Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.

Abstract: A carton with a new dispenser that can be opened by a pull tab with this dispenser flap being placed in a corner of the top panel of the carton so that it is adjacent to the tops of the small necks of the bottles for easy opening and removal or for opening and reclosing. The dispenser flap is held in position by resistant tear lines but can be easily removed by an attached pull tab that is loosely connected to the top panel.

Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.

Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding cartons into a packaging machine is disclosed. The carton feeding system includes a frame in which a carton feeder is rotatably mounted and a carton guide assembly. The carton guide assembly includes a pair of spaced guide tracks along which guide chains are moved to engage and urge the cartons along the carton feeding system toward a drop point overlying a series of products passing therebeneath. A pair of spaced chute plates receive and support the ends of the cartons as the cartons are released by the carton feeder and are urged by the guide chains along a feed path toward the drop point and engagement with a series of products passing through the product-packaging machine.

Abstract: There is provided transport apparatus for carton blanks 11. The blanks are delivered to a pair of rotating nip rollers 17 by using a segment wheel 15 and a swinging suction arm 16. The nip rollers 17 are drive at a predetermined speed so as to deliver the blanks 11 between two pairs of endless belts 18, 19 which are driven at the same speed as each other, the speed of the belts being slower than that of the nip rollers 17. The blanks 11 are, therefore, received by the nip rollers 17 in a pitched manner but the relative speeds ensures that the blanks are transported by the endless belts 18, 19 in an unpitched, end to end relationship.

Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser at one end of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened. This carton also has a unique transverse racetrack handle.

Abstract: An automated adjustable apparatus for dispensing glue includes a glue head assembly and an automated adjustment mechanism connected to the glue head assembly for adjusting the height of the glue head assembly to one of a plurality of predetermined heights corresponding to various heights of carton configurations within a article grouping and packaging machine. The adjustment mechanism may include a first servomechanism such as a pneumatic cylinder for moving the glue dispensing head into a plurality of predetermined height positions. The apparatus may include at least two glue dispensing heads on the service side of the machine into glue dispensing heads on the operations side of the machine and each independently controlled by actuation devices. Advantages include the elimination of manual adjustment on both the service and operations side of the machine to decrease changeover times.

Abstract: A flap folding assembly for engaging a work piece, such as a paperboard carton flap, and moving that flap into a desired position. The flap folding apparatus can be used in a continuous motion packaging machine to engage a sleeve type carton flap as the carton is transported downstream through the package machine. The apparatus is operated in timed relationship with the machine's carton conveyor either by mechanically interlinking the apparatus to the main machine drive, or by the use of a servo drive operated from and controlled by the packaging machine's main controller. The flap folding apparatus includes a vacuum cup driven in a circular path by a drive mechanism comprised of two spaced gears which are driven in the same direction of rotation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a primary and secondary locking system for wrap-around carriers. A secondary male lock is held in the vertical position by a female door flap leaning against the male lock.

Abstract: This invention relates to a single stage locking arrangement in which the male lock is formed from the terminal edge of one flap and the female lock is located in a second flap and has a unique locking ledge located on an S-shaped cut line extending from the ends of the main cut line of the female lock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a basket carrier that provides full protection for the bottles being carried, and which can be glued on a straight-line gluer. The provision of nicks (i.e., temporary bridges) between the handle panels and the side walls serves to keep the handle panels in proper alignment during the folding and gluing operation on the gluer. These nicks are easily broken when the carrier is opened to receive bottles in the bottling plant. The present invention also utilizes nicks between the partition panel and the handle ply to hold them in contact but yet prevent bunching of paperboard during the folding and gluing process.

Abstract: This invention relates to carriers that have partition panels attached to one or both ends of the carrier via an end flap. All of the outside panels of these carriers are folded about lines that are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gluer on which the carrier is folded and glued. All of these carriers have multi-ply handles in which none of the plies are foldably attached to each other at their top edges. Nicks may be provided between the handle panels and the side and end flaps to hold the carrier in proper position during the folding and gluing operation. This invention also relates to a method of folding and gluing the carriers on a straight-line gluer.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier which includes a top panel. The end panels are comprised of two separate sections, each of which is connected to a center panel, and are spaced from the top panel. The top panel is foldably connected to the side panels and includes a handle. Vertical folds in the end panels allow the end panels to follow the contour of adjacent packaged bottles. In three embodiments the top panel includes bottle neck openings. In a fourth embodiment partial upper end panels connected to the top panel are spaced from the lower end panels. Gusset panels connected to upper end panel flaps and to glue flaps connected to the side panels automatically cause the upper end panel elements to fold into place during the carrier forming operation.

Abstract: A carton feeder for a continuous motion packaging machine includes a speed compensation controller and a solenoid dual valve assembly, which enable the feeder to operate at higher speeds. The dual valve assembly includes a vacuum valve coupled to an air pressure valve which is controlled by an electronic controller. The speed compensation assembly is electronically connected to the valve controller, and includes an encoder driven by the feeder and a programmable limit switch for receiving data from the encoder and transmitting control signals to the valve controller. The method of operation includes detecting the position of the selector and transmitting position data to the limit switch. The limit switch calculates optimum valve actuation timing based upon both programmed information and data from the encoder, and transmits the control signals to the valve controller.

Abstract: A loader arm assembly for use in a packaging system, comprising an arm, a housing, and a load jam detector. The housing is operably connected to at least one motive mechanism, and is adapted for moving the arm to load product into a package. The arm has both a latched state and a released state with respect to the housing. The arm normally is in the latched state to load product into the package, and enters the released state to relieve pressure upon detecting the load jam condition. The arm includes a base plate and a loading head. The housing is formed with a guide passage that is adapted for receiving the base plate. The load jam detector preferably includes at least one detent adapted for holding the base plate with respect to the housing in the latched state. The detent preferably is formed by a tip of at least one plug extending through the housing to the guide passage. The tip is adapted for applying a holding force against the base plate.

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard wrap and a tightening section for a paperboard wrapping apparatus for applying a paperboard wrap around a plurality of articles, said tightening section comprising an endless drive member having at least one straight line section and having a series of engaging members which project outwardly from the drive member, the engaging members each having a substantially straight edge such that the edges of the engaging members form a substantially straight combined edge along the straight line section, which combined edge remains substantially parallel to the path of articles as the engaging members pass through the tightening section and to the path of the drive member along its straight line section.

Abstract: There is provided for a packaging machine an overhead boom arrangement 20 having a number of endless belts 22, 23 driven around sets of rollers 25. The belts 22, 23 contact the tops of articles/bottles 11 or carton blanks 50 and are driven at the same speed as the speed of the articles through the packaging machine. At least one of the belts 23 is height adjustable relative to the other belt or belts 22. The boom arrangement holds the articles 11 whilst the blanks 50 are being folded around.

Abstract: A rotary transfer apparatus, comprising: a frame structure; a rotatable main shaft supported by the frame structure; a primary body connected to the main shaft; at least one first planetary shaft rotatably connected to the primary body and rotating in relation to the main shaft; a secondary body connected to each first planetary shaft; a second planetary shaft rotatably connected to each secondary body and rotating in relation to the first planetary shaft; an article transfer mechanism connected to each second planetary shaft; and an in-line cam mechanism. The article transfer mechanism is adapted for picking and placing articles, and has at least one stem connected to the second planetary shaft. Each stem has a distal end whose motion defines a product path about the main shaft. The product path has at least one apex at which point the distal end of the stem moves in an in-line motion. The in-line cam mechanism is adapted for extending the in-line motion at the apex(es) of the product path.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a paperboard carton having end wall handles. In further detail, the paperboard carton has a base panel, a top panel, two oppositely disposed side panels and two oppositely disposed end walls, each end wall comprising a portion of multiple thickness in which portion there is a handle opening.

Abstract: A carton opening assembly for a continuous motion packaging machine directs opposed carton engaging plates perpendicular to opposite side walls of a collapsed carton moving through the opening assembly. A vacuum is applied to the opposed carton side walls when the assemblies engage the carton. One or both of the opposed carton engaging assemblies are retracted to filly open the carton, which is then transferred to a conveyor that transports the carton to the next workstation of the packaging machine. The carton opening operation is accomplished while tracking the carton movement through the carton opening assembly.