Patents by Inventor Alan P. Martin

Alan P. Martin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Packaging machine with folding apparatus
    Patent number: 7641607
    Abstract: A packaging machine having a folding apparatus for closing an end of an end loaded carton that includes leading and trailing side end flaps. The packaging machine includes a carton conveyor for transporting a carton in a flow direction along a carton path. The folding apparatus includes a lug assembly that has at least one folding lug that travels along an endless lug path. The folding lug travels in the flow direction and in parallel to the carton path along at least a portion of the lug path such that the folding lug can operate in concert with separation guide and a combination guide to fold the leading and trailing side end flaps in the desired sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: MeadWestVaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alan P. Martin, John W. Cash, III, Rafe T. Patterson, Michael F. Flagg
  • PACKAGING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE LANES
    Publication number: 20090223782
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus (10) includes lanes (L) in which articles (C) are conveyed and grouped. Each lane (L) is defined by lane dividers (16a, 16b, 18, 20) and includes an upstream portion (12) and a downstream portion (14). The upstream portion (16) is defined by lane dividers (16a, 16b) that are substantially parallel to a first axis (X). The downstream portion (14) is defined by lane dividers (18, 20) that are substantially parallel to a second axis (Y), which is at an angle (A) with respect to the first axis (X). The width (W2) of the downstream portion (14) of each lane (L) is adjustable as an adjustable one of the lane dividers (20) that define the downstream portion (14) translates parallel to the first axis (X).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Alan P Martin, John W. Cash, III, Jeffrey G. Jacob, Rafe T. Patterson, John G. Hotchkiss, Pattrick B. King, Robert G. Rosenzweig
  • PACKAGING MACHINE WITH FOLDING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20080120948
    Abstract: A packaging machine having a folding apparatus for closing an end of an end loaded carton that includes leading and trailing side end flaps. The packaging machine includes a carton conveyor for transporting a carton in a flow direction along a carton path. The folding apparatus includes a lug assembly that has at least one folding lug that travels along an endless lug path. The folding lug travels in the flow direction and in parallel to the carton path along at least a portion of the lug path such that the folding lug can operate in concert with separation guide and a combination guide to fold the leading and trailing side end flaps in the desired sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Alan P. Martin, John W. Cash, Rafe T. Patterson, Michael F. Flagg