Abstract: An article carrier which tapers in toward the top panel on all four sides. The carrier in collapsed form is folded about an intermediate fold line in the bottom panel located so that the collapsed carrier is in flat folded condition. The provision of the intermediate fold line compensates for the greater width of the bottom panel compared to the width of the top panel. The sides of the carrier are squared by contact with the lower portions of bottles being through an open end of the carrier.

Abstract: An article packaging machine (11) for packaging articles such as bottles and cans in cardboard containers comprises a carton path along which cartons are moved to be loaded with articles. The carton path is adjustable in width to provide for use of the packaging machine with cartons of various sizes. A series of automatic retractable bed plate assemblies (26), (27), (28), (29) are provided on the machine for underlying and providing support to cartons moving along the carton path. The bed plates are pneumatically actuated and are adapted to be raised automatically into the carton path as the carton path is widened to provide progressively increasing support. Conversely, the bed plates are lowered automatically out of the carton path as the carton path is narrowed to accommodate the narrowing of the path.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier with end panel flaps which block the price code on adjacent packaged articles. The end panel flaps are connected to the side panels along angled fold lines which bias the end panel flaps in position against adjacent articles. This results in a small gap between the end panels and the bottom panel which is covered by flaps connected to the end panel flaps. The cover flaps are connected to tuck flaps which lie between the bottom panel and an associated cover flap. The articles rest on the cover flaps, holding them, and thus the connected end panel flaps as well, in place.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing multi-piece carton pre-forms, comprising a wrap member supply hopper, a wrap/pre-form conveyor, a glue station, a web placement and compression station including a web supply magazine and a reciprocating placer, and an output station. The apparatus processes paperboard pre-forms which are subsequently erected into cartons for fresh produce and the like. An improved packaging member conveyor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A carton flap folding method and apparatus for use on a continuous motion packaging machine is disclosed. The carton flap folding apparatus includes a spaced pair of generally parallel knock-down arms which are rotated in the direction of a path of travel extending along the packaging machine and on which a spaced series of groups of articles for being packaged are moved. Each group of articles is at least partially enclosed in a carton blank having at least one flap hingedly connected thereto for being closed on at least a portion of the group of articles. The carton flap folding apparatus moves the knock-down arms into engagement with the at least one open flap of the carton blanks in the direction of the path of travel at substantially the same speed as the speed of the group of articles along the path of travel.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier suitable for packaging bottles. The bottom panel is formed from an inner flap to which article retainer tabs and locking tabs are hinged and an outer flap to which retainer support tabs are hinged. The locking tabs extend up partially through openings in the inner bottom panel flap and engage the retainer support tabs, which in turn support the article retainer tabs. Slits in the outer bottom panel flap extending from the openings receive remaining portions of the locking tabs.

Abstract: A tape perforating head assembly for scoring a perforated tear line in a piece of packaging tape joining article carriers together includes a headpiece, a plurality of perforating blades supported on the headpiece parallel to and adjacent one another, each perforating blade having a series of serrated teeth constructed and arranged to score the perforated tear line in the packaging tape. Each perforating blade is supported on the headpiece for reciprocal movement with respect to one another into a normally extended position away from the headpiece, and into a retracted position on the headpiece. The tape perforating head assembly also includes a spring positioned within a bore in which a guide pin is received, a pair of guide pins, and a pair of bores being provided for each perforating blade.

Abstract: A carton activating mechanism (26) for opening the gatefold seats of a paperboard carton blank (13) is disclosed. A rotatable disc (30) carries a spaced series of activators (34), each of which includes a plate (35) having a pair of pivotally-connected fingers (37). The plate is reciprocably mounted on the disc by a pin (36) received in a groove (32) defined on a stationary plate (31) positioned with respect to the disc. Each of the fingers has a projection (40) and a cooperating abutment (41 ) so that the respective fingers are moved outwardly into an extended position, and then spread apart into an open position to fold the gatefold seats of the carton blank before closing and being retracted from the gatefold seats of the carton blank.

Abstract: A dual pocket loader wheel assembly for use on a continuous motion packaging machine is disclosed. The dual pocket loader wheel assembly has an elongate tubular member supported for rotation on a framework positioned on the packaging machine with respect to a carton transport conveyor on the packaging machine. A drive frame is positioned at one end of the tubular member and rotatably supports a spaced pair of pocket loader wheels thereon. A drive motor assembly is positioned on the framework at the other end of the tubular member and is operably connected to a drive shaft extending through the tubular member and into the drive frame for rotating the dual pocket loader wheels about their axes. The loader wheel assembly includes a rotary actuator mounted on the framework and operably engaged with the tubular member for rotating the tubular member to reverse the position of the dual pocket loader wheels with respect to the carton transport conveyor.

Abstract: A package comprised of a sleeve-type carrier containing stacked layers of bottles. The end panels, which include upper tapered portions to accommodate the necks of adjacent bottles, are formed partially of major and minor end panel flaps connected to the side panels. The minor end panel flaps are in the tapered area, as are upwardly extending flaps of the major end panel flaps. Tapered portions in the side panels are also provided for, if desired. Recesses in the minor end panel flaps avoid interference with the upwardly extending flaps of the major end panel flaps. The recesses are also shaped so that the minor end panel flaps do not interfere with a bottle restraining rail during formation of the end panel.

Abstract: A cartoning apparatus for loading stacked article groups into carton sleeves. The cartoning apparatus comprises at least two article infeed mechanisms, each supplying at least one stream of articles at a predetermined height or level, an article selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanisms to form and move a stream of stacked article groups of a predetermined pattern, a carton supply and transport mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with said article selection and transport mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the moving article groups, and an article group transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move article groups into the open ends of the carton sleeves.

Abstract: The bottle carrying device 11 has a base 16 and angled side walls 19, 20 with handle portions 23, 24 secured by panel 26. Cuts are made in the base 16 so as to form flaps 28 which are hingedly connected to the side walls 19, 20. The flaps 28 together with edges 32 of cap holes 31 engage below the neck shoulder 15 of a bottle 12 to retain the bottle in the device 11.

Abstract: A carton transfer assembly having a rotary feeder that rotates a series of selectors about a transfer path between a carton feeder and a transport conveyor. The selectors each include vacuum engagement members adapted to engage a selected carton to remove the selected carton from the carton feeder and carry the carton toward a transport conveyor as the rotary feeder rotates the selectors about the transfer path. Each selector further includes stingers that are operated off of the vacuum applied to the cartons by the vacuum engagement members to move the stingers between extended and retracted positions. As the vacuum is applied to the stingers, the stingers are retracted. When the vacuum is disengaged, the stingers move to an extended position to engage and spread apart the panels of the cartons to open the cartons prior to the deposit of the cartons within the carton pockets of the transport conveyor.

Abstract: An infeed system for a packaging machine directs a nested mass of articles in a downstream direction between two side rails. A locating-wedge affixed to one of the side rails moves the nested mass of articles to a position where a segment line of the nested mass is aligned with a lane divider. As a result, a group of articles in the nested mass is gently separated into a first group which moves along one side of the lane divider in a first lane and a second group which moves along the other side of the lane divider. The articles in the second group are directed into other lanes sequentially formed from the one side rail to the other side rail and are positioned relative to the lane dividers with locating wedges affixed to the lane dividers.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier having reinforced corner areas and reinforced end panels. Bottom panel reinforcing flaps are connected to the end panels and to gusset panels which in turn are connected to a bottom panel flap. The gusset panels lie between the reinforcing flaps and the bottom panel. The end panels include cutouts from which end panel reinforcing flaps are formed. The end panel reinforcing flaps are adhered to the end panels adjacent the cutouts. Side panel cutouts have cover flaps foldably attached. When folded into the carrier, the cover flaps form bottle stabilizers and also cover the pricing code on packaged articles.

Abstract: There is provided a spacing conveyor mechanism 10 having a pair of spaced, identical drive chains 13, 14. A number of conveyors 20 are attached to the chains, each conveyor having a leading carriage 21 pivotally attached to one chain 13 and a trailing carriage 22 pivotally attached to the other chain 14. Connecting the each pair of leading/trailing carriages is a pair of rod 23 extending rearwardly from the leading carriage through corresponding holes in the trailing carriage. The carriages remain parallel throughout their path and the position of the carriages relative to each other are easily adjusted.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier containing openings in the side and end panels through which the lower portions of packaged articles can be seen. Flaps connected to one or more opening edges are folded into the interior of the carrier so as to block the pricing bar code on adjacent articles without obstructing the view through the openings. The openings extend down to the bottom panel but do not interfere with connections to riser panels connecting a handle panel to the end panels. The openings also allow the carriers to fit into molded packing trays of the type which include inwardly extending reinforcing elements. The carrier is designed to allow the reinforcing elements to extend into the carrier through the carrier openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing multi-piece cartons, comprising a tray member supply hopper, a tray conveyor, a glue station, a web placement and compression station including a reciprocating placer, a preform conveyor, a forming station having at least three vertically aligned mandrels and a carton output conveyor. The apparatus process paperboard cartons for fresh produce and the like. The apparatus is operable in a cartoning mode and a preform mode wherein flat unerected carton preforms are output.

Abstract: A paperboard sleeve (10) for wrapping a plurality of brick-shaped containers (11) is disclosed. The sleeve has two opposed and interlocking base panels (21, 22) with flaps (32) formed as a part thereof, the flaps being sized and shaped to be folded back against protruding base tucks (13) formed on the bases of the containers. The engagement of the flaps against the base tucks on the bottom of the containers prevents the movement of the containers through the open ends of the paperboard sleeve after it is formed about the containers.

Abstract: A carton packaging apparatus for use in wrapping open-ended sleeve type carton blanks around a pre-formed group of articles being moved along a path of travel through a packaging machine as disclosed. The apparatus includes a series of spaced guide members (30) which move along the path of travel and are adapted to engage one of the side panels (12, 13) of a successive series of carton blanks (10) being moved along the path of travel. The guide members are spaced so as to engage the leading edge and trailing edge of each one of the paperboard blanks as they are advanced along the path of the travel. Each guide member has an engagement element (35) which has an elongated link (36) with a foot (37) formed at one end, the other end of the link being pivotally fastened to the guide member.