Abstract: A four-armed pour spout fitment applicator adaptable to rotating two of the arms into open-topped cartons and applying flanged pour spout fitments outwardly through openings in a pair of adjacent carton top panels, while the other two arms are adapted to substantially receive two additional fitments transferred thereto by two air cylinders. External ultrasonic sealers have horns serving to engage the outer panel surfaces to seal the flanges of the fitments to the inner surfaces of the top panels around the openings.

Abstract: An article transfer station for transferring articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor whereby the station can be selected to be either a station at which articles are carried through a predetermined angle about a substantially vertical axis while changing their orientations by the angle or a station at which articles are carried through the angle about the vertical axis without changing their orientations.

Abstract: A dosing apparatus 1 includes a material flow control arrangement 2 including vertical ducting 4 having co-axial therewith a vertically reciprocatory rod 5 mounting at its ends inlet and outlet valve closure plugs 6a and 6b. The upper and lower end zones of the ducting 4 define respective circular-cylindrical inlet and outlet 13a and 13b bounded by respective circular-cylindrical valve seats 14a and 14b in which the plugs 6a and 6b are sliding fits. Mounted on at least one horizontal extension piece 4d of the ducting 4 is at least one dosing pump 16. When the outlet 13b is closed by the plug 6b, the cross-section of the inlet 13a is unobstructed; similarly, when the inlet 13a is closed by the plug 6a, the cross-section of the outlet 13b is unobstructed. Furthermore, in an intermediate position of the rod 5, the cross-sections of both the inlet 13a and the outlet 13b are unobstructed, so that passage of a cleaning fluid through the ducting 4 is facilitated.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for sealing thermoplastic-coated container sealing fins, including a movable sealing jaw and an oppositely disposed fixed sealing jaw. The sealing jaws have parallel, dead-ended grooves formed in the sealing surface thereof, wherein two adjacent grooves cross each other in an X-configuration at their longitudinal mid-point. Engagement of the inter-groove lands against heated outer sealing panels causes the thermoplastic to become molten and flow to the X-configuration area. When cooled, the concentrated thermoplastic serves to seal off the crevice between adjacent folded-over, inner panel segments of the container sealing fin.

Abstract: A pouring spout attachment adapted to being applied to a pourable-product-carrying container over a location where the container has one of a partial depth cut and an opening formed therein. The pouring spout attachment includes a body and may have a removable cap mounted thereon. The body includes an internal projection, an external mounting flange, and an internal end wall having a web segment cut therein so as to be movable about a pivot or hinge line, and a projection formed on the web segment, such that upon the web segment being pivoted inwardly, the projection is pivoted so as to snap past the internal projection to retain a fully open condition.

Abstract: A gable-top carton has at least half, if not all, of its spout-forming, folded-in, top sealing panels (33) projecting above an adjacent non-folded-in top sealing panel (32) to permit a user to grasp that projection and pull it forward to open the spout. To provide a flattened gable-top carton, the other non-folded-in top sealing panel (34) may be extended to be tacked down onto an opposite top obturating panel (22) and be formed with a tear strip to facilitate detachment of the turned-down sealing fin (32-35) from the tacked-down part of that other non-folded-in top sealing panel (34) and to cover a pouring edge zone of the adjacent half of the spout-forming, top sealing panel (33). The carton can be made from an appropriately shaped and scored blank.

Abstract: A top closure arrangement for an oblong rectangular, gable top container, wherein selected score lines are formed on the wider top closure panels defining panel segments for inward folding during the sealing process. A pour spout fitment is thus mounted on one of the narrow, outer flat closure panels for more convenient handling of the container by the consumer during the pouring process.

Abstract: A flat-sitting bottom end closure for liquid filled, thermoplastic-coated paperboard containers, and mechanism for forming same. The mechanism includes an indexible rotor having a plurality of mandrels on which tubular container blanks are mounted, wherein each mandrel has an end cap defining a configuration which, in conjunction with a complementary pressure pad, produces four flat corner portions or pedestals on the container bottom end closure when confined between the pressure pad and each end cap.

Abstract: A skiving method comprises forming by milling, along an edge zone of a packaging blank comprised of a liquid-absorbent layer and at least two liquid-barrier layers thereon, a tongue, a recess inwardly of the tongue, a land inwardly of the recess, and a groove inwardly of the land, folding over the edge zone to insert the tongue into the groove, and sealing the edge zone to the remainder of the sheet material, preferably by mechanical pressure alone.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing overlapped edge portions of laminates folded onto a support member. The arrangement includes a pressure pad assembly and a drive member. An elastomeric disk is retained compressed between the drive member and the pressure pad assembly. A drive unit serves to extend the drive member to thereby urge the pressure pad via the elastomeric disk into pressure sealing engagement with the overlapped laminates on the support member.

Abstract: A sterilizing method includes subjecting material, for example packaging board, to laser UV alone, or substantially simultaneously with laser IR and/or hydrogen peroxide to obtain a synergistic effect between the UV and IR and/or hydrogen peroxide, to render micro-organisms present at said material non-viable.

Abstract: A method for securing a pour spout fitment to a thermoplastic-coated container, wherein at least a surface of a pour spout fitment is heated remotely by a suitable heating mechanism, to a predetermined temperature. When the heated fitment surface is applied to a selected surface of an erected, thermoplastic-coated container, the heat energy is transferred to the latter surface to an extent capable of activating the thermoplastic coating thereon. Upon cooling, the fitment and the container surface are bonded together, without the need for a back-up or support mechanism, such as a mandrel or anvil.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a fluid flow apparatus including a discharge nozzle arrangement comprising a single continuous, meandering stainless steel strand to create a planar screen operatively connected at its outer periphery to a diffuser chamber. The screen is adapted to retain a volume of fluid thereabove until the fluid is forced under pressure through the openings between adjacent segments of the strand. Portions of the screen are adapted to flex resiliently downwardly, out of the plane of the outer periphery, to provide additional clearances between adjacent segments of the screen, in the event particulates should tend to build-up, to thereby resist clogging by flushing same. The round cross-section of the strand facilitates continual cleanliness, and serves to produce better-behaved flow out of the nozzle, thereby reducing foaming of the product being discharged during the filling operation.

Abstract: A carton end closure score line breaker mechanism for pre-breaking the top closure score lines before the filling and closing and sealing steps does not include a center post, or any components which extend into the inside of a carton end closure, eliminating any chance for contamination inside the end panels. The center-free breaker mechanism includes a pair of blades each having an arcuate center section for caving in the adjacent end panel and, thereby, bulging the side end panels and pulling in the oppositely disposed panel, and a blade fork and another pair of blades, wherein the blade fork includes two longitudinal, parallel blades which slide across the side body panels, and each blade of the other pair is a flat-faced bar for engaging the adjacent end panel and causing the side end panels to project outwardly completing the pre-breaking of all end closure score lines.

Abstract: A folding and tucker-tacker station operates upon a flat bottom end closure of a packaging sleeve, which closure comprises first and second panels opposite each other, third and fourth panels opposite each other and between the first and second panels, and a minor panel protruding from the outermost edge of the third panel. The station comprises a mounting supporting first, second and third jaws oscillatable transversely of the sleeve axis for folding inwards the first, second and third panels, and a fourth jaw displaceable along, but not transversely of, the axis for folding inwards the fourth panel. The third jaw has a recess for receiving the minor panel.

Abstract: In a method of emptying from a case a compressible load consisting of carton blanks, prongs penetrate through preformed perforations in opposite side walls of the case and push the load away from those walls, an upper portion of the case is partially severed by knives along respective paths at those walls, other cuts are formed across the top wall along the other two side walls of the case, suction cups pull away that upper portion, the load is received between support fingers, the load and the lower portion of the case are turned through 180 degrees in a vertical plane, the inverted lower portion is removed from the load by suction cups, and a gripping head seizes the load and removes it from between the support fingers.

Abstract: A folding and tucker-tacker station operates upon a flat bottom end closure of a packaging sleeve, which closure comprises first and second panels opposite each other, third and fourth panels opposite each other and between the first and second panels, and a minor panel protruding from the outermost edge of the third panel. The station comprises a mounting supporting first, second and third jaws oscillatable transversely of the sleeve axis for folding inwards the first, second and third panels, and a fourth jaw displaceable along, but not transversely of, the axis for folding inwards the fourth panel. The third jaw has a recess for receiving the minor panel. The fourth jaw is disposed after the third jaw along the path of a mandrel transporting the sleeve.

Abstract: A dosing apparatus for packaging containers comprises a dosing device including a housing, a wall within the housing and reciprocable to draw in and expel a substance through an inlet and an outlet, respectively, of the housing, a rotary stepping motor which drives the wall, and a screw device which converts rotary motion of the motor to linear motion of the wall; and a control programmable to control the speed and stroke angle of the motor. The filled containers may be weighed in turn and the weight data used automatically to make any necessary corrections to the wall stroke.

Abstract: A method of forming a skived edge on the inside panel of a thermoplastic coated paperboard container, in part while the container is part of a web or sheet of paperboard material, and in part on individual blanks after being cut from the web or sheet. More specifically, a partial depth cut and an adjacent score line are formed on a carton converting machine providing a precise location for subsequently removing material and folding the edge of a blank on a side seam sealing machine.

Abstract: In order to avoid foaming which may influence the closing zone of containers for products of the kind that may foam during the filling procedure, a method is provided according to which an anti-foam medium in the shape of a thin surface layer is applied in the closing area of the container, or container blank, resp., if desired, close to said area on the inner surface of the container. Such application is preferably carried out before the blank is set up as a container. A device for use in the method may comprise a roll (12) provided with one or a number of grooved zones (9',10'). Roll (12) is mounted on a shaft (13) to be rolled in contact with the inner surface of a web (11) from which the container blanks are manufactured, preferably while said web is advanced past roll (12).