Abstract: An apparatus for applying a heat responsive melt sealant to the side edge of a carton, such as a gable-top liquid carton prior to folding the carton into its tubular form. The apparatus forces the sealant to flow evenly along an edge of the carton to be sealed and confines the sealant adjacent to the edge. The apparatus has a reverse C-shaped channel through which the carton blank edge is fed and a duct opening in the bight portion of the channel through which the sealant is fed onto the carton blank edge. In the process of the invention, after the heat responsive melt sealant is applied to the interior edge of the carton blank, the latter is conveyed to a heat station where the heat responsive melt sealant is cured preparatory to final erection of the tubular carton.

Abstract: An easy opening gable top carton and a blank for forming such a carton are provided. A pair of interior top seal panels of the carton and adjacent areas of the exterior top seal panels are provided with arrays of seal score lines. The seal score lines are disposed to extend upwardly from the interior surface of the blank and will substantially reduce the surface area of contact between the interior top seal panels and the exterior top seal panels for facilitating the formation of the pour spout on the carton.

Abstract: A gable top container is provided with a bottom wall, an upstanding side wall enclosure connected to and extending from the bottom wall, and a gable top. The gable top is defined by an opposed pair of triangular top panels hingedly connected to opposed portions of the side wall enclosure, and a pair of opposed rectangular top panels hingedly connected to the side walls and folded over the triangular top panels. The triangular top panels and the rectangular top panels are connected to one another by triangular top web panels. One of the triangular top panels is provided with a pouring aperture formed therethrough or with an array of perforations for defining a pouring aperture. A resealable closure assembly is affixed to the triangular top panel having the pouring aperture therein. The resealable closure assembly includes a base securely affixed to the triangular top panel. The base includes an aperture in register with the aperture in one of the triangular top panels.

Abstract: A gable top carton is provided with a bottom wall, an upstanding side wall enclosure connected to and extending from the bottom wall, and a gable top. The gable top is defined by an opposed pair of triangular top panels hingedly connected to opposed portions of the side wall enclosure, and a pair of opposed rectangular top panels hingedly connected to the side walls and folded over the triangular top panels. The triangular top panels and the rectangular top panels are connected to one another by triangular top web panels. One of the triangular top panels is provided with a pouring aperture formed therethrough or with an array of preforations for defining a pouring aperture. A resealable pouring spout is affixed to the triangular top panel having the pouring aperture therein. The resealable pouring spout includes a base securely affixed to the triangular top panel. The base includes an aperture in register with the aperture in the carton.

Abstract: A gable top carton is provided with a flat top wall to facilitate stacking of the carton during storage and transportation. The carton is formed from a single blank of paperboard material provided with an array of score lines to facilitate the folding of various panels formed thereon into the erected carton. The top wall of the flat topped carton includes arrays of perforations disposed therein to define an integral tear strip that is selectively separable from the remainder of the carton. Removal of the tear strip enables panels of the top wall to be rotated upwardly and away from one another to define a unitary pour spout. The pour spout may be repeatedly closed and reopened to provide access to the pourable material as needed.