US3795162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for trimming plastic bottles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-05
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Granted: 1974-03-05
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Expires: 1993-02-05
Abstract
Abstract Bottles or other containers formed by blow molding are trimmed to remove the flashings at the bottom, top, and in the handle opening. The bottles are supported in an upright position and are rapidly trimmed while hot and pliable by a swinging arm having cutting tools that conform to and skim the contour of the bottle. The cutting tools have curved or tapered surfaces relative to the plane of the flashings that engage the flashings from one side and curl them away from the bottle in a one step operation.
Inventors
- 👤 B Jaeger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:33
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/42; B29C49/72; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/806; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/914; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0448; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/22; Y10T83/2205; Y10T83/2207; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/727; Y10T83/739; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8798; Y10T83/8799; Y10T83/8801; Y10T83/8804; Y10T83/8809
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
Method for trimming flashings from a thermoplastic article issuing from a mold comprising the steps of catching the article as it issues from the mold, and then while the flashings is in a hot and pliable condition, skimming the contour of the article in the area of the flashings from a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, whereby said flashings are parted and removed from said article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
Method for trimming flashings from a thermoplastic article issuing from a mold comprising the steps of catching the article as it issues from the mold, and then while the flashings is in a hot and pliable condition, skimming the contour of the article in the area of the flashings from a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, whereby said flashings are parted and removed from said article.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for removing the flashings from a blow extruded plastic bottle issuing from a mold, comprising the steps catching the molded bottle in an upright first position as it issues from the mold, and then while said bottle is in a hot and pliable condition with the flashings attached along the parting line, trimming the flashings from said bottle by rapidly moving trimming elements against all of said flashings simultaneously with said bottle in an upright position, said elements moving in a line substantially perpendicular to said flashings, and then moving said bottle in an upright position away from said first position to a second position removed from said trimming elements.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for removing the flashings from a blow extruded plastic bottle issuing from a mold, comprising the steps catching the molded bottle in an upright first position as it issues from the mold, and then while said bottle is in a hot and pliable condition with the flashings attached along the parting line, trimming the flashings from said bottle by rapidly moving trimming elements against all of said flashings simultaneously with said bottle in an upright position, said elements moving in a line substantially perpendicular to said flashings, and then moving said bottle in an upright position away from said first position to a second position removed from said trimming elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of moving said bottle away from said first position comprises the steps of moving the bottle to a second position adjacent to a conveyor, and pushing the bottle onto the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 comprising the further steps of catching another bottle to be trimmed while a previously trimmed bottle is being pushed onto said conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a plurality of bottles are caught as they issue from the mold and are thereafter trimmed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the bottles are trimmed individually.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the bottles are trimmed simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said bottle is trimmed simultaneously in one motion of said trimming elements in the area of its neck, handle and bottom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said trimming elements establish a progressive shearing action with said flashings at said parting line and curl the flashings away from the bottle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for trimming and handling blow extruded articles issuing from a mold and having flashings attached thereto along a parting line, comprising pocket means for catching an article immediately upon issuance from the mold, said pocket means holding said article in a stationary position with said flashings being exposed on one side, and movable trimming means for skimming the contour of the article in the area of the flashings while said article and flashings thereof are in a hot and pliable condition, said trimming means approaching and engaging said flashings from said one side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for trimming and handling blow extruded articles issuing from a mold and having flashings attached thereto along a parting line, comprising pocket means for catching an article immediately upon issuance from the mold, said pocket means holding said article in a stationary position with said flashings being exposed on one side, and movable trimming means for skimming the contour of the article in the area of the flashings while said article and flashings thereof are in a hot and pliable condition, said trimming means approaching and engaging said flashings from said one side.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said trimming means comprises a lever, means for pivotally mounting said lever, power means for moving one end of said lever toward and away from said article, and trim elements secured near said one end of the lever engageable with said flashings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said trim elements comprise members shaped to conform to a portion of the contour of said article in the area of said flashings, said members being engageable with said flashings at said parting line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of clAim 11 wherein said members are slanted or curved relative to the surface of said flashings, whereby to create a progressive shearing effect upon engagement therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said members comprise a top trim means for engaging the top flashing of the article, said trim means for engaging flashings at the sides of the article, and bottom trim means for engaging the flashings at the bottom of said article.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said article comprises a bottle having a handle opening formed therein, and said side trim means comprises a shaped member engageable with the contour of said opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said bottle has a bottom concave surface, and wherein said arm and said bottom trim means swings through an arc corresponding substantially to the curvature of the bottom surface of said bottle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus of claim 10 further comprising shuttle means for moving said article from said stationary position in coordination with said trimming means to a second position away from said trimming means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus of claim 17 comprising a guideway adjacent said second position, and pusher means for moving said article from said second position onto said guideway.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said trimming means, shuttle means and pusher means operate in automatic sequence.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said shuttle means comprise a power cylinder connected to said pocket means for moving said pocket means in a linear direction, guide means for guiding said pocket in said linear direction, and said pusher means comprises a power operated lever movable into and out of engagement with said article in said second position.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for trimming flashings from a plastic article issuing from a mold comprising catching the article as it issues from the mold and holding the article with the flashings exposed, and curling the flashings away from the article while in a hot and pliable condition by imparting a progressive shearing action thereto near the junction between the flashings and the article.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for trimming flashings from a plastic article issuing from a mold comprising catching the article as it issues from the mold and holding the article with the flashings exposed, and curling the flashings away from the article while in a hot and pliable condition by imparting a progressive shearing action thereto near the junction between the flashings and the article.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |