Abstract: A drive mechanism for a vertical cartoner which has a plurality of adjustable pockets including a primary drive motor, a servo motor and a clutch assembly for adjusting the pockets to accommodate cartons of different widths. The primary drive motor rotates a pair of sprockets which move a pair of endless chains along a predetermined pathway. When the clutch is engaged, the primary drive motor also rotates the servo motor through a pair of bevel gears. However, when the clutch is disengaged, the primary drive motor is stopped and the servo motor is energized to rotate one sprocket with respect to the other to thereby adjust the pockets to accommodate cartons of a different width.

Abstract: An adjustable pocket mechanism for a vertical cartoner includes a plurality of adjustable pockets to accommodate different sizes of cartons. The pocket mechanism includes a pair of endless parallel chains which pass around a pair of upper and lower sprockets. The mechanism also includes a pair of transport lugs or pocket forming members which define the outer parameters of a carton. A first of lugs or leading lug is fixed to a first of the chains but moves freely with respect to a second of the chains while a second of the lugs is fixed to the second of the chains and free to move with respect to the first chain. A clutch assembly may be used to adjust the position of the chains relative to one another in order to vary the size of the pocket. The adjustable pocket mechanism also includes a guide rod disposed in a sleeve.

Abstract: A vertically oriented horizontally extending carton conveyor and loading apparatus includes a mechanical mechanism for transporting a plurality of cartons along an endless pathway in a horizontal plane. The apparatus also includes carton finishing systems and a second mechanical mechanism for adjusting the carton conveyor to accommodate cartons of different sizes and for positioning the cartons with respect to the loading apparatus and finishing systems. This second mechanical mechanism fixes an upper, back and trailing corner of a carton with respect to the pathway so that the upper, back and trailing corner provides a reference point for adjustments with respect to carton width, thickness and height.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine, for converting a continuous sheet of sealable film into bags, filling and then sealing the bags, in which the vertical forming tube is fabricated from a rectangular sheet of stainless steel material by making a plurality of equal angle and equal spaced bends in the stainless steel material and joining the ends together with a butt weld such that the vertical forming tube has a regular polygon cross section