The Kartridg Pak Co.

R. A. Jones Co., Inc.

Packaging Technologies, Inc.

Rodney P Smith

Rick A Meeker

James A Bloome

Kelly D Eastman

Gregory C Vens

Donald E Cohrs

A filter setting and sealing apparatus includes a wobble plate mounted to press a filter edge into a plane defined by the top rim of a brew cup. A sealer defined by expandable sealer jaws is moveable into the filter. The jaws are actuated for radial outward expansion to seal the filter to the cup proximate the filter rim and cup edge. A second sealer is used to seal any gaps remaining in the seal after initial sealing. Methods are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for placing and attaching formed filters into brewing cups

A filter setting and sealing apparatus includes a wobble plate mounted to press a filter edge into a plane defined by the top rim of a brew cup. A sealer defined by expandable sealer jaws is moveable into the filter. The jaws are actuated for radial outward expansion to seal the filter to the cup proximate the filter rim and cup edge. A second sealer is used to seal any gaps remaining in the seal after initial sealing.

Apparatus for placing and attaching formed filters into brewing cups

In the 'undercap' method of, and closure cap crimper-propellant fill head apparatus for, introducing a charge of volatile propellant in its liquid state into an aerosol container containing product to be dispensed, a significant residual amount of the propellant charge remains in the crimper-propellant fill head bell after the closure cap has been secured in place to seal the container. Not all crimper-propellant head machines are equipped with systems for reclaiming residual propellant, and even when so equipped, it is not always practical to reclaim residual propellant since certain products to be dispensed will foul the reclamation equipment. According to this invention a compressed purge gas is injected into the crimper-propellant fill head bell to purge a substantial portion of the residual propellant into the container before it is sealed by crimping its closure cap on the container mouth. The efficiency of purging with compressed gases is enhanced by providing the crimper-propellant fill head bell with an annular groove on the interior communicating with the purging gas inlet together with a plurality of spaced axial grooves leading from the groove toward the bottom of the bell chamber. Another method of purging residual propellant is to have a sufficient temperature differential between the liquid propellant and the product and a sufficiently low pressure against which the cap can lift so that the residual propellant will be self-purging to a worthwhile extent.

Crimper-propellant fill head

A supply of a propellant gas is maintained at substantially uniform temperature and pressure. Uniform predetermined increments of the propellant gas are withdrawn in rapid succession and rapidly introduced into aerosol containers in which product to be dispensed has already been introduced. Such containers are subjected to ultrasonic frequency agitation during the introduction of the propellant thereby enhancing the speed of introduction. The propellant may be introduced into a container either by the 'through-the-valve' method or by the 'under-the-cap' method at conventional speeds using known commercial equipment.

Means and method for ultrasonic gassing of aerosols

A crimper head for use in introducing a fluid product under pressure into the mouth of a container provided with a closure and thereafter crimping the closure to the container mouth. A container, such as for an aerosol package, with a closure resting freely in the mouth of the container is delivered to the crimper head. The head has a lower bell which forms a seal with the upper end of the container when the head is lowered. While the bell remains stationary, other parts of the head are actuated so that vacuum is applied to the bell and the container while the closure is lifted by vacuum from the mouth. Thereafter, the head is actuated to shut off the vacuum and admit a metered quantity of fluid under pressure, such as aerosol propellant, into the bell and container. When the pressurized fluid is admitted it lifts the closure from the container mouth and also acts to lift as a unit all parts of the head except the bell which remains stationary and engaged with the container. The combined weight of the lifted parts augmented by a first hydraulic or pneumatic hold-down force resist the lifting action. After the desired quantity of propellant has been introduced, a second hold-down force is applied which in combination with the previously applied weight of the lifted parts and first hold-down force restores the lifted parts to their normal or lowered position. Thereupon, the collet in the head is actuated to crimp the closure to the mouth of the container.

Growing community of inventors

Moline, IL, United States of America

Rodney P Smith