Abstract: A bottom folding assembly for a packaging machine is configured to infold the bottom side panels, leading panel and trailing panel of a carton for forming a sealed carton bottom in such a manner as to reduce the contact of rotating elements with the carton material to reduce the generation of dust. The bottom folding assembly is positioned about a rotating turret that defines a turret plane. The mandrels are configured to receive a carton in the tubular form and to carry the carton with the carton positioned such that a bottom of the carton is positioned at a free end of the mandrel. The bottom folding apparatus, located between a carton bottom heater and a carton bottom sealer includes a rotating drive shaft mounted transverse to the turret plane and a pair of opposing rotating members are operably mounted to the drive shaft and are disposed on either side of the turret rotational path. The rotating member rotate in a plane transverse to the turret plane.

Abstract: A centering support for a piston in a piston-type pump having a diaphragm extending between the piston and the cylinder to define a product end of the pump and a driven end of the pump includes at least three equally radially spaced, centering elements extending radially outwardly from the piston for contacting the cylinder wall. The centering elements define a gap between the piston and the cylinder wall. The centering elements are disposed on the piston spaced from the diaphragm at the product end of the pump.

Abstract: A bottom folding assembly for a packaging machine is configured to infold the bottom side panels, leading panel and trailing panel of a carton for forming a sealed carton bottom in such a manner as to reduce the contact of rotating elements with the carton material to reduce the generation of dust. The bottom folding assembly is positioned about a rotating turret that defines a turret plane. The mandrels are configured to receive a carton in the tubular form and to carry the carton with the carton positioned such that a bottom of the carton is positioned at a free end of the mandrel. The bottom folding apparatus, located between a carton bottom heater and a carton bottom sealer includes a rotating drive shaft mounted transverse to the turret plane and a pair of opposing rotating members are operably mounted to the drive shaft and are disposed on either side of the turret rotational path. The rotating member rotate in a plane transverse to the turret plane.

Abstract: A carton pulling assembly pulls a partially formed carton from a mandrel on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The machine has a vacuum source for providing a vacuum and includes a machine controller. The partially formed carton has a sealed bottom wall. The carton pulling assembly includes a carton puller element movable in a reciprocating manner toward and away from the mandrel. A vacuum head assembly is mounted to the carton puller element for reciprocating movement therewith. The vacuum head assembly includes a cylinder and a finger configured for reciprocating movement within the cylinder having a suction element mounted thereto. The finger has a vacuum channel for communicating vacuum from the cylinder to the suction element. The finger is movable between an extended position in which the suction element contacts and engages the partially formed carton sealed bottom wall and a retracted position in which the reciprocating finger pulls the carton from the mandrel.

Abstract: A centering support for a piston in a piston-type pump having a diaphragm extending between the piston and the cylinder to define a product end of the pump and a driven end of the pump includes at least three equally radially spaced, centering elements extending radially outwardly from the piston for contacting the cylinder wall. The centering elements define a gap between the piston and the cylinder wall. The centering elements are disposed on the piston spaced from the diaphragm at the product end of the pump.

Abstract: A carton pulling assembly pulls a partially formed carton from a mandrel on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The machine has a vacuum source for providing a vacuum and includes a machine controller. The partially formed carton has a sealed bottom wall. The carton pulling assembly includes a carton puller element movable in a reciprocating manner toward and away from the mandrel. A vacuum head assembly is mounted to the carton puller element for reciprocating movement therewith. The vacuum head assembly includes a cylinder and a finger configured for reciprocating movement within the cylinder having a suction element mounted thereto. The finger has a vacuum channel for communicating vacuum from the cylinder to the suction element. The finger is movable between an extended position in which the suction element contacts and engages the partially formed carton sealed bottom wall and a retracted position in which the reciprocating finger pulls the carton from the mandrel.

Abstract: A hygienic packaging machine having disinfecting means throughout is disclosed herein. The disinfecting means may be a photosemiconductor catalyst or antimicrobial stainless steel. The disinfecting means is used in areas of potential microorganism growth. These areas include wherever water may accumulate, areas hidden from the cleaning mechanism, comers of the table to of the machine, and other similar areas. The photosemiconductor catalyst is activated by exposure to light and water. The antimicrobial stainless steel is self activating. The disinfecting means may be used on a machine such as a TETRA REX.RTM. packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing gable top cartons.