Aluminum Company of America

Other

Elmer E Pohlenz

Ronald G Hawkins

Eric D Arndt

Charles J Leftault, Jr

Thomas W Scherf

Frank J Horansky

Jerrold D Green

Robert L LaBarge

Robert L La Barge

Hugh C Urmston

Lloyd G Dunn

A male core designed to be mateable with a female mold for forming vent slots in a thermoplastic closure. The male core comprises a cylindrical member having an end surface which forms an underside top surface and an inside surface of a downwardly depending skirt on the closure. A helical groove is formed about the periphery of the cylindrical member which forms a thread on the inside surface of the skirt. At least one integral rib is formed in the cylindrical member which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure. The rib forms a vent slot in the closure which traverses the thread. Convoluted surfaces are formed on the cylindrical member which extend from each side surface of the rib to the bottom of adjacent helical grooves. The convoluted surfaces provide smooth radii on the ends of the threads adjacent to the vent slot which facilitate axial stripping of the closure from the male core without deforming the threads into the vent slot. This enhances the passage of pressurized gas through the vent slot to the atmosphere as the closure is removed from a container.

Threaded thermoplastic closure with vent slot

A plastic closure having a plastic liner disposed therein is adapted to assemble with a container and provide a side seal and a top seal between the closure and the container wall adjacent the container mouth. The closure includes a plastic cap having an annular ledge near the junction of the cap top wall and skirt. Downward linear movement of the closure relative to the bottle during assembly of the closure with the bottle irons a marginal portion of the liner adjacent the liner edge between the annular ledge of the cap and the outer rim edge of the bottle wall surrounding the bottle mouth, and a side seal between the closure and bottle wall surrounding the bottle mouth is provided thereby. A top seal between the closure and rim of the wall surrounding the bottle mouth is also effected by compressing a portion of the liner therebetween.

Lined plastic closure

Male core for forming vent slots in a thermoplastic closure

An apparatus for the receipt of a recyclable container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a manually rotatable carrier having a container receiving station. The recyclable container is inserted into the receiving station where the presence or absence of a container having a metallic sidewall is determined prior to any movement apparent to the user. If the object inserted into the receiving station is determined to be a container having a metallic sidewall, rotation of the carrier for further processing of the recyclable container is permitted. The initial passive screening may include detecting the orientation of the container, detection for the type of metal sidewall, and may also include optical scanning of the container for reading a product code thereon.

Apparatus for passive analysis of containers to determine acceptability

Apparatus is provided for receiving and processing used containers including an enclosure with a rotatable carrier having one or more container receiving stations therein. Means are provided for detecting the presence of a container inserted into the receiving station. Means are also provided for crushing a container accepted for processing by the apparatus comprising a fixed crushing jaw and a movable crushing jaw adapted for dual engagement with a container to provide two stages of crushing.

Apparatus for processing used containers having improved crusher means

Apparatus is provided for the insertion of a recyclable container into a container receiving station in a manually operated rotatable carrier normally maintained in a non-rotatable condition; and for analysis and initial acceptance or rejection of the container for recycling without mechanical movement apparent to the user. The apparatus includes detecting means adjacent the receiving station to determine the presence of a container comprised of material acceptable for recycling and scanning means for reading code markings on the container. The information read from the code markings on the container may be recorded for subsequent use in determining amounts of deposits to be paid as well as sources of containers. Releasing means are provided for subsequently permitting movement of said rotatable carrier if said container comprises a material acceptable for recycling.

Container recycling apparatus using scanning means to read code markings

A process for recycling containers such as used aluminum beverage cans comprises sensing the presence of an acceptable container inserted into a receiving station in a rotatable carrier and unlatching a latching mechanism to permit the carrier to be rotated if the presence of an acceptable container is sensed. Rotation of the carrier conveys the container to a station where the container is crushed. A receipt is then issued for the crushed container. The process is controlled by a central control unit which may include a computer having a program to monitor and control the process steps.

Process for recycling containers

Apparatus is provided for receiving and crushing containers consisting essentially of recyclable material comprising an enclosure having a manually operated rotatable carrier with a first station comprising a pocket in the carrier to receive a container. Means are provided for detecting the presence of a container in the pocket and for detecting the type of material comprising the wall of the container. The apparatus also contains latching means to prevent rotation of the rotatable carrier until a container inserted therein has passed all tests performed in the first station. Means are also provided for measuring the weight of the container and for crushing metallic containers having a predetermined acceptable weight.

Apparatus for processing recyclable containers

Apparatus is provided for receiving and crushing containers consisting essentially of recyclable material comprising an enclosure having a manually operated rotatable carrier with one or more stations comprising pockets in the carrier to permit insertion of a container. Means are also provided to detect the presence of a container inserted into the pocket. Shock absorbing means are associated with the rotatable carrier to inhibit damage to the apparatus by rapid or jerking motions during rotation of the carrier to transport an inserted container to one or more subsequent stations for testing and eventual crushing of a container accepted for recycling.

Container recycling apparatus having shock mounted manually rotatable

Recycling apparatus for receiving and crushing recyclable containers is provided comprising a frame and an enclosure. A manually operated rotatable carrier is associated with the enclosure and has at least one open pocket therein to receive a recyclable container. The apparatus also is provided with detector means to determine the presence of a container in the pocket. Means are provided to lock the rotatable carrier to substantially prevent rotation of the carrier unless a container has been inserted into the pocket. Releasing means are also provided to permit rotation in response to actuation by the detector means when a container has been inserted into the pocket. The container is eventually crushed after rotation of the carrier to carry a container inserted into the pocket to a crushing station.

Latching mechanism for manually rotatable carrier in apparatus for

A system is disclosed for sealing a metal foil membrane on the end of a container such as a composite container using a rotating turret having a plurality of spindles in it with non-metal rotating heads on the spindles for pressing a closure and foil membrane against the container sealing surface and rotating the container-closure assemblies about the axis of the container as they are moved through a magnetic field produced by an induction heating coil disposed at least partway around the turret. The container-closure assemblies may be moved through the magnetic field in less than one second to heat the sealing area of the foil membrane and metal foil liner in the container to the required sealing temperature while minimizing heating of the membrane beyond the area of sealing contact with the container. Either the foil membrane or container liner or both have a heat seal resin thereon which is softened or melted by the induced heat in the membrane and seals the membrane to the container when the container-closure assemblies are removed from the magnetic field.

Induction heat sealing

A linerless plastic closure is disclosed which is adapted to seal containers for pressurized contents such as carbonated beverages and which utilizes a plug configuration that is designed to expand under pressure. This is accomplished by making the plug in the form of a disc spring washer with tubular supports joining it to the top of the closure. Pressure against the disc spring washer increases the pressure of the seal against the interior surface of the bottle mouth to provide a reliable seal. The closure may have a slot through the threads on the closure to permit rapid escape of gases from the container during removal of the closure from the container. In this way, dangerous blow-off of the closure from a container is substantially eliminated.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, IN, United States of America

Elmer E Pohlenz