closed, a differential pressure is created in the molds to cause the heated plastic sheet to move into contact with the mold cavity and form a configured pocket in the sheet. Mechanism is provided for releasing the plastic sheet from the carriage in which it has been moved between the molds, after the molding operation, to the cavity in the female mold, after which the molds are restored to spread-apart position. Mechanism is then activated to move the opposing mold to a position in which the foam injection head is now aligned with the female mold, whereupon the molds are again closed to bring the injection head into the pocket, whereupon the foam injection head is operated to charge a settable foam material to the pocket formed.

Differential pressure thermoforming and foam injection process and

A thermoforming machine having opposed mold platens includes a linkage system driven in cyclic movement by rotary cam mechanism to cyclically shift the platens between their open and closed position. The cam mechanism is driven by a variable speed motor which is controlled in a manner such that the rotary speed of the cam mechanism during different portions of a cam revolution may be set to a speed which is different than the rotary speed of the cam mechanism during other portions of each revolution. By adjusting the speed differential or by adjusting the angular extent of that portion of a revolution of the cam mechanism over which the different speed is maintained the time duration of any chosen portion of the cycle may be adjusted independently of the time duration of other portions of the cycle.

Differential pressure forming machine with variable mold closed cycle

A mandrel wheel assembly is disclosed for use with an apparatus for the continuous decoration of containers such as cylindrical cans, and comprises a circular mandrel wheel having a plurality of regularly spaced mandrel assemblies mounted transversely about its circumferential periphery. The mandrel assemblies have cam roller ends that communicate with a guiding stationary box cam, and oppositely extending container receiving mandrels. The mandrel wheel assembly is mounted along a stationary central shaft. A secondary mandrel support is provided adjacent the mandrels comprising a stationary planar support member also mounted on the central shaft with one or more planar support cams that extend radially from the secondary support member and are adapted to cammingly engage the mandrel assemblies. The support cams are juxtaposed to the coating stations and reduce unwanted deflection of the mandrels during coating operations.

Mandrel support means for container decorating apparatus

A thermoforming machine having opposed mold platens includes a linkage system driven in cyclic movement by a single rotary cam to cyclically shift the platens between their open and closed position. The cam is driven by a variable speed motor which is controlled in a manner such that the rotary speed of the cam during different portions of a cam revolution may be set to a speed which is different than the rotary speed of the cam during other portions of each revolution. By adjusting the speed differential or by adjusting the angular extent of that portion of a revolution of the cam over which the different speed is maintained the time duration of any chosen portion of the cycle may be adjusted independently of the time duration of other portions of the cycle. The platens are mounted for reciprocatory movement upon a three-post frame.

Growing community of inventors

Gladwin, MI, United States of America

Edward J Russell