Orientationally sensitive closure and orienting apparatus therefor

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6478175
  • Patent Number
    6,478,175
  • Date Filed
    Friday, October 2, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 12, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
An orientationally sensitive closure for mounting to a container in a specific orientation includes a closure body and a flange. A spout portion extends from one side of the flange and an orienting projection extends from a side of the flange opposite of the spout. The flange and spout may be coaxial with on another, with the spout centrally disposed thereon. The projection extends from the flange in a non-coaxial relation to the spout and flange. An apparatus for orienting the closure prior to mounting to a container includes a body defming inlet and outlet regions extending along a longitudinal axis of the body. Flange and projection receiving channels extend between the inlet and outlet regions. The flange channel defines a substantially straight-through path through the apparatus, along the longitudinal axis. The projection channel defines a path having at least two bends therein defming a portion generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. The closure rotates as it traverses through the apparatus to orient the closure so that a trailing edge of the closure adjacent the projection is last discharged from the apparatus.
Description




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not Applicable




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to orientationally sensitive closures and an apparatus for orienting such closures for mounting to containers. More particularly, the invention related to closures having a specifically oriented direction for mounting to a container and an apparatus for orienting such closures prior to mounting to the container.




2. Description of the Related Art




Containers having spout-like closures for dispensing the contents therefrom have come into widespread use. One such type of closure includes a threaded spout extending upwardly from a container. The closure is used with a cap that threadly engages the spout. Frequently, such closures are injection molded directly onto the container material stock. Such closures may, however, be formed separate from the container and subsequently mounted thereto. For certain applications, such closures have shown significant advantages over known closure systems.




Another known type of closure includes a one-piece molded body having a hinged cap. Such one piece closures advantageously eliminate the need for a separately formed closure cap. The one-piece configuration eliminates the possibility of losing or inadvertently discarding the separate cap portion.




One drawback to using such hinged closures is that each closure must be properly oriented on its respective container because each closure cover hinges or pivots about an axis particularly located on the closure. For example, the cover portion of a hinged closure that is mounted to a gable top carton must pivot upwardly, out of the way of the contents being dispensed or poured from the container. If the cover pivots in a manner or direction other than upwardly, it may interfere with dispensing or pouring of the contents therefrom.




In another application, it may be desired to position a non-hinged closure, such as a threaded closure package, in a particular orientation on a container. Such particularized orientation of the closure may be, for example, to effect the proper positioning of indicia on the closure or closure cap relative to the container. This may be significant if the indicia contains a logo, trademark or like representation.




Known orientable closures typically have one or more flattened sides to facilitate proper orientation of the closure on the container. Inasmuch as such partially flattened closures are acceptable for hinged type closures, there are a number of drawbacks. First, such flattened sides may increase the cost to manufacture such closures. In addition, handling and positioning of such closures could require additional capital equipment for sorting, positioning and mounting the closures to containers. Moreover, such flattened closures are difficult to use in conjunction with a threaded-type closure arrangement.




Accordingly, there continues to be a need for an orientationally sensitive closure and an orienting apparatus for use with such a closure. Such a closure and apparatus should readily orient the closure for proper positioning for mounting to a container. Such a closure should include a hinged cover portion that opens away from the dispensing direction. Advantageously, such a closure may include directionally sensitive indicia, such as logos and the like, which indicia should be properly oriented on the closure.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An orientationally sensitive closure adapted for mounting to a container in a specific orientation or direction includes a closure body and a mounting flange. A spout extends from one side of the flange, positioned centrally on, and generally coaxially with the flange. An orienting projection extends from an opposite side of the flange, in a noncoaxial relation to the spout and flange.




The closure may be an orientationally sensitive, hinged-type closure. In such a closure arrangement, the closure must be mounted to the container such that the cover hinges, for example, away from the flow of the dispensed material from the container. The closure may also contain directionally or orientationally sensitive indicia, such as logos, trademarks and the like, which must be properly oriented on, for example, a threaded closure cap.




In a preferred embodiment, the orientationally sensitive closure has circular spout and flange portions. The projection may be formed as a relatively short barrel-like element having a circular cross-section. That portion of the closure flange periphery closest to the projection defines a trailing edge of the closure. Conversely, that portion of the flange periphery that is 180° from the trailing edge defines the leading edge of the closure.




An apparatus for orienting a closure prior to mounting the closure on a container includes a body portion having a closure inlet region and a closure outlet region that extend along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus body. The body defines a longitudinally oriented flange receiving channel having a width configured to slidingly receive the closure flange, and a projection receiving channel extending generally longitudinally along the body portion. The projection receiving channel has a width configured to slidingly receive the closure orienting projection. The projection receiving channel has at least two bends therein, such that a closure, positioned at the inlet and traversing through the apparatus, is rotationally oriented by interaction of the projection and the projection receiving channel to discharge the closure by the leading edge first, i.e., the leading edge in a leading position.




The apparatus may include a longitudinally oriented spout receiving channel adjacent to the flange channel. Preferably, the flange and spout channels have substantially constant widths and substantially constant cross-sectional areas. The projection channel may taper inwardly to facilitate orienting the closure and to facilitate rotation of the closure to further proper orientation. In one embodiment, the projection receiving channel has three bends and is configured to discharge the closures therefrom in a path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus body.




An alternate embodiment of the orienting apparatus includes a cylinder positioned on the body in the path of the flange channel. The cylinder rotates about an axis that intersects the projection channel. The cylinder is configured to receive the closures, at about the spout, and rotate 180° to carry the closures from the inlet region to the outlet region.




Preferably, the cylinder has a pair of cradle regions symmetrically positioned about the axis and extending inwardly from a periphery of the cylinder. The cradles are configured having a semi-circular shape to carry the closures at about the spout. In a most preferred embodiment, the projection channel has two branches, a straight-through branch that transitions to and is contiguous with an inwardly, arcuately extending path. The arcuate path diverges from the straight-through path at about the inlet region and conjoins with the straight-through path at about the outlet region.




The cylinder is configured to move the closures from the inlet to the outlet by rotation of the cylinder, and is configured to orient the closures through rotation of the closure relative to the cylinder, by interaction between the projection and the arcuate projection channel branch, so that the closure is discharged from the apparatus with the leading edge in a leading position.




Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a container, specifically, a gable top carton having a directionally or orientationally sensitive closure mounted thereto, the illustrated closure being configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a top view of an exemplary closure embodying the principles of the present invention, the closure being illustrated with a dispensing opening therein shown in a phantom line;





FIG. 3

is a bottom view of the closure of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a side view of the closure of

FIG. 2

, as viewed from the right-hand side thereof;





FIG. 5

is a front view of an embodiment of an orienting apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the apparatus being illustrated with the first and second, i.e. the spout and flange channels shown, in part, in phantom lines;





FIG. 6

is a top view of the orienting apparatus of

FIG. 5

;





FIGS. 7



a-e


diagrammatically illustrate a directionally sensitive closure as it traverses through the orienting apparatus of

FIG. 5

, the closure being shown entering the apparatus with the trailing edge in a near leading position, and exiting the apparatus with the leading edge in a leading position;





FIG. 8

is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a closure orienting apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention.





FIGS. 9



a-d


diagrammatically illustrate a directionally sensitive closure as it traverses through the orienting apparatus of

FIG. 8

, the closure being shown entering the apparatus with the trailing edge in a near leading position, and exiting the apparatus with the leading edge in a leading position; and





FIG. 10

diagrammatically illustrates the closure and apparatus of

FIGS. 8-9

showing the closure having entered the apparatus with the trailing edge in a near leading position, and resting in the apparatus cradle.





FIG. 11

is a side view of an alternate closure embodying the principles of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.




Referring now to the figures, and in particular to

FIGS. 1-4

, there is shown an embodiment of an orientationally or directionally sensitive closure


10


. The closure


10


is shown, in

FIG. 1

, mounted to an exemplary gable top carton type container


12


. The exemplary closure


10


is a hinged-type closure, and includes a body


14


having a flange


16


extending therefrom. The flange


16


is configured for mounting the closure


10


to the container


12


. The closure body


14


includes a spout


18


that extends upwardly from one side


20


of the flange


16


. In a current embodiment, the flange


16


and spout


18


are coaxial with one another about an axis as indicated at


22


.




In the illustrated closure


10


, a cover


24


is operably connected to the body


14


by a hinge


26


. The hinge


26


may include one or more flexible elements


28


extending between the cover portion


24


and the closure body


14


. It will be recognized that the hinged cover


24


may open in only one direction. That is, the cover


24


pivots about a particular axis H. Thus, the closure


10


and cover


24


are orientationally or directionally sensitive.




Although a hinged cover


24


is shown, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other types of directionally sensitive covers and operating mechanisms, such as finger depressible, rocker-type valves may be used. Such other types of operating mechanisms and covers are within the scope of the present invention. The closure body


14


includes an opening


30


therein through which the contents of the container


12


are dispensed when the closure


10


is mounted to the container


12


. As best seen in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the closure


10


includes an orienting projection


32


extending from the flange


16


from a side


34


opposite of the spout side


20


. The orienting projection


32


may be formed as a relatively small post or post-like element extending from the flange side


34


. The projection


32


may be formed as a relatively short, barrel-like element having a circular cross-section. The projection


32


extends from the flange


16


in a non-coaxial relation thereto, that is, the projection


32


extends from the flange


16


in spaced relation to the axis


22


.




The portion of the peripheral edge


36


of the flange


16


farthest from the projection


32


, as indicated by the arrow at


38


, defines a leading edge of the closure


10


. Conversely, a trailing edge


40


of the flange


16


is that point on the peripheral edge


36


of the flange


16


closest to the projection


32


, as indicated by the arrow at


40


. It will be readily apparent from

FIGS. 2-4

that the leading and trailing edges


38


,


40


, respectively of the closure


10


are diametrically opposed to one another, i.e., 180° relative to one another.




It will also be readily apparent from the figures that the flange


16


, spout portion


18


and orienting projection


32


each have a width, the respective widths being configured relative to widths of the other of the closure


10


parts. In a current embodiment, the flange


16


is the widest of the closure


10


parts having a width W


f


. The spout


18


width W


s


is less that the width W


f


of the flange


16


and greater than the projection


32


width W


p


.




One embodiment of an apparatus


60


for orienting the closures


10


is illustrated in

FIGS. 5-7

. The apparatus


60


is a gravity feed type device that uses gravity acting on the closures


10


as the motive force for moving the closures


10


through the apparatus


60


and orienting the closures


10


as they traverse through and exit therefrom. The orienting apparatus


60


includes a body portion


62


having an inlet region


64


and an outlet region


66


. The body


62


defines a longitudinal axis, as indicated at


68


, between the inlet


64


and outlet


66


regions. First, second and third receiving channels


70


,


72


and


74


, respectively, are formed in the body


62


extending between the inlet and outlet regions


64


,


66


. The channels


70


,


72


and


74


are configured to slidingly receive the spout


18


, flange


16


and orienting projection


32


, respectively.




The first and second channels


70


,


72


, i.e., the spout and flange channels, traverse through the body


62


defining relatively straight-through paths between the inlet and outlet regions


64


,


66


. As best seen in

FIG. 6

, each the first and second channels


70


,


72


have substantially constant cross-sectional areas and substantially constant widths. The width of each the first and second channels W


c1


and W


c2


is somewhat greater than the width of its corresponding closure part (i.e., the first channel width W


c1


is somewhat greater than the spout width W


s


, and the second channel width W


c2


is somewhat greater than the flange width W


f


), to permit the closure


10


to freely slide or traverse through the apparatus


60


.




As best seen in

FIG. 5

, the third channel


74


, i.e., the orienting projection channel, has a path that includes an inward taper from the inlet region


64


, as indicated at


76


, and a plurality of bends, preferable, two bends, as indicated at


78


and


80


, respectively, between the inlet and outlet regions


64


,


66


. In an embodiment in which the channel


74


includes two bends, the bends


78


,


80


have angles of about 90° and 80°, respectively. The channel


74


can include one or more additional bends, such as the exemplary third bend


82


, to discharge the closures


10


in a path parallel to the longitudinal axis


68


.




A diagrammatic illustration of a closure


10


traversing through the orienting apparatus


60


is shown in

FIGS. 7



a-e


. It will be readily apparent from the figures and the present description that the closure


10


will exit or will be discharged from the orienting apparatus


60


with the leading edge


38


first exiting (in a leading position) the apparatus


60


and the trailing edge


40


last exiting (in a trailing position) the apparatus


60


. It is to be noted that the apparatus


60


is oriented with the longitudinal axis


68


positioned in a vertical or near vertical orientation. In a current embodiment, the longitudinal axis


68


is positioned between a vertical orientation and about 30° from the vertical.





FIG. 7



a


shows a closure


10


as it traverses through the apparatus


60


. The spout


18


is positioned within the spout channel


70


, the flange


16


is positioned within the flange channel


72


and the orienting projection


32


is positioned within the projection channel


74


. The closure


10


is illustrated with the trailing edge


40


or a trailing portion of the closure


10


in a leading position. As the closure


10


moves downward in the apparatus


60


, the projection


32


can contact one of the sides


83


of the channel


74


. The resistance generated by contact between the projection


32


and a channel side


83


begins to rotate the closure


10


so that the projection


32


shifts to a trailing position. That is, the leading edge


38


will begin to rotate into a leading position as the closure


10


moves toward the outlet region


66


.




Referring to

FIG. 7



b


, as the closure


10


traverses further into the apparatus


60


, the projection


32


is directed against a wall


84


that is defined by the first bend


78


in the projection channel


74


. Gravity acting on the closure


10


, and more particularly, gravity acting on the center of gravity of the closure


10


(which for purposes of the present discussion is assumed to be at about the center of the closure


10


) further rotates the closure


10


as it pivots about the projection


32


which is contacting the wall


84


.




As shown in

FIG. 7



c


, the closure


10


continues to rotate which moves the projection


32


off of the wall


84


, around the second bend


80


, and into a vertical or near vertical portion


86


of the projection channel


74


. The continued rotation of the closure


10


is due to gravitational forces acting on the closure


10


as the projection


32


contacts or drags against the sides


83


of the channel


74


.




At this point, as shown in

FIGS. 7



d-e


, the closure


10


has been rotated so that it is oriented with the leading edge


38


in the leading position and the trailing edge


40


in the trailing position. It is important to note that the channel


70


,


72


widths W


c1


and W


c2


are accordingly proportioned so that once the closure


10


passes the second bend


80


it cannot continue rotating so as to pass beyond the desired leading edge orientation to permit the trailing edge to lead. The closure


10


then exists or is discharged from the apparatus


60


properly oriented, with the leading edge


38


first exiting the apparatus


60


, i.e., with the leading edge


38


in a leading position.




It will be apparent from the figures that when a closure


10


enters the apparatus


60


with the leading edge


38


in a leading position, the above discussion applies, however, the extent of rotation of the closure


10


will be less than it is with the closure


10


entering the apparatus


60


by the trailing edge


40


.




An alternate embodiment


100


of the orienting apparatus is illustrated in

FIGS. 8-9

. The orienting apparatus


100


includes a main body


102


having an inlet region


104


and an outlet region


106


. The body defines a longitudinal axis, as indicated at


108


, that extends between the inlet and the outlet regions


104


,


106


. First, second and third receiving channels


110


,


112


, and


114


, respectively, are formed in the body


102


extending between the inlet and outlet regions


104


,


106


. The channels


110


,


112


, and


114


are adapted to slidingly receive the spout


18


, flange


16


and orienting projection


32


, respectively. The third channel


114


, i.e., the projection channel, can be configured with a tapered inlet, as indicated at


116


, to facilitate introducing the closures


10


to the apparatus


100


.




The orienting apparatus


100


includes a rotating cylinder


118


positioned on the body


102


, in the path of travel of the closures


10


, intermediate the inlet and outlet regions


104


,


106


. The cylinder


118


rotates about an axis A, and includes at least one, and preferably two, opposingly oriented, semicircular cradle regions


120


,


122


that are symmetrically positioned about the axis A. The cradle regions


120


,


122


are configured to receive closures


10


, at about the spout


18


, and transport the closure 180° from the inlet region


104


to the outlet region


106


. The cylinder


118


is positioned in the path of, and intersecting, the first and second channels,


110


,


112


i.e., the spout and flange channels, and is positioned, as illustrated in

FIG. 8

, above the third channel


114


, i.e., projection channel.




The first and second channels


110


,


112


each define an essentially straight-through path except for the rotational movement by and about the cylinder


118


as will be described herein. The third channel


114


has a pair of branches


124


,


126


. The first branch


124


has a straight-through path. The second branch


126


follows a diverging-converging path, and diverges outwardly, arcuately from the first path at about a periphery of the cylinder, as indicated at


128


. The diverging portion


128


of the path extends a distance about equal to a 90° rotation of the cylinder


118


. The diverging path


128


transitions as indicated at


130


, reversing direction, to an inwardly, arcuately extending path


132


that converges with the straight-through. The converging portion


132


of the path conjoins with the straight-through path


124


, as indicated at


134


, at a distance about equal to a 90° rotation of the cylinder


118


.




Essentially, the third channel


114


has a two paths, a straight-through path


124


and an arcuate path


126


. The arcuate path


126


has an outwardly, arcuately diverging portion


128


that transitions, as indicated at


130


, to an inwardly, arcuately converging portion


132


, that conjoins, as indicated at


134


, with the straight-through path


124


.




In operation, similar to the first embodiment


60


, with reference now to

FIGS. 9



a-d


, the orienting apparatus


100


is configured to slidingly receive a closure


10


with the projection


32


extending into the third channel


114


, and to reorient the closure


10


such that the closure


10


exits or is discharged from the apparatus


100


with the leading edge


38


exiting the apparatus


100


in a leading position.




The operation of the apparatus


100


will be first described with a closure


10


Lentering the apparatus


100


with the projection


32


(i.e., the trailing edge


40


) in a trailing position. As shown in

FIG. 9



a


, the closure


10


is presented to the inlet region


104


of the apparatus


100


. The tapered inlet


116


of the channel


114


directs the closure


10


such that the leading edge


38


of the closure


10


first enters the cylinder


118


and the spout


18


rests in the cradle


120


. As best seen in

FIG. 9



a


, the projection


32


is at the point of divergence of the third channel


114


. As the cylinder


118


rotates clock-wise, the closure


10


remains stationary relative to the cradle


120


, but rotates clock-wise with the rotating cradle


120


. As the closure


10


rotates, the projection


32


moves along the diverging path


128


, as illustrated in

FIG. 9



b.






As this point, as shown in

FIG. 9



b


, the projection


32


is resting against the channel wall at the transition


130


. As the cylinder


118


further rotates clock-wise, the projection


32


is urged along the converging path


132


, and the closure


10


rotates counter clock-wise as shown in

FIG. 9c

, relative to, and as the cradle


120


rotates. As the cradle


120


comes into alignment with the outlet region


106


, the projection


32


is oriented rearward with the leading edge


38


of the closure


10


directed toward the outlet region


106


. As the closure


10


exits from the apparatus


100


, the leading edge


38


is first discharged therefrom.





FIG. 10

illustrates the apparatus


100


of

FIG. 8

, with a closure


10


entering the apparatus


100


with the trailing edge


40


in a leading position. The closure


10


is presented to the apparatus


100


and traverses downward to position the spout


18


in the cradle


120


. In this position, the projection


32


is collinear with the axis A. As the cradle


120


rotates, the projection


32


is held in place in the straight-through portion


124


of the third channel


114


and serves as a pivot for the closure


10


. As the cradle


120


rotates, the closure


10


rotates about 180° with the cradle


120


, about the projection


32


. The closure


10


is then discharged from the cradle


120


and the apparatus


100


with the leading edge


38


first discharged therefrom, i.e., with the leading edge


38


in a leading position.




Advantageously, the orienting apparatus


100


also singulates the closures


10


. That is, the closures


10


are individually discharged from the apparatus


100


so the closure


10


units are ready for further processing and mounting to a container


12


. Similar to the first embodiment


60


, the apparatus


100


is intended to be oriented in a vertical or near vertical orientation to permit maximum use of gravity to effect traversing the closures


10


through the apparatus


100


. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that although the present apparatus is illustrated with a pair of symmetrical cradle regions


120


,


122


, numerous variations and changes may be made to the apparatus


100


without departing from the scope of the present invention.




From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims:



Claims
  • 1. An orientationally sensitive closure adapted for mounting to a container in a specific orientation, comprising:a body; a spout portion integral with the body; a flange having first and second sides, the flange being integral with the spout the spout extending from one of the first and second sides of the flange; an orienting projection extending from the other of the first and second sides of the flange opposite of the spout, the projection extending from the flange in a non-coaxial relation to the flange and in spaced relation to an axis of the closure; and a cap fully separable and removable from the closure, and engagable with the closure to respectively open and close the spout.
  • 2. The orientationally sensitive closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein each the spout portion and the flange are generally circular and coaxial with one another about an axis, the spout portion being disposed centrally of the flange about the axis.
  • 3. The orientationally sensitive closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the closure includes orientationally sensitive indicia.
  • 4. An orientationally sensitive closure adapted for mounting to a container in a specific orientation, comprising:a body; a spout portion integral with the body, defining a central axis through the spout portion; a flange having a first side and a second side and defining an outer periphery, the spout extending from the flange from one of the first and second sides and being integral with the body; an orienting projection extending from the other of the first and seconds sides of the flange, opposite of the spout and intermediate the central axis of the spout and the outer periphery of the flange, wherein the projection is a relatively short, barrel-like element having a generally circular cross-section; and a cap fully removable from and engagable with the spout for opening and sealing the container, respectively.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/812,319, filed on Mar. 5, 1997.

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4489841 Thompson Dec 1984 A
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5678719 Adams et al. Oct 1997 A
5765747 Lawson Jun 1998 A
5852913 Tuckner et al. Dec 1998 A
5934496 Mogard et al. Aug 1999 A
6003712 Mogard et al. Dec 1999 A