Abstract: A single to dual indexing carton transfer mechanism involving a turret and conveyor, wherein the turret includes equally spaced mandrels which index at a first predetermined rate, and wherein the conveyor indexes at one-half the rate of the mandrels. Partially formed paperboard cartons are stripped from the respective mandrels as the latter index to their 6:00 o'clock position, and set on a stationary rail. A pusher mechanism is cammed to alternately transfer odd numbered cartons to the conveyor during the latter's dwell period, and even numbered cartons to the conveyor while it is indexing, thereby increasing the production rate along a single conveyor line.

Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes a liquid packaging machine including a base frame having a vertical keel mounted along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The units relating to forming blanks into cartons, filling the cartons with consumable liquids, and sealing the filled cartons, along with the required conveying means, are all mounted on one side of the keel, while the motor and related drive and indexing mechanisms are mounted on the other side of the keel, operatively connected to the forming, filling, sealing, and conveying means.

Abstract: This invention relates to the carton container packaging art, and to a carton filler drive unit and volume adjuster apparatus for packaging machines which have a plurality of filler apparatuses disposed in a linear arrangement, for filling a plurality of cartons at individual fill stations which are disposed in a linear arrangement.The filler drive unit includes a plurality of filler operating shafts which are adapted to be moved between a lowered and raised position by an adjustable cam linkage structure which is powered by the packaging machine main drive shaft. A volume adjuster means is provided for adjusting the stroke of the filler operating shafts to provide very precise calibration of the volume of product being dispensed by the individual carton filler apparatuses controlled by the filler drive unit of the present invention.

Abstract: A carton bottom end tucker-tacker assembly for folding over, closing and tacking the bottom ends of a pair of cartons mounted on a pair of mandrels at a tucker-tacker station on a carton packaging machine. The tucker-tacker apparatus includes a tucker apparatus for engaging a pair of opposed triangular bottom end closure members on the bottom ends of each of a pair of stationary cartons and breaking the bottom end closure members and folding them inwardly toward a closed position, after which the tucker apparatus recedes and a pair of swingably mounted tucker and tacker jaws then move under the partially closed bottom end members of each of the pair of cartons and complete the folding and tucking operations, and concluding with a tacking in place of the bottom end closure tuck-over panel on each carton to retain the bottom end closure members in a square condition for subsequent transferral to a carton bottom end pressure sealing station.

Abstract: A carton magazine apparatus, carton feeder apparatus and carton loader apparatus for feeding and loading erected cartons, in pairs, on a pair of mandrels for forming the bottom end of the cartons. The carton magazine apparatus includes a pair of carton magazines disposed in side-by-side, spaced apart positions, with each of the carton magazines containing a plurality of flattened cartons. The carton feeder apparatus includes a pair of swingably mounted carton feeder arms, with one of the carton feeder arms being operatively disposed adjacent the carton discharge end of one of the magazines and the other carton feeder arm being operatively disposed adjacent the carton discharge end of the other magazine. The pair of carton feeder arms are operable to simultaneously withdraw a flattened carton from each of the carton magazines and move them into an erected tubular position in alignment with a pair of mandrels on a packaging machine.

Abstract: A carton bottom end tucker-tacker assembly for folding over, closing and tacking the bottom ends of a pair of cartons mounted on a pair of mandrels on a packaging machine. The tucker-tacker apparatus includes a tucker means for engaging a pair of opposed triangular bottom end closure members on the bottom ends of a pair of cartons and breaking the bottom end closure members and folding them inwardly toward a closed position, after which the tucker apparatus recedes and a pair of swingably mounted tucker and tacker jaws then move under the partially closed bottom end members of the pair of cartons and complete the folding and tucking operations, and concluding with a tacking in place of the bottom end closure tuck-over panel to retain the bottom end closure members in a square condition for subsequent transferral to a carton bottom end pressure sealing operation.

Abstract: A universal floating guide apparatus for guiding a reciprocating slide member so that the slide member does not rotate. The guide apparatus may be employed in reciprocating slides which have linear motion and which are employed in coated paperboard carton packaging machines, such as in a carton loading device and a carton stripper device for loading a carton on a carton forming mandrel, and for stripping a carton off the mandrel, respectively. The floating guide apparatus includes a slide member which is linearly guided and provided with a bore in which is mounted an axially movable bushing that is cross bored. Slidably mounted through the bushing cross bore is a fixed guide rod. The guide rod also extends through enlarged bores formed through the slide member. The bushing is movable axially and radially to take up errors in parallelism between a drive rod carrying the slide member and the guide rod, and prevents rotation and binding of the slide member throughout its stroke or movement.

Abstract: A carton conveyor means for receiving cartons directly from a carton erecting and forming machine, and conveying the cartons along a linear path through a series of work stations for filling and sealing the cartons. The conveyor includes a pair of roller chains. Each of the roller chains has attached thereto a plurality of spaced apart metal lug carrier clips which are detachably mounted on the chain. A non-metallic conveyor lug is assembled to each of the lug carrier clips in a snap-in-fashion. The conveyor lugs function to transport the cartons along a pair of carton support rails. The conveyor lugs also function as guide means and bearing means for supporting the conveyor chains.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a seal between layers of a carton of thermoplastic coated paperboard material and the like wherein the thermoplastic material in the area to be sealed serves as the sealant and is activated to flow by frictional heat generated by a vibration welding horn and is then allowed to cool and set under pressure to form the seal between the layers. The carton first moves to an activating station wherein the layers to be sealed are engaged on opposite surfaces by a vibrating horn and a back-up member (in the form of an anvil or a mandrel) for a time sufficient to activate the thermoplastic material to flow. The carton is then carried to a clamping and sealing station at a different location from the activating station with the thermoplastic material in the activated state.

Abstract: A continuous motion stretch blow molding apparatus for blow molding hollow articles from tubular parisons. A rotary parison loading turret loads parisons sequentially onto a plurality of stretch pin means operatively carried on a continuous motion transfer means which then conveys each of said stretch pin means into an operative position in a molding station on a continuous motion multi-station rotary molding turret. The parisons are stretched longitudinally, blown to form a final article, cooled in the molding stations, and then said article is ejected.

Abstract: A continuous motion stretch blow molding apparatus for blow molding hollow articles from tubular parisons. A rotary parison loading turret loads parisons sequentially onto a plurality of stretch pin means operatively carried on a continuous motion transfer means which then conveys each of said stretch pin means into an operative position in a molding station on a continuous motion multi-station rotary molding turret. The parisons are stretched longitudinally, blown to form a final article, cooled in the molding stations, and then said article is ejected.

Abstract: A floating sealing pressure means for sealing carton ends, and which eliminates undesirable loading of a carton mandrel support system in a packaging machine due to carton and sealing pressure. The floating sealing pressure means is disclosed in a carton bottom sealing embodiment which employs a pressure pad for sealing engagement with the bottom end of a carton, and a reaction or counter pressure pad. The pressure pad and reaction pad are movably supported so as to function like a "C" clamp, so as to allow the pressure pad and reaction pad to operate in alignment with each other and locate on a carton mandrel so as to impart substantially no load into the supporting structure of the mandrel during a carton bottom sealing operation. The pressure pad and reaction pad are powered by a toggle actuator means which balances the loading on the supporting system of the mandrel.

Abstract: A stretch blow molding method for blow molding hollow articles from tubular parisons, and a molding apparatus for carrying out the method. The method includes mounting a tubular parison having a closed end and an open end on a stretch pin means with the closed end in the upper position, and then moving the stretch pin means into an open multi-section molding apparatus. The stretch pin means is then operated to stretch the parison to a predetermined length with the mold halves in an open position. The mold halves are closed after said stretching operation and blow air under pressure is introduced into the parison near the neck portion to blow the parison into molding contact with the closed multi-section mold apparatus. After the molds are opened the article is ejected by air exiting from the tip of the stretch pin near the base of the article.

Abstract: A continuous process for forming hollow, molecularly oriented articles which comprises: gravity-dropping molded preforms at molecular orientation temperature onto upwardly disposed moving stretch pin assemblies continuously presented at a loading station such that after loading, a closed end is above an open end of each preform, conveying the loaded assemblies into operative position between separated sections of continuous and synchronously moving molds, distending the preforms upwardly via stretch pin members and circumferentially via pressurized air after mold closing and while the preforms are at molecular orientation temperature in order to form the articles, opening the continuously moving molds, conveying the stretch pin assemblies with the upwardly disposed articles thereon away from the molds toward a removal station where the articles are removed from the assemblies without interrupting assembly movement generally back toward the loading station where the unloaded assemblies are again presented for

Abstract: A preform locator and blow air valve apparatus, for use in a stretch pin assembly in a blow molding machine that produces hollow thermoplastic articles, which functions as a positive blow air shut-off valve means in the absence of a preform in a mold assembly. A tubular valve body is mounted in a stretch pin assembly, with a longitudinally movable blow air nozzle means slidably mounted in the valve body for carrying the preform and locating and sealing the preform against a shoulder in a mold assembly on a blow molding machine. A stretch pin is slidably mounted longitudinally through the blow air nozzle means for stretching a preform mounted on the nozzle means. A blow air passage means is operatively formed through the tubular valve body and blow air nozzle means for admitting blow air under pressure into a preform located in the mold assembly, by said blow air nozzle means, for blowing the preform into a finished article.

Abstract: A lateral transfer preform loading method and apparatus for stretch blow molding machines. The method of the present invention incorporates the principle of laterally shuttling a set of finished products from a mold assembly and simultaneously shuttling laterally a set of preforms into the mold assembly. The first named set of finished products is discharged while the aforementioned preforms are going through a stretch blow molding operation to produce a second set of finished products. The second named set of finished products is then shuttled laterally from the mold assembly while simultaneously another set of preforms is moved laterally into operative relationship with the mold assembly. The aforementioned simultaneous steps of loading and unloading the mold assembly are continuously repeated. The mold assembly may be provided with one or more molds. The method may be carried out with a plurality of mold assemblies.