Patents Assigned to MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
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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
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Patent number: 7568611Abstract: A carton having a dispensing feature adapted for permitting the removal of articles from within the carton. Top and bottom opposed walls are interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body. An article dispenser is provided by a removable portion defined by an opening in the carton for exposing articles for removal. The removable portion is at least partially defined by a frangible line extending across each side wall to opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A portion of the frangible line extends at least partially along the adjacent end edge of the bottom wall and then extends to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A buttress arrangement for enhancing the stacking strength of the carton is formed from the distal portion of at least one side end flap.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John W. Cargile, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090044497Abstract: A packaging apparatus forms a completely sealed composite package. The apparatus employs a continuous process which involves conditioning a surface of the package substrate. The substrate includes an adhesive coating that can be reactivated by infra-red radiation and adheres the package substrate to a juxtaposed face of a second surface. The apparatus uses rollers (102, 104, 118, 120) to compress the two surfaces together to complete the construction process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2005Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Ladislav Falat, Rune Haraldsson, Benoit Poutot, Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Pierre-Yves Poget
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Patent number: 7478725Abstract: A carton for enclosing cylindrical articles includes a dispenser that provides access to at least two endmost articles in an uppermost row, and to at least one article in a lowermost row, when fully loaded. The dispenser is defined by contiguous severance lines that extend across the top wall, side walls, and end wall. The dispenser is opened by tearing the severance lines to define a stopper wall and as a recess in each side wall that, at its lowest point, is spaced at a distance above the bottom wall less than half the height of the carton, with the dimensions and position of the recess being sufficient to expose at least part of the ends of one or more lowermost articles. Each side wall severance line meets the end wall severance line at a distance above the bottom wall no less than half the height of the carton.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090008437Abstract: A carton for containing bottles, has a top closure (20). The top closure (20) has a plurality of apertures (56) each to receive a bottle neck. At least one of the apertures (56) has a tear feature which comprises at least one group of short slits (37). The short slits (37) are offset from one another and arranged such that removal of the bottles causes the tear feature to break and the one aperture (56) to be enlarged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2005Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LLCInventor: Patrick Blin
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Publication number: 20080243434Abstract: A method of identifying abnormal operation of an industrial machine includes the step of determining statistical parameters from a plurality of samples of characteristic parameter(s) of known similar industrial machines in normal operation and storing them, the statistical parameters defining a statistical range of values of the characteristic parameter(s) for normal operation of the industrial machine. The characteristic parameter(s) of a machine being monitored are sampled and a determination (702) is made as to whether sampled characteristic parameter(s) falls within the statistical range of values for normal operation of the industrial machine. If the sampled characteristic parameter falls outside the statistical range of values for normal operation of the industrial machine an alarm signal is generated (706).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2005Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LLCInventor: Arnaud Boutin
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Patent number: 7427011Abstract: A package and two part blank for forming a package for carrying one or more articles comprising a carton having a plurality of wall panels for forming a tubular structure wherein each end of the carton is closed by a first panel hingedly connected to one of the wall panels, an intermediate panel hingedly connected to another wall panel of the carton and adapted to be placed in face contacting relationship within the inner face of the first panel. There further comprises within the carton an insert structure for supporting the one or more articles including a second panel. An aperture or recess is provided in the intermediate panel such that glue applied to an outer face of the second panel and the intermediate panel secures together said first, second and intermediate panels when placed together in face contacting relationship to close the end of the carton.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Jean-Michel Auclair, Jean-Yves Daniel
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Patent number: 7410045Abstract: A plunger assembly (30) is disposed on the access side of a conveyor (20). The conveyor (20) has a conveying surface upon which it transports articles by moving the conveying surface in a direction of flow (F). The plunger assembly (30) is mounted overhead vertically with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor (20) such that sufficient clearance below the plunger assembly (30) is maintained to provide an access space through which the conveyor (20) and mechanisms and elements thereof can be accessed. Further, the plunger assembly (30) may be mounted both above and at least partially offset horizontally from the conveyor surface of the conveyor (20), such that no operative portion of the plunger assembly (30) breaks the plane (C) of the conveyor surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Rafe T. Patterson, John W. Cash, III, Michael F. Flagg, John Hotchkiss, Patrick King
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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
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Patent number: 7374076Abstract: A package has an article group of at least one row of substantially cylindrical articles and a carton disposed around the article group. The carton includes a plurality of walls including a top wall, a base wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and side edges of the base wall, and an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an article dispenser opening formed at the region of intersection of planes of the top wall, the opposed side walls and the end wall. A portion of the article dispenser opening is defined by the end wall terminating along an end wall severance line having all points disposed at elevations at a distance as measured from the plane of the top wall no greater than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical articles that lie in an upper row of the group.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John Murdock Holley, Jr.
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Patent number: 7360640Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for releasably securing a grouper lug to a conveyor plate in a packaging machine conveyor belt assembly. The locking mechanism includes a cantilever arm that is disposed in a base wall of the grouper lug which defines a locking surface. The cantilever arm is defined by a channel that is formed in the base wall. A detent is disposed at the distal end of the cantilever arm and protrudes from the locking surface. An elongated key is integral to the base wall of the grouper lug and can be slidably received by a groove that is integral to the conveyor plate. The conveyor plate includes an aperture or depression that receives the detent to releasably secure the grouper lug to the conveyor plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: John W. Cash, III, Keenan W. Haley
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Patent number: 7357254Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Jean-Michel Auclair, Patrick Blin, Aaron Bates, Erica Watson
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Patent number: 7331505Abstract: A carton is provided with side walls that are shaped to securely or tightly enclose a group of tapered cylindrical articles. The curvature of the edges of each side wall is selected to cause the end wall or end closure structure to conform to the tapered shape of articles in the end most row that is disposed adjacent to the respective end closure structure of the carton. More specifically, the edges of each side wall are substantially continuously arcuate and the curvature of the edge is determined such that the maximum width of each side wall is greater than the width of the respective bottom edge of the side wall.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: John M. Holley, Jr.
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Patent number: 7331509Abstract: A severable carton wall includes a substantially vertically disposed composite wall formed from a pair of overlapping panels joined along a seam, and a frangible line extending across the composite wall, traversing the seam, defining a removable upper portion of the composite wall. An extensively-weakened segment of the frangible line that substantially traverses the seam is shaped and disposed such that the extensively-weakened segment defines a notch in the removable upper portion within the seam of the removable upper portion. The extensively-weakened segment includes a pair of cut lines formed respectively in the end portions of the panels such that the cut lines define a pair of secured protrusions formed respectively from the panels and extending upwardly from the lower portion of the composite wall.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Aaron Bates, James R. Oliff
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Publication number: 20080034709Abstract: Apparatus and a packaging machine comprising apparatus for placing packaging material in a pre-determined position relative to an array of articles for example bottles to be packaged, comprising a conveyor for conveying an array of articles, feed means for feeding the packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles. The feed means accelerates the packaging material to a sufficient velocity relative to the velocity of the articles such that the packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position whilst continuous forward motion of the articles is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Applicant: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems LLCInventors: Eric Chalendar, Pascal Portrait, Laurent Henot
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Patent number: 7328798Abstract: A carton for dispensing and retaining articles such as cans or bottles is opened by at least partially removing a first detachable portion and then by at least partially detaching a second detachable portion. Removal of the first detachable portion defines an opening for dispensing articles, and defines means for retaining articles in the carton after one or both of the detachable portions have been removed, such as a stopper wall. Removal of the first detachable portion provides access to the second detachable portion to facilitate subsequent and at least partial detachment thereof. The second detachable portion may be yieldable so as to variably and reversibly redefine or reconfigure the opening to enlarge the opening to facilitate removal of articles that are being dispensed, and to reduce the opening to retain articles in the carton that are not being dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Jean-Michel Auclair, Patrick Blin, Aaron Bates, Erica Watson, John W. Cargile, Jr.
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Patent number: 7325384Abstract: Methods of loading cartons in a packaging machine are provided. A method comprises providing cartons with an end opening having a width less than a pitch of flight bars of a packaging machine, and detachably affixing the cartons so that one carton is horizontally adjacent another and the combined end opening width of the horizontally adjacent cartons is substantially equal to the pitch of the flight bars. The method also includes placing the cartons between the flight bars so that the horizontally adjacent cartons are disposed within the pitch of flight bars and detaching the plurality of cartons from one another after the cartons have been loaded. Other embodiments are claimed and disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: Will L. Culpepper
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Patent number: 7320406Abstract: An insert suitable for placement within a carton. The insert comprises a support panel capable of supporting an article to be located within the carton, and a pair of leg panels extending convergently downwardly from the opposing side edges of the support panel into abutment at the lower edges of said leg panels. The invention also provides a package wherein a fragile item of merchandise is located within the fully folded insert and placed into a carton, such as a perfume bottle or cosmetic product. The underside of the base of such item of merchandise is conveniently spaced above from the base of the carton to reduce the risks of damage to or breakage of the article.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: Jean-Michel Auclair
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Patent number: D555471Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventors: Philippe Lebras, Jean-Yves Daniel, Fabien Jego
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Patent number: D559104Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: MeadWestVaco Packaging Systems, LLCInventor: Philippe Le Bras