Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.

Abstract: A rotary knife assembly includes a rotatable core and a plurality of knife blades extending from the rotatable core. A heating element is coupled with the plurality of knife blades, and the heating element is configured to heat the knife blades. One or more package guides are interposed between each of the plurality of knife blades configured to engage along one or more deformable packages as the rotatable core is rotated. In another example, a discharge assembly includes a conveyor belt including inner and outer belt surfaces, and a plurality of belt rows extending along a belt length. A plurality of package spacing ridges each include outer engaging edges, and one package spacing ridge of the plurality is positioned between each of the plurality of belt rows. The outer belt surface is recessed from the outer engaging edges.

Abstract: This invention concerns a press and a method in particular for the forming of finished articles, such as containers or trays of paper and starting from a moisturized sheet. The press comprises a bedplate (18) having a fixed die holder plane (19) holding a head (20) with a moving die-holder plane (21) movable with regards to the fixed plane between an opening and a closing position. A lower die (22) is attached to the fixed die holder plane, whereas an upper die (23) is attached to the moving die-holder plane. The moving die-holder plane is powered by an electric actuator (29) for the opening and closing movements and the half-dies are provided with heating means for the drying and hardening of the paper in a set closed position. The moving die-holder plane can be slowed down or stopped during its stroke to allow for the drying of the paper.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for making pressware features a vacuum belt feeder which accelerates and decelerates a feed blank for controlled insertion into a forming die as well as retainers to limit bounce back of the blank off of forward stops. A pneumatic ejector on the forming ram facilitates product removal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a stackable container from a container blank. The apparatus generally includes a blank feeder configured to place the blank on a conveyor, an index folder configured to pre-fold a plurality of inner fold-down flaps and an index flap over each of two opposing sidewall flaps of the blank, and a pressure former configured to attach a first leading extension to a leading wall of the blank and a first trailing extension to a trailing wall of the blank, wherein the first leading extension and the first trailing extension are foldably attached at an angle of about 90 degrees to one of the inner fold-down flaps or one of the sidewall flaps. Embodiments of the present the present invention can advantageously provide a reliable approach for forming a container from a blank with relatively fewer folding defects.

Abstract: An apparatus (21) for assembling a collapsible enclosure assembly (1) onto a container (11), the enclosure assembly (1) being of the type comprising a plurality of collapsible walls (2, 3, 4) and which is adapted to be supported, when erected, on the container (11) so that in situ the enclosure assembly (1) encloses a region above the container (11), the apparatus (21) comprising means to move a collapsed enclosure assembly (1) from a storage position (25) to an assembly position (36), means to move the walls (2, 3, 4) of the collapsed enclosure assembly (1) when in the assembly position (36) relatively apart to expand the enclosure assembly (1) so as to be of generally tubular form, and means to mount the expanded enclosure assembly (1) on a corresponding container (11). A method for assembling a collapsible enclosure assembly (1) onto a container (11) is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container having a tear-away top. In general, the container comprises a substrate layer and a cut in the substrate layer. The cut is sufficiently deep so that a predetermined portion of the top may be torn away from the container at the cut. The present invention also includes a method for manufacturing a container that has a tear-away top. The method generally includes the steps of providing a substrate layer, making a cut in the substrate layer, and then forming a container. After the container has been formed, a predetermined portion of the top may be torn away from the container at the cut.

Abstract: The invention is a moveable presser rail assembly for supporting blanking material during operation of a blanking tool for making packaging blanks. The moveable presser rail assembly includes a mount housing having a cavity that pivotally secures a pivot sleeve, and a guide strut is secured within the pivot sleeve by a spring biasing mechanism so that a fastening end of the guide strut may be rigidly secured to a presser rail. Because the guide strut may pivot within the mount housing, the presser rail may be rigidly secured to the guide strut and still provide reciprocating and non-parallel or limited lateral motion relative to a support plate that supports the mount housing.

Abstract: A container for leaf product and other bulk pack materials wherein a blank of corrugated paperboard is scored to define side walls of the container, and a field of passageways are defined in at least one side wall of the container by a conical pin punch-pressed from opposing sides of the blank to define a passageway for communication of moisture from the container to the atmosphere for drying and long term storage of the leaf products. A method of defining passageways in the blank of paperboard is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container having a tear-away top. In general, the container comprises an outer substrate layer, an inner aseptic layer secured to the outer substrate layer, and a cut in the outer substrate layer. In order to preserve the product in the container, the cut is of a predetermined depth such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer. The cut, however, is sufficiently deep so that a predetermined portion of the top may be torn away from the container at the cut. The present invention also includes a method for manufacturing a container that has a tear-away top. The method generally includes the steps of providing an outer substrate layer, securing an inner aseptic layer to the outer substrate layer, making a cut of predetermined depth in the outer substrate layer such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer, and then forming a container.

Abstract: A package manufacturing apparatus which can fold a portion-to-be-processed accurately along a folding line without misalignment between the folding line and an actual fold. The package manufacturing apparatus comprises a pair of turnable arms (61), folding-line applicators (68, 80), and two pairs of bending arms (62) and compression coil springs (74). The pair of turnable arms (61) are disposed opposite to each other such that they are swingable. The folding-line applicators (68, 80) nip a portion-to-be-processed of a package in process of forming, form a predetermined folding line in the portion-to-be-processed, and temporarily fold the portion-to-be-processed along the folding line, while each of the turnable arms (61) turns. Each pair of the bending arms (62) and the compression coil springs (74) is disposed between one of the folding-line applicators (68, 80) and the corresponding turnable arm (61) and elastically brings the folding-line applicator (68, 80) into contact with the portion-to-be-processed.

Abstract: A package assembly includes packages that are connected to a common sheet of lidstock. Various packages are separated from other packages by severing the lidstock between the packages. The packages are supported in depressions in a tray, and the depressions are tapered to facilitate severance of the lidstock.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container having a tear-away top. In general, the container comprises an outer substrate layer, an inner aseptic layer secured to the outer substrate layer, and a cut in the outer substrate layer. In order to preserve the product in the container, the cut is of a predetermined depth such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer. The cut, however, is sufficiently deep so that a predetermined portion of the top may be torn away from the container at the cut. The present invention also includes a method for manufacturing a container that has a tear-away top. The method generally includes the steps of providing an outer substrate layer, securing an inner aseptic layer to the outer substrate layer, making a cut of predetermined depth in the outer substrate layer such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer, and then forming a container.

Abstract: A steel rule die set and method for cutting and scoring sheet material in which the male cutting and scoring die has a steel rule with knife and scoring edges secured firmly in a metal face plate having retaining laser cut openings and a complementary female counter plate having a metal plate with laser cut score lines in juxtaposition to the steel rule score edges.

Abstract: A steel rule die set and method for cutting and scoring sheet material in which the male cutting and scoring die has a steel rule with knife and scoring edges secured firmly in a metal face plate having retaining laser cut openings and a complementary female counter plate having a metal plate with laser cut score lines in juxtaposition to the steel rule score edges.

Abstract: A steel rule die set and method for cutting and scoring sheet material in which the male cutting and scoring die has a steel rule with knife and scoring edges secured firmly in a metal face plate having retaining laser cut openings and a complementary female counter plate having a metal plate with laser cut score lines in juxtaposition to the steel rule score edges.

Abstract: A cut and score die apparatus is provided for progressively converting a sheet of material into blanks. The apparatus includes a punching section for punching scrap material from the sheet of material to define an array of interconnected blanks arranged in a grid of rows and columns on the sheet of material. A scoring section is provided for simultaneously scoring a first predetermined pattern on a trailing portion of a first row of blanks and a second predetermined pattern on the leading portion of a second, succeeding row of blanks on the sheet of material. A blanking section is also provided for piercing the sheet of material in a predetermined pattern to cut blanks from the sheet of material without producing any additional scrap material.