Abstract: Apparatus (10) for aligning one or more articles (B) in package (12), which apparatus comprises a conveyor (20) for conveying said package in a continuous forward movement, a detector for detecting the orientation of the or each article within the array, a controller for comparing the orientation of the or each article to a predetermined orientation and an article rotation means (32, 34, 36) operably controllable for rotating the or each article to the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus and a packaging machine comprising apparatus for placing packaging material in a pre-determined position relative to an array of articles for example bottles to be packaged, comprising a conveyor for conveying an array of articles, feed means for feeding the packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles. The feed means accelerates the packaging material to a sufficient velocity relative to the velocity of the articles such that the packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position whilst continuous forward motion of the articles is maintained.

Abstract: Apparatus and a packaging machine comprising apparatus for placing packaging material in a pre-determined position relative to an array of articles for example bottles to be packaged, comprising a conveyor for conveying an array of articles, feed means for feeding the packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles. The feed means accelerates the packaging material to a sufficient velocity relative to the velocity of the articles such that the packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position whilst continuous forward motion of the articles is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method therefor for continuously positioning an article, for example a carton blank delivered from one feed stream relative to a second article, for example an insert blank delivered from a second feed stream comprising one or more sensors to detect the respective positions of the first and second portions upstream of where the streams converge, correction means to correct the position of the second article relative to the first article, and a controller to determine the amount of adjustment required and to control the correction means accordingly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying to a carton an endless band so that the band encircles the carton said band being of the type formed by securing a strip of material into a loop and thereby creating a join, the apparatus comprising, means to hold the band in a particular orientation, means to convey the band along a feed path in such a way that said join is maintained in a controlled orientation, means to lower the band on to the carton to be engaged about the midriff of the carton during continuous forward movement.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles into cartons has a carton conveyor for conveying an open-ended carton through the machine, an article infeed for directing articles along an infeed path toward the carton conveyor, and an article group-forming conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced metering bars moving along the conveyor for intersecting the infeed path to separate articles into groups of predetermined pattern. The metering bars at a first end of the group-forming conveyor are disposed away from cartons on the carton conveyor and, during movement along the group-forming conveyor, are moved laterally to extend at least partially between adjacent ones of the cartons. The group-forming conveyor further includes a series of carriers, the metering bars being detachably mounted to selected ones of the carriers in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles into cartons has a carton conveyor including an endless series of carton conveying elements in which adjacent carton conveying elements are carried in similar but independent first and second endless series, the first endless series being adjustable relative to the second endless series so that the spacing between adjacent conveying elements can be varied in accordance with the size of a carton to be processed through the machine, the first and second endless series being adapted to operate in synchronism during processing of cartons through the machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage containers (c) or the like into cartons (ct) has a carton conveyor (14) including a pair of like conveying assemblies (16, 18), one or both of the assemblies being useable to convey cartons through the machine dependent upon the size of the cartons. The conveying assemblies are adjustable with respect to each other transversely of the machine direction, and carton supporting structure (70, 72) is mounted so as to be retractable from an operative position between the assemblies to partially support a carton when the assemblies are disposed relatively far apart, to a retracted non-operative position when the assemblies are disposed relatively close together.

Abstract: A carton feeding and erecting mechanism is disclosed for a packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage containers or the like into cartons, the packaging machine including a carton conveyor for conveying an open-ended carton through the machine. The feeding and erecting mechanism includes a vacuum conveyor for engaging a lower surface of a collapsed carton and moving the carton onto the carton conveyor, and a feeder disposed generally beneath the vacuum conveyor for selecting a collapsed carton from a carton supply and placing the carton on the vacuum conveyor. An erector is disposed above the vacuum conveyor and has vacuum engagement cups for engaging an upper surface of the collapsed carton and moving the panel upwardly with respect to the lower surface thereby erecting the carton.