Abstract: A valve includes a body, a plug and a diaphragm defining an aperture and a seat. The diaphragm is substantially movable in response to a force applied to the seat by the plug. The valve can be cycled between an open state in which the plug is free of the seat, a closed state in which the plug is seated against the seat, and a third state in which the plug is seated against the seat and substantially deflects the diaphragm.

Abstract: A valve includes a body, a plug and a diaphragm defining an aperture and a seat. The diaphragm is substantially movable in response to a force applied to the seat by the plug. The valve can be cycled between an open state in which the plug is free of the seat, a closed state in which the plug is seated against the seat, and a third state in which the plug is seated against the seat and substantially deflects the diaphragm.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a spout having a flange to a preformed hole in an open-ended container. The apparatus comprises of an applicator system and a mandrel. The applicator system is able to translate a linear motion to an arc motion. The mandrel is attached to the applicator system. The mandrel is adapted to releasably engage the spout.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a spout having a flange to a preformed hole in an open-ended container. The apparatus comprises of an applicator system and a mandrel. The applicator system is able to translate a linear motion to an arc motion. The mandrel is attached to the applicator system. The mandrel is adapted to releasably engage the spout.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for contouring a container bottom to form carton legs from a standard carton blank through the use of a seal plate and a mandrel pad. The carton legs provide improved free standing stability of the carton.

Abstract: An applicator attaches spouts and other fitments to paperboard cartons and the like in automated packaging equipment. The applicator features a rotatable and translatable anvil housing having a plurality of radially extending lobes, each lobe having an anvil thereon, said anvil having an energy ring thereon to facilitate ultrasonic attachment of the spout to the carton. A mandrel or other engagement mechanism on each lobe engages and holds spouts for attachment to a container. The anvil inserts a spout into a container hole, and an ultrasonic sealer ultrasonically vibrates the carton wall against the energy ring of the anvil to weld the spout to the carton.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching a fitment to a container and for disinfecting the container prior to sealing either end of the container. The fitment is attached to the container in a novel apparatus and then the container is fed into an existing form, fill and seal machine. The apparatus also disinfects the containers while their top and bottom flaps are open to achieve better results than existing disinfecting techniques. A method of attaching a spout to a container and a method of sterilizing a container also are disclosed.

Abstract: An applicator and accompanying feed mechanism attaches spouts and other fitments to paperboard cartons and the like in automated packaging equipment. The applicator features a rotatable and translatable anvil having a plurality of radially extending lobes. A mandrel or other engagement mechanism on each lobe engages and holds spouts for attachment to a container. The anvil inserts a spout into a container hole, and an ultrasonic sealer ultrasonically vibrates the carton wall against the anvil to weld the spout to the carton.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a denesting lip in paperboard containers by folding, heating, and sealing or tacking a side extension flap to form a denesting lip for nested stacks of such containers. The denesting apparatus includes a pair of pressure pads which guide the paperboard container onto the apparatus and prevent the container from sliding off the apparatus while the denesting operation is performed. The apparatus also includes a multiplanar mandrel pad for forming a bottom closure that is flat on its exterior surface.

Abstract: A carton blank and method for forming a liquid-tight tapered container having a denesting tab. When the blank is folded and sealed to form an open-topped tapered container, a destacking tab is formed as a result of abhesion. The tab facilitates destacking a single container from a stack of like containers prior to their filling and final closure.

Abstract: A new carton blank configuration and a method of folding it to provide a liquid-tight, nonwicking carton or container bottom is disclosed. The scoring pattern and bottom panel configuration of the carton make possible the formation of a carton bottom having no exposed edges of the carton blank on the inside of the container without folding or slitting any bottom panel prior to the carton folding and sealing process. The carton blank is shaped and scored for folding and is substantially a flat container bottom. An extension tab extending from one of the two bottom panels allows for a nonwicking surface to be formed and tucked into the interior of the carton bottom during the bottom-forming process as the edges of the two bottom panels contact each other. The inside surface of the bottom panel not having an extension tab contacts the extension tab, folding the extension tab back along a score line.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming sealed joints, including a pouring lip sanitarily protected therein, by welding layers of thermoplastic coated paperboard together. Paperboard layers are pressed together by jaws, with relieved areas where excessive pressure would render pouring lip less satisfactory, while or after heat is applied to said paperboard layers. The apparatus and method is particularly useful for forming sealed joints for paperboard cartons, such as milk cartons.

Abstract: A new carton blank uniquely scored and a method of folding for a liquid-tight flat top container is disclosed. The scoring pattern and tab configuration of the carton makes possible the formation of a modified gable top container the top of which is subsequently folded into the horizontal plane and held in that position leaving a flat top closure. The carbon blank is shaped and scored for folding into substantially a gable top container. An additional score line extending across one of the two roof panels and its associated triangular fold-in tabs facilitates the folding of the modified gable top into a horizontal (flat top) position. In the preferred embodiment the modified gable top, after folding, is held in its horizontal (flat top) position by a bond formed between an extension of one of the sealing tabs and one of the roof panels of the modified gable top.

Abstract: A new carton blank uniquely scored and a method of folding for a liquid-tight flat top container is disclosed. The scoring pattern and tab configuration of the carton makes possible the formation of a modified gable top container the top of which is subsequently folded into the horizontal plane and held in that position leaving a flat top closure. The carton blank is shaped and scored for folding into substantially a gable top container. An additional score line extending across one of the two roof panels and its associated triangular fold-in tabs facilitates the folding of the modified gable top into a horizontal (flat top) position. In the preferred embodiment the modified gable top, after folding, is held in its horizontal (flat top) position by a bond formed between an extension of one of the sealing tabs and one of the roof panels of the modified gable top.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use with a conventional bottom closure folding machine for ultrasonically sealing folded carton bottom closures having at least two differing thicknesses or laminates comprising, in part, a unique sealing horn and multi-surface mandrel pad arrangement which makes possible the ultrasonic sealing of a laminated bottom closure of varying thicknesses for a container composed of thermoplastic double coated foldable material such as, for example, a polyethylene double coated paperboard carton. The sealing horn comprises a substantially conventional body portion surmounted by a face having a recessed portion and a raised portion for forcibly engaging the folded carton bottom closure and forming an ultrasonic seal at predetermined critical areas of the bottom closure.