Apparatus for applying a handle to a container and method thereof
A method for applying a handle to a container, including placing the handle on the neck of the container, supporting the container to prevent the container from collapsing, and moving the handle toward an end of the neck that contacts a body of the container. The neck includes a supporting rib to fix the handle to the container.
1. An apparatus for applying a handle to a container, comprising:
a neck guide rail to support the container;
a handle guide rail to move the handle into a position above a neck of the container; and
a handle applicator for applying the handle onto the neck of the container, the handle applicator comprising first and second support plates that are movable relative to one another and each include a plurality of spaced apart cutouts, the cutouts each having a polygonal configuration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle applicator includes a handle punch that pushes the handle onto the neck of the container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second support plates are identical.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second support plate is a mirror image of the first support plate.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support plates each have a maximum thickness defined by opposite top and bottom surfaces of the support plates, the cutouts each extending through the maximum thickness of one of the support plates.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart cutouts includes three spaced apart cutouts that are spaced apart from one another by an arcuate portion of one of the support plates.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cutouts is defined first and second surfaces of a respective one of the support plates and a third surface of the respective one of the support plates that extends from the first surface to the second surface, the first and second surfaces extending transverse to the third surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the first support plate includes first and second cutouts and a third cutout positioned between the first and second cutouts;
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the second support plate includes fourth and fifth cutouts and a sixth cutout positioned between the fourth and fifth cutouts; and
the handle applicator includes a handle punch comprising opposite first and second extension that are configured for disposal in the third and sixth cutouts, a third extension that is configured for disposal in the first and fourth cutouts and a fourth extension that is configured for disposal in the second and fifth cutouts.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the first support plate includes first and second cutouts and a third cutout positioned between the first and second cutouts;
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the second support plate includes fourth and fifth cutouts and a sixth cutout positioned between the fourth and fifth cutouts; and
the first and second support plates are movable relative to one another between a first orientation in which the first and fourth cutouts are spaced apart from one another and the second and fifth cutouts are spaced apart from one another and a second orientation in which the first and fourth cutouts are in communication with one another and the second and fifth cutouts are in communication with one another.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the first support plate includes first and second cutouts and a third cutout positioned between the first and second cutouts;
the plurality of spaced apart cutouts of the second support plate includes fourth and fifth cutouts and a sixth cutout positioned between the fourth and fifth cutouts; and
the third and sixth cutouts have an identical configuration.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle guide rail comprises a wall, spaced apart first and second sidewalls that each extend from a top surface of the wall, a first flange that extends toward the second sidewall from the first sidewall, and a second flange that extends towards the first sidewall from the second sidewall.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the top surface, the first sidewall and the first flange define a first channel configured for disposal of a first portion of the handle; and
the top surface, the second sidewall and the second flange define a second channel configured for disposal of a second portion of the handle.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein inner surfaces of the flanges define a third channel configured for disposal of a third portion of the handle.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the wall includes opposite first and second end surfaces that are positioned between the sidewalls, the flanges each extending continuously from the first end surface to the second end surface.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first end surface is planar from the first sidewall to the second sidewall and the wall includes an acruate cutout that extends into the second end surface.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor guide rail configured to prevent the container from rotating as the handle is applied to the container, the neck guide rail being positioned between the conveyor guide rail and the handle guide rail.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the conveyor guide rail comprises a pair of rails that are spaced apart from one another.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle applicator includes a handle punch that pushes the handle onto the neck of the container, the handle punch comprising a base and a plurality of spaced apart extensions that extend from the base, the base including a hole that extends through a thickness of the base configured for disposal of a tube to release a compressed gas into the container.
19. An apparatus for applying a handle to a container, comprising:
a neck guide rail to support the container;
a handle guide rail to move the handle into a position above a neck of the container;
a conveyor guide rail configured to prevent the container from rotating as the handle is applied to the container, the neck guide rail being positioned between the conveyor guide rail and the handle guide rail; and
a handle applicator for applying the handle onto the neck of the container, the handle applicator comprising identical first and second support plates that each include a plurality of spaced apart cutouts, the support plates each having a maximum thickness defined by opposite top and bottom surfaces of the support plates, the cutouts each extending through the maximum thickness of one of the support plates.
20. An apparatus for applying a handle to a container, comprising:
a neck guide rail to support the container;
a handle guide rail to move the handle into a position above a neck of the container; and
a handle applicator for applying the handle onto the neck of the container, the handle applicator comprising identical first and second support plates that each include a plurality of spaced apart cutouts, the handle applicator comprising a handle punch comprising a base and a plurality of spaced apart extensions that extend from the base, the extension being configured for disposal in the cutouts, the base including a hole that extends through a thickness of the base configured for disposal of a tube to release a compressed gas into the container.