초록 ▼

By providing two endless loop belt drive assemblies forming a belt driven sealing section, a highly efficient and effective automatic, universally applicable, container closing system has been achieved which is capable of securely lockingly engaging both locking lug/receiving well containers and per

By providing two endless loop belt drive assemblies forming a belt driven sealing section, a highly efficient and effective automatic, universally applicable, container closing system has been achieved which is capable of securely lockingly engaging both locking lug/receiving well containers and perimeter seal containers. In the present invention, the two cooperating endless loop belt drive systems are mounted in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with each other and are positioned for simultaneously closing and securely engaging the entire locking elements formed on the flanges of one side of the container. In addition, the spaced distance between the two belt drive assemblies is adjustable, as well as the position of the spaced distance relative to a conveyor. In this way, all containers are to be closed by this system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for securely affixing locking elements of a lid of a container with cooperating locking elements of a base of the container, said locking elements being formed on flanges extending from the lid and base of the container in cooperating alignment with each other, said

What is claimed is: 1. A system for securely affixing locking elements of a lid of a container with cooperating locking elements of a base of the container, said locking elements being formed on flanges extending from the lid and base of the container in cooperating alignment with each other, said system comprising: A. a support table constructed for enabling containers to be moved thereon; B. a conveyor belt mounted to the support table and constructed for transferring the containers along the length of the table; and C. a container securing section mounted to the support table and comprising a. a first endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the conveyor, b. a second endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the first endless loop belt drive assembly defining therebetween an elongated, container engaging gap and c. said container engaging extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor and positioned for engaging the outwardly extending flanges of the container and dimensioned for compressing the locking elements formed on the flanges into secure interengagement with each other; d. first control means controllably engaged with the support plate for simultaneously raising and lowering the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies relative to the conveyor, thereby enabling the position of the elongated gap relative to the conveyor to be easily adjusted for any sized container; whereby containers moving on the conveyor are advanced into engagement with the container engaging gap of the endless loop drive belt assemblies wherein the locking elements of the container are securely engaged with each other. 2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein each of the endless loop belt drive assemblies are further defined as comprising a first wheel mounted for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a second wheel mounted for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned directly adjacent to the first wheel in cooperating planar alignment therewith, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surrounding the first wheel and the second wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel. 3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein the elongated, container engaging gap formed between the first endless loop belt drive assembly and the second endless loop belt drive assembly is further defined as extending substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor. 4. The system defined in claim 3, wherein the elongated, container engaging gap formed between the first endless loop drive belt assembly and the second endless loop drive belt assembly is further defined as comprising an overall length which is greater than the maximum length of any container being processed by said system. 5. The system defined in claim 4, wherein the container is further defined as comprising cooperating, forwardly protruding flanges formed on the lid and base thereof, with the locking elements being integrally formed on said flanges, and the elongated, container engaging gap being positioned for receiving the forwardly protruding flanges of the container, when in juxtaposed, spaced, aligned relationship with each other, and simultaneously forcing the locking elements formed on the flanges into locked, secure interengagement with each other. 6. The system defined in claim 5, wherein said container is further defined as comprising a lid portion integrally secured to the base along the one edge of thereof, thereby forming a clamshell construction, and the forwardly protruding flanges formed on the lid and the base are positioned along the edge of the container opposite the hinged edge. 7. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the locking elements comprise at least two lugs formed in one flange and at least two cooperating wells formed in the other flange, said lugs and wells being securely engaged with each other simultaneously upon passage through the elongated gap. 8. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the flanges each comprise cooperating, elongated, mating locking means formed along the length thereof, said mating locking means being simultaneously interengaged in their entirety upon passage through the elongated gap. 9. The system defined in claim 3, wherein the first endless loop belt drive assembly and the second endless loop belt drive assembly are further defined as a being cooperatively mounted on a support plate positioned adjacent the conveyor. 10. A system for securely affixing locking elements of a lid of a container with cooperating locking elements of a base of the container, said system comorising: A. a support table constructed for enabling containers to be moved thereon; B. a conveyor belt mounted to the support table and constructed for transferring the containers along the length of the table; and C. a container securing section mounted to the support table and comprising a. a support plate positioned adjacent the conveyor, b. a first endless loop belt drive assembly mounted to the support plate and positioned in cooperating relationship with the conveyor, and c. a second endless loop belt drive assembly, mounted to the support plate and positioned in cooperating relationship with the first endless loop belt drive assembly defining therebetween an elongated, container engaging gap and d. first control means controllably engaged with the support plate for simultaneously raising and lowering the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies relative to the conveyor, thereby enabling the position of the elongated gap relative to the conveyor to be easily adjusted for any sized container; whereby containers moving on the conveyor are advanced into engagement with the container engaging gap of the endless loop drive belt assemblies wherein the locking elements of the container are securely engaged with each other. 11. The system defined in claim 10, wherein each of the endless loop belt drive assemblies comprises a reinforcing plate positioned adjacent the portion of the belt forming the gap, thereby preventing movement of the belt away from the gap. 12. The system defined in claim 11, wherein said system further comprises second control means controllably engaged with the reinforcing plate of the first endless loop belt drive assembly for raising and lowering the reinforcing plate of the first endless loop belt drive assembly relative to the reinforcing plate of the second endless loop belt drive assembly, thereby enabling the vertical distance between the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies to be easily adjusted for accommodating various container configurations. 13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein said system further comprises an elongated, longitudinally extending guide rail assembly mounted to the support table in cooperating association with the conveyor belt for controllably guiding the travel path of each container as the container moves with said conveyor. 14. The system defined in claim 13, wherein said guide rail assembly is further defined as comprising two separate and independent elongated rail members cooperatively associated with each other and positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship. 15. The system defined in claim 14, wherein said guide rail assembly further comprises a holding plate mounted to each of said rail members for enabling the spaced distance between said rail members to be controllably altered. 16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the container is further defined as comprising elongated, cooperating sealing components formed on the lid and the base of the container, peripherally surrounding the entire container for enabling the entire outer peripheral edge of the container to be sealed, and the rail members forming the guide rail assembly are adjusted for establishing a gap therebetween which is dimensioned to securely, lockingly engage the perimeter sealing elements formed along the one edge of the container, while the sealing elements formed on the juxtaposed, spaced, parallel edge of the container are lockingly interengaged by the endless loop drive belt assemblies. 17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the lid of the container is further defined as being integrally attached to the base of the container along one edge thereof, thereby forming a clamshell perimeter seal construction. 18. A system for securely closing and locking containers having a cover joined along one edge to a base by a hinge, with the cover and the base each incorporating an outwardly extending flange formed along the edge thereof opposite the hinge, with each flange incorporating locking means formed therein adapted for secure interengagement with each other when said flanges are pressed together, said system comprising: A. a support table constructed for enabling the containers to be moved thereon; B. a conveyor belt mounted to the support table and constructed for transferring the containers along the length thereof; C. a container securing section mounted to the support table and comprising a. a support plate supportingly positioned adjacent the table in cooperating relationship with the conveyor surface, b. a first endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the conveyor and comprising a first wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a second wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surrounding the first wheel and the second wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, c. a second endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the first endless loop belt drive assembly defining therebetween an elongated, container engaging gap, and comprising a third wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a fourth wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surround the third wheel and the fourth wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, d. said container engaging gap extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor and positioned for engaging the outwardly extending flanges of the container and dimensioned for compressing the locking means formed on the flanges into secure interengagement with each other; D. first control means controllably engaged with the support plate for simultaneously raising and/or lowering the support plate for the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies relative to the conveyor, thereby enabling the position of the elongated gap relative to the conveyor lo be easily adjusted for any sized container; whereby the containers moving on the conveyor are advanced for causing the flanges thereof to be moved into interengagement with the container engaging gap of the endless loop drive belt assemblies wherein the locking elements formed along the flanges are simultaneously securely engaged with each other. 19. The system defined in claim 18, wherein the elongated, container engaging gap formed between the first endless loop drive belt assembly and the second endless loop drive belt assembly is further defined as comprising an overall length which is greater than the maximum length of any container being processed by said system. 20. The system defined in claim 19, wherein the support plate is further defined as being vertically movable along two support roads securely mounted at their opposed ends to mounting blocks and the first control means comprises a threaded shaft rotationally mounted in a cooperating bushing secured to the support late, whereby rotation of the shaft causes vertical movement of the support plate along the rods. 21. A system for securely closing and locking containers having a cover joined along one edge to a base by a hinge, with the cover and the base each incorporating an outwardly extending flange formed along the edge thereof opposite the hinge, with each flange incorporating locking means formed therein adapted for secure interengagement with each other when said flanges are pressed together, said system comprising: A. a support table constructed for enabling the containers to be moved thereon; B. a conveyor belt mounted to the support table and constructed for transferring the containers along the length thereof; C. a container securing section mounted to the support table and comprising a. a support plate supportingly positioned adjacent the table in cooperating relationship with the conveyor surface, b. a first endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the conveyor and comprising a first wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a second wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surrounding the first wheel and the second wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, c. a second endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the first endless loop belt drive assembly defining therebetween an elongated, container engaging gap, and comprising a third wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a fourth wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surround the third wheel and the fourth wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, d. said container engaging gap extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor and positioned for engaging the outwardly extending flanges of the container and dimensioned for compressing the locking means formed on the flanges into secure interengagement with each other; D. a first reinforcing plate positioned between the first wheel and the second wheel of the first endless loop belt drive assembly for controlling the vertical movement of the endless loop belt member; E. a second reinforcing member positioned between the third wheel and the fourth wheel of the second endless loop belt drive assembly for controlling the vertical movement of the endless loop belt; and F. second control means controllably engaged with the first reinforcing plate for raising and/or lowering the first reinforcing plate relative to the second reinforcing plate, thereby enabling the vertical distance between the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies to be easily adjusted for accommodating various container configurations. 22. The system defined in claim 21, wherein said system further comprises G. an elongated, longitudinally extending guide rail assembly mounted to the support table in cooperating association with the conveyor belt for controllably guiding the travel path of each container as the container moves with said conveyor. 23. The system defined in claim 21, wherein the first reinforcing plate is further defined as being vertically movable along two spaced rods mounted to the support plate and the control means comprises a threaded shaft mounted in a cooperating bushing mounted in the support plate with the terminating end of the shaft rotationally secured to the first reinforcing plate. 24. A system for securely closing and locking containers having a cover joined along one edge to a base by a hinge, with the cover and the base each incorporating an outwardly extending flange formed along the edge thereof opposite the hinge, with each flange incorporating locking means formed therein adapted for secure interengagement with each other when said flanges are pressed together, said system comprising: A. a support table constructed for enabling the containers to be moved thereon; B. a conveyor belt mounted to the support table and constructed for transferring the containers along the length thereof; C. a container securing section mounted to the support table and comprising a. a support plate supportingly positioned adjacent the table in cooperating relationship with the conveyor surface, b. a first endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the conveyor and comprising a first wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a second wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surrounding the first wheel and the second wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, c. a second endless loop belt drive assembly positioned in cooperating relationship with the first endless loop belt drive assembly defining therebetween an elongated, container engaging gap, and comprising a third wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof, a fourth wheel mounted to the support plate for rotational movement about a central axis thereof and positioned in cooperating, juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent, planar alignment with the first wheel, and an endless loop belt member peripherally surround the third wheel and the fourth wheel and constructed for being rotationally driven by the rotational movement of the first wheel and the second wheel, d. said container engaging gap extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor and positioned for engaging the outwardly extending flanges of the container and dimensioned for compressing the locking means formed on the flanges into secure interengagement with each other; D. first control means controllably engaged with the support plate for simultaneously raising and/or lowering the support plate for the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies relative to the conveyor, thereby enabling the position of the elongated gap relative to the conveyor to be easily adjusted for any sized container; E. a first reinforcing plate positioned between the first wheel and the second wheel of the first endless loop belt drive assembly for controlling the vertical movement of the endless loop belt member; F. a second reinforcing member positioned between the third wheel and the fourth wheel of the second endless loop belt drive assembly for controlling the vertical movement of the endless loop belt; and G. second control means controllably engaged with the first reinforcing plate for raising and/or lowering the first reinforcing plate relative to the second reinforcing plate, thereby enabling the vertical distance between the first and second endless loop belt drive assemblies to be easily adjusted for accommodating various container configurations; whereby the containers moving on the conveyor are advanced for causing the flanges thereof to be moved into interengagement with the container engaging gap of the endless loop drive belt assemblies wherein the locking elements formed along the flanges are simultaneously securely engaged with each other. 25. The system defined in claim 24, wherein the first reinforcing plate is further defined as being vertically movable along two spaced rods mounted to the support plate and the control means comprises a threaded shaft mounted in a cooperating bushing mounted in the support plate with the terminating end of the shaft rotationally secured to the first reinforcing plate. 26. The system defined in claim 25, wherein the support plate is further defined as being vertically movable along two support rods securely mounted at their opposed ends to mounting blocks and the first control means comprises a threaded shaft rotationally mounted in a cooperating bushing secured to the support late, whereby rotation of the shaft causes vertical movement of the support plate along the rods.