Michael E Albertson

US Patent:

6368094, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Nov 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/444814

Inventors:

Michael D. Dennis - Longview IL
Karl Zemlin - Indianapolis IN
Michael E. Albertson - Brownsburg IN
Larry M. Zepf - Crawfordsville IN
Gayle L. Johnson - Crawfordsville IN
Harshad Borgaonkar - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Alcoa Closure Systems International - Crawfordsville IN

International Classification:

B29C 3106

US Classification:

425144, 425170, 425297, 425311, 425313, 425261, 425348 R, 4253823, 425809

Abstract:

An apparatus delivers plural molten plastic pellets into cavities for compression molding of the pellets into bottle closures or bottle closure liners. The apparatus is provided for delivering molten plastic pellets from a supply of molten plastic to a plurality of molding blocks, each molding block having a row of cavities. The molding blocks are carried on a rotating carousel. The apparatus includes a rotating multi-cutter with a plurality of cutter blades, and a manifold block which receives the extruded molten-plastic and delivers the molten plastic to a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle aligned with one or more of the cutter blades. The cutter blades remove a row of plastic pellets from the molten plastic at the nozzles and deliver the plastic pellets into one row of cavities of a molding block.

US Patent:

6422854, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Nov 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/444936

Inventors:

Michael D. Dennis - Longview IL
Karl Zemlin - Indianapolis IN
Michael Albertson - Brownsburg IN
Larry M. Zepf - Crawfordsville IN
Gayle L. Johnson - Crawfordsville IN

Assignee:

Alcoa Closure Systems International - Crawfordsville IN

International Classification:

B26D 112

US Classification:

425311, 425437

Abstract:

A rotary cutter separates a molten plastic pellet from a nozzle and deposits the molten plastic pellet into a mold of a mold cavity. The cutter blade includes a cutter blade and a cutter shaft rotatable about an axis of the shaft. The cutter blade is mounted to extend radially from an end of the shaft, the shaft positionable adjacent the nozzle such that the rotary path of the cutter blade closely conforms to a facing surface of the nozzle. An air conduit extends through the cutter shaft to the cutter blade. An air orifice in communication with the air conduit is oriented to direct a stream of air radially along the cutter blade to displace a molten plastic pellet from the cutter blade with a stream of pressurized air. The delivery of pressurized air is precisely timed to displace the pellet from the cutter blade and into the mold cavity.

US Patent:

60795921, Jun 27, 2000

Filed:

Aug 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/371824

Inventors:

Thomas P. Hennessy - Indianapolis IN
Michael E. Corcoran - Crawfordsville IN
Michael D. Dennis - Longview IL
Michael E. Albertson - Brownsburg IN
Richard A. Laveault - Crawfordsville IN

Assignee:

Alcoa Closure Systems International - Crawfordsville IN

International Classification:

B65G 5900

US Classification:

221206

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.

US Patent:

59797029, Nov 9, 1999

Filed:

Aug 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/128795

Inventors:

Thomas P. Hennessey - Indianapolis IN
Michael E. Corcoran - Crawfordsville IN
Michael D. Dennis - Longview IL
Michael E. Albertson - Brownsburg IN
Richard A. Laveault - Crawfordsville IN

Assignee:

Alcoa Closure Systems International, Inc. - Crawfordsville IN

International Classification:

B65G 5900

US Classification:

221206

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.