Abstract: An apparatus for packaging cartons in a wire-bound box assembly includes a folding assembly which supports the unassembled box in a horizontally positioned blank, a shuttle platform which is loaded with a number of cartons and the end boards of the box assembly, a drive mechanism for reciprocatably carrying the loaded shuttle platform to a position above the bottom board of the blank, a stripper assembly including a plate which is downwardly pivotable from a position above the shuttle to a position engaging the ends of the cartons and end boards after the shuttle platform has been moved above the bottom panel, and clamping arms for holding the end boards against the cartons while the shuttle platform is removed. After the stripper plate has been lowered and the clamping arms are in place, the shuttle platform is retracted past the stripper plate such that the end boards and cartons drop onto the bottom panel of the blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a carton into a thermoplastic bag includes a table for supporting the bag, a pusher assembly for transferring a carton into the bag, and a guide assembly for first opening the bag mouth and for thereafter guiding the carton into the mouth of the bag while supporting the carton above the table until after it has been fully inserted into the bag. A vacuum is applied through apertures formed in the table to initially hold the bottom panel of the bag against the table, and a reciprocatable suction cup assembly is mounted above the suction apertures for engaging the top panel of the bag and for partially opening the mouth of the bag so that the guide assembly may be inserted therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying segments of sealing tape to both ends of a carton and for forming pull-tabs at both ends of the segments of sealing tape so applied. Cartons are conveyed in indexed fashion at uniform intervals on a conveyor. Sealing tape is dispensed from two rolls and is applied to the ends of the cartons by lay-down rollers at the margins of the conveyor. The conveyor is indexed so as to stop the conveyor after a section of tape linking two adjacent cartons on the conveyor is provided at each end of the cartons. Short segments of masking tape are applied to the adhesive side of the sealing tape at specific locations thereon and at a station spaced upstream from the point where the sealing tape is applied to the cartons whereby after the sealing tape is applied to the cartons, the masking tape segments will be disposed on the linking sections of sealing tape midway between two adjacent cartons.