FOLDING UPPER RETENTION WINGS
A method includes folding leading upper flap of a carton blank, folding a trailing upper flap of a carton blank, and passing the leading and trailing upper flaps in a folded condition into a gap between a pair of guide rails. The method includes interlocking the leading upper flap into a leading can in a pack of product, interlocking the trailing upper flap into a trailing can in a pack of product, and wrapping the carton blank around the pack of product to package the pack of product together.
The present disclosure relates to packaging, and more particularly to systems and methods for packaging multiple product units, such as cans or bottles, together.
2. Description of Related ArtOne way of packaging multiple bottles or cans together utilizes a paperboard wrapper which is wrapped around four of the six sides of a grouping of cans or bottles. For example, a paperboard wrapper or carton can be wrapped around the top, left, bottom, and right sides of a two-by-two group of four cans. A similar paperboard carton can be used with the same technique to package a two-by-three six pack of cans.
The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for packaging. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA system includes a pair of guide rails extending in a longitudinal direction, spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receive a series of carton blanks therein, and to retain in a folded position a leading upper flap and a trailing upper flap of each carton as the carton is conveyed along the pair of guide rails. A rotary conveyance mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction. The rotary conveyance has a rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being mounted for rotation about the rotation axis. At least one pair of tines extends radially outward from the rotary conveyance. Each pair of the at least one pair of tines includes a leading tine and a trailing tine. The leading tine is positioned to contact and fold the leading upper flap of a passing carton blank in the series of carton blanks as the rotary conveyance rotates so the leading upper flap is folded prior to the leading upper flap passing into the gap between the pair of guide rails. The trailing tine is configured to contact and fold a trailing upper flap of the passing carton as the rotary conveyance rotates so the trailing upper flap is folded prior to the trailing upper flap passing into the gap between the pair of guide rails.
A second pair of guide rails can be laterally offset from the first pair of guide rails relative to the longitudinal direction. A second rotary conveyance can be mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction, laterally offset from the first rotary conveyance and aligned with the second pair of guide rails. The second rotary conveyance can be mounted for rotation about the rotation axis. The first and second rotary conveyances can be configured to fold two leading upper flaps and two trailing upper flaps of each carton blank in the series of carton blanks.
The rotary conveyance can include a main wheel mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction. The trailing tines can follow a cam path to articulate relative to the main wheel. The leading tines can be fixed so as not to articulate relative to the rotary conveyance.
A secondary wheel can be mounted across from the rotary conveyance stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction. The secondary wheel can have a rotation axis offset from and parallel to the rotary axis of the rotary conveyance. The secondary wheel can include a wheel contour configured to maintain folded position of the leading and trailing end flaps after folding by the pair of tines and before the leading and trailing flaps enter the gap between the pair of guide rails. The leading and trailing tines of the rotary conveyance can be fixed so as not to articulate relative to the rotary conveyance.
The rotary conveyance can include a chain drive forming a cycling path elongated to extend in the longitudinal direction. The leading and trailing tines can follow a cam path to articulate relative to the chain drive.
A pack conveyor can be aligned with the longitudinal direction. The pack conveyor can be positioned to align a series of packs of product with respective carton blanks, wherein each pack is aligned with a respective carton blank as the carton blank is folded by the rotary conveyance.
A pack conveyor can be positioned to introduce a series of packs of product from a lateral direction into alignment with the longitudinal direction, wherein the pack conveyor is positioned to align the packs with respective carton blanks at a position downstream of where the carton blanks enter the gap between the guide rails.
A method includes folding leading upper flap of a carton blank, folding a trailing upper flap of a carton blank, and passing the leading and trailing upper flaps in a folded condition into a gap between a pair of guide rails. The method includes interlocking the leading upper flap into a leading can in a pack of product, interlocking the trailing upper flap into a trailing can in a pack of product, and wrapping the carton blank around the pack of product to package the pack of product together.
Folding the leading upper flap of a craton blank can include folding two leading upper flaps of the carton black at the same time, wherein folding the trailing upper flap includes folding two trailing upper flaps of the carton blank at the same time, and wherein interlocking the leading and trailing upper flaps includes interlocking the two leading upper flaps into two side by side leading units in the pack of product and interlocking the two trailing upper flaps into two side by side trailing units in the pack of product. The pack of product can be a two-by-three six pack of cans.
Folding the leading and trailing upper flaps can be performed with access only from above the carton blank as the pack of product is below the blank. It is also contemplated that folding the leading and trailing upper flaps can be performed by accessing the carton blank from above and from below, wherein the pack of product is aligned with the carton blank downstream after the leading and trailing upper flaps are folded. Folding can include initially folding with access from only from above the carton blank and maintaining folding after initially folding, wherein maintaining folding includes accessing only from below the carton blank after accessing only from above and before passing the leading and trailing flaps into the gap between the guide rails.
Folding the leading upper flap can occur prior to folding the trailing upper flap. Interlocking the leading and trailing upper flaps can include lowering the carton down a ramp into engagement with the pack of product. Passing the leading and trailing upper flaps into the gap between the guide rails can include first passing the carton blank under an upper one of the guide rails then passing the carton blank over a lower one of the guide rails while still keeping the carton blank below the upper guide rail. Folding at least one of the leading and trailing upper flaps can include articulating a tine to effect folding thereof. These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
A second pair of guide rails 114, 116 is laterally offset from the first pair of guide rails 102, 104 relative to the longitudinal direction D. A second rotary conveyance 118 is mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction D, laterally offset from the first rotary conveyance 112 and aligned with the second pair of guide rails 114, 116. The second rotary conveyance 118 is mounted for rotation about the rotation axis A at the same speed as the first rotary conveyance 112. For purposes of clarity, this disclosure discusses the operation of the first rotary conveyance 112 and the first and second guide rails 102 and 104, however those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the description of the structure and operation of the first rotary conveyance 112 and the rails 102, 104 can readily be applied to the second rotary conveyance 118 and its corresponding rails 114, 116. The first and second rotary conveyances 112, 118 are configured to fold two trailing upper flaps 108, 120 and two leading upper flaps 110, 122 of each carton blank 106 in the series of carton blanks 106.
Multiple pairs of tines 124, 126 extend radially outward from the rotary conveyance 112. Each pair of tines 124, 126 includes a trailing tine 124 and a leading tine 126. The leading tine 126 is positioned to contact and fold the leading upper flap 110 of a passing carton blank 106 in the series of carton blanks 106 as the rotary conveyance 112 rotates so the leading upper flap 110 is folded prior to the leading upper flap 110 passing into the gap G between the pair of guide rails 102, 106.
Each trailing tine 124 is configured to contact and fold a trailing upper flap 108 of the passing carton 106 as the rotary conveyance 112 rotates so the trailing upper flap 108 is folded prior to the trailing upper flap 108 passing into the gap G between the pair of guide rails 102, 104.
The rotary conveyance 112 includes a main wheel 128 (identified in
With reference now to
The rotary conveyances described above with respect to
With reference to
With reference now to
The number of tines 324, 326 can be varied as needed for a given application, as can the wheel contour 364.
With reference now to
The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for packaging product units such a beverage cans within cartons with superior properties including ease us use and reliability. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a pair of guide rails extending in a longitudinal direction, spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receive a series of carton blanks therein, and to retain in a folded position a leading upper flap and a trailing upper flap of each carton as the carton is conveyed along the pair of guide rails;
- a rotary conveyance mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction, the rotary conveyance having a rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being mounted for rotation about the rotation axis; and
- at least one pair of tines extending radially outward from the rotary conveyance, wherein each pair of the at least one pair of tines includes: a leading tine positioned to contact and fold the leading upper flap of a passing carton blank in the series of carton blanks as the rotary conveyance rotates so the leading upper flap is folded prior to the leading upper flap passing into the gap between the pair of guide rails; and a trailing tine configured to contact and fold a trailing upper flap of the passing carton as the rotary conveyance rotates so the trailing upper flap is folded prior to the trailing upper flap passing into the gap between the pair of guide rails.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotary conveyance is a first rotary conveyance, wherein the pair of guide rails is a first pair of guide rails, and further comprising:
- a second pair of guide rails laterally offset from the first pair of guide rails relative to the longitudinal direction; and
- a second rotary conveyance mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction, laterally offset from the first rotary conveyance and aligned with the second pair of guide rails, the second rotary conveyance being mounted for rotation about the rotation axis, wherein the first and second rotary conveyances are configured to fold two leading upper flaps and two trailing upper flaps of each carton blank in the series of carton blanks.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotary conveyance includes a main wheel mounted stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction.
4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the trailing tines follow a cam path to articulate relative to the main wheel, and wherein the leading tines are fixed so as not to articulate relative to the rotary conveyance.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- a secondary wheel mounted across from the rotary conveyance stationary with respect to the longitudinal direction, the secondary wheel having a rotation axis offset from and parallel to the rotary axis of the rotary conveyance, wherein the secondary wheel includes a wheel contour configured to maintain folded position of the leading and trailing end flaps after folding by the pair of tines and before the leading and trailing flaps enter the gap between the pair of guide rails.
6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the leading and trailing tines of the rotary conveyance are fixed so as not to articulate relative to the rotary conveyance.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotary conveyance includes a chain drive forming a cycling path elongated to extend in the longitudinal direction.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the leading and trailing tines follow a cam path to articulate relative to the chain drive.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pack conveyor aligned with the longitudinal direction, wherein the pack conveyor is positioned to align a series of packs of product with respective carton blanks, wherein each pack is aligned with a respective carton blank as the carton blank is folded by the rotary conveyance.
10. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pack conveyor positioned to introduce a series of packs of product from a lateral direction into alignment with the longitudinal direction, wherein the pack conveyor is positioned to align the packs with respective carton blanks at a position downstream of where the carton blanks enter the gap between the guide rails.
11. A method comprising:
- folding leading upper flap of a carton blank;
- folding a trailing upper flap of a carton blank;
- passing the leading and trailing upper flaps in a folded condition into a gap between a pair of guide rails;
- interlocking the leading upper flap into a leading can in a pack of product;
- interlocking the trailing upper flap into a trailing can in a pack of product; and
- wrapping the carton blank around the pack of product to package the pack of product together.
12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein folding the leading upper flap of a craton blank includes folding two leading upper flaps of the carton black at the same time, wherein folding the trailing upper flap includes folding two trailing upper flaps of the carton blank at the same time, wherein interlocking the leading and trailing upper flaps includes interlocking the two leading upper flaps into two side by side leading units in the pack of product and interlocking the two trailing upper flaps into two side by side trailing units in the pack of product.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the pack of product is a two-by-three six pack of cans.
14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein folding the leading and trailing upper flaps is performed only with access from above the carton blank as the pack of product is below the blank.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein folding the leading and trailing upper flaps is performed by accessing the carton blank from above and from below, and wherein the pack of product is aligned with the carton blank downstream after the leading and trailing upper flaps are folded.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein folding includes initially folding with access from only from above the carton blank and maintaining folding after initially folding, wherein maintaining folding includes accessing only from below the carton blank after accessing only from above and before passing the leading and trailing flaps into the gap between the guide rails.
17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein folding the leading upper flap occurs prior to folding the trailing upper flap.
18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein interlocking the leading and trailing upper flaps includes lowering the carton down a ramp into engagement with the pack of product.
19. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein passing the leading and trailing upper flaps into the gap between the guide rails includes first passing the carton blank under an upper one of the guide rails then passing the carton blank over a lower one of the guide rails while still keeping the carton blank below the upper guide rail.
20. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein folding at least one of the leading and trailing upper flaps includes articulating a tine to effect folding thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: May 20, 2019
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2020
Inventors: Jean-Christophe Bonnain (Chateauroux), Emanuel Davaillon (Chateauroux)
Application Number: 16/416,516