Patents Represented by Attorney Karen L. Ware
-
Patent number: 7739856Abstract: An apparatus for forming an end closure structure of a carton. The end closure structure is formed from minor end flaps and major end flaps. The apparatus includes a carton conveyor for transferring the carton in a flow direction along a carton conveyor path, a major end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the major end flaps in an outwardly upright position, a minor end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the minor end flaps in an inwardly folded position, and a gluing station for applying adhesive to the major and minor end flaps.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John W. Cash, III
-
Patent number: 7735299Abstract: An apparatus for forming an end closure structure of a carton. The end closure structure is formed from minor end flaps and major end flaps. The apparatus includes a carton conveyor for transferring the carton in a flow direction along a carton conveyor path, a major end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the major end flaps in an outwardly upright position, a minor end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the minor end flaps in an inwardly folded position, and a gluing station for applying adhesive to the major and minor end flaps.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John W. Cash, III
-
Patent number: 7681381Abstract: A substantially tubular end-loadable carton (200) comprising a top wall (212), an inwardly-extending structure (X2) foldably adjoining said top wall (212) stowable in a substantially flat-face position with an underside of said top wall (212), and a top end flap (X1) connected to said inwardly-extending structure is translated in a direction (F) and a flap deflector (310) is disposed to engage and deflect the end flap (X1a) downwardly and thereby cause the inwardly-extending structure (X2a) to pivot upwardly inside the carton (200) into substantially flat-face position with the underside of the top wall (212) of the carton (200).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems LLCInventor: Peter Pathak
-
Patent number: 7641607Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: MeadWestVaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Alan P. Martin, John W. Cash, III, Rafe T. Patterson, Michael F. Flagg
-
Patent number: 7617926Abstract: A packaging machine (10) includes a lane assembly (12) that includes one or more lanes (L) which guide cylindrical articles (B), such as cans or bottles, across a series of substantially parallel conveyors. The lane assembly (12) includes an adjustable guide bar (34) which defines an adjustable portion (V) of the lane (L) that can be adjusted to adapt to the diameter of articles (B). The lane assembly (12) also includes lane extensions (70) that can be adjusted to control the position of rows or articles (B) as the articles (B) exit the lanes (L) onto a conveyor (20).Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Jeffrey G. Jacob, Rafe T. Patterson, Michael F. Flagg, John W. Cash, III
-
Patent number: 7594646Abstract: An infeed station for conveying and positioning a stack of carton blanks for sequential removal by a carton feeder, for automatically adjusting the rate of advancement of the carton blanks to compensate for excessive tilting and gaps between the carton blanks, and for providing alerts to signal the need for operator intervention or automatic shutdown. The infeed station includes a hopper and a magazine that receives carton blanks from the hopper. The magazine includes a sensing mechanism including a control sensor and a warning sensor mounted in proximity to the carton blanks in the infeed station, and a processor that, according to a condition signaled by the sensing mechanism, controls the rate at which advancing belts advance a queue of carton blanks toward the magazine.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Michael F. Flagg, John W. Cash, III, Rafe T. Patterson
-
Patent number: 7395915Abstract: An article transport, meterer and loader has a plurality of parallel lanes disposed above and in angular relation to a direction of transport of a plurality of article conveyors.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Mead Westvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Will L. Culpepper, Glenn Robinson, Johnny J. Hunter
-
Patent number: 7392894Abstract: A packaging machine (10) includes a lane assembly (12) that includes one or more lanes (L) which guide cylindrical articles (B), such as cans or bottles, across a series of substantially parallel conveyors. The lane assembly (12) includes an adjustable guide bar (34) which defines an adjustable portion (V) of the lane (L) that can be adjusted to adapt to the diameter of articles (B). The lane assembly (12) also includes lane extensions (70) that can be adjusted to control the position of rows of articles (B) as the articles (B) exit the lanes (L) onto a conveyor (20).Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Jeffrey G. Jacob, Rafe T. Patterson, Michael F. Flagg, John W. Cash, III