Means for preventing shingling in product containers having curved sides

Abstract

A method of preventing curved-side containers on a conveyor belt of a commercial filling line from slipping across and past the curved surface of the forward container by providing a small flat area on opposing sides of the containers and positioning the containers in the filling line to cause the flat areas on one container to register with the flat areas on adjacent containers in the line, and a product container having curved sides with wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base, with a small flat area on each side of the container at the widest point on the container shoulders.

The subject matter claimed is:  
     
         1 . A product container having curved sides with wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base, said shoulders having at their widest point a small, flat area on each side of the container.  
     
     
         2 . The container of    claim 1    wherein said container is ovoid in cross section.  
     
     
         3 . The container of    claim 1    wherein the flat areas are a shaved portion on each side of the shoulders.  
     
     
         4 . The container of    claim 1    wherein said flat areas are each about 0.62 inch by 0.25 inch in size.  
     
     
         5 . A method of preventing shingling on the filling line by curved-side containers comprising the steps of providing a small flat area on opposing sides of the containers and positioning the containers in the filling line to cause the flat areas on one container to register with the flat areas on adjacent containers in the line.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the containers are ovoid in cross-section throughout.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the sides are tapered and the flat areas are at the widest part of the container.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the containers have wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base and the flat areas are provided at the widest part of the shoulders.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    wherein the flat areas so provided are a shaved portion on each side of the shoulders.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the flat areas on said containers are each about 0.62 inch by 0.25 inch in size.