Abstract: An intermittently cycled packaging machine for erecting, filling, closing and sealing cartons with hot melt adhesive. A reciprocation carton transfer mechanism is cycled in response to filling of a carton at the filling station and is operative to advance cartons in step fashion from a carton erecting station through a lower carton closing zone, the filling station and through an upper carton closing zone with the last flap to be folded at the lead side of the carton, and the adhesive applying nozzles and the lead flap folding apparatus are located in relation to each other and to the stroke of the transfer mechanism such that adhesive is applied to the end flaps on the carton and the lead flap is infolded as the carton is advanced in a continuous forward step. The upper carton closing zone includes movably mounted flap folding arms arranged to infold one side flap and the trail flap on the upper end of the carton while the carton is dwelling at one dwell position.

Abstract: An intermittently cycled packaging machine for erecting, filling, closing and sealing cartons with hot meal adhesive. A reciprocation carton transfer mechanism is cycled in response to filling of a carton at the filling station and is operative to advance cartons in step fashion from a carton erecting station past a lower carton closing station, the filling station and an upper carton closing station with the last flap to be folded at the lead side of the carton, and the adhesive applying nozzles and the lead flap folding apparatus are located in relation to each other and to the stroke of the transfer mechanism such that adhesive is applied to the end flaps on the carton and the lead flap is infolded as the carton is advanced in a continuous forward step. Lead flap guides are provided for deflecting the lead end flap forwardly of the lead panel during erecting of the carton.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling open-top containers with a flowable semi-solid material in which the material is discharged in substantially continuous fashion to a downwardly opening nozzle. An empty container is elevated into partial telescoping relative with the nozzle and moves downwardly as it is filled. The filled container is moved crosswise of the nozzle and the vertical position of the container relative to the nozzle is controlled during movement crosswise of the nozzle to initially maintain the upper edge of the filled container below the lowre edge of the nozzle at its discharge side to shear off material at a level above the top of the container and to thereafter move the filled container upwardly sufficient to cause the trailing upper edge of the filled container to substantially wipe across the lower edge of the nozzle at the discharge side thereof.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for erecting, filling and closing generally rectangular cartons which are supplied in an initially flattened condition. The packaging apparatus has a filling station, lateral carton guides for guiding cartons from a carton infeed station past the filling station to a delivery station. An elongated carrier member extends along the path and has rigid pusher fingers at spaced locations therealong extending crosswise of the path, and the carrier members are driven by spaced carrier drives each including four sprockets and a chain entrained around the sprockets and connected to the carrier members to move them in a generally rectangular closed loop course.

Abstract: A tension controlled apparatus for feeding web material from a supply source to processing equipment of the type that exerts a pulling force on the web, the apparatus including a drive wheel and a driven wheel mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the drive wheel and for shifting movement toward and away from the drive wheel, a web feed roller connected coaxially to the driven wheel for rotation thereby and means for guiding the web material to cause it to wrap part way around the web feed roller as it passes from the supply source to the processing equipment and exits from the web feed roller in an exiting direction having a substantial component in a direction to shift the driven wheel into driving engagement with the drive wheel in response to tension applied by the processing machine on the web of material exiting from the feed roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying covers to containers as they are advanced by a conveyor in spaced succession past a cover applying station, the cover applying apparatus including a cover magazine that supports the bottom cover in the magazine in an inclined plane that converges toward and intersects the path of travel of the tops of the containers, with a shuttle driven in timed relation with the conveyor to move the bottom cover along the inclined plane across the magazine and onto the containers as they are advanced, the drive for the cover shuttle being so constructed and arranged that the forward velocity and displacement of the cover is approximately equal to the forward velocity and displacement of the container while the lead edges of the cover and container move past the point at which their paths intersect.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping articles in an elongated strip of wrapping material of the type in which the machine forms the strip into a channel as the strip is advanced past the loading station, articles are deposited in the strip at the loading station, and the strip is folded into a tube around the articles and longitudinally sealed as the strip is advanced past a longitudinal sealing station, and the strip is thereafter transversely sealed between the articles and severed to form separate packages. The machine has endless type upper and lower jaw conveyors which are operated to grip and advance the strip through a selectively adjustable distance and seal and sever the strip to form packages of selectively adjustable lengths. The machine also includes an improved endless type of inlet conveyor which is operative to grip the enfolded strip of wrapping material at opposite sides of the article to hold the articles in position in the wrapping material as it is advanced.