Patent Application
20190226883
The present invention relates to methods and devices for aligning a window on a container to a predetermined rotational position without the use of another orientation aid.
Various containers, bottles, and tottles are used to hold, transport, and dispense liquids with a wide range of viscosities. In many cases, these containers are opaque. The containers are opaque because either the material the container is manufactured from is opaque or the container is wrapped in a packaging sleeve, label, or other material to display marketing and descriptive material. As such, typical containers do not allow a consumer to look through the container packaging material to view its contents.
Viewing the contents of a container can be advantageous to a consumer because it allows the consumer to visually inspect the contents, determine the amount remaining, and investigate the quality of the contents. Additionally, allowing a consumer to look through an opaque container can lead to higher sales of the product by providing an irresistible consumer experience.
Many containers are combined with a packaging sleeve or label to provide markings for product identification and other descriptive material. Thus, any window on a container must be aligned to a window in the packaging sleeve.
Alignment of the container is typically lost during the manufacturing process. Many containers are manufactured though the use of molding processes. Once the molding has cured, the molded containers are ejected from the mold and the orientation of the container is lost. Thus, there is a need for a process to orient the container after manufacture of the container, but prior to when the container enters the packaging phase of the process.
Typically, containers are aligned prior to the packaging process by using an orientation aid. Orientation aids include having an eyespot, embossing and/or debossing directly on the container, and the container itself. The containers can then be oriented and aligned to artwork printed on a packaging sleeve by using a camera to detect an eyespot printed on the container or to detecting the raised or lowered profile of embossing/debossing.
Printing an eyespot directly on a container that has recently exited a molding machine is challenging because it would require printing on hot, recently molded portions of the container. This means that the parts must cool prior to printing, which would dramatically slow the packing process. Thus, eyespots can be difficult to print on many containers.
Embossing and debossing are the processes of creating either raised (embossing) or recessed (debossing) relief images and designs in paper and other materials. These can be used as orientation aids throughout the manufacture and packaging process. However, these raised and recessed designs would still appear when using a shrink wrap packaging sleeve.
Some containers can use the container itself as an orientation aid. A container can be aligned using the shape of the container or other features (e.g. a handle), which can also be considered orientation aids. However, this container itself can only serve as an orientation aid if the container is asymmetrical and/or the container has some feature that can be used to orient the bottle. Alignment can still be difficult when the container is symmetrical and has no exterior features to help orient the bottle prior to placement of the packaging sleeve.
Thus, there is a need for a method and device to allow for the alignment of a window on a container with a window on a packaging sleeve, label, or other packaging material without the use of an orientation aid.
A method for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position comprising placing an electromagnetic radiation source on one side of the first window; placing a sensor on the opposite side of the first window; rotating the container; determining the location of the first window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of electromagnetic radiation penetrating the first window as the container is rotated; and rotating the container to align the first window on the container to the predetermined rotational position.
A method for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position comprising placing an electromagnetic radiation source on one side of the first window; placing a sensor on the same side of the first window; rotating the container; determining the location of the first window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of electromagnetic radiation penetrating the first window as the container is rotated; and rotating the container to align the first window on the container to the predetermined rotational position.
A device for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position comprising an electromagnetic radiation source; a sensor; a means for rotating a container; and wherein the light source and the sensor are placed on opposite sides of the first window.
A method for aligning a first translucent window on a tottle and a second translucent window on a sleeve comprising placing a light source on one side of the first translucent window; placing a sensor on the opposite side of the first translucent window; rotating the tottle; determining the location of the first translucent window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of light escaping the first translucent window as the tottle is rotated; and rotating the tottle to align the first window on the container to a predetermined rotational position corresponding to the second window on the sleeve.
A method for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position comprising placing an electromagnetic radiation source on one side of the first window, placing a sensor on the same side of the first window, rotating the container, determining the location of the first window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of electromagnetic radiation penetrating the first window as the container is rotated, and rotating the container to align the first window on the container to the predetermined rotational position.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art from the detailed description that follows.
The present invention is directed to a method that can align a translucent or transparent window on a container to a predetermined rotational position corresponding to a window on a packaging sleeve, label, or other packaging material without the use of an orientation aid. A source of electromagnetic radiation can be placed on one side of the translucent or transparent window on the container and a sensor can be placed on the opposite side of the translucent or transparent window. The container is then rotated. The sensor can then determine the exact location of the translucent window by detecting the changes in the electromagnetic radiation that penetrates the container while rotated. A packaging sleeve, label, or other packaging material can then be placed on the container so that the translucent window on the container and the translucent window on the sleeve are aligned.
The present invention is also directed to a method that can align a translucent or transparent window on a container to a predetermined rotational position corresponding to a window on a packaging sleeve, label, or other packaging material without the use of an orientation aid. A source of electromagnetic radiation can be placed on one side of the translucent or transparent window on the container and a sensor can be placed on the same side of the translucent or transparent window on the container. The container is then rotated. The sensor can then determine the exact location of the translucent window by detecting the changes in the electromagnetic radiation that penetrates the container while rotated. The packaging sleeve can then be placed on the container so that the translucent window on the container and the translucent window on the sleeve are aligned.
Additionally, the present invention is directed to the discovery of a device that can align a translucent window on a container to a predetermined rotational position corresponding to a translucent window on a packaging sleeve without the use of an orientation aid. Such a device includes an electromagnetic radiation source and a sensor placed on the same or opposite side of the translucent window on the container and a means for rotating a container.
The present invention is thus based on the surprising discovery that a container and a packaging sleeve can be aligned without the use of an orientation aid on the container. Additionally, the present invention is based on the surprising discovery that light can be used in combination with a sensor and rotation can be used to determine the exact orientation of a container with a translucent window.
The foregoing summary is not intended to define every aspect of the invention, and additional aspects are described in other sections. In addition, the invention includes, as an additional aspect, all embodiments of the invention narrower in scope in any way than the variations defined by specific paragraphs set forth herein. For example, certain aspects of the invention that are described as a genus, and it should be understood that every member of a genus is, individually, an aspect of the invention. Also, aspects described as a genus or selecting a member of a genus should be understood to embrace combinations of two or more members of the genus. With respect to aspects of the invention described or claimed with “a” or “an,” it should be understood that these terms mean “one or more” unless context unambiguously requires a more restricted meaning. The term “or” should be understood to encompass items in the alternative or together, unless context unambiguously requires otherwise. If aspects of the invention are described as “comprising” a feature, embodiments also are contemplated “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” the feature.
Features of the compositions and methods are described below. Section headings are for convenience of reading and not intended to be limiting per se. The entire document is intended to be related as a unified disclosure, and it should be understood that all combinations of features described herein are contemplated, even if the combination of features are not found together in the same sentence, or paragraph, or section of this document. It will be understood that any feature of the methods or compounds described herein can be deleted, combined with, or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature described herein.
All measurements referred to herein are made at 25° C. unless otherwise specified.
As used herein, “translucent” is understood to describe a material that allows some electromagnetic radiation to pass through. A translucent material allows some light to pass through, such that some objects cannot be seen distinctly. Thus, a translucent material allows the consumer to see the material held within the translucent material, but in certain instances without much detail.
As used herein, “transparent” is understood to describe a material that allows nearly all electromagnetic radiation to pass through. A transparent material allows most of the light to pass through. Thus, a consumer will generally be able to see detailed images of other materials through transparent materials.
As used herein, “opaque” is understood to describe a material that does not allow nearly any electromagnetic radiation to pass through. An opaque material does not allow nearly any light to pass through. Thus, a consumer will not generally be able to see other materials through opaque materials.
The components of the present compositions are described in the following paragraphs.
Disclosed herein are devices for aligning a window on a container to a window on a packaging sleeve without the use of another orientation aid. Such devices comprise an electromagnetic radiation source, a sensor, and a means for rotating a container. The electromagnetic radiation source and the sensor can be placed on opposite sides of the window on the container. The container can be rotated while the light source and the sensor are placed on opposite sides of the window on a container. The electromagnetic radiation source and the sensor can be placed on the same side of the window on the container. The container can be rotated while the light source and the sensor are placed on the same side of the window on a container
Electromagnetic Radiation Source
Electromagnetic radiation describes all of the energies released into space by stars or the sun. Electromagnetic radiation includes energy in the forms of waves and/or photons. Electromagnetic radiation carries radiant energy. Electromagnetic radiation includes all electromagnetic radiation at every wavelength. Electromagnetic radiation includes, but is not limited to radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-ray, gamma rays, and/or mixtures thereof.
Electromagnetic radiation can be provided by any source capable of producing electromagnetic radiation. Sources of electromagnetic radiation include, but are not limited to, a light emitting diode, incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, a compact fluorescent bulb, a halogen bulb, a metal halide bulb, a high pressure sodium bulb, a low pressure sodium bulb, and/or a mercury vapor bulb. The electromagnetic radiation source can be a laser.
Sensor
The sensor is any device capable of sensing the presence or change in amount of any electromagnetic radiation. Suitable sensors include, but are not limited to, an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a contrast-sensing camera, a contrast-imaging camera, a color-sensing camera, a light sensor, a photoresistor, a photodiode, or a phototransistor. The sensor can be any industry available sensor. One example of an industry available sensor is a SICK® sensor.
Means for Rotating a Container
The means for rotating the container can include any motor, robot, pulley-belt system, or other system for rotating a container. The means for rotating the container can be a servomotor. A servomotor is a rotary actuator or linear actuator that allows for precise control of angular or linear position, velocity, and acceleration. It can include a suitable motor coupled to a sensor for position feedback.
Container
The container can be any device capable of holding a liquid, semi-solid(s), or solid(s). The container can be a squeeze container, a squeeze bottle, a bottle, a tottle, a vessel, a carafe, a flask, a jug, a jar, a can, a tube, a canteen, a canister, a carton, a cistern, a glass, a mug, and/or receptacle. A tottle is a bottle that when not in use the top, cap, or dispensing outlet of the container may be placed on a surface, because the tottle has no separate base to reside on when not in use. In certain instances, a tottle can also be described as defined in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/493,726, which is herein incorporated by reference. The container can be opaque or semi-opaque.
The container can be flexible to an extent that it may deform in response to pressure differences arising between the inside of the body of the container and the ambient pressure. The container may be composed of a light weight flexible resilient material, such as polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terepthalate (PET) or the like, and may be produced by any desired method including blow molding a preform, blow molding an extruded parison or the like. The material may be white, transparent, opaque transparent, translucent, and/or colored.
The container can be rigid to an extent that it does not deform in response to pressure differences arising between the inside of the body of the container and the ambient pressure. The container may be composed of glass, metal, and/or a non-flexible plastic material.
The container, as disclosed herein, includes a window. The window on the container makes the contents of the container visually accessible. The window on the container can be circular, oval, square, rectangular, or be any two-dimensional polygon shape. The window on the container can also be a three-dimensional shape due to the thickness of the container wall. The window on the container can be along the side of the container. The window on the container, as disclosed herein in certain instances, does not include the portion of the container that is used to add or dispense liquids (i.e. dispensing outlet, neck, or other opening).
The window on the container can be any size smaller than the container. The surface area of the window on the container can be from about 1% to about 50%, from about 5% to about 50%, from about 5% to about 40%, from about 10% to about 40%, or from about 10% to about 30% of the exterior surface area of the container.
The window on the container can be transparent, translucent, clear, and/or semi-opaque. The window on the container can be any window that allows for electromagnetic radiation to pass through or penetrate the window. The window on the container can be any window that allows for visible light to pass through or penetrate the window. The window on the container can be any window that can be seen through. The window can be made of the same material as the container. The window can differ from the container in the amount of light that can pass through the window.
Sleeve
The sleeve is any sleeve that is placed over the container to identify and/or mark the product inside the container. The sleeve can be a packaging sleeve.
The sleeve, as disclosed herein, includes a window. The window on the sleeve can be circular, oval, square, rectangular, or be any two-dimensional polygon shape. The window on the sleeve can also be a three-dimensional shape due to the thickness of the sleeve. The window on the sleeve can be along the side of the sleeve. The window on the container, as disclosed herein, does not include the portion of the sleeve that allows for its placement on top of the container.
The window on the sleeve can be any size smaller than the sleeve. The surface area of the window on the sleeve can be from about 1% to about 50%, from about 5% to about 40%, from about 10% to about 40%, or from about 10% to about 30% of the exterior surface area of the sleeve.
The window on the sleeve can be approximately the same size and shape as the window on the container so that a consumer can view through both windows to view the contents of the container. The window on the sleeve can be smaller in surface area as the window on the container.
The window on the sleeve can be transparent, translucent, clear, and/or semi-opaque. The window on the sleeve can be any window that allows for electromagnetic radiation to pass through. The window on the sleeve can be any window that allows for visible light to pass through. The window on the sleeve can be any window that can be seen through. The window can be made of the same material as the sleeve. The window can differ from the sleeve in the amount of light that can pass through the window.
The sleeve can be made of oriented polymers including, but not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride. Sleeves can be made of bi-axially oriented polymers including but not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride. The sleeve can be shrunk in-line with the rest of the packaging processes or as an offline process. The process that can be used to shrink these plastic sleeves would be to use heat and/or steam. Other methods may be used to warm the polymers instead of heat and/or steam. This heating of the polymer causes the plastic to try to shrink back to its original shape prior to the orientation or biaxial orientation. This shrinking process allows the plastic sleeve to conform to the shape of the container it was placed around prior to warming the sleeve. The sleeve can have advertising, artwork, and/or consumer product information.
Other Packaging Materials
In addition to the alignment of a window on a container to a window on a packaging sleeve, a window on a container can be aligned to other packaging materials, such as labels, wraps, tapes, stickers, tags, indicators, bags, sheets, boxes, or any other material that is used to cover a container and/or display marketing, product, and intellectual property information.
Additionally, the window on the container can be aligned to a predetermined rotational position that can aid in printing or screening marketing, product, and/or intellectual property information directly on the container.
Alternatively, the window on the container can be aligned to a predetermined rotational position that can aid in decorating the container to include various descriptive material and/or images directly on the container.
Alignment of the Container
The electromagnetic radiation source and the sensor are placed on opposite sides of the window on the container. The electromagnetic radiation source can be placed inside the container and the sensor can be placed outside the container. The electromagnetic radiation source can be placed outside the container and the sensor can be placed inside the container. The electromagnetic radiation source and the sensor can be placed outside the container.
A container with a window can be made via an extrusion process, extrusion blow molding process, and/or blow molding process, where an extruded tube of softened plastic is extruded through a die. The extruded tube can be made from one or more layers, and commonly contains more than 2 layers. The extruded tube can contain 3 layers, 4 layers, 5 layers, 6 layers, 7 layers, or more, each with a window. The window can be created by not allowing any layer containing an opaque colorant to be extruded in one small space of the die therefore creating a line of clear, translucent, or transparent plastic down the side of the extruded tube. Once this tube is extruded to the height of the finished container, a mold closes around the extruded tube and air pressure can be used to force the warm plastic to conform to the shape of the mold. The formed container is held briefly in the mold, until the plastic is cooled enough to withstand the process of ejecting it from the mold. The container is then dropped onto a conveyor belt, where the orientation of the container is lost. This conveyor belt commonly moves the containers to a storage/shipping container.
Once the container has been moved to the packaging site and brought to the packaging line, the containers can be oriented by hand, or oriented using methods and devices disclosed herein.
Thus, in
Thus,
The container is rotated until its rotational position corresponds to align the window on the container to a predetermined rotational position. The predetermined rotational position can correspond to the position of a window on a packaging sleeve, label, or other packaging material because the rotational position of the window on the sleeve, label, or other packaging material is known throughout the manufacturing process. Thus, the known rotational position of the window on the sleeve, label, or other packaging material can be predetermined such that the window on the container can aligned with the predetermined rotational position of the window on the sleeve. Once the container is in the predetermined rotational position of the window on the sleeve, label, or other packaging material, the selecting packaging material can be placed over the container.
The predetermined rotational position can be selected and used to align and/or orient the container to receive a sleeve, label, or other packaging material. The predetermined rotational position can be selected and used to align/orient the container to be decorated or be printed directly on.
A computer, programmable controller, programmable logic controller, or other programmable logic device can control the alignment process. These programmable devices can be used to input the predetermined rotational position, determine threshold values for the sensors to correctly align the container, rotate the container, and other features of the alignment process that would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The programmable devices can determine when the sensor has indicated the correct rotational position has been achieved through rotation and instruct the means for rotating a container to cease rotating the container.
After the alignment of the container is confirmed as described herein, the sleeve can be placed over the container. The sleeve can be pre-cut to the proper length and each sleeve is dropped over the container in the same orientation such that the window in the sleeve will align with the window on the container. Sleeves also can also be in a continuous roll. These sleeves in a continuous roll can be indexed to the correct length to properly fit over the container. The sleeves are cut to the correct length and then each sleeve is dropped over the container in the same orientation such that the window in the sleeve will align with the window on the container.
Alternatively, the sleeve can be rotated to achieve the correct alignment.
Disclosed herein is a method for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position. Alignment can comprise placing an electromagnetic radiation source on one side of the first window; placing a sensor on the opposite side of the first window; rotating the container; determining the location of the first window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of electromagnetic radiation escaping the first window as the container is rotated; and rotating the container to align the first window on the container to the predetermined rotational position.
Disclosed herein is a method for aligning a first translucent window on a tottle and a second translucent window on a packaging sleeve. Alignment can comprise placing a visible light source on one side of the first translucent window; placing a sensor on the opposite side of the first translucent window; rotating the tottle; determining the location of the first translucent window by using a sensor to detect the differences in the amount of visible light escaping the first translucent window as the tottle is rotated; and rotating the tottle to align the first translucent window on the tottle to the second translucent window on the sleeve.
Disclosed herein is a method for aligning a first window on a container to a predetermined rotational position without the use of printed, embossed, or debossed eyespots on the container.
The container can be rotated at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more times. The container can be rotated while the electromagnetic radiation source emits electromagnetic radiation and the sensor senses differences in electromagnetic radiation intensity, magnitude, and/or quantity. The sensor is able to provide feedback to the device rotating the container to stop the rotation at the correct position to align the window on the container to the window on the sleeve that will be placed over the container.
The method can also comprise alignment with the window of the container where a lid is affixed. Once the proper orientation is determined using the method disclosed herein, the lid can be aligned to a skip in the threads around the neck of the container where the lid is screwed in.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62620583 | Jan 2018 | US |
