Method and apparatus for trimming containers
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for trimming a container having an open end wherein the container is held during the trimming operation, including a multi-station assembly for holding the container to be trimmed stationary during trimming, ejecting the trimmed portion and ejecting the trimmed container.
1. An apparatus for trimming a plastic container having an open end and a base, which comprises: a multi-station assembly for holding a container during trimming wherein said assembly includes a plurality of spaced stations and wherein said container traverses stations of said multi-station assembly for operating stages, including means to support the base of the container during its traverse through the multi-station assembly; inlet means to move the container to be trimmed onto said multi-station assembly at a first operating stage; a knife operative to trim said container; means to move said knife into engagement with said container to be trimmed at a second operating stage; means to move said knife around said container to be trimmed to trim said container at a third operating stage including a roller and tapered cam for camming, positioning and moving the knife; means to hold the container stationary during trimming including a holder which holds the container beneath the area to be trimmed during trimming; means to the eject the trimmed portion at a fourth operating stage; and means to eject the trimmed container at a fifth operating stage.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including a plurality of stations for said trimming.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is a high speed apparatus for trimming at least 5,000 containers per hour.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said apparatus is operative to trim at least 10,000 containers per hour.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including a pedestal to hold the container during its traverse through the multi-station assembly.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein separate stages are performed in the area of separate stations.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the trimmed container has a finish portion, and providing that the outer diameter of the trimmed portion is no greater than the outer diameter of the finish portion.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including an inlet wheel for holding a plurality of containers to be trimmed and for sequentially feeding the containers onto said multi-station assembly.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , including an outlet wheel, wherein the trimmed containers are ejected onto said outlet wheel.
10. An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said pedestal is operative to raise the container into the holder.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said pedestal is operative to lift the container into trimming position by raising the pedestal.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including a knife actuating arm for moving the knife into trimming position while the container is held stationary by said holder.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the knife actuating arm moves downward and the knife is engaged with the container by camming.
14. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including means for separating the trimmed portion from the trimmed container after the trimming operation and before ejecting the trimmed portion.
15. An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the pedestal is operative to be lowered to a starting position after the trimming operation.
16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the knife is held on a mounting plate and spring tensioner connected to the roller, wherein the spring tensioner is spaced from the axis of the tapered cam.