Patents Assigned to Riverwood International Corporation
  • Holding arrangement for cans
    Patent number: 5538133
    Abstract: There is provided a package (10) for a plurality of cans (11). The package incorporates an inner blank (13) which incorporates pairs of arcuate cuts which are pressed over and engage below the can rims. An outer blank (14) is adhered to the inner blank (13) and hinged side panels (25, 27) are wrapped around the cans and the other side panels (26, 28) are adhered to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Campbell, Keith Brimble, Mark A. Fisher
  • Basket-style carrier with dividing strap
    Patent number: 5538130
    Abstract: A basket-style article carrier for carrying nonbreakable articles. A divider strap is connected to and extends between opposite side panels. The strap is connected to the side panels by a glue flap at each end, one of which is connected by fold line to the upper edge of the associated side panel. The strap causes the carrier to resist bowing when an article is removed, thereby preventing excessive sagging which otherwise tends to allow the remaining articles in the carrier to fall out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Basket-style article carrier with improved partition layout
    Patent number: 5538131
    Abstract: A basket-style carrier for packaging six bottles or other articles in two adjacent rows. Partition panels connected to opposite side panels are formed from partition flaps foldably connected to the upper edge of the side panels of the carrier. The partition flaps are adhered to the side panels and the partition panels are adhered to the central handle panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Carrier sleeve erecting apparatus and method
    Patent number: 5531661
    Abstract: A method and means for opening a collapsed rectilinear carrier sleeve. As the collapsed sleeve is moved through a packaging machine it is partially opened so that the leading panel extends at an angle to the horizontal. A continuous upward force is then delivered to the leading panel to cause the leading panel to pivot up about its upstream fold line until it reaches the vertical. The collapsed sleeve is partially opened by elevating side flaps connected to an upper panel to cause the upper panel to be elevated. One way of accomplishing this is to cause the upper flaps to ride up over a fixed cam surface while lower flaps connected to a lower panel move under the cam to prevent the lower panel from moving in an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Moncrief
  • Method and apparatus for stabilizing cartons in a packaging machine
    Patent number: 5531056
    Abstract: A selectively adjustable apparatus permits the holding down and stabilizing of cartons in a continuous motion packaging machine as grouped articles are inserted into the cartons. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced parallel hold-down rails (56, 62) adapted to engage the tops of moving cartons with light force to hold the cartons down and inhibit their deformation as grouped articles are inserted with significant momentum into the cartons. A side rail (97) is provided and positioned to engage the back ends of the moving cartons to absorb the momentum of grouped articles as the articles are inserted into the cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Kun Liang
  • Basket-style article carrier with a single integral partition
    Patent number: 5531319
    Abstract: A basket-style carrier for packaging four bottles or other articles in two adjacent rows. A partition panel connected to opposite side panels is formed from a cutout in the body of a central handle panel. The layout, glue pattern and partition panel formation permits the carrier to be rapidly formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Carton bottle partition
    Patent number: 5529240
    Abstract: A partition for separating bottles in a carton. The partition is formed from a unitary blank having fold lines designed to form a short leg connected to parallel long legs. Bottle separating wings are connected to the legs along fold lines so as to extend out at right angles to the legs, with some of the wings extending out on opposite sides of the leg to which they are connected. Irregular edges of the wings enable portions of the wings to extend out a distance slightly greater than the distance between the long legs so as to ensure that the wings extend beyond the midpoint of adjacent bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Randall L. Harris
  • Wrap-around carrier with article retaining flaps
    Patent number: 5524756
    Abstract: A wrap-around carrier for packaging articles such as beverage bottles or cans. Inwardly folded retaining flaps are connected to the side edges of apertures through which the lower portions of the articles protrude. The fold lines of the flaps are arranged to create a bias tending to maintain pressure on the articles to prevent movement within the carrier. The flaps are connected by fold lines to the side panels and to the bottom panel, but are unconnected to heel panels extending between the side and bottom panels. The flaps adjacent the heel panel portions of the aperture edge act as a stop, preventing tearing of the aperture. Additionally, the fold lines connecting the heel panels to the side and bottom panels are half-score lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Self fastening guide for guide rails
    Patent number: 5522206
    Abstract: A self fastening plastic guide for attachment to a metal guide rail having openings formed therein has a first guide member and a second guide member. The guide members are provided with protruding locking tangs that lock the members to each other when the locking tangs are snapped together. In use, the first and second guide members are snapped together with their tangs extending through the openings in the guide rail to secure the guide to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank N. Moncrief, Randall L. Stauffer
  • Warp-around carrier with article retaining flaps
    Patent number: 5520283
    Abstract: A wrap-around carrier for packaging curved articles, such as beverage bottles or cans. Inwardly folded retaining flaps are connected to the side edges of apertures through which the lower portions of the articles protrude. The fold lines of the flaps are arranged to create a bias tending to maintain pressure on the articles to prevent movement within the carrier. In one embodiment the entire flap engages the side of an adjacent article. In another embodiment only upper flap segments engage the article sides, while lower segments are located between the bottom of the adjacent article and the bottom panel of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Basket-style carrier with end panel lock
    Patent number: 5518110
    Abstract: A basket-style carrier constructed so as to maintain the carrier open during loading. One of the sections forming an end panel of the carrier includes a retaining tab extending across an opening in the adjacent end panel section. This prevents the end panel from collapsing about the fold lines connecting the end panel sections to the handle panel support structure during loading. The opening extends into the adjacent handle panel support structure, allowing the retaining tab to freely move through the opening in the support structure as the carrier is opened from collapsed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Can clip carrier with glue flaps
    Patent number: 5503267
    Abstract: A carrier for articles such as beverage cans of the type that grip the top portions of the cans so as to suspend them from the carrier. The upper ends of the cans extend through apertures in the bottom panel of the carrier, and the chimes or lips of the cans are engaged by support tabs surrounding the aperture. Glue flaps foldably connected to one of the support tabs at each aperture overlie the upper ends of the cans and are glued to the top panel. An opening in the support tab includes an edge which functions as the support edge. In addition, the bottom panel finger holes have a straight transverse inner edge connected to a cover tab along a score line. Spaced arcuate score lines in the bottom panel cause the intervening segments of the bottom panel to buttress the inner edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Sutherland
  • Packaging machine with metering wheels
    Patent number: 5502950
    Abstract: A packaging machine adapted to meter and load various size groups of articles into receptacles to form a package. Star wheels are used to meter the articles into groups, each star wheel functioning as a single unit in conjunction with an infeed conveyor and a conveyor that feeds the metered groups downstream to a packaging station. Star wheels carrying different numbers of lugs are interchangeable in order to create different size packages on the same machine. The lugs which move the groups of articles and the article receptacles may be relocated as necessary to accommodate different size packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Moncrief, Charles McNamara
  • Method and apparatus for clearing excess beverage containers from a beverage container packaging machine
    Patent number: 5501061
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for clearing excess trailing beverage containers from the lanes defined between guide rails in a beverage container packaging machine. The method includes providing the guide rails with compressed air nozzles that are positioned and oriented to direct compressed air along the lanes defined between the guide rails in the desired direction of movement of beverage containers along the lanes. An apparatus that includes an improved guide rail configured to achieve the method of the invention is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Easter
  • Banded basket-style carrier
    Patent number: 5501335
    Abstract: A basket-style carrier which exposes major portions of packaged articles to view. Short inwardly tapered side panels are connected by integral flexible bands which encircle the end articles in the carrier. A handle may connect opposite flexible bands or may be incorporated in a handle panel extending up through an opening in the bottom panel of the carrier. A transverse base panel connected to the handle panel contacts the bottom panel in face-to-face relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Randall L. Harris
  • Overhead pusher lug assembly for packaging machines
    Patent number: 5501318
    Abstract: An overhead pusher lug assembly for stabilizing the top portions of cartons in a carton packaging machine comprises an endless chain conveyor having an array of pusher lugs rotatably mounted thereto at spaced intervals. The lugs are rotatable between a first position wherein the lugs extend upwardly from the lower flight of the conveyor and a second position wherein the lugs extend downwardly from the lower flight of the conveyor for insertion between adjacent cartons on a carton conveyor. As the pusher lugs move onto the lower flight of the conveyor, they engage the end of an elongated bar, which rotates or flips the pusher lugs into place between underlying cartons so that the lugs do not impact and disfigure trailing cartons on the carton path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff A. Disrud
  • Apparatus and method for pushing articles into receptacle
    Patent number: 5501064
    Abstract: A beverage container packaging machine which employs a series of pusher plates to move groups of containers into open-ended carrier sleeves. The plates are pivotally attached to two continuous chains which are arranged so as to maintain the plates parallel to the downstream direction of travel of the containers and sleeves. The chains move the plates in a diagonal run toward the loading station wherein the downstream component of movement is at a speed similar to the speed of travel of the containers and sleeves, and the right angle component causes the plates to push the containers into the sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Ingram, Frank Moncrief, Charles McNamara
  • Basket-style carrier with non-collapsing end panels
    Patent number: 5499712
    Abstract: A basket-style carrier constructed so as to maintain the carrier open during loading. The end panels of the carrier are formed from overlapping end panel sections. Each end panel section is connected to a handle panel support by a fold line. The overlapping end panel section includes a wide portion that extends transversely beyond the fold line connecting it to the handle panel support. This causes the two sections to function as a unit, preventing the end panels from collapsing about their fold lines during loading. In addition, a bottom panel forming flap is connected to one of the end panel sections at each end of the carrier. This flap is adhered to the bottom panel flaps to tighten the construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Glen R. Harrelson
  • Carton with multi-ply folds
    Patent number: 5489061
    Abstract: A carton including a bevel panel and adjacent areas comprised of multi-ply construction. The bevel panel of each ply is defined in part by spaced score lines. The score lines of each ply are spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing of the score lines of the next outer ply. This results in the plies of the bevel panel being slightly spaced from each other. An example of such bevel panels is in the type of container formed by wrapping a slotted flexible sheet about rigid end panels having corner areas which extend through the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Fogle, John A. Ross
  • Banded bottle neck carrier
    Patent number: 5487463
    Abstract: A bottle neck carrier and a spaced band encircling the bottles. The band snugly holds the bottles in place while they are supported by the carrier and at the same time covers the pricing code on the bottles. The support panel of the carrier may be separate from the band or attached to it. The support panel may be formed from two layers of material, and in the embodiment where the support panel is attached to the band, each layer is connected to the band along fold lines. Side panels connect the support panel layers to the band in the latter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Randall L. Harris