The Clorox Company

Advanced Container Corporation

Other

Ezra E Theys

Ronald E Heiskell

Frank M Knafelc

Russell G Taylor

Mark R Bacchetti

John Hoyrup

Bruce Bertelsen

Richard J Bowers

Albert Oey

William E Plemons

Karl Robert Krause

Larry F Morice

Dane Dickson

Raymond W Harold

Chester J Pierce, Jr

Michael J Silveira

Albert Obey

Karl A Krause

Disclosed is a new machine for forming containers of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,939 without the use of glue or nails. The machine utilizes a mandrel movably mounted on a path for oscillation between retracted and extended positions. As the mandrel cycles forward, it first receives two synthetic sidewalls and then a deformable body panel of the container to be formed. Then a set of moveable upper and lower rockers containing unique pressure mechanisms press tabs on the horizontally oriented portion of the wrap into corresponding locking slots on the ends of the sidewalls. When the mandrel is fully extended, pressure is applied to the tabs on the vertically oriented middle section of the wrap using a pair of hinge-mounted pressure plates fitted with unique biased brackets. The resulting container is removed from the machine, which is then ready to begin another cycle.

Container forming method and apparatus

Disclosed is a new machine for forming strong, durable and recyclable containers of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,939 without the use of glue or nails which are ready to be loaded, closed, stacked and shipped. The machine utilizes a mandrel movably mounted on a path between retracted and extended positions. As the mandrel cycles forward, it first receives two synthetic sidewalls of the container to be formed, which are firmly compressed against the sides of the mandrel as it moves forward. The mandrel next encounters the body panel or wrap of the container to be formed, said wrap including a plurality of tabs along the edges of its two longer sides which correspond to locking slots on the sidewalls. As the mandrel moves forward, it pushes into the middle of the wrap whereupon a set of plows and shoes bend the upper and lower portions of the wrap into a more horizontal orientation, leaving the middle of the wrap in a vertical position. As the mandrel pushes the wrap through the machine, a set of moveable upper and lower rockers containing unique pressure mechanisms press the tabs on the horizontally oriented portion of the wrap into the locking slots on the ends of the sidewalls. When the mandrel is fully extended, pressure is applied to the tabs on the vertically oriented middle section of the wrap to form the bottom of the container using a pair of hinge-mounted pressure plates fitted with unique biased brackets.

An apparatus for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverter tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls is provided that has a guide plate for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box, a catcher plate used for holding the blank on the forming apparatus, a diverter tab lever for extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls, and an actuator for urging the diverter tab lever against the diverter tabs, the actuator allows the catcher plate to be released after the diverter tabs have been extended from the box walls so that the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus. A method of forming the blank into the shipping and display box is also described.

Shipping and display box former

Combined fruit shipping and storage container

A container with a novel locking mechanism for attaching the body of the container to the container end plates. The present invention also provides a container that is totally recyclable without having to disassemble the container. A stackable shipping and storing container is provided comprising a fight side wall, a left side wall, and a bottom wall all extending between a first end wall and a second end wall and having a locking tab near each end. A panel lock is provided for attaching the locking tab of the right side wall, the left side wall, and the bottom wall to the first end wall and the second end wall wherein each locking tab is held in the panel lock at at least three points.

Container with panel lock

A shipping and display box is provided that has stacking holes in a bottom wall and stacking tabs protruding above a top wall for being received in stacking holes of a second shipping and display box stacked on top of the shipping and display box to prevent relative movement of the stacked boxes and to align the stacked boxes and facilitate drainage of water from the second shipping and display box into lower shipping and display boxes. Drain holes are formed proximate edges of the bottom wall of the shipping and display box, and diverter tabs are formed in side walls. The holes formed proximate the edge of the bottom wall facilitate drainage of water from an upper stacked box into holes formed by the diverter tabs in the side walls of lower stacked boxes. The shipping and display boxes are in the form of truncated pyramids to facilitate the cascading of water from upper boxes down through lower stacked boxes and to facilitate air ventilation by forming air passageways when the boxes are tightly stacked on a pallet. The shipping and display box is assembled using integrally formed flaps and slots. A blank for forming the shipping and display box and a method of assembling the blank into the shipping and display box are also described.

Shipping and display box

In an apparatus for detaching an article from a member attached thereto, the attached article and member are supported on a grid such that the member is in contact with a substantially rigid surface of the grid and the article is suspended away from the rigid surface. Holders hold the member to the rigid surface. While the member is held to the rigid surface, a punch detaches the article and the member. The member from which the article has been detached is gripped by a pin assembly and the gripped member is removed from the substantially rigid surface by raising the pin assembly.

Apparatus for punching

Multiple embodiments of a display-ready carton each include an opening formed in one vertical panel both to display articles within the carton and to permit their removal as desired. The opening preferably extends into the top panel of the carton and includes a removable reinforcing element, more preferably a T-bar, extending across the opening. The carton is preferably formed from corrugated material having a horizontal axis of corrugation in the panel forming the opening and a vertical axis of corrugation in the end panels to structurally rigidify the carton. The carton is preferably the same height as the articles and is more preferably formed from a wrap including the front, back, top and bottom panels and end pieces forming the two end panels. In a method of use, the carton is filled with articles, transported to a point of sale and then arranged to display articles in the carton, the removable reinforcing element more preferably being removed after the carton is filled with articles and prior to display of the articles to make the carton fully display-ready.

Display-ready shipping carton

Box for shipping asparagus

The present invention discloses and provides a dough preparation and dividing machine capable of receiving substantially spherical, filled encrusted dough balls and forming them, with a minimum of dough working, into flattened, 'D'-shaped configurations to increase the output of a conventional encrusting and co-extruding device for filled, encrusted dough ball products.

Dough ball preparation table

This invention relates to a method for forming a formable food mass, comprising food pieces with or without a binder, in selected shapes; and this invention describes the apparatus used to prepare the formable food mass without the use of binders, wherein the food pieces are optionally chilled to from about 25.degree. F. to about 35.degree. F. prior to compressing the food pieces into the desired shape; optionally the apparatus has a chilled mold cavity maintained at from about -5.degree. F. to about 5.degree. F. during compression of the food pieces therein.

Method for forming shaped edible products

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming a formable food mass, comprising food pieces without a binder, in selected shapes; and this invention relates to the apparatus used to prepare the formable food mass without the use of binders, wherein the food pieces are optionally chilled to from about 25.degree. F. to about 35.degree. F. prior to compressing the food pieces into the desired shape; optionally the apparatus has a chilled mold cavity maintained at from about -5.degree. F. to about 5.degree. F. during compression of the food pieces therein.

Apparatus for forming binderless edible products

A portable barbecue cooker for use without solvent ignition means or impregnated charcoal briquets. A turbo air blower communicates with ignited briquets through a distributive port plenum chamber and brings ignited briquets to operating temperature rapidly. A vertically and rotationally movable elevator brings the briquets, at operating temperature, to the char grill, and by conveying rotary movement to the char grill, distributes the briquets evenly thereupon. The elevator engages the char grill for vertical movement and for variable spacing with respect to the cook grill. The char grill is equipped with a support cage and plough blades which rotate with the char grill to move ashes from the cooker bowl bottom for transport to an ash collector. Either paper kindling or piezoelectric means provide initial ignition for the briquets in an ignition chamber.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Ezra E Theys