Notched Or Corner-slit Cover Blanks Patents (Class 53/207)
  • Patent number: 10583943
    Abstract: Method and system for automatically processing blanks for forming packaging boxes. By means of a feeding conveyor blank material is fed in a feeding direction from a storage of blank material to a single blank cutting station comprising a blank forming apparatus for cutting and creasing blank material into a blank. By means of said blank forming apparatus a blank is formed having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular corner, side and end panels. Cutting and creasing blank material into the blank is performed during feeding of said blank material in feeding direction through the blank forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Fransiscus Hermannus Feijen, Herman Sytema
  • Patent number: 10371564
    Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatus, systems, and methods operate to receive measurements corresponding to a plurality of forces sensed substantially simultaneously at a substantially planar, weight-bearing measurement surface. Additional activity includes determining a location on the surface, based on a combination of the measurements, of an equivalent force that corresponds to the combination of the measurements. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Jorge Eduardo Perez Jacome
  • Patent number: 9713548
    Abstract: A urine collection assembly for collecting a urine sample from an infant wherein the urine is prevented from being spilled. The assembly includes a garment that may be worn about an infant's genital area. A reservoir is coupled to the garment. The reservoir may collect the urine from the infant. The reservoir is penetrable by a syringe. The urine is drawn into the syringe without spilling the urine from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventor: Sandra A. Amerson
  • Patent number: 9597851
    Abstract: A folding aid with registers is aligned with notches in a specially designed carton blank to facilitate the efficient manual construction of cartons with gusseted corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Southern Champion Tray, L.P.
    Inventor: James Kinney
  • Patent number: 9546031
    Abstract: A novel method of packaging fixed-temple eyewear includes arranging a first plurality of pairs of fixed-temple eyewear in a first arrangement with the lenses of the eyewear lying substantially in the same plane. The right temples of the eyewear are aligned along a first line and the left temples of the eyewear are aligned along a second line. The first plurality of pairs of eyewear is held in the first arrangement with a first portion of packaging material. Second and third pluralities of fixed temple eyewear are similarly arranged in second and third arrangements, respectively. The first, second, and third arrangements of fixed-temple eyewear are engaged with one another in a space saving relationship and packaged. Packages of fixed-temple eyewear are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Healy
  • Patent number: 8225929
    Abstract: A substrate made of a material such as cardboard has characteristics sufficient to visually indicate an occurrence of damage when scraped or punctured to identify damage. The substrate has a flat shape with top and bottom elongated edges and a plurality of breaks along at least the top elongated edge to facilitate bending at a substantially ninety degree angle and be wrapped around a payload carried on a reel at an inner corner where an outside surface of the payload and an inside surface of a flange of the reel meet. The substrate can have a perforated fold parallel to the elongated direction substantially perpendicular to the breaks. The substrate is secured to a reel by stapling, taping or plastic shrink wrapping. A visual warning message can be placed on the substrate to aid forklift drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Reel Guard, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R Penkaty
  • Patent number: 7832183
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus in an automated packaging process, for sealing a carton having minor flaps and a bottom end flap, comprising: means for holding the minor flaps in a closed position; and a cycle stop compression plate for, upon the occurrence of a cycle stop operation, folding the bottom end flap over the minor flaps and holding the bottom end flap in place until the carton is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: MedWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Jacob, John W. Cash, III, Michael F. Flagg
  • Patent number: 7530208
    Abstract: A cigarette packing method and machine, whereby blanks, fed successively along a feed path inside respective feed pockets, are fed to a loading station where each blank is transferred, by a pusher and along a transfer path, to a respective packing pocket fed to the loading station along a packing path, and is folded partly, during transfer along the transfer path, to define a seat for receiving a respective wrapped group of cigarettes, and which is formed by feeding the blank and the pusher through a folding spindle located, at the loading station, between the feed path and the packing path and along the transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Biondi, Alessandro Minarelli, Luca Cavazza
  • Patent number: 7000365
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for packaging a group of articles into a container formed from a carton blank. The method includes associating a carton blank with a group of articles. The carton blank has at least one open portion and a plurality of bendable flaps. A vertically oriented channel is provided having at least one deflector assembly. The associated carton blank and group are moved vertically in the channel. The movement results in the bending of at least one of the flaps by the deflector assembly such that the carton blank is at least partially assembled around the group. A plow assembly is also provided for the apparatus for packaging a group of articles in a container formed from a carton blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Midwest Service Warehouse, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Nutley, Jason Hornberger
  • Publication number: 20030188511
    Abstract: An automatic packaging system has a first feed mechanism for feeding a light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow A, an inspection mechanism for reading bar-code information from the light-shielded photosensitive roll, measuring and comparing dimensions of the light-shielded photosensitive roll with the bar-code information to inspect whether the light-shielded photosensitive roll is correct or wrong, a second feed mechanism for feeding the light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow B if the light-shielded photosensitive roll judged as being correct, and a third feed mechanism for feeding the light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Iwamura, Koichi Nakatogawa
  • Patent number: 6625957
    Abstract: A method of producing hinged-lid packets of cigarettes on a continuous automatic machine, whereby a blank is closed about a group of cigarettes, the blank having a longitudinal axis, a rear panel, first tabs connected to the rear panel, and second and third tabs connected to the first tabs; the method providing for feeding the blank continuously along a given path with the axis of the blank crosswise to the path; and folding the first tabs with respect to the rear panel so that the second and third tabs are so positioned as to be intercepted by fixed folding devices located along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: G.D Societe' per Azioni
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Publication number: 20030159407
    Abstract: A package, as well as a method an apparatus for manufacturing such a package and a product feeder which, for example, can be utilized for feeding the products to such a package. In normal circumstances, the method and apparatus work continuously, which considerably increases the capacity with respect to the known method and apparatus. Moreover, with the method and apparatus packages of different inner space dimensions can be manufactured. Not only the length of the inner space of the package can be varied, but also the height and the width thereof. Variation can take place without or with minimal resetting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Johannes Gerardus M. Hendriks van de Weem, Gerard Jan T. de Vries, Joost Reinoud van der Klooster
  • Patent number: 6170231
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a carton from a blank sheet of material, in line, and wrapping it about articles of a predetermined size including cutting and scoring blades which are automatically preset according to parameters previously stored, for these particular articles, in a programmable controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: Donald E. Detterman
  • Patent number: 6038836
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing packs and for transporting blanks (10), for producing the packs, along a conveying path (11). For the purpose of monitoring and/or for the optoelectronic sensing of the blanks (10), monitoring elements (15) with sensors (16, 17) are arranged in the region of the conveying path (11). The blanks (10) are guided in the region of the monitoring element (15) such that the blanks (10) are moved beyond at least one of the sensors (16, 17) with sliding abutment, in order for the sensor to be cleaned constantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller
  • Patent number: 6038831
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging products in open or closed boxes, starting from a flat paperboard material, comprises a paperboard sheet removing assembly for successively removing individual paperboard die-cut sheets, to be supplied to an upward conveyor, supplying the paperboard sheets to a supplying line provided for supplying products to be packaged, which is arranged downward of a product separating device, the products being delivered by a product delivery device, the paperboard sheet being supplied to the line along a direction corresponding to the delivered product displacement direction, and a box forming assembly provided with a bending assembly for bending side flaps and top and bottom flaps of the boxes being formed being moreover provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Vito Giovanni Nava
  • Patent number: 6015084
    Abstract: A set of blanks, a box, a method and a machine for making a packaging box that includes at least two blanks made of a fiberboard or corrugated fiberboard sheet material, i.e. a first blank comprising a series of at least four flaps for forming the side walls of the box, and a second blank comprising at least two panels joined together along a third fold line. The second blank straddles at least one fold line of the first blank, the first panel is attached to and/or centred on the first blank, and at least one of the second panels is attached to the first blank via means that enable movement of the second panels relative to the first blank when the box is formed by simultaneously wrapping said blanks around a volume having a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: OTOR
    Inventors: Gerard Mathieu, Didier Desertot
  • Patent number: 5983595
    Abstract: A packaging machine for producing hinge-lid boxes for cigarettes has a rotating folding turret which has a plurality of pockets (21) which are open in the radial direction. For the purpose of securing blanks (11) or partially completed hinge-lid boxes (10) in the pockets (21) of the folding turret, protrusions (32) are arranged in the pockets (21) and have a supporting surface (34) for abutting a closure edge (18) of an inner side tab (14) of the blank (11). For the purpose of discharging a hinge-lid box (10) from the pocket (21), the retaining force which is exerted by the protrusion (32) is overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hermann Blome
  • Patent number: 5860269
    Abstract: A device for feeding stock sheets is provided with a hopper for storing carton blanks as stock sheets in an upright posture, a delivery roller for delivering the carton blanks in the hopper toward a hopper outlet, an auxiliary roller located between the delivery roller and the hopper outlet to deliver the carton blanks toward the hopper outlet, a plurality of gap sensors used to detect gaps between the carton blanks situated between the delivery roller and the auxiliary roller and to control the delivery roller in rotation, and an arrival sensor used to detect a gap between the hopper outlet and the leading stock sheet and to control the auxiliary roller in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Automatic Machinery Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Takahashi, Tomoyuki Ochi, Yuji Hanazawa
  • Patent number: 5678389
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing and stabilizing stacks of discrete items on pallets, such as bags of powdered or granular material, comprising a bottom member, a top member, side members securing means and an adhesive layer between one or more layers of the discrete items, where the bottom member, top member and side members are positioned so as to enclose the stack of discrete items. Preferably, flap members perpendicular to the edges of some or all of the bottom, top or side members are provided to further secure the members relative to the stack and to each other. Most preferably, the side members are provided with extended top flaps having cut lines and score lines to allow the side members to be properly sized according to the height of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: William A. Henry
  • Patent number: 5528882
    Abstract: A wrap around caser including a holding and moving robot is provided. The holding and moving robot holds a predetermined number of bottles collected in a collection station and moves the bottles onto a center section of a blank sheet located at a receiving station and in succession pushes the bottles and the blank sheet downward along a predetermined path defined in a folding station so as to have the blank sheet folded into the shape of a box-shaped case around the bottles. The bottles are not released until they are placed in the box-shaped case so that the casing operation is stable and may be carried out at an increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Shibuya Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5501065
    Abstract: Grouped individual packages of prepackaged foodstuffs like butter, margarine, cheese and the like are packed in boxes by disposing a box blank at a receiving station aligned with a chamber and a turntable and mounting the layers of individual packages upon grouping on the blank. A hold-down and folding unit then displaces the layers and the blank into the chamber through a folding frame. The turntable and the folding frame can be displaced stepwise to accommodate two or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Fischer, Edgar Gla/ tzer
  • Patent number: 5450705
    Abstract: A cartoning machine for wrapping cartons about objects at high speed, consisting of a series of stations arranged one after the other on a frame and comprising a conveying table which feeds objects to a station for separating said objects into groups and to a pusher conveyor for the groups, below the pusher conveyor there being located a further conveyor for feeding cartons in an open and flat state towards an aperture provided in an advancement table for the group of objects, deflector elements being positioned in correspondence with the aperture to deviate the carton upwards within the pusher conveyor, wherein the further conveyor is arranged inclined from the bottom upwards and can rotate about a pivot under the action of control elements so that the upper end of the further conveyor is always directed towards the aperture, which can be moved forwards and rearwards along the advancement table in phase with the end of the further conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: OCME S.r.l.
    Inventor: Emanuele Gatteschi
  • Patent number: 5433062
    Abstract: In order to protect the pack content of a packaging container during transport and storage, there is arranged in the region of the open side (20) of the packaging container (10) a cover cap (21). This consists of a covering wall (22) and of longitudinal insertion tabs (23) and transverse insertion tabs (24). The latter are fixed in a gap (25) between the pack content and the side walls (12 to 15). In the production of the packaging container (10), the cover cap (21) and a group of small packs (11) are pushed into the packaging container (10) jointly by way of the open bottom side of the latter. At the same time, an automatic folding of the insertion tabs (23, 24) of the cover cap (21) into the position appropriate to the pack takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventor: Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 5379574
    Abstract: Grouped individual packages of prepackaged foodstuffs like butter, margarine, cheese and the like are packed in boxes by disposing a box blank at a receiving station aligned with a chamber and a turntable and mounting the layers of individual packages upon grouping on the blank. A hold-down and folding unit then displaces the layers and the blank into the chamber through a folding frame. The turntable and the folding frame can be displaced stepwise to accommodate two or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Fischer, Edgar Glatzer
  • Patent number: 5323896
    Abstract: An article packaging kit, system and method which system includes a flat, corrugated, cardboard sheet material having a central horizontal fold line and two vertical fold lines to define a base and two end portions. The system includes a flexible plastic sleeve or tube which loosely fits about a portion of the base of the sheet material in the flat condition. The sheet material moves between a horizontal line folded position when an article to be packaged is inserted within the sleeve and a flat, article hugging, immobilizing position when the end portions are folded upwardly causing the base portion to become flat. The system includes optionally inserting the immobilized article on the folded sheet material into a packaging or shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: W. Charles Jones
  • Patent number: 5216870
    Abstract: A method and device for producing partable cartons for packets of cigarettes, each carton being defined by two separate boxes formed from two substantially similar blanks, each divided by bend lines into a first and second panel on either side of an intermediate connecting portion, and at least one of which panels presents a lid tab; the carton being produced by feeding the two blanks, one upside down in relation to the other, along respective paths; folding the two second panels perpendicularly arranging the two second panels one on top of the other; feeding respective rows of packets on to the two second panels; and folding the remaining portions of the two blanks about the respective rows of packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: G.D. Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Alessandro Minarelli
  • Patent number: 5131208
    Abstract: A die cut and scored carton blank is formed into a carton. The carton blank is placed in a trough having a side wall and at least one retractable stop for turning upwardly elongate edge flaps of the carton blank, with the trough having two end walls for turning up end flaps of the carton blank. The partially-formed carton is then moved to a second position where it is lowered and horizontal glue strips are applied to an outer surface of an elongate edge flap. As the carton is moved toward the second position, glue strips are applied to end flaps of the carton blank. The partially-formed carton is then moved to an upper position, above the level of the trough, and into a compression chamber where side walls and end walls hold the flaps together until the glue hardens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Radco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Paul, John M. Overholt, John R. Michael
  • Patent number: 5033255
    Abstract: A carton-packaging machine (10) which causes progressive erection of carton sleeves from a supply of blanks (11) in a magazine (19), the partly erected blanks being loaded with product (24, 25) and then being closed in the form of a sleeve around the product. An endless conveyor (12) moves the blank through a blank supply station (14), an erection station (15), a product loading stations (16), a folding station (17) and a discharge stations (18), and a suction device (20) cooperates with the magazine (19) in order to draw individual blanks in flat form into the path of travel of the conveyor (12) for engagement thereby. A shaping device (21) at the erection station (15) forms each blank into U-shaped form and which is then advanced by the conveyor to the loading station (16) for loading with product (24, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Bonar Cooke Cartons Limited
    Inventor: Edward G. May
  • Patent number: 5010712
    Abstract: Baked goods, deep-frozen comestibles and like pressure-sensitive articles are packaged by passing the articles along a transport belt onto a delivery belt which can receive only one article at a time and then controlling the speed of this belt, to precisely deposit the article one at a time upon the packing underlay forming part of a prefolded box advanced past the delivery belt on a box conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Ostma Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz F. Odenthal
  • Patent number: 4982552
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging stacks of paper has a suction plunger assembly which can be lowered to draw a box blank and a stack of paper thereon downwardly past the box folding element of a box folding claim of guide rods which are connected to the guide rods of the suction plunger assembly so that, upon adjustment of the format of the box folding assembly, the positions of the suction plunger will be automatically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Ostma Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz F. Odenthal
  • Patent number: 4977729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for packaging a fragile product (8) in a folding carton (19), the problem being to carry out the forming of the folding carton blank (1), the filling of the carton (19) and the closing of the carton (19) automatically in a continuous movement without damaging the fragile product (8). To solve this problem, the invention proposes transporting the folding carton blank (1) in a constant direction, involving initial partial pre-forming of the blank (1), which is then filled with the product (8) and closed with overlapping (12) lid flaps (5), after which the filled blank (1,19) is turned through 90.degree. around a vertical axis and is subsequently closed in a continuous forward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: Wilhelm Fischer
  • Patent number: 4962634
    Abstract: A machine for packing cigarettes in hard flip-top packs, whereby flat hard pack blanks and preformed groups of unpacked cigarettes are fed, the former on a continuous feed line and the latter on an intermittent feed line, to a first and second station respectively, for loading a continuously rotating packing wheel; and whereby the packs formed on the packing wheel are unloaded off the same at an unloading station via an intermittent unloading line; the packing wheel presenting a number of seats, each designed to receive a blank and a respective preformed group, and each being connected to a rotary drum on the packing wheel via a respective articulated support, the configuration of which is controlled by fixed cams in such a manner as to feed the respective seat at constant speed through the first loading station, and to temporarily stop the respective seat at both the second loading station and the unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: 4941309
    Abstract: A vinyl siding panel package system is disclosed that prefolds corrugated paper blanks and then forms panel containers that are packed with a pre-specified number of panels. The panel packer receives a plurality of panels from a panel extrusion operator, re-orients panels into desired combinations and packs each combination, up to the limit, in a waiting container. The loaded container is sent to a container closing operation whereby the lid is sealed around the container body, and the container is weighed. A palletizer transports a loaded container from the closer to a waiting pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventors: Stewart L. Fluent, Colin Hart, Charles D. McCree, Charles F. Lotsch
  • Patent number: 4930290
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus comprising carton-forming means (12) and product-loading means (6, 15, 15'), and means to synchronize the carton forming and product loading such that each carton is formed and loaded before each successive carton is formed and loaded. There is preferably a common station for the carton-forming means and the product-loading means. The former (12) is a hollow member having a first opening (11a) in one wall for admitting articles to the interior and a second opening (11b) in another wall for permitting the escape of the content. The exterior of the hollow member cooperates with a forming passage (14) of geometrically similar cross section, disposed beneath a product-loading position (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Omnitech (Europe) Limited
    Inventor: Michael J. Barker
  • Patent number: 4926615
    Abstract: A machine for forming cardboard blanks into crates (open top containers) for transporting and storing goods, particularly plastic containers of milk. The machine has folding apparatus for folding opposed extended end flaps of the blank back on themselves to form a reinforcing structure including a ledge which, in a formed crate extends inwardly across each of two opposed ends of the crate towards the upper edges of the opposed ends. A first carriage member with suction means lifts a blank from a stack and places it at said folding apparatus. A second carriage member progresses the blank through the folding apparatus to forming apparatus where the goods are loaded onto the blank to form a mandrel and the carton is formed into a crate around the goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignees: Alexander Packaging Equipment Pty. Ltd., Fibre Containers Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Alexander
  • Patent number: 4878337
    Abstract: Articles, such as glass containers, are fed continuously in end-to-end relationship through a pin spacer adapted to provide a space between adjacent rows so that cross partitions can be fed therebetween. The articles are then grouped by s pin type grouper to provide predetermined members of article rows and columns in each group. The columns of articles are then spread slightly to allow longitudinal extending partitions to be fed between adjacent columns. At the same time flat tray blanks are withdrawn from a horizontally extending magazine and provided on a lug conveyor located below the path of the grouped articles and each blank is mated with a group of articles at a load station where the blank is formed around the articles by a pocket chain conveyor and article folding means operated in conjunction with an overhead flight bar conveyor which cooperates with the trailing portion of each pocket to fold all flaps provided on the tray blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Standard-Knapp, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Raudat, Lloyd D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4730443
    Abstract: The known type of front and rear flap folding apparatus in a wraparound caser in the prior art is improved in that the folding apparatus comprises front flap folding means in which when an article is fed from a dead plate onto a flat blank sheet that is being transported as placed on a sheet receiver of a case transporting conveyor, front flap folding guide members mounted to the case transporting conveyor are erected by a roller follower which rolls along a cam rail to fold the front flap of the sheet, rear flap folding means in which after the article has been fed onto the sheet, rear flap folding guide members mounted to the case transporting conveyor are erected by a roller follower which rolls along a cam rail to fold the rear flap of the sheet, and combined guide and press members which press the article and the sheet while guiding the article upon the above-mentioned folding operations to prevent them from rising up from the sheet receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Matsuda, Kunio Kono
  • Patent number: 4709529
    Abstract: In a sheet slider means used in a packaging system in which flat sheets are taken, one by one, out of a magazine and are delivered by a magazine conveyor, each sheet being transferred to a case transporting conveyor located adjacent the magazine conveyor and flaps of the sheet being folded and pressed for joining purposes, a high-speed wrapping machine has sheet sliders guided by guide rails and slidable in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the magazine conveyor is advanced, a device for continuously transferring the sheets in a flat fashion onto buckets formed by sheet guides provided on the case transporting conveyor, the conveyor being driven synchronously with the magazine conveyor, and a plurality of vertically and transversely adjustable press rods and press brushes provided at the upper portion of an entrance in the magazine conveyor for pressing the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Matsuda, Kunio Kono
  • Patent number: 4683705
    Abstract: Successive stacks of wrapped reams of paper sheets are delivered onto first cardboard blanks on top of a first platform which is then maintained in raised position. The platform thereupon descends and the front and rear sidewalls of the blank are simultaneously pivoted against the respective sides of the descending stack before the latter leaves the first platform and continuously advances along a first horizontal path wherein the conversion of the first blank continues so that such blank ultimately constitutes a case surrounding the bottom and the sides of the respective stack. The stack is then lifted by a second platform and a second blank is placed on top of the ascending stack or even ahead of the second platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: PEMCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Otis E. Meives, Anthony Lutzke
  • Patent number: 4674261
    Abstract: An automatic machine for loading and installing a telescopic lid on a shipping case is disclosed. The machine provides for bottom loading an open-top case with product which may extend slightly above the case sidewalls when loaded therein. After the machine has loaded the case and closed its bottom flaps, a pre-scored and slotted lid member in sheet form is positioned above the case and then moved onto it as as its side and end panel members are folded against the case sidewalls and joined together to form a snug fitting telescoping lid on the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: Herbert J. Sabel
  • Patent number: 4642967
    Abstract: Apparatus for loading articles into trays where the articles are first separated into rows with a divider assembly, then separated into groups with a grouper assembly and then pushed onto a dead plate to form a load. Different divider and grouper assemblies are provided to make different load configurations. A tray blank is moved under the dead plate and pushed out from under the dead plate synchronously with the movement of the article load over the dead plate so that the article load is deposited on the tray blank. Thereafter, the flaps on the tray blank are folded to erect the tray around the group of articles. Mechanical folding mechanisms are provided to fold certain of the flaps on the tray without folding the other flaps. The method of loading the articles in the tray and forming the tray around the articles is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Will L. Culpepper
  • Patent number: 4631895
    Abstract: In a cartoning machine which wraps cartons about preformed blocks of objects, it is proposed to insert a new carton one after the other into the block feed line before the preceding carton has left the insertion zone, with temporary partial overlap of the cartons, so as to reduce the distance between the successive fed blocks. Furthermore, in the insertion station, the blocks of objects are fed by transverse bars carried in a projecting manner from a chain conveyor disposed entirely on that side of the feed line opposite the side from which the cartons are inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: O.C.M.E. S.p.A. Officina Costruzioni Meccaniche Emiliana
    Inventors: Aldo Ghiretti, Antonio Pallotti
  • Patent number: 4631896
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging irregularly shaped articles is provided in which one or more articles is supported on one or more supports, enclosing the supports and the articles in a pack and removing the supports through one or more openings in the pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Internationale Octrooi Maatschaapij "Octropa" B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus W. Van Der Zon
  • Patent number: 4630427
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for folding floppy disk envelopes. Envelope blanks are manipulated while attached to a continuous web of envelope material to facilitate handling and alignment of the blanks. Initially, fold lines are prescored into the envelope blanks to define the precise dimensions of the envelope. Envelope flaps are then partially folded to define a receptacle into which the disk media is then inserted. The remaining flaps are then folded and sealed, and lastly the folded envelope is detached from the continuous web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Xidex Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Harper, Horace N. Kemp
  • Patent number: 4614511
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for folding a box or trough from a preformed blank of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, duplex cardboard, coated paper, synthetic material, wood such as plywood or multiply, or other sheet or plate material, the blank being provided in advance with folding seams and consisting at least of a portion for the bottom and portions separated therefrom by such folding seams for the upright walls of the box or trough to be folded, the apparatus including means for holding the blank in a predetermined position, a first conveyor for moving the blank transversely to its plane from said position, a mould provided in the path of the conveyor and having a mould cavity which is surrounded by a set of folding members and has a bottom area extending transversely to said path and corresponding to the bottom portion of the box or trough to be folded, stops projecting into said bottom area and adapted to arrest the movement of said bottom portion and also a second conveyor for removing the blank folded in th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Inventor: Willem L. Verhoef
  • Patent number: 4610125
    Abstract: Successive stacks of wrapped reams of paper sheets are delivered onto first cardboard blanks on top of a first platform which is then maintained in raised position. The platform thereupon descends and the front and rear sidewalls of the blank are simultaneously pivoted against the respective sides of the descending stack before the latter leaves the first platform and continuously advances along a first horizontal path wherein the conversion of the first blank continues so that such blank ultimately constitutes a case surrounding the bottom and the sides of the respective stack. The stack is then lifted by a second platform and a second blank is placed on top of the ascending stack or even ahead of the second platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: PEMCO Inc.
    Inventors: Otis E. Meives, Anthony Lutzke
  • Patent number: 4596112
    Abstract: A machine for packing groups or bundles of cigarettes has a packing conveyor 15 on which each wrapped bundle 32 is laterally supported within an outer blank by corner tabs 12 of the blank being reverse folded at a station C before an inner frame 38 is inserted. The tabs 12 subsequently slide along a raised track 28, which extends up to a station G where the inner frame is applied, so that the inner wall 11 of the lid is kept upright. At a downstream station N is a rejector device for faulty packs, including a continuously reciprocating pusher 50 which is swung down into its operative position by a rib cam 76. One of the cam followers 80 is brought into contact with the cam during its dwell portion 77 by operating an actuator 88 to extend and align a pair of toggle links 84, 86.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Molins PLC
    Inventors: William M. Buckley, Robert H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4569182
    Abstract: A wrap-around packaging method wherein a package blank is prefolded to an open-sided configuration, an object to be packaged is positioned within the prefolded blank and the final folding and adhesive closing of the package is then completed in a series of synchronized steps. The prefolding occurs during the course of withdrawal of the package blank from a magazine and its transporting into position to receive the object to be packaged and includes plural folding steps which are individually performed to minimize stress on the packing material. The movement of the preformed packing material blank and object through the final folding and closing stations is accomplished without contact between the conveying means and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Leifeld & Lemke Machinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Leuvering
  • Patent number: 4559758
    Abstract: Machine for packing cigarettes in hard, flip-top packets on which the packets are made by folding die-cut pieces round preformed groups of cigarettes on a folding wheel turning round a horizontal axis; on which the packets are then sent to a final drying wheel turning round a horizontal axis essentially perpendicular to the axis of the said folding wheel; on which the packets are then shifted axially in relation to the drying wheel and unloaded off the latter on to an essentially horizontal output conveyor the axis of which is essentially parallel to the rotation axis of the drying wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventor: Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: RE36412
    Abstract: An article packaging kit, system and method which system includes a flat, corrugated, cardboard sheet material having a central horizontal fold line and two vertical fold lines to define a base and two end portion. The system includes a flexible plastic sleeve or tube which loosely fits about a portion of the base of the sheet material in the flat condition. The sheet material moves between a horizontal line folded position when an article to be packaged is inserted within the sleeve and a flat, article hugging, immobilizing position when the end portions are folded upwardly causing the base portion to become flat. The system includes optionally inserting the immobilized article on the folded sheet material into a packaging or shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: W. Charles Jones