Abstract: A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier designed to be automatically squared during fabrication. Squaring tabs at the lower ends of riser panels extend into slots in the end edges of the outer bottom panel flap to align the bottom panel flaps. The tabs are then folded over and glued to the outer face of the outer bottom panel flaps to strengthen the bottom panel.

Abstract: A carrier for bottles. The handle area of the top panel is reinforced by a strap connected at its ends to a dust flap in each end panel. The strap is adhered to the top panel and potions of the upper end panel flaps, while the portions extending to the dust flaps comprise gusset webs. During formation of a carrier from an erected flattened tube, the dust flaps connected to the reinforcing strap are automatically closed upon raising the upper end panel flaps. This pulls the upper dust flap portions in against the bottle necks, providing a tight fit with between the bottles and the upper portions of the carrier.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier with an automatic bottom for containing and carrying a plurality of articles and having a reinforced, three-ply handle. The carrier comprises first and second end panels opposite each other and first and second side panels opposite each other and connected to the first and second end panels. The carrier also comprises an automatic bottom connected to the end panels and to the side panels. The central handle has first, second, and third handle panels secured to one another. At least one of the handle panels is connected to the first end panel, and at least another of the handle panels is connected to the second end panel. A plurality of partition strips are connected to and extend between the central handle and the first and second side panels. The first handle panel is positioned between the second and third handle panels.

Abstract: A spacing conveyor mechanism (10) for conveying cans (11) along an article feed path (12) in a packaging machine for forming the cans into groups of cans is disclosed. The spacing conveyor mechanism has a pair of spaced drive sprockets (15) positioned along the article feed path, and over which an endless drive chain (14) is passed. A spaced series of carriages (17) are pivotally attached to the drive chain. Each of the carriages includes a conveyor (18), the conveyor having a plurality of recessed pockets (19) sized and shaped to engage one each of the cans therein.

Abstract: A carrier having an integral handle extending from one end panel to the other. The top panel is formed by overlapping flaps extending from the side panels. A handle strap extending along the length of the carrier is defined by spaced slits in the overlapped top panel flap and by a single slit and a spaced edge in the overlapping top panel flap. A reinforcing flap is adhered to the overlapped top panel flap. The handle straps overlie and are adhered to each other to form a two-ply handle. The reinforcing flap spans the opening vacated by the handle straps when the carrier is lifted.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier suitable for packaging tapered tub-shaped articles. A side panel of a hollow rectangular center keel is connected to a bottom panel flap and to an attachment flap formed at an end of the carrier blank. The keel top panel includes recesses for receiving the tapered articles and the side panels include heel cutouts as well as means for allowing the side panels to flex inwardly to accommodate the shape of the articles. A top divider connected to the top panel lies between the top portions of adjacent articles in adjacent rows.

Abstract: A packaging machine (5) for moving a spaced series of groups of containers along a path of travel in a packaging machine line is disclosed. The packaging machine includes a variable pitch lugged conveyor belt assembly (12) having a pair of conveyor chains (61, 62) equally spaced from a longitudinal axis extending along the path of travel, and a pair of generally parallel side guides (17) mounted one each on a pair of accessory rails (14) movably supported on the framework (7) of the packaging machine, and extending along opposite sides of the path of travel. The conveyor chains are constructed to be moved laterally toward and away from each other, and the side guides are constructed to be simultaneously moved laterally toward and away from the conveyors with the accessory rails, respectively, as the conveyor chains are moved.

Abstract: There is provided an article conveyor mechanism comprising a drive chain 13 on which is pivotally mounted a number of carriages 16 each having a conveyor 17 secured thereto. Each conveyor 17 has a plurality of pockets 18. Each conveyor 16 has two pins 19, 20 for engaging in respective grooves 21, 22 which are identical to each other in shape, but which are offset. When the chain 13 is driven, the conveyors remain parallel to each other throughout their endless paths.

Abstract: A conveyor tensioning assembly for an article conveyor is mounted to the frame of the article conveyor, and connected to a take-up sprocket. The conveyor tensioning assembly includes a movable rack that is engaged and moved by an advancing gear of an advancing and holding assembly in a first direction, causing the take-up sprocket of the article conveyor to be urged outwardly against the conveyor chain of the article conveyor so as to take-up any slack existing within the conveyor chain and place the conveyor chain under tension. Once the conveyor chain has been tensioned, the rack is engaged by a holding gear mounted on a one-way clutch, which prevents the holding gear from rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. The holding gear retards in any rearward movement of the rack so as to resist slippage and/or backlash of the rack to prevent the chain from losing tension and slack being formed therein to maintain the conveyor chain under a substantially constant tension.

Abstract: A hold-down element for a rotary feeder has a curved elongated member for continuously contacting an article during rotation of a rotary head. The curvature of the hold-down element is selected so that the distance from the elongated member to the rotary head increases from the point of initial contact to the final contact point on the elongated member. The hold-down element preferably maintains contact for at least 20.degree. of rotation of the rotary head, and thus maintains contact with the article for an extended period of time. The hold-down element is attached to a vacuum shaft on the rotary head, and is prevented from rotating relative to the vacuum shaft by a keyway on the hold-down element and a key on the vacuum shaft. The hold-down element, however, is permitted to travel transversely along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum shaft in order to accommodate different shaped articles.

Abstract: A packaging machine places cartons on an carton conveyor in an inverted-T configuration with the panels of the carton being generally horizontal and the walls of the carton collapsed together in a generally vertical orientation. An overhead assembly has carrier assemblies for picking up the cartons, opening the cartons, and lowering the cartons onto article groups. Each carrier assembly has a pair of opening members with protruding fingers for insertion within cut-outs formed in the cartons. After a carrier assembly has engaged a carton in an inverted-T configuration, one of the opening members in the carrier assembly is moved away from the other opening member, thereby opening the carton. Each carrier assembly has cam followers which travel within three cam plates, one for controlling an orientation of the carrier assembly, one for supporting the carrier assembly, and one for opening and closing the opening members.

Abstract: A wrap-around tub carrier with a top center divider tab. The tab is comprised of spaced segments of a flap which is foldably connected to the top panel. Both the divider tab and a locking tab located between the divider tab segments are connected by a fold line to another locking tab. Both locking tabs extend up to engage the flange of adjacent tubs on opposite sides of the divider tab. A triangular keel extends up between the rows of tubs and a keel support tab extends up within the keel to provide additional support.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier for packaging three rows of beverage cans or other related articles. A reinforcing strip having clip-type support panels at either end is glued to the underside of the top panel of the carrier. The support panels assist in supporting the end cans of the middle row to prevent the end cans from falling out of the open ends of the carrier and also provide a two-ply handle construction.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier with partial end panels. The end panels are formed from portions of a carrier blank which normally would have been the end portions of the top panel. Instead, these portions are connected to the side panels along diagonal fold lines and folded down into place during forming of the carrier. The end articles in the carrier are in contact with tuck panel connections of the end panels.

Abstract: A carton flap folding assembly (10) and a method of folding carton flaps is disclosed. The carton flap folding assembly includes a rotatable cam plate (25) which defines upper and lower cam tracks (29, 30). The cam plate is affixed to drive sprockets (35, 36) which drive associated chains through a lower chain guide (45) or an upper chain guide (50), respectively. Lever assemblies (62, 70) operatively engage the cam track, and effect shifting of an associated chain guide. A plurality of lugs (87, 88) project from the upper and lower chain, and are arranged to comprise composite lug assemblies (91). The composite lug assemblies are moved into prescored flap areas of a carton blank, and fold the flaps inwardly to a first extent. The lever assemblies are actuated to slide the chain guides in opposite directions, which moves the lugs mounted to the upper and lower chains in opposite directions. This movement folds the flaps to a second extent.

Abstract: A carrier for beverage cups. A support panel includes openings for receiving beverage cups and a handle panel is foldably connected to the support panel along a centerline. The carrier is of two-ply construction, with the top ply of the support panel including a tab extending into each cup opening for contacting a cup and assisting in maintaining the cup in a more upright position. The carrier is formed from a one-piece blank.

Abstract: A method for halting the function of a high speed packaging machine of the type having a conveyor based article infeed line conveying articles to a flight bar based selection line. The method is useful for performing a clean out procedure used during maintenance, and product or packaging change over. The method comprises the steps of terminating the operation of the infeed line conveyor at a predetermined position; placing an article follower behind a terminal article in each input lane; activating the operation of the infeed line conveyor whereby the articles in each input lane are conveyed to the selection line; and halting the conveyance of the article follower in the input lane prior to the selection line. An article follower and follower system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A package containing food tubs having connecting flanges. The flanges are angled at the corners so that an opening is formed between the flanges of four adjacent tubs. A carrier includes slots in side panels through which adjacent tub flanges extend and a finger hole in the top panel overlying the opening between the flanges. This enables the package to be lifted from beneath the flanges adjacent the finger hole.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier including upper and lower corner restraint panels for preventing outward movement of packaged articles. The partial end panels are locked in place by side panel locking flaps which extend between an adjacent end article and a connected side panel. Transversely extending fold lines in the corner restraint panels relieve carrier forming stresses.