Abstract: A system (10) for processing pliable, sealed bags (16) includes an inlet section (176) for transferring the bags (16) onto a lower conveyor (152) with the lower end being downstream of the bag upper end and allowing product not contained by the bags (16) to fall through the inlet section (176). The bags (16) on the lower conveyor (152) pass beneath an overhead conveyor (194), with product being dispersed inside of the bag (16) as the result of the rotation of a conditioning roller (168) engaging and flexing the belting (158) of the lower conveyor (152). The endless carrier of the overhead conveyor (194) is deflected by first and second support plates (216, 220) slideably received in flexible guides (212). The first support plates (216) places pressure on the bags (16) to force air out of improperly sealed bags (16) while the movement of the second support plates (220) is detected to determine whether the bags (16) are within a tolerable thickness.

Abstract: A bag loading apparatus (26) of a packaging system (10) includes a platen (68) having a convex upper surface upon which layers of bags (16) are sequentially placed, with the platen (68) being lowered upon receipt of each layer, until a full stack is supported on the platen (68). The loading apparatus (26) also includes a pivotally mounted pusher plate (98) against which the layered bags (16) are arranged when supported on the platen (68). Furthermore, a shelf (58) is arranged above both the platen (68) and the pusher plate (98) and is preferably pivotally mounted about a common axis with the pusher plate (98). With a stack of bags (16) on the platen (68), the pusher plate (98) accelerates across the platen (68) to shift the bags (16) into an open container (28), with the bags (16) preferably assuming a generally wedge-shape to aid in the loading of the bags (16) into the container (28).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) includes a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position, with the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlying at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). After an unload arm (84) is secured to the first end panel (18), tucking arms (102, 104, 106) are pivoted to tuck the bottom closure flaps (22, 24, 25).

Abstract: A package (10) is disclosed including stacked, lower and upper trays (12, 14) each including end walls (22, 122) extending on opposite sides of a base panel (16, 116). The handgrips (26) of the end walls (22) of the lower tray (12) are aligned with the handgrips (126) of the end walls (122) of the upper tray (14) when it is stacked on the lower tray (12). The openings (38) in the ends of a shrunk film wrapper (36) are at least partially coincident with the upper peripheries of the handgrips (26, 126) for providing extra strength. Side walls (18, 118) are integrally connected to the base panels (16, 116) about fold lines (20, 120) and are secured to the end walls (22, 122) by tabs (28, 34, 128, 134). The trays (12, 14) are formed of paperboard and/or corrugated from one or more blanks.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed including a web of film (20) extending between first and second pairs of pinch rollers (12-15) and onto a vacuum table (18). A rotary cutter (46) positioned before the first pair of pinch rollers (12, 13) includes laterally extending and spaced knives (52) for creating cuts (54, 58) in the film (20) which expand into vent openings (54') positioned over the sides (68) of the product (72) when the film (20) is wrapped around and shrunk upon the product (72). A further rotary cutter (30) positioned between the pairs of pinch rollers (12-15) includes a cut-off knife (36) and first and second blades (44). The cut-off knife (36) creates a cut (60) in the film (20) to form a single sheet of film (20) and includes notches (38) in its cutting edge to form tie strips (62) connecting the single sheet to the web of film (20).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for partially setting up a blank (12) is disclosed including first suction cups (122) for removing the first blank (12) from a magazine (96). The first suction cups (122) are pivotally mounted to the ends of pivot arms (110) to move the first blank (12) up and over actuators (102) of the magazine (96) as the first blank (12) is moved forward out of the magazine (96). After the lower edge of the first blank (12) passes over the actuators (102), the lower portion of the blank (12) is supported in an intermediate position upon an abutment bar (106). While still secured to the first suction cups (122), second suction cups (78) are secured to the blank (12). The second suction cups (78) tilt the blank (12) to be parallel to and move with upstanding lugs (36) of a conveyor assembly (34). A forming die (38) pushes the blank (12) into the lugs (36) as the forming die (38), blank (12) and the lugs (36) move at a constant speed.

Abstract: A tape applying apparatus (10) includes a plurality of pairs of vacuum heads (120, 122) extending axially at circumferentially spaced intervals on a disc (24) rotated about an axis by the extension of a cylinder (48) which is operatively connected by a cam follower (60) to a cam (40) rotatably fixed to the disc (24). The vacuum head (120) adjacent the free end of the tape includes a trough (126) including vacuum bleed holes (128) for drawing the tape segment extending over the trough (126) into the trough (126) to form a tab when desired. A slide (66) is reciprocated between retracted and extended positions by a further cylinder (72). A knife (98) is movably connected to the slide (66) for cutting the tape when the knife (98) reaches a cutting position, with the knife (98) stopping at the cutting position before the slide (66) reaches the extended position.

Abstract: A continuous motion stacking apparatus (10) is disclosed including a positive drive device (14) which places abutting products on a conveyor (12). When the leading series of products is detected to have reached a predetermined position by a sensor (94), the series of products are pushed from the conveyor (12) by a pusher plate (32) which has a first movement component equal to the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) and a second movement component perpendicular to the conveyor (12). The series of products are pushed onto a shelf (30) simultaneously moving perpendicular to the conveyor (12) with the pusher plate (32). When the shelf (30) retracts, the products fall onto a vertically, movable platform (24) or products supported thereon. A guide (34) moves forward at the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) to keep the remaining products on the conveyor (12) and to keep the last product of the series being pushed from the conveyor (12) parallel to the conveyor (12).

Abstract: Apparatus (200) for opening the closure flaps (22-25) of a carton (12), for presenting the carton (12) for loading, and for closing the closure flaps (22-25) is disclosed including a carrier (202) which initially receives the carton (12). The carrier (202) carries the carton (12) into a carriage (226), with the carton (12) sandwiched therebetween. The closure flaps (22-25) are opened by a device (242) including fingers (254-257) which are pivoted to an expanded position after their insertion through an opening (27) in the closure flaps (22-25). An elevator (212) raises the carton (12) in the carriage (226) while the carton (12) is still under compression, with suction cups (56,171-173) then being attached to the closure flaps (22-25). The carriage (226) can then be moved to a loading position and back where the closure flaps (22-25) of the loaded carton (12) are fan folded by a device (120). The elevator (212) can then be lowered where the closed carton (12) can be pushed therefrom.

Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed including a discharge unit (54) having a vertical conveyor (56) formed by a pair of vertically arranged belts (58) each including circumferentially spaced shelves (60) defining a plurality of evenly spaced flights. A diverting conveyor (16) is pivotally mounted about its infeed end so that its outfeed end can be moved to be synchronous with one of the flights of the discharge unit (54) or to an overflow position. In particular, a servo motor (50) pivots the diverting conveyor (16) under the control of a controller (74) depending upon whether product is detected by a sensor (52) in the diverting conveyor (16), upon the rate that the flights of the discharge unit (54) are moving, and upon the pivotal position of the diverting conveyor (16). The device (10) is then able to place products which are fed to the diverting conveyor (16) with random spacing into the flights without bumping or bunching the products together.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) is disclosed including a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) in a hopper (26) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position. In the operative position, the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlies at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). The bottom closure flap (23) is folded upwardly by a bending rod (82) as the frame (74) moves the carton (12) to its open condition.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) is disclosed including a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) in a hopper (26) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position. In the operative position, the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlies at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). In a first preferred form, the folded closure flaps (22-25) are held by a tape piece (116) applied by a taping machine (114) carried by the last tucking arm (106).