Package Or Receptacle Having Closure Flap, E.g., Carton Flap, Box Lid, Etc. Patents (Class 53/376.3)
  • Patent number: 8826633
    Abstract: A pack, and a method and apparatus for producing the pack, comprising an outer pack and an inner pack as a sealed block with an inner blank which encloses the pack contents, the inner pack having, in the region of an inner end wall, an opening aid which can be used a number of times and, in the region of side walls of the inner pack, folding flaps which are connected to one another by thermal sealing. Folding flaps in the region of an inner rear wall of the inner blank are configured as a fin fold and are connected to one another by thermal sealing outside the region of the cigarette group to form a fin seam, the fin seam being arranged at a spacing from regions of folding flaps which cover one another multiple times, in the region of the inner side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Henry Buse, Reinhard Lohmann
  • Publication number: 20140116003
    Abstract: A food saver machine is provided that includes a film delivery mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a conditioning assembly and a drive mechanism. The film delivery mechanism has a support cradle for a roll of bag material and a feed roller assembly for dispensing the bag material. The cutting mechanism is disposed adjacent the film delivery mechanism and has a first sealing bumper and a shuttle member with a cutting portion. The shuttle member is arranged to cut transversely across the bag material dispensed from the film delivery mechanism. The conditioning assembly is pivotably disposed below the film delivery mechanism and has a heater member for sealing a portion of the bag material. The drive mechanism is operatively connected to the conditioning assembly and configured to pivot upwards to contact the first sealing bumper of the cutting mechanism and to pivot downwards to contact a second sealing bumper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jamal Hammad
  • Patent number: 8156719
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for real-time alignment of packaging surfaces can include two or more sensors for detecting the positioning of carton surfaces and a servo system. The servo system can include a servo motor and a controller. The servo system records the positioning of the carton surfaces and calculates a difference in position. The controller compares the calculated value with a predetermined value and if necessary, the servo motor turns a correction wheel to align the carton surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Delkor Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Urs Reuteler, Matt M. Mate, Ronald Scott Thompson, Daniel Duane Schroeder, Mike Lee
  • Patent number: 8024910
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container includes a frame, and a forming station coupled to the frame. The forming apparatus includes a plurality of folding plows configured to fold portions of a blank to form a container. The apparatus also includes a transfer assembly including a plurality of containment bars for supporting the container in a formed state. The containment bars facilitate retaining the formed state of the container while the transfer assembly transfers the container to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, William Courteau, Amer Aganovic
  • Patent number: 7856798
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for real-time alignment of packaging surfaces can include two or more sensors for detecting the positioning of carton surfaces and a servo system. The servo system can include a servo motor and a controller. The servo system records the positioning of the carton surfaces and calculates a difference in position. The controller compares the calculated value with a predetermined value and if necessary, the servo motor turns a correction wheel to align the carton surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Delkor Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Schroeder, Matt M. Mate, Mike Lee, Urs Reuteler, Ronald Thompson
  • Patent number: 7823367
    Abstract: The invention relates to the making of boxes of a variable volume adapted in each case to the height of the packed products, including cutting the box along its vertical edges and forming fold lines at a suitable height around the sides of the box to define top flaps; and then folding these flaps onto the contents of the prefilled box. At least one inflated or inflatable void-filling bag is inserted into the box, around and/or above the packed products, after the fold lines have been formed, and before the flaps are folded onto the contents of the box. The invention also provides a combined machine that cuts, marks, prepares and inserts void-filling bags, and closes boxes. Applicable to order filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Savoye
    Inventors: Michel Boigues, Joel Foulon
  • Publication number: 20100101681
    Abstract: A beverage bottling or container filling plant having a beverage bottle or container labeling machine, and a beverage bottle or container labeling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus Krämer, Lutz DECKERT, Oliver KRESS
  • Publication number: 20100089012
    Abstract: A case sealing system comprising an integrated hot melt processing, dispensing and application system whereby the bottom and the top of a filled box are both substantially simultaneously sealed with a hot melt adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: DAVID DUCKWORTH, Hin-Keng Swee, Benjamin Onofrei, John K. Fornal
  • Publication number: 20100059582
    Abstract: A box sealing belt includes two sealing bands, a gap band and two fastening ears. The two sealing bands are substantially in parallel with each other. The gap band is interconnected between the two sealing bands to form two opposing concave slots therebetween. The two fastening ears are respectively disposed at two opposite ends of either one of the two sealing bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Chieh LIANG
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090235618
    Abstract: A system for assembling a shipping package includes a feeder feeding an envelope from a supply of envelopes and a transport mechanism that transports a shipping container from a supply of shipping containers and places the shipping container in position for the feeder to insert the envelope into the shipping container. The envelope contains a replacement presentation instrument and a shipping indicator, and the shipping indicator includes a shipping address visible through a first substantially clear window in the envelope. Each shipping container has a second substantially clear window, and when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container, the shipping address is visible through the second substantially clear window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Fred C. Casto, Jon A. Gates, Corey D. Tunink
  • Patent number: 7454879
    Abstract: In a machine for making rigid hinge-lid packets, the lid of each packet is folded by a device (9) equipped with a plurality of pockets (2) occupied by respective single packets (P), each presenting a set of end folds (20) that will be bent inwards to form the lid (15), also, a belt conveyor (3) by which the pockets (2) are directed along a predetermined folding path (3b) between an infeed point (10) and an outfeed point (11), a pulley (4) centred on a vertical axis (X) of rotation, and a folder unit (12) mounted to the rotating pulley (4), interacting with a top part (13) of each pocket (2) in such a manner as to engage and bend the end folds (20) of the packet (P). The folding path (3b) coincides with a branch of the belt conveyor (3) looped around the pulley (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Daniele Coi
  • Publication number: 20080127618
    Abstract: In a method for packaging articles, a tubular blank is conveyed in flat folded configuration to an erecting station to be engaged and rotated by suction cups. The raised blank assumes a parallelepiped shape with a vertical axis, while a striker hit a lateral wall of the blank, so that the blank is erected in a box. While the box is being moved, first and second lower flaps are then folded before the blank is set resting on a support plane and moved, by driving and guiding conveyors, to a filling station for insertion of articles, supplied along a vertical direction, into the box. Lastly, the box with the articles therein is moved by the driving and guiding conveyors to subsequent stations for folding lower lateral flaps and upper flaps to close bottom and cover of the so obtained box. A machine is provided for carrying out the method, with an erecting station and a filling station joined by a horizontal support plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MARCHESINI GROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 7096643
    Abstract: A mail-handling machine including a postage-metering or “franking” module including at least a print mechanism for printing a postage imprint on a mail item and a conveyor for conveying the mail item along a mail item conveyor path defined by top and bottom guide plates. The conveyor includes at least a mail item engagement mechanism including a bottom plate mounted to move vertically at the inlet of the franking module. A support supports the mail items at the inlet of the franking module. The support is moveable in a manner synchronized with the vertical movement of the bottom engagement means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventor: Stephane Le Gallo
  • Patent number: 7073308
    Abstract: By providing two endless loop belt drive assemblies forming a belt driven sealing section, a highly efficient and effective automatic, universally applicable, container closing system has been achieved which is capable of securely lockingly engaging both locking lug/receiving well containers and perimeter seal containers. In the present invention, the two cooperating endless loop belt drive systems are mounted in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with each other and are positioned for simultaneously closing and securely engaging the entire locking elements formed on the flanges of one side of the container. In addition, the spaced distance between the two belt drive assemblies is adjustable, as well as the position of the spaced distance relative to a conveyor. In this way, all containers are to be closed by this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Inline Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Dyke, Thomas C. Lynch, Michael Shaun Farrier
  • Patent number: 6880309
    Abstract: A self-dimensioning machine for closing upper flaps of parallelepiped boxes including a base with support surface for the boxes, a couple of drive belts placed at the two sides of the support surface for engagement with the sides of the boxes, a device for detecting the position and horizontal dimensions of the boxes for controlling the movement of the drive belts, a rod pivoted on a head above the support surface descending from a rest position to engage, straighten and partially close the front flaps of the boxes, a vertically mobile touching group for detecting the height of the boxes and successively to the head in the advancement direction of the boxes, a central longitudinal guide carried by the touching group and positioning itself in a horizontal position above the support surface at a height corresponding to the height of the boxes for completing the closing of the front flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Antonio Marchetti
  • Patent number: 6837029
    Abstract: A carton closure method wherein heated end side walls of the open end of a carton are initially infolded to partially close the open end of the carton and thereafter subjected to capture between a backup pad and a pressure pad by a linearly reciprocative cam to which pressure is applied by a cam follower driven in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of linear movement of the cam relative to the backup pad, whereby the cam is moved between positions wherein there is applied pressure against the partially infolded portions of the end side walls of a carton blank to effect a sealing pressure against such infolded portions and a position wherein no material pressure is applied to the partially infolded end side walls of the carton blank, the cam movement being facilitated by a multi-faceted geometry of the camming face of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventors: George A. Morden, Cletus E. Kreher
  • Publication number: 20040226268
    Abstract: A case sealer has a frame with a low friction conveyor upon which boxes are moved in series through three stages, each having an independent pair of spaced-apart, lateral conveyors that are linked together for inward and outward movement to accommodate the width of the box to be sealed. A first measuring stage measures the height, width and length of the box. A second flap folding stage has a floating head located over its lateral conveyors and is responsive to the height and width of the box and folds the box end and side flaps into a closed position. When a box enters the flap folding stage, the lateral conveyors in the measuring stage open to accept the next box, and based on the speed of the lateral conveyors and the measured length of the previous box, a gate allows the next box to enter the measuring stage as soon as the previous box has cleared the measuring stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Tuan Vinh Le
  • Patent number: 6764576
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for forming and thermosealing one end of a packaging container which is manufactured from thermosealing material. The packaging container is placed in a conveyor which brings it into contact with mechanical forming devices (22) which progressively reform the packaging container end so that a sealing fin (6) oriented in the direction of movement of the packaging container is formed. In a subsequent sealing station (12), thermoplastic material located in the sealing fin (6) is heated to sealing temperature, whereafter wall portions included in the sealing fin are mechanically urged against one another during simultaneous cooling and continued advancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Esko Heinonen, Mats Nyhlén, Mikael Andersson
  • Patent number: 6722101
    Abstract: A packing apparatus which includes a feed conveyor adapted to convey articles to a pick up station and a case conveyor adapted to sequentially convey cases, having an open top and a plurality of flaps, to a feed station. Pick up and grid heads are provided and are adapted to pick up successive slugs of the articles at the pick up station and to sequentially deposit the slugs in each of the cases while they are in the release station. A removal conveyor is provided to successively receive the slug filled cases from the release station and pass them onto a case sealing apparatus which is arranged over the removal conveyor and is operative to apply an adhesive to certain of the flaps and to then move the flaps over the open top into a secured closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Patterson Hartness, Richard M. Wiernicki, Robert Leslie Dillard, David Lee Scott
  • Patent number: 6689244
    Abstract: Method of using a double sided adhesive tape for sealing and opening cartons or cartonlike packages, at least one of the two films of adhesive being provided with a nontacky covering, which for sticking the adhesive tape between overlapping plies or flaps is removed partially from the adhesive layer, the bonding of the adhesive tape between the overlapping plies or flaps of the carton or of the cartonlike package taking place in such a way that the part of the covering which has not been removed from the film of adhesive is likewise situated between the overlapping plies or flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: tesa AG
    Inventor: Michael Schwertfeger
  • Patent number: 6622461
    Abstract: A sleeve-type half package is closed by applying two beads of glue on each of two flaps on each end of the sleeve, folding those flaps inwardly by engagement with a nonglued strip between the beads and then folding the other two flaps at each end inwardly to engage a bead of glue on each of the two first-folded flaps at each end. The folding is done by thrust members as the half package is displaced linearly along a transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Baumer S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Gambetti
  • Patent number: 6453642
    Abstract: A mail-handling machine comprising at least firstly a postage-metering or “franking” module comprising at least print means for printing a postage imprint on a mail item and conveyor means for conveying said mail item along a mail item conveyor path defined by top and bottom guide plates, which conveyor means comprise at least mail item engagement means including bottom means mounted to move vertically, which engagement means are disposed at the inlet of the franking module, and secondly a mail item feed module disposed immediately upstream from the franking module and comprising at least conveyor means for conveying the mail items, and a moistener device, support means further being provided for supporting the mail items as they move between the feed module and the franking module, which support means are suitable for being moved in a manner synchronized with the vertical movement of the bottom engagement means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventor: Stephane Le Gallo
  • Patent number: 6381927
    Abstract: A flap folding assembly for engaging a work piece, such as a paperboard carton flap, and moving that flap into a desired position. The flap folding apparatus can be used in a continuous motion packaging machine to engage a sleeve type carton flap as the carton is transported downstream through the package machine. The apparatus is operated in timed relationship with the machine's carton conveyor either by mechanically interlinking the apparatus to the main machine drive, or by the use of a servo drive operated from and controlled by the packaging machine's main controller. The flap folding apparatus includes a vacuum cup driven in a circular path by a drive mechanism comprised of two spaced gears which are driven in the same direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Moncrief, Jeff Disrud, Timothy Wayne Hendricks
  • Patent number: 6381923
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a folding box transporting device and a closing device for alignment and insertion of the closing flaps of a folding box, wherein the closing device supports at least one closing tool which rotates, via a drive and a gearing, while maintaining its orientation. The gearing is a planetary gearing which ensures precise motion of the closing tools even at high packaging machine cycle frequencies. The planetary support can thereby be connected to an intermediate shaft surrounded by a coaxially disposed hollow drive shaft, wherein the hollow drive shaft is borne for rigid rotation along with the intermediate shaft but in an axially displaceable fashion to permit axial or vertical adjustment of the planetary gearing and therefore of the closing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Bernd Hähnel
  • Publication number: 20020029546
    Abstract: A method for disposing of a soiled disposable diaper comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Lisa M. Gould
  • Patent number: 6325878
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for producing a packaging container for liquid foods from a packaging container blank (40) by permanently uniting and sealing at least two of its edges (61, 65) with the aid of a hot melt glue, the hot melt glue being applied along one of the two edges with the aid of a heated applicator roller (11). The circumferential surface (21) of the hot roller is preferably made of hardened steel with a coating (22) countersunk in a groove int he surface along the circumference of the circumferential surface, the coating possessing good slippage properties in relation to the hot melt glue and the coating being of a width which corresponds to the region intended for application. A counter roller (14) acts on the opposite side of the packaging laminate blank against the applicator roller for controlling the outflow of the applied hot melt glue strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Rolf Borgström