Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus that can erect a tray from a generally flat, rectangular blank. The tray erector incorporates an inventory section, a transfer section, a construction section and an exit section. The inventory section has a hopper with flanges and tab stops, which hopper stores an inventory of stacked, flat blanks that will eventually become the trays. In the transfer section, a blank is transferred from the inventory section to the construction section of the present erector. The construction section includes a setup assembly and a locking assembly. The setup assembly folds the pre-cut and scored end and side panels of the tray blank up into approximately perpendicular planes in relation to the plane of the bottom panel of the blank. The end and side panels are folded up from the plane of the bottom panel of the blank in preparation for the locking of the corner webs.

Abstract: A basket style carton is set up by a machine which imparts inward movement to one end wall so as to allow the adjacent locking tab to clear the associated end notch. A first pusher engages the bottom wall and allows the notch to receive the locking tab. Continued inward movement imparted to the one carton end wall causes the locking tab at the opposite end of the bottom wall to clear the associated notch. A second pusher then depresses the bottom wall and allows the associated locking tab to clear the associated notch.

Abstract: A carton having upper and lower end flaps and which is movable along a path of movement is manipulated by a machine having upper and lower rotatable flap folders mountable in either a fixed primary or a movable secondary location. The secondary location being movable in an upstream fashion relative to the direction of carton flow. A driving element and a driving mechanism that moves the secondary folder and rotates it to retain a timed relation with the path of movement of the cartons.

Abstract: A carton having a collapsed bottom wall is erected by a machine which engages opposed side walls and draws these walls apart. Simultaneously the side walls are separated by movement in a transverse direction and the bottom wall panels are interlocked.

Abstract: A carton loading machine is effective to load bottles packaged in basket style or in sleeve style cartons at high speed and with minimal attention by the operator due to the dual function of many of the machine parts.

Abstract: A system of flight bars each flight bar having a leading component and a trailing component, a first pair of endless driving elements interconnected with each leading component and a second pair of spaced apart endless driving elements interconnected with each trailing component. Controlled relative movement is imparted to the first and second pair of endless driving elements so as to vary the distance between the trailing component of a flight bar and the leading component of an immediately succeeding flight bar thereby to render the system adaptable for use in conjunction with packages of different horizontal dimensions in the direction of movement of the flight bars.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a working reach interconnected with a return reach over which flight bars are movable is provided with a ramp formed with a long radius for interconnecting the working reach with the return reach. This long radius ramp eliminates the tendency for flight bars to accelerate at an unacceptable velocity and can lead to damage to adjacent cartons. The long radius together with a sprocket of increased diameter avoids exposure to the risk of damage to and breakage of cartons. This increased radius also tends to provide a gap between the working reach and an outfeed conveyor which is longer than that normally employed with conventional structures. This gap is bridged by rotatable support wheels having cutaway radial areas which afford clearance for flight bars on their way from the working reach to the return reach.

Abstract: A stack of collapsed sleeve type end loading cartons are disposed in a hopper and the lowermost carton is engaged and fed out of the hopper by a carton pick up device which rotates in one direction. An auxiliary device rotates in the opposite direction from the direction of rotation of the carton pick up device and engages a carton wall so as to move it out of collapsed condition thereby to initiate set up of the carton.

Abstract: A method for withdrawing from a hopper collapsed sleeve type end loading cartons having face contacting panels in one of which panels a pair of apertures are formed and for initiating set up of the carton into open ended condition, the method comprising sequentially engaging and withdrawing collapsed cartons from the hopper with pick up devices slidably mounted on a pair of support rods, arranged so that one end of each support rod extends through one aperture in one of the face contacting carton panels and into engagement with the other face contacting panel so as to initiate a set up condition of the carton.

Abstract: A carton setup machine has a suction device for withdrawing collapsed sleeve type cartons from a magazine. The suction device moves inwardly and outwardly on a slidable rod as it orbits about a central rotating shaft. An oscillating gripper mounted outside the orbit of the suction device pulls outwardly on an outer panel of the collapsed carton to begin opening it.

Abstract: A method for withdrawing from a hopper collapsed sleeve type end loading cartons having face contacting panels in one of which panels a pair of apertures are formed and for initiating set up of the carton into open ended condition, the method comprising sequentially engaging and withdrawing collapsed cartons from the hopper with pick up devices slidably mounted on a pair of support rods, arranged so that one end of each support rod extends through one aperture in one of the face contacting carton panels and into engagement with the other face contacting panel so as to initiate a set up condition of the carton.

Abstract: A machine for sequentially withdrawing collapsed sleeve type end loading cartons having face contacting panels in one of which panels an aperture is formed and for initiating set up of the carton into open ended condition, the machine comprising a carton pick up device for sequentially engaging and withdrawing collapsed cartons from the hopper, and an elongated support rod on which the carton pick up device is slidably mounted, the support rod being arranged so that one end thereof extends through the aperture in one of the carton panels and into engagement with the other face contacting panel so as to initiate a set up condition of the carton in coordination with sliding movement of the carton pick up device relative to the elongated support rod.

Abstract: An end loaded carton for a plurality of cans includes foldably joined top, bottom and side walls forming a tubular structure and having end closure panels, one wall of the carton being of double ply construction having inner and outer panels, at least one thickening panel foldably joined to the inner ply and being folded into flat face contacting relation with the inner ply to form a three ply wall in engagement with the can ends.

Abstract: Collapsed sleeve type article containers are withdrawn in sequence from a hopper by suction cup means which then holds each carton at a loading station for an interval of time during which a plurality of articles are inserted through an open end of each container sleeve. Minor end closing flaps of the loaded container are moved into closed positions while the container is held stationary at the loading station. Thereafter the loaded container is moved out of the loading station and its major end flaps are closed and secured in closed position.

Abstract: A reuseable open top case having interconnected bottom, side and end walls is provided with a disposable overwrap which includes panels overlying the open top, side, end and bottom walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for interlocking a pair of panels which may constitute the end portions of a wrap around carton blank, one of the panels having an edge strip with at least one locking aperture therein and which is foldably joined to an edge of the associated panel, the other panel being formed integrally with the body portion of a locking tab and an anchoring tab being foldably joined to the body portion of the locking tab, the apparatus including an elongated locking beam having a longitudinal locking groove formed in the lower surface thereof, means for moving a carton and its end panels along the beam and with the panels adjacent the groove, a rotatable strip folder arranged to engage and fold the strip into the locking groove so as to move its aperture out of the plane of the associated panel, a rotatable tab folder arranged to engage and fold the anchoring tab out of the plane of the body portion of the locking element, an abutment disposed in the locking groove downstream from the strip folder and tab folder

Abstract: A carton for packaging a plurality of cylindrical articles includes top, bottom and side walls foldably joined to form an end loading tubular structure, as well as end closure flaps foldably joined to each end edge of the top and side walls together with a bottom end closure flap adjoined to each end edge of the bottom wall of the carton by an upwardly and outwardly inclined bevel strip disposed alongside inwardly and downwardly inclined beveled circular connecting structure forming the lower rim portion of the packaged items thereby to eliminate square corners at the ends of the bottom of the carton and a resulting tendency of the end walls of the carton to bow outwardly when stacked in tiers, one above the other.

Abstract: Apparatus for arranging articles in groups includes a conveyor for moving a single row of articles in contacting relation with each other, a plurality of shuttle elements movable alongside the articles and at a velocity less than the velocity thereof and slidable in a direction transverse thereto, the shuttle elements being engageable respectively with a leading part of an article so as temporarily to control the velocity thereof, shuttle withdrawing cams engageable in sequence with the shuttles to impart transverse movement thereto in a direction away from the articles together with a stabilizing element engageable with the articles for preventing rotary movement thereof during shuttle withdrawal movement.

Abstract: A machine for packaging a group of articles in a wraparound type carrier blank having a plurality of pairs of article retaining flaps struck from certain portions of the carrier blank is provided with a plurality of tucking studs movable in synchronism with a group of articles and with the blank on which a flap folding element is pivotally mounted and provided with a cam follower arranged to engage a cam surface whereby said flap folding element is rotated in cooperation with movement of said tucking stud so as to effect folding of a leading and trailing flap.

Abstract: A bottle carrier blank of the wraparound open ended neck through type is fed in a downwardly converging direction to a position such that the apertures in the top wall are disposed in coincidence with a bottle group which is continuously moving along a predetermined path and presser means disposed above the moving bottle group and carrier blank is provided with blank engaging means movable downwardly and forwardly in the direction of movement of the bottle group and carrier blank to engage the blank and force it downwardly so that the apertures therein receive and envelop the necks of the bottles therebelow.